The natural compound n-butylidenephthalide derived from Angelica sinensis inhibits malignant brain tumor growth in vitro and in vivo

The naturally-occurring compound, n-butylidenephthalide (BP), which is isolated from the chloroform extract of Angelica sinensis (AS-C), has been investigated with respect to the treatment of angina. In this study, we have examined the anti-tumor effects of n-butylidenephthalide on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain tumors both in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, GBM cells were treated with BP, and the effects of proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis were determined. In vivo, DBTRG-05MG, the human GBM tumor, and RG2, the rat GBM tumor, were injected subcutaneously or intracerebrally with BP. The effects on tumor growth were determined by tumor volumes, magnetic resonance imaging and survival rate. Here, we report on the potency of BP in suppressing growth of malignant brain tumor cells without simultaneous fibroblast cytotocixity. BP up-regulated the expression of Cyclin Kinase Inhibitor (CKI), including p21 and p27, to decrease phosphorylation of Rb proteins, and down-regulated the cell-cycle regulators, resulting in cell arrest at the G(0)/G(1) phase for DBTRG-05MG and RG2 cells, respectively. The apoptosis-associated proteins were dramatically increased and activated by BP in DBTRG-05MG cells and RG2 cells, but RG2 cells did not express p53 protein. In vitro results showed that BP triggered both p53-dependent and independent pathways for apoptosis. In vivo, BP not only suppressed growth of subcutaneous rat and human brain tumors but also, reduced the volume of GBM tumors in situ, significantly prolonging survival rate. These in vitro and in vivo anti-cancer effects indicate that BP could serve as a new anti-brain tumor drug.     

中国拟盘梗霉分类的研究——Ⅱ.寄生在伞形科上的一个新种

本文报告在四川西部采集的寄生于繖形科植物水芹(Oenanthe javanica(B1.)DG.)和卵叶水芹(O.rosthornii Diels)上拟盘梗霉属的一个新种——水芹拟盘梗霉(Bremiellaoenantheae Tao et Y.Qin sp.nov.)。它与在捷克和罗马尼亚发现的,寄生在缴形科Berulaerecta上的Bremiella baudysii较为接近,但根据它们的孢子囊形态、大小、长宽比及萌发的方式等方面的差别,可以将它们区分开。对新种作了拉丁文及汉文描述,并附有形态图。     

Comparative analysis of gene sequences encoding ammonia monooxygenase of Nitrosospira sp. AHB1 and Nitrosolobus multiformis C-71

Abstract DNA encoding ammonia monooxygenase from two phylogenetically related autotrophic nitrifying bacteria, Nitrosospira sp. AHB1 and Nitrosolobus multiformis C-71, was amplified by PCR. The resulting products were cloned into the vector pCR-Script. A continuous region of DNA of about 1.5 kb for strain AHB1 and 1.24 kb for N. multiformis C-71 was analysed. These comprised the major part of the gene amoA encoding the active site polypeptide and, directly downstream, the 5' portion of the amoB gene. The identity values for these sequences at the amino acid level were 93.0% for amoA and 96.1% for amoB . The corresponding values for the nucleic acid sequences were 86.7% and 88.8%, respectively. The identity of the 16S rRNA gene of strain AHB1 to that of N. multiformis C-71 was at least 98.5%. The different degree of sequence conservation between the 16S rDNA and the genes encoding for ammonia monooxygenase facilitates the application of the latter as a molecular tool for a fine-scale differentiation of autotrophic nitrifying bacteria, at the species or strain level, in both environmental and cultivation studies.     

中国菊科植物上拟盘梗霉属的新种和新组合*

拟盘梗霉属(Bremiella G.W.Wilson)霜霉,全世界已报道2个种。本文报道寄生于我国菊科植物上的1个新种及2个新组合。新种是寄生于茼蒿上的Bremiella multiformis Tao et Y.Qin sp.nov.。新组合是欧茼蒿上的Bremiella chrysanthemi-coronarii(Sawada)Tao comb.nov。及黄花蒿上的Bremiella artemisiae-annuae(Ling et M. C.Tai)Tao comb.nov.。对新种作了汉文及拉丁文描述,并附有形态图,还讨论了新种和新组合与近似种之间的区别。     

中国菊科植物上拟盘梗霉属的新种和新组合

拟盘梗霉属(Bremiella G.W.Wilson)霜霉,全世界已报道2个种。本文报道寄生于我国菊科植物上的1个新种及2个新组合。新种是寄生于茼蒿上的Bremiella multiformis Tao et Y.Qin sp.nov.。新组合是欧茼蒿上的Bremiella chrysanthemi-coronarii(Sawada)Tao comb.nov。及黄花蒿上的Bremiella artemisiae-annuae(Ling et M. C.Tai)Tao comb.nov.。对新种作了汉文及拉丁文描述,并附有形态图,还讨论了新种和新组合与近似种之间的区别。     

Orphan nuclear receptor, Nurr-77 was a possible target gene of butylidenephthalide chemotherapy on glioblastoma multiform brain tumor

The natural compound n -butylidenephthalide (BP), which is isolated from the chloroform extract of Angelica sinensis , has been investigated for its antitumoral effects on glioblastoma multiform (GBM) brain tumors both in vitro and in vivo . To determine the mechanism of BP-induced growth arrest and apoptosis, we examined BP-induced changes in gene expression by microarray screening using human GBM brain tumor cells. This analysis identified several BP-inducible genes, including the nuclear receptors NOR-1, Nurr1, and Nur77. Among these genes, Nur77 is particularly interesting because it plays an important role in the apoptotic processes in various tumor cell lines. BP was able to increase Nur77 mRNA and protein expression in a time-dependent manner. After BP treatment in GBM 8401 cells, Nur77 translocated from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, the cytochrome c was released from the mitochondria, and caspase 3 became activated. Furthermore, using Nur77 promoter-luciferase assay, BP increased Nur77 was AP1 related. Inhibition of BP-induced Nur77 expression by Nur77 short interfering RNA blocked BP-induced apoptosis in GBM 8401 cells, suggesting that the induction of Nur77 negatively affected GBM 8401 cell survival. In summary, our results suggest that up-regulation of Nur77 may explain the antitumoral activity of BP in brain tumor cells.