5 research outputs found
Promoting Effects on Proliferation and Chondrogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Four “Kidney-Tonifying” Traditional Chinese Herbs
Traditional Chinese
medicine can promote the proliferation of bone
marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs).
We chose four “Kidney-tonifying”
Chinese herbal medicines, Radix Astragali, Salvia,
Herba Epimedii, and Saussurea Involucrata, to
evaluate whether they had positive effects on
the proliferation of BMSCs and
TGF-β1-induced chondrogenic
differentiation of BMSCs. The four Chinese
herbal medicines were intragastrically
administered to Sprague-Dawley rats,
respectively, to prepare drug-containing serums
of corresponding Chinese herbs. BMSCs were
isolated, cultured, and exposed to culture
solution containing 1%, 5%, 10%,
and 15% (v/v) Radix Astragali-, Salvia-,
Herba Epimedii-, and Saussurea
Involucrata-containing serum, respectively.
TGF-β1-induced BMSCs were addressed in the
same manner. Collagen type II protein was
assessed by immunofluorescence methods. To
assess whether the drug-containing serums had
positive effects on the proliferation of BMSCs
and TGF-β1-induced BMSCs, MTT method was
assessed. The proliferation of BMSCs was
significantly enhanced when exposed to culture
solutions containing 1% and 5% Radix
Astragali-, 1% and 5% Salvia-, 5%
Herba Epimedii-, and 1%, 5%, and
10% Saussurea Involucrata-containing serum.
The proliferation of TGF-β1-induced BMSCs
was significantly enhanced when exposed to
1%, 5%, and 15% Radix Astragali-,
10% and 15% Salvia-, 5%, and
15% Herba Epimedii-, and 1%, 5%,
and 10% Saussurea Involucrata-containing
serum
Does Citrulline Have Protective Effects on Liver Injury in Septic Rats?
Citrulline (Cit) supplementation was proposed to serve as a therapeutic intervention to restore arginine (Arg) concentrations and improve related functions in sepsis. This study explored whether citrulline had positive effects on liver injury and cytokine release in the early stages of sepsis. The cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model was utilized in our study. Rats were divided into four groups: normal, Cit, CLP, and CLP+Cit. The CLP group and CLP+Cit group were separated into 6-, 12-, and 24-hour groups, according to the time points of sacrifice after surgery. Intragastric administration of L-citrulline was applied to rats in Cit and CLP+Cit groups before surgery. Serum AST and ALT levels and levels of MDA, SOD, NO, and iNOS in the liver tissues were evaluated. Plasma concentrations of Cit and Arg were assessed using HPLC-MS/MS. Serum concentrations of cytokines and chemokines were calculated by Luminex. Results showed SOD activities of CLP+Cit groups were significantly higher than that of CLP groups, contrasting with the MDA and NO levels which were significantly lower in CLP+Cit groups than in CLP groups. In addition, plasma concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β were significantly lower in the CLP+Cit 6-hour group than in the CLP 6-hour group