ObjectiveTo explore the effect and mechanism of Jianpi Xiaoai prescription （JPXA） in ameliorating the 5-fluorouracil （5-FU） resistance of colon cancer. MethodsA HCT116/5-FU resistant cell line was established. Different concentrations （10%， 15%， 20%） of JPXA-containing serum and drug-free serum were used for intervention， and 10% fetal bovine serum （10% FBS）， fibroblast growth factor receptor （FGFR） inhibitor （AZD4547）， and recombinant fibroblast growth factor 2 （FGF2） were set as the control groups. Sensitive HCT116 cells were used in the FGF2 group， while HCT116/5-FU cells were used in other groups. Drug resistance， the level of FGF2 in the cell culture medium， the mRNA level of FGF2 in cells， and the protein levels of FGF2/FGFR and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B （PI3K/Akt） were determined. The drug-resistant cells were transplanted into the axilla of nude mice to establish a tumor model. The modeled mice were allocated into model， JPXA （15 g·kg^-1）， 5-FU （0.02 g·kg^-1）， JPXA+5-FU （15 g·kg^-1+0.02 g·kg^-1）， AZD4547 （0.012 5 g·kg^-1）， and AZD4547+5-FU （0.012 5 g·kg^-1+0.02 g·kg^-1） groups. The tumor growth and the protein levels of FGF/FGFR and PI3K/Akt in each group were observed. ResultsThe survival rate of HCT116/5-FU cells decreased in all the JPXA groups with different concentrations. The cell survival rate was decreased most obviously in the 20% JPXA group. The level of FGF2 in the cell culture medium and the mRNA level of FGF2 in cells of each JXPA group decreased， and the decrease was the most significant in the 20% group （P<0.01）. HCT116/5-FU cells showed up-regulated protein levels of FGF2 and phosphorylated fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 （p-FGFR1）， but down-regulated protein level of FGFR1 （P<0.01）. JPXA down-regulated the expression of FGF2 and p-FGFR1 and up-regulated the expression of FGFR1 （P<0.05）. In addition， JPXA down-regulated the expression levels of phosphorylated protein kinase B （p-Akt） and phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin （p-mTOR）， while up-regulating the expression levels of Akt and Bcl-2-asociated death promoter （Bad） （P<0.05）. Animal experiments showed that the JPXA combined with 5-FU significantly inhibited the growth of drug-resistant tumors， reduced the protein levels of FGF2， p-FGFR1， phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase （p-PI3K）， p-Akt， and p-mTOR， and increased the expression of Bad. It indicated that JPXA can inhibit the FGF2/FGFR1 signaling in colon cancer and regulate PI3K/Akt and downstream signaling pathways. ConclusionJPXA can ameliorate the chemotherapy resistance of colon cancer through down-regulating FGF2 expression and inhibiting the activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of action of Jiedu Huayu granules in improving liver injury in mice with acute liver failure （ALF） by observing its effect on a mouse model of ALF after prophylactic administration， and to provide a basis for clinical medication. MethodsA total of 60 specific pathogen-free male C57BL/6J mice were divided into normal group， model group， Jiedu Huayu granules group （JDHY group）， and farnesoid X receptor （FXR） agonist （GW4064） group using a random number table， with 15 mice in each group. The model of ALF was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of D-galactosamine combined with lipopolysaccharide. The mice in the JDHY group were given prophylactic administration of 0.3 g/mL drug solution of Jiedu Huayu granules by gavage for 3 days before modeling， those in the normal group and the model group were given 0.9% NaCl solution by gavage， and those in the GW4064 group were given intraperitoneal injection of GW4064 for 3 consecutive days before modeling. The mice were sacrificed after modeling， and serum and liver tissue samples were collected. A veterinary automatic biochemical analyzer was used to measure the serum levels of total bilirubin （TBil）， total bile acids （TBA）， gamma-glutamyl transferase （GGT）， alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， and aspartate aminotransferase （AST） in mice from each group； HE staining was used to observe liver pathological changes； RT-PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression levels of FXR， fibroblast growth factor 15 （FGF15）， fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 （FGFR4）， small heterodimer partner （SHP）， and bile salt export pump （BSEP） in mice， and Western blot was used to measure the protein expression levels of FXR， FGF15， FGFR4， SHP， and BSEP. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison between groups， and the Dunett method was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group had significant increases in the serum levels of TBil， ALT， AST， TBA， and GGT （all P<0.01）， and compared with the model group， the JDHY group and the GW4064 group had significant reductions in the serum levels of TBil， ALT， AST， TBA， and GGT （all P <0.01）. HE staining showed that compared with the model group， the JDHY group and the GW4064 group had milder pathological injury， a reduction in the area of hepatocyte necrosis， and alleviation of cellular swelling and edema. Compared with the normal group， the model group had significant reductions in the mRNA and protein expression levels of FXR， FGF15， FGFR4， SHP， and BSEP in liver tissue （all P <0.01）， and compared with the model group， the JDHY group and the GW4064 group had significant increases in the mRNA and protein expression levels of FXR， FGF15， FGFR4， SHP， and BSEP in liver tissue （all P <0.05）. ConclusionJiedu Huayu granules may alleviate liver injury in mice with ALF through the FXR/SHP axis.

Notum, a negative feedback regulator of the Wnt signaling, has emerged as a promising target for treating glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP). This study showcases an efficient strategy for discovering the anti-Notum constituents from herbal medicines (HMs) as novel anti-GIOP agents. Firstly, a rapid-responding near-infrared fluorogenic substrate for Notum was rationally engineered for high-throughput identifying the anti-Notum HMs. The results showed that Bu-Gu-Zhi (BGZ), a known anti-osteoporosis herb, potently inhibited Notum in a competitive-inhibition manner. To uncover the key anti-Notum constituents in BGZ, an efficient strategy was adapted via integrating biochemical, phytochemical, computational, and pharmacological assays. Among all identified BGZ constituents, three furanocoumarins were validated as strong Notum inhibitors, while 5-methoxypsoralen (5-MP) showed the most potent anti-Notum activity and favorable safety profiles. Mechanistically, 5-MP acted as a competitive inhibitor of Notum via creating strong hydrophobic interactions with Trp128 and Phe268 in the catalytic cavity of Notum. Cellular assays showed that 5-MP remarkably promoted osteoblast differentiation and activated Wnt signaling in dexamethasone (DXMS)-challenged MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts. In dexamethasone-induced osteoporotic mice, 5-MP strongly elevated bone mineral density (BMD) and improved cancellous and cortical bone thickness. Collectively, this study constructs a high-efficient platform for discovering key anti-Notum constituents from HMs, while 5-MP emerges as a promising anti-GIOP agent.

Objective: To compare quality control (relative purity and specific activity) and process control [plasminogen (Pg) antigen recovery and potency recovery] indexes of samples before and after adding the Q chromatography step to the full chromatography process of human Pg, thereby determining whether the addition of this step could improve Pg recovery by affinity chromatography. Methods: A Q chromatography step was added before the Pg affinity chromatography in the original Pg chromatography process. The loading solution, flow through solution and eluate of Q chromatography and Pg affinity chromatography were collected. The potency of coagulation factor Ⅱ (FⅡ), Ⅶ (FⅦ), Ⅷ (FⅧ), Ⅸ (FⅨ), and Ⅹ(FⅩ) were detected by the coagulation method, the total protein content was detected by the BCA method, and the Pg potency was detected by the chromogenic substrate method. The content of specific plasma proteins was detected by immunoturbidimetry, the potency recovery of coagulation factors was calculated, and the flow direction of coagulation factors was analyzed. The recovery of different plasma protein antigens were calculated, and the distribution of impurity proteins was analyzed. The relative purity and specific activity of Pg, antigen content, and potency recovery in the target fractions were calculated and compared with the original process indicators, so as to determine the effect of adding Q chromatography on the original process. Furthermore, the reproducibility after process modification was assessed. Results: 100% of FⅡ, FⅩ, and FⅨ, 87.81% of FⅧ, and 40.44% of FⅦ in filtered plasma were removed by Q chromatography. The residual FⅦ (53.26%) and FⅧ (13.30%) in Q flow-through fraction were completely removed by Pg affinity chromatography. In both the original process (without Q-chromatography) and the modified process (with Q-chromatography), non-target plasma proteins mainly existed in the flow-through fraction of Pg affinity chromatography. The antigen recovery of IgM, ceruloplasmin (CER), and fibronectin (FNC) in Q-chromatography flow-through fraction were reduced. In contrast, antigen recovery of other plasma proteins [IgG, IgA, Pg, albumin (AlB), alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT), and fibrinogen (Fg)] were all >90%, which were consistent with the protein composition and proportion in the original affinity chromatography loading solution. Compared with the recovery rate of Pg antigen in the original process (74.4%), the total recovery of Pg antigen in the modified process was significantly increased (89.97%). Compared with the recovery of IgG (97.48%) and Fg (95.32%) in the Pg affinity flows-through fraction of the original process, the modified process resulted in a slight reduction in the recovery of IgG (94.60%), while the recovery of Fg was not affected (95.05%). The potency recovery rate, specific activity, and relative purity of Pg after Q chromatography were 99.3%, 0.016 U/mg, and 0.15%. These values were the same as those of Pg affinity chromatography loading solution by the original process, indicating that introduction of Q chromatography did not affect subsequent Pg affinity chromatography. Compared with the recovery of Pg antigen in three batches of the original process (66.49±1.02)%, the recovery of Pg antigen in the affinity chromatography eluent of the modified process [five batches; (77.43±4.43)%] was significantly improved. Furthermore, the potency recovery was (86.80±4.28)%, the relative purity was (81.99±1.25)%, the specific activity was (8.679±1.073)U/mg, and the process was reproducible. Conclusion: The addition of Q chromatography could improve the recovery of Pg affinity chromatography in the full chromatography process.

【Objective】 To determine the best collection time period of plasma which can be used for human COVID-19 immunoglobulin for intravenous injection through SARS-CoV-2-IgG change and neutralizing antibody distribution against different virus strain in representative mixed plasma before and after Omicron strain infection by ELISA and pseudovirus neutralization test. 【Methods】 An ELISA method for quantitative detection of SARS-CoV-2-IgG was established and its linear range,accuracy and precision was verified. SARS-CoV-2-IgG potency was detected in 25 convalescent plasma which were collected 20-40 days after confirmed Omicron infection, two groups of mixed plasma samples WP1 and WP2 were prepared according to the SARS-CoV-2-IgG results, and pseudovirus neutralization experiments with different virus strain (prototype strain, BA. 1,BA.2, BA.4/5, BF.7, BQ.1.1) were carried out to determine the distribution of neutralizing antibodies against different virus strain. SARS-CoV-2-IgG potency of representative mixed plasma collected from 14 plasma stations subordinate to the company before and after Omicron strain infection was detected, including Omicron convalescent plasma (OP) collected from different plasma stations from December 2022 to May 2023 and normal pool plasma (VN) feed in March 2023 which collected from March 2022 to December 2022. According to the results, the difference and the change rule with time of SARS-CoV-2-IgG before and after Omicron strain infection were analyzed. 【Results】 The linearity of SARS-CoV-2-IgG ranged from 6.25 to 200 EIU/mL, the accuracy in-batch ranged from 81.793% to 106.985%, the precision in-batch ranged from 1. 100% to 13.000%, and the total error in-batch ranged from 2.988% to 22.679%. The accuracy between batches ranged from 90.788%to 96.893%, the precision between batches ranged from 4.870% to 6.272%, and the total error between batches ranged from 9.192% to 15.399%. The results of pseudovirus neutralizing antibody showed that the potency of different virus strain neutralizing antibodies were in the order of prototype strain>BA.2>BA.4/5>BF.7≈ BQ.1.1>BA.1 and the correlation between WP1 and WP2 was high (Pearson r=0. 931 1, P=0.002 3) which indicated that the potency distribution of neutralizing antibodies of different virus strain in Omicron convalescent plasma was basically stable. Compared with the mixed convalescent plasma sample G128 collected in June 2022, the potency of Omicron neutralizing antibodies of WP series were significantly higher, the ratio of BA.2 antibody to prototype antibody increased from 26.9% (before infection) to 82.6%-87.5% (after infection). The results of VN series before Omicron infection were < 100 EIU/mL, and the results of OP series after Omicron infection showed that the plasma collected from the beginning of December 2022 was the peak of antibody in the same month,and then dropped sharply, entering a short plateau in February-March 2023 (potency was about 40% of the peak value),and then dropped sharply again in April (potency was about 20% of the peak value). 【Conclusion】 The potency and proportion of neutralizing antibody against Omicron subtype in convalescent plasma after COVID-19 Omicron strain infection increased significantly. IgG antibody of plasma donors in different regions reached its peak in the month of infection, then continued to dropped sharply. The best collection period of plasma that can be used for human COVID-19 immunoglobulin for intravenous injection was 1 to 2 months after infection.

Lysyl oxidase (LOX) family is a group of copper-containing amine oxidases composed of LOX and LOX-like proteins (LOXL1, LOXL2, LOXL3, and LOXL4). It is overexpressed in tumor tissue and promotes tumor metastasis through covalent cross-linking of extracellular matrix, with the functions of cell growth control, tumor inhibition, senescence, and chemotaxis. In recent years, more and more evidence has shown that LOX family members play a key role in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), suggesting that they have great potential as therapeutic targets. This article reviews the role of LOX family members in the development and progression of HCC and the intervention effect of traditional Chinese medicine extracts on HCC by regulating LOX family, in order to provide a reference for further research on the prevention and treatment of HCC.

The incidence rate of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing. Diet is considered one of the main driving forces regulating the composition of intestinal microbiota, and the intestine and the liver are closely linked through the portal vein, so changes in gut microbiota may affect liver function and promote inflammation, insulin resistance, and steatosis, thereby causing NAFLD. This article elaborates on the relationship between diet, gut microbiota, and the liver and the research advances in how this axis promotes the progression of NAFLD, as well as the change in potential mechanism due to intestinal dysbacteriosis and related treatment methods.

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a life-threatening disease with a high risk of multiple organ failure, sepsis, and death. ACLF activates innate and acquired immune responses in human body and thus leads to the progression of persistent systemic inflammatory response syndrome and multiple organ dysfunction, leading to the high mortality rate of this disease. Dysregulated immune response plays a key role in disease progression, and immunotherapy may help to target immune-mediated organ damage and inhibit the progression of liver failure. This article reviews the role and mechanism of drugs and means with a potential immune regulatory effect in ACLF, in order to provide a reference for immunotherapy for ACLF.

At present, hepatic encephalopathy has a relatively high mortality and thus greatly affects patients’ quality of life. This article describes the changes of intestinal flora in patients with hepatic encephalopathy and analyzes the mechanism of action of intestinal flora in hepatic encephalopathy and related treatment methods. It is pointed out that the development of hepatic encephalopathy is closely associated with intestinal flora, and clinical treatment by regulating intestinal flora has achieved a marked effect in patients with hepatic encephalopathy. In the future, the research on intestinal flora in patients with hepatic encephalopathy can be deepened to provide better regimens for the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy.

As a novel form of programmed cell death different from cell necrosis, apoptosis, and autophagy discovered in recent years, pyroptosis is characterized by cell membrane rupture and release of cell contents and proinflammatory factors mediated by gasdermin, thus leading to cell death. Pyroptosis signaling pathways can be classified into classical pathways dependent on caspase-1 and non-classical pathways dependent on caspase-4/5/11; the activation of caspase-1 in classical pathways depends on the function of inflammasome, while the direct activation of caspase-4/5/11 is observed in non-classical pathways, which leads to the lysis of gasdermin D and induce the formation of membrane pores, the maturation and release of interleukin-1β and interleukin-18, and the rupture of cell membrane to cause pyroptosis. Latest research has shown that pyroptosis plays an important role in the development and progression of chronic liver diseases. This article introduces the mechanism of pyroptosis and summarizes the role of pyroptosis in the development and progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, viral hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, in order to provide new ideas and methods for the prevention and treatment of liver diseases in clinical practice.