Sericin from discarded silkworm cocoons of silk reeling has been used in different fields, such as cosmetology, skin care, nutrition, and oncology. The present study established a rat model of type 2 diabetes by conse...Sericin from discarded silkworm cocoons of silk reeling has been used in different fields, such as cosmetology, skin care, nutrition, and oncology. The present study established a rat model of type 2 diabetes by consecutive intraperitoneal injections of low-dose (25 mg/kg) streptozotocin. After intragastrical perfusion of sericin for 35 days, blood glucose levels significantly declined, and the expression of neurofilament protein in the sciatic nerve and nerve growth factor in L4-6 spinal ganglion and anterior horn cells significantly increased. However, the expression of neuropeptide Y in spinal ganglion and anterior horn cells significantly decreased in model rats. These findings indicate that sericin protected the sciatic nerve and related nerve cells against injury in a rat type 2 diabetic model by upregulating the expression of neurofilament protein in the sciatic nerve and nerve growth factor in spinal ganglion and anterior horn cells, and downregulating the expression of neuropeptide Y in spinal ganglion and anterior horn cells.展开更多
Heating,Ventilation,andAir Conditioning(HVAC)systems are critical formaintaining thermal comfort in office environments which also crucial for occupant well-being and productivity.This study investigates the impact of...Heating,Ventilation,andAir Conditioning(HVAC)systems are critical formaintaining thermal comfort in office environments which also crucial for occupant well-being and productivity.This study investigates the impact of integrating ceiling fans with higher air conditioning setpoints on thermal comfort and energy efficiency in office environments.Field measurements and questionnaire surveys were conducted to evaluate thermal comfort and energysaving potential under varying conditions.Results show that increasing the AC setpoint from 25○C to 27○C,combined with ceiling fan operation,reduced power consumption by 10%,achieving significant energy savings.Survey data confirmed that 85%of participants reported consistent thermal sensations across all conditions,with ceiling fans effectively compensating for higher setpoints through enhanced air circulation.CFDsimulations revealed that mediumspeed ceiling fan operation produced the most uniformairflowdistribution,with an average air velocity of 0.45 m/s,and minimized temperature variations,ensuring balanced thermal conditions.Temperature analysis showed a reduction in hotspots and cold zones,maintaining an average temperature deviation of less than±0.5○C.Predicted Mean Vote(PMV)evaluations at a 27○C setpoint indicated improved thermal comfort,with average PMV values around−0.3,corresponding to a“neutral”thermal sensation.These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of integrating ceiling fans with HVAC systems in achieving energy efficiency and occupant comfort,offering a sustainable approach to reducing AC energy consumption in office environments.展开更多
Water pollution of the Yangtze River in China became one of challenges that the government is facing today. Increasing numbers of petrochemical plants were built along the river in past decades, and numbers of organic...Water pollution of the Yangtze River in China became one of challenges that the government is facing today. Increasing numbers of petrochemical plants were built along the river in past decades, and numbers of organic chemicals were discharged into the river. Our goal was to establish in vitro system on rat sertoli cells, spermatogenic cells and leydig cells to investigate the reproductive toxicity potential induced by organic extracts from petrochemical effluents. Our results showed that the organic extract depressed the viability (p 〈 0.01) and destroyed the plasma membrane integrity of sertoli cells and spermatogenic cells to a certain degree. Accordingly, proportion of early apoptotic sertoli cells and late apoptotic spermatogenic cells increased significantly. Although significant morphological changes were not detected for leydig cells, the extract was observed to inhibit their testosterone production (p 〈 0.01). Sertoli cells and sperrnatogenic cells appeared to be more sensitive and maybe the main targets of the key toxins. These results suggested that the in vitro system on rat testicular cells may be useful to predicate reproductive toxicity potential of organic extracts from petrochemical effluents. More attention should be paid to the petrochemical effluents, because long-term accumulation of these organic compounds in organisms may cause spermatogenesis malfunction and testosterone reduction.展开更多
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) show the great promise for the treatment of a variety of diseases because of their self-renewal and multipotential abilities. MSCs are generally cultured on two-dimensional (2D) subst...Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) show the great promise for the treatment of a variety of diseases because of their self-renewal and multipotential abilities. MSCs are generally cultured on two-dimensional (2D) substrate in vitro. There are indications that they may simultaneously lose their sternness and multipotentiality as the result of prolonged 2D culture. In this study, we used three-dimensional (3D) collagen scaffolds as rat MSCs cartier and compared the properties of MSCs on 3D collagen scaffolds with monolayer cultured MSCs. The results demonstrated that collagen scaffolds were suitable for rat MSCs adherence and proliferation. More importantly, compared to MSCs under 2D culture, 3D MSCs significantly maintained higher expression levels of stemness genes (Oct4, Sox2, Rex-1 and Nanog), yielded high frequencies of colony-forming units-fibroblastic (CFU-F) and showed enhanced osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation efficiency upon induction. Thus, 3D collagen scaffolds may be beneficial for expanding rat MSCs while maintaining the stem cell properties in vitro.展开更多
Icaritin, a prenylflavonoid derivative from Epimedium Genus, has been shown to exhibit many pharmacological and biological activities. However, the function and the underlying mechanisms of icaritin in human non-small...Icaritin, a prenylflavonoid derivative from Epimedium Genus, has been shown to exhibit many pharmacological and biological activities. However, the function and the underlying mechanisms of icaritin in human non-small cell lung cancer have not been fully elucidated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anticancer effects of icaritin on A549 cells and explore the underlying molecular mechanism. The cell viability after icaritin treatment was tested by MTT assay. The cell cycle distribution, apoptosis and reactive oxygen species(ROS) levels were analyzed by flow cytometry. The mRNA and protein expression levels of the genes involved in proliferation and apoptosis were respectively detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The results demonstrated that icaritin induced cell cycle arrest at S phase, and down-regulated the expression levels of S regulatory proteins such as Cyclin A and CDK2. Icaritin also induced cell apoptosis characterized by positive Hoechst 33258 staining, accumulation of the Annexin V-positive cells, increased ROS level and alteration in Bcl-2 family proteins expression. Moreover, icaritin induced sustained phosphorylation of ERK and p38 MAPK. These findings suggested that icaritin might be a new potent inhibitor by inducing S phase arrest and apoptosis in human lung carcinoma A549 cells.展开更多
Poor quality embryos discarded from in vitro fertilization(IVF)laboratories are good sources for deriving human embryonic stem cell(hESC)lines.In this study,166 poor quality embryos donated from IVF centers on day 3 w...Poor quality embryos discarded from in vitro fertilization(IVF)laboratories are good sources for deriving human embryonic stem cell(hESC)lines.In this study,166 poor quality embryos donated from IVF centers on day 3 were cultured in a blastocyst medium for 2 days,and 32 early blastocysts were further cultured in a blastocyst optimum culture medium for additional 2 days so that the inner cell masses(ICMs)could be identified and isolated easily.The ICMs of 17 blastocysts were isolated by a mechanical method,while those of the other 15 blastocysts were isolated by immunosurgery.All isolated ICMs were inoculated onto a feeder layer for subcultivation.The rates of ICM attachment,primary ICM colony formation and the efficiency of hESC derivation were similar between the ICMs isolated by the two methods(P〉0.05).As a result,four new hESC lines were established.Three cell lines had normal karyotypes and one had an unbalanced Robertsonian translocation.All cell lines showed normal hESC characteristics and had the differentiation ability.In conclusion,we established a stable and effective method for hESC isolation and culture,and it was confirmed that the mechanical isolation was an effective method to isolate ICMs from poor embryos.These results further indicate that hESC lines can be derived from poor quality embryos discarded by IVF laboratories.展开更多
Cultured Schwann cells were treated with 5.6 mM and 50 mM glucose alternating every 8 hours to simulate intermittent high glucose. The present study analyzed the neuroprotective effects of 1, 10 and 100 μM ginsenosid...Cultured Schwann cells were treated with 5.6 mM and 50 mM glucose alternating every 8 hours to simulate intermittent high glucose. The present study analyzed the neuroprotective effects of 1, 10 and 100 μM ginsenoside Rbl on oxidative damage and apoptosis in Schwann cells induced by intermittent high glucose. Flow cytometry demonstrated that ginsenoside Rbl reduced intermittent high glucose-mediated reactive oxygen species production. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay showed that 8-hydroxy-2-deoxy guanosine levels in Schwann cells decreased following ginsenoside Rbl treatment. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR and western blot assay results revealed that ginsenoside Rbl inhibited intermittent high glucose-upregulated Bax expression, but antagonized intermittent high glucose-downregulated Bcl-2 expression in Schwann cells. These effects were most pronounced with 100 μM ginsenoside Rbl. These results indicate that ginsenoside Rbl inhibits intermittent high glucose-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in Schwann cells.展开更多
Summary: Previous studies have shown that STAT3 plays a vital role in the genesis and progression of cancer. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the JAK2/STAT3 signalling pathway and germacrone-in...Summary: Previous studies have shown that STAT3 plays a vital role in the genesis and progression of cancer. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the JAK2/STAT3 signalling pathway and germacrone-induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells. HepG2 cells were incubated with germacrone for 24 h, the protein expression of p-STAT3, STAT3, p-JAK2 and JAK2 was detected by Westem Blotting, and RT-PCR was used to determine the expression of STAT3, p53, Bcl-2 and Bax at transcriptional levels. Besides that, HepG2 cells were pre-treated with AG490 or IL-6 for 2 h, and then incubated with ger- macrone for 24 h. The expression ofp-JAK2, JAK2, p-STAT3, STAT3, p53, Bax and Bcl-2 was detected by Western blotting. The activity of HepG2 cells was tested by MTT assay. The apoptosis of HepG2 cells and levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were flow cytometrically measured. The results showed that germacrone exposure decreased p-STAT3 and p-JAK2 and regulated expression of p53 and Bcl-2 family members at the same time. Moreover, IL-6 enhanced the activation of the JAK2/STAT3 signalling pathway and therefore attenuated the germacrone-induced apoptosis. Suppression of JAK2/STAT3 signalling pathway by AG490, an inhibitor of JAK2, resulted in apoptosis and an increase in ROS in response to germacrone exposure. We therefore conclude that germacrone induces apoptosis through the JAK2/STAT3 signalling pathway.展开更多
Anti-hepatic fibrosis peptide from Carapax Trionycis was purified, characterized, and inhibitory effect was assessed. Carapax Trionycis extract peptide hydrolysates (CTEPHs) were separated by ultrafiltration, Sephad...Anti-hepatic fibrosis peptide from Carapax Trionycis was purified, characterized, and inhibitory effect was assessed. Carapax Trionycis extract peptide hydrolysates (CTEPHs) were separated by ultrafiltration, Sephadex G-15 gel chromatography and RP-HPLC. One novel anti-hepatic fibrosis peptide (CTEPH-I: Asn-Pro-Asn-Pro-Thr) was obtained and identified. MTS assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were applied to evaluate the anti-fibrotic effect of CTEPH-1 on activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vitro. CTEPH-1 efficiently inhibited activation and proliferation of cultured HSC-T6 cells via lowering the contents of collagen and TIMP- 1 except for matrix metalloproteinase- 1 (MMP- 1). The purified peptide might be beneficial as functional food or potential drug for treatment of liver fibrogenesis.展开更多
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) arise from primary or secondary tumors and enter the bloodstream by active or passive intravasation. Given the low number of CTCs, enrichment is necessary for detection. Filtration met...Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) arise from primary or secondary tumors and enter the bloodstream by active or passive intravasation. Given the low number of CTCs, enrichment is necessary for detection. Filtration methods are based on selection of CTCs by size using a filter with 6.5 to 8 pm pores. After coloration, collected CTCs are evaluated according to morphological criteria. Immunophenotyping and fluorescence in situ hybridization techniques may be used. Selected CTCs can also be cultivated in vitro to provide more material. Analysis of genomic mutations is difficult because it requires adapted techniques due to limited DNA materials. Filtration-selected CTCs have shown prognostic value in many studies but multicentric validating trials are mandatory to strengthen this assessment. Other clinical applications are promising such as follow-up, therapy response prediction and diagnosis. Microfluidic emerging systems could optimize filtration-selected CTCs by increasing selection accuracy.展开更多
Karenia is one of the most harmful and representative red tide genus in a temperate zone. Blooms caused by this genus have resulted in massive fish death in the South China Sea and the East China Sea. However, the pot...Karenia is one of the most harmful and representative red tide genus in a temperate zone. Blooms caused by this genus have resulted in massive fish death in the South China Sea and the East China Sea. However, the potential effects of this dinoflagellate on human health through the transfer of toxins via marine food webs, and the mechanisms of toxicity, are still unknown. Therefore, we examined the toxic effects of a strain of K. mikimotoi (isolated from the South China Sea) on the proliferation and morphology of four mammalian cell lines (two normal cell lines and two cancer cell lines). In addition, we carried out a preliminary investigation on the mechanism of toxicity of the alga. The results show that the polar lipid-soluble component ofK. mikimotoi significantly inhibited proliferation of the four cell lines, and resulted in the ceils becoming spherical, swollen and damaged. The result of Annexin V and PI double-staining confirmed that cell membranes were disrupted. The malonaldehyde (MDA) contents in the medium of the four cell lines treated with the polar-lipid extracts all increased significantly, which indicates that the polar-lipid toxins produced by K. rnikimotoi could adversely affect mammalian cells by inducing lipid peroxidation. We conclude that K. mikimotoi is a potential threat to human health, and the comprehensive effect of this dinoflagellate and its mechanisms should be investigated further.展开更多
Erhuang capsule, a typical formula based on traditional Chinese medicine theory, is widely used to ameliorate multiple sclerosis, inflammation and side effects of glucocortJcoid treatment. Oligodendrocyte precursor ce...Erhuang capsule, a typical formula based on traditional Chinese medicine theory, is widely used to ameliorate multiple sclerosis, inflammation and side effects of glucocortJcoid treatment. Oligodendrocyte precursor cells are neural stem cells that are important for myelin repair and regeneration. In the present study, Erhuang capsule effectively improved clinical symptoms and neurological function scores, reduced mortality and promoted recovery of neurological functions of mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. The mechanism of action involved significant increases in oligodendrocyte precursor cell proliferation in specific regions of the brain and spinal cord, increased oligodendrocyte lineage gene 2 expression and enhanced oligodendrocyte precursor cell differentiation.展开更多
Our preliminary studies confirmed that an active principle region of Buyang Huanwu decoction, comprising alkaloid, polysaccharide, aglycon, glucoside and volatile oil, can induce bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell diff...Our preliminary studies confirmed that an active principle region of Buyang Huanwu decoction, comprising alkaloid, polysaccharide, aglycon, glucoside and volatile oil, can induce bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell differentiation into neurons. Mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling was identified as one of the key pathways underlying this differentiation process. The present study shows phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase and phosphorylated p38 protein expression was increased after differentiation. Cellular signaling pathway blocking agents, PD98059 and SB203580, inhibited extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase and p38 in mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways respectively, mRNA and protein expression of the neuronal marker, neuron specific enolase, and neural stem cell marker, nestin, were decreased in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells after treatment with the active principle region of Buyang Huanwu decoction. Experimental findings indicate that, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase and p38 in mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways participate in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell differentiation into neuron-like cells, induced by the active principle region of Buyang Huanwu decoction.展开更多
The expression and implication of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in residual hepatic tumor cells after lipiodol embolization were investi- gated. Two weeks after t...The expression and implication of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in residual hepatic tumor cells after lipiodol embolization were investi- gated. Two weeks after transplantation of VX2 tumor cells into the livers of rabbits, a xenograft model of the human hepatic neoplasm was successfully established. Forty rabbits were randomly divided into control group (n=20) and lipiodol group (n=20). For the control group, 1 mL normal saline was injected through the gastroduodenal artery, whereas 0.3 mL/kg lipiodol was applied for the lipiodol group. One week after embolization, the expression level of VEGF in the plasma was measured by using en- zyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A three-step immunohistochemieal technique (ABC) was employed to detect the protein levels of VEGF and MMP-9 and the quantitative PCR for their mRNA levels was performed in the residual tumor cells. The VEGF in the plasma was significantly higher in the lipiodol group (1.42~0.29 ng/mL) than in the control group (1.12~0.21 ng/mL) (P〈0.01). Moreover, the positive rate of VEGF protein in the residual tumor cells was significantly higher in the lipiodol group (62.13%~7.69%) than in the control group (53.16%~9.17%) (P〈0.05). Similarly, the MMP-9 ex- pression in the residual ~mor cells was higher in the lipiodol group. The mRNA levels of VEGF (2.9313~2.4231) and MMP-9 (3.5721~1.6107) in the lipiodol group were significantly higher than those in the control group (1.5728~0.9453 and 1.7573~1.0641, respectively, P〈0.05). Therefore, it was rea- sonable to speculate that the increased expression of VEGF and MMP-9 in residual hepatic tumor cells and tumor angiogenesis post-embolization would be responsible for the increased metastatic potentiality and invasiveness of these cells.展开更多
This study examined the effect of IKVAV peptide nanofiber on proliferation, adhesion and differentiation into neurocytes of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). IKVAV Peptide-amphiphile was synthesized and purified. T...This study examined the effect of IKVAV peptide nanofiber on proliferation, adhesion and differentiation into neurocytes of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). IKVAV Peptide-amphiphile was synthesized and purified. Then, hydrogen chloride was added to the diluted aqueous solutions of PA to induce spontaneous formation of nanofiber in vitro. The resultant samples was observed tmder transmission electron microscope. BMSCs were cultured with IKVAV peptide nanofiber. The effect of IKVAV nanofiber on the proliferation, adhesion and induction differentiation of BMSCs was observed by inverted microscopy, calcein-AM/PI staining, cell counting and immunofluorescence staining. The results demonstrated that IKVAV peptide-amphiphile could self-assemble to form nanofiber gel. BMSCs cultured in combination with IKVAV peptide nanofiber gel grew well and the percentage of live cells was over 90%. IKVAV peptide nanofiber gel exerted no influence on the proliferation of BMSCs and could promote the adhesion of BMSCs and raise the ra- tio of neurons when BMSCs were induced to differentiate into neurocytes. It is concluded that BMSCs could proliferate and adhere well and yield more neurons during when induced to differente into neurocytes on IKVAV peptide nanofiber gel.展开更多
Estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERRα) plays an important role in the development of hor- monezdependent cancers, but its roles in lung cancer remain elusive. The present study was aimed to investigate the effects ...Estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERRα) plays an important role in the development of hor- monezdependent cancers, but its roles in lung cancer remain elusive. The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of ERRα on the proliferation and metastasis of lung cancer A549 cells. The mRNA and protein levels of ERRor were detected in lung cancer A549 and MCF-7 cells and bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells by qRT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. ERRor plasmid transfection and XCT-790 (an inverse agonist of ERRc0 were used to up-regulate or down-regulate ERRα expression in A549 cells, respectively. The viability of A549 cells was measured by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and the motility of A549 cells by wound healing assay and Transwell migration/invasion assay. The epithelial markers E-cadherin (E-Cad) and zona occludin-1 (ZO-1), the mesenchymal markers fi- bronectin (FN) and vimentin (Vim) and the transcription factors (Snail, Zebl Twist and Slug) were fur- ther detected at mRNA and protein levels by qRT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The results showed that ERRor promoted the growth of lung cancer A549 cells in vitro. XCT-790 significantly in- hibited the migration and invasion of A549 cells. Over-expression of ERRα promoted the epithe- lial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of A549 ceils, down-regulated the epithelial makers E-Cad and ZO-1, and up-regulated the mesenchymal makers FN and Vim. Silencing of Slug, but not other tran- scription factors, significantly abolished the ERRs-induced EMT of A549 cells. It was suggested that ERRor promoted the migration and invasion of A549 cells by inducing EMT, and Slug was involved in the process. Targeting ERRor might be an efficient approach for lung cancer treatment.展开更多
Objective:Although circulating tumor cells(CTCs)have been well-established as promising prognostic biomarkers in both early breast cancer and metastatic settings,little is known regarding the prognostic relevance o...Objective:Although circulating tumor cells(CTCs)have been well-established as promising prognostic biomarkers in both early breast cancer and metastatic settings,little is known regarding the prognostic relevance of CTCs in the long-term postoperative monitoring of patients with non-metastatic breast cancer(non-MBC).In this study,we investigated the associations of CTCs with clinicopathological features and metabolic-related variables,such as obesity and hyperglycemia.Methods:In this retrospective study,we recruited 264 patients with postoperative stage Ⅰ–Ⅲ breast cancer at Guangdong General Hospital from January 2009 to December 2015.The prevalence and number of CTCs were assessed using the Cell Search System at a median time of 19.0 months[interquartile range(IQR),7.8–33.0]after surgery.The CTC assay results were correlated with the clinicopathological features and metabolic-related variables.A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to further determine the independent predictors of CTCs.Results:CTCs were detected in 10.6%of all patients.The positive rate of CTCs in patients with infiltrating ductal carcinoma was lower than that in patients with other pathological types(9.0%vs.28.6%,P=0.020).More importantly,the presence of CTCs was correlated with blood glucose level(P=0.015)and high-density lipoprotein level(P=0.030).The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the pathological type[odds ratio(OR):1.757,95%CI:1.021–3.023;P=0.042]and blood glucose level(OR:1.218,95%CI:1.014–1.465;P=0.035)were independent predictors of the presence of CTCs.Conclusions:This study revealed potential associations between CTCs and metabolic-related factors in Chinese patients with non-MBC and supports the hypothesis that metabolic dysfunction in breast cancer patients might influence the biological activity of metastatic breast cancer,leading to a higher prevalence of CTCs.展开更多
Mitofusin2 (Mfn2) plays a pivotal role in the proliferation and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Mfn2 on the traffick- ing of intracell...Mitofusin2 (Mfn2) plays a pivotal role in the proliferation and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Mfn2 on the traffick- ing of intracellular cholesterol in the foam ceils derived from rat VSMCs (rVSMCs) and also to investigate the effects of Mfn2 on the expression of adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette subfamily A member 1 (ABCA1), adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette subfamily G member 1 (ABCG1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARy). The rVSMCs were co-cultured with oxi- dized low density lipoprotein (LDL, 80 ~tg/mL) to produce foam cells and cholesterol accumulation in cells. Before oxidized LDL treatment, different titers (20, 40 and 60 pfu/cell) of recombinant adenovirus containing Mfn2 gene (Adv-Mfn2) were added into the culture medium for 24 h to transfect the Mfn2 gene into the rVSMCs. Then the cells were harvested for analyses. The protein expression of Mfn2 was significantly higher in Adv-Mfn2-transfected group than in untransfected group (P〈0.05), and the ex- pression levels significantly increased when the titer of Adv-Mfn2 increased (P〈0.05). At 24 or 48 h af- ter oxidized LDL treatment, rVSMCs became irregular and their nuclei became larger, and their plasma abounded with red lipid droplets. However, the number of red lipid droplets was significantly decreased in Adv-Mfn2-transfected group as compared with untransfected group. At 48 h after oxidized LDL treatment, the intracellular cholesterol in rVSMCs was significantly increased (P〈0.05), but it was sig- nificantly decreased in Adv-Mfn2-transfected group as compared with untransfected group (P〈0.05), and it also significantly decreased when the titer of Adv-Mfn2 increased (P〈0.05). The mRNA and pro- tein expression levels of ABCA1 and ABCG1 were significantly increased in Adv-Mfn2-transfected group as compared with untransfected group (P〈0.05). Though the mRNA and protein expression levels of PPARy was not significantly increased (P〉0.05), the phosporylation levels of PPARy were signifi- cantly decreased in Adv-Mfn2-transfected group as compared with untransfected group (P〈0.05). These results suggest that the transfection of Adv-Mfn2 can significantly reduce intracellular cholesterol in oxidized LDL-induced rVSMCs possibly by decreasing PPAR'/phosporylation and then increasing pro- tein expression levels of ABCAI and ABCG1, which may be helpful to suppress the formation of foam cells.展开更多
摘要Sericin from discarded silkworm cocoons of silk reeling has been used in different fields, such as cosmetology, skin care, nutrition, and oncology. The present study established a rat model of type 2 diabetes by consecutive intraperitoneal injections of low-dose (25 mg/kg) streptozotocin. After intragastrical perfusion of sericin for 35 days, blood glucose levels significantly declined, and the expression of neurofilament protein in the sciatic nerve and nerve growth factor in L4-6 spinal ganglion and anterior horn cells significantly increased. However, the expression of neuropeptide Y in spinal ganglion and anterior horn cells significantly decreased in model rats. These findings indicate that sericin protected the sciatic nerve and related nerve cells against injury in a rat type 2 diabetic model by upregulating the expression of neurofilament protein in the sciatic nerve and nerve growth factor in spinal ganglion and anterior horn cells, and downregulating the expression of neuropeptide Y in spinal ganglion and anterior horn cells.
基金support by the National Science and Technology Council under Grant No.NSTC 112-2221-E-167-017-MY3.
摘要Heating,Ventilation,andAir Conditioning(HVAC)systems are critical formaintaining thermal comfort in office environments which also crucial for occupant well-being and productivity.This study investigates the impact of integrating ceiling fans with higher air conditioning setpoints on thermal comfort and energy efficiency in office environments.Field measurements and questionnaire surveys were conducted to evaluate thermal comfort and energysaving potential under varying conditions.Results show that increasing the AC setpoint from 25○C to 27○C,combined with ceiling fan operation,reduced power consumption by 10%,achieving significant energy savings.Survey data confirmed that 85%of participants reported consistent thermal sensations across all conditions,with ceiling fans effectively compensating for higher setpoints through enhanced air circulation.CFDsimulations revealed that mediumspeed ceiling fan operation produced the most uniformairflowdistribution,with an average air velocity of 0.45 m/s,and minimized temperature variations,ensuring balanced thermal conditions.Temperature analysis showed a reduction in hotspots and cold zones,maintaining an average temperature deviation of less than±0.5○C.Predicted Mean Vote(PMV)evaluations at a 27○C setpoint indicated improved thermal comfort,with average PMV values around−0.3,corresponding to a“neutral”thermal sensation.These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of integrating ceiling fans with HVAC systems in achieving energy efficiency and occupant comfort,offering a sustainable approach to reducing AC energy consumption in office environments.
基金supported by the Major State Basic Research Development Program (No.2008CB418102)the Environmental Monitoring Research Foundation of Jiangsu Province (No.0710)+1 种基金the Innovation Foundation for Youth Scholars of the State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse (No.PCRREF07002)the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education, SRFDP (No.200802841030)
摘要Water pollution of the Yangtze River in China became one of challenges that the government is facing today. Increasing numbers of petrochemical plants were built along the river in past decades, and numbers of organic chemicals were discharged into the river. Our goal was to establish in vitro system on rat sertoli cells, spermatogenic cells and leydig cells to investigate the reproductive toxicity potential induced by organic extracts from petrochemical effluents. Our results showed that the organic extract depressed the viability (p 〈 0.01) and destroyed the plasma membrane integrity of sertoli cells and spermatogenic cells to a certain degree. Accordingly, proportion of early apoptotic sertoli cells and late apoptotic spermatogenic cells increased significantly. Although significant morphological changes were not detected for leydig cells, the extract was observed to inhibit their testosterone production (p 〈 0.01). Sertoli cells and sperrnatogenic cells appeared to be more sensitive and maybe the main targets of the key toxins. These results suggested that the in vitro system on rat testicular cells may be useful to predicate reproductive toxicity potential of organic extracts from petrochemical effluents. More attention should be paid to the petrochemical effluents, because long-term accumulation of these organic compounds in organisms may cause spermatogenesis malfunction and testosterone reduction.
基金supported by the grants from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China(Nos.2011CB965001 and 2011CB710905)the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Nos.KSCX2-YW-R-232, KJCX2-YW-L08 and KYQY-QN-015)
摘要Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) show the great promise for the treatment of a variety of diseases because of their self-renewal and multipotential abilities. MSCs are generally cultured on two-dimensional (2D) substrate in vitro. There are indications that they may simultaneously lose their sternness and multipotentiality as the result of prolonged 2D culture. In this study, we used three-dimensional (3D) collagen scaffolds as rat MSCs cartier and compared the properties of MSCs on 3D collagen scaffolds with monolayer cultured MSCs. The results demonstrated that collagen scaffolds were suitable for rat MSCs adherence and proliferation. More importantly, compared to MSCs under 2D culture, 3D MSCs significantly maintained higher expression levels of stemness genes (Oct4, Sox2, Rex-1 and Nanog), yielded high frequencies of colony-forming units-fibroblastic (CFU-F) and showed enhanced osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation efficiency upon induction. Thus, 3D collagen scaffolds may be beneficial for expanding rat MSCs while maintaining the stem cell properties in vitro.
基金supported by grants from Wuhan Municipal Science and Technology Research Project,China(No.201260523185)the Public Science and Technology Research Funds Projects of Ocean,China(No.201005013)
摘要Icaritin, a prenylflavonoid derivative from Epimedium Genus, has been shown to exhibit many pharmacological and biological activities. However, the function and the underlying mechanisms of icaritin in human non-small cell lung cancer have not been fully elucidated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anticancer effects of icaritin on A549 cells and explore the underlying molecular mechanism. The cell viability after icaritin treatment was tested by MTT assay. The cell cycle distribution, apoptosis and reactive oxygen species(ROS) levels were analyzed by flow cytometry. The mRNA and protein expression levels of the genes involved in proliferation and apoptosis were respectively detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The results demonstrated that icaritin induced cell cycle arrest at S phase, and down-regulated the expression levels of S regulatory proteins such as Cyclin A and CDK2. Icaritin also induced cell apoptosis characterized by positive Hoechst 33258 staining, accumulation of the Annexin V-positive cells, increased ROS level and alteration in Bcl-2 family proteins expression. Moreover, icaritin induced sustained phosphorylation of ERK and p38 MAPK. These findings suggested that icaritin might be a new potent inhibitor by inducing S phase arrest and apoptosis in human lung carcinoma A549 cells.
基金the Guangdong Province Health Department(No.B30202)Guangzhou City Science and Technology Administration(No.2006Z1-E0021)+1 种基金partly supported by the Guangdong Province Science and Technology Administration(No.2007A032100003)Guangdong Provincial Medical Research Fund(No.A2008287)
摘要Poor quality embryos discarded from in vitro fertilization(IVF)laboratories are good sources for deriving human embryonic stem cell(hESC)lines.In this study,166 poor quality embryos donated from IVF centers on day 3 were cultured in a blastocyst medium for 2 days,and 32 early blastocysts were further cultured in a blastocyst optimum culture medium for additional 2 days so that the inner cell masses(ICMs)could be identified and isolated easily.The ICMs of 17 blastocysts were isolated by a mechanical method,while those of the other 15 blastocysts were isolated by immunosurgery.All isolated ICMs were inoculated onto a feeder layer for subcultivation.The rates of ICM attachment,primary ICM colony formation and the efficiency of hESC derivation were similar between the ICMs isolated by the two methods(P〉0.05).As a result,four new hESC lines were established.Three cell lines had normal karyotypes and one had an unbalanced Robertsonian translocation.All cell lines showed normal hESC characteristics and had the differentiation ability.In conclusion,we established a stable and effective method for hESC isolation and culture,and it was confirmed that the mechanical isolation was an effective method to isolate ICMs from poor embryos.These results further indicate that hESC lines can be derived from poor quality embryos discarded by IVF laboratories.
基金supported by the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China, No. 20090461435
摘要Cultured Schwann cells were treated with 5.6 mM and 50 mM glucose alternating every 8 hours to simulate intermittent high glucose. The present study analyzed the neuroprotective effects of 1, 10 and 100 μM ginsenoside Rbl on oxidative damage and apoptosis in Schwann cells induced by intermittent high glucose. Flow cytometry demonstrated that ginsenoside Rbl reduced intermittent high glucose-mediated reactive oxygen species production. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay showed that 8-hydroxy-2-deoxy guanosine levels in Schwann cells decreased following ginsenoside Rbl treatment. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR and western blot assay results revealed that ginsenoside Rbl inhibited intermittent high glucose-upregulated Bax expression, but antagonized intermittent high glucose-downregulated Bcl-2 expression in Schwann cells. These effects were most pronounced with 100 μM ginsenoside Rbl. These results indicate that ginsenoside Rbl inhibits intermittent high glucose-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in Schwann cells.
基金supported by grants from the National Major Project of the People's Republic of China (Nos. 2011ZX08002-004 and 2011ZX08010-004)the Wuhan Science and Technology Project (No. 201260523185)the International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Project of Ministry of Science and Technology of China (No. 2009DFB20290)
摘要Summary: Previous studies have shown that STAT3 plays a vital role in the genesis and progression of cancer. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the JAK2/STAT3 signalling pathway and germacrone-induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells. HepG2 cells were incubated with germacrone for 24 h, the protein expression of p-STAT3, STAT3, p-JAK2 and JAK2 was detected by Westem Blotting, and RT-PCR was used to determine the expression of STAT3, p53, Bcl-2 and Bax at transcriptional levels. Besides that, HepG2 cells were pre-treated with AG490 or IL-6 for 2 h, and then incubated with ger- macrone for 24 h. The expression ofp-JAK2, JAK2, p-STAT3, STAT3, p53, Bax and Bcl-2 was detected by Western blotting. The activity of HepG2 cells was tested by MTT assay. The apoptosis of HepG2 cells and levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were flow cytometrically measured. The results showed that germacrone exposure decreased p-STAT3 and p-JAK2 and regulated expression of p53 and Bcl-2 family members at the same time. Moreover, IL-6 enhanced the activation of the JAK2/STAT3 signalling pathway and therefore attenuated the germacrone-induced apoptosis. Suppression of JAK2/STAT3 signalling pathway by AG490, an inhibitor of JAK2, resulted in apoptosis and an increase in ROS in response to germacrone exposure. We therefore conclude that germacrone induces apoptosis through the JAK2/STAT3 signalling pathway.
基金The Foundation of the Education Department of Hubei Province(Grant No.D20162004)
摘要Anti-hepatic fibrosis peptide from Carapax Trionycis was purified, characterized, and inhibitory effect was assessed. Carapax Trionycis extract peptide hydrolysates (CTEPHs) were separated by ultrafiltration, Sephadex G-15 gel chromatography and RP-HPLC. One novel anti-hepatic fibrosis peptide (CTEPH-I: Asn-Pro-Asn-Pro-Thr) was obtained and identified. MTS assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were applied to evaluate the anti-fibrotic effect of CTEPH-1 on activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vitro. CTEPH-1 efficiently inhibited activation and proliferation of cultured HSC-T6 cells via lowering the contents of collagen and TIMP- 1 except for matrix metalloproteinase- 1 (MMP- 1). The purified peptide might be beneficial as functional food or potential drug for treatment of liver fibrogenesis.
摘要Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) arise from primary or secondary tumors and enter the bloodstream by active or passive intravasation. Given the low number of CTCs, enrichment is necessary for detection. Filtration methods are based on selection of CTCs by size using a filter with 6.5 to 8 pm pores. After coloration, collected CTCs are evaluated according to morphological criteria. Immunophenotyping and fluorescence in situ hybridization techniques may be used. Selected CTCs can also be cultivated in vitro to provide more material. Analysis of genomic mutations is difficult because it requires adapted techniques due to limited DNA materials. Filtration-selected CTCs have shown prognostic value in many studies but multicentric validating trials are mandatory to strengthen this assessment. Other clinical applications are promising such as follow-up, therapy response prediction and diagnosis. Microfluidic emerging systems could optimize filtration-selected CTCs by increasing selection accuracy.
基金Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (No. 2010CB428700)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. U0733006, 40821004)the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. KZCX2-YW-Q07-02)
摘要Karenia is one of the most harmful and representative red tide genus in a temperate zone. Blooms caused by this genus have resulted in massive fish death in the South China Sea and the East China Sea. However, the potential effects of this dinoflagellate on human health through the transfer of toxins via marine food webs, and the mechanisms of toxicity, are still unknown. Therefore, we examined the toxic effects of a strain of K. mikimotoi (isolated from the South China Sea) on the proliferation and morphology of four mammalian cell lines (two normal cell lines and two cancer cell lines). In addition, we carried out a preliminary investigation on the mechanism of toxicity of the alga. The results show that the polar lipid-soluble component ofK. mikimotoi significantly inhibited proliferation of the four cell lines, and resulted in the ceils becoming spherical, swollen and damaged. The result of Annexin V and PI double-staining confirmed that cell membranes were disrupted. The malonaldehyde (MDA) contents in the medium of the four cell lines treated with the polar-lipid extracts all increased significantly, which indicates that the polar-lipid toxins produced by K. rnikimotoi could adversely affect mammalian cells by inducing lipid peroxidation. We conclude that K. mikimotoi is a potential threat to human health, and the comprehensive effect of this dinoflagellate and its mechanisms should be investigated further.
基金supported by the Key Combination Program of Capital Medical Development Foundation,No.2005-SF-I-001the Natural Science Foundation of Beijing,No.7102051,7092014+1 种基金the Beijing Science and Technology Development Foundation of Traditional Chinese Medicine,No.JJ2009-27the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No. 81072765,30873230
摘要Erhuang capsule, a typical formula based on traditional Chinese medicine theory, is widely used to ameliorate multiple sclerosis, inflammation and side effects of glucocortJcoid treatment. Oligodendrocyte precursor cells are neural stem cells that are important for myelin repair and regeneration. In the present study, Erhuang capsule effectively improved clinical symptoms and neurological function scores, reduced mortality and promoted recovery of neurological functions of mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. The mechanism of action involved significant increases in oligodendrocyte precursor cell proliferation in specific regions of the brain and spinal cord, increased oligodendrocyte lineage gene 2 expression and enhanced oligodendrocyte precursor cell differentiation.
基金sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81102595the Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi,No.2012GXNSFAA053113
摘要Our preliminary studies confirmed that an active principle region of Buyang Huanwu decoction, comprising alkaloid, polysaccharide, aglycon, glucoside and volatile oil, can induce bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell differentiation into neurons. Mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling was identified as one of the key pathways underlying this differentiation process. The present study shows phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase and phosphorylated p38 protein expression was increased after differentiation. Cellular signaling pathway blocking agents, PD98059 and SB203580, inhibited extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase and p38 in mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways respectively, mRNA and protein expression of the neuronal marker, neuron specific enolase, and neural stem cell marker, nestin, were decreased in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells after treatment with the active principle region of Buyang Huanwu decoction. Experimental findings indicate that, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase and p38 in mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways participate in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell differentiation into neuron-like cells, induced by the active principle region of Buyang Huanwu decoction.
基金supported by grants from the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province of China (No. Y2007C102)the Medical Science and Technology Development Foundation of Shandong Province of China (No. 2007H2071)
摘要The expression and implication of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in residual hepatic tumor cells after lipiodol embolization were investi- gated. Two weeks after transplantation of VX2 tumor cells into the livers of rabbits, a xenograft model of the human hepatic neoplasm was successfully established. Forty rabbits were randomly divided into control group (n=20) and lipiodol group (n=20). For the control group, 1 mL normal saline was injected through the gastroduodenal artery, whereas 0.3 mL/kg lipiodol was applied for the lipiodol group. One week after embolization, the expression level of VEGF in the plasma was measured by using en- zyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A three-step immunohistochemieal technique (ABC) was employed to detect the protein levels of VEGF and MMP-9 and the quantitative PCR for their mRNA levels was performed in the residual tumor cells. The VEGF in the plasma was significantly higher in the lipiodol group (1.42~0.29 ng/mL) than in the control group (1.12~0.21 ng/mL) (P〈0.01). Moreover, the positive rate of VEGF protein in the residual tumor cells was significantly higher in the lipiodol group (62.13%~7.69%) than in the control group (53.16%~9.17%) (P〈0.05). Similarly, the MMP-9 ex- pression in the residual ~mor cells was higher in the lipiodol group. The mRNA levels of VEGF (2.9313~2.4231) and MMP-9 (3.5721~1.6107) in the lipiodol group were significantly higher than those in the control group (1.5728~0.9453 and 1.7573~1.0641, respectively, P〈0.05). Therefore, it was rea- sonable to speculate that the increased expression of VEGF and MMP-9 in residual hepatic tumor cells and tumor angiogenesis post-embolization would be responsible for the increased metastatic potentiality and invasiveness of these cells.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (No. 30500511)the National High-tech Research Program (No. 2006AA320 605)
摘要This study examined the effect of IKVAV peptide nanofiber on proliferation, adhesion and differentiation into neurocytes of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). IKVAV Peptide-amphiphile was synthesized and purified. Then, hydrogen chloride was added to the diluted aqueous solutions of PA to induce spontaneous formation of nanofiber in vitro. The resultant samples was observed tmder transmission electron microscope. BMSCs were cultured with IKVAV peptide nanofiber. The effect of IKVAV nanofiber on the proliferation, adhesion and induction differentiation of BMSCs was observed by inverted microscopy, calcein-AM/PI staining, cell counting and immunofluorescence staining. The results demonstrated that IKVAV peptide-amphiphile could self-assemble to form nanofiber gel. BMSCs cultured in combination with IKVAV peptide nanofiber gel grew well and the percentage of live cells was over 90%. IKVAV peptide nanofiber gel exerted no influence on the proliferation of BMSCs and could promote the adhesion of BMSCs and raise the ra- tio of neurons when BMSCs were induced to differentiate into neurocytes. It is concluded that BMSCs could proliferate and adhere well and yield more neurons during when induced to differente into neurocytes on IKVAV peptide nanofiber gel.
基金supported by the Fundamental Research Funds of the Central Universities(No.21613316)
摘要Estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERRα) plays an important role in the development of hor- monezdependent cancers, but its roles in lung cancer remain elusive. The present study was aimed to investigate the effects of ERRα on the proliferation and metastasis of lung cancer A549 cells. The mRNA and protein levels of ERRor were detected in lung cancer A549 and MCF-7 cells and bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells by qRT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. ERRor plasmid transfection and XCT-790 (an inverse agonist of ERRc0 were used to up-regulate or down-regulate ERRα expression in A549 cells, respectively. The viability of A549 cells was measured by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and the motility of A549 cells by wound healing assay and Transwell migration/invasion assay. The epithelial markers E-cadherin (E-Cad) and zona occludin-1 (ZO-1), the mesenchymal markers fi- bronectin (FN) and vimentin (Vim) and the transcription factors (Snail, Zebl Twist and Slug) were fur- ther detected at mRNA and protein levels by qRT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The results showed that ERRor promoted the growth of lung cancer A549 cells in vitro. XCT-790 significantly in- hibited the migration and invasion of A549 cells. Over-expression of ERRα promoted the epithe- lial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of A549 ceils, down-regulated the epithelial makers E-Cad and ZO-1, and up-regulated the mesenchymal makers FN and Vim. Silencing of Slug, but not other tran- scription factors, significantly abolished the ERRs-induced EMT of A549 cells. It was suggested that ERRor promoted the migration and invasion of A549 cells by inducing EMT, and Slug was involved in the process. Targeting ERRor might be an efficient approach for lung cancer treatment.
基金supported by the Special Fund of Development of Technology by Guangdong Province (No.2016A030313768)the Special Fund of Guangzhou Science and Technology Bureau (No.201707010418)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.81602645)the Science and Technology Project of Guangdong Province (No.2012A03040001)
摘要Objective:Although circulating tumor cells(CTCs)have been well-established as promising prognostic biomarkers in both early breast cancer and metastatic settings,little is known regarding the prognostic relevance of CTCs in the long-term postoperative monitoring of patients with non-metastatic breast cancer(non-MBC).In this study,we investigated the associations of CTCs with clinicopathological features and metabolic-related variables,such as obesity and hyperglycemia.Methods:In this retrospective study,we recruited 264 patients with postoperative stage Ⅰ–Ⅲ breast cancer at Guangdong General Hospital from January 2009 to December 2015.The prevalence and number of CTCs were assessed using the Cell Search System at a median time of 19.0 months[interquartile range(IQR),7.8–33.0]after surgery.The CTC assay results were correlated with the clinicopathological features and metabolic-related variables.A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to further determine the independent predictors of CTCs.Results:CTCs were detected in 10.6%of all patients.The positive rate of CTCs in patients with infiltrating ductal carcinoma was lower than that in patients with other pathological types(9.0%vs.28.6%,P=0.020).More importantly,the presence of CTCs was correlated with blood glucose level(P=0.015)and high-density lipoprotein level(P=0.030).The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the pathological type[odds ratio(OR):1.757,95%CI:1.021–3.023;P=0.042]and blood glucose level(OR:1.218,95%CI:1.014–1.465;P=0.035)were independent predictors of the presence of CTCs.Conclusions:This study revealed potential associations between CTCs and metabolic-related factors in Chinese patients with non-MBC and supports the hypothesis that metabolic dysfunction in breast cancer patients might influence the biological activity of metastatic breast cancer,leading to a higher prevalence of CTCs.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.30971244)
摘要Mitofusin2 (Mfn2) plays a pivotal role in the proliferation and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Mfn2 on the traffick- ing of intracellular cholesterol in the foam ceils derived from rat VSMCs (rVSMCs) and also to investigate the effects of Mfn2 on the expression of adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette subfamily A member 1 (ABCA1), adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette subfamily G member 1 (ABCG1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARy). The rVSMCs were co-cultured with oxi- dized low density lipoprotein (LDL, 80 ~tg/mL) to produce foam cells and cholesterol accumulation in cells. Before oxidized LDL treatment, different titers (20, 40 and 60 pfu/cell) of recombinant adenovirus containing Mfn2 gene (Adv-Mfn2) were added into the culture medium for 24 h to transfect the Mfn2 gene into the rVSMCs. Then the cells were harvested for analyses. The protein expression of Mfn2 was significantly higher in Adv-Mfn2-transfected group than in untransfected group (P〈0.05), and the ex- pression levels significantly increased when the titer of Adv-Mfn2 increased (P〈0.05). At 24 or 48 h af- ter oxidized LDL treatment, rVSMCs became irregular and their nuclei became larger, and their plasma abounded with red lipid droplets. However, the number of red lipid droplets was significantly decreased in Adv-Mfn2-transfected group as compared with untransfected group. At 48 h after oxidized LDL treatment, the intracellular cholesterol in rVSMCs was significantly increased (P〈0.05), but it was sig- nificantly decreased in Adv-Mfn2-transfected group as compared with untransfected group (P〈0.05), and it also significantly decreased when the titer of Adv-Mfn2 increased (P〈0.05). The mRNA and pro- tein expression levels of ABCA1 and ABCG1 were significantly increased in Adv-Mfn2-transfected group as compared with untransfected group (P〈0.05). Though the mRNA and protein expression levels of PPARy was not significantly increased (P〉0.05), the phosporylation levels of PPARy were signifi- cantly decreased in Adv-Mfn2-transfected group as compared with untransfected group (P〈0.05). These results suggest that the transfection of Adv-Mfn2 can significantly reduce intracellular cholesterol in oxidized LDL-induced rVSMCs possibly by decreasing PPAR'/phosporylation and then increasing pro- tein expression levels of ABCAI and ABCG1, which may be helpful to suppress the formation of foam cells.