title: [Experimental study on effect of epimedium flavonoids in protecting telomere length of senescence cells HU].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the mechanism of senescence delay of human diploid fibroblast (2BS) and protecting telomere length by epimedium flavonoids (EF).
  
  
  METHODS
  The drug sera of EF were used to treat the 2BS. The population doublings of 2BS cells were observed, the mRNA expression of p16 gene were determined by fluorescence real-time quantitative RT-PCR, the telomerase activation of 2BS cells were determined by TRAP-Hyb, the total retinoblastoma (Rb) and phosphorated Rb protein content were detected by ELISA, the telomere length of 2BS cells were determined by telomere restriction fragment (TRF) Southern blot assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EF could significantly extend the population doublings of 2BS cells, the expression of p16 mRNA was decreased and the content of phosphorated Rb protein were increased by EF. The telomere lengthening of 2BS cells were improved by EF, but the telomerase was not activated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In senescence human fibroblasts 2BS cells, p16 gene mRNA expression increased, content of phosphorated Rb protein decreased and the telomere length of 2BS shortened, EF might delay the aging of cells through inhibiting the p16 gene expression, promoting the production of phosphorated Rb protein and to protect the length of telomere, but not activating the telomerase.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Integrative Chinese and Western Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040.
authors.forename: Zuo-Wei
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Zi-Yin
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Jian-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000235:genetics*; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D034181:Epimedium / Q000737:chemistry*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D019098:Telomerase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014161:Transduction, Genetic
chemical_list: D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D005419:Flavonoids; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein; D019098:Telomerase