1.Gut microbiota-mediated gut-liver axis: a breakthrough point for understanding and treating liver cancer
Chenyang LI ; Chujun CAI ; Chendong WANG ; Xiaoping CHEN ; Bixiang ZHANG ; Zhao HUANG
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(2):350-381
The trillions of commensal microorganisms living in the gut lumen profoundly influence the physiology and pathophysiology of the liver through a unique gut-liver axis. Disruptions in the gut microbial communities, arising from environmental and genetic factors, can lead to altered microbial metabolism, impaired intestinal barrier and translocation of microbial components to the liver. These alterations collaboratively contribute to the pathogenesis of liver disease, and their continuous impact throughout the disease course plays a critical role in hepatocarcinogenesis. Persistent inflammatory responses, metabolic rearrangements and suppressed immunosurveillance induced by microbial products underlie the pro-carcinogenic mechanisms of gut microbiota. Meanwhile, intrahepatic microbiota derived from the gut also emerges as a novel player in the development and progression of liver cancer. In this review, we first discuss the causes of gut dysbiosis in liver disease, and then specify the pivotal role of gut microbiota in the malignant progression from chronic liver diseases to hepatobiliary cancers. We also delve into the cellular and molecular interactions between microbes and liver cancer microenvironment, aiming to decipher the underlying mechanism for the malignant transition processes. At last, we summarize the current progress in the clinical implications of gut microbiota for liver cancer, shedding light on microbiota-based strategies for liver cancer prevention, diagnosis and therapy.
2.Gut microbiota-mediated gut-liver axis: a breakthrough point for understanding and treating liver cancer
Chenyang LI ; Chujun CAI ; Chendong WANG ; Xiaoping CHEN ; Bixiang ZHANG ; Zhao HUANG
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(2):350-381
The trillions of commensal microorganisms living in the gut lumen profoundly influence the physiology and pathophysiology of the liver through a unique gut-liver axis. Disruptions in the gut microbial communities, arising from environmental and genetic factors, can lead to altered microbial metabolism, impaired intestinal barrier and translocation of microbial components to the liver. These alterations collaboratively contribute to the pathogenesis of liver disease, and their continuous impact throughout the disease course plays a critical role in hepatocarcinogenesis. Persistent inflammatory responses, metabolic rearrangements and suppressed immunosurveillance induced by microbial products underlie the pro-carcinogenic mechanisms of gut microbiota. Meanwhile, intrahepatic microbiota derived from the gut also emerges as a novel player in the development and progression of liver cancer. In this review, we first discuss the causes of gut dysbiosis in liver disease, and then specify the pivotal role of gut microbiota in the malignant progression from chronic liver diseases to hepatobiliary cancers. We also delve into the cellular and molecular interactions between microbes and liver cancer microenvironment, aiming to decipher the underlying mechanism for the malignant transition processes. At last, we summarize the current progress in the clinical implications of gut microbiota for liver cancer, shedding light on microbiota-based strategies for liver cancer prevention, diagnosis and therapy.
3.Gut microbiota-mediated gut-liver axis: a breakthrough point for understanding and treating liver cancer
Chenyang LI ; Chujun CAI ; Chendong WANG ; Xiaoping CHEN ; Bixiang ZHANG ; Zhao HUANG
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(2):350-381
The trillions of commensal microorganisms living in the gut lumen profoundly influence the physiology and pathophysiology of the liver through a unique gut-liver axis. Disruptions in the gut microbial communities, arising from environmental and genetic factors, can lead to altered microbial metabolism, impaired intestinal barrier and translocation of microbial components to the liver. These alterations collaboratively contribute to the pathogenesis of liver disease, and their continuous impact throughout the disease course plays a critical role in hepatocarcinogenesis. Persistent inflammatory responses, metabolic rearrangements and suppressed immunosurveillance induced by microbial products underlie the pro-carcinogenic mechanisms of gut microbiota. Meanwhile, intrahepatic microbiota derived from the gut also emerges as a novel player in the development and progression of liver cancer. In this review, we first discuss the causes of gut dysbiosis in liver disease, and then specify the pivotal role of gut microbiota in the malignant progression from chronic liver diseases to hepatobiliary cancers. We also delve into the cellular and molecular interactions between microbes and liver cancer microenvironment, aiming to decipher the underlying mechanism for the malignant transition processes. At last, we summarize the current progress in the clinical implications of gut microbiota for liver cancer, shedding light on microbiota-based strategies for liver cancer prevention, diagnosis and therapy.
4.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
5.Value of prealbumin-to-total bilirubin ratio in predicting the short-term prognosis of patients with HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure
Wenjuan LI ; Weifeng ZHAO ; Xiaoping HUANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(11):2272-2277
ObjectiveTo investigate the value of prealbumin-to-total bilirubin (PA/TBil) ratio on admission in predicting 90-day mortality or liver transplantation in patients with HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF), as well as the effect of its combination with Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score on the predictive performance for short-term prognosis. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 216 HBV-ACLF patients who were admitted to Department of Infectious Diseases in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from April 2020 to May 2025, and the patients were followed up for 3 months. According to the outcome, the patients were divided into survival group with 104 patients and death/transplantation group with 112 patients. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to check whether the continuous data was in accordance with the normal distribution; the two-independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups, while the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous data with skewed distribution between two groups. The chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. Univariate and multivariate binary Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the influencing factors for prognosis, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the performance of each indicator in predicting the prognosis of ACLF. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was calculated, and the Delong test was used for comparison of AUC. ResultsA total of 216 patients were enrolled in this study, with a 90-day survival rate of 48.15% (104/216). Compared with the death/transplantation group, the survival group had significantly higher platelet count, lymphocyte count, albumin, and PA/TBil ratio (all P<0.05) and significantly lower age, white blood cell count, neutrophil count, prothrombin time, international normalized ratio, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, creatinine, and MELD score (all P<0.05). The multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age (odds ratio [OR]=1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02 — 1.09, P<0.001), PA/TBil ratio (OR=0.16, 95%CI: 0.05 — 0.46, P<0.001), and MELD score (OR=1.09, 95%CI: 1.01 — 1.17, P=0.024) were independent influencing factors for 90-day prognosis in HBV-ACLF patients. PA/TBil ratio and MELD score used alone or in combination had an AUC of 0.760, 0.779, and 0.811, respectively, in predicting the prognosis of HBV-ACLF patients, and PA/TBil ratio combined with MELD score had a better AUC than PA/TBil ratio or MELD score used alone (Z=-2.058 and 2.017, both P<0.05). ConclusionBoth serum PA/TBil ratio and MELD score can effectively predict the prognosis of patients with HBV-ACLF, and a combination of the two indicators had a better predictive performance than MELD score alone, which provides an important reference for clinical risk stratification management and timely intervention.
6.Research Progress on Mitophagy and Energy Metabolism in Digestive Tract Tumors
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences) 2025;46(6):935-944
Mitophagy is an evolutionarily highly conserved selective autophagy process that maintains cellular homeostasis and mitochondrial quality control by specifically recognizing and removing damaged or superfluous mitochondria. During tumorigenesis, mitophagy eliminates damaged mitochondria and reduces the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thereby helping to sustain cellular homeostasis. Energy metabolism refers to the core biological process through which cells convert chemical energy from nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP) via biochemical pathways such as glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, providing energy for cellular activities. While research on gastrointestinal tumors is advancing rapidly, a major bottleneck lies in their complex metabolic adaptations and therapeutic resistance. Targeting the interplay between mitophagy and energy metabolism has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for this disease. Current research on mitophagy and energy metabolism in gastrointestinal tumors, including the molecular mechanisms of their bidirectional regulatory network and applications in targeted therapies, remains to be systematically elucidated. Therefore, this review summarizes the implications of the mitophagy-energy metabolism interplay in gastrointestinal tumors, with the aim of providing insights for future research.
7.The detection rate of the arc of Buhler by CTA and DSA:a meta-analysis
Luyao JI ; Gaowu YAN ; Hongwei LI ; Yong LI ; Linwei ZHAO ; Xiaoping FAN ; Jiantao DENG ; Jing YAN
Journal of Interventional Radiology 2024;33(6):604-609
Objective To discuss the detection rate of the arc of Bühler(AOB)in CTA and DSA examinations and its clinical significance.Methods A computerized retrieval of academic papers concerning AOB from the databases of PubMed,Web of Science,Scopus,Embase,Google Scholar,CBM,CNKI,WanFang,VIP and Baidu Scholar was conducted.Stata 17.0 software was used to make meta-analysis.Results A total of 11 articles including 3 837 subjects and 65 AOB cases were included in this analysis.The pooled prevalence of AOB was 1.9%(0.8%-3.2%).CTA showed a pooled prevalence of AOB of 2.0%(0.5%-4.3%)and DSA showed a pooled prevalence of AOB of 1.8%(0.5%-3.9%).Conclusion Clinically,AOB is a rarely-seen anatomical variation.The possibility of the presence of an AOB should be considered when performing the relevant abdominal surgery so as to avoid causing operation difficulties and complications such as abdominal visceral organ ischemia or bleeding.(J Intervent Radiol,2024,33:604-609)
8.Progress in mechanism of ferroptosis FSP1/CoQ10 signaling axis in Al-zheimer disease
Yan ZHAO ; Xiaoping HE ; Yehua ZHANG ; Xianhui DONG
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2024;40(9):1758-1763
Ferroptosis is a form of programmed cell death characterized by iron metabolic imbalance and lipid peroxidation.Alzheimer disease(AD)is a neurodegenerative condition.Studies have shown that lipid peroxidation through ferroptosis plays a significant role in the progression of AD.Ferroptosis suppressor protein 1(FSP1)/coenzyme Q10(CoQ10)signaling axis serves as a crucial regulatory element in the process of lipid peroxidation associated with ferropto-sis.This review explores the mechanisms of the FSP1/CoQ10 signaling axis in AD,aiming to present a novel therapeutic ap-proach for AD treatment.
9.RRP15 Regulates Sensitivity of Hepatocellular Carcinoma to Sorafenib Through Ferroptosis
Saili ZHAO ; Zhangding WANG ; Fenglan WANG ; Lei WANG ; Bin ZHANG ; Xiaoping ZOU
Chinese Journal of Gastroenterology 2024;29(2):68-74
Background:Knockdown of ribosomal RNA processing 15 homolog(RRP15)inhibited the proliferation and growth of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),but its relationship with the sensitivity of HCC to sorafenib has not been reported.Aims:To elucidate the role of RRP15 in modulating the sensitivity of HCC to sorafenib and to unravel the underlying mechanisms.Methods:The constitutive expression of RRP15 in human HCC cell lines was assessed using real-time PCR and Western blotting,and then manipulated via infection with either RRP15 knockdown or overexpression lentivirus.The impact of RRP15 expression on sorafenib sensitivity of HCC cells was investigated by CCK-8 and colony formation assays.Changes in ferroptosis markers,including reactive oxygen species(ROS),Fe2+,lipid peroxide,reduced glutathione,etc in HCC cells were measured to determine the effect of RRP15 on ferroptosis.The combination of the ferroptosis inhibitor Ferrostatin-1 and RRP15 knockdown was used to verify the modulatory effect of RRP15 on sorafenib sensitivity and ferroptosis.Furthermore,xenograft tumor in nude mice was used to confirm the relationship between RRP15 and sorafenib sensitivity.Results:Sorafenib treatment induced RRP15 expression in HCC cells.The expression levels of RRP15 in HCC cells were negatively associated with the sensitivity to sorafenib.RRP15 knockdown enhanced the sorafenib sensitivity and sorafenib-induced ferroptosis in HCC cells,presenting as reduced cell viability,decreased colony formation ability,and increased intracellular ROS,Fe2+,and lipid peroxidation.Treatment with Ferrostatin-1 effectively compromised the increased ferroptosis and sorafenib sensitivity caused by RRP15 downregulation.Mechanistically,inactivation of p62-KEAP1-NRF2 pathway was involved in the RRP15 depletion-mediated ferroptosis and sorafenib sensitization in HCC cells.In in vivo study,RRP15 knockdown combined with sorafenib treatment notably inhibited the subcutaneous xenograft tumor growth in nude mice.Conclusions:This study demonstrates that inhibition of RRP15 significantly enhances the sensitivity of HCC to sorafenib,potentially through the promotion of ferroptosis.These findings may provide new strategies for improving the therapeutic response of HCC to sorafenib treatment.
10.A multicenter population investigation on precancerous lesions of gastric cancer in Lishui District,Nan-jing
Chunyan NIU ; Xiaoping WANG ; Xiangyang ZHAO ; Jiankang HUANG ; Yue CHEN ; Yongqiang SHI ; Yongqiang SONG ; Hui WANG ; Xinguo WU ; Yongdan BU ; Jijin LI ; Tao TAO ; Jinhua WU ; Changlin XUE ; Fuyu ZHANG ; Jinming YANG ; Chunrong HAN ; Juan YUAN ; Yinling WU ; Hongbing XIONG ; Peng XIAO
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2024;40(20):2929-2934
Objective By population survey,to explore the epidemiological characteristics of gastric precancerous lesions in Lishui District of Nanjing and provide objective basis for the prevention and treatment of early gastric cancer.Methods From July 2021 to December 2022,21 977 patients who received endoscopy and/or 13C-UBT in Lishui District People's Hospital and 6 medical community units in Nanjing City were retrospectively analyzed for demography characteristics,detection rate of gastric precancerous lesions,and H.Pylori infection rate.Results(1)590 cases of gastric precancerous lesions were detected(detection rate 2.68%);(2)The total detection rate of precancerous lesions and three pathological types in males were all higher than those in females(all P<0.001);(3)The minimum age for the total detection rate of precancerous lesions in males and the mini-mum age for each pathological type were lower than in females(P<0.001,0.009,0.005,0.002);(4)The popu-lation total H.pylori infection rate was 23.10%,the H.pylori infection rate in patients with precancerous lesions was higher than that in non-precancerous lesions(P<0.001),both H.pylori infection rate of male and female in precancerous lesions were all higher than those of non-precancerous lesions of the same sex(all P<0.001),in addition,the H.pylori infection rate of male whether in precancerous or non-precancerous lesions was higher than that of female(all P<0.001);(5)The precancerous lesions detection rate in male,female,and the overall age range of 20~29 to 70~79 years is positively correlated with age growth(P<0.001),and rapidly decreases after the age of 79,the of H.pylori infection rate was also positively correlated with age growth(P<0.001),and the trend of age change(P<0.001)was parallel to the precancerous lesions detection rate.Conclusions The detec-tion rate of gastric precancerous lesions in this region is above the average level in China;the total H.pylori infec-tion rate is at a relatively low level in China;the H.pylori infection rate is parallel to the age trend of the detection rate of gastric precancerous lesions,and increases with age.

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