The Chinese medicine formula HB01 reduces choroidal neovascularization by regulating the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor

Abstract Background Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) remains the leading cause of newly acquired blindness in the developed world. Currently anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapies are broadly used to treat neovascular ocular disorders. Here we demonstrate the effect of a traditional Chinese medicine formula, HB01, on CNV. Methods A rat model of laser-induced CNV was used to investigate the effect of HB01 in vivo. The CNV lesions in the eye were evaluated using fundus fluorescein angiography and visualized/quantified using confocal microscopy. Expression of VEGF in the choroidal and retinal tissues was measured using quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. Results We demonstrated that a traditional Chinese Medicine formula, named HB01, significantly reduced neovascularization in a rat CNV model. The effect of HB01 on CNV was comparable to the intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (Avastin). Our results also suggested that HB01 may reduce CNV partially through inhibiting the expression of VEGF. Conclusions These data support HB01 as an alternative therapy for ocular neovascular disorders.</p

Curcumin Suppresses the Colon Cancer Proliferation by Inhibiting Wnt/β-Catenin Pathways via miR-130a

Curcumin exhibits anti-tumor effects in several cancers, including colorectal carcinoma (CRC), but the detailed mechanisms are still unclear. Here we studied the mechanisms underlying the anti-tumor effect of curcumin in colon cancer cells. SW480 cells were injected into mice to establish the xenograft tumor model, followed by evaluation of survival rate with the treatment of curcumin. The expression levels of β-catenin, Axin and TCF4 were measured in the SW480 cells in the absence or presence of curcumin. Moreover, miRNAs related to the curcumin treatment were also detected in vitro. Curcumin could suppress the growth of colon cancer cells in the mouse model. This anti-tumor activity of curcumin was exerted by inhibiting cell proliferation rather than promoting cell apoptosis. Further study suggested that curcumin inhibited cell proliferation by suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. MiR-130a was down-regulated by curcumin treatment, and overexpressing miR-130a could abolish the anti-tumor activity of curcumin. Our study confirms that curcumin is able to inhibit colon cancer by suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin pathways via miR-130a. MiR-130a may serve as a new target of curcumin for CRC treatment

MiR-541-5p regulates lung fibrosis by targeting cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase 1A

<p><b>Aim of the Study:</b> Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a lethal human disease with short survival time and few treatment options. In this study, we aim to demonstrate that cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase 1A (PDE1A), a Ca2+/calmodulin-stimulating PDE family member, plays a critical role in the induction of fibrosis and angiogenesis in the lung. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> To induce pulmonary damage, adult male SD rats were treated with bleomycin in a dose of 6 mg/kg body weight by a single intratracheal instillation. For in vivo silencing of PDE1A in rat lung, a nonspecific control siRNA or PDE1A-specific siRNA was used to treat rat through nasal instillation. Human normal pulmonary fibroblasts MRC-5 and hFL1 and rat lung fibroblasts were used as in vitro model. Immunohistochemistry and immunoflurescence staining were performed to detect PDE1A and α-SMA expression. Reverse transcription-qPCR was performed to detect microRNA and mRNA expression. In vitro wound healing assay was performed to detect pulmonary fibroblasts'mortality ability. <b>Results:</b> In vitro studies showed that PDE1A can stimulate lung fibroblasts to undergo myofibroblastic changes. This led to the identification of miR-541-5p as one of the miRNA candidates associated with bleomycin response. We found that miR-541-5p expression is downregulated in TGF-β-treated lung fibroblasts and the rat pulmonary fibrosis model. Overexpression of miR-541-5p in lung fibroblasts inhibited mortality of human lung fibroblasts. <b>Conclusions:</b> MiR-541-5p is a key effector in lung fibroblastsby by regulating PDE1A expression at protein translation level and its overexpression is protective against bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis.</p