To study the mechanism of signal transduction in anti-HBV action of IFN-alpha.

To observe the effects of cyclosporin A (CsA) on gene expression profiles of NIT-1 pancreatic beta cells cell line using microarray technique.

To compare and analyze the patterns of ganglioside GM1 and CD69 expressions on activated gammadeltaT cells and CD3(+) T cells from human peripheral blood.

To explore the effect of retinoic acid (RA)on C3 and factor B (Bf) secretion by human alveolar type II epithelial cell line A549 induced with cytokines.

The expression regulation of S. meliloti 042BM noeAB was studied. The results showed that trigonelline could not elevate the level of noeAB expression, which indicated that these genes are not regulated by nodD2. Since association of nodD3 and syrM could not change the level of the genes expression, they aren't also controlled by nodD3-syrM system. However, induction of luteolin resulted in 16 times increase of noeAB expression, which indicated that noeAB was regulated by nodD1. Most interestingly, more than 30 times increase in its expression was observed on TY medium without any flavonoid. Thus, it was suggested that noeAB may be controlled by other unknown factors.

To study the change of c-fos mRNA and protein in hippocampus of morphine addicted mice after injected with ribozyme specially cleaving per1 mRNA.

To elucidate the antileukemi effects of berbamine and the possible molecular mechanisms in vitro and in vivo, MTT method was used to examine the effect of berbamine on K562 cell growth. The apoptosis rate was measured by flow cytometry. The mRNA expression level of BCR/ABL gene (semiquantity value) was determined by RT-PCR and the BCR/ABL protein (P210) level was detected by Western blot. The K562-bearing mice were used to reveal the therapeutic effect in vivo. The results showed that a significant time- and concentration-dependent inhibition of cell growth was found in the cells treated with berbamine. After the cells were exposed to 8.0 microg/ml berbamine for 24, 48 and 72 hours, the percentage of growth inhibition of K562 cells progressively increased by (26.63 +/- 3.57)%, (61.84 +/- 4.74)%, (75.32 +/- 1.95)%, respectively (compared with control, P < 0.01). The IC(50) (72 hours) value was 5.227 +/- 1.307 microg/ml. The apoptosis rate of K562 cells treated with 8.0 microg/ml berbamine for 24 and 72 hours increased from (29.20 +/- 3.82)% to (61.77 +/- 4.35)% (P < 0.01). Berbamine down-regulated the expression levels of bcr/abl gene and P210 in K562 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The bcr/abl expression decreased from (1.38 +/- 0.02) to (0.97 +/- 0.01) after exposure of the cells to 8.0 microg/ml berbamine for 0 and 72 hours (P < 0.01). When the cells were treated with 4.0 - 16.0 microg/ml berbamine for 24 hours, the level of P210 decreased from (0.95 +/- 0.03) to (0.63 +/- 0.01) (P < 0.01). In vivo, after treatment for 4 weeks, the tumor weight of berbamine-treated group was also lower than that of untreated group [(1.46 +/- 0.43) g vs (2.90 +/- 0.94) g, P < 0.01] and the inhibition rate was 49.66%, moreover, berbamine down-regulated the expression level of bcr/abl gene of tumor cells. It is concluded that berbamine can obviously inhibit the cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in K562 cell lines in a time- and concentration-dependent manner in vitro. The mechanisms of berbamine-induced apoptosis may be involved in down-regulation of bcr/abl gene expression and P210 level. In vivo, berbamine can aslo display a better antileukemic effect and down-regulate expression of bcr/abl gene. Berbamine extracted from Chinese herb may be a promising candidate of new drug for clinical anticancer treatment, especially for bcr-abl(+) diseases.

The permeability of cell membrane was enhanced by exogenous SA in the culture of Taxus cuspidata. Nuclei condense and fragments were observed in some cells by using fluorescent microscope, and the degraded chromosomal DNA was observed by using agarose gel electrophoresis. The changes in soluble proteins of the suspension cultures of Taxus cuspidata induced by salicylic acids were analyzed by using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Comparing with the control, seven new protein spots were found and six protein spots were not found in the cultures grown with SA at 48h. The results obtained showed that SA could induce the expression of some special proteins that might be related with the action of SA in the suspension cultures of Taxus cuspidata.

Two different calmodulin-binding protein kinase cDNAs (NtCBK1/2) have been isolated from tobacco. To understand the CBK protein activity regulation, we compared the activity regulation of NtCBK1 and NtCBK2 by pH, Mg(2+) concentration and Na(+) concentration. We found the autophosphorylation of NtCBK1/2 reached the maximum in pH 7.5 and 8 respectively; Mg(2+) and Na(+) shown different effects on the activity of NtCBKs, high and low Mg(2+) concentrations both inhibited the activity of NtCBKs, but Na+ had little effect on the kinase activity. In addition, to obtain further insight about the physiological roles of individual NtCBKs, we detected the expression profiles of CBKs. The results revealed different patterns of expression of NtCBK1 and NtCBK2. Both are largely expressed in leaf and flower; but in stem and root, NtCBK1 gene had stronger expression than NtCBK2. NtCBK2 expression was induced by GA treatment, while NtCBK1 expression remained unchanged under GA treatment. Expression of both NtCBK1 and NtCBK2 increased in response to salt stress, the former to a greater extent, and both expressions did not change under high/low temperature, drought, NAA and ABA treatments.

To study the regulation of chromium on gene expression related to metabolism of skeletal muscles in diabetic rats.

To investigate the effects of interleukin 7 (IL-7) on B7 molecules expression and immunogenicity of acute leukemia (AL) cells.

To explore the effect of sodium butyrate (SB) on the expression of costimulatory molecules in acute leukemia cells and its mechanism.

To investigate the effect of arsenic trioxide on multiple myeloma (MM) cell gene expression and explore the molecular mechanism of arsenic trioxide therapy for MM.

To explore the effect of 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME2) and arsenic trioxide (As2O3) on the apoptosis related gene expression in multiple myeloma cell line CZ-1.

To study the effects of c9,t11-conjugated linoleic acid (c9,t11-CLA) on critical enzymes of linoleic acid metabolism in stomach granular cell (SGC-7901).

To investigate the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in onset of labor, and the mechanism of diazepam in promoting cervical ripening.

To explore the inhibitory mechanism of phosphodiesterase(PDE) inhibitor on expression of IL-8 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) patients.

To observe the synergistic role between rhIL-2 and adriamycin long circulating temperature-sensitive liposome (ALTSL) in targeting therapy of H22 tumor-bearing mice and explore their anti-tumor mechanism.

To investigate the regulation of soluble and membrane bound TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in Jurkt cells by phorbol myristic acctate (PMA), and the cytotoxicity of the two forms of TRAIL.

To explore the regulative action of IEGs when the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) of PC12 cells were activated by anatoxin-a.