1.Pathogenesis and Syndrome Differentiation of "Gaozhuo" of Oxidative Stress in Diabetic Kidney Disease
Yuman YIN ; Yunfeng YU ; Xiangning HUANG ; Jiawang HUANG ; Gang HU ; Juan HUANG ; Rong YU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(2):226-234
Oxidative stress is a pivotal factor in the onset and progression of diabetic kidney disease (DKD), and it plays an essential role in the prevention and treatment of DKD. The "Gaozhuo" pathogenesis posits that DKD is characterized by the invasion of Gaozhuo and damage to the kidney collaterals, with the underlying cause being the insufficiency of spleen Qi and the internal formation of Gaozhuo, which provides valuable guidance on oxidative stress. The insufficiency of spleen Qi and the internal formation of Gaozhuo represent a dynamic, evolving process. Gaozhuo invades the kidney collaterals, impairs kidney Qi, and progressively leads to the congealing and stagnation of Gaozhuo and blood, ultimately resulting in the failure of both the spleen and kidneys. The damage caused by Gaozhuo to the kidney collaterals and kidney Qi is analogous to the organ and functional damage of the kidneys induced by excessive reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress. Damage to the kidney collaterals means organic injuries to the glomeruli, renal tubules, and renal interstitium, and the depletion of kidney Qi refers to damage to glomerular filtration and renal tubular reabsorption. The congealing and stagnation of Gaozhuo and blood in the kidney collaterals is similar to oxidative stress-induced thickening of the glomerular basement membrane and fibrosis. The interaction between spleen and kidney Qi deficiency and the congealing and stagnation of Gaozhuo and blood creates a vicious cycle that exacerbates the condition, ultimately evolving into the failure of both the spleen and kidneys. The failure of the spleen and kidneys is analogous to renal failure, and its extreme manifestation is end-stage renal disease and uremia. The treatment of oxidative stress in DKD with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is based on the principles of strengthening the spleen and tonifying the kidneys, and dispelling turbidity and removing blood stasis. According to the syndrome type, it is recommended to use methods such as strengthening the spleen and tonifying Qi while dispelling dampness and removing turbidity, strengthening the spleen and tonifying the kidneys while dispelling dampness and removing turbidity, strengthening the spleen and tonifying the kidneys while dispelling turbidity and removing blood stasis, or consolidating the spleen and kidneys while clearing away turbidity and blood stasis.
2.Exploring the treatment approach for bone marrow suppression after radiotherapy and chemotherapy from the perspective of "acute deficiency syndrome"
Zhiming LI ; Fen HUANG ; Jiawang JIANG ; Wei JIANG ; Xiaochun CHEN ; Xin LI
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(1):122-126
Bone marrow suppression is one of the common adverse reactions to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Anticancer treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy first directly damage the patient′s peripheral blood cells, impairing qi and blood; further, they damage the actively proliferating cell populations in the bone marrow, impairing yin and blood; and then they interfere with hematopoietic stem cells, impairing essence and blood. This process is rapid and intense, consistent with the characteristics of " acute deficiency syndrome" , marked by sudden onset, rapid changes, critical condition, complexity and variability, multiple complications, and poor prognosis. Given this, its diagnosis and treatment should differ from those of general deficiency syndromes. This paper advocates the principles and ideas of diagnosis and treatment such as " preventing first and treating early to prevent changes; supplementing for deficiency and strengthening vital qi to eliminate pathogenic factor; urgent rescue for critical conditions, no time to lose; and comprehensive supplementing throughout the process, with severe cases requiring singular action" . This approach is intended to provide theoretical reference and practical guidance for bone marrow suppression after radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
3.Mechanism prediction and experimental verification of Maxing Shigan Decoction against influenza A virus infection based on UPLC-MS/MS and network pharmacology
Jiawang HUANG ; Jianing SHI ; Yang LIU ; Zhiying FENG ; Jingmin FU ; Siyu WANG ; Xuan JI ; Rong YU ; Ling LI
Digital Chinese Medicine 2025;8(4):532-542
Objective:
To investigate the chemical compositions of Maxing Shigan Decoction (麻杏石甘汤, MXSGD) and elucidate its anti-influenza A virus (IAV) mechanism from prediction to validation.
Methods:
Ultra high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was employed to analyze the chemical compositions of MXSGD. Network pharmacology theories were used to screen and identify shared targets of both the potential targets of active ingredients of MXSGD and IAV. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was then constructed, followed by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. The binding stability between core bioactive compounds and key targets was validated by molecular docking and dynamic simulations. A total of 24 BALB/c mice were infected with IAV to build IAV mouse models. After successful modelling, the mouse models were randomly divided into model, MXSGD high-dose (2.8 g/kg), MXSGD low-dose (1.4 g/kg), and oseltamivir (20.14 mg/kg) groups, with an additional normal mice as control group (n = 6 per group). The treatments were administered by gavage daily between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. for five consecutive days. Upon completion of the administration, the body weight ratio, lung index, protein content in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and the levels of inflammatory factors including interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in mice were measured to preliminarily analyze the therapeutic efficacy of MXSGD against IAV infection. Furthermore, the expression levels of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) proteins in the HIF-1 signaling pathway, which was enriched by network pharmacology, were detected by Western blot.
Results:
A total of 212 chemical components in MXSGD were identified by the UPLC-MS/MS method. These chemical components can be classified into 9 primary categories and 31 secondary categories. After intersecting the chemical component targets with IAV-related targets, a total of 567 potential MXSGD components targeting IAV were identified. The construction of PPI network and the results of both GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that the anti-IAV effects of MXSGD were associated with multiple pathways, including apoptosis, TNF, HIF-1, and IL-17 signaling pathways. The results of molecular docking demonstrated that the binding energies between the core compound 1-methoxyphaseollin and key targets including HIF-1α, mTOR, and VEGF were all lower than – 5.0 kcal/mol. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the structural stability of the resulting complexes. Animal experiments showed that compared with the normal controls, IAV-infected mice showed significantly reduced body weight ratio, markedly increased lung index, protein content in BALF, and the levels of inflammatory factors such as IL-6 and TNF-α (P < 0.01), thereby causing damage to the lung tissue; consequently, the expression levels of mTOR, HIF-1α, and VEGF proteins in the lung tissues of these mice were significantly elevated (P < 0.01). However, after MXSGD treatment, the mouse models presented a significant increase in body weight ratio, as well as marked decreases in lung index, protein content in BALF, and the levels of inflammatory factors including IL-6 and TNF-α (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the therapy alleviated IAV-induced injuries and significantly downregulated the expression levels of mTOR, HIF-1α, and VEGF proteins in lung tissues (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05).
Conclusion
MXSGD exerts anti-IAV effects through multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway synergism. Among them, 1-methoxyphaseollin is identified as a potential key component, which alleviates virus-induced lung injury and inflammatory response via the regulation of HIF-1 signaling pathway, providing experimental evidence for the clinical application of MXSGD.
4.Exploring mechanism and experimental validation of Gubiao Fanggan Modified Formula in preventing influenza virus in immunosuppressive mice based on network pharmacology
Xinyue MA ; Jiawang HUANG ; Mengchen ZHU ; Zhuolin LIU ; Ziye XU ; Fangguo LU ; Ling LI
Chinese Journal of Immunology 2024;40(7):1447-1453,中插2-中插5
Objective:To invastigate the targets and signaling pathways of Gubiao Fanggan Modified Formula in regulating the defense against influenza A virus in immunosuppressed mice by network pharmacology,and the key targets were verified by immuno-suppressive mice model.Methods:TCMSP database was used to search the active ingredients of Gubiao Fanggan Modified Formula,and GeneCard,OMIM,PharmGkb databases were used to obtain the potential targets of the active ingredients to prevent influenza,and take their intersection targets were taken;STRING11.5 database was used to make protein-protein interaction network analyzed and finded the core targets;Cytoscape3.8.1 was used to build a traditional Chinese medicine-ingredient-disease target network,and GO enrichment analysis and KEGG enrichment analysis were performed.Intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide was used to construct a mouse model of immune function suppression,normal group,model control group,Gubiao Fanggan Modified Formula group and oseltamivir group were set up,followed by prophylactic administration,and influenza virus intervention was performed on the fourth day.After 7 days of intragastric administration,the key targets were verified by mouse spleen index,HE staining,RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry.Results:There were 82 active ingredients in five traditional Chinese medicines in Gubiao Fanggan Modi-fied Formula,and 72 common targets of drugs and diseases such as IL-6,TNF-α,IL-2,etc,mainly involving IL-17,TNF and AGE-RAGE signaling pathway.Gubiao Fanggan Modified Formula could increase spleen index and significantly reduce mRNA and protein expressions of IL-6 and TNF-α in spleen tissue of mice(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusion:Gubiao Fanggan Modified Formula may regulate body's immune function through targets such as IL-6 and TNF-α,thereby preventing influenza virus infection.
5.The value of minimal residual disease and IKZF1 deletion for predicting prognosis in adult patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Shiyu DENG ; Jiawang OU ; Zicong HUANG ; Junjie CHEN ; Zihong CAI ; Qifa LIU ; Hongsheng ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Hematology 2024;45(3):257-263
Objective:To reassess the prognostic value of minimal residual disease (MRD) and IKZF1 gene deletions in adults with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) who received pediatric-specific chemotherapy regimens during the Nanfang Hospital PDT-ALL-2016 trial.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the prognosis of 149 adult patients with B-ALL who were admitted to Nanfang Hospital from January 2016 to September 2020. Prognostic factors were identified using Cox regression models.Results:The complete remission rate was 93.2% in 149 patients, with a 5-year overall survival (OS) rate of (54.3±5.0) % and a cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) of (47.5±5.2) %. The Cox regression analysis revealed that MRD positivity at day 45 (MRD 3) after induction therapy was independently associated with relapse risk ( HR=2.535, 95% CI 1.122-5.728, P=0.025). Deletion of IKZF1 gene was independently associated with mortality risk ( HR=1.869, 95% CI 1.034-3.379, P=0.039). Based on MRD 3 and IKZF1 gene status, we categorized adult patients with B-ALL into the low-risk (MRD 3-negative and IKZF1 gene deletion-negative) and high-risk (MRD 3-positive and/or IKZF1 gene wild type) groups. The 5-year OS and CIR rates were (45.5±6.0) % vs (69.4±8.6) % ( P<0.001) and (61.6±8.3) % vs (25.5±6.5) % ( P<0.001), respectively, in the high-risk and low-risk groups, respectively. The multivariate analysis showed that the high-risk group was an independent risk factor for OS ( HR=3.937, 95% CI 1.975-7.850, P<0.001) and CIR ( HR=4.037, 95% CI 2.095-7.778, P<0.001) . Conclusion:The combined use of MRD and IKZF1 gene in prognostic stratification can improve clinical outcome prediction in adult patients with B-ALL, helping to guide their treatment.
6.Research progress of CD4+T cells in influenza virus infection-induced cytokine storm and acute lung injury
Jiawang HUANG ; Xinyue MA ; Mengchen ZHU ; Weirong LIU ; Yulu CHEN ; Ling LI
Chinese Journal of Immunology 2023;39(12):2666-2671
As the main weapon of cellular immunity,CD4+ T cells play a vital role in controlling and eliminating infections,and are an important barrier for the body to resist infections.Respiratory tract infectious diseases caused by influenza virus infection have extremely high infectivity,morbidity and mortality.The infection mechanism is relatively complicated and has not been fully ex-plained.The exuberant immune response induced by the body after influenza virus infection is described as a"cytokine storm"which is related to pro-inflammatory cytokines and tissue damage,which may eventually lead to acute lung injury.Therefore,this article sum-marizes the current research progress,focusing on the mechanism of CD4+T cells in the cytokine storm induced by influenza virus in-fection and the impact of acute lung injury,providing relevant ideas and theoretical guidance for follow-up research,with a view to the disease caused by influenza virus bring new and effective methods of diagnosis and treatment.
7.Network pharmacology and experimental validation of Maxing Shigan decoction in the treatment of influenza virus-induced ferroptosis.
Jiawang HUANG ; Xinyue MA ; Zexuan LIAO ; Zhuolin LIU ; Kangyu WANG ; Zhiying FENG ; Yi NING ; Fangguo LU ; Ling LI
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2023;21(10):775-788
Influenza is an acute viral respiratory infection that has caused high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Influenza A virus (IAV) has been found to activate multiple programmed cell death pathways, including ferroptosis. Ferroptosis is a novel form of programmed cell death in which the accumulation of intracellular iron promotes lipid peroxidation, leading to cell death. However, little is known about how influenza viruses induce ferroptosis in the host cells. In this study, based on network pharmacology, we predicted the mechanism of action of Maxing Shigan decoction (MXSGD) in IAV-induced ferroptosis, and found that this process was related to biological processes, cellular components, molecular function and multiple signaling pathways, where the hypoxia inducible factor-1(HIF-1) signaling pathway plays a significant role. Subsequently, we constructed the mouse lung epithelial (MLE-12) cell model by IAV-infected in vitro cell experiments, and revealed that IAV infection induced cellular ferroptosis that was characterized by mitochondrial damage, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) release, increased total iron and iron ion contents, decreased expression of ferroptosis marker gene recombinant glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), increased expression of acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 4 (ACSL4), and enhanced activation of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the HIF-1 signaling pathway. Treatment with MXSGD effectively reduced intracellular viral load, while reducing ROS, total iron and ferrous ion contents, repairing mitochondrial results and inhibiting the expression of cellular ferroptosis and the HIF-1 signaling pathway. Finally, based on animal experiments, it was found that MXSGD effectively alleviated pulmonary congestion, edema and inflammation in IAV-infected mice, and inhibited the expression of ferroptosis-related protein and the HIF-1 signaling pathway in lung tissues.
Animals
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Mice
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Ferroptosis
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Network Pharmacology
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Reactive Oxygen Species
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
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Influenza A virus
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Iron
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Hypoxia
8.Impact of three to four cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on survival of patients with N2-N3 nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Jiawang WEI ; Rong HUANG ; Xin YU ; Qiaoxuan WANG ; Weiwei XIAO ; Lixia LU ; Yuanhong GAO ; Hui CHANG
Chinese Journal of Radiation Oncology 2017;26(4):380-383
Objective To evaluate the impact of three to four cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) on the survival of patients with N2-N3 nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).Methods The clinical data of 915 patients with T1-4N2-3M0 NPC from 2007 to 2010 were retrospectively analyzed.A total of 179 patients treated with 3-4 cycles of NACT (NACT≥3 group) were matched with 358 patients treated with 2 cycles of NACT (NACT=2 group) and 179 patients treated without NACT (NACT =0 group,concurrent chemoradiotherapy group) for age,N stage,pathological subtype,and NACT regimen.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate overall survival (OS),disease-free survival (DFS),recurrence-free survival (RFS),and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) rates,the log-rank test was used for survival difference analysis and univariate prognostic analysis,and the Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariate prognostic analysis.Results For the NACT≥ 3,NACT =2,and NACT =0 groups,the 5-year OS rates were 89.4%,81.6%,and 73.7%,respectively (P=O.000),the 5-year DFS rates were 83.2%,69.8%,and 64.2%,respectively (P=O.000),the 5-year RFS rates were 86.0%,76.0%,and 69.3%,respectively (P=0.001),and the 5-year DMFS rates were 86.6%,76.0%,and 68.3%,respectively (P=0.000).Three to four cycles of NACT was an independent protective factor for OS,DFS,RFS,and DMFS in patients with N2-N3 NPC.Conclusion Three to four cycles of NACT can significantly improve the survival of patients with N2-N3 NPC.


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