The effects of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injuries on hepatocellular viability and store-operated calcium current (Isoc) in isolated rat hepatocytes and the effects of 2-APB on store-operated calcium current (Isoc) in isolated rat hepatocytes after hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injuries were studied. Hepatic ischemia and reperfusion injury model was establised and whole cell patch-clamp techniques were used to investigate the effects of 2-APB on Isoc. The results showed that ischemia/reperfusion injuries could significantly reduce hepatocellular viability and further increase Isoc in hepatocyte and 2-APB (20, 40, 60, 80, 100 μmol/L) produced a concentration-dependent decrease of Isoc with IC₅₀ value of 64.63±10.56 μmol/L (n=8). It was concluded that ischemia/ reperfusion injuries could reduce hepatocellular viability, probably through increased Isoc in hepatocytes and 2-APB had a protective effect on ischemia/reperfusion-induced liver injury, probably though inhibiting Isoc.

To examine the mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and the gelatinase activity of its inhibitor, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) in the primary epithelial cells of patients with COPD, airway epithelial cells were taken from 15 COPD patients and culturedin vitro. The patients were divided into three groups, COPD group, normal smoking control group and non-smoking control group, with 5 subjects in each group, on basis of the smoking history and lung function. The semi-qualitative RT-PCR was employed to determine the mRNA levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 and SDS PAGE was used for the determination of the gelatinase activity of MMP-9 and TIMP-1. Our result showed that the mRNA of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in epithelial cells of the non-smoking subjects was at a low level. The mRNA of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in COPD patients and smokers was significantly higher than that in non-smokers (P<0.05). No significant difference was found in the levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in epithelial cells between the COPD patients and smokers. The MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios in COPD patients and smokers were significantly lower than that of non-smokers (P<0.05). The gelatinase activity in the epithelial cells of both COPD patients and normal smokers was increased (P<0.05), but no difference existed in the gelatinase activity in the epithelial cells between COPD patients and normal smokers. It is concluded that the transcription of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 and the gelatinase activity of MMP-9 and MMP-2 in the epithelial cells in COPD patients were increased, which resulted in an imbalance of MMP-9/TIMP-1, thereby causing pulmonary fibrosis. These factors play important roles in the pathogenesis of COPD.

The effect of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on the proliferation of human airway epithelial cells and the possible mechanism was studied. After airway epithelial cells were treated with different concentrations of CSE for 24 h, the cell proliferation was measured by MTT and the distribution of different cell cycles by flow cytometry. The FAK expression level was detected by Western blot and the degree of tyrosine phosphorylation by immunoprecipitation. The results showed that CSE could inhibit the proliferation of human airway epithelial cells, arrest the epithelial cells in G1 phase of cell cycle, dramatically decrease the number of epithelial cells in S and G2 phases; Mean-while CSE could decrease the expression level of FAK and the degree of its tyrosine phosphorylation. The above effects of CSE were concentration-dependent. The expression of FAK and the degree of its phosphorylation was positively correlated to the increased number of epithelial cells in G1 phase, and negatively to the number of epithelial cells in S and G2 phases. It was concluded that the mechanism by which CSE could inhibit the proliferation of human epithelial cells was contributed to the increased expression and activation of FAK.

To study the efficacy and the mechanism of colquhoumia root (Tripterygium hypoglaucum (Le, vL)Hutch) in the treatment of mesangial proliferation glomerulonephritis (MsPGN), SD rats were injected with anti-thymocyte serum (ATS) to make MsPGN model (anti-Thy1 model). The rats were then divided into 3 groups: normal control group, anti-Thy1 model group and treatment group. Histopathological (HE, PAS), immunohistochemical, RT-PCR technique and computer imaging analysis system were used to evaluate mesangial matrix production, the expression of TGF-β₁ protein and mRNA in the tissues of kidney. Our result showed that proteinuria and the ratio of extracellular matrix/glomerular capillaries are (ECM/CA) were increased significantly in model group. The expression of both TGF-β₁ protein and mRNA in glomeruli was much higher in model group than in control group (P<0.01). After the treatment with Colquhoumia root, proteinuria, ECM/CA and the expression of both TGF-β_: protein and mRNA in glomeruli were significantly decreased in treatment group as compared with those in model group. It is concluded that Colquhoumia root is effective in reducing proteinuria and mesangial matrix proliferation in MsPGN and it may achieve these effects by inhibiting the expressions of TGF-β₁ protein and mRNA of mesangial cells.