1.Intervention of Breast Cancer by Regulating Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway with Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Review
Lu LING ; Jingyu XU ; Junfei ZHAO ; Songjiang LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(8):320-330
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, and its incidence rate is also rising in China and tends to happen in younger age groups. The classical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is an important target in the treatment of breast cancer, playing a key role in the whole process of breast cancer development by regulating the expression of related signal proteins and genes. Traditional Chinese medicine has a profound history and practical experience in the treatment of malignant tumors, and the development of modern technology further highlights the therapeutic advantages of traditional Chinese medicine, which has multiple targets and components. Research shows that Chinese medicine can effectively slow down the proliferation of breast cancer cells by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and has a significant inhibitory effect on the development of breast cancer. Based on this, this paper summarized domestic and foreign relevant studies on the regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway with traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of breast cancer, analyzed the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine treating breast cancer by intervening in this signaling pathway, and summarized 44 different types of traditional Chinese medicine monomers, including terpenes (triptolide, andrographolide, etc.), flavonoids (scutellarin, sinensetin, etc.), polysaccharides (Angelica sinensis polysaccharides, etc.), phenols (curcumin, polydatin, etc.), and alkaloids (lycorine, etc.). In addition, there are 3 traditional Chinese medicines (Ganoderma lucidum, Radix actinidia chinensis, and Antrodia camphorata), 1 group of medicine pairs (Trionycis Carapax-Zedoary Turmeric), and 8 traditional Chinese medicine formulas (Compound Tubeimu, Huangqi Jiedu Tang, Xihuang Wan, Liuwei Dihuang Wan, Jiazhu Tang, Aiduqing Fang, Sini San, and compound Kushen injection). By regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and its key molecules, these single herbs, monomers, and compound herbs can reverse the epithelial mesenchymal transformation process, reduce the activity of stem cells, and inhibit the growth and metastasis of cancer cells. Besides, it can also enhance the sensitivity of drugs and radiotherapy and combat breast cancer, providing a new perspective for drug development and treatment strategies for breast cancer.
2.TCM Intervention in Prostate Cancer via Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway: A Review
Lu LING ; Jingyu XU ; Junfei ZHAO ; Songjiang LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(12):304-312
Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor that primarily arises from the epithelial tissue of the prostate in men. With the aggravation of population aging in China, the incidence rate of this disease has been continuously rising. Although the exact cause of prostate cancer remains unclear, it has been proven to be closely related to various factors, including individual genetic susceptibility, genetic mutations, dietary habits, and lifestyle. Research has shown that abnormal activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway also plays an important role in the occurrence and development of prostate cancer. Multiple experimental results have revealed that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), with its multi-target and multi-stage mechanisms of action, exerts significant regulatory effects on key biological processes such as proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of prostate cancer cells. TCM has shown excellent potential in preventing prostate cancer progression and improving patient prognosis and has become a research focus in prostate cancer treatment in recent years. Based on this, this study reviewed the research on the regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by TCM in the treatment of prostate cancer at home and abroad. It analyzed the mechanisms by which TCM intervention exerts anti-prostate cancer effects via this signaling pathway, identifying 29 different types of active ingredients in TCM, including alkaloids (e.g., capsaicin, berberine), flavonoids (e.g., icariin and hyperoside), polyphenols (e.g., gastrodin and honokiol), terpenes (e.g., oridonin), quinones (e.g., aloe-emodin), coumarins (e.g., agrimonolide), and saponins (e.g., saikosaponin-d). Additionally, one TCM medicinal substance (arsenic), one drug pair (Danggui - Qieyi combination), and two TCM formulae (Yishen Tonglong Tang and Guben Qingyuan Formula) were included. The study aims to deepen the understanding of the pathological mechanism of prostate cancer and to explore possible therapeutic targets, thereby providing new perspectives and approaches for clinical research and new drug development, and ultimately promoting the advancement and innovation of prostate cancer treatment strategies.
3.TCM Intervention in Prostate Cancer via Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway: A Review
Lu LING ; Jingyu XU ; Junfei ZHAO ; Songjiang LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(12):304-312
Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor that primarily arises from the epithelial tissue of the prostate in men. With the aggravation of population aging in China, the incidence rate of this disease has been continuously rising. Although the exact cause of prostate cancer remains unclear, it has been proven to be closely related to various factors, including individual genetic susceptibility, genetic mutations, dietary habits, and lifestyle. Research has shown that abnormal activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway also plays an important role in the occurrence and development of prostate cancer. Multiple experimental results have revealed that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), with its multi-target and multi-stage mechanisms of action, exerts significant regulatory effects on key biological processes such as proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of prostate cancer cells. TCM has shown excellent potential in preventing prostate cancer progression and improving patient prognosis and has become a research focus in prostate cancer treatment in recent years. Based on this, this study reviewed the research on the regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by TCM in the treatment of prostate cancer at home and abroad. It analyzed the mechanisms by which TCM intervention exerts anti-prostate cancer effects via this signaling pathway, identifying 29 different types of active ingredients in TCM, including alkaloids (e.g., capsaicin, berberine), flavonoids (e.g., icariin and hyperoside), polyphenols (e.g., gastrodin and honokiol), terpenes (e.g., oridonin), quinones (e.g., aloe-emodin), coumarins (e.g., agrimonolide), and saponins (e.g., saikosaponin-d). Additionally, one TCM medicinal substance (arsenic), one drug pair (Danggui - Qieyi combination), and two TCM formulae (Yishen Tonglong Tang and Guben Qingyuan Formula) were included. The study aims to deepen the understanding of the pathological mechanism of prostate cancer and to explore possible therapeutic targets, thereby providing new perspectives and approaches for clinical research and new drug development, and ultimately promoting the advancement and innovation of prostate cancer treatment strategies.
4.Recommendations for Standardized Reporting of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis of Animal Experiments
Qingyong ZHENG ; Donghua YANG ; Zhichao MA ; Ziyu ZHOU ; Yang LU ; Jingyu WANG ; Lina XING ; Yingying KANG ; Li DU ; Chunxiang ZHAO ; Baoshan DI ; Jinhui TIAN
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2025;45(4):496-507
Animal experiments are an essential component of life sciences and medical research. However, the external validity and reliability of individual animal studies are frequently challenged by inherent limitations such as small sample sizes, high design heterogeneity, and poor reproducibility, which impede the effective translation of research findings into clinical practice. Systematic reviews and meta-analysis represent a key methodology for integrating existing evidence and enhancing the robustness of conclusions. Currently, however, the application of systematic reviews and meta-analysis in the field of animal experiments lacks standardized guidelines for their conduct and reporting, resulting in inconsistent quality and, to some extent, diminishing their evidence value. To address this issue, this paper aims to systematically delineate the reporting process for systematic reviews and meta-analysis of animal experiments and to propose a set of standardized recommendations that are both scientific and practical. The article's scope encompasses the entire process, from the preliminary preparatory phase [including formulating the population, intervention, comparison and outcome (PICO) question, assessing feasibility, and protocol pre-registration] to the key writing points for each section of the main report. In the core methods section, the paper elaborates on how to implement literature searches, establish eligibility criteria, perform data extraction, and assess the risk of bias, based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement, in conjunction with relevant guidelines and tools such as Animal Research: Reporting of in Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) and a risk of bias assessment tool developed by the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation (SYRCLE). For the presentation of results, strategies are proposed for clear and transparent display using flow diagrams and tables of characteristics. The discussion section places particular emphasis on how to scientifically interpret pooled effects, thoroughly analyze sources of heterogeneity, evaluate the impact of publication bias, and cautiously discuss the validity and limitations of extrapolating findings from animal studies to clinical settings. Furthermore, this paper recommends adopting the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology to comprehensively grade the quality of evidence. Through a modular analysis of the entire reporting process, this paper aims to provide researchers in the field with a clear and practical guide, thereby promoting the standardized development of systematic reviews and meta-analysis of animal experiments and enhancing their application value in scientific decision-making and translational medicine.
5.Compound Centella asiatica formula alleviates Schistosoma japonicum-induced liver fibrosis in mice by inhibiting the inflammation-fibrosis cascade via regulating the TLR4/MyD88 pathway.
Liping GUAN ; Yan YAN ; Xinyi LU ; Zhifeng LI ; Hui GAO ; Dong CAO ; Chenxi HOU ; Jingyu ZENG ; Xinyi LI ; Yang ZHAO ; Junjie WANG ; Huilong FANG
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(6):1307-1316
OBJECTIVES:
To explore the therapeutic mechanism of compound Centella asiatica formula (CCA) for alleviating Schistosoma japonicum (Sj)-induced liver fibrosis in mice.
METHODS:
The active components and targets of CCA were identified using the TCMSP database with cross-analysis of Sj-related liver fibrosis targets. A "drug-component-target-pathway-disease" network was constructed using Cytoscape 3.9.1. Functional enrichment analysis (GO/KEGG) was performed using DAVID. Molecular docking study was carried out to validate interactions between the core targets and the key compounds. For experimental validation of the results, 36 mice were divided into control group, Sj-infected model group, and CCA-treated groups. In the latter two groups, liver fibrosis was induced via abdominal infection with Sj cercariae for 8 weeks, followed by 8 weeks of daily treatment with CCA decoction or saline. Hepatic pathology of the mice was assessedwith HE and Masson staining, and hepatic expressions of collagen-I and collagen-III were detected using immunohistochemistry; serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels were determined with ELISA. Hepatic expressions of TLR4 and MyD88 proteins were analyzed with Western blotting.
RESULTS:
We identified a total of 107 bioactive CCA components and 791 targets, including 37 intersection targets linked to Sj-induced fibrosis. The core targets included TNF, TP53, JUN, MMP9, and CXCL8, involving the IL-17 signaling, lipid metabolism, TLR4/MyD88 axis, and cancer pathways. Molecular docking study confirmed strong binding affinity between quercetin (a primary CCA component) and TNF/TP53/JUN/MMP9. In Sj-infected mouse models, CCA treatment significantly attenuated hepatic inflammatory cell infiltration, reduced collagen-I and collagen-III deposition, improved tissue architecture, reduced serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels, and downregulated TLR4 and MyD88 expressions in the liver.
CONCLUSIONS
CCA mitigates Sj-induced liver fibrosis by targeting TNF, TP53, JUN, and MMP9 to modulate the TLR4/MyD88 pathway, thereby suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokine release, inhibiting hepatic stellate cell activation, reducing collagen deposition, and preventing granuloma formation in the liver.
Animals
;
Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism*
;
Mice
;
Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88/metabolism*
;
Schistosoma japonicum
;
Liver Cirrhosis/parasitology*
;
Schistosomiasis japonica
;
Signal Transduction
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Molecular Docking Simulation
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Inflammation
;
Centella/chemistry*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
;
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*
6.A Personalized Predictor of Motor Imagery Ability Based on Multi-frequency EEG Features.
Mengfan LI ; Qi ZHAO ; Tengyu ZHANG ; Jiahao GE ; Jingyu WANG ; Guizhi XU
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(7):1198-1212
A brain-computer interface (BCI) based on motor imagery (MI) provides additional control pathways by decoding the intentions of the brain. MI ability has great intra-individual variability, and the majority of MI-BCI systems are unable to adapt to this variability, leading to poor training effects. Therefore, prediction of MI ability is needed. In this study, we propose an MI ability predictor based on multi-frequency EEG features. To validate the performance of the predictor, a video-guided paradigm and a traditional MI paradigm are designed, and the predictor is applied to both paradigms. The results demonstrate that all subjects achieved > 85% prediction precision in both applications, with a maximum of 96%. This study indicates that the predictor can accurately predict the individuals' MI ability in different states, provide the scientific basis for personalized training, and enhance the effect of MI-BCI training.
Humans
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Imagination/physiology*
;
Electroencephalography/methods*
;
Brain-Computer Interfaces
;
Male
;
Female
;
Adult
;
Young Adult
;
Brain/physiology*
;
Movement/physiology*
;
Motor Activity/physiology*
;
Psychomotor Performance/physiology*
7.Influencing factors of survival of patients with airway stenosis requiring clinical interventions after lung transplantation
Lingzhi SHI ; Heng HUANG ; Mingzhao LIU ; Hang YANG ; Bo WU ; Jin ZHAO ; Haoji YAN ; Yujie ZUO ; Xinyue ZHANG ; Linxi LIU ; Dong TIAN ; Jingyu CHEN
Organ Transplantation 2024;15(2):236-243
Objective To analyze the influencing factors of survival of patients with airway stenosis requiring clinical interventions after lung transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 66 patients with airway stenosis requiring clinical interventions after lung transplantation were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate and multivariate Cox’s regression models were adopted to analyze the influencing factors of survival of all patients with airway stenosis and those with early airway stenosis. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the overall survival and delineate the survival curve. Results For 66 patients with airway stenosis, the median airway stenosis-free time was 72 (52,102) d, 27% (18/66) for central airway stenosis and 73% (48/66) for distal airway stenosis. Postoperative mechanical ventilation time [hazard ratio (HR) 1.037, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.005-1.070, P=0.024] and type of surgery (HR 0.400, 95%CI 0.177-0.903, P=0.027) were correlated with the survival of patients with airway stenosis after lung transplantation. The longer the postoperative mechanical ventilation time, the higher the risk of mortality of the recipients. The overall survival of airway stenosis recipients undergoing bilateral lung transplantation was better than that of their counterparts after single lung transplantation. Subgroup analysis showed that grade 3 primary graft dysfunction (PGD) (HR 4.577, 95%CI 1.439-14.555, P=0.010) and immunosuppressive drugs (HR 0.079, 95%CI 0.022-0.287, P<0.001) were associated with the survival of patients with early airway stenosis after lung transplantation. The overall survival of patients with early airway stenosis after lung transplantation without grade 3 PGD was better compared with that of those with grade 3 PGD. The overall survival of patients with early airway stenosis after lung transplantation treated with tacrolimus was superior to that of their counterparts treated with cyclosporine. Conclusions Long postoperative mechanical ventilation time, single lung transplantation, grade 3 PGD and use of cyclosporine may affect the survival of patients with airway stenosis after lung transplantation.
8.Inhibition of miR-34a reduces inflammatory response in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Jingyu DU ; Zhanzhuan YING ; Bin HOU ; Jie DUO ; Zhen ZHAO
Basic & Clinical Medicine 2024;44(12):1670-1677
Objective To observe the expression levels and related mechanisms of miR-34a and its inflammatory-related factors in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid of patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD).Methods Totally 20 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD were recruited as the study group and 20 patients in stable period of COPD were recruited as control group.Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was collected,A549 cell was cultured and AECOPD cell model was built for evaluating the effects of over-expression of miR-34a,inhibition of miR-34a,and silencing of HIF-1α in cells.ELISA assay was applied to detect the expression of inflammatory factors IL-6,IL-8,TNF-αand TGF-β in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and cell supernatant.The expression of miR-34a and HIF-1 αwere measured by RT-qPCR,and Western blot was used to detect the expres-sion of HIF-1α.Results Compared with the control group,the expression of inflammatory factors,miR-34a,and HIF-1α in the AECOPD group were significantly elevated(P<0.05).Over-expression of miR-34a led to further elevation of HIF-1α and inflammatory factor expression(P<0.05).Inhibition of miR-34a resulted in a significant decrease of HIF-1α and inflammatory factors(P<0.05).The expression of HIF-1α in the AECOPD group was significantly elevated(P<0.05),and silencing HIF-1α significantly reduced the expression of inflam-matory factors(P<0.05).The expression of miR-34a had no significant change.Conclusions miR-34a is in-volved in the inflammatory damage in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD by regulating HIF-1α.Interfering with the miR-34a/HIF-1α pathway alleviates inflammatory response,so it is a potential target in the treatment of acute exacerbation of COPD.
9.Application of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in subclinical systemic sclerosis primary heart involvement
Zheng ZHAO ; Ya'nan ZHAO ; Jingyu JIN ; Jinshui YANG ; Jian ZHU ; Tao LI
Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine 2024;63(2):176-182
Objectives:Primary cardiac involvement (SSc-PHI) in systemic sclerosis is an important prognostic factor. We aimed to characterize and identify subclinical SSc-PHI using cardiovascular MRI to determine whether disease severity and serum biomarkers are associated with subclinical SSc-PHI.Methods:A total of 26 patients with SSc who had no history of cardiovascular disease or pulmonary hypertension underwent 3 T-enhanced cardiovascular MRI. Measurements included native T 1, extracellular volume, advanced gadolinium enhancement, T 2 mapping, and left ventricular volume function. Troponin T and N telencephalic natriuretic peptide precursors were also determined. Results:LGE was observed in 13 of 26 patients (50.0%), suggesting focal fibrosis, and T 2 mapping was significantly higher in the dcSSc group than in the lcSSc group ( P=0.009). Left ventricular volume and function were within the normal range in all patients, but final systolic left ventricular volume was significantly higher in dcSSc than in lcSSc ( P=0.021). The modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) was significantly higher in patients with LGE focal fibrosis ( P=0.019). Logistic regression analysis confirmed the association between mRSS and LGE ( OR=1.224, P=0.037). In multivariate analysis, T 2 mapping was negatively correlated with disease course, and was correlated with dcSSc and fingertip ulcer ( R2=0.711, P=0.018, P=0.013, P=0.030). Troponin T was correlated with T 2 mapping ( r=0.555, P=0.049). Conclusions:Subclinical SSc-PHI is characterized by diffuse and focal myocardial fibrosis, but preserves myocardial systolic function. Subclinical SSC-Phi is associated with TNT, SSc disease severity, and complex peripheral vascular disease. These data provide information for identifying individuals at risk of SSc-PHI.
10.Effects of different culture media on quality and developmental potential of mouse oocytes after in vitro maturation
Yin TIAN ; Yanhua ZHAO ; Guoning HUANG ; Jingyu LI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(13):2024-2029
BACKGROUND:In recent years,the demand for in vitro maturation of immature oocytes has increased.Oocyte maturation is affected by many factors,among which the selection of medium is particularly important,and there is currently no unified plan. OBJECTIVE:To compare the in vitro maturation of germinal vesicle stage oocytes with different maturation media and to investigate its effects on oocyte quality and developmental potential. METHODS:Germinal vesicle oocytes were matured in G-1TM PLUS medium,CZB medium and M16 medium,and mature oocytes in vivo were used as control group to compare in vitro fertilization and early embryo development among various groups.The immunofluorescence method was used to evaluate mitochondrial function in mature oocytes of each group.Calcium oscillation was detected by confocal microscopy real-time imaging system. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)There was no significant difference in the first polar body ejection rate among the three groups(P>0.05).(2)The rate of in vitro fertilization was higher in the G-1TM PLUS group(52.86±11.24)%than that in the M16 group(37.76±6.70)%and the CZB group(30.62±5.51)%.The blastocyst rate was lower in the CZB group(36.23±6.63)%than that in the control group(78.16±4.17)%,G-1TM PLUS group(55.75±7.63)%and M16 group(53.36±6.33)%.(3)Compared with the control group,the length-to-width ratio of the spindle in the CZB group increased(P<0.005).(4)The mitochondrial function of the CZB group was worse than that of the control group,G-1TM PLUS group and M16 group,and abnormal mitochondrial agglutination occurred in the CZB group.(5)The frequency of calcium oscillations in the CZB and M16 groups was significantly higher than that in the G1 and control groups.In conclusion,during in vitro maturation of mouse oocytes,in vitro maturation rate was not significantly different among G-1TM PLUS,CZB and M16 media,but the G-1TM PLUS medium had a higher rate of fertilization and blastocyst formation.

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