To study the effect of tetrandrine on morphine induced hyperactivity and reinforcement in mice. Methods: After single administration of morphine and the motion activity was measured by ambulometer, conditioned place-preference paradigm was used to study the reinforcing effect of morphine, climbing behavior was used to evaluate the relation with Dopaminergic system and immediate early expression of c-fos gene in brain was shown by immunohistochemical method. Results: Single administration of morphine could induce hyperactivity, repeated treatment would produce a conditioned place-preference response, tetrandrine 30 or 60 mg/kg hypodermic injection could inhibit the morphine induced hyperactivity, 60 mg/kg could inhibit the conditioned place-preference response but no influence on climbing behavior in mice was found. Tetrandrine could inhibit the c-fos gene expression in nucleus accumbens, ventral tegmental and prefrontal cortex in place-preference model formed by morphine. Conclusion: Tetrandrine could inhibit the hyperactivity and conditioned place-preference response induced by morphine, it might relate to reduce the c-fos gene expression in special area of brain in mice.

Objective: To observe the effect of emodin on the biological behavior of human fibroblasts (FB) in culture of kidney in patients with lupus nephritis (LN). Methods: FB were isolated from kidney culture of LN patients, and the effect of emodin on 3　H-TdR incorporated rate of FB was observed. The apoptosis and c-myc gene expression were detected in the same way by flow cytometry. Results: Emodin could markedly inhibit the proliferation of human kidney FB, and inducing cell apoptosis through up-regulating c-myc gene expression in human renal FB. Conclusion: Emodin can inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis of FB, which may be important in ameliorating interstitial fibrosis, and thus improve prognosis of LN.

In recent ten-odd years the pathogenetic regulation of female idiopathic precocious puberty was studied in our hospital, in terms of the function of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPG axis) and the status of skeletal development as indicators. The therapy with Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in predominance was formulated, according to our understanding of the regulation and Syndrome Differentiation of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It has been clinically verified that the therapy could successfully modulate the course of pubertal development and optimize skeletal development in children with precocious puberty. The mechanism of effectiveness of the drugs has been further studied focusing on the neuroendocrine regulation and gene expression with modern medical techniques.

中药对中枢神经细胞基因表达影响的研究进展

随着生命科学的发展,尤其是分子生物学在各学科的渗入,使中医药实验研究深入到分子、基因水平.近年来,国内许多科研单位及学者已着手中药对神经细胞基因表达调控的研究,而且,现代药理研究表明,中药作用原理与其生物活性成分调控基因表达有关[1],本文就中药对中枢神经细胞基因表达的影响进行综述.

家蚕核型多角体病毒的基因组结构及其表达模式

Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus(BmNPV)是家蚕(Bombyx mori)的重要病原,属于杆状病毒.20世纪80年代后期发展了基于杆状病毒作为载体的昆虫杆状病毒表达系统技术.由于家蚕可以规模化饲养,利用重组的BmNPV以家蚕作为"生物工厂"生产重组蛋白因具有低成本、适合产业化的优点而受到高度重视.BmNPV的分子生物学研究以及作为表达载体的应用在过去十几年间得到了较快发展,本文主要就近年来关于BmNPV的基因组结构及其基因表达模式的研究作一概述.

基于生物学信息分析及推测PCGEM1在前列腺癌中的表达分子调控网络

非编码 RNA，包括以 miRNA、siRNA 和 piRNA 等为代表的短小 RNA 和长链非编码 RNA（long non-coding RNA，lncRNA）。长链非编码 RNA，有别于其他小分子非编码 RNA，是目前非编码 RNA 研究的热点。随着研究的不断推进，人们发现 lncRNA 与物种进化、胚胎发育、物质代谢以及肿瘤发生等都有着密切的联系[1]。miRNA 是一类长度为21~25个核苷酸（nt）的单链 RNA，属于非编码蛋白 RNA，广泛存在于生物界，miRNA 调节人类1/3基因的表达，miRNA 是一类新发现的基因调节剂，可以在转录水平或转录后水平调节基因的表达，在肿瘤的发生与发展中扮演着“癌基因”与“抑癌基因”的角色[2]。前列腺癌基因表达标记1（prostate cancer gene expression marker 1， PCGEM1）全长1643 nt，在前列腺组织及前列腺癌组织中呈特异表达的长链非编码 RNA，但其表达调控网络目前未知[3]，本文旨在运用生物学软件对其进行生物学信息分析，为下一步实验验证其表达分子调控网络机制提供线索。

MITOCHONDRIAL BIOGENESIS AND SLOW MUSCLE GENE EXPRESSIONRecent findings in proxisome proliferators-activated recep tor γ (PPARγ) coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) gene regulation and function have led to the consideration of PGC-1α as a key regulator in regulating important features of skeletal muscle adaptation.PGC-1α is a transcriptional coactivator cloned originally by a yeast-two-hybrid screen from a differentiated brown fat cell line using PPARγ as bait[80]. PGC-1α mRNA and protein are highly expressed in slow,oxidative fibers compared to the fast, glycolytic fibers[81-82],consistent with the function of a gene involved in fiber type specialization. The functional importance of PGC-1α in striated muscles has been suggested by several different models [83-84].

新发现的SOCS蛋白家族:揭示了创伤和营养不良时代谢异常的机理

细胞因子信号传递抑制体(SOCS)是一组新近才被认识的蛋白,它们经细胞因子诱导而释放,再反馈抑制细胞因子在细胞内的信号传递.以往的工作显示:内毒素能显著提高SOCS在大鼠肝脏中的表达,这又同内毒素引起的生长激素的拮抗密切相关.目的探明SOCS基因在营养不良(饥饿)状态下在不同组织中的反应.方法雄性S口D大鼠(～200g)分别受饥饿1、2、3天,另一组在饥饿3天后重新进食3天.用Northernblotting检测肝脏和肌肉中的mRNA水平,其中所用的cDNA探针为Joslin研究中心所克隆.结果在一天禁食后,鼠肝脏中的SOCS-3mRNA出现了进行性的增高,至禁食3天其值高于原来的一倍,而SOCS-2mRNA却在同时下降了75%.重新进食3天后,SOCS-2和SOCS-3重新恢复到正常水平.细胞内信号传递蛋白STAT1、STAT3、STAT5a和STAT5b均无酪氨酸磷酸化反应,MAP激酶中的ERK1、ERK2、P3S、JUNKl,JUNK2均无激活表现.在肌肉中,3天的禁食使SOCS-2mRNA有类似上述的75%的下降,而SOCS-3mRNA却无任何改变.结果提示,营养不良能以不同的方式调节SOCS-2和SOCS-3,这种调节是组织特异性的,SOCSmRNA的变化看来并非由于各种STAT的磷酸化和MAP激酶的激活而造成.结论在饥饿状态下,SOCS基因的改变可能解释营养不良时多种细胞因子和合成激素生理功效变化的内在机理.

Polycomb repression complex 2 ( PRC2 ) component EZH2 tri-methylates H3 K27 and exerts ep-igenetic repression on target gene expression. EZH2-mediated epigenetic control of RNA polymerase II(Pol II) transcribed coding gene transcription has been well established. However, little is known about EZH2-mediated epigenetic regulation of RNA polymerase III( Pol III) transcription. Here we present a paradigm that EZH2 is in-volved in the repression of Pol III transcription via interaction with transcriptional factor complex IIIC ( TFIIIC ) . EZH2 and H3K27 me3 cooccupy the promoter of tRNATyr, 5S rRNA and 7SL RNA genes. Depletion of EZH2 or inhibition of EZH2 methyl transferase activity led to upregulation of Pol III target gene transcription. EZH2-media-ted repression of Pol III transcribed gene expression requires presence of SUZ12 . SUZ12 was able to interact with TFIIIC complex and knockdown of SUZ12 decreased occupancy of EZH2 and H3 K27 me3 at the promoter of Pol III target genes. Our findings pointed out a previously unidentified role of PRC2 complex in suppressing transcription of Pol III transcribed non-translated RNA genes, putting Pol III on a new layer of epigenetic regulation.

HBsAg基因启动子Ⅰ DNA结合蛋白1下调IL-18基因启动子

目的:研究HBsAg基因启动子I DNA结合蛋白1(SBP1)与白介素-18(IL-18)基因表达的关系,研究SBP1在HBV致病的分子生物学机制中的作用.方法:构建质粒pcDNA3.1(-)-SBP1,pCAT3-IL-18,转染HepG2细胞进行表达,应用酶联免疫黏附法(ELISA)检测细胞中氯霉素乙酰转移酶(CAT)的表达活性.结果:构建的表达载体pcDNA3.1(-)-SBP1经过序列分析和酶切鉴定正确.真核表达载体pcDNA3.1(-)-SBP1和pCAT3-IL-18P共转染的HepG2细胞的pCAT表达活性是pCAT3空载体的0.37倍,是转染pCAT3-IL-18P的0.17倍,抑制率达到86.32%.结论:SBP1可以下调IL-18启动子的活性,抑制IL-18基因的表达.

大蒜素对大鼠溃疡性结肠炎淋巴细胞凋亡及其调控蛋白的影响

目的:通过观察大鼠溃疡性结肠炎淋巴细胞凋亡及其调控蛋白Bcl-2和Bax的表达及大蒜素对其的影响,探讨大蒜素(Allitridi,Alt)对溃疡性结肠炎肠黏膜的保护作用及其机制.方法:用三硝基苯磺酸(TNBS)建立大鼠溃疡性结肠炎模型.将动物随机分为空白对照组(Normal group)、三硝基苯磺酸组(TNB S group)、三硝基苯磺酸+生理盐水组(TNBS+NS group)、三硝基苯磺酸+大蒜素组(TNBS+Altgroup)四组.利用DNA缺口末端标记技术(TUNEL法)和Bcl-2、Bax蛋白免疫组化染色,分别检测溃疡性结肠炎大鼠肠组织中的淋巴细胞凋亡和淋巴细胞Bcl-2和Bax的表达,生化检测一氧化氮(N0)含量,并观察肠道大体形态和组织学改变.结果:和三硝基苯磺酸组相比,三硝基苯磺酸+大蒜素组中淋巴细胞凋亡增加(2.1±1.0 vs 5.9±2.0,P＜0.01),Bcl-2表达阳性淋巴细胞减少及一氧化氮(NO)含量下降(10.0±2.5 vs 31.0±6.0,197±11 vs 523±40,P＜0.01).损伤指数明显下降(1.6±0.5 vs 5.8±0.7,2.1±0.6 vs6.1±0.6,P＜0.01).结论:大蒜素可以通过促进淋巴细胞凋亡和清除NO自由基而对TNBS诱导的溃疡性结肠炎肠黏膜有保护作用.

肝癌相关cDNA片段的快速克隆和表达

目的:克隆原发性肝癌相关新基因.方法:利用抑制消减杂交法(suppression subtractive hybridization,SSH)已经发现了1条新的肝癌相关基因片断表达序列标签(EST),长447 bp,经Genebank检索,90%无同源性.在其保守序列区设计了2条用于3'Race扩增的寡聚核苷酸引物(3'GSP2:5'-CGCATAGTACCAGTATCGAC AAAGG-3',3'NGSP2:5'-TCCACATTACGGACC CGACGGATT-3'),利用cDNA末端快速扩增法(RACE)进一步克隆该基因的全长cDNA序列.人原发性肝癌细胞株HepG2,体外传代培养,培养基为RPMI1640培养基.提取HepG2总RNA,方法参照SV Total RNAIsolation System 的说明进行.RACE法扩增采用Clontech公司的Smart TM Race cDNA Amplification Kit.将3'RACE-PCR扩增的目的片段以Race自带的产物纯化试剂盒进行纯化、回收,然后将其克隆到PMD18-T Vector中,提纯质粒后进行酶切鉴定,确认质粒内有插入片段,由宝生物工程(大连)有限公司协助完成测序,将克隆所得cDNA片段用NCBI提供的BLASTN与GeneBank与dbEST、 nr数据库进行同源性比较,确认代表新基因的EST并且登录GeneBank(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.GOV/submission).3便病理标本取自西南医院肝胆科,病理证实均为原发性肝细胞肝癌,分别提取肝癌及远端正常肝组织总RNA.将酶切回收的克隆插入片段分别进行同位素标记获得cDNA探针,利用Clontech公司的 ExpressHYBTM杂交液通过RNA印记法检测克隆片段在肝癌及正常肝组织中的表达,方法参照ExpressHYBTM Hybridization Solution user manual说明进行.同时,利用一联网的基因表达分析序列数据库(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/SAGE(series analysis of gene expression,SAGE)对基因的表达及其表达水平进行分析,从而确定其组织分布.结果:得到5条3'EST(694 447-3,724 447-3,697 447-3,711 447-3 692 447-3;大小500-550bp),5条3'EST均为登录GenBank(登录号:CK730344,CK730345,CK730346,CK730347,CK730348).对其中2条带有poly-A尾的3'EST(694 447-3 724 447-3)进行序列分析后,发现他们是代表新基因或不同剪接体的EST,且具有共同的保守序列.RNA印记分析显示694 447-3,724 447-3在3例肝癌组织中的表害强度时显高于对应的正常组织.通过SAGE文库分析基因的表达谱,发现694 447-3和724 447-3在神经系统肿瘤、结肠癌、胃癌、乳腺癌肿瘤文库的表达高于对应的政党组织文库.结论:克隆所得的2条带有poly-A尾的3'EST可能是新的肝癌多期因家庭成员.利用RACE技术可以快速、高效的克隆疾病相关基因.

AIM To assess the relationship between HBV X-gene, X-gene product and Fas/ FasL which mediatehepatocellular apoptosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.METHODS Tissue from 34 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma was tested for the expression of HBxAg.Quantitative ELISA assay was used to detect sFas; and sFasL and PCR were used to detect the HBV X-genein sera from 30 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, 32 patients with liver cirrhosis and 20 normalcontrols.RESULTS The positive expression of HBxAg, Fas and FasL in carcinoma tissue was 97.06%, 85.29% and100%, respectively. The positive signal was mainly presented in the plasma, and all of these three positivestaining may appear in the same area. Redit analysis showed that there was no significant difference amongthese three positive staining (P >0.05). The mean levels of sFas in sera from hepatocellular carcinoma, livercirrhosis and normal controls were 722.97±321.12, 801.90±419.94 and 224.07±148.23, respectively,showing that sFas levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and liver cirrhosis were significantlyelevated than that in normal controls (P < 0.0l). The mean levels of sFasL in sera from hepatocellularcarcinoma, liver cirrhosis and normal controls were 152.27±7.99, 162.97±12.40 and 154.99 ± 6.96,showing that sFasL level in patients with liver cirrhosis was significantly higher than that in patients withhepatocellular carcinoma and normal controls (P< 0.01). HBV X-gene was found to be positive in sera of30% patients with hepatocellular carcinoma; HBV X-gene was found to be positive in sera of 43.75% ofpatients with liver cirrhosis. There was no significant difference in sFas/sFasL level between HBV X-genepositive patients and HBV X-gene negative patients (P >0.05).CONCLUSION The expression of HBxAg and Fas/FasL in the tissue of hepatocellular carcinoma seemed tobe almost the same, but relation between cause and effect is unclear. The detection of sFas and sFasL inpatient sera may reflect the state of apoptosis mediated by Fas/FasL system. Our data showed that HBV X-gene expression in sera seemed to have no relation to sFas/sFasL level; however, these data also suggestedthat some patients with negative HBsAg in sera might have integrated HBV X-gene in liver tissues, andtherefore X-gene is detectable in those patient sera.

AIM To study the effect of a wide range of concentration of arsenic trioxide on human hepatoma cell lineBEL-7402 and its mechanism.METHODS The BEL-7402 cells were treated with arsenic trioxide (a final concentration of 0.5, 1 and2 μmol/L, respectively) in various durations or for 4 successive days. The cell growth and proliferation wereobserved by cell counting and cell-growth curve. Morphologic changes were studied under electronmicroscopy. Flow cytometry was used to assay cell-DNA distribution and the protein expression of Bcl-2 andBax was detected by immunocytochemical method.RESULTS The cell growth was significantly inhibited by the different concentrations of arsenic trioxide asrevealed by cell counting and cell-growth curve. Arsenic trioxide treatment at 0.5, 1 and 2 μmol/L, resultedin a sub-G1 cell peak. The decreased G0/G1 phase cell and the increased percentage of S phase cell were observed by flow cytometer, suggesting that the inhibiting effect of arsernic trioxide on BEL-7402 cell lay inG0/G1 phase cell. Apoptotis-related morphology, such as intact cell membrane, nucleic condensation,apoptotic body formation, can be seen under the electron microscopy. High protein expression level of Bcl-2and Bax was detected in 1 and 2 μmol/L arsenic trioxide-treated cells, but that of Bax was more significant.Arsenic trioxide treatment at 0.5 μmol/L resulted in higher expression level of Bcl-2 and lower expressionlevel of Bax compared with control (P1<0.01, P2<0.01).CONCLUSION Arsenic trioxide not only inhibited the proliferation but also induced apoptosis of humanhepatoma cell line BEL-7402. The induced-apoptosis effect of 1 and 2 μmol/L arsenic trioxide was relative tothe expression level of Bcl-2 and Bax.

AIM To explore the therapeutic potential of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides on hepatcellular cacinoma(HCC).METHODS Four antisense phosphorothioated oligodeoxynucleotides (asON), complementary to differentsites of HBV, were synthesized and assayed for their anti-HBV activity in HepG22. 2.15 cells with ELISA.The most effective asON was chosen for the following study: FACSCAN, TRAP and immuno-staining wereused respectively for checking apoptosis, telomerase activity and expression of oncogene p21ras and p62C-myc inHepG2.2.15 cells after treated by asON.RESULTS The oligomer directed against the initiator of pre-S2 was the most effective one with aninhibitory rate of 66% on HBsAg and 91% on HBeAg (P<0.02). Two inhibitory peaks (bimodal)appeared. Telomerase activity as well as the expression of p21fas and p62C-myc decreased drastically 3 days afterasON-HBpreS2 treatment. Meanwhile, apoptosis appeared in the experiments.CONCLUSION The inhibitory effects of as-preS2 on the HBV gene expression and the reversion of somemalignant behaviour in HepG2.2.15 cells were the significant, effective therapy against HBV infection andhepatocellular carcinoma.

AIM To increase the production of recombinant des (1 - 3) IGF- I by increasing the copy number of genecarried on an expression vector, and to partially purify the expressed des (1 - 3) IGF-Ⅰ , as well as compareits bio-activity with standard IGF-Ⅰ.METHODS Second copy of des (1 - 3) IGF-Ⅰ gene was inserted into pExSecl/IGF-Ⅰ expression vectorconstructed by our previous work and carryed already one des (1 -3) IGF-Ⅰ gene, to form PExSec1/2 (IGF-Ⅰ) expression plasmid, which carried two copies of tandem des (1 - 3) IGF-Ⅰ gene. This plasmid wastranformed into a protease-deficient E. coli strain BL21 (DE3). The engineered bacteria was cultured andinduced at low temperature. The expressed product was purified through ultra-filtration and gel-filtration.The bio-activity of partially purified protein was tested by MTT method and compared with standard IGF-Ⅰ.RESULTS The amount of des (1-3) IGF-Ⅰ expressed by pExSec 1/2 (IGF-Ⅰ) reached up to 19% -22%of the total soluble bacterial protein, which is about 7% higher than that of des (1 -3) IGF-Ⅰ expressed bypExSec1/IGF-Ⅰ. The purity of recombinant des (1 - 3) IGF-Ⅰ reached 49% and 82% respectively after thetreatments by ultra-filtration and gel-filtration. The result of MTT assay showed that the bio-activity of des(1- 3) 1GF-I after gel-filtration was about 77% of that of standard IGF-Ⅰ at the same concentration.CONCLUSION The yield of recombinant des (1 - 3) IGF-Ⅰ was increased about 7% by construction ofexpression plasmid with two copies of des (1 -3) IGF-Ⅰ gene, compared with only one copy of gene,preliminarily purified des (1 -3) IGF-Ⅰ showed relatively high biological activity, which was about 77% ofthat of standard IGF-Ⅰ.

AIM To investigate the expression of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), inducible NO synthase (iNOS)protein and eNOS mRNA gene in the splanchnic organs of liver cirrhosis and portal hypertensive rats.METHODS In control and CCl4-induced liver cirrhotic rats, the expression of eNOS and iNOS proteins wasdetected by immunohistochemical method, and eNOS mRNA was detected by in situ hybridization.RESULTS The expression of eNOS protein and eNOS mRNA increased in most organs of the cirrhotic rats,including bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells, renal tubular epithelial cells and mesenchyma, endothelialand adventitial cells of aorta and superior mesenteric artery, whereas no significant increase of iNOS proteinwas found. In the hepatic tissue, NOS protein and eNOS mRNA were present in mesenchymal cells and vesseladventitial cells, no difference was observed in the expression between control and cirrhotic rats.CONCLUSION The expression of NOS varied in region. In splanchnic organs and vasculars there was anincreased expression of eNOS which induced aplanchnic vasodilation and increased the inflow of portal vein,while in the liver tissue and blood vessel showed no increased expression, which may be associated withincreased intrahepatic vascular resistance.

AIM To summarize the experience of surgical treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma and the results of aseries of experiments.METHODS AND RESULTS Personal perspectives of surgical treatment of hilar cholangiocarcinoma werebased on the experience of a series of patients with hilar bile duct cancer treated in the General Hospital ofPLA, Beijing from 1986 to 1999. A total of 157 cases were treated surgically, with 106 (67.5%) resections ofthe tumor , 37.6% of the resections was proved to be radical. The 1-, 2-, 3-, and 5-year survival rate of theradical resection group was 96.7%, 40.0%, 23.3% and 13.3%, respectively. No patient of the palliativeresection group lived beyond 3 years postoperatively. The recent trends of surgical management of hilar bileduct cancer were discussed. Experiments were carried out for cooperative clinicopathological study toevaluate the perineural space involvement, the neural cell adhesion molecule expression, p16 geneexpression, and the 3-dimensional reconstruction of the bile duct cancer specimens. The pathogeneticrelationship of HBV and HCV with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma was evaluated by histochemical and IS-PCR methods. And an inquiry into the possibility of gene therapy was made.CONCLUSION Hilar bile duct cancer rarely runs a “benign” course. It is a regional disease rather than alocal affection and may be related to HBV and HCV infection in China. It possesses the metastasing abilityalong the perineural space by a “jumping” fashion, therefore, in most cases, conventional surgical excision isbound to be unradical in the region of the porta hepatis for anatomical reasons.

AIM To observe the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on the expression of IL-1β and iNOSmRNA inrats, with ulcerative colitis.METHODS Surgical samples of fresh human colonic mucosa was homogenized by adding appropriateamount of normal saline and centrifuged at 3000 r/min. Protein content of the supernatant was measuredand then mixed with Freund adjuvant, and injected into the plantae of the rats models, then into theplantae, dorsa, inguen and abdominal cavities (no Freund adjuvant for the last injection) on the 10th, 17th,24th and 31st day respectively. When serum titer of anti-colonic antibody has reached to a certain level,20 mL/L formalin and antigen fluid (no Freund adjuvant) were administered by enema to set up ulcerativecolitis rat mode. The animals were randomly divided into four groups: model control group (MC = 8),electroacupuncture group (EP=8), herbs partition moxibustion group (HPM= 8) and normal control group(NC=8). HPM: Mosa cones made of refined mugwort floss were placed on the medicinal pads (medicinalpad dispensing: Radix Aconiti Praeparata, cortex Cinnamomi, etc. ) for qihai (RN6) and tianshu (ST25,bilateral) and ignited. Two moxa cones were used for each acupuncture once a day and 14 times in all. EP:tisnshu (bilateral) and qihai were stimulated by the intermittent pulse with 2Hz frequency, 4mA intensity for20 minutes once a day and 14 times in all. After treatment, all rats were killed simultaneously. The spleenwas separated and distal colon was dissected. Total tissue RNA was isolated by the guanidinium thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform extraction method. RT-PCR technique was used to observe the expression of IL-1β andiNOSmRNA no Freund adjuvant.RESULTS IL-1β and iNOSmRNA were not detected in the spleen and colonic mucosa of NC rats, whilethey were significantly expressed in those of MC rats. IL-1β and iNOSmRNA were markedly lower in EF andHPM rats than those in MC rats. There were no significant difference in the levels of IL-1β and iNOSmRNAbetween EP and HPM rats. The amount of IL-1β and iNOSmRNA was nearly the same between the spleenand colon in different groups.CONCLUSION Acupuncture and moxibustion greatly inhibited the expression of IL-lβ and iNOSmRNA inthe ulcerative colitis rats.

AIM To describe a liver cancer = specific gene expression profile and to identify genes that showed alteredexpression between liver cancer tissues and their adjacent nearly normal tissues.METHODS The cDNA probes which were labeled with a-32P dATP were synthesized from total RNA ofliver cancer and adjacent normal tissues and hybridized separately to two identical Atlas human cancer eDNAexpression array membranes containing 588 known genes.RESULTS Autoradiographic results were analyzed by specific Atlas ImageTM (version 1. 0) software.Among the 588 genes analyzed, 18 genes were found up-regulated in cancer, including TFDP2, Aktl, E2F-3etc, and 25 genes were down-regulated in cancer, including TDGF1, BAK, LAR, etc. Expression levels ofgenes that associated with the regulation of cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, cell-cellinteraction, invasion regulators and eytokines altered mostly.CONCLUSION The result obtained from Atlas microarray provides a comprehensive liver cancer-specificexpression profile. The results can lead to the identification of liver cancer-specific biomarkers and may behelpful in early diagnosis and dentifiction of target genes for designing rational therapeutic strategies.