Proteomic analysis of rat aorta during atherosclerosis induced by high cholesterol diet and injection of vitamin D3.

1. Atherosclerosis (AS) in rats displays important clinical similarities to human AS. 2.

Reduction of atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits and decrease of expressions of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor in foam cells by a water-soluble fraction of Polygonum multiflorum.

Polygonum multiflorum stilbeneglycoside (PMS) is a water-soluble fraction of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb., one of the most famous tonic traditional Chinese medicines, that has protective effects on the cardiovascular system. The purpose of the present study is to elucidate the effects of PMS on macrophage-derived foam cell functions and the reduction of severity of atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits.

Heat-shock protein 27: a potential biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma identified by serum proteome analysis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide and ranks second in China. The prognosis of HCC remains dismal mainly because of its late diagnosis, especially in patients with coexisting chronic liver diseases. To identify serum biomarkers for HCC, sera from 20 healthy volunteers, 20 hepatitis B virus (HBV) infected patients and 20 HCC patients were selected for screening study and same number of sera into the same three groups were used for validation study.

Comparative analysis of the proteome of left ventricular heart of arteriosclerosis in rat.

Despite the worldwide occurrence of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (CAHD), the pathogenic mechanisms underlying this disease remain largely unknown. In this study, the experimental model of atherosclerosis in rat (CAHD rat) was established by the injection of vitamin D3 associated with high fat diet for 6 weeks. By using the proteomic approach, we comparatively analyzed the proteome of the control and CAHD rat left ventricular myocardial tissues.

Cell type-specific gene expression, mediated by TFL-3, a cationic liposomal vector, is controlled by a post-transcription process of delivered plasmid DNA.

The issue of whether the TFL-3, a recently developed cationic liposome, achieves efficient gene expression in different mammalian cell lines (NIH/3T3, LLC, A431 and HeLa cells) was examined. The issue of whether gene expression is related to the amount of plasmid DNA (pDNA) delivered in cells or nuclei following transfection was also examined. The cells were transfected for 1h with pDNA/TFL-3 lipoplexes, and the transfection efficiency was determined by means of a luciferase activity assay.

Silver ion induces a cyclosporine a-insensitive permeability transition in rat liver mitochondria and release of apoptogenic cytochrome C.

Various reagents are known to open the mitochondrial permeability pore (PTP) and induce a permeability transition (PT), releasing apoptogenic proteins from the intermembrane space and triggering apoptosis. In this study, we examined the effect of Ag(+), a known cytotoxic sulfhydryl-reactive heavy metal, on isolated rat liver mitochondria. The following results were obtained: (1) Upon addition, Ag(+) instantly induced mitochondrial swelling and acceleration of respiration.

Lipoplex size determines lipofection efficiency with or without serum.

In order to identify factors affecting cationic liposome-mediated gene transfer, the relationships were examined among cationic liposome/DNA complex (lipoplex)-cell interactions, lipoplex size and lipoplex-mediated transfection (lipofection) efficiency. It was found that lipofection efficiency was determined mainly by lipoplex size, but not by the extent of lipoplex-cell interactions including binding, uptake or fusion. In addition, it was found that serum affected mainly lipoplex size, but not lipoplex-cell interactions, which effect was the major reason behind the inhibitory effect of serum on lipofection efficiency.

Cationic liposome-mediated gene delivery: biophysical study and mechanism of internalization.

To identify factors affecting cationic liposome-mediated gene delivery efficiency, we studied the relationship between the biophysical characteristics of liposome/DNA complexes (lipoplexes) at different (+/-) charge ratios, their structures as monitored by atomic force microscopy (AFM), and their mechanism(s) of internalization into the cells. Significant changes were observed in the particle size and zeta potential of liposomes and their structures assessed by AFM upon addition of DNA, which depended on (+/-) charge ratios. AFM images showed that lipoplexes were formed from extensively fused and apparently homogeneous lipid particles encapsulating DNA.

Permeability transition-independent release of mitochondrial cytochrome c induced by valinomycin.

To examine whether valinomycin induces a mitochondrial permeability transition (PT), we investigated its effects on mitochondrial functions under various conditions. The acceleration of mitochondrial respiration and swelling, induced by valinomycin, were found to be insensitive to inhibitors of the ordinary PT, indicating that valinomycin does not induce the ordinary PT. Results of experiments using mitochondria isolated from transgenic mice expressing human bcl-2 also supported this conclusion.