Intelligence encompasses various abilities, including logical reasoning, comprehension, self-awareness, learning, planning, creativity, and problem-solving. Extensive research and practical experience suggest that there are sex differences in intellectual development, with females typically maturing earlier than males. However, the key genes and molecular network mechanisms underlying these sex differences in intellectual development remain unclear. To date, Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) have identified 507 genes that are significantly associated with intelligence. This study first analyzed RNA sequencing data from different stages of brain development (from BrainSpan), revealing that during the late embryonic stage, the average expression levels of intelligence-related genes are higher in males than in females, while the opposite is observed during puberty. This study further constructed interaction networks of intelligence-related genes with sex-differential expression in the brain, including the prenatal male network (HELP-M: intelligence genes with higher expression levels in prenatal males) and the pubertal female network (HELP-F: intelligence genes with higher expression levels in pubertal females). The findings indicate that the key genes in both networks are Ep300 and Ctnnb1. Specifically, Ep300 regulates the transcription of 53 genes in both HELP-M and HELP-F, while Ctnnb1 regulates the transcription of 45 genes. Ctnnb1 plays a more prominent role in HELP-M, while Ep300 is more crucial in HELP-F. Finally, this study conducted sequencing validation on rats at different developmental stages, and the results indicated that in the prefrontal cortex of female rats during adolescence, the expression levels of the intelligence genes in HELP-F, as well as key genes Ep300 and Ctnnb1, were higher than those in male rats. These genes were also involved in neurodevelopment-related biological processes. The findings reveal a sex-differentiated intelligence gene network and its key genes, which exhibit varying expression levels during the neurodevelopmental process.
Female ; Intelligence/physiology* ; Male ; Sex Characteristics ; Animals ; Brain/growth & development* ; E1A-Associated p300 Protein/physiology* ; beta Catenin/physiology* ; Transcriptome ; Rats ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genome-Wide Association Study

The molecular mechanism of verbascoside(OC1) in promoting acetylcholine(ACh) release in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease(AD) was studied. Adrenal pheochromocytoma cells(PC12) of rats induced by β-amyloid protein(1-42)(Aβ_(1-42)) were used as AD models in vitro and were divided into control group, model group(Aβ_(1-42) 10 μmol·L~(-1)), OC1 treatment group(2 and 10 μg·mL~(-1)). The effect of OC1 on phosphorylated proteins in AD models was analyzed by whole protein phosphorylation quantitative omics, and the selectivity of OC1 for calcium channel subtypes was virtually screened in combination with computer-aided drug design. The fluorescence probe Fluo-3/AM was used to detect Ca~(2+) concentration in cells. Western blot analysis was performed to detect the effects of OC1 on the expression of phosphorylated calmodulin-dependent protein kinase Ⅱ(p-CaMKⅡ, Thr286) and synaptic vesicle-related proteins, and UPLC/Q Exactive MS was used to detect the effects of OC1 on ACh release in AD models. The effects of OC1 on acetylcholine esterase(AChE) activity in AD models were detected. The results showed that the differentially modified proteins in the model group and the OC1 treatment group were related to calcium channel activation at three levels: GO classification, KEGG pathway, and protein domain. The results of molecular docking revealed the dominant role of L-type calcium channels. Fluo-3/AM fluorescence intensity decreased under the presence of Ca~(2+) chelating agent ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid(EGTA), L-type calcium channel blocker verapamil, and N-type calcium channel blocker conotoxin, and the effect of verapamil was stronger than that of conotoxin. This confirmed that OC1 promoted extracellular Ca~(2+) influx mainly through its interaction with L-type calcium channel protein. In addition, proteomic analysis and Western blot results showed that the expression of p-CaMKⅡ and downstream vesicle-related proteins was up-regulated after OC1 treatment, indicating that OC1 acted on vesicle-related proteins by activating CaMKⅡ and participated in synaptic remodeling and transmitter release, thus affecting learning and memory. OC1 also decreased the activity of AChE and prolonged the action time of ACh in synaptic gaps.
Animals ; Rats ; Glucosides/administration & dosage* ; Acetylcholine/metabolism* ; Alzheimer Disease/genetics* ; PC12 Cells ; Phenols/chemistry* ; Neurotransmitter Agents/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2/genetics* ; Humans ; Phosphorylation/drug effects* ; Calcium/metabolism* ; Polyphenols

This study investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of vanillic acid(VA) against cardiac fibrosis(CF) induced by isoproterenol(ISO) in mice. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control group, VA group(100 mg·kg~(-1), ig), ISO group(10 mg·kg~(-1), sc), ISO + VA group(10 mg·kg~(-1), sc + 100 mg·kg~(-1), ig), ISO + dynamin-related protein 1(Drp1) inhibitor(Mdivi-1) group(10 mg·kg~(-1), sc + 50 mg·kg~(-1), ip), and ISO + VA + Mdivi-1 group(10 mg·kg~(-1), sc + 100 mg·kg~(-1), ig + 50 mg·kg~(-1), ip). The treatment groups received the corresponding medications once daily for 14 consecutive days. On the day after the last administration, cardiac functions were evaluated, and serum and cardiac tissue samples were collected. These samples were analyzed for serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST), lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), creatine kinase-MB(CK-MB), cardiac troponin I(cTnI), reactive oxygen species(ROS), interleukin(IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) levels, as well as cardiac tissue catalase(CAT), glutathione(GSH), malondialdehyde(MDA), myeloperoxidase(MPO), superoxide dismutase(SOD), total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC) activities, and cytochrome C levels in mitochondria and cytoplasm. Hematoxylin-eosin, Masson, uranium acetate and lead citrate staining were used to observe morphological and mitochondrial ultrastructural changes in the cardiac tissues, and myocardial injury area and collagen volume fraction were calculated. Flow cytometry was applied to detect the relative content and M1/M2 polarization of cardiac macrophages. The mRNA expression levels of macrophage polarization markers [CD86, CD206, arginase 1(Arg-1), inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)], CF markers [type Ⅰ collagen(Coll Ⅰ), Coll Ⅲ, α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)], and cytokines(IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, TNF-α) in cardiac tissues were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of Coll Ⅰ, Coll Ⅲ, α-SMA, Drp1, p-Drp1, voltage-dependent anion channel(VDAC), hexokinase 1(HK1), NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein(ASC), caspase-1, cleaved-caspase-1, gasdermin D(GSDMD), cleaved N-terminal gasdermin D(GSDMD-N), IL-1β, IL-18, B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2), B-cell lymphoma-xl(Bcl-xl), Bcl-2-associated death promoter(Bad), Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax), apoptotic protease activating factor-1(Apaf-1), pro-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-3, pro-caspase-9, cleaved-caspase-9, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1(PARP-1), and cleaved-PARP-1 in cardiac tissues. The results showed that VA significantly improved cardiac function in mice with CF, reduced myocardial injury area and cardiac index, and decreased serum levels of AST, CK-MB, cTnI, LDH, ROS, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α. VA also lowered MDA and MPO levels, mRNA expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α, and mRNA and protein expressions of Coll Ⅰ, Coll Ⅲ, and α-SMA in cardiac tissues, and increased serum levels of IL-4 and IL-10, cardiac tissue levels of CAT, GSH, SOD, and T-AOC, and mRNA expressions of IL-4 and IL-10. Additionally, VA ameliorated cardiac pathological damage, inhibited myocardial cell apoptosis, inflammatory infiltration, and collagen fiber deposition, reduced collagen volume fraction, and alleviated mitochondrial damage. VA decreased the ratio of F4/80~+CD86~+ M1 cells and the mRNA expressions of CD86 and iNOS in cardiac tissue, and increased the ratio of F4/80~+CD206~+ M2 cells and the mRNA expressions of CD206 and Arg-1. VA also reduced protein expressions of p-Drp1, VDAC, NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, cleaved-caspase-1, GSDMD, GSDMD-N, IL-1β, IL-18, Bad, Bax, Apaf-1, cleaved-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-9, cleaved-PARP-1, and cytoplasmic cytochrome C, and increased the expressions of HK1, Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, pro-caspase-3, pro-caspase-9 proteins, as well as the Bcl-2/Bax and Bcl-xl/Bad ratios and mitochondrial cytochrome C content. These results indicate that VA has a significant ameliorative effect on ISO-induced CF in mice, alleviates ISO-induced oxidative damage and inflammatory response, and its mechanism may be closely related to the inhibition of Drp1/HK1/NLRP3 and mitochondrial apoptosis signaling pathways, suppression of myocardial cell inflammatory infiltration and collagen fiber deposition, reduction of collagen volume fraction and CollⅠ, Coll Ⅲ, and α-SMA expressions, thus mitigating CF.
Animals ; Isoproterenol/adverse effects* ; Male ; Mice ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Vanillic Acid/administration & dosage* ; Dynamins/genetics* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Fibrosis/genetics* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Mitochondria/metabolism* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics* ; Myocardium/metabolism* ; Humans

Objective To investigate the mechanism of apoptosis induced by acetyl-11-keto-3-boswellic acid(AKBA)in oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC)cells.Methods CAL27 were randomly divided into control group(conventional culture),low-dose group(40.00 μmol·L-1 AKBA),middle-dose group(80.00 μmol·L-1 AKBA),high-dose group(120.00 μmol·L-1 AKBA),3-methyladenine(3-MA)group(120.00 μmol·L-1 AKBA+2 mmol·L-1 autophagy inhibitor 3-MA).5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine(Edu)assay was used to detect cell proliferation;Western blot assay was used to detect protein expression;flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis.Mice were randomly divided into model group(construct OSCC mouse model),AKBA-L group(10.00 mg·kg-1 AKBA after modeling),AKBA-H group(20.00 mg·kg-1 AKBA after modeling),10 animals per group.After 28 days of continuous administration,weight were detected;and the expression of related proteins were detected by Western blot assay.Results The Edu positive cell rates in control group,high-dose group were(40.18±2.53)％,(12.08±0.93)％,respectively;the protein levels of autophagy associated microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3)Ⅱ/LC3 Ⅰ in control group,high-dose group and 3-MA group were 0.33±0.05,2.93±0.39,0.56±0.07,respectively;phosphorylated adenylate activated protein kinase catalytic subunit alpha subunit 1(p-PRKAA1)protein levels were 0.34±0.04,1.03±0.07,0.99±0.09,respectively;the apoptosis rates were(4.65±0.39)％,(25.75±2.29)％,(14.92±1.49)％,respectively.The above indexes in hige-dose group were significantly different from those in the control group(all P＜0.05).The above indexes in 3-MA group were significantly different from those in high-dose group(all P＜0.05).The tumor weight of model group,AKBA-L group and AKBA-H group were(0.96±0.08),(0.55±0.06),(0.43±0.05)g,respectively;the protein levels of LC3 Ⅱ/LC3 Ⅰ were 0.47±0.09,0.94±0.21 and 1.69±0.34,respectively.The above indexes in AKBA-L group and AKBA-H group were significantly different from those in model group(all P＜0.05).Conclusion AKBA can induce cytotoxic autophagy related apoptosis and inhibit CAL27 cell proliferation,which may be related to activation of AMPK signal.

Objective To investigate changes in the urinary metabolite profiles of children exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs)during critical brain development and explore their potential link with the intestinal microbiota. Methods Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to determine ten hydroxyl metabolites of PAHs(OH-PAHs)in 36-month-old children.Subsequently,37 children were categorized into low-and high-exposure groups based on the sum of the ten OH-PAHs.Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used to identify non-targeted metabolites in the urine samples.Furthermore,fecal flora abundance was assessed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing using Illumina MiSeq. Results The concentrations of 21 metabolites were significantly higher in the high exposure group than in the low exposure group(variable importance for projection>1,P<0.05).Most of these metabolites were positively correlated with the hydroxyl metabolites of naphthalene,fluorine,and phenanthrene(r=0.336-0.531).The identified differential metabolites primarily belonged to pathways associated with inflammation or proinflammatory states,including amino acid,lipid,and nucleotide metabolism.Additionally,these distinct metabolites were significantly associated with specific intestinal flora abundances(r=0.34-0.55),which were mainly involved in neurodevelopment. Conclusion Higher PAH exposure in young children affected metabolic homeostasis,particularly that of certain gut microbiota-derived metabolites.Further investigation is needed to explore the potential influence of PAHs on the gut microbiota and their possible association with neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Objective To explore the core drugs and antidepressant molecular mechanisms of Chinese herbal compound in the clinical treatment of depression.Methods Relevant literature was searched through CNKI,Wanfang and VIP to screen and sort out the Chinese Herbal compounds used in clinical practice.By analyzing the frequency of medication and the association rules of Chinese medicines,Bupleuri Radix,Paeoniae Radix Alba,Curcumae Radix were determined as the core Chinese medicinals for the treatment of depression.The active components and target proteins of these drugs were screened by TCMSP database,and depression-related targets were obtained from TTD,OMIM,DrugBank and GeneCards.Protein-protein interaction(PPI)network and'core drug-active ingredient-intersection target'network were constructed by STRING and Cytoscape.Gene Ontology(GO)enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analysis were performed by Metascape.Molecular docking analysis used RCSB database,AutoDockTools and PyMOL to verify the binding activity of key active components with core targets.Results The drugs for the treatment of depression in clinical Chinese herbal compound prescriptions were mainly cold,sweet,bitter and pungent,and the liver meridian was the first.Bupleuri Radix,Paeoniae Radix Alba,Curcumae Radix had the highest frequency of medication,and the combination of"Paeoniae Radix Alba-Bupleuri Radix"and"Curcumae Radix-Paeoniae Radix Alba-Bupleuri Radix"had the highest support.In the PPI network,SLC6A4,AKT1 and CHRNA4 were the key targets.GO enrichment analysis results showed that core drugs play a role in synaptic membranes and other parts through biological processes such as chemical synaptic transmission,as well as molecular functions such as G protein-coupled receptor activity.KEGG pathway enrichment analysis results showed that core drugs may treat depression through neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction,calcium signaling pathway and other pathways.Molecular docking confirmed that there was a strong binding activity between the key active ingredients and the core target.Conclusion Bupleuri Radix,Paeoniae Radix Alba,Curcumae Radix are the core drugs for clinical treatment of depression,which can treat depression through multi-component,multi-target and multi-pathway.

Objective:To retrospectively analyze the treatment status of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in newly diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in China.Methods:Data of chronic phase (CP) and accelerated phase (AP) CML patients diagnosed from January 2006 to December 2022 from 77 centers, ≥18 years old, and receiving initial imatinib, nilotinib, dasatinib or flumatinib-therapy within 6 months after diagnosis in China with complete data were retrospectively interrogated. The choice of initial TKI, current TKI medications, treatment switch and reasons, treatment responses and outcomes as well as the variables associated with them were analyzed.Results:6 893 patients in CP ( n=6 453, 93.6%) or AP ( n=440, 6.4%) receiving initial imatinib ( n=4 906, 71.2%), nilotinib ( n=1 157, 16.8%), dasatinib ( n=298, 4.3%) or flumatinib ( n=532, 7.2%) -therapy. With the median follow-up of 43 ( IQR 22-75) months, 1 581 (22.9%) patients switched TKI due to resistance ( n=1 055, 15.3%), intolerance ( n=248, 3.6%), pursuit of better efficacy ( n=168, 2.4%), economic or other reasons ( n=110, 1.6%). The frequency of switching TKI in AP patients was significantly-higher than that in CP patients (44.1% vs 21.5%, P<0.001), and more AP patients switched TKI due to resistance than CP patients (75.3% vs 66.1%, P=0.011). Multi-variable analyses showed that male, lower HGB concentration and ELTS intermediate/high-risk cohort were associated with lower cytogenetic and molecular responses rate and poor outcomes in CP patients; higher WBC count and initial the second-generation TKI treatment, the higher response rates; Ph + ACA at diagnosis, poor PFS. However, Sokal intermediate/high-risk cohort was only significantly-associated with lower CCyR and MMR rates and the poor PFS. Lower HGB concentration and larger spleen size were significantly-associated with the lower cytogenetic and molecular response rates in AP patients; initial the second-generation TKI treatment, the higher treatment response rates; lower PLT count, higher blasts and Ph + ACA, poorer TFS; Ph + ACA, poorer OS. Conclusion:At present, the vast majority of newly-diagnosed CML-CP or AP patients could benefit from TKI treatment in the long term with the good treatment responses and survival outcomes.

Objective:To investigate the expression and clinical significance of serum microRNA-34a(miR-34a)in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI).Methods:A total of 83 STEMI patients diagnosed and treated in our hospital from May 2018 to May 2022 were selected as STEMI group,and 83 healthy subjects undergoing physical examination simultaneously were selected for a control study(healthy group).The gen-eral data and serum levels of miR-34a expression,creatine kinase isoenzyme MB(CK-MB)and superoxide dis-mutase(SOD)were compared between two groups;Pearson method was used to analyze the correlation among ser-um levels of CK-MB,SOD and miR-34a expression in STEMI patients;Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of STEMI.Results:Compared with healthy group,there were significant rise in levels of LDL-C[(2.18±0.73)mmol/L vs.(2.60±0.87)mmol/L],TC[(3.82±0.75)mmol/L vs.(4.10±0.82)mmol/L],TG[(1.38±0.35)mmol/L vs.(1.75±0.44)mmol/L],miR-34a expression[(1.04±0.35)vs.(2.03±0.68)]andCK-MB[(18.12±8.27)U/L vs.(75.44±36.08)U/L](P＜0.05 or＜0.01),and signifi-cant reduction in serum SOD level[(146.23±50.81)μU/L vs.(75.62±26.96)μU/L]in STEMI group(P＜0.001).Pearson correlation analysis indicated that serum miR-34a expression level was significant positively corre-lated with CK-MB level(r=0.591,P＜0.001),and significant inversely correlated with SOD level(r=-0.588,P＜0.001)in STEMI patients.Logistic regression analysis indicated that LDL-C,miR-34a and TG were inde-pendent risk factors for STEMI(OR=2.768～66.754,P＜0.05 or＜0.01),while SOD was its independent protec-tive factor(OR=0.955,P＜0.001).Conclusion:The expression level of serum miR-34a is higher in STEMI pa-tients,which is significantly related to myocardial injury and oxidative stress indicators.MiR-34a may be a poten-tial target for the diagnosis and treatment of STEMI.

Objective To compare the effects of 20 mg qd and 10 mg bidadministration of iprrazole enteric-coated tablets on the control of gastric acid in healthy subjects.Methods A randomized,single-center,parallel controlled trial was designed to include 8 healthy subjects.Randomly divided into 2 groups,20 mg qd administration group:20 mg enteric-coated tablets of iprrazole in the morning;10 mg bid administration group:10 mg enteric-coated tablets of iprrazole in the morning and 10 mg in the evening.The pH values in the stomach of the subjects before and 24 h after administration were monitored by pH meter.The plasma concentration of iprazole after administration was determined by HPLC-MS/MS.The main pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by Phoenix WinNonlin(V8.0)software.Results The PK parameters of iprrazole enteric-coated tablets and reference preparations in fasting group were as follows:The Cmax of 20 mg qd group and 10 mg bid group were(595.75±131.15)and(283.50±96.98)ng·mL-1;AUC0-t were(5 531.94±784.35)and(4 686.67±898.23)h·ng·mL-1;AUC0-∞ were(6 003.19±538.59)and(7 361.48±1 816.77)h·ng·mL-1,respectively.The mean time percentage of gastric pH＞3 after 20 mg qd and 10 mg bid were 82.64％and 61.92％,and the median gastric pH within 24 h were 6.25±1.49 and 3.53±2.05,respectively.The mean gastric pH values within 24 h were 5.71±1.36 and 4.23±1.45,respectively.The correlation analysis of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics showed that there was no significant correlation between the peak concentration of drug in plasma and the inhibitory effect of acid.Conclusion Compared with the 20 mg qd group and the 10 mg bid group,the acid inhibition effect is better,the administration times are less,and the safety of the two administration regimes is good.