Studies On The Inhibitory Effects Of Qi-Boosting Toxin-Resolving Granule On NPC And The Underlying Mechanisms Associate With The Intervening Effects Of This Preparation On The Nucleolar Protein Activities Of NPC Cells

Objective. To investigate the inhibitory effects of Qi-Boosting Toxin-Resolving Granule (QBTRG) on NPC and the underlying mechanisms associate with the intervening effects of this preparation on the nucleolar protein expressive activities of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells.Methods: In these studies, the experiments were carried out in two main parts, i.e. experiments in vitro and ones in vivo. In part one, the in vitro experiments were done on NPC cell line HNE3 and cervical uteri carcinoma cell line HeLa. Firstly, the IC50 of QBTRG for HNE3 and HeLa were determined with series ofdiluted QBTRG solution cultured with these cells. Then, their inhibitory effectson these two cell lines were assessed, evaluated by the indexes like the changes in cell proliferating activity and morphology. In part two, the in vivoexperiments weir done on BALB/c nude mice. Firstly, the models with implanting tumors of HNE3 and HeLa were prepared among the animals by injecting these carcinoma cells subcutaneously. Then, the animals were randomly divided into treating group created with QBTRG and controlling group treated only with normal saline (NS) for HNEs and HeLa respectively, each being divided again into two sub-groups. During the period of experiment, the behavior changes of animals, tumor-inhibitory and anti-tumor effect and pathohistological changes were carefully observed and photographed. At last, the tumor tissues were prepared as total nucleoli protein samples for the analysis of 2D electrophoresis.Results: The results of these experiments were as follows.1. Experiments in vitro. In the experiments in vitro, QBTRG showed various degrees of inhibitory effects on the proliferating activities of HNEs, and HeLa, with significantly specific effects on HNE3. It could bring about toxin effect and differentiation-inducing effect on HNE3.2. Experiments in vivo. In the experiments in vivo, QBTRG showed significant inhibiting effects on the implanting tumors either HNE3 or HeLa, with more specific effects on the ones of HNEs. The growing rapidity, volume and weight of implanting tumors were all significantly lower in the treating groups than those in controlling ones. The animals in treating group showedmuch more improved general conditions and the tumor samples of them displayed more severe appearance of necrosis and differentiation. Following 2D electrophoresis and analysis with the software ImageMaster 2D Elite, several differences could be detected in the total nucleolar proteins of HNE3 implanting tumor. Among these differentially expressed total nucleolar proteins, some were significantly down-regulated.Conclusions: QBTRG holds significant effects on the regulation of cell functions within the body and on the proliferation and differentiation of tumor cells. These effects may be brought about via the regulating effects on the transcribe activity of rDNA of tumor cells, leading to several metabolism changes brought about in a developing tendency of differentiation-inducing and proliferation-inhibiting to these cells.