Cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing properties of auriculoside A in tumor cells

The C21-steroidal glycoside auriculoside A (1), recently isolated from the roots of Cynanchum auriculatum, was found to inhibit the growth of several human tumor cell lines and to induce apoptosis in human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells. Compound 1 was evaluated for its in vitro cytotoxicity against MCF-7, HO-8910, and Bel-7402 cells, and for its in vivo antitumor effects on implanted sarcoma-180 (S180) tumors in mice. It showed significant, concentration-dependent inhibition of the cancer cells, both in vitro and in vivo. MCF-7 Cells exposed to 1 displayed typical morphological apoptosis characteristics such as cytoplasm contraction and nuclear-chromatin condensation. Flow-cytometric analysis showed that the MCF-7 cell cycle was arrested at the G0/G1 phase. When treated with 40 microg/ml of 1 for 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively, the apoptotic rates of the cells were ca. 5, 8, and 18.5%, respectively.     

A new therapeutic approach in Alzheimer disease: some novel pyrazole derivatives as dual MAO-B inhibitors and antiinflammatory analgesics

The increasing life expectancy in our population makes Alzheimer's disease (AD) a growing public health problem. There is a great need to find a way to prevent and delay the disease. It was shown that monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibitors and antiinflammatory agents might be effective in treating AD. Therefore, a novel series of 1-thiocarbamoyl-3-substituted phenyl-5-(2-pyrrolyl)-4,5-dihydro-(1H)-pyrazole derivatives as promising MAO-B inhibitors was synthesized and investigated for the ability to inhibit selectively the activity of the A and B isoforms of monoamine oxidase (MAO). Most of the synthesized compounds showed high activity against both the MAO-A (compounds 3e-3h) and the MAO-B (compounds 3i-3l) isoforms. All the synthesized compounds were also tested for their in vivo antiinflammatory activity by two different bioassays namely, carrageenan-induced oedema and acetic acid-induced increase in capillary permeability in mice. In addition, analgesic and ulcerogenic activities were determined. The combined antiinflammatory data from in vivo animal models showed that compound 3k exhibited anti-inflammatory activity comparable to that of indomethacin with no ulcerogenic effects. Since compound 3k exhibits both antiinflammatory-analgesic activity and MAO-B inhibition, it needs further detailed studies.     

L-天冬酰胺酶工程菌株培养条件及稳定性

L-天冬酰胺酶工程菌株的酶活和表达水平受菌体生物量和诱导时间的影响。在生物量Ａ６００03×１０左右,热诱导4h酶活力和表达水平可达到较高水平。葡萄糖对酶的生成有阻遏作用,当葡萄糖浓度大于025%时,对工程菌酶的合成造成阻遏。确定了工程菌培养的培养基、pH值、接种量等因素。重组质粒pASN在\%E.coli\% JM105,TG1和AS1357等宿主菌中具有很好的稳定性,工程菌培养50代以上重组质粒保留90%以上,在LB和M\|3培养基中也较稳定。     

成骨细胞的培养及阿伦磷酸钠对其的影响

碱性磷酸酶(ALP)活性、骨钙素、Ⅰ型胶原等通常作为骨分化的特异性指标。骨形成蛋白、转化生长因子-β、地塞米松等是促进骨髓基质细胞分裂增殖并定向分化为成骨细胞的特异性因素。矿化液诱导骨髓基质细胞转化为成骨细胞是相关领域学者普遍采用的方法。阿伦磷酸钠在一定浓度下不影响成骨细胞的增殖,甚至可能促进成骨细胞增殖或成熟分化。本文综述了该领域的最新研究进展。     

博莱霉素同系物对癌基因表达的影响

应用快速酶联免疫法（ELISA）及Northern印迹杂交法研究了博莱霉素（BLM）同系物诱导癌基因表达的作用．通过检测P21和c－myc蛋白表达的改变和药物在RNA的转录水平上对癌基因表达的影响,证明BLM能够抑制c－myc基因的表达．这种抑制作用不仅发生在蛋白质的翻译水平,而且可能发生在RNA的转录水平上．BLMA6及A2对Ras基因亦有极显著的抑制,提示其亦为以p21蛋白为靶点的抗癌抗生素．A6、A2与A5之间的区别提示在同系物之间可能存在不同的抗癌机理     

两个不同抗性黄瓜品种和云南黑籽南瓜根系分泌物对黄瓜枯萎病发生的影响

研究了黄瓜品种津研4号（感枯萎病）、津春4号（抗枯萎病）和云南黑籽南瓜根系分泌物对津研4号黄瓜枯萎病发生的影响及其原因.结果表明:感病品种根系分泌物处理的黄瓜枯萎病发病早,接种后第15天病株率显著高于对照,至第20天时病株率与对照相近;而抗病品种根系分泌物处理的病株率一直显著小于对照.感病品种根系分泌物浇灌的植株株高、鲜质量降低,根系活力下降、电导度（伤害度）增加,而抗病品种和云南黑籽南瓜根系分泌物处理对植株影响较小.感病品种根系分泌物促进了黄瓜枯萎病菌的生长,而抗病品种和云南黑籽南瓜根系分泌物则抑制了病菌生长.     

透明颤菌血红蛋白基因表达对金色链霉菌生长代谢的影响

利用四环素抗性基因启动子在金色链霉菌中表达透明颤菌血红蛋白基因。在1m3发酵罐中研究了工程菌株的生长代谢特性。在溶解氧充足的条件下,透明颤菌血红蛋白表达,对金色链霉菌生长代谢未产生明显影响,工程菌株与参比菌株的生长代谢特性基本一致,工程菌株和参比菌株金霉素最终浓度分别为22905u/mL、22896u/mL。在低溶解氧条件下,透明颤菌血红蛋白的表达,可促进金色链霉菌菌体生长、菌丝活力保持和金霉素的合成：工程菌菌体浓度比参比菌株高5％～10％,产物合成提高11.4％。     

Zebrafish as a potential model organism for drug test against hepatitis C virus

Screening and evaluating anti- hepatitis C virus (HCV) drugs in vivo is difficult worldwide, mainly because of the lack of suitable small animal models. We investigate whether zebrafish could be a model organism for HCV replication. To achieve NS5B-dependent replication an HCV sub-replicon was designed and created with two vectors, one with HCV ns5b and fluorescent rfp genes, and the other containing HCV's 5'UTR, core, 3'UTR and fluorescent gfp genes. The vectors containing sub-replicons were co-injected into zebrafish zygotes. The sub-replicon amplified in liver showing a significant expression of HCV core RNA and protein. The sub-replicon amplification caused no abnormality in development and growth of zebrafish larvae, but induced gene expression change similar to that in human hepatocytes. As the amplified core fluorescence in live zebrafish was detectable microscopically, it rendered us an advantage to select those with replicating sub-replicon for drug experiments. Ribavirin and oxymatrine, two known anti-HCV drugs, inhibited sub-replicon amplification in this model showing reduced levels of HCV core RNA and protein. Technically, this method had a good reproducibility and is easy to operate. Thus, zebrafish might be a model organism to host HCV, and this zebrafish/HCV (sub-replicon) system could be an animal model for anti-HCV drug screening and evaluation.     

Culture media conditioned by heat-shocked osteoblasts enhances the osteogenesis of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells

Osteogenic cells differentiated from bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) hold much promise in bone tissue engineering and reconstructive surgery. There is a dire need for well-defined and efficient protocols to promote the osteogenesis of ex vivo cultured MSC. Hence, this study investigated whether a combination of chemical stimuli (ascorbic acid, beta-glycerophosphate and dexamethasone) and culture media conditioned by a human foetal osteoblast cell line (hFOB) had any synergistic effect on the osteogenesis of MSC. Conditioned media with or without prior heat shock treatment (42 degrees C for 1 h) of the hFOB cell line, were collected and tested on rabbit MSC cultures, in the presence and absence of chemical stimuli. Osteogenic differentiation of MSC was assessed on both day 14 and 21 of ex vivo culture. The results showed conclusively that conditioned media promoted osteogenesis of MSC, which was further enhanced by prior heat shock-treatment of the hFOB cells, as well as by the presence of chemical stimuli. Among all experimental groups, the combination of culture medium conditioned by heat shocked hFOB cells together with chemical stimuli, exhibited the highest level of calcium mineralization, as assessed by Von Kossa staining. This provides clear evidence of a synergistic effect of conditioned media, heat shock and chemical stimuli. It is hoped that the data may contribute to the development of a more well-defined and efficient in vitro culture protocol to promote the osteogenesis of MSC for both clinical and non-clinical applications.