1.Identification of HMA gene family and response to cadmium stress in Ophiopogon japonicas.
Zhihui WANG ; Erli NIU ; Yuanliang GAO ; Qian ZHU ; Zihong YE ; Xiaoping YU ; Qian ZHAO ; Jun HUANG
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(2):771-790
Soil cadmium (Cd) pollution is one of the major environmental problems globally. Ophiopogon japonicus, a multifunctional plant extensively used in traditional Chinese medicine, has demonstrated potential in environmental remediation. This study investigated the Cd accumulation pattern of O. japonicus under cadmium stress and identified the heavy metal ATPase (HMA) family members in this plant. Our results demonstrated that O. japonicus exhibited a Cd enrichment factor (EF) of 2.75, demonstrating strong potential for soil Cd pollution remediation. Nine heavy metal ATPase (HMA) members of P1B-ATPases were successfully identified from the transcriptome data of O. japonicus, with OjHMA1-OjHMA6 classified as the Zn/Co/Cd/Pb-ATPases and OjHMA7-OjHMA9 as the Cu/Ag-ATPases. The expression levels of OjHMA1, OjHMA2, OjHMA3, and OjHMA7 were significantly up-regulated under Cd stress, highlighting their crucial roles in cadmium ion absorption and transport. The topological analysis revealed that these proteins possessed characteristic transmembrane (TM) segments of the family, along with functional A, P, and N domains involved in regulating ion absorption and release. Metal ion-binding sites (M4, M5, and M6) existed on the TM segments. Based on the number of transmembrane domains and the residues at metal ion-binding sites, the plant HMA family members were categorized into three subgroups: P1B-1 ATPases, P1B-2 ATPases, and P1B-4 ATPases. Specifically, the P1B-1 ATPase subgroup included the motifs TM4(CPC), TM5(YN[X]4P), and TM6(M[XX]SS); the P1B-2 ATPase subgroup featured the motifs TM4(CPC), TM5(K), and TM6(DKTGT); the P1B-4 ATPase subgroup contained the motifs TM4(SPC) and TM6(HE[X]GT), all of which were critical for protein functions. Molecular docking results revealed the importance of conserved sequences such as CPC/SPC, DKTGT, and HE[X]GT in metal ion coordination and stabilization. These findings provide potential molecular targets for enhancing Cd uptake and tolerance of O. japonicus by genetic engineering and lay a theoretical foundation for developing new cultivars with high Cd accumulation capacity.
Cadmium/metabolism*
;
Adenosine Triphosphatases/metabolism*
;
Ophiopogon/drug effects*
;
Soil Pollutants/toxicity*
;
Plant Proteins/metabolism*
;
Stress, Physiological
;
Multigene Family
;
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
2.Prevalence of dengue,chikungunya and zika viruses in blood donors in Kunming,China
Zhihui ZHANG ; Qian LI ; Mozhen PENG ; Zhen LUO ; Lu CHEN ; Lili GAO ; Wei CUN ; Xia DU
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2024;37(10):1137-1141
Objective To investigate the prevalence of zika virus(ZIKV),dengue virus(DENV)and chikungunya virus(CHIKV)infections in blood donors in Kunming,China.Methods A total of 10 662 samples from blood donors in Kunming from August 2022 to October 2023 were randomly collected,and ZIKV RNA,DENV RNA and CHIKV RNA were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR).Results Effec-tive test results were obtained from 10 554 samples,and no positive case of ZIKV RNA,DENV RNA and CHIKV RNA was found in this investigation.Conclusion The risk of ZIKV,DENV and CHIKV infections among blood donors in Kunming is low,and there is no immediate need for routine screening for these viruses among blood donors in this region.
3.Role of Perilipin 2 in microvesicular hepatic steatosis induced by CGI-58 specific knockout in mice
Yixin ZHANG ; Jie LI ; Xiaoqin WAN ; Xiaoqing JIANG ; Jianghui CHEN ; Fang DENG ; Mindian LI ; Qian ZHANG ; Xinyu BAO ; Zhihui ZHANG
Journal of Army Medical University 2024;46(15):1701-1712
Objective To explore whether hepatocyte Perilipin-2(Plin2)is involved in the development of fatty liver related to comparative gene identification-58(CGI-58)deficiency mice and compare the effects of Plin2 and Plin3 on lipid droplet formation and lipid accumulation.Methods Based on CGI-58Flox/Flox mice as animal model,the adeno-associated viruses targeting mouse liver,CGI-58 knockout and Plini2 knockdown were achieved by co-expression Cre protein and micro-RNA targeting Plin2(Mi-KD).Then CGI-58 deficiency mice were used as control(NC)to detect the differences in metabolic phenotype and liver pathology.AML-12 mouse hepatocytes were used as cellular model and interfered with siRNA to achieve Plin2/Plin3 knockdown in AML-12 cells.Lipid droplet formation and lipid accumulation were compared with Bodipy staining and enzyme colorimetry in basal condition or lipid-overloaded condition(OA inducement)after Plin2/Plin3 knockdown.Results Plin2 knockdown(Mi-KD)reduced PLIN2 protein level by>99%in mouse livers.Mi-KD decreased hepatomegaly(P=0.019 5)and liver injury(P=0.000 4),while reduced the histological NAS score(P=0.000 2)and hepatic triglyceride content(P=0.016 6)in the CGI-58 deficiency female mice.Mi-KD prevented microvesicular hepatic steatosis in the CGI-58 deficient female mice.Plin3 knockdown significantly reduced the triglyceride content in basal condition of hepatocytes(P=0.001 4),and Plin2 knockdown just showed a decreased trend.Plin2 or Plin3 knockdown significantly reduced the triglyceride content separately in lipid-overloaded hepatocytes(P<0.05).Conclusion Hepatocyte Plin2 is essential in the development of microvesicular hepatic steatosis caused by CGI-58 deficiency.Both Plin2 and Plin3 are involved in lipid droplet formation and lipid accumulation in hepatocytes,and Plin3 shows a stronger effect.
4.Epidemiological characteristics of overseas imported dengue fever and malaria cases in Yunnan Province from 2015 to 2021
Rongbing ZHANG ; Jin HONG ; Rong TIAN ; Zhihui CHEN ; Qian YANG ; Qing YE ; Jianrong LI ; Honglin MA ; Lihua CHEN ; Xia PENG
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2023;35(2):141-143
Objective:
To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of overseas imported dengue fever and malaria cases in Yunnan Province from 2015 to 2021, so as to provide insights into the prevention and control of overseas imported arthropod-borne infectious diseases.
Methods:
The data pertaining to imported dengue fever and malaria cases in Yunnan Province from 2015 to 2021 were collected from the Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System, and the temporal distribution, regional distribution, population distribution, sources, diagnosis and treatment of imported dengue fever and malaria cases were descriptively analyzed.
Results:
Totally 4 332 overseas imported dengue fever cases and 2 011 overseas imported malaria cases were reported in Yunnan Province form 2015 to 2021, which accounted for 30.09% of all reported dengue fever cases and 98.53% of all reported malaria cases. The number of overseas imported dengue fever and malaria cases peaked from August to November (83.13% of all imported dengue fever cases) and from April to July (59.08% of all imported malaria cases), and the cases were predominantly reported in Dehong Prefecture (50.99% and 58.88%), with farmers as the predominant occupation (40.21% and 67.93%). The dengue fever and malaria cases were mainly imported from Southeast Asia (99.04% and 88.21%), and the proportions of definitive diagnosis of dengue fever and malaria were 88.33% and 97.80% at township hospitals, respectively.
Conclusions
The number of overseas imported dengue fever and malaria cases peaked from August to November and from April to July in Yunnan Province from 2015 to 2021, and the cases were predominantly reported in Dehong Prefecture and imported from Southeast Asia, with farmers as the predominant occupation.
5.Study on improvement mechanism of caudatin on liver injury in rats
Zhihui CHANG ; Yang BU ; Qian LIU ; Qian MA ; Jie SONG ; E SUN ; Yingjie WEI ; Yi LUO ; Xiaobin TAN
China Pharmacy 2023;34(5):531-536
OBJECTIVE To investigate the improvement mechanism of caudatin on liver injury of rats. METHODS SD rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group, caudatin low-dose and high-dose groups (25, 50 mg/kg), with 6 rats in each group. Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) was injected intraperitoneally three times per week for eight weeks to establish liver injury model of rats. At 5th week of modeling, the rats received relevant medicine or 0.5% sodium carboxymethylcellulose intragastrically for 4 weeks. The levels of liver function indexes [alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total protein (TP) and total bilirubin (TBI)] and inflammatory factors [interleukin (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), IL-1β] in serum were detected; the histopathological morphological changes of rat liver were observed; the positive protein expressions of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and 78 kDa glucose regulatory protein (Grp78) in liver tissue were also determined; the expressions of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related protein Grp78, C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) and inositol requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α) and the level of protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase robertluoyi@126.com (PERK) in liver tissue were detected. RESULTS Compared with blank group, serum levels of ALT, AST, TBI, IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β and positive expressions of NF-κB and Grp78 in liver tissue as well as protein expressions of Grp78, CHOP, ATF6 and IRE1α, PERK protein phosphorylation level were all increased significantly in model group (P<0.05), while the serum level of TP was decreased significantly (P<0.05). The disordered structure of liver lobule, swollen liver cells, unclear intercellular boundary were observed and accompanied by inflammatory cell infiltration. Compared with model group, most of the above indexes were significantly reversed in caudatin groups (P<0.05); the structure of hepatic lobule was relatively complete and clear, the cells were arranged orderly, and the infiltration of inflammatory cells was also reduced. CONCLUSIONS Caudatin has a significant improvement effect against DEN-induced liver injury in rats, the mechanism of which may be associated with inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress and inflammatory reaction.
7.Correlation between serum trace elements and blood pressure in healthy people and patients with hypertension
Tuo HAN ; Hong GONG ; Yang XU ; Yajie FAN ; Wei SONG ; Zhihui YAO ; Miao GE ; Qian WANG ; Congxia WANG
Journal of Xi'an Jiaotong University(Medical Sciences) 2022;43(3):324-330
【Objective】 To explore the correlation between serum trace elements and systolic and diastolic blood pressure in healthy population and patients with hypertension. 【Methods】 The health examination data of the subjects from our hospital from September 2018 to May 2021 were selected. They consisted of 3430 healthy people with no history of chronic diseases and 216 patients with hypertension previously diagnosed. We measured the levels of serum zinc, iron, calcium, magnesium, lead, copper and cadmium and analyzed their correlation with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). 【Results】 The incidence of low zinc (9.5%) and hypomagnesemia (1.8%) was relatively low, while hypomagnesemia (27.8%) was relatively common in the healthy population. Logistic regression analysis showed that age, BMI and serum albumin were associated with increased SBP and DBP. Fasting blood glucose (OR=1.095, 95% CI: 1.007-1.191) and blood lead (OR=1.006, 95% CI: 1.000-1.012) were risk factors for SBP. Serum total cholesterol (OR=1.244, 95% CI: 1.095-1.412), serum iron (OR=1.275, 95% CI: 1.114-1.460) and blood lead (OR=1.010, 95% CI: 1.004-1.015) were risk factors, while serum magnesium (OR=0.488, 95% CI: 0.266-0.894) acted as a protective factor for DBP. After adjusting for age, gender, BMI, waist-hip ratio, and smoking history, there was no significant difference in serum trace element levels between the hypertension and healthy control groups. 【Conclusion】 SBP is correlated with serum lead, while DBP is positively correlated with serum iron and lead, but negatively correlated with serum magnesium in normal healthy population. There was no significant difference in serum trace element content between hypertensive patients and healthy control group, but the conclusion still needs to be further verified.
8.An Empathic Pain-Regulated Neural Circuit.
Xiumin XUE ; Qian WANG ; Zhihui HUANG ; Yongjie WANG
Neuroscience Bulletin 2022;38(12):1613-1616
Humans
;
Empathy
;
Brain Mapping
;
Pain
9.Characteristics of bicuspid aortic valve aortopathy and association with valvular phenotype and dysfunction
Jing SUN ; Cheng SUN ; Zhihui HOU ; Hongxia QI ; Xiangyang QIAN ; Zhe ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2022;29(06):729-735
Objective To summarize the characteristics of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) aortopathy and analyze the association between aortopathy and BAV phenotype and patterns of valvular dysfunction. Methods Clinical data of 191 patients who underwent the first aortic valve replacement in Fuwai Hospital from June 2017 to March 2018 were retrospectively analyzed, including 143 males and 48 females with an average age of 53.91±12.52 years. All patients underwent multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and echocardiography before the operation, excluding patients with aortic coarctation. The BAV aortopathy phenotype was classified during operation. The characteristics of BAV aortopathy were analyzed by cluster and artificial analysis. BAV anatomic phenotype was divided into two types according to the direction of valve opening: BAV-AP and BAV-LR. Results Four distinct BAV aortopathy phenotypes were identified: a common type (n=70, 36.6%), with no dilation or mild dilation of aorta; a root type (n=24, 12.6%), with predominant dilatation of aortic sinus; an ascending aorta type (n=72, 37.7%), with predominant dilatation of ascending aorta; an arch type (n=25, 13.1%), with predominant dilatation of aortic arch dilatation. The root type was mainly in young patients, while the arch type was mainly in elderly patients (P<0.05). BAV-AP and aortic insufficiency were most prevalent in root type, while BAV-LR and aortic stenosis were most prevalent in arch type (P<0.05). There were 111 (58.1%) patients undergoing aortic surgery, and the coincidence rate of BAV aortopathy phenotype and aortic surgery was 80.6%. Conclusion According to the location of aortic dilation, BAV aortopathy can be divided into four types. There is an association between BAV aortopathy and valvular phenotype and dysfunction.
10.Microglia Share the Burden.
Qian WANG ; Xiumin XUE ; Zhihui HUANG ; Yongjie WANG
Neuroscience Bulletin 2022;38(6):695-698


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail