Anti-Depressant-Like Effect of Sinomenine on Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress-Induced Depression in a Mouse Model.

BACKGROUND Sinomenine (SIN) is an extract of the Chinese medicinal herb Sinomenium acutum; it has various pharmacological properties, including immunosuppression and anti-inflammation. The present study aimed to investigate whether SIN has an anti-depressant-like effect in a mouse model of depression induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), and to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. MATERIAL AND METHODS A mouse model of depression was established and treated with different concentrations of SIN (30, 100, or 300 mg/kg).

Membrane-anchored CCL20 augments HIV Env-specific mucosal immune responses.

Background: Induction of broad immune responses at mucosal site remains a primary goal for most vaccines against mucosal pathogens. Abundance of evidence indicates that the co-delivery of mucosal adjuvants, including cytokines, is necessary to induce effective mucosal immunity. In the present study, we set out to evaluate the role of a chemokine, CCL20, as an effective mucosal adjuvant for HIV vaccine.

Structure-property relationship of regenerated spider silk protein nano/microfibrous scaffold fabricated by electrospinning.

The regenerated Araneus ventricosus spider dragline silk protein fibrous scaffold with moderate strength and flexibility was fabricated by electrospinning and post treatment with 90 vol % acetone. The effect of collection method on the morphology of regenerated spider silk protein (RSSP) fibrous scaffold, the effects of the post treatment solvents and their concentrations on the molecular conformation, crystallinity and mechanical properties were studied. The results show that the morphology was affected by the solvent used in the coagulation bath.

[Expression of vascular growth factors in intestinal tissues in colorectal carcinoma patients with schistosomiasis japonica].

Objective: To investigate the differences of mRNA quantitation and protein expression of vascular growth factors including platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in intestinal tissues in colorectal carcinoma patients with and without schistosomiasis.

Methods: Thirty colorectal carcinoma patients with schistosomiasis and 30 colorectal carcinoma patients without schistosomiasis were included in this study. The mRNA quantitation and protein expression of PD-ECGF and VEGF in the normal tissue, peri-carcinoma tissue as well as carcinoma tissue obtained from surgical specimens were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot.

[Role of phospholipase C in cytoskeleton rearrangements of dendritic cells invaded by Mycobacterium tuberculosis].

Objective: To investigate the role of phospholipase C(PLC) in cytoskeleton rearrangement of mouse dendritic cells invaded by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Methods: Mouse dendritic DC2.4 cells were co-cultured with Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv.

[Role of Toll-like receptor 2/4-nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway in invasion of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to mouse dendritic cells].

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of Mycobacterium tuberculosis invasion to mouse dendritic cells (DC).

Methods: Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain H37Rv was co-cultured with mouse DC2.4 cells.

Multi-porous electroactive poly(L-lactic acid)/polypyrrole composite micro/nano fibrous scaffolds promote neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells.

In this study, poly(L-lactic acid)/ammonium persulfate doped-polypyrrole composite fibrous scaffolds with moderate conductivity were produced by combining electrospinning with in situ polymerization. PC12 cells were cultured on these fibrous scaffolds and their growth following electrical stimulation (0-20.0 μA stimulus intensity, for 1-4 days) was observed using inverted light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy coupled with the MTT cell viability test.

Localization of Vibrio vulnificus infection in dendritic cells and its effects on the cytoskeleton.

Background: Vibrio vulnificus (Vv) is an estuarine bacterium that can cause primary septicemia as well as serious wound infections. However, little is known about the mechanisms by which Vv infects dendritic cells (DCs) and its effects on cytoskeleton. In this study, we aimed to investigate the invasion, internalization, and the organelles damage of the cultured dendritic cells (a DC 2.

Genome sequence of the human-pathogenetic bacterium Vibrio vulnificus B2.

Vibrio vulnificus, which can lead to rapidly expanding cellulitis or septicemia, is present in the marine environment. Here, we present the draft genome sequence of strain B2, which was isolated from a septicemia patient in 2010.

[Effects of snakegourd root polysaccharide on apoptosis of MCF-7 cells].

Objective: To investigate the effects of snakegourd root polysaccharide on apoptosis of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7 cells).

Methods: Colorimetric MTT assay was used to measure the inhibition of snakegourd root polysaccharide on MCF-7 cells. The morphological changes of MCF-7 cells were observed by fluorescence microscope after DAPI staining and transmission electron microscope.

[Effects of Mycobacterium tuberculosis on apoptosis of mouse dendritic cells and activation of caspase-3, caspase-8].

Objective: To investigate the effects of Mycobacterium tuberculosis on apoptosis of mouse dendritic cells (DC 2. 4) and the activation of caspase-3, caspase-8.

Methods: Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv strain was co-cultured with DC 2.

[Immunocompetence effects of polysaccharide of snakegourd root on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro].

Objective: To establish the method of promoting human peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation by polysaccharide of snakegourd root and identify the effects of polysaccharide of snakegourd root on lymphocyte proliferation, T lymphocyte subsets and the different levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6.

Method: The polysaccharide of snakegourd root preparations were purified with dialysis and ethanol precipitation. The healthy human PBMC were used as the target cells for screening potency of the drugs.

[Cytoskeleton rearrangements and induced apoptosis in human umbilical venous endothelial cell and WISH cell lines during the invasion of Staphylococcus aureus].

Objective: To investigate the changes of cytoskeleton and induced apoptosis in human umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVEC) and WISH cells during the invasion of Staphylococcus aureus.

Methods: S. aureus suspension was collected routinely and used to infect HUVEC and WISH cells for 10, 30, 60 and 120 min respectively.

Antisense expression of PKCalpha improved sensitivity of SGC7901/VCR cells to doxorubicin.

Aim: To explore whether antisense blocking of protein kinase C alpha (PKCalpha) would reverse multi-drug resistance (MDR) in the vincristine (VCR)-resistant human gastric cancer cell line SGC7901/VCR.

Methods: SGC7901/VCR cells expressing antisense PKCalpha, SGC7901/VCR/aPKC, were established by transfection with a recombinant plasmid reversely inserted with PKCalpha cDNA. Empty vector (PCI-neo)-transfected cell clones, SGC7901/VCR/neo, served as the control.