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Hua Sun

Publications and source records attributed to Hua Sun.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

The anti-hepatitis drug DDB chemosensitizes multidrug resistant cancer cells in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting P-gp and enhancing apoptosis.

PURPOSE: DDB (dimethyl-4,4'-dimethoxy-5,6,5'6'-dimethylene dioxybiphenyl-2,2'-dicarboxylate) is a synthetic hepatoprotectant which has been widely used to treat chronic viral hepatitis B patients in China for more than 20 years. In this study, we evaluated DDB as a multidrug resistance (MDR) chemosensitizing agent. METHODS: A panel of sensitive and resistant cancer cell lines were treated with various concentration of DDB, and the effect on chemosensitivity and accumulation of anticancer drugs; promotion of apoptosis and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression were determined by MTT (Dimethyl thiazolyl-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, fluorospectrometry and flow cytometry respectively. Drug resistance reversal activity of DDB was also examined in BALB/c nude mice bearing both acquired MDR human nasopharyngeal carcinoma KBv200 and parental KB xenografts. The effect of DDB on the pharmacokinetics of Dox and hematological toxicity induced by Dox was measured in ICR and C(57)/BL mice, respectively. RESULTS: DDB at nontoxic concentrations of 12.5, 25 and 50 microM partly reversed the resistance to vincristine, doxorubicin, paclitaxel in acquired MDR breast carcinoma MCF-7/Adr cells, KBv200 and intrinsic MDR human hepatocarcinoma Bel(7402) cells, whereas no chemosensitizing effect of DDB was observed in sensitive KB and MCF-7 cells. DDB increased the intracellular accumulation of doxorubicin and inhibited surface P-gp expression in MCF-7/Adr cells. Furthermore, it was found that DDB promoted doxorubicin-induced apoptosis of Bel(7402) cells through enhanced caspase-3 activation. Co-administration of DDB at 300 and 500 mg/kg orally to nude mice increased the antitumor activity of vincristine to KBv200 xenografts without a significant increase in toxicity. In contrast, Co-administration of DDB did not inhibit the growth of KB xenografts. DDB also markedly reduced the decrease of leukocytes in doxorubicin-treated C(57)/BL mice. Co-administration of DDB increased Dox concentration in ICR mice bearing S180 sarcoma, but no pharmacokinetical interaction with Dox was observed. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that DDB has MDR reversal activity by inhibiting P-gp and when used in combination with anti-cancer drugs, it could potentially be used as a clinical treatment for P-gp-mediated MDR cancers.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed2006

[Relationship between the adrenal function and the prognosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between the adrenal function and the prognosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). METHODS: One hundred and fifty-eight patients with ARDS were enrolled in this study and were divided into two groups based on the prognosis: survival group and death group. Every patient was given one shot of corticotrophin 250 microg intravenously, plasma cortisol level was detected by radio-immunoassay before the shot (T0) and 30 minutes (T30) and 60 minutes (T60) after. And meanwhile the following parameters in the patients were recorded: age, APACH II, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, PaO(2)/FiO(2), arterial pH, hemoglobin, platelets and WBC, the number of failed organ and 28-day mortality. Relative adrenal insufficiency was defined as the difference between T0 and the highest value of T30 or T60 (DeltaTmax) <or= 248.4 nmol/L. RESULTS: The total 28-day mortality was 54.4% (86/158) and the total incidence of relative adrenal insufficiency was 42.7% (68/158). The incidence of relative adrenal insufficiency in death group was significantly higher than that in survival group (62.8% vs 19.4%, P < 0.01). The 28-day mortality in patients complicated with relative adrenal insufficiency was significantly higher than that in those did not (76.5% vs 36.8%, P < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve for DeltaTmax was 0.655. With the multivariate analysis, the number of failed organ and relative adrenal insufficiency were independent risk factors of the death in patients with ARDS. CONCLUSIONS: Adrenal function is valuable in predicting the prognosis of the ARDS.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Anti-tumor immunity against nasopharyngeal carcinoma by means of LMP2A-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes induced by dendritic cells.

OBJECTIVE: Adoptive immunotherapy with specific cytotoxicity T lymphocytes (CTLs) induced by dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with tumor antigens plays a crucial role in the immunity against tumor. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and efficacy of latent membrane protein 2A (LMP2A)-specific CTLs immunity against nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: DCs were generated by culturing the monocytes purified from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in cytokine cocktail containing granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). The phenotype of mature DCs was analyzed by fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS). Mature DCs transfected with EBV-LMP2A recombinant adenovirus were co-cultured with autologous PBMCs to induce LMP2A-specific CTLs. The expression of the surface antigens such as CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD56 on CTLs were detected by FACS. The specific cytotoxicity of CTLs on target CNE cells expressing EBV-LMP2A was confirmed using cytotoxicity assay. The anti-tumor effect of LMP2A-specific CTLs in vivo was assessed in the mice tumor models implanted with CNE cells expressing EBV-LMP2A. RESULTS: Mature DCs expressed typically morphologic characteristics and high level of surface markers (CD1a, CD83, CD86, CD80 and HLA-DR). LMP2A-transfected DCs could induce LMP2A-specific CTLs consisting of a majority of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Cytotoxicity assay confirmed that the LMP2A-specific CTLs displayed significant cytotoxicity on target CNE cells compared with the controls. The study in vivo demonstrated that the treatment using these specific CTLs retarded the growth of established tumor in the treated mice. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that DCs transfected with EBV-LMP2A recombinant adenovirus can elicit LMP2A-specific CTLs that have a specific killing effect on NPC in vitro and in vivo. The results provide experimental basis for the further immunotherapy of NPC in clinical trails.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed2006

Comparative analysis of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) of ginseng leaf.

The expressed sequence tags (ESTs) referenced in this report are the first transcriptomes in a leaf from a half-shade ginseng plant. A cDNA library was constructed from samples of the leaves of 4-year-old Panax ginseng plants, which were cultured in a field. The 2,896 P. ginseng cDNA clones represent 1,576 unique sequences, consisting of 1,167 singletons and 409 contig sequences. BLAST comparisons of the cDNAs in GenBank's non-redundant databases revealed that 2,579 of the 2,896 cDNAs (89.1%) exhibited a high degree of sequence homology to genes from other organisms. The majority of the identified transcripts were found to be genes related with energy, metabolism, subcellular localization, and protein synthesis and transport. The chlorophyll a/b-binding protein ESTs in the ginseng leaf samples manifested a substantially higher level of expression than was observed in other plant leaves. The ESTs involved in ginsenoside biosynthesis were also identified and discussed.

Expressed Sequence Tags↗
PubMed2006

[Effects and mechanism of pentoxifylline on the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in the rat cardiac myocytes after lipopolysaccharide challenge].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) on the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) of rat cardiac myocytes after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge in vitro, and to evaluate the protective effect of PTX on cardiac myocytes and its mechanism. METHODS: Cultured cardiac myocytes were randomly divided into three groups: control group, LPS group and PTX protection group. No drug was given in the control group. In LPS group, a part of cardiac myocytes were stimulated with 100 microg/L of LPS for 2, 4, 6, 8 hours, respectively, and the others were stimulated with 10, 50, 100 microg/L LPS, respectively, for 6 hours. Expression of ICAM-1, nuclear factor-KappaB (NF-KappaB) p65 and NF-KappaB inhibitor-alpha (IKappaB-alpha) in cardiac myocytes was respectively measured with enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA), immunohistochemistry, and Western blot. The expression of ICAM-1 in cardiac myocyte was also determined after the addition of 50, 100, 200 mg/L of PTX before LPS challenge. RESULTS: The intensity of expression of ICAM-1 was highly dependent on the stimulation of LPS in dose depending and time-depending manner. The stimulation quickly resulted in activation of NF-KappaB p65 to translocate into nuclei. This process peaked at 1 hours and then declined. The expression of IKappaB-alpha was depressed at first, then elevated. With the addition of PTX, the expression of ICAM-1 and NF-KappaB p65 was depressed, and the expression of IKappaB-alpha was elevated. CONCLUSION: PTX may have a protective effect on the cardiac myocytes against LPS injury through inhibiting the pathway of NF-KappaB, which regulates the production of ICAM-1.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

[Problems and countermeasures for development of acupuncture and moxibustion sciences].

It is the problems facing acupuncture and moxibustion medicines in our country that the course of modernization has a tendency to deviating guidance of TCM theories; the course of internalization lacks legislative guarantee; the kinds of diseases treated decrease year by year; professional structures shrink, with lower therapeutic fee, and acupuncture and moxibustion are divorced from each other, making it develop slowly; income of acupuncturists is low so as to a large number of talent outflow; international talent for acupuncture and moxibustion lack systematical and scientific training. Therefore, you should grasp the development opportunity of internalization of acupuncture and moxibustion, taking difficult and complicated diseases as focal point, develop scientific studies of standardization, further increasing therapeutic effects, and increasing investment and training of talents, and other measures for strengthening construction of acupuncture and moxibustion sciences.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed2006

[Anti-nasopharyngeal carcinoma effect in vivo and in vitro of cytotoxicity T lymphocyte induced by Ad5-latent membrane protein 2A].

OBJECTIVE: To study the biological characteristics of cytotoxicity T lymphocyte (CTL) induced by dendritic cell (DC) transfected with the Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 2A (EBV-LMP2A) recombinant adenovirus. To establish nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) animal models expressing LMP2A and investigate the anti-tumor effect of LMP2A specific CTL in vivo. METHODS: The mononuclear cells were isolated from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and cultured with the cytokines [granulocyto-monocyte colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha TNF-alpha]. The expression of surface markers on mature DC was detected by fluorescence activated cell sorter FACS. Mature DC were transfected with LMP2A recombinant adenovirus. Under the help of interleukin-2 (IL-2), LMP2A specific CTL were induced by coculturing LMP2A-transfected DC with autologous PBMC. The population of CTL was detected by FACS. NPC animal models were constructed by implanting CNE cells expressing LMP2A subcutaneously into BALB/c nude mice. After intra-tumoral injection of LMP2A specific CTL, the size of tumor was measured. The tumors were removed after 30 d and subjected to histological examination. RESULTS: Mature DC displaying typical characteristics of morphology and phenotype were obtained from monocytes cultured in the medium containing GM-CSF, IL-4 and TNF-alpha. The LMP2A specific CTL induced by transfected DC were composed of mainly CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. The NPC animal models were constructed three weeks after implanting CNE cells. The study in vivo indicated that the tumors treated with LMP2A specific CTL grew slowly compared with control. Tumor volume of treated groups was significantly smaller than that of controls. The histological sections showed local necrosis and infiltration of lymphocyte in tumor tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Typically mature DC could be generated in vitro by culturing monocytes with the cytokines. LMP2A-specific CTL could be induced by LMP2A transfected DC in vitro. NPC mice models could be constructed by implanting CNE cells. LMP2A specific CTL could inhibit the growth of implanted tumor and produce an anti-tumor effect in vivo.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed2006

[Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy: a clinical study of 381 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To find the clue of making accurate diagnosis for thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) by analyzing 381 cases. METHODS: We analyzed 381 cases with TAO diagnosed in Ruijing Hospital to summarize the characteristics of clinical symptoms and signs, the type and duration of thyroid disorders, the image study of computerized tomography and to know the effect of some influencing factors on the course and severity of TAO. RESULTS: (1) In the 381 cases of TAO, only 86.4% had hyperthyroidism, as TAO could be associated with hypothyroidism or euthyroidism. Ophthalmopathy occurred simultaneously with the development of hyperthyroidism or followed it 18.8 months later in the majority of the patients. (2) Upper eyelid retraction was the commonest sign of the lids. 120 cases complained of double vision. 89 had eye movement restriction, especially to upper direction. Mean extent of proptosis was 17.9 mm. 14.5% had high intraocular pressure. The extraocular muscles involvement was characteristically bilateral and multiple. The inferior rectus was the most frequently involved with enlargement. (3) Only 19.2% cases received corticosteroids, retrobulbar irradiation or surgery because of the severity of ocular symptoms and signs. CONCLUSIONS: TAO way occur with the development of hyperthyroidism simultaneously or follow it later. The disease has its own clinical characteristics and natural course. Making accurate diagnosis earlier is essential for instituting treatment and predicting prognosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

[Observation on clinical therapeutic effect of scalp acupuncture combined with body acupuncture on apoplectic hemiplegia].

OBJECTIVE: To search for the best method for increasing clinical therapeutic effect on apoplectic hemiplegia. METHODS: One hundred and twenty cases of apoplectic hemiplegia were randomly divided into three groups in order of visiting. Group A (n = 33) were treated by scalp acupuncture combined with consciousness-restoring resuscitation method, group B (n = 60) by scalp acupuncture combined with traditional acupuncture, and group C (n = 27) by traditional acupuncture. The clinical therapeutic effects were evaluated according to the scores of manner, speech, motor function of limbs, and so on. RESULTS: Three cases were basically cured, 20 were markedly effective, 7 were effective, with a total effective rate of 90.9% in the group A; and the corresponding figures were 7, 28, 21 cases and 93.3%, respectively in group B with no significant difference between the group A and B (P > 0.05); and 7 cases were markedly effective, 11 effective with a total effective rate of 66. 7% in the group C with a significant difference as compared with the group A and B (P < 0.05, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Scalp acupuncture combined with consciousness-restoring resuscitation method and scalp acupuncture combined with traditional acupuncture have a similar therapeutic effect on apoplectic hemiplegia, which is superior to that of traditional acupuncture.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed2006

[Inhibitory effect of dimethyl dicarboxylate biphenyl on invasion of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line MHCC97-H with high metastasis potential and its mechanisms].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Invasion and metastasis is the main cause of the poor prognosis and high mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Inhibiting invasion and metastasis is an effective approach to reduce the development and mortality of HCC. Dimethyl dicarboxylate biphenyl (DDB) is an old anti-hepatitis drug used in clinics. This study was to assess the inhibitory effect of DDB on adhesion and invasion of HCC cell line MHCC97-H with high metastasis potential, and explore its possible mechanism. METHODS: MTT assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of DDB to MHCC97-H cells and the inhibitory effect of DDB on the adhesion of MHCC97-H cells to laminin (LN) and fibronectin (FN). The inhibitory effect of DDB on the invasion of MHCC97-H cells was detected by transwell chamber experiment. The mRNA levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), nm23-H1, and urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The secretion and expression of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) were analyzed by ELISA and flow cytometry, respectively. RESULTS: DDB at non-cytotoxic concentrations (10, 50 and 100 micromol/L) obviously inhibited the adhesion of MHCC97-H cells to LN and FN. The inhibition rates of the invasion of MHCC97-H cells were 25.8% and 32.3% after treatment of 50 and 100 micromol/L DDB, respectively; 50 and 100 micromol/L DDB also decreased the mRNA levels of VEGF, nm23-H1, and uPAR in MHCC97-H cells. The inhibition rates of AFP secretion of MHCC97-H cells were 16.5%, 17.5%, and 48.5% after treatment of 50, 100, and 200 micromol/L DDB, respectively; it also decreased the expression of AFP in MHCC97-H cells. CONCLUSION: DDB, at non-cytotoxic concentrations, may obviously suppress the invasion of MHCC97-H cells through inhibiting VEGF, nm23-H1, and uPAR expression.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗
PubMed2005

Chemopreventive effect of bicyclol on malignant transformation of WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells and its effect on related signal transduction in vitro.

The preventive effect of bicyclol, a novel anti-hepatitis drug, on hepatocarcinogenesis and its mechanism of action was studied in vitro. The results clearly indicated that bicyclol at non-toxic doses prevented the malignant transformation of WB-F344 cells (WB cells) induced by 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC) and 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA). Furthermore, bicyclol inhibited proliferation of quiescent WB cells stimulated by TPA and blocked TPA-induced down-regulation of the gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC). Immunoblot analysis demonstrated that bicyclol exhibited a remarkable reversing effect on TPA-induced cPKC-alpha and phosphor-ERK1/2 expressions. In addition, bicyclol attenuated TPA-induced IkappaB-alpha degradation. In conclusion, our results support that bicyclol has chemopreventive action against hepatocarcinogenesis through inhibition of related signal transduction.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Detection and analysis of anti-latent membrane protein 2A antibodies in the sera of patients with Epstein-Barr virus associated malignancies.

BACKGROUND: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) associated malignancies with a Type II latency gene expression pattern, such as Hodgkin's disease, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), frequently express the EBV antigen latent membrane protein 2A (LMP2A). We expected to establish a highly expressing LMP2A yeast cell strain and get the high quality LMP2A protein, which was used for detection, analysis and characterization of its antibodies in various patients' sera of EBV associated malignancies. METHODS: The plasmid pPICZalphaA-LMP2A containing the full length of LMP2A cDNA was constructed and transformed to Pichia pastoris GS115 to express LMP2A protein. After fermentation and purification, the LMP2A protein was used as an antigen to detect anti-LMP2A antibodies (Abs) in the sera of patients with EBV-associated malignancies in enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or Western-blot. RESULTS: LMP2A was expressed successfully with an expected molecular weight of approximately 54 kD and Abs to LMP2A were strikingly specific to NPC. Two-thirds or more sera from NPC patients were positive for anti-LMP2A immunoglobulin G (IgG) Abs. The antibodies were absent from the sera of other EBV-associated diseases except a small fraction of the gastric carcinoma. Comparing anti-viral capsid Ags (VCA) IgA and LMP2A IgA titers in the sera from 76 NPC patients, only 55% were positive for anti-LMP2A IgA Abs while 70% were positive for anti-VCA IgA. However, we found that 3 sera negative for VCA IgA were positive for LMP2A IgA. CONCLUSION: The results suggested the potential significance of LMP2A specific Abs for the diagnosis of EBV-associated malignancies, especially NPC.

Antibodies, Viral↗
PubMed2005

Chemopreventive effect of dimethyl dicarboxylate biphenyl on malignant transformation of WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells.

AIM: To study the potential chemopreventive effect of dimethyl dicarboxylate biphenyl (DDB), an anti-hepatitis drug, on hepatocarcinogenesis in vitro. METHODS: The anti-carcinogenesis effect of DDB was assessed on a two-stage chemical oncogenesis model induced by 3-methylcholanthrene and 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (TPA) with WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells (WB-F344 cells) in vitro. A soft-agar colony formation assay was used to determine the tumorigenic potential of the transformed WB-F344 cells. The gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) was detected using the scrape loading/dye transfer technique. RESULTS: DDB at 1 micromol/L, 2 micromol/L, and 4 micromol/L significantly prevented the malignant transformation of WB-F344 cells induced by 3-methylcholanthrene and TPA. The average number of transformed foci decreased dramatically by 10.0%, 37.2%, and 47.4%, respectively. In soft agar, a remarkable decrease in colony numbers was observed in transformed cells treated with 2 micromol/L and 4 micromol/L DDB. DDB at 1 micromol/L, 2 micromol/L, and 4 micromol/L inhibited the downregulation of GJIC induced by TPA in a dose-dependent manner. The GJIC recovered to 25.6%, 34.6%, and 44.9%, respectively, of the control WB-F344 cells by DDB. CONCLUSION: DDB has a potential chemopreventive effect on hepato-carcinogenesis induced by carcinogens in vitro.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

[Expression and significance of EBV LMP2A in nasopharyngeal cancer specimens].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) latent membrane protein 2A (LMP2A) in tumor tissues of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) and discuss the possibility (feasibility) that LMP2A was selected (to select LMP2A ) as a target antigen in immunologic treatment of NPC. METHOD: The expression of EBV LMP2A was detected in the specimens of 40 patients with NPC and 38 cases with nasopharyngeal inflammation by S-P immunohistochemical methods. RESULT: Of the 40 NPC specimens, 36 cases expressed LMP2A. There was no significant relationship between the expression of LMP2A and the histological differentiation of NPC. Thirty-three of the 38 cases with nasopharyngeal inflammation showed negative expression of LMP2A. There was a significant difference of LMP2A expression between NPC and nasopharyngeal inflammation. CONCLUSION: The expression of EBV LMP2A is confirmed in the NPC specimens,and the negative results are seen in the majority of the inflammation cases. There is a possibility of applying LMP2A target antigen to induce specific immunoreaction to kill tumor cells of NPC.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

[Alterations in myocardial function in early stage of sepsis in rabbits].

OBJECTIVE: To study the alterations in myocardial function in early stage of sepsis. METHODS: Twenty rabbits were randomly divided into two groups. In the control group (n=10) only laparotomy was done, and in the sepsis group the animals received cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). In both groups left ventricular catheter was placed via right internal carotid artery. Left ventricular systolic peak pressure (LVSP), maximal positive change in filling pressure versus time (+dp/dt max), maximal negative change in filling pressure versus time (-dp/dt max) were monitored, and serum troponin I (TnI) was measured per hour for five times (0, 1, 2, 3, 4 hours after operation). RESULTS: Compared to the basic levels, LVSP, +dp/dt max and -dp/dt max decreased significantly an hour after CLP in sepsis group (all P<0.05), with the tendency of decrease with elapse of time. Serum TnI increased significantly an hour after CLP in sepsis group, and continued to increase with the passage of time. In contrast, no significant change was observed in control group. CONCLUSION: Cardiac muscle is injured, and myocardial systolic and diastolic functions are depressed in early stage of sepsis in rabbit model.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

[Bio-environmental effects and index of remediation of multi-heavy metals polluted red soils].

A pot experiment was conducted to study the bio-environmental effects of lime and organic manure application on red soil and paddy soil derived from red sandstone and polluted by multi-heavy metals. The results indicated that liming decreased the content of soil bioavailable Cu and Pb extracted with 0.05 mol/L HCl, while applying hog manure increased that of Cd. Soil bioavailable heavy metals (HMs) showed an apparent relationship with soil dissolved carbon. Applying lime and organic manure has a positive physiological effect on soil microorganisms and sweet potato. Many indexes, i.e. the number of soil actinomycetes, the content of HMs in the root of sweet potato, showed the remarkable relationship with soil bioavailable Cu, Cd and Pb. However, some indexes of soil and plant only relative to one or two soil bioavailable HMs. For example, soil microbial biomass carbon correspondent with soil bioavailable Cd. Only the content of Cu in the stem and leaf showed a notable relationship with soil effective Cu. Soil effect Cu and Pb rather Cd showed remarkable relation with mean transpiration rate, total biomass and leaf area index of sweet potato. The daily mean value in the seedling stage showed a stronger relationship with soil bioavailable Cu and Pb. Therefore these two physiological indexes can reflect the change of soil metallic contamination.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗
PubMed2004

[Effects of colchicine on synthesis and excretion of cytokines and extracellular matrix by human renal fibroblasts].

OBJECTIVE: Renal interstitial fibrosis is the final common pathway leading to end-stage renal failure for progressive renal disease of various types. The present study was undertaken to add to the knowledge on colchicine's antiinflammatory and antifibrotic properties confirmed by both human and experimental studies. As the main effector cells, fibroblasts have a central role in the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis. This study aimed to investigate the effects of colchicine on the synthesis and excretion of cytokines transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and extracellular matrix (collagen III, collagen IV) in human renal fibroblast. METHODS: Various concentrations of colchicine (5.0 micromol/L, 10.0 micromol/L, 20.0 micromol/L, 40.0 micromol/L) were used to pretreat human embryo renal fibroblasts for 1 hour which were cultured in vitro and then stimulated by 10.0 microg/ml of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). After 18 hours, these fibroblasts and their supernatant were collected. The expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA, IL-1beta mRNA in the cells was studied by using RT-PCR, and the excretion of TGF-beta1, IL-1beta, collagen III and collagen IV by the fibroblasts was assessed by ELISA respectively. RESULTS: (1) By pure stimulation with 10.0 micro g/ml LPS, the expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA and IL-1beta mRNA of fibroblasts was up-regulated 3 times (66.1 +/- 1.6 vs. 22.3 +/- 2.0, q = 590.5, P = 0.002) and 4.7 times (22.0 +/- 2.2 vs. 4.7 +/- 0.8, q = 106.8, P = 0.009), respectively. The protein excretion of TGF-beta1 and IL-1beta was remarkably increased as well compared with the control group [TGF-beta1: (516 +/- 14) pg/ml vs. (420 +/- 5) pg/ml (q = 80.3, P = 0.012), IL-1beta: (3.4 +/- 0.3) pg/ml vs. (0.3 +/- 0.1) pg/ml (q = 297.9, P = 0.003)]. (2) Colchicine could inhibit the expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA and protein in a dose-dependent manner. IL-1beta mRNA and protein were both up-regulated by colchicine. (3) LPS could not stimulate the excretion of extracellular matrix by fibroblasts, but the excretion of collagen III and collagen IV was down regulated by colchicine in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: (1) The expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA and the excretion of TGF-beta1 protein in the fibroblasts was significantly suppressed by colchicine, while the expression of IL-1beta mRNA and the excretion of IL-1beta protein were enhanced. (2) Colchicine has significant inhibitory effect on the excretion of extracellular matrix such as collagen III and collagen IV in fibroblasts.

Colchicine↗