1.Traditional Chinese Medicine Treats Sepsis by Regulating PI3K/Akt Pathway: A Review
Zhu LIU ; Jiawei WANG ; Jing YAN ; Jinchan PENG ; Mingyao XU ; Liqun LI ; Sheng XIE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(2):314-322
Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome caused by the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria. In addition to the manifestations of systemic inflammatory response syndrome and primary infection lesions, critical cases often have manifestations of organ hypoperfusion. The morbidity and mortality of sepsis have remained high in recent years, which seriously affect the quality of life of the patients. The pathogenesis of sepsis is complicated, in which uncontrollable inflammation is a key mechanism. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway plays a key role in mediating inflammation in sepsis. The available therapies of sepsis mainly include resuscitation, anti-infection, vasoactive drugs, intensive insulin therapy, and organ support, which show limited effects of reducing the mortality. Therefore, finding new therapeutic drugs is a key problem to be solved in the clinical treatment of sepsis. In recent years, studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can regulate the PI3K/Akt pathway via multiple pathways, multiple effects, and multiple targets to inhibit inflammation and curb the occurrence and development of sepsis, which has gradually become a hot spot in the prevention and treatment of sepsis. Moreover, studies have suggested that TCM has unique advantages in the treatment of sepsis. TCM can regulate the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to inhibit inflammation, reduce oxidative stress, and control apoptosis in the prevention and treatment of sepsis. Despite the research progress, a systematic review remains to be performed regarding the TCM treatment of sepsis by regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. After reviewing relevant papers published in recent years, this study systematically summarizes the relationship between PI3K/Akt pathway and sepsis and the role of TCM in the treatment of sepsis, aiming to provide new ideas for the potential treatment of sepsis and the development of new drugs.
2.Gut microbiota-derived tryptophan metabolites regulated by Wuji Wan to attenuate colitis through AhR signaling activation.
Wanghui JING ; Sijing DONG ; Yinyue XU ; Jingjing LIU ; Jiawei REN ; Xue LIU ; Min ZHU ; Menggai ZHANG ; Hehe SHI ; Na LI ; Peng XIA ; Haitao LU ; Sicen WANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(1):205-223
Disruption of the intestinal mucosal barrier caused by gut dysbiosis and metabolic imbalance is the underlying pathology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Traditional Chinese medicine Wuji Wan (WJW) is commonly used to treat digestive system disorders and showed therapeutic potential for IBD. In this interdisciplinary study, we aim to investigate the pharmacological effects of WJW against experimental colitis by combining functional metabolomics and gut-microbiota sequencing techniques. Treatment with WJW altered the profile of the intestinal microbiota and notably increased the abundance of Lactobacillus, thereby facilitating the conversion of tryptophan into indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and indoleacrylic acid (IA). These indole derivatives activated the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway, which reduced colonic inflammation and restored the expression of intestinal barrier proteins. Interestingly, the beneficial effects of WJW on gut barrier function improvement and tryptophan metabolism were disappeared in the absence of gut microbiota. Finally, pre-treatment with the AhR antagonist CH-223191 confirmed the essential role of IAA-mediated AhR activation in the therapeutic effects of WJW. Overall, WJW enhanced intestinal barrier function and reduced colonic inflammation in a murine colitis model by modulating Lactobacillus-IAA-AhR signaling pathway. This study provides novel insights into colitis pathogenesis and presents an effective therapeutic and preventive approach against IBD.
3.Cytoplasmic and nuclear NFATc3 cooperatively contributes to vascular smooth muscle cell dysfunction and drives aortic aneurysm and dissection.
Xiu LIU ; Li ZHAO ; Deshen LIU ; Lingna ZHAO ; Yonghua TUO ; Qinbao PENG ; Fangze HUANG ; Zhengkun SONG ; Chuanjie NIU ; Xiaoxia HE ; Yu XU ; Jun WAN ; Peng ZHU ; Zhengyang JIAN ; Jiawei GUO ; Yingying LIU ; Jun LU ; Sijia LIANG ; Shaoyi ZHENG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(7):3663-3684
This study investigated the role of the nuclear factor of activated T cells c3 (NFATc3) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) during aortic aneurysm and dissection (AAD) progression and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Cytoplasmic and nuclear NFATc3 levels were elevated in human and mouse AAD. VSMC-NFATc3 deletion reduced thoracic AAD (TAAD) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) progression in mice, contrary to VSMC-NFATc3 overexpression. VSMC-NFATc3 deletion reduced extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation and maintained the VSMC contractile phenotype. Nuclear NFATc3 targeted and transcriptionally upregulated matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) and MMP2, promoting ECM degradation and AAD development. NFATc3 promoted VSMC phenotypic switching by binding to eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) and inhibiting its phosphorylation in the VSMC cytoplasm. Restoring eEF2 reversed the beneficial effects in VSMC-specific NFATc3-knockout mice. Cabamiquine-targets eEF2 and inhibits protein synthesis-inhibited AAD development and progression in VSMC-NFATc3-overexpressing mice. VSMC-NFATc3 promoted VSMC switch and ECM degradation while exacerbating AAD development, making it a novel potential therapeutic target for preventing and treating AAD.
4.Study on the Prevalence Difference between Northwest Dryness Syndrome and Blood Stasis Syndrome of Coronary Heart Disease and the Correlation with Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events
Xintong LI ; Peng LI ; Changgeng FU ; Linzi LONG ; Jingya ZHOU ; Jiawei HU ; Yutai ZHAO
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(12):1255-1261
ObjectiveTo explore the prevalence difference between northwest dryness syndrome and blood stasis syndrome of coronary heart disease (CAD) and their correlations with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). MethodsThe medical records including general information and risk factors for vascular diseases (gender, age, smoking history, diabetes history, hypertension history, chronic kidney disease history and body mass index), laboratory indicators (fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, etc.) of 499 CAD patients in the Department of Cardiology of the Affiliated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Xinjiang Medical University from November 1st, 2015 to September 30th,2020 were collected, and whether they suffered from northwest dryness syndrome or blood stasis syndrome was judged. The incidence of MACE was followed up for one year. The differences of cardiovascular risk factors between the northwest dryness syndrome and blood stasis syndrome of CAD were compared, and the correlation with MACE was analyzed. ResultsAmong the 499 CAD patients, there were 128 cases (25.65%) of simple blood stasis syndrome, 33 cases (6.61%) of simple northwest dryness syndrome, 209 cases (41.88%) of northwest dryness syndrome plus blood stasis syndrome, and 129 (25.85%) cases of not blood statis syndrom either northwest dryness syndrome. Univariate regression analysis showed that smoking history, diabetes history, fasting blood glucose abnormality, triglyceride abnormality, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol abnormality were positively correlated with northwest dryness syndrome in CAD patients (OR>1, P<0.05), while smoking history, abnormal triglyceride and abnormal high density lipoprotein cholesterol were positively correlated with blood stasis syndrome in CAD patients (OR>1, P<0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that the history of diabetes, abnormal triglyceride and abnormal high density lipoprotein cholesterol were positively correlated with northwest dryness syndrome of CAD (P<0.05). Smoking history, abnormal triglycerides and abnormal high density lipoprotein cholesterol were positively correlated with blood stasis syndrome (P<0.05). Association rule analysis showed that the confidence of CAD patients with northwest dryness syndrome complicated with blood stasis syndrome was 86.36%, and that of patients with blood stasis syndrome complicated with northwest dryness syndrome was 62.02%. Among the 499 patients, 96 had MACE in one year, accounting for 19.24% of the total. Logistics regression analysis showed that the correlation with incidence of MACE in CAD patients within one year from strong to weak was northwest dryness syndrome plus blood stasis syndrome [OR = 5.113, 95%CI (3.118, 8.387), P<0.001)], blood stasis syndrome[OR = 4.630, 95%CI (2.394, 8.955), P<0.001], northwest dryness syndrome [OR = 4.395, 95%CI (2.642, 7.309), P<0.001]. ConclusionBlood stasis syndrome is the main syndrome type of CAD in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. CAD patients with northwest dryness syndrome are more likely to have blood stasis syndrome, and most suffer from both northwest dryness syndrome and blood stasis syndrome simultaneously. There is the strongest correlation between northwest dryness syndrome plus blood stasis syndrome and 1-year occurrence of MACE in CAD.
5.Research progress on the prevention and treatment of sepsis by intervening in JAK/STAT signaling pathway with traditional Chinese medicine
Zhu LIU ; Jiawei WANG ; Yijun FANG ; Jinchan PENG ; Liqun LI ; Sheng XIE
China Pharmacy 2024;35(21):2697-2702
Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by infection. Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway plays a key role in the regulation of inflammatory response, oxidative stress and apoptosis. Some traditional Chinese medicine monomers, such as flavonoids (such as taxifolin), alkaloids (such as sinomenine), and stilbenes (such as piceatannol) can exert anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, and inhibition of apoptosis by regulating the JAK/ STAT signaling pathway, which is helpful to improve sepsis. Traditional Chinese medicine compounds (such as Zuojinfang) and traditional Chinese medicine injections (such as Astragalus injection, Xuebijing injection) can also inhibit inflammation, protect organ function, and reduce sepsis-related damage by regulating JAK/STAT signaling pathway. Although traditional Chinese medicine has shown great potential in the prevention and treatment of sepsis, the current research mainly focuses on in vitro and animal models, and more relative clinical researches need to be conducted.
6.Enhanced tumoricidal activity of PD-1 antibody-secreting c-Met CAR-T cells against pancreatic cancer cells
Jingting MIN ; Shang PENG ; Nana DU ; Ran AN ; Xiangcheng ZHEN ; Jiawei CAO ; Chenhang ZHOU ; Zhenghong LI
Journal of Southern Medical University 2024;44(10):1976-1984
Objective To construct c-Met CAR-T cells secreting PD-1 antibodies to reduce immune inhibitory effect of tumor cells and enhance the efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy against pancreatic cancer.Methods Kaplan-Meier Plotter,GEPIA,and Timer 2.0 bioinformatics databases were used to analyze c-Met expression in pancreatic cancer and its correlation with survival and immune infiltration status.In clinical samples of pancreatic cancer and pancreatic cancer Aspc-1 cells,c-Met and PD-L1 expressions were detected using immunohistochemistry or flow cytometry.Using gene editing technology,PD-1 secretory antibodies and HIS tags were linked to second-generation c-Met CAR molecules to construct PD-1/c-Met CAR plasmids,which were then packaged into lentiviruses for infection of activated T cells.The positive rate and cell subset distribution of CAR-T cells were analyzed with flow cytometry,and secretory PD-1 antibodies in cell supernatants were detected using Western blotting.The target cell killing efficiency and proliferative activity of the modified CAR-T cells were evaluated after activation,and cytokine secretion was analyzed using ELISA.Results The expression of c-Met was significantly higher in pancreatic cancer than in normal tissues,and its expression level was negatively correlated with the patients'survival and positively correlated with immune cell infiltration.The clinical samples of pancreatic cancer tissues expressed significantly higher levels of c-Met and PD-L1 than the adjacent tissues,and 90.7%and 57.7%of Aspc-1 cells were positive for c-Met and PD-L1,respectively.The constructed PD-1/c-Met CAR-T cells were capable of secreting PD-1 antibodies and showed a significantly higher killing efficiency against tumor cells than c-Met CAR-T cells at an effector-to-target ratio of 20:1,with also a higher proliferative activity after target cell stimulation and higher levels of IL-2 and TNF-α secretin.Conclusion PD-1/c-Met CAR-T cells have higher killing efficiency against pancreatic cancer cells with also higher proliferative activity than c-Met CAR-T cells.
7.Enhanced tumoricidal activity of PD-1 antibody-secreting c-Met CAR-T cells against pancreatic cancer cells
Jingting MIN ; Shang PENG ; Nana DU ; Ran AN ; Xiangcheng ZHEN ; Jiawei CAO ; Chenhang ZHOU ; Zhenghong LI
Journal of Southern Medical University 2024;44(10):1976-1984
Objective To construct c-Met CAR-T cells secreting PD-1 antibodies to reduce immune inhibitory effect of tumor cells and enhance the efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy against pancreatic cancer.Methods Kaplan-Meier Plotter,GEPIA,and Timer 2.0 bioinformatics databases were used to analyze c-Met expression in pancreatic cancer and its correlation with survival and immune infiltration status.In clinical samples of pancreatic cancer and pancreatic cancer Aspc-1 cells,c-Met and PD-L1 expressions were detected using immunohistochemistry or flow cytometry.Using gene editing technology,PD-1 secretory antibodies and HIS tags were linked to second-generation c-Met CAR molecules to construct PD-1/c-Met CAR plasmids,which were then packaged into lentiviruses for infection of activated T cells.The positive rate and cell subset distribution of CAR-T cells were analyzed with flow cytometry,and secretory PD-1 antibodies in cell supernatants were detected using Western blotting.The target cell killing efficiency and proliferative activity of the modified CAR-T cells were evaluated after activation,and cytokine secretion was analyzed using ELISA.Results The expression of c-Met was significantly higher in pancreatic cancer than in normal tissues,and its expression level was negatively correlated with the patients'survival and positively correlated with immune cell infiltration.The clinical samples of pancreatic cancer tissues expressed significantly higher levels of c-Met and PD-L1 than the adjacent tissues,and 90.7%and 57.7%of Aspc-1 cells were positive for c-Met and PD-L1,respectively.The constructed PD-1/c-Met CAR-T cells were capable of secreting PD-1 antibodies and showed a significantly higher killing efficiency against tumor cells than c-Met CAR-T cells at an effector-to-target ratio of 20:1,with also a higher proliferative activity after target cell stimulation and higher levels of IL-2 and TNF-α secretin.Conclusion PD-1/c-Met CAR-T cells have higher killing efficiency against pancreatic cancer cells with also higher proliferative activity than c-Met CAR-T cells.
8.Effect of ursolic acid extracted from Hippophae Rhamnoides L.on repair of sciatic nerve injury in rats
Yue SUN ; Na GE ; Xue ZHAO ; Tengfei GUO ; Jiawei LIU ; Wenlong ZHANG ; Peng ZHOU
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2023;39(24):3158-3162
Objective To investigate the repairing effect of ursolic acid extracted from Hippophae rhamnoi-des L.on sciatic nerve injury in rats.Methods After preparing a sciatic nerve damage model,thirty 2-month old Wistar rats were randomly divided into ursolic acid and control groups,with 15 rats in each group.Ursolic acid group was given Ursolic acid 150 mg/(kg·d)by gavage,while the control group was given the same dose of normal saline for 6 weeks.After 6 weeks,H&E staining was used to observe the pathological changes of rat sciatic nerves,and SFI and MNCV were calculated;The expression of NGF in sciatic nerve was detected by immunohistochemistry,and the expression of GAP-43 in L4-L6 spinal cord was detected by Western blotting.Results After 6 weeks,compared to the control group,the number of regenerated nerve fibers in the ursolic acid group increased,the arrangement was slightly regular,the capillary structure was abundant,and the proliferation of fibroblasts decreased;SFI and MNCV%were significantly increased(P<0.05),NGF protein positive expression was significantly increased(P<0.05),and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).GAP-43 protein expression in sciatic nerve tissue was significantly increased(P<0.05).Conclusions The intervention of ursolic acid extracted from Hippophae rhamnoides L.can improve the function of rats after sciatic nerve injury,promote the increase of regenerated nerve fibers and the repair of myelin sheath in rats with sciatic nerve injury,which may be related to increased NGF and GAP-43 protein expression in rats.
9.Short term efficacy of SuperCAP approach artificial femoral head replacement and PFNA internal fixation in the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures in patients with osteoporosis
Chunhua YANG ; Xiaoming LI ; Xiao XIAO ; Jiawei HU ; Jiang PENG ; Chun LIU ; Hui CAO
Journal of Chinese Physician 2023;25(9):1345-1348,1354
Objective:To investigate the short-term clinical efficacy of SuperCAP artificial femoral head replacement and proximal femoral anti rotation intramedullary nail (PFNA) internal fixation in the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures in patients with osteoporosis.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients with osteoporosis and intertrochanteric fractures admitted to the Orthopedic Department of Changsha First Hospital from January 2017 to January 2020. The patients underwent SuperCAP artificial femoral head replacement or PFNA internal fixation surgery. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 32 cases were included in the SuperCAP group and 46 cases in the PFNA group. We compared the age, gender, fracture classification, bone density, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, surgical time, postoperative weight bearing time, intraoperative bleeding volume, incidence of perioperative complications, and Oxford Hip Score (OHS) between two groups of patients.Results:There was no statistically significant difference in age, gender, fracture classification, bone density, ASA score, surgical time, intraoperative bleeding, and the OHS at 6 months and 1 year after surgery between the two groups of patients (all P>0.05). The SuperCAP group had better postoperative weight bearing time, incidence of perioperative complications, and OHS at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months compared to the PFNA group (all P<0.05). Conclusions:SuperCAP minimally invasive approach for the treatment of osteoporotic femoral intertrochanteric fractures can achieve the same effect as PFNA internal fixation, and the short-term effect of SuperCAP artificial femoral head replacement is better than PFNA internal fixation.
10.Determination of suspended erythrocyte volume range and establishment of its internal control standard
Jing LAN ; Hua XU ; Xin CAO ; Jiawei LI ; Jin DING ; Peng PENG ; Na LIU ; Na FENG
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2023;36(3):263-265
【Objective】 To determine the volume range of suspended erythrocyte and establish its internal control standard. 【Methods】 The theoretical value of suspended erythrocyte volume was calculated according to the screening criteria of healthy blood donors and Quality Requirements for Whole Blood and Blood Components. A total of 2 410 bags of 1 U and 2 U suspended erythrocyte were randomly selected and weighed, and the volume range were formulated by

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