Purification of a polysaccharide from Gynostemma pentaphyllum Makino and its therapeutic advantages for psoriasis.

In current study, a water-soluble polysaccharide (GP-I), with a molecular mass of 33 kDa, was purified from Gynostemma pentaphyllum. Gas chromatography (GC) analysis suggested that it was composed of Glc, Gal, Man, Rha and Ara with a ratio of 5.3: 4.

Isolation and antitumor activities of acidic polysaccharide from Gynostemma pentaphyllum Makino.

Two acidic polysaccharides (GP-B1 and GP-C1) were obtained from Gynostemma pentaphyllum. The molecular weights (Mw) of the two fractions were 79 kDa for GP-B1 and 126 kDa for GP-C1. GP-B1 was composed of Gal, Ara, Man, Rha, Xyl, Glc, GalA and GlcA in a molar ration of 3.

[Effect of curcumin on IL-17-induced nitric oxide production and expression of iNOS in human keratinocytes].

Aim: To investigate the effect of curcumin on IL-17-induced NO production, mRNA and protein expression of iNOS in human keratinocyte cell lines(HaCaT cells).

Methods: HaCaT cells were stimulated with IL-17 and incubated with three doses of curcumin for 24h in vitro. After collections of supernatant, total RNA and protein, NO levels in supernatant were detected and fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot were performed to determine the effect of curcumin on NO levels and iNOS.

[Expression of CD1a and CD207 in condyloma acuminatum epidermis].

Aim: To investigate the expression of CD1a and CD207 in condyloma acuminatum (CA) epidermis and to understand its significance.

Methods: The mRNA expression of CD1a and CD207 in six CA epidermal lesions and in six normal controls were detected using oligonucleotide microarrys and confirmed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, and the protein level of CD1a and CD207 in six CA epidermal lesions and in six normal controls were measured by Western blot.

Results: With microarrys, the mRNA expression of CD1a and CD207 were detected markedly down-regulated in six CA epidermal lesions as compared with that in six normal controls.

[Alteration of tazarotene induced gene-2 expression in psoriasis vulgaris].

Objective: To investigate the role of tazarotene induced gene-2 (TIG2) in psoriasis vulgaris.

Methods: TIG2 protein and mRNA expressions in normal tissues, psoriatic lesions and uninvolved skin tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, respectively.

Results: TIG2 protein and mRNA were expressed in all the layers of normal and uninvolved epidermis.

[Alteration of retinoid X receptor alpha mRNA level after acitretin and/or narrow-band UVB treatment in normal human keratinocytes].

Objective: To investigate the alteration of retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRalpha) mRNA level in normal human keratinocytes after acitretin and/or NB-UVB irradiation treatment.

Methods: After a 12-hour incubation with 10(-7)-10(-6) mol/L acitretin and/or following 50-100 mJ/cm2 NB-UVB irradiation in normal human keratinocytes, RXRalpha mRNA expression was examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time quantitative RT-PCR.

Results: The expression of RXRalpha mRNA was obviously decreased by NB-UVB irradiation, but not by acitretion single treatment.

[Expression of E-cadherin, beta-catenin and cyclin D1 in epidermal skin lesions of patients with active psoriasis vulgaris].

Objective: To examine the expressions of E-cadherin, beta-catenin and cyclin D1 in the skin lesions of patients with psoriasis vulgaris, and understand their possible roles in keratinocyte hyperproliferation in these patients.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expressions of E-cadherin, beta-catenin and cyclin D1 in the normal skin tissues and psoriatic lesions.

Results: In normal skin tissues, positive staining for E-cadherin and beta-catenin was detected in all layers of the normal epidermis at the sites of cell-cell junctions, and downregulation of E-cadherin and beta-catenin expression was found in the granular layer and basal layer of the psoriatic lesions.

[A novel retinoid CD437 induces apoptosis of human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells].

Objective: To investigate the effect of a novel retinoid CD437 and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in inducing cell apoptosis and inhibiting the proliferation of human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells and normal human epidermal keratinocytes.

Methods: MTT assay was used to determine the inhibitory effects of CD437 and ATRA on the growth of A431 cells and normal human epidermal keratinocytes, and the cell morphological changes were observed microscopically. Flow cytometry was used to investigate the effect of CD437 and ATRA on the cell cycle and apoptosis.

[Mutation detection of ATP2C1 gene in Chinese patients with Hailey-Hailey disease].

Objective: To investigate the mutations of ATP2C1 gene in Chinese patients with Hailey-Hailey disease (HHD).

Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. PCR and direct DNA sequencing were used to detect the mutations in all 27 exons of ATP2C1 gene in patients of two Chinese families and a sporadic patient with HHD.

[Inhibition of COL1A1 and COL3A1 expression by RNA interference in human skin fibroblasts].

Objective: To suppress COL1A1 and COL3A1 gene expressions in human skin fibroblasts (HSFs) by means of RNA interference (RNAi).

Methods: Three small interfering RNA (siRNA) expression cassette (SEC) sequences were designed for each of the COL1A1 and COL3A1 gene sequences available in GenBank. The synthesized SECs capable of effective gene suppression were transfected into cultured HSFs, either after cloning into the expression vector or mediated by Lipofectamine 2000, and the suppression of the target genes at both mRNA and protein levels was determined by quantitative fluorescence RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively.

Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural features of Langerhans cells in condyloma acuminatum.

Background: There are few studies on the abnormal morphology of Langerhans cells (LCs) in condyloma acuminatum (CA) lesions and the essence of the abnormal morphology of LCs in CA lesions is still not well elucidated. The aim of this study was to further investigate the morphological features of LCs in CA lesions.

Methods: CD1a(+) LCs in 13 CA lesions and in 13 normal controls were labeled using immunohistochemistry and examined by light microscopy.

[Synergistic effects of acitretin and narrow-band ultraviolet-B in inducing retinoic acid receptor gamma mRNA expression in normal human keratinocytes].

Objective: To investigate the changes in cell proliferation and retinoic acid receptor gamma (RARgamma) mRNA expression in normal human keratinocytes after acitretin treatment and/or narrow-band ultraviolet-B irradiation.

Methods: Normal human keratinocytes were exposed to irradiation with 100 mJ/cm square NB-UVB and/or subsequent 12-hour incubation with 1x10(-6) mol/L acitretin, and the expression of RARgamma mRNA in the cells was examined using RT-PCR and real-time quantitative RT-PCR.

Results: A 0.

[Expression of CCL20 and CXCR4 in epidermal condyloma acuminatum lesions].

Objective: To detect CCL20 and CXCR4 expressions in epidermis infected with condyloma acuminatum (CA) and normal epidermis and investigate the effect of their expressions on Langerhans cells in CA epidermis.

Methods: Gene expression of CCL20 and CXCR4 in 3 epidermal CA lesions and in 3 normal epidermis specimens were detected using Affymetrix oligonucleotide microarrays HG-U 133A 2.0, and the protein levels of CCL20 and CXCR4 in these specimens were measured by Western blotting.

[Expression of Langerhans cell-related chemokine genes in condyloma acuminatum epidermis].

Aim: To investigate differential gene expression of Langerhans cell-related chemokines in condyloma acuminatum (CA) epidermis and normal epidermis.

Methods: Gene expression of Langerhans cell-related chemokines in three CA epidermal lesions and in three normal controls was screened using Affymetrix oligonucleotide microarrays HG-U 133A 2.0, and part of the above differential gene expression was confirmed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR.

[Expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin in Bowen's disease and squamous cell carcinoma].

Objective: To investigate the involvement of E-cadherin-catenin adhesion system in Bowen's disease (BD) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Methods: Fifteen normal skin, 28 BD and 18 SCC specimens were stained with monoclonal antibodies against E-cadherin and beta-catenin. Evaluation of the staining results was performed with semi-quantification of the pattern and intensity of staining, percentage of positive cells, and cytoplasmic staining.

[Inhibition of promyelocytic leukemia gene by tazarotene in hyperproliferative epidermis of psoriasis].

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of tazarotene against active psoriasis vulgaris.

Methods: A randomized, controlled trial was conducted in 43 patients with active psoriasis vulgaris, who were divided into tazarotene and control groups. Promyelocytic leukemia (PML) mRNA in active psoriatic lesions before and 14 days after tazarotene treatment was detected by in situ hybridization.

[Mechanism of receptor for retinoids inducing apoptosis of human melanoma cell line A375].

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of receptors for retinoids inducing apoptosis of human melanoma cell line A375.

Methods: The effects of 3 kinds of retinoids (9-cis-RA, at-RA and 13-cis-RA), of TTNPB (RAR agonist) and of Methoprene acid (Ma, RXR agonist) on apoptosis of A375 cells were studied by detecting the expression of Bcl-2/Bax and by using. Annexin V/PI staining analysis, TUNEL detection and active Caspase-3 analysis.

[Localization and differentiation of hair follicle stem cells].

Objective: To identify the localization of hair follicles stem cell (HFSC) in different stages of hair and explore the differentiating capacity of HFSC into epidermis in vitro.

Methods: HFSC were detected by K19 immunostaining in normal human skin. Then, the isolated HFSC through enzyme digestion were seeded on dermal equivalent (DE) and cultured between the air-liquid interfaces for 14 days.

Helicobacter pylori infection in the pharynx of patients with chronic pharyngitis detected with TDI-FP and modified Giemsa stain.

Aim: To detect whether there is Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) colonization in the pharynx mucous membrane of healthy people and whether chronic pharyngitis is related to H pylori infection.

Methods: Fifty cases of chronic pharyngitis refractory over three months were prospectively studied from March 2004 to August 2004 in the otolaryngology outpatient department of the Second Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University. Template-directed dye-terminator incorporated with fluorescence polarization detection (TDI-FP) and modified Giemsa stain were used to examine pharynx mucous membrane tissue for H pylori colonization in the patients with chronic pharyngitis and the healthy people as a control group.

[Receptor-related mechanism of proliferation inhibilion and apoptosis induetion of human tongue squamous cell line Tca8113 by retinoids].

Objective: To investigate the receptor-related mechanism of retinoids inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis of human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line Tca8113.

Methods: The effects of 3 retinoids (namely 9-cis-RA, at-RA and 13-cis-RA), TTNPB (RAR agonist) and methoprene acid (Ma, RXR agonist) on proliferation and cell cycle of Tca8113 cells were analyzed by MTT assay and flow cytometry. The roles of these agents in inducing apoptosis of Tca8113 cells were also evaluated by detecting the expression of Bcl-2/Bax, TUNEL and active caspase-3 analysis.