Objective To investigate the changes of stem cell factor（SCF） level in serum of asthma patients before and after acute exacerbation.Methods The serum SCF was detected in 30 asthma patients respectively in the onset period and catabasis by ELISA.The SCF levels were also determined in 20 normal subjects as control.Results the content of serum SCF of the asthma patients during the acute attack was increased significantly than normal subjects [（156.8±82.6）pmol/L vs （61.5±15.4）pmol/L，Plt;0.001]，and decreased significantly in remission [（66.2±15.8）pmol/L，Plt;0.001].Conclusions SCF may participate in the pathogenesis of asthma.
Objective To discuss the changes of c-kit/scf mRNA and protein in guinea pig gallbladder fed on high cholesterol diet. Methods Twenty guinea pigs were divided into two equal groups of 10 each：the control group and lithogenic group. Normal diet and high cholesterol diet was given to each group respectively. The period of stone permeation was six weeks. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to determin the expressions of c-kit and scf mRNA and protein. Results RT-PCR results showed that the expressions of c-kit mRNA（t=6.985，P＜0.01） and scf mRNA （t=6.028， P＜0.01）decreased significantly in lithogenic group compared with the control group. Western blot results showed that the expressions of c-kit protein （t=10.256， P＜0.01） and scf protein （t=9.586， P＜0.01）decreased significantly in lithogenic group compared with the control group. Conclusions The expressions of c-kit/scf mRNA and protein decrease during the formation of cholesterol gallstones in guinea pigs fed on high cholesterol diet. Inhibition of c-kit/scf pathway may play a role in the formation of cholesterol gallstones.
Objective To construct green fluorescent protein (GFP)/Akt fusion gene vector for observing the expression and localization of GFP/Akt in rats bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells （MSCs）. Stem cell factor （SCF） effected expression of c-kit, Akt and VEGF mRNA and protein in MSCs transfected by pEGFP-C1/Akt through PI3-Akt pathway.Methods Akt recombined GFP vector by restriction enzymes, MSCs was transfeced by GFP/Akt and GFP through cationic liposomes, and then veritied by restriction endonuclease assay and sequence analysis. Transfection and localization of GFP were evaluated by fluorescene microscopy. The expressions of c-kit, Akt and VEGF mRNA and protein were examined by RT-PCR and Western blot after MSCs transfected by pEGFP-C1 and pEGFP-C1/Akt. SCF effected the expression of c-kit, Akt and VEGF mRNA and protein after MSCs transfected by pEGFP-C1 and pEGFP-C1/Akt. Results Restriction endonuclease assay and sequence analysis verified that thesuccessfulconstructionoftherecombinantvectorpEGFP-C1/AktandefficienthighexpressionofpEGFP-C1/Akt fusion protein in the MSCs of rats. Under fluorescent microscence, green flurescence was seen homogeneously distributed in the entire cell of the cells transfected by the recombinant vector pEGFP-C1, and diffusely in the cytoplasm of the cells transfected by the recombinant vector pEGFP-C1/Akt. The expression of Akt and VEGF mRNA and protein were significantly higher in MSCs transfected by pEGFP-C1/Akt (plt;0.05). The expression of c-kit, Akt and VEGF mRNA and protein were significantly higher in experiment group (SCF+pEGFP-C1/Akt) and control group (SCF+pEGFP-C1), plt;0.05. In experiment group， SCF stimulation enhanced expression of Akt and VEGF mRNA and protein (plt;0.01). Conclusion GFP/Akt fusion gene vector is successfully construted and the fusion protein expressed in the MSCs of rats induces the expression of Akt and VEGF mRNA and protein. SCF stimulation enhanced expression of c-kit, Akt and VEGF mRNA and protein through PI3/Akt pathway.
ObjectiveTo investigate the changes of amount of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and expression of stem cell factor (SCF)/c-Kit in the process of cathartic colon induced by emodin in mice. MethodsA modified cathartic colon mouse model was established. Seventy-two healthy male Kunming (KM) mice were randomly divided into the blank control group and sustained drug delivery group.Morphological changes of colon in mice were observed; frozen section immunofluorescence was used to observed changes of amount of ICC; serum concentrations of SCF were examined by ELISA; Western blot was employed for observation of expression of SCF/c-Kit in colon. ResultsAfter the mice model were completed, the weight of mouse, length and diameter of entire colon were all reduced compared with the blank control group. The amount of ICC appeared to decline in the beginning of the first 6 weeks with emodin used, and significant decreased in 10-12 weeks. The serum concentrations of SCF first began to decline in 4 weeks with emodin used, and significantly decreased in 6 weeks, and continued at a low level after 8 weeks. The expression of c-Kit in colon began to decline in 4 weeks with emodin used and significantly reduced after 8 weeks. Conciusions The amount of ICC appear to slowly decline in the beginning of the first 12 weeks with emodin used, and significant decrease after 12 weeks.The serum concentrations of SCF and expression of c-Kit in colon have the dynamic changes in the meanwhile, and the changes of SCF are earlier than that of c-Kit. The trend of amount ofICC may have a certain relationship with changes of SCF and c-Kit.