Hepatic effects of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cimicifuga racemosa</Emphasis> extract <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vivo</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis>

Extracts of Cimicifuga racemosa are used frequently for menopausal complaints. Cimicifuga is well tolerated but can occasionally cause liver injury. To assess hepatotoxicity of cimicifuga in more detail, ethanolic C. racemosa extract was administered orally to rats, and liver sections were analyzed by electron microscopy. Tests for cytotoxicity, mitochondrial toxicity and apoptosis/necrosis were performed using HepG2 cells. Mitochondrial toxicity was studied using isolated rat liver mitochondria. Microvesicular steatosis was found in rats treated with > 1,000 mg/kg [DOSAGE ERROR CORRECTED] body weight cimicifuga extract. In vitro, cytotoxicity was apparent at concentrations > or =75 microg/mL, and mitochondrial beta-oxidation was impaired at concentrations > or =10 microg/mL. The mitochondrial membrane potential was decreased at concentrations > or =100 microg/mL, and oxidative phosphorylation was impaired at concenq trations > or =300 microg/mL. The mechanism of cell death was predominantly apoptosis. C. racemosa exerts toxicity in vivo and in vitro, eventually resulting in apoptotic cell death. The results are compatible with idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity as observed in patients treated with cimicifuga extracts.     

Molecular basis for chemoprevention by sulforaphane: a comprehensive review

The consumption of cruciferous vegetables has long been associated with a reduced risk in the occurrence of cancer at various sites, including the prostate, lung, breast and colon. This protective effect is attributed to isothiocyanates present in these vegetables, and sulforaphane (SF), present in broccoli, is by far the most extensively studied to uncover the mechanisms behind this chemoprotection. The major mechanism by which SF protects cells was traditionally thought to be through Nrf2-mediated induction of phase 2 detoxification enzymes that elevate cell defense against oxidative damage and promote the removal of carcinogens. However, it is becoming clear that there are multiple mechanisms activated in response to SF, including suppression of cytochrome P450 enzymes, induction of apoptotic pathways, suppression of cell cycle progression, inhibition of angiogenesis and anti-inflammatory activity. Moreover, these mechanisms seem to have some degree of interaction to synergistically afford chemoprevention. Received: 10 November 2006; received after revision 15 January 2007; accepted 5 February 2007     

Histone deacetylases: Focus on the nervous system

Neurodegenerative disease strikes millions worldwide and there is mounting evidence suggesting that underlying the onset and progression of these debilitating diseases is inappropriate neuronal apoptosis. Recent reports have implicated a family of proteins known as histone deacetylases (HDACs) in various neuronal processes including the neuronal death program. Initial headway in this field has been made largely through the use of broad-spectrum HDAC inhibitors. In fact, pharmacological inhibition of HDAC activity has been shown to protect neurons in several models of neurodegeneration. The observation that HDAC inhibitors can have opposing effects in different paradigms of neurodegeneration suggests that individual members of the HDAC protein family may play distinct roles that could depend on the specific cell type under study. The purpose of this review is to detail work involving the use of HDAC inhibitors within the context of neurodegeneration and examine the roles of individual HDAC members in the nervous system with specific focus on neuronal cell death. Received 25 January 2007; received after revision 3 April 2007; accepted 26 April 2007     

Inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity prevent cell cycle progression and induce apoptosis at the M/G1 transition in CHO cells

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) activity has been implicated in regulating cell cycle progression at distinct points in the cell cycle by preventing cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. In this study, the role of PI3-kinase activity during the entire G1 phase of the ongoing cell cycle was studied in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells synchronized by mitotic shake-off. We show that inhibition of PI3-kinase activity during and 2 h after mitosis inhibited cell cycle progression into S phase. In the presence of the PI3-kinase inhibitor wortmannin or LY294002, cells were arrested during early G1 phase, leading to the expression of the cleaved caspase-3, a central mediator of apoptosis. These results demonstrate that PI3-kinase activity is required for progression through the M/G1 phase. In the absence of PI3-kinase activity, cells are induced for apoptosis in this particular phase of the cell cycle. Received 7 September 2005; received after revision 26 October 2005; accepted 11 November 2005     

白肉灵芝水提物对新生大鼠胆红素脑病的影响

为了研究白肉灵芝水提物（ganoderma leucocontextum aqueous extracts, GLAE）对新生大鼠胆红素脑病的改善作用。腹腔注射胆红素建立高胆红素血症大鼠模型，将新生大鼠分成对照组、模型组、GLAE低剂量组、GLAE中剂量组和GLAE高剂量组，分别给予不同剂量的（0、50、100、200 mg/kg）GLAE处理。利用试剂盒检测血液样本和大脑组织中总胆红素水平，比色法检测大脑组织ATP酶、超氧化物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase, SOD）、过氧化氢酶（catalase, CAT）、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（glutathione peroxidase, GSH-Px）活性和丙二醛（malondialdehyde, MDA）含量，酶联免疫吸附（ELISA）法检测血清肿瘤坏死因子-α（tumornecrosisfactor-α，TNF-α）、白细胞介素-1β（interleukin-1β，IL-1β）、神经特异性烯醇化酶（neuron specific enolase, NSE）和中枢神经特异性蛋白（central nerve specific protein, S100β）的含量，实时荧光定量PCR和western blot检测大脑组织B淋巴细胞瘤-2（B-cell lymphoma-2, Bcl-2）、半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶-3 （cysteine aspartate protease 3, Caspase-3）、B淋巴细胞瘤-2 相关X（Bcl-2 assaciated X, Bax）、脑源性神经生长因子（brain derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF）、神经生长因子（nerve growth factor, NGF）mRNA水平和蛋白含量。结果显示，与模型组相比，经GLAE干预后，大鼠血清及大脑组织胆红素浓度明显降低（P < 0.05，P < 0.01）；大脑组织SOD、CAT、GSH-Px、Na⁺-K⁺-ATP和Ca²⁺-ATP酶活性显著升高（P < 0.05，P < 0.01），MDA含量明显降低（P < 0.05，P < 0.01）；血清TNF-α、IL-1β、NSE、S100β含量显著降低（P < 0.05，P < 0.01）；大脑组织Caspase-3、Bax mRNA水平和蛋白含量明显降低（P< 0.05，P < 0.01），Bcl-2、BDNF、NGF mRNA水平和蛋白含量明显升高（P < 0.05，P < 0.01）。以上结果表明GLAE能减轻过量胆红素对新生大鼠的大脑损伤，其作用机制可能通过改善新生大鼠大脑能量代谢，提高大脑抗氧化能力，增加神经营养因子含量，抑制炎症反应及凋亡基因的表达来发挥作用。     

美洲大蠊多肽和顺铂联用对HepG2细胞凋亡及自噬的影响

采用MTT法检测美洲大蠊多肽（PAP-3）与不同浓度的顺铂（DDP）单用或联合使用对人肝癌HepG2细胞增殖的影响；采用流式细胞术检测PAP-3、DDP单独或联合给药干预对HepG2细胞凋亡的影响；Western Blot检测PAP-3、DDP单独或联合给药后HepG2细胞内自噬相关蛋白p62、LC3、Beclin-1、Atg5及PI3K的表达。实验结果显示，与DDP单独给药相比，PAP-3与DDP联合给药对HepG2的细胞的抑制作用更强；PAP-3与DDP联合给药组中细胞的凋亡率与DDP和PAP-3单独给药组相比均有升高（P ＜ 0.05)。与对照组相比，DDP组中，p62蛋白水平降低，LC3II蛋白水平升高，LC3II/I的比例也升高，表现出细胞自噬流的活化；与DDP组相比，联合给药组中p62蛋白水平回升，LC3II蛋白水平和LC3II/I的比例均有回落。且联合给药组中PI3K、Atg5、Beclin-1等自噬相关蛋白的量均较DDP组减少，而凋亡相关的Caspase-3蛋白的表达量则较DDP组增加。据此推测，PAP-3和DDP的联用可以通过抑制HepG2细胞自噬相关蛋白的表达水平，抑制DDP带来的细胞自噬水平的升高，增加细胞对DDP的敏感性，从而诱导HepG2细胞凋亡。     

异硫氰酸异丁酯抑制肝癌细胞HepG2生长的效应与机理

为了探究异硫氰酸异丁酯(isobutyl isothiocyanate)对肝癌细胞HepG2的生长抑制效应及其分子机制，该研究通过MTT实验检测化合物对细胞的生长抑制率，计算出IC50值为3.5 μg·mL－1；通过流式细胞技术检测发现0.437 μg·mL－1以上浓度的化合物能诱导HepG2细胞凋亡；通过划痕实验检测发现0.875 μg·mL－1以上浓度的化合物能抑制细胞迁移；进一步通过生物信息学分析表明异硫氰酸异丁酯的靶蛋白可能为巨噬细胞迁移抑制因子(MIF)，且HepG2细胞中MIF表达量高于低敏感株.免疫印迹实验也进一步发现化合物不仅能够抑制蛋白酪氨酸激酶2/信号转导子和转录激活子3(JAK2/STAT3)信号通路的激活，还能下调p53蛋白表达.研究结果表明，异硫氰酸异丁酯可能通过靶向HepG2细胞中的MIF蛋白，影响MIF与其受体CD74相互作用，从而下调p53蛋白表达，阻滞细胞周期的正常进行，诱导细胞凋亡，对肝癌具有特异性的抑癌潜力.