Ginsenoside Rg1 attenuates mechanical stress-induced cardiac injury via calcium sensing receptorrelated pathway

Mei-Li Lu,Jing Wang,Yang Sun,Cong Li,Tai-Ran Sun,Xu-Wei Hou,Hong-Xin Wang 고려인삼학회 2021 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.45 No.6

Background: Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) has been well documented to be effective against various cardiovasculardisease. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of Rg1 on mechanical stress-inducedcardiac injury and its possible mechanism with a focus on the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR)signaling pathway. Methods: Mechanical stress was implemented on rats through abdominal aortic constriction (AAC)procedure and on cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts by mechanical stretching with Bioflex CollagenI plates. The effects of Rg1 on cell hypertrophy, fibrosis, cardiac function, [Ca2þ]i, and the expression ofCaSR and calcineurin (CaN) were assayed both on rat and cellular level. Results: Rg1 alleviated cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, and improved cardiac decompensation inducedby AAC in rat myocardial tissue and cultured cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts. Importantly, Rg1treatment inhibited CaSR expression and increase of [Ca2þ]i, which similar to the CaSR inhibitor NPS2143. In addition, Rg1 treatment inhibited CaN and TGF-b1 pathways activation. Mechanistic analysis showedthat the CaSR agonist GdCl3 could not further increase the [Ca2þ]i and CaN pathway related proteinexpression induced by mechanical stretching in cultured cardiomyocytes. CsA, an inhibitor of CaN,inhibited cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac fibrosis, [Ca2þ]i and CaN signaling but had no effect on CaSRexpression. Conclusion: The activation of CaN pathway and the increase of [Ca2þ]i mediated by CaSR are involved incardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis, that may be the target of cardioprotection of Rg1 against myocardialinjury.

Functional Connections of the Vestibulo-spino-adrenal Axis in the Control of Blood Pressure Via the Vestibulosympathetic Reflex in Conscious Rats

Lu, Huan-Jun,Li, Mei-Han,Li, Mei-Zhi,Park, Sang Eon,Kim, Min Sun,Jin, Yuan-Zhe,Park, Byung Rim The Korean Society of Pharmacology 2015 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.19 No.5

Significant evidence supports the role of the vestibular system in the regulation of blood pressure during postural movements. In the present study, the role of the vestibulo-spino-adrenal (VSA) axis in the modulation of blood pressure via the vestibulosympathetic reflex was clarified by immunohistochemical and enzyme immunoassay methods in conscious rats with sinoaortic denervation. Expression of c-Fos protein in the intermediolateral cell column of the middle thoracic spinal regions and blood epinephrine levels were investigated, following microinjection of glutamate receptor agonists or antagonists into the medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) and/or sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced hypotension. Both microinjection of glutamate receptor agonists (NMDA and AMPA) into the MVN or rostral ventrolateral medullary nucleus (RVLM) and SNP-induced hypotension led to increased number of c-Fos positive neurons in the intermediolateral cell column of the middle thoracic spinal regions and increased blood epinephrine levels. Pretreatment with microinjection of glutamate receptor antagonists (MK-801 and CNQX) into the MVN or RVLM prevented the increased number of c-Fos positive neurons resulting from SNP-induced hypotension, and reversed the increased blood epinephrine levels. These results indicate that the VSA axis may be a key component of the pathway used by the vestibulosympathetic reflex to maintain blood pressure during postural movements.

Functional Connections of the Vestibulo-spino-adrenal Axis in the Control of Blood Pressure Via the Vestibulosympathetic Reflex in Conscious Rats

Huan-Jun Lu,Mei-Han Li,Mei-Zhi Li,박상언,김민선,Yuan-Zhe Jin,박병림 대한약리학회 2015 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.19 No.5

Significant evidence supports the role of the vestibular system in the regulation of blood pressure during postural movements. In the present study, the role of the vestibulo-spino-adrenal (VSA) axis in the modulation of blood pressure via the vestibulosympathetic reflex was clarified by immunohistochemical and enzyme immunoassay methods in conscious rats with sinoaortic denervation. Expression of c-Fos protein in the intermediolateral cell column of the middle thoracic spinal regions and blood epinephrine levels were investigated, following microinjection of glutamate receptor agonists or antagonists into the medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) and/or sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced hypotension. Both microinjection of glutamate receptor agonists (NMDA and AMPA) into the MVN or rostral ventrolateral medullary nucleus (RVLM) and SNP-induced hypotension led to increased number of c-Fos positive neurons in the intermediolateral cell column of the middle thoracic spinal regions and increased blood epinephrine levels. Pretreatment with microinjection of glutamate receptor antagonists (MK-801 and CNQX) into the MVN or RVLM prevented the increased number of c-Fos positive neurons resulting from SNP-induced hypotension, and reversed the increased blood epinephrine levels. These results indicate that the VSA axis may be a key component of the pathway used by the vestibulosympathetic reflex to maintain blood pressure during postural movements.

Predicting patient experience of Invisalign treatment: An analysis using artificial neural network

Lin Xu,Li Mei,Ruiqi Lu,Yuan Li,Hanshi Li,Yu Li 대한치과교정학회 2022 대한치과교정학회지 Vol.52 No.4

Objective: Poor experience with Invisalign treatment affects patient compliance and, thus, treatment outcome. Knowing the potential discomfort level in advance can help orthodontists better prepare the patient to overcome the difficult stage. This study aimed to construct artificial neural networks (ANNs) to predict patient experience in the early stages of Invisalign treatment. Methods: In total, 196 patients were enrolled. Data collection included questionnaires on pain, anxiety, and quality of life (QoL). A four-layer fully connected multilayer perception with three backpropagations was constructed to predict patient experience of the treatment. The input data comprised 17 clinical features. The partial derivative method was used to calculate the relative contributions of each input in the ANNs. Results: The predictive success rates for pain, anxiety, and QoL were 87.7%, 93.4%, and 92.4%, respectively. ANNs for predicting pain, anxiety, and QoL yielded areas under the curve of 0.963, 0.992, and 0.982, respectively. The number of teeth with lingual attachments was the most important factor affecting the outcome of negative experience, followed by the number of lingual buttons and upper incisors with attachments. Conclusions: The constructed ANNs in this preliminary study show good accuracy in predicting patient experience (i.e., pain, anxiety, and QoL) of Invisalign treatment. Artificial intelligence system developed for predicting patient comfort has potential for clinical application to enhance patient compliance.

Effects of enzymolysis and fermentation of Chinese herbal medicines on serum component, egg production, and hormone receptor expression in laying hens

Mei Hong Jiang,Tao Zhang,Qing Ming Wang,Jin Shan Ge,Lu Lu Sun,Meng Qi Li,Qi Yuan Miao,Yuan Zhao Zhu Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2024 Animal Bioscience Vol.37 No.1

Objective: In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of enzymolysis fermentation of Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) on egg production performance, egg quality, lipid metabolism, serum reproductive hormone levels, and the mRNA expression of the ovarian hormone receptor of laying hens in the late-laying stage. Methods: A total of 360 Hy-Line Brown laying hens (age, 390 days) were randomly categorized into four groups. Hens in the control (C) group were fed a basic diet devoid of CHMs, the crushed CHM (CT), fermented CHM (FC), and enzymatically fermented CHM (EFT) groups received diets containing 2% crushed CHM, 2% fermented CHM, and 2% enzymatically fermented CHM, respectively. Results: Compared with crushed CHM, the acid detergent fiber, total flavonoids, and total saponins contents of fermented CHM showed improvement (p<0.05); furthermore, the neutral and acid detergent fiber, total flavonoids, and total saponins contents of enzymatically fermented CHM improved (p<0.05). At 5 to 8 weeks, hens in the FC and EFT groups showed increased laying rates, haugh unit, albumin height, yolk color, shell thickness, and shell strength compared with those in the C group (p<0.05). Compared with the FC group, the laying rate, albumin height, and Shell thickness in the EFT group was increased (p<0.05). Compared with the C, CT, and FC groups, the EFT group showed reduced serum total cholesterol and increased serum luteinizing hormone levels and mRNA expressions of follicle stimulating hormone receptor and luteinizing hormone receptor (p<0.05). Conclusion: These results indicated that the ETF group improved the laying rate and egg quality and regulated the lipid metabolism in aged hens. The mechanism underlying this effect was likely related to cell wall degradation of CHM and increased serum levels of luteinizing hormone and mRNA expression of the ovarian hormone receptor.

Separation and Identification of Specific Proteins in Leaves of Hydroponically-Grown Grafted Cucumber Plants under NaCl Stress

Li-Fei Yang,Toru Maruo,Yue-Lin Zhu,Chun-Mei Hu,Zheng-Lu Liu 한국원예학회 2006 한국원예학회 기타간행물 Vol.- No.-

Challenges and Advances in Materials and Fabrication Technologies of Small-Diameter Vascular Grafts

Mei‑Xian Li,Qian‑Qi Wei,Hui‑Lin Mo,Yu Ren,Wei Zhang,Huan‑Jun Lu,정윤기 한국생체재료학회 2023 생체재료학회지 Vol.27 No.00

The arterial occlusive disease is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular diseases, often requiring revascularization. Lack of suitable small-diameter vascular grafts (SDVGs), infection, thrombosis, and intimal hyperplasia associated with synthetic vascular grafts lead to a low success rate of SDVGs (< 6 mm) transplantation in the clinical treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The development of fabrication technology along with vascular tissue engineering and regenerative medicine technology allows biological tissue-engineered vascular grafts to become living grafts, which can integrate, remodel, and repair the host vessels as well as respond to the surrounding mechanical and biochemical stimuli. Hence, they potentially alleviate the shortage of existing vascular grafts. This paper evaluates the current advanced fabrication technologies for SDVGs, including electrospinning, molding, 3D printing, decellularization, and so on. Various characteristics of synthetic polymers and surface modification methods are also introduced. In addition, it also provides interdisciplinary insights into the future of small-diameter prostheses and discusses vital factors and perspectives for developing such prostheses in clinical applications. We propose that the performance of SDVGs can be improved by integrating various technologies in the near future.

MiRNA-15a Mediates Cell Cycle Arrest and Potentiates Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Cells by Targeting Synuclein-γ

Li, Ping,Xie, Xiao-Bing,Chen, Qian,Pang, Guo-Lian,Luo, Wan,Tu, Jian-Cheng,Zheng, Fang,Liu, Song-Mei,Han, Lu,Zhang, Jian-Kun,Luo, Xian-Yong,Zhou, Xin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.16

Background: Recent studies have indicated that microRNA-15a (miR-15a) is dysregulated in breast cancer (BC). We aimed to evaluate the expression of miR-15a in BC tissues and corresponding para-carcinoma tissues. We also focused on effects of miR-15a on cellular behavior of MDA-MB-231 and expression of its target gene synuclein-${\gamma}$ (SNCG). Materials and Methods: The expression levels of miR-15a were analysed in BC formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues by microarray and quantitative real-time PCR. CCK-8 assays, cell cycle and apoptosis assays were used to explore the potential functions of miR-15a in MDA-MB-231 human BC cells. A luciferase reporter assay confirmed direct targets. Results: Downregulation of miR-15a was detected in most primary BCs. Ectopic expression of miR-15a promoted proliferation and suppressed apoptosis in vivo. Further studies indicated that miR-15a may directly interact with the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of SNCG mRNA, downregulating its mRNA and protein expression levels. SNCG expression was negatively correlated with miR-15a expression. Conclusions: MiR-15a has a critical role in mediating cell cycle arrest and promoting cell apoptosis of BC, probably by directly targeting SNCG. Thus, it may be involved in development and progression of BC.

Life Science : Citreorosein Inhibits Production of Proinflam matory Cytokines by Blocking Mitogen Activated Protein Kinases, Nuclear Factor-kB and Activator Protein-1 Aetivation in Mouse Bone Marrow-Derived Mast Cells

( Yue Lu ),( Seok Jong Suh ),( Xian Li ),( Jing Lu Liang ),( Mei Juan Chi ),( Kyoung Hwang Bo ),( Ok Yun Kwon ),( Tae Wook Chung ),( Choong Hwan Kwak ),( Kyung Min Kwon ),( Makoto Murakami ),( Yurn Do 영남대학교 약품개발연구소 2012 영남대학교 약품개발연구소 연구업적집 Vol.22 No.0

Citreorosein (CIT), an anthraquinone component of Polygoni cuspidati (P. cuspidati) radix, suppressed gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β in mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus the calcium ionophore A23187. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying CIT inhibition of the pro-inflammatory cytokine production, its effects on the activation of both nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) were assessed. CIT attenuated phosphorylation of the MAPKs including extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), p38 MAP kinase and c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK). Furthermore, CIT strongly inhibited DNA binding activity of NF-κB through the inhibition of phosphorylation and degradation of inhibitor of kappaB (IκB) as well as activator protein-1 (AP)-1 through the reduction of phosphorylation of c-Jun. These results demonstrate that CIT inhibits proinflammatory cytokinesproduction through the inhibition of both MAPKs and AKT-mediated IκB kinase (IKK) phosphorylation and subsequent inhibition of transcription factor NF-κB activation, thereby attenuating the production ofproinflammatory cytokines.

Life Science : Inula japonica extract inhibits mast cell-mediated allergic reaction and mast cell activation

( Yue Lu ),( Ying Li ),( Mei Hua Jin ),( Ju Hye Yang ),( Xian Li ),( Guang Hsuan Chao ),( Hyo Hyun Park ),( Young Na Park ),( Jong Keun Son ),( Eun Kyung Lee ),( Hyeun Wook Chang ) 영남대학교 약품개발연구소 2012 영남대학교 약품개발연구소 연구업적집 Vol.22 No.0

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The flowers of Inula japonica (Inulae Flos) have long been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of bronchitis, digestive disorders, and inflammation. However, the mechanisms underlying its anti-inflammatory effects remain yet to be elucidated. The objectives of this study were 1) to assess the anti-allergic activity of the ethanol extract of flowers of Inula japonica extract (IFE) in vivo, 2) to investigate the mechanism of its action on mast cells in vitro, and 3) to identify its major phytochemical compositions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anti-allergic activity of IFE was evaluated using mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) in vitro and a passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) animal model in vivo. The effects of IFE on mast cell activation were evaluated in terms of degranulation, eicosanoid generation, Ca(2+) influx, and immunoblotting of various signaling molecules. RESULTS: IFE inhibited degranulation and the generation of eicosanoids (PGD(2) and LTC(4)) in stem cell factor (SCF)-stimulated BMMCs. Biochemical analysis of the SCF-mediated signaling pathways demonstrated that IFE inhibited the activation of multiple downstream signaling processes including mobilization of intracellular Ca(2+) and phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), PLCγ1, and cPLA(2) pathways. When administered orally, IFE attenuated themast cell-mediated PCA reaction in IgE-sensitized mice. Its major phytochemical composition included three sesquiterpenes, 1-O-acetylbritannilactone, britanin and tomentosin. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that IFE modulates eicosanoids generation and degranulation through the suppression of SCF-mediated signaling pathways that would be beneficial for the prevention of allergic inflammatory diseases. Anti-allergic activity of IFE may be in part attributed particularly to the presence of britanin and tomentosin as major components evidenced by a HPLC analysis. Crown Copyright ⓒ2012 Published by Elsevier lreland Ltd. All rights reserved.