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Context: Dendrobium candidum (D.candimum) widely is a functional drug. The curative effect of D. candidum on lupus nephritis has been studied in vivo. Materials and Method: The DBA/2 and B6D2F1 mice were used for this in vivo experiment. The 50% effective dose (ED50) was used to check the effective concentration for this study. Then the SCr, BUN, TC, TG, IL-6, IL-12, TNF-α, and IFN-γ levels were determined by kits. The output of urine protein was determined by means of Coomassie Brilliant Blue, and the auto-antibody dsDNA was determined with titer plate technology and indirect immunofluorescence. The NF-κB, IκB-α, TGF-β1, Fas, and FasL expressions were measured by RT-PCR and western blot assay. The component analysis of D. candidum was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance. Results: Based on the ED50 result at 329 mg/kg, 200 and 400 mg/kg doses were chosen for this study. SCr, BUN, TC and TG levels of 400 mg/kg D. candidum mice were lower than control mice, TP and ALB levels were higher than control mice. The control and 400 mg/kg treated mice tested positive for dsDNA at the end of sixth and tenth week after the experiment began. The glomerular number of 400 mg/kg treated mice was more than control group. Treatment with 400 mg/kg D. candidum reduced IL-6, IL-12, TNF-α and IFN-γcytokine levels as compared to control mice. D. candidum decreased NF-κb, TGF-β1, Fas, FasL and increased IκB-α expressions in kidney tissue. There were 11 compounds in dry D. candidum, these compounds might make the curative effects of lupus nephritis. Conclusion: D. candidum showed a potential curative effect on lupus nephritis. It could be used as a health medicine on lupus nephritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The endometrial regenerative cell (ERC) is a novel type of adult mesenchymal stem cell isolated from menstrual blood. Previous studies demonstrated that ERCs possess unique immunoregulatory properties in vitro and in vivo, as well as the ability to differentiate into functional hepatocyte-like cells. For these reasons, the present study was undertaken to explore the effects of ERCs on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute liver injury (ALI). Methods: An ALI model in C57BL/6 mice was induced by administration of intraperitoneal injection of CCl4. Transplanted ERCs were intravenously injected (1 million/mouse) into mice 30 min after ALI induction. Liver function, pathological and immunohistological changes, cell tracking, immune cell populations and cytokine profiles were assessed 24 h after the CCl4 induction. Results: ERC treatment effectively decreased the CCl4-induced elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities and improved hepatic histopathological abnormalities compared to the untreated ALI group. Immunohistochemical staining showed that over-expression of lymphocyte antigen 6 complex, locus G (Ly6G) was markedly inhibited, whereas expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was increased after ERC treatment. Furthermore, the frequency of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell populations in the spleen was significantly down-regulated, while the percentage of splenic CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) was obviously up-regulated after ERC treatment. Moreover, splenic dendritic cells in ERC-treated mice exhibited dramatically decreased MHC-II expression. Cell tracking studies showed that transplanted PKH26-labeled ERCs engrafted to lung, spleen and injured liver. Compared to untreated controls, mice treated with ERCs had lower levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α but higher level of IL-10 in both serum and liver. Conclusions: Human ERCs protect the liver from acute injury in mice through hepatocyte proliferation promotion, as well as through anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) activation mediates renal injury in regional ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) models generated by clamping renal pedicles. However, it remains unclear whether TLR4 is causal in the kidney injury following global I/R induced by cardiac arrest (CA) and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The present study used wild-type (C3H/HeN) and TLR4-mutant (C3H/HeJ) mice to produce the CA/CPR model. CA was induced by injection of cold KCl and left untreated for different time periods. After resuscitation (72 h), the level of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr), as well as histological changes in renal tissue were assessed to evaluate the severity of acute kidney injury (AKI). The expression of TLR4, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and growth-regulated oncogene-β (GRO-β) in kidney tissues was detected. The results demonstrated that the levels of Scr and BUN increased significantly in C3H/HeN and C3H/HeJ mice after CPR. CPR also resulted in increased expression of TLR4, ICAM-1, GRO-β and MPO in a CA-duration dependent manner. However, there was decreased expression of ICAM-1, GRO-β and MPO in C3H/HeJ mice compared with that in C3H/HeN mice. C3H/HeJ mice were resistant to AKI as demonstrated by the minor changes in renal histology and function following CPR. In conclusion, mice suffered from AKI after successful CPR and severe AKI occurred in mice with prolonged CA duration. TLR4 and its downstream signaling events that promote neutrophil infiltration via ICAM-1 and GRO-β may be important in mediating inflammatory responses to renal injury after CPR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of the Shu-Yu capsule (SYC), a Traditional Chinese Medicine formulation, on premenstrual syndrome (PMS) depression and the ratio of glutamate (Glu) to γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in a rat model of PMS depression. Rats were randomly divided into a control group, model group, fluoxetine group, SYC group and saikosaponins (SS) group. The therapeutic effect of SYC was evaluated using a sucrose preference test (SPT), open field test (OFT) and body mass following four days of treatment. Hippocampal extracellular fluid was collected by microdialysis and the levels of Glu and GABA in the microdialysate were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. The results revealed that, compared with the control group, the sucrose preference coefficient (SC%), total score of OFT and body mass of the model group were significantly lower (P<0.01, P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). However, the sucrose preference coefficient, total score of OFT and body mass of the SYC group were all significantly increased compared with the model group (P<0.05). Furthermore, SYC inhibited the decrease of the Glu/GABA ratio in the hippocampus of rats with PMS depression. It was concluded that SYC effectively improved the symptoms of PMS depression, possibly by inhibiting the dysregulation of the Glu/GABA balance in the central nervous system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendrobium candidum Wall ex Lindl. (D. candidum) is a traditional Chinese medicine widely used in Asia. The present study has showed that D. candidum exerted an anti-metastatic effect in mice injected with 26-M3.1 colon carcinoma cells. D. candidum showed the most marked tumor inhibitory rate of 64.5% at a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight (b.w). The mRNA and protein expression of Bax in lung tissue of D. candidum-treated mice was shown to be higher as compared with control mice, whereas the mRNA and protein expression of Bcl-2 showed the opposite trend. Decreased mRNA and protein expression of MMP and increased expression of TIMPs was demonstrated in lung tissues by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot assays. D. candidum reduced the serum cytokine levels of IL-6, IL-12, TNF-α and IFN-γ to a greater extent as compared with the control mice, and administration of 400 mg/kg b.w. resulted in a lower serum cytokine levels as compared with mice treated with 200 mg/kg b.w. Eleven compounds were in the D. candidum leaf, of which the functional contents may help to generate novel treatments for the prevention of lung metastases. The results of the present study have demonstrated that D. candidum had a potent in vivo antitumor and anti-metastatic effect in BALB/c mice injected with 26-M3.1 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Insect tea is a particular drink or health product in China and it is also used as Chinese medicine now. Its functional effects need to be proved. Materials and Methods: The ICR mice buccal mucosa cancer model was established by injecting the mice with U14 cells and mice was treated with insect tea. Tumor volumes and lymph node metastasis rates were determined. And the buccal mucosa tissues and cancer cervical lymph node were also checked by histology test, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and western blot assays. Results: The tumor volumes for the group treated with insect tea mice was smaller than those from the control mice. The sections of buccal mucosa cancer tissue showed that the canceration of insect tea mice was weaker than control mice. Insect tea significantly induced apoptosis in buccal mucosa tissues by upregulating Bax, caspases, and downregulating Bcl-2. Nuclear factor-?B, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and COX-2 gene, was significantly downregulated by insect tea, demonstrating its anti-inflammatory properties. Insect tea also exerted a great anti-metastasis effect on tissues as demonstrated by decreased expression of Matrix metalloproteinases genes and increased expression of tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases. Conclusion: The highest concentration of 1600 mg/kg oral gavage and 400 mg/mL smear insect tea showed the best anticancer effects. Based on the results, insect tea showed the strong in vivo buccal mucosa cancer preventive effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Helicobacter pylori, a gram-negative bacterial pathogen that expresses a strong urease activity, is associated with the development of gastroduodenal disease. Urease B subunit, one of the two structural subunits of urease, was expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) strain. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Helicobacter pylori urease B subunit on the immune responses in mice by subcutaneous immunization. Methods: The mice were immunized and boosted with Helicobacter pylori urease B subunit antigen subcutaneously three times with 2-week intervals between the immunizations and boosters. The mice in the control group were immunized with PBS. The adjuvant group received PBS containing complete/incomplete freund's adjuvant identical to antigen group without Helicobacter pylori urease B subunit antigen. Four weeks after the final booster, all the mice were sacrificed. Blood was collected on d 0, 14, 28 and 56 before immunization, booster and sacrifice, respectively. Immediately after sacrifice, gastric liquid and spleen were collected for antibody and cytokine analyses. Results: Urease B subunit increased the concentrations of serum and gastric anti-urease B antigen specific IgG, and the levels of interleukin-4 and interferon-? in splenocytes of the mice (P < 0.05). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that recombinant urease B subunit can induce systemic and local immune responses in mice by subcutaneous immunization, which might be used as the effective component of vaccine against Helicobacter pylori. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendrobium candidum Wall ex Lindl. was purchased for the evaluation of azoxymethane (AOM)- and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colon carcinogenesis in C57BL/6 mice. The body weights of the AOM- and DSS-induced colon cancer control groups were lighter than those of the untreated mice. D. candidum increased the body weights of the mice compared with the control group, and reduced the levels of the serum proinflammatory cytokines, IL-6, IL-12, TNF-α and IFN-γ, compared with the colon cancer control group. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses of the apoptotic-related genes, bax, bcl-2, caspase-3 and caspase-9, were performed in the colon tissues. The high-concentration D. candidum group showed a significant increase in the mRNA and protein expression levels of bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9 and decreased expression levels of bcl-2 compared with the control group. These results indicate that D. candidum Wall ex Lindl. exhibits preventive effects against colon carcinogenesis in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antitumor activity of Juemingzi (Cassia tora L.) was investigated in mice that were fed various concentrations of the compound. Although mice fed a low concentration (50 mg/kg b.w.) of Juemingzi exhibited a high tumor weight, the higher feeding concentrations (100 and 200 mg/kg b.w.) were associated with lower weight tumors. The growth rate of mouse splenocytes that were treated with 200 mg/kg b.w. Juemingzi was determined using a 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. This rate of proliferation was higher than that achieved with 100 and 50 mg/kg b.w. Juemingzi treatment by fetal bovine serum, lipopolysaccharide or concanavalin A. Compared with the lower concentrations of Juemingzi treatment, 200 mg/kg b.w. Juemingzi significantly (P<0.05) reduced aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase and blood urea nitrogen levels. A high concentration of Juemingzi (200 mg/kg b.w.) significantly (P<0.05) increased the levels of tumor necrosis factor-a and interleukin-lβ cyto-kines compared with those of the mice that were treated with 100 and 50 mg/kg b.w. Juemingzi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of resistant starch 3 (RS3) as a carrier for stachyose on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in C57BL/6 mice. RS3 microspheres carrying stachyose (RS3 + stachyose) were produced and evaluated as a potentially improved colitis therapy for this study. The body weights of the mice treated with RS3 + stachyose were higher compared with those of DSS-treated control mice. RS3 + stachyose reduced the levels of the serum pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α to a greater extent compared with the same concentration of stachyose combined with ordinary starch (stachyose + starch). Histopathological examination of sections of colon tissues showed that the RS3 + stachyose group recovered well from colitis; however, the tissue sections of the stachyose + starch group presented necrosis to a more serious degree. These results suggest that stachyose with an RS3 carrier has better preventative effects on colitis than stachyose alone in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical evidence suggests that cortical excitability is increased in depressives. We investigated its cellular basis in a mouse model of depression. In a modified version offorced swimming (FS), mice were initially forced to swim for 5 consecutive days and then were treated daily with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (riMS) or sham treatment for the following 4 weeks without swimming. On day 2 through day 5, the mice manifested depression-like behaviors. The next and last FS was performed 4 weeks later, which revealed a 4 week maintenance of depression-like behavior in the sham mice. In slices from the sham controls, excitability in cingulate cortex pyramidal cells was elevated in terms of membrane potential and frequencies of spikes evoked by current injection. Depolarized resting potential was shown to depend on suppression oflarge conductance calcium-activated potassium (BK) channels. This BK channel suppression was confirmed by measuring spike width, which depends on BK channels. Chronic riMS treatment during the 4 week period significantly reduced the depression-like behavior. In slices obtained from the riMS mice, normal excitability and BK channel activity were recovered. Expression of a scaffold protein Homer1a was reduced by the FS and reversed by riMS in the cingulate cortex. Similar recovery in the same behavioral, electrophysiological, and biochemical features was observed after chronic imipramine treatment. The present study demonstrated that manifestation and disappearance of depression-like behavior are in parallel with increase and decrease in cortical neuronal excitability in mice and suggested that regulation ofBK channels by Homer1a is involved in this parallelism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palivizumab, a humanized murine monoclonal antibody that recognizes antigenic site II on both the prefusion (pre-F) and postfusion (post-F) conformations of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) F glycoprotein, is the only prophylactic agent approved for use for the treatment of RSV infection. However, its relatively low neutralizing potency and high cost have limited its use to a restricted population of infants at high risk of severe disease. Previously, we isolated a high-potency neutralizing antibody, 5C4, that specifically recognizes antigenic site Ø at the apex of the pre-F protein trimer. We compared in vitro and in vivo the potency and protective efficacy of 5C4 and the murine precursor of palivizumab, antibody 1129. Both antibodies were synthesized on identical murine backbones as either an IgG1 or IgG2a subclass and evaluated for binding to multiple F protein conformations, in vitro inhibition of RSV infection and propagation, and protective efficacy in mice. Although 1129 and 5C4 had similar pre-F protein binding affinities, the 5C4 neutralizing activity was nearly 50-fold greater than that of 1129 in vitro. In BALB/c mice, 5C4 reduced the peak titers of RSV 1,000-fold more than 1129 did in both the upper and lower respiratory tracts. These data indicate that antibodies specific for antigenic site Ø are more efficacious at preventing RSV infection than antibodies specific for antigenic site II. Our data also suggest that site Ø-specific antibodies may be useful for the prevention or treatment of RSV infection and support the use of the pre-F protein as a vaccine antigen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]