UPLC-Q-TOF/MS Based Metabolomics Approach to Study the Hepatotoxicity of Cantharidin on Mice.

Cantharidin is the major bioactive compound extracted from the blister beetle, a traditional Chinese medicine, and has been proved to be a natural component with widely antitumor activity. However, clinical application of cantharidin is relatively restricted due to its potential toxic effects, especially hepatotoxicity. Although cantharidin-induced liver injury has been reported, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear.

An essential function for MKP5 in the formation of oxidized low density lipid-induced foam cells.

The uptake of oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) by macrophages usually leads to the formation of lipid-laden macrophages known as "foam cells," and this process plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. Ox-LDL activates mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP) kinases and nuclear factor (NF)-κB, and activations of p38 and NF-κB are important for the formation of foam cells. MAP kinase phosphatase (MKP) 5 is a member of the dual specificity phosphatases (DUSPs) family that can selectively dephosphorylate activated MAPKs to regulate innate and adaptive immune responses.

Effect of overexpression of human SR-AI on oxLDL uptake and apoptosis in 293T cells.

Type I class A macrophage scavenger receptor (SR)-AI plays an important role in foam cell formation and in apoptosis in atherosclerosis, however the mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, we generated a pEGFP-C1-SR-AI plasmid construct for transient transfection of 293T human embryonic kidney cells and observed if SR-AI expression led: (i) to foam cell formation or apoptosis; and (ii) to expression of apoptosis-related genes Bcl-2 and Bak-1 in cells treated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL). The pEGFP-C1 (empty vector) transfected cell line was used as a control.

Inhibitory effects of genistein on metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To investigate the inhibitory effects of genistein on metastasis of MHCC97-H hepatocellular carcinoma cells and to explore the underlying mechanism.

Methods: MHCC97-H hepatocellular carcinoma cells were exposed to genistein. A cell attachment assay was carried out in a microculture well pre-coated with fibronectin.

[Effects of Astragalus membranaccus on cardiac function and SERCA2a gene expression in myocardial tissues of rats with chronic heart failure].

Objective: To investigate the effects of Astragalus membranaccus (As) on cardiac function and SERCA2a gene expression in left ventricular tissues of rats with chronic heart failure.

Methods: Heart failure was induced by clipping the abdominal aorta 60 male SD rats were divided into four groups: sham-operated (Sham), aortic stenosis (Model), Model + As (20 g/kg) and Model + Captopril (0.05 g/kg).

[Effect of astragalus on calcium accumulation and SERCA2a gene expression in myocardial tissues in rats with pressure overload-induced left ventricular hypertrophy].

Objective: To investigate the effect of astragalus (As) on calcium accumulation and SERCA2a gene expression in left ventricular tissues in rats with pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

Method: cardiac hypertrophy was induced by clipping the abdominal aorta in rats. Male SD rats were allocated to six groups: sham-operrated (Sham), aortic stenosis (Model), model +As-L (5 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)), model+As-M (10 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)), model+As-H (20 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) and model + captopril (0.

[Effects of 2-chlorophenol-acclimation on microbial community structure in anaerobic granular sludge].

The microbial community structure in 2-chlorophenol-acclimated anaerobic granular sludge and inoculating sludge were analyzed by 16S rDNA-based approach. Total DNA was extracted directly from the inoculating sludge and 2-CP-acclimated anaerobic sludge, and then amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique with the specific primer pair ARC21F/ARC958R for Archaea and 31F/907R for Acidobacteria respectively. The positive PCR products were cloned and sequenced.