Protective effect of acacetin on sepsis-induced acute lung injury via its anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activity

Li-chao Sun,Hong-bo Zhang,Cheng-Dong Gu,Shi-Dong Guo,Gang Li,Rui Lian,Yao Yao,Guo-qiang Zhang 대한약학회 2018 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.41 No.12

Sepsis is a clinical syndrome with no effective protective or therapeutic treatments. Acacetin, a natural flavonoid compound, has anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects which can potentially work to reduce sepsis. We investigated the potential protective effect of acacetin on sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI) ALI and dissect out the underlying mechanisms. Mice were divided into five groups: a sham group, a sepsis-induced ALI group, and three sepsis groups pre-treated with 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg body weight of acacetin. We found that acacetin significantly attenuated sepsis-induced ALI, in histological examinations and lung edema. Additionally, acacetin treatment decreased protein and inflammatory cytokine concentration and the number of infiltrated inflammatory cells in BALF compared with that in the non-treated sepsis mice. Pulmonary myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was lower in the acacetin-pre-treated sepsis groups than in the sepsis group. The mechanism underlying the protective effect of acacetin on sepsis is related to the regulation of certain antioxidation genes, including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), superoxide dismutases (SODs), and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1).Taken together, our results indicate that acacetin pre-treatment inhibits sepsis-induced ALI through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activity, suggesting that acacetin may be a potential protective agent for sepsis-induced ALI.

Coefficient of Restitution and Kinetic Energy Loss of Rockfall Impacts

Li-Ping Li,Shang-qu Sun,Shucai Li,Qian-qing Zhang,Cong Hu,Shao-shuai Shi 대한토목학회 2016 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.20 No.6

This paper presents the results of the coefficient of restitution and the kinetic energy loss rate obtained by lab experiment, two parameters that are crucial for rockfall impact. However, various definitions of coefficient of restitution exist and the most appropriate one is still not formed and obtained. In addition, the energy variation during the rockfall impacts has important significance in practical design. In this research, two kind shapes of blocks including plate and strip were adopted in the laboratory testing and the block material was tested before, indicating that the material has sufficient strength to prevent shattering during the impact. Furthermore, an apparatus specifically built for this study was established including a base, a slope and a releasing device. The falling testing was performed using plate and strip block while the falling height as well as the slope angle and releasing height were altered during the tests in order to estimate the effect of each parameter on the coefficients of restitution and energy loss rate. It was observed that collision reflection angle is less than impact angle for all, suggesting energy loss in collision. Impact angle decreases with increasing slope angle while there was no obvious effect of releasing height and releasing angle on impact angle. The relevant coefficient of restitution was found to decrease with impact angle, and the kinetic energy loss rate increased. Finally, the kinetic energy before and after the impact was found to significantly affect the COR and energy loss rate and the results can provide basis for mitigation measures.

Effect of Glutamate on the Vestibulo-Solitary Projection after Sodium Nitroprusside-Induced Hypotension in Conscious Rats

Li, Li-Wei,Ji, Guang-Shi,Yang, Yan-Zhao,Ameer, Abdul Nasir,Kim, Min Sun,Park, Byung Rim,Jin, Yuan-Zhe The Korean Society of Pharmacology 2015 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.19 No.3

Orthostatic hypotension is most common in elderly people, and its prevalence increases with age. Attenuation of the vestibulo-sympathetic reflex (VSR) is commonly associated with orthostatic hypotension. In this study, we investigated the role of glutamate on the vestibulo-solitary projection of the VSR pathway to clarify the pathophysiology of orthostatic hypotension. Blood pressure and expression of both pERK and c-Fos protein were evaluated in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) after microinjection of glutamate into the medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) in conscious rats with sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced hypotension that received baroreceptor unloading via sinoaortic denervation (SAD). SNP-induced hypotension increased the expression of both pERK and c-Fos protein in the NTS, which was abolished by pretreatment with glutamate receptor antagonists (MK801 or CNQX) in the MVN. Microinjection of glutamate receptor agonists (NMDA or AMPA) into the MVN increased the expression of both pERK and c-Fos protein in the NTS without causing changes in blood pressure. These results indicate that both NMDA and AMPA receptors play a significant role in the vestibulo-solitary projection of the VSR pathway for maintaining blood pressure, and that glutamatergic transmission in this projection might play a key role in the pathophysiology of orthostatic hypotension.

Apolipoproteins as Differentiating and Predictive Markers for Assessing Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Small Cell Lung Cancer

Jian Shi,Huichai Yang,Xiaoyang Duan,Lihua Li,Lulu Sun,Qian Li,Junjun Zhang 연세대학교의과대학 2016 Yonsei medical journal Vol.57 No.3

Purpose: The present study aimed to investigate the value of apolipoproteins, including ApoA-1, ApoC-III, and ApoE, in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) as potential biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and cancer progression. Materials and Methods: Lung samples were collected from 89 patients with SCLC. Nineteen lung samples from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and 12 normal lung tissues were used as controls. Expression profiles of ApoA-1, ApoC-III, and ApoE in different samples were examined using immunohistochemical methods, and the expression levels were correlated with cancer types, treatment, and outcomes using chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests. Results: Expression of ApoA-1 and ApoC-III in SCLC was significantly different, compared with that in NSCLC and normal lung tissues, and was correlated with recurrence of SCLC. Patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery showed significantlyreduced expression of ApoA-1 and increased expression of ApoC-III and ApoE. Nevertheless, the expression levels of ApoA-1, ApoC-III, and ApoE were not correlated with SCLC staging. Conclusion: ApoA-1 and ApoC-III may be used as differentiating and predictive markers for SCLC. ApoA-1, ApoC-III, and ApoE may be used to monitor the efficacy of chemotherapy.

Chemerin reverses the malignant phenotype and induces differentiation of human hepatoma SMMC7721 cells

Ming Li,Pengcheng Sun,Kaikai Dong,Ye Xin,Aslee TaiLulu,Qinyu Li,Jing Sun,Min Peng,Ping Shi 대한약학회 2021 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.44 No.2

Chemerin exhibits an inhibitory eff ect on hepatocellularcarcinoma; however, the underlying mechanismis unclear. Here, low chemerin expression was confi rmedin samples of liver cancer patients and hepatoma cells. Chemerin altered hepatoma cell morphology but had noeff ect on normal hepatocytes. Chemerin inhibited proliferationof several human hepatoma cell lines. Real-time PCRdetection of hepatocellular carcinoma markers showed thatmRNA levels of albumin and A-type gamma-glutamyltransferase increased whereas those of alpha-fetoprotein,alkaline phosphatase, B-type gamma-glutamyl transferase,insulin-like growth factor II, and human telomerase reversetranscriptase decreased in chemerin-treated SMMC7721cells. Western blotting revealed that chemerin up-regulatedalbumin and vimentin expressions, and downregulated alpha-fetoprotein expression. Phosphorylated STAT3 wassignifi cantly up-regulated, whereas phosphorylated ERKand AKT were signifi cantly downregulated by chemerin. Chemerin decreased phosphorylated ERK and AKT expressionand the cell proliferation induced by PI3K activator 740Y-P but could not signifi cantly alter phosphorylated STAT3expression and the cell growth induced by STAT3 inhibitorNSC74859. In conclusion, chemerin reversed the malignantphenotype and induced SMMC7721 cell diff erentiation byinhibiting MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT signaling; growthinhibition by chemerin is not directly related to the JAK/STAT signaling pathway. Our study provides novel evidencethat chemerin could be utilized for liver cancer treatment.

Geochronology, geochemistry, Hf isotope, and electron probe analysis of the diorite in the Jianhei Mountain, East Kunlun Orogenic Belt, China, and their geological significance

Yaming Sun,Bile Li,Peng Li,Zhihua Li,Yufan Shi,Runtao Yu 한국지질과학협의회 2022 Geosciences Journal Vol.26 No.6

The spatial distribution of flow units and reductant within a sandstone uranium reservoir is very beneficial for exploring the uranium mineralization mechanism; however, such studies have been almost neglected. As such, this paper aims to provide the sedimentological interpretation and heterogeneity models of the sandstone of the Middle Jurassic Zhiluo Formation at Shiwan outcrop area, in the eastern Ordos Basin. The outcrops are sandstone-dominated subaqueous distributary channel successions, in which five distinct architectural elements are identified and interpreted: channel units (CU), downstream accretion elements (DA), lateral accretion elements (LA), sandy bedforms (SB) and no-channelized fine-grained sediments (NFS). Within the sandstone succession, six flow units are present in the middle and lower parts of CU, or the lower parts of DA and SB elements, with their geometry to be controlled by the fourth- or third-order bounding surfaces. Moreover, the carbonaceous debris-rich zones (CDZ) are places with the highest abundance of reductant and preserve exclusively upon the basal erosional surfaces of CU and DA elements. Based on those results, a prediction model is established and shows that the formation of interlayer oxidation zone is strongly selective and confined within the CU and DA elements. The favorable site of uranium mineralization is preferentially distributed in the transition zone between the front of flow unit and the CDZ.

Mixtures of Tea and Citrus maxima (pomelo) Alleviate Lipid Deposition in HepG2 Cells Through the AMPK/ACC Signaling Pathway

Ran An,Shuai Wen,Dong-Li Li,Qiu-Hua Li,Xing-Fei Lai,Wen-Ji Zhang,Ruo-Hong Chen,Jun-Xi Cao,Zhi-Gang Li,Qiu-Sheng Huang,Ling-Li Sun,Shi-Li Sun 한국식품영양과학회 2020 Journal of medicinal food Vol.23 No.9

Tea and citrus maxima are natural, medicinal homologous plants, typically used for making beverages, which have anticancer, antiobesity, and antioxidation properties. Green tea, yellow tea, and black tea were combined with citrus maxima to obtain green tea and Citrus maxima (GTCM), yellow tea and Citrus maxima (YTCM), and black tea and Citrus maxima (BTCM). The biochemical components of these mixtures were analyzed, and their possible effects and mechanisms on relieving liver lipid deposition were explored. The tea polyphenols, free amino acids, phenolamine ratio, and caffeine were comparable in YTCM and GTCM, being significantly higher than those in BTCM. In addition, the content of esterified catechins, nonesterified catechins, and total catechins in YTCM was significantly higher than those in GTCM and BTCM. All three mixtures of Citrus maxima tea significantly reduced lipid deposition in HepG2 cells, with GTCM and YTCM being slightly more effective than BTCM. Regarding the possible mechanism, Western blot analysis revealed that the three Citrus maxima tea mixtures could activate the AMPK/ACC signaling pathway, upregulate the expression of p-AMPK, p-ACC, and CPT-1 proteins, and downregulate the expression of SREBP1c and fatty acid synthase proteins to inhibit fat synthesis, thereby relieving lipid deposition in liver cells. In conclusion, as a novel and healthy beverage, Citrus maxima tea has the potential to alleviate liver lipid deposition, and further could be responsible for obesity treatment.

Foxl2 of the Hong Kong catfish (Clarias fuscus): cDNA cloning, tissue distribution and changes in gene expression towards methyltestosterone, estradiol and letrozole exposure of the fries during gonadal differentiation

Si-ping Deng,Chun-hua Zhu,Jing Sun,Wen-da Wang,Tian-li Wu,Hua-pu Chen,Shang-li Shi,Guang-li Li 한국유전학회 2015 Genes & Genomics Vol.37 No.8

Winged helix/forkhead transcription factor gene 2 (Foxl2) plays a crucial role during early ovarian development in fish. Sex steroids and aromatase inhibitors can regulate gonadal differentiation in teleosts. To address the role of Foxl2 in gonadal differentiation, foxl2 was isolated and characterized from the Hong Kong catfish, Clarias fuscus. Tissue distribution analysis by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) showed that the foxl2 mRNA was highest in the ovaries; moderate in the female pituitary and hypothalamus; but weak in the forebrain, liver, testis and male pituitary, with a sexually dimorphic pattern in which there was higher expression overall in females versus males. Treatment of the fries during the period of gonadal differentiation [2–30 days post hatching (dph)] with 17amethyltestosterone (MT), an aromatase inhibitor (letrozole) and 17b-estradiol (E2) affected the expression of foxl2. The expression of foxl2 was highest before gonadal differentiation (12 dph), but decreased significantly after gonadal differentiation (18-30 dph). In addition, MT and letrozole were able to down-regulate foxl2, but E2 up-regulated foxl2 during gonadal morphological differentiation. These results indicate the significant roles of Foxl2 in the gonadal differentiation of C. fuscus.

A New Dammarane-type Triterpene with PTP1B Inhibitory Activity from Gynostemma pentaphyllum

Li, Na,Tuo, Zhen-Dong,Xing, Shan-Shan,Qi, Shi-Zhou,Lee, Hyun-Sun,Cui, Long Korean Chemical Society 2014 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.35 No.10

New Safrole Oxide Derivatives: Synthesis and in vitro Antiproliferative Activities on A549 Human Lung Cancer Cells

Li-Ying Wang,Xiu-Hua Wang,Jia-Lian Tan,Shuai Xia,Heng-Zhi Sun,Jin-Wen Shi,Ming-Dong Jiang,Liang Fang,Hua Zuo,Gautam Dupati,장기완,신동수 대한화학회 2012 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.33 No.11

A number of novel small molecules, safrole oxide derivatives 4a-c, 6a-c, 9a-h, were synthesized by the reaction of safrole oxide with anilines 3 and 5, or its alkyl allyl ether derivative 7 with alkyl bromide 8 in moderate yields. The antiproliferative effects of all the target molecules on A549 cell growth were investigated and it was found that the 14 novel compounds could suppress A549 lung cancer cell growth. Among them, compound 6b was the most effective compound in inhibiting the proliferation of A549 cells.