Coordinate regulation of acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase and fatty acid synthetase in liver cells of the developing chick in vivo and in culture.

The activities of hepatic acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthetase undergo two distinct types of development in the perinatal chick. The first increase begins prior to hatching, continues after hatching in the starved chick, and is independent of feeding. The second increase is caused by feeding and is reversed by starvation (A. G. Goodridge (1973) J. Biol. Chem.248, 1932–1938). We have purified these enzymes to homogeneity and raised antibodies to them in rabbits. Using immunochemical techniques we have established that the activity changes in both types of development were a function of changes in the concentrations of enzyme proteins. All activity changes were accompanied by similar changes in the relative rates of synthesis of the two enzymes. Regulation of the activities of acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthetase was further characterized in liver cells from 19-day-old embryos maintained in culture in a chemically defined medium. After 3 days in culture in the absence of hormones, the activities of the enzymes increased significantly with respect to the activities of the freshly prepared cells. Addition of either insulin or triiodothyronine alone caused additional small increases. Insulin plus triiodothyronine caused 8- and 15-fold increases in acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthetase, respectively, relative to cells incubated without hormones. In the presence of insulin alone glucagon had no effect on the activity of either enzyme. In the presence of insulin plus triiodothyronine, glucagon inhibited the increase in enzyme activities by about 75%. The results of quantitative immunoprecipitin tests indicated that activity changes caused by the various hormones were functions of changes in the concentrations of the enzyme proteins. The effects of the hormones on enzyme activities were accompanied by comparable or larger changes in the relative rates of synthesis of the enzymes. Under a wide variety of experimental conditions, both in vivo and in culture, the relative rates of synthesis of acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthetase are regulated coordinately. Under some of these conditions, synthesis of malic enzyme also is regulated coordinately with the syntheses of acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthetase. The common intracellular mechanisms underlying the coordinate control remain to be elucidated.     

Ginsenoside Re impacts on biotransformation products of ginsenoside Rb1 by Cellulosimicrobium cellulans sp. 21 and its mechanisms

Ginsenoside Rg3, a known anti-cancer agent, is usually prepared by enzyme-mediated and acid hydrolysis of ginsenoside Rb1 and Rd. In this study, we used the bacterium Cellulosimicrobium cellulans sp. 21 to transform Rb1 into Rg3. When Rb1 was used as the sole substrate, the transformation products included Rg3, Rh2, C-K and PPD. However, when Rb1 and Re were mixed, the yield of Rg3 was significantly higher, indicating that Re attenuates the activity of β-1,2-glucosidase secreted by C. cellulans sp. 21. β-1,2-glucosidase hydrolyzes the β-1,2-glucose moiety at the C-3 position of Rb1, but Re dose not modify enzymes that produce Rg3 by hydrolyzing glucose at the C-20 position in aglycon. We also tested the inhibitory effects from various ginsenosides on β-1,2-glucosidase, and discovered that sugar chains played key roles in inhibiting β-1,2 glucosidase activity, whereas aglycones of protopanaxadiol and protopanaxatriol had little inhibitory effects. Some sugar chains with different linkages, such as C-20, C-3 and C-6, exhibited different inhibitory effects. Overall, our findings demonstrate that a combination of substrates, in addition to microorganism-secreted enzymes, can be used for selective biotransformation. This approach provides a novel strategy for natural product preparations via microbial transformation.     

Interactions of tumor-associated fetal antigens with rat histocompatibility antigens

The physical interactions of fetal antigens (tumor-associated fetal antigens; TAFA-I, TAFA-II, and TAFA-III) with rat histocompatibility antigens were studied. TAFA-I and TAFA-III are present on syngeneic (NBR) and allogeneic (Fisher F344, Wistar Furth, and White Buffalo) rat embryo fibroblasts and on tumor cells. TAFA-II was found only on NBR (syngeneic) rat embryo fibroblasts and on NBR tumor cells. Antibody-blocking experiments were used to examine the fetal and histocompatibility antigen topography on cell membranes of tumor cells transformed by chemical and viral carcinogens. Precoating the tumor cells with alloantisera inhibited the subsequent adsorption of anti-NBR embryo, anti-TAFA-I, and anti-TAFA-III sera, but not anti-TAFA-II serum. Immunofluorescent cocapping experiments indicated that TAFA-I and TAFA-III, as well as other fetal antigens found on cells from 14-day gestation NBR embryos cocap with histocompatibility antigens when tested on syngeneic embryo fibroblasts and on sarcoma cells. TAFA-I cocapped with White Buffalo (Buf) strain rat histocompatibility antigens on herpes simplex Type II virus-transformed cells. The specificity of the TAFA-histocompatibility interactions was confirmed by demonstrating that the different anti-TAFA sera did not have contaminating antiviral antigen specificity; and also that these interactions did not occur on normal adult fibroblasts or spleen cells.     

Ginsenoside Rg1 provides neuroprotection against blood brain barrier disruption and neurological injury in a rat model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion through downregulation of aquaporin 4 expression

Ginsenoside Rg1 is regarded as one of main bioactive compounds responsible for pharmaceutical actions of ginseng with little toxicity and has been shown to have possibly neuroprotective effects. However, the mechanism of its neuroprotection for acute ischemic stroke is still elusive. The purpose of present study is thus to assess the neuroprotective effects of the ginsenoside Rg1 against blood brain barrier disruption and neurological injury in a rat model of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, and then to explore the mechanisms for these neuroprotective effects by targeting aquaporin 4. Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion. Neurological examinations were performed by using Longa's 5-point scale. Evans blue dye was used to investigate the effects of ginsenoside Rg1 on blood brain barrier permeability. Immunohistochemical analysis and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to assess aquaporin 4 expression. As a result, general linear model with repeated measures analysis of variance for neurological scores at 5 repeated measures showed that ginsenoside Rg1-treated group could significantly reduce the changing trend of neurological deficit scores when compared with the middle cerebral artery occlusion model group (p < 0.05). Compared with the middle cerebral artery occlusion model group, ginsenoside Rg1 group has significantly decreased Evans blue content and reduced aquaporin 4 expression at each time point (p < 0.05). In conclusion, ginsenoside Rg1 as a ginsenoside neuroprotective agent could improve neurological injury, attenuate blood brain barrier disruption and downregulate aquaporin 4 expression induced by cerebral ischemia/reperfusion insults in rats.     

人参皂苷Rb1对H9N2流感病毒诱导急性肺损伤小鼠抗氧化酶的影响

目的探讨人参皂苷Rb1(G-Rb1)对肺损伤小鼠抗氧化酶活力的影响。方法将195只6~8周龄BALB/c小鼠随机分为对照组、肺损伤模型组(ALI组)、人参皂苷Rb1组(G-Rb1组),每组65只。ALI与G-Rb1组采用100μL SI A/swine/HeBei/012/2008/猪流感病毒(H9N2 SIV)经鼻腔接种建立急性肺损伤模型,同时G-Rb1组腹腔注射人参皂苷Rb1液0.1 mL,剂量为10 mg/(kg·bw),连续7d;对照组鼻腔接种相同剂量生理盐水稀释的正常鸡胚尿囊液。观察临床症状、肺病理组织学变化,计算小鼠肺湿干重比、肺系数,检测小鼠肺组织T-SOD、MPO、CAT、GSH-PX活力。结果从第2天末开始ALI组大部分小鼠出现高度的精神沉郁,呼吸极度困难,采食量明显减少,体重下降。肺部明显水肿、淤血和出血,炎性细胞渗出,对照组小鼠各器官未见异常。肺系数及肺干湿重比逐渐升高,第8天开始下降,第14天趋于正常。G-Rb1组症状明显轻于攻毒组,症状出现较缓,症状较轻,死亡时间延迟,死亡率降低。在第4、6、8天,与对照组比G-Rb1组和ALI组T-SOD及CAT活力显著降低(P0.01),组间比,G-Rb1组明显高于ALI组(P0.05);在各时间点,与对照组比,ALI组GSH-PX活力显著降低(P0.01),而GRb1组则显著升高(P0.01),实验组组间差异显著(P0.01)。结论 G-Rb1在一定浓度范围内,具有提高小鼠抗氧化酶活力作用,一定程度上改善H9N2猪流感病毒对肺组织的氧化损伤。     

人参皂甙Rg3对糖尿病肾病大鼠生化指标及病理的影响

目的:探讨人参皂苷Rg3对糖尿病肾病大鼠生化指标及病理改变的影响。方法:30只SD雄性大鼠按随机数字表法分为正常对照组、模型对照组和人参皂甙Rg3组。采用链脲佐菌素建立糖尿病肾病大鼠模型。造模成功后,Rg3治疗组每天以Rg3(0.5mg/kg)灌胃,余予以等量蒸馏水灌胃。30天后分别测3组大鼠血糖、24小时尿蛋白、血肌酐,并予以HE染色行肾组织活检。结果:与正常组比较,模型对照组大鼠血糖、24小时尿蛋白、血肌酐明显升高,肾小球体积增大,基底膜增厚、细膜基质增多,肾小球内炎细胞浸润(P0.01)。与模型对照组比较,人参皂甙Rg3组血糖、24小时尿蛋白、血肌酐明显降低,肾小球基底膜增厚程度减轻,细胞外基质堆积减少,差异具有显著性(P0.05)。结论:人参皂甙Rg3能显著降低糖尿病大鼠血糖、血肌酐、24 h尿蛋白,能改善其肾脏的病理损害。     

人参总皂甙应用及改善细胞冻存的研究进展

人参作为一种名贵的药材,具有多方面的作用,近年来关于人参的成分之一人参总皂甙的研究也越来越多。大量实验研究表明,人参总皂甙对改善细胞冻存方面也有很大的作用。组织细胞经深低温冷冻技术处理后其活性能获得有效的保存,在液氮(-196℃)温度下,细胞、组织内各种酶的活力及代谢很低,几乎为零,生命处于所谓的"停滞"状态,在该状态下细胞的活性能得到最大限度的保存。目前常用的冷冻剂有海藻糖、丙二醇、丙三醇以及二甲基亚砜等。但这些冷冻剂均属于化学药剂,在一定程度上会对纤维细胞造成损伤,从而影响细胞的活性。人参总皂甙是从人参中提取出来的有效成分,其具有增强人体表面细胞活性,延缓细胞衰老的作用,为此本文将对人参总皂甙用于细胞冻存的效果进行综述,旨在为细胞的冻存技术提供参考依据。     

人参皂甙Rd通过调节SNI大鼠背根神经节钠、钾电流抑制痛敏

目的:观察人参皂甙Rd(ginsenoside Rd)对大鼠坐骨神经分支选择性损伤(spared sciatic nerve injury,SNI)引起的痛敏的影响及其作用机制。方法:坐骨神经分支选择性损伤术后7天,观察腹腔注射不同浓度人参皂甙Rd后大鼠后足的机械性缩足反应阈值(paw withdrawl mechanical threshold,PWMT)的变化;在术后7天,急性分离并取出大鼠腰4和腰5段背根节,对整节DRG上的中小型神经元运用全细胞膜片钳技术进行记录。结果:坐骨神经分支选择性损伤术后7天,大鼠出现明显的机械性痛敏,腹腔注射5 mg/ml和10 mg/ml的人参皂甙Rd能剂量依赖性的翻转大鼠机械性痛敏;坐骨神经分支选择性损伤能明显地增大SNI大鼠DRG中小型神经元上的钠电流以及减小电压依赖性钾电流,而100μM人参皂甙Rd能有效翻转该钠、钾电流的变化。结论:人参皂甙Rd能有效地改善坐骨神经分支选择性损伤引起的机械性痛敏,其机制可能与人参皂甙Rd明显地调节SNI大鼠DRG中小型神经元上的电压依赖性钠、钾电流有关。     

Ginsenoside Rh2 induces ligand-independent Fas activation via lipid raft disruption

Lipid rafts are plasma membrane platforms mediating signal transduction pathways for cellular proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Here, we show that membrane fluidity was increased in HeLa cells following treatment with ginsenoside Rh2 (Rh2), as determined by cell staining with carboxy-laurdan (C-laurdan), a two-photon dye designed for measuring membrane hydrophobicity. In the presence of Rh2, caveolin-1 appeared in non-raft fractions after sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation. In addition, caveolin-1 and GM1, lipid raft landmarkers, were internalized within cells after exposure to Rh2, indicating that Rh2 might disrupt lipid rafts. Since cholesterol overloading, which fortifies lipid rafts, prevented an increase in Rh2-induced membrane fluidity, caveolin-1 internalization and apoptosis, lipid rafts appear to be essential for Rh2-induced apoptosis. Moreover, Rh2-induced Fas oligomerization was abolished following cholesterol overloading, and Rh2-induced apoptosis was inhibited following treatment with siRNA for Fas. This result suggests that Rh2 is a novel lipid raft disruptor leading to Fas oligomerization and apoptosis.     

人参皂苷Rg1对脑缺血再灌注大鼠Caspase-3蛋白表达的影响

目的探讨人参皂苷Rg1对脑缺血再灌注大鼠脑组织半胱氨酸天冬氨酸酶3(Caspase-3)表达的影响。方法将大鼠随机分为假手术组、模型组、人参皂苷Rg110、20、40mg/kg组、尼莫地平组,每组10只。采用线栓法栓塞大脑中动脉2h制作大鼠脑缺血再灌注模型;观察再灌注22h后神经功能缺损评分;应用免疫组化、免疫印迹法检测大脑皮层缺血半暗带Caspase-3的表达。结果(1)假手术组、模型组、人参皂苷Rg110、20、40mg/kg组和尼莫地平组神经功能缺损评分分别为0、2.8±0.9、2.1±0.9、1.5±0.7、1.3±1.1、1.5±0.7,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。人参皂苷Rg120、40mg/kg组与模型组比较,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);人参皂苷Rg110mg/kg组与尼莫地平组比较,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);人参皂苷Rg120、40mg/kg组与尼莫地平组比较,差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。(2)免疫组化和免疫印迹结果显示各组大鼠皮层缺血半暗带均有Caspase-3的表达,其中假手术组仅有少量表达,模型组表达最多。与模型组比较,人参皂苷Rg1各剂量组及尼莫地平组Caspase-3表达量减少,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);与尼莫地平组比较,人参皂苷Rg110mg/kg组的Caspase-3表达量显著增高,40mg/kg组显著降低(P0.05),而20mg/kg组则差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论人参皂苷Rg1防治脑缺血再灌注的机制与抑制脑组织Caspase-3表达有关,且以高剂量效果较好。