1.Evaluation of A Liver Yin Deficiency Mouse Model Based on Untargeted Metabolomics
Xuening HUANG ; Xia ZHAO ; Mengyu HOU ; Zhiyu GUO ; Yaohui YE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(5):118-125
ObjectiveBased on ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS), to evaluate the establishment of a mouse model of liver Yin deficiency by thyroid tablet suspension combined with 10% carbon tetrachloride(CCl4) from the perspective of non-targeted metabolomics, in order to lay the foundation for the establishment of a traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) syndrome model. MethodA total of 24 mice were randomly divided into blank group and model group. The model group was given thyroid tablet suspension(0.003 2 g·kg-1) by gavage for 14 consecutive days, and 10% CCl4(5 mL·kg-1) was intraperitoneally injected once a week to establish a liver Yin deficiency model, while the blank group was injected with an equal amount of olive oil intraperitoneally and gavaged with an equal amount of distilled water, and was fed with normal feed. After the modeling was completed, 6 mice in each group were randomly selected, the levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP), cyclic guanosine monophosphate(cGMP), interleukin(IL)-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)were measured in the mice serum, and malondialdehyde(MDA), superoxide dismutase(SOD), total protein(TP), hydroxyproline(HYP) and other indicators were measured in the mice liver. Liver tissue sections were taken for hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and observing pathological changes. The remaining 6 mice in each group were subjected to UPLC-Q-TOF-MS combined with principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) were used to screen differential metabolites in the liver Yin deficiency mouse model, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) database was used to analyze the corresponding metabolic pathways of differential metabolites. ResultCompared with the blank group, mice in the model group showed liver Yin deficiency manifestations such as reduced body weight, fatigue and sleepiness, disheveled and lusterless hair, irritability. The levels of ALT, cAMP/cGMP, IL-6, AST, MDA, cAMP, TNF-α significantly increased(P<0.05, P<0.01), while the levels of SOD, IL-10 and cGMP significantly decreased(P<0.05, P<0.01), and the changes of HYP and TP were not statistically significant. Hepatic steatosis and distortion of the radial arrangement of the liver plate cells were seen in the section images of the model group, endogenous substances were clearly separated, and 252 differential metabolites were identified in the serum samples, which were mainly involved in the metabolic pathways of purine metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis and pyrimidine metabolism. A total of 229 differential metabolites were identified in the liver samples, mainly involving nucleotide metabolism, purine metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis, pyrimidine metabolism, antifolate resistance, insulin resistance, primary bile acid biosynthesis, prostate cancer, sulfur relay system, arachidonic acid metabolism and other metabolic pathways. ConclusionThe successful establishment of liver Yin deficiency model in mice by CCl4 combined with thyroid hormone is evaluated through the investigation of serum and liver metabolomics, combined with biochemical indicators, which provides a biological basis and experimental foundation for the Yin deficiency syndrome model of TCM.
2.Study on the Efficacy of Cervi Colla in Yiqi Buxue Based on the Zebrafish Model
Yutong LIU ; Yong HUANG ; Hongyun MAO ; Tong ZHANG ; Jie CUI ; Mengyu LI ; Rong HOU ; Yunfeng ZHENG ; Yongqing HUA
Herald of Medicine 2023;42(12):1765-1771
Objective To quickly observe the tonic effects of Cervi Colla on enriching blood,strengthening bones and anti-aging in zebrafish model.Methods Glyphosate(Gly)was used to construct the erythrocyte injury model in adult zebrafish,and methotrexate(MTX)was used to construct the hematopoietic function injury model of juvenile zebrafish.Prednisolone(Pred)was used to establish the inhibition model of bone formation in zebrafish larvae.The ocular cell apoptosis model of zebrafish larvae was established by dibutyl phthalate(DBP).Results Cervi Colla could improve the Gly-induced abnormal erythrocyte nucleus in adult zebrafish and promote the expression of hematopoietic factors SCL and GATA1.Cervi Colla improved Pred-induced inhibition of bone formation in juvenile zebrafish,and promoted the expression of osteoblast-related gene ALP and Runx2a.The number of ocular cell apoptosis induced by DBP was decreased,and the expression of anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2 was promoted.Conclusion Cervi Colla has significant effects on protecting erythrocyte,protecting hematopoiesis,protecting bone formation and anti-apoptosis.These effects may be related to replenish blood,anti-osteoporosis,and anti-aging.This study provides a scientific basis for the clinical application of Cervi Colla,and lays a foundation for further development and application.
3.Regulatory role of PI3K/AKT pathway in diabetic retinopathy
Baohua LI ; Zefeng KANG ; Xinyue HOU ; Jianquan WANG ; Man SONG ; Danyu LI ; Mengyu LIU ; Xin YAN
International Eye Science 2024;24(9):1426-1431
Diabetic retinopathy(DR)is one of the major complications of diabetes mellitus, characterized by neurodegeneration and microangiopathy. Currently, the treatment of DR is mainly focused on the management of late complications and has not achieved the desired clinical outcome. Evidence suggests that the PI3K/AKT pathway, as one of the important intracellular signaling pathways during the cell cycle, is involved in the whole process of DR pathogenesis. This article focuses on the structural composition, activation and blocking pathways, conduction pathways, regulatory mechanisms and biological functions of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to review its role in DR and to explore the potential of targeting the PI3K/AKT pathway for the treatment of DR.