1.B7-H3 molecule inhibits apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer cells via the SIRT1/p53 signaling pathway
Lin ZHENG ; Jianxin ZHONG ; Ke NIU ; Qing XU ; Huijuan LING ; Yayu ZHU ; Bing CHEN ; Liwen CHEN
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(2):232-238
ObjectiveTo explore the role of the histone deacetylase Sirtuin-1 (SIRT1)/p53 signaling pathway in promoting apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer cells (NSCLC) induced by the co-stimulatory molecule B7 homolog 3 (B7-H3). MethodsThe GEPIA 2 platform was used for survival analysis of NSCLC patients based on B7⁃H3 gene expression levels. The Gene Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) method was used to analyze the enrichment characteristics of B7⁃H3 molecules in the gene set of cell apoptosis. In the non-small cell lung cancer A549 cell line, B7⁃H3 was knocked down, and the protein expression levels of SIRT1 and p53 were detected by Western blot. B7⁃H3 was overexpressed in A549 cells and the apoptosis rate was analyzed by flow cytometry after Annexin V/PI double staining. Overexpression of B7⁃H3 and knockdown of SIRT1 were performed in A549 cell line. The expression levels of p53 and apoptosis-related proteins B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) were detected respectively by Western blot. Cell apoptosis rate was analyzed by flow cytometry after Annexin V/PI double staining. ResultsThe overall survival of the B7-H3 high-expression group was significantly lower than that of the low-expression group (P<0.01). B7-H3 was significantly enriched in the cell apoptosis signaling pathway and the p53 signaling pathway (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression of SIRT1 was significantly downregulated, and p53 was significantly upregulated in the B7⁃H3 knockdown group (both P<0.001). Overexpression of B7-H3 significantly up-regulated SIRT1 protein expression (P<0.05), down-regulated p53 expression (P<0.01), and markedly increased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio of apoptosis-related proteins (P<0.001). The results of Annexin V/PI double staining showed that the apoptosis rate of A549 cells with overexpressed B7⁃H3 decreased (the apoptosis rate of the control group was 26.72%±4.13%, while that of the B7⁃H3 overexpression group was 13.87%±0.82%; P<0.01). In B7-H3-overexpressing cell lines, SIRT1 knockdown significantly reversed apoptosis (P<0.05), up-regulated p53 protein expression (P<0.001), and markedly reduced the Bcl-2/Bax ratio (P<0.001). ConclusionB7-H3 molecule inhibits the apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer cells via the SIRT1/p53 signaling pathway.
2.MCC950 Targeted Inhibition of TXNIP-NLRP3 Axis-mediated Podocyte Pyroptosis in Diabetic Nephropathy
Hong ZHENG ; Zhong-Cheng MO ; Hang LIU ; Xi-Zhang PAN ; Bing WEI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(2):418-430
Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) globally, representing a major global health burden with limited disease-modifying therapies. Podocyte injury serves as the core pathological hallmark of DN, and conventional treatments targeting metabolic disorders or hemodynamic abnormalities fail to reverse the progressive decline of renal function. Accumulating evidence over the past decade has established that high glucose-induced podocyte pyroptosis—a pro-inflammatory form of programmed cell death—is a key driving force in DN progression. Its core molecular mechanism hinges on the activation of the TXNIP-NLRP3 inflammasome axis. Under sustained hyperglycemic conditions, excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated via pathways including the polyol pathway, advanced glycation end products (AGEs) accumulation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Concurrently, methylglyoxal (a glucose metabolite) mediates post-translational modification of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP). These events collectively trigger the dissociation of TXNIP from thioredoxin (TRX), a redox-regulating protein. The free TXNIP then translocates to the mitochondria, where it binds to The NACHT, LRR, and PYD domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) and promotes inflammasome assembly. This assembly activates cysteine-aspartic acid protease 1 (caspase-1), which cleaves Gasdermin D (GSDMD) to generate its N-terminal fragment (GSDMD-NT). GSDMD-NT oligomerizes to form membrane pores, leading to podocyte swelling, rupture, and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18). These cytokines amplify local inflammatory responses, induce mesangial cell proliferation, and accelerate extracellular matrix deposition, ultimately exacerbating glomerulosclerosis. MCC950, a highly selective NLRP3 inhibitor, exerts its therapeutic effects through a multi-layered mechanism: it binds to the NACHT domain (NAIP, CIITA, HET-E and TP1 domain) of NLRP3 with nanomolar affinity, forming hydrogen bonds with key residues (Lys-42 and Asp-166) within the ATP-hydrolysis pocket to block ATP hydrolysis, thereby locking NLRP3 in an inactive conformational state. Additionally, MCC950 interferes with the protein-protein interaction between TXNIP and NLRP3 and regulates mitochondrial homeostasis to reduce ROS production. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that MCC950 dose-dependently reduces proteinuria, restores the expression of podocyte-specific markers (nephrin and Wilms tumor 1 protein, WT1), and alleviates podocyte foot process fusion and glomerulosclerosis in both streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetic models (characterized by absolute insulin deficiency) and db/db type 2 diabetic models (driven by insulin resistance). However, discrepancies in therapeutic outcomes exist across different models—some studies report exacerbated renal inflammation and fibrosis in STZ-induced models—which may stem from differences in disease pathogenesis, intervention timing (early vs. mid-stage disease), and dosing duration. Despite its promising preclinical efficacy, MCC950 faces significant translational challenges, including low oral bioavailability, insufficient podocyte targeting, potential hepatotoxicity, and drug-drug interactions with statins (commonly prescribed to diabetic patients for cardiovascular risk management). Furthermore, off-target effects such as the inhibition of carbonic anhydrase 2 have been identified, raising concerns about its safety profile. Nevertheless, its unique mechanism of action—directly blocking podocyte pyroptosis by targeting the TXNIP-NLRP3 axis—endows it with substantial translational value. In the future, strategies to overcome these barriers are expected to advance its clinical application: targeted delivery via nanocarriers (e.g., PLGA-PEG nanoparticles or nephrin antibody-conjugated systems) to enhance renal accumulation and podocyte specificity; precise patient stratification based on biomarkers such as serum IL-18 and renal TXNIP/NLRP3 expression to identify “inflammatory-phenotype” DN patients most likely to benefit; and combination therapy with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors—whose metabolic benefits synergize with MCC950’s anti-inflammatory effects. These approaches hold great potential to break through clinical translation bottlenecks, offering a novel, precise anti-inflammatory treatment option for DN and addressing an unmet clinical need for therapies targeting the inflammatory underpinnings of the disease.
3.MCC950 Targeted Inhibition of TXNIP-NLRP3 Axis-mediated Podocyte Pyroptosis in Diabetic Nephropathy
Hong ZHENG ; Zhong-Cheng MO ; Hang LIU ; Xi-Zhang PAN ; Bing WEI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(2):418-430
Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) globally, representing a major global health burden with limited disease-modifying therapies. Podocyte injury serves as the core pathological hallmark of DN, and conventional treatments targeting metabolic disorders or hemodynamic abnormalities fail to reverse the progressive decline of renal function. Accumulating evidence over the past decade has established that high glucose-induced podocyte pyroptosis—a pro-inflammatory form of programmed cell death—is a key driving force in DN progression. Its core molecular mechanism hinges on the activation of the TXNIP-NLRP3 inflammasome axis. Under sustained hyperglycemic conditions, excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated via pathways including the polyol pathway, advanced glycation end products (AGEs) accumulation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Concurrently, methylglyoxal (a glucose metabolite) mediates post-translational modification of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP). These events collectively trigger the dissociation of TXNIP from thioredoxin (TRX), a redox-regulating protein. The free TXNIP then translocates to the mitochondria, where it binds to The NACHT, LRR, and PYD domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) and promotes inflammasome assembly. This assembly activates cysteine-aspartic acid protease 1 (caspase-1), which cleaves Gasdermin D (GSDMD) to generate its N-terminal fragment (GSDMD-NT). GSDMD-NT oligomerizes to form membrane pores, leading to podocyte swelling, rupture, and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18). These cytokines amplify local inflammatory responses, induce mesangial cell proliferation, and accelerate extracellular matrix deposition, ultimately exacerbating glomerulosclerosis. MCC950, a highly selective NLRP3 inhibitor, exerts its therapeutic effects through a multi-layered mechanism: it binds to the NACHT domain (NAIP, CIITA, HET-E and TP1 domain) of NLRP3 with nanomolar affinity, forming hydrogen bonds with key residues (Lys-42 and Asp-166) within the ATP-hydrolysis pocket to block ATP hydrolysis, thereby locking NLRP3 in an inactive conformational state. Additionally, MCC950 interferes with the protein-protein interaction between TXNIP and NLRP3 and regulates mitochondrial homeostasis to reduce ROS production. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that MCC950 dose-dependently reduces proteinuria, restores the expression of podocyte-specific markers (nephrin and Wilms tumor 1 protein, WT1), and alleviates podocyte foot process fusion and glomerulosclerosis in both streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetic models (characterized by absolute insulin deficiency) and db/db type 2 diabetic models (driven by insulin resistance). However, discrepancies in therapeutic outcomes exist across different models—some studies report exacerbated renal inflammation and fibrosis in STZ-induced models—which may stem from differences in disease pathogenesis, intervention timing (early vs. mid-stage disease), and dosing duration. Despite its promising preclinical efficacy, MCC950 faces significant translational challenges, including low oral bioavailability, insufficient podocyte targeting, potential hepatotoxicity, and drug-drug interactions with statins (commonly prescribed to diabetic patients for cardiovascular risk management). Furthermore, off-target effects such as the inhibition of carbonic anhydrase 2 have been identified, raising concerns about its safety profile. Nevertheless, its unique mechanism of action—directly blocking podocyte pyroptosis by targeting the TXNIP-NLRP3 axis—endows it with substantial translational value. In the future, strategies to overcome these barriers are expected to advance its clinical application: targeted delivery via nanocarriers (e.g., PLGA-PEG nanoparticles or nephrin antibody-conjugated systems) to enhance renal accumulation and podocyte specificity; precise patient stratification based on biomarkers such as serum IL-18 and renal TXNIP/NLRP3 expression to identify “inflammatory-phenotype” DN patients most likely to benefit; and combination therapy with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors—whose metabolic benefits synergize with MCC950’s anti-inflammatory effects. These approaches hold great potential to break through clinical translation bottlenecks, offering a novel, precise anti-inflammatory treatment option for DN and addressing an unmet clinical need for therapies targeting the inflammatory underpinnings of the disease.
4.Expert consensus on neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitors for locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma (2026)
LI Jinsong ; LIAO Guiqing ; LI Longjiang ; ZHANG Chenping ; SHANG Chenping ; ZHANG Jie ; ZHONG Laiping ; LIU Bing ; CHEN Gang ; WEI Jianhua ; JI Tong ; LI Chunjie ; LIN Lisong ; REN Guoxin ; LI Yi ; SHANG Wei ; HAN Bing ; JIANG Canhua ; ZHANG Sheng ; SONG Ming ; LIU Xuekui ; WANG Anxun ; LIU Shuguang ; CHEN Zhanhong ; WANG Youyuan ; LIN Zhaoyu ; LI Haigang ; DUAN Xiaohui ; YE Ling ; ZHENG Jun ; WANG Jun ; LV Xiaozhi ; ZHU Lijun ; CAO Haotian
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2026;34(2):105-118
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common head and neck malignancy. Approximately 50% to 60% of patients with OSCC are diagnosed at a locally advanced stage (clinical staging III-IVa). Even with comprehensive and sequential treatment primarily based on surgery, the 5-year overall survival rate remains below 50%, and patients often suffer from postoperative functional impairments such as difficulties with speaking and swallowing. Programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitors are increasingly used in the neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced OSCC and have shown encouraging efficacy. However, clinical practice still faces key challenges, including the definition of indications, optimization of combination regimens, and standards for efficacy evaluation. Based on the latest research advances worldwide and the clinical experience of the expert group, this expert consensus systematically evaluates the application of PD-1 inhibitors in the neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced OSCC, covering combination strategies, treatment cycles and surgical timing, efficacy assessment, use of biomarkers, management of special populations and immune related adverse events, principles for immunotherapy rechallenge, and function preservation strategies. After multiple rounds of panel discussion and through anonymous voting using the Delphi method, the following consensus statements have been formulated: 1) Neoadjuvant therapy with PD-1 inhibitors can be used preoperatively in patients with locally advanced OSCC. The preferred regimen is a PD-1 inhibitor combined with platinum based chemotherapy, administered for 2-3 cycles. 2) During the efficacy evaluation of neoadjuvant therapy, radiographic assessment should follow the dual criteria of Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1 and immune RECIST (iRECIST). After surgery, systematic pathological evaluation of both the primary lesion and regional lymph nodes is required. For combination chemotherapy regimens, PD-L1 expression and combined positive score need not be used as mandatory inclusion or exclusion criteria. 3) For special populations such as the elderly (≥ 70 years), individuals with stable HIV viral load, and carriers of chronic HBV/HCV, PD-1 inhibitors may be used cautiously under the guidance of a multidisciplinary team (MDT), with close monitoring for adverse events. 4) For patients with a poor response to neoadjuvant therapy, continuation of the original treatment regimen is not recommended; the subsequent treatment plan should be adjusted promptly after MDT assessment. Organ transplant recipients and patients with active autoimmune diseases are not recommended to receive neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitor therapy due to the high risk of immune related activation. Rechallenge is generally not advised for patients who have experienced high risk immune related adverse events such as immune mediated myocarditis, neurotoxicity, or pneumonitis. 5) For patients with a good pathological response, individualized de escalation surgery and function preservation strategies can be explored. This consensus aims to promote the standardized, safe, and precise application of neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitor strategies in the management of locally advanced OSCC patients.
5.Efficacy and learning curve of three-lobe holmium laser enucleation of the prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia in county-level hospitals
Yongsheng PAN ; Bo LIU ; Jie JIANG ; Xinchao XIA ; Qianjin WANG ; Asihati REWULI ; Tianle WANG ; Hua ZHU ; Wei XUE ; Bing ZHENG
Journal of Modern Urology 2026;31(3):258-263
Objective To analyze the efficacy, safety, and learning curve of the three-lobe holmium laser enucleation of the prostate(HoLEP)in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)in a county-level hospital.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 65 BPH patients who underwent the three-lobe HoLEP performed by a single surgeon at the Department of Urology, Yining County People's Hospital, during Dec.2023 and Jun.2024.The enucleation efficiency was calculated by dividing the weight of the enucleated prostatic tissue by the enucleation time.A case scatter diagram of enucleation efficiency was plotted according to the chronological order of the operations, and the learning curve was analyzed after fitting.Based on the inflection points of the learning curve, the learning process was divided into the initial learning, mastery, and proficiency phases.The basic clinical data, perioperative indicators, postoperative complications, and follow-up indicators were compared among the different learning phases.Results All 65 procedures were successfully completed.Marked by the enucleation efficiency reaching a plateau, cases 1-20 were defined as the initial learning phase, cases 21-40 as the mastery phase, and cases 41 onwards as the proficiency phase.The prostate volume in the proficiency phase was significantly larger than that in the initial learning and mastery phases(both P<0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in other baseline characteristics among the three groups(all P>0.05).The operation time [(105.50±19.12)min vs.(85.25±26.92)min vs.(69.00±23.58)min] and enucleation time [(76.90±14.19)min vs.(63.70±22.24)min vs.(48.80±20.48)min] showed a decreasing trend across the three groups(all P<0.05).The enucleation efficiency in both the mastery and proficiency phases was significantly higher than that in the initial learning phase [(1.16±0.44)g/min vs.(0.85 ±0.25)g/min, P<0.05;(1.36±0.49)g/min vs.(0.85±0.25)g/min, P<0.05].The enucleation efficiency in the proficiency phase was slightly higher than that in the mastery phase, but the difference was not statistically significant(P= 0.389).There was no significant difference in the incidence of perioperative complications among the three groups(all P>0.05).At the 6-month follow-up, the international prostate symptom score(IPSS), post-void residual(PVR), and maximum urinary flow(Qmax)were significantly improved compared to preoperative values in all three groups(all P<0.05);however, no significant differences were observed among the three groups(all P>0.05).Conclusion The three-lobe HoLEP for the treatment of BPH is safe and effective in a county-level hospital setting.Surgeons with some experience in endoscopic surgery can preliminarily master this technique after a learning period of approximately 20 procedures.
6.Research on the implementation status of the provincial "Three Exemptions" policy for voluntary blood donation in China and analysis on the structural characteristics of beneficiaries
Xia GAI ; Yu ZHENG ; Yanfei ZHANG ; Bing FAN ; Junlei HUANG ; Huaizheng GONG ; Kun YIN
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2026;39(8):1083-1089
Objective: To analyze the implementation status of the “Three-Exemptions” policy for voluntary blood donation in China by taking Shandong Province as a case study, explore the sociodemographic characteristics of policy beneficiaries and the distribution differences in blood donation frequencies, so as to provide practical references for improving the honor incentive system of voluntary blood donation and stabilizing the blood donation team. Methods: Excel was used to sort out and summarize the policy documents from 31 provincial-level administrative regions of China (excluding Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan), and its implementation models, temporal characteristics and implementation basis were analyzed. Using 238 193 policy beneficiaries in Shandong Province as the research objects, Stata was adopted for descriptive statistical analysis of sociodemographic characteristics including gender, age, educational background and occupation. The Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis H test were performed to compare the distribution differences of blood donation frequencies among populations with different characteristics. Results: The “Three Exemption” policy has been implemented in 29 provinces nationwide, forming five differentiated implementation models. Specifically, 45.16% of the regions adopted province-wide unified implementation, 32.26% adopted partial prefecture-level city implementation, 12.90% adopted partial clause implementation, 3.23% adopted encouraging implementation, and 6.45% had not implemented the policy. The period from 2023 to 2026 witnessed the concentrated promotion of the policy. In Shandong Province, the beneficiaries were mainly males (82.08%), middle-aged individuals aged 40-60 years (71.78%), groups with junior and senior high school education (56.57%), and staff employees (30.60%). The distribution of blood donation frequencies showed that nearly 60% (56.95%) of the beneficiaries had donated blood 20 to 29 times. Statistically significant differences in donation frequency distributions were observed across genders, age groups, educational backgrounds, and occupations (all P<0.05). Further analysis revealed that the proportion of males with 40 or more blood donations was higher than that of females (24.32% vs 15.60%), while females had a higher proportion of 20-29 blood donations than males (65.98% vs 54.99%). With the increase of age, the proportion of those with 20-29 blood donations gradually decreased, whereas the proportion of those with≥40 blood donations gradually increased. Conclusion: The coverage of the “Three Exemptions” policy for voluntary blood donation in China continues to expand. However, there is still room for optimization in terms of policy implementation standards, population structure adaptation and incentive gradient design. Future efforts should strengthen national top-level design to balance regional development gaps. Moreover, hierarchical and targeted incentive and publicity strategies combined with population structural characteristics should be implemented to enhance public enthusiasm for voluntary blood donation.
7.Value of combined detection of ApoA2,C1INH,and ALB in the screening of stage Ⅰ-Ⅲ colorectal cancer
Yazhou WU ; Runhao XU ; Jie ZHANG ; Yun CAO ; Hanhua LI ; Bing ZHENG
International Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2025;46(6):670-674
Objective To investigate the changes of 8 lipid biomarkers,4 complement biomarkers and albu-min(ALB)in serum of patients with colorectal cancer(CRC)and their value in CRC screening.Methods A total of 120 newly diagnosed CRC patients in Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from August 2022 to January 2024 were selected as the CRC group,and 110 healthy subjects were selected as the healthy control(HC)group.A total of 8 lipid biomarkers including total cholesterol(TC),tri-glyceride(TG),high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),apolipoprotein(Apo)A1,ApoA2,ApoB and ApoE,4 complement biomarkers including complement C3(C3),complement C4(C4),complement C1q(C1q)and complement C1 inhibitor(C1INH),3 intestinal tumor markers including carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),carbohydrate antigen(CA)125,CA19-9,and ALB levels were detected in serum of each group.Independent sample t test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for com-parison between groups,and stepwise Fisher discriminant algorithm was used to fit each marker to establish a screening model.Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of each marker and the model.Results The serum levels of ApoA1,ApoA2,HDL-C,TC and ALB in CRC group were lower than those in HC group(P<0.05),while the serum levels of C1INH,C4 and CEA were higher than those in HC group(P<0.05).Among the single biomarkers,ALB had the highest diagnostic efficiency,the area under the curve(AUC)was 0.909,the sensitivity was 77.50%,and the specificity was 94.55%.The AUC of the screening model composed of ApoA2,C1INH and ALB was 0.978,the sensitivity was 91.67%,and the specificity was 98.86%.The diagnostic efficacy was higher than any single biomarker.Conclusion ApoA2,C1INH and ALB are abnormally expressed in the serum of CRC patients.The screening model composed of ApoA2,C1INH and ALB can provide reference for CRC screening and clinical auxiliary diagnosis.
8.Effects of TCF12 on proliferation, migration, and aerobic glycolysis of colorectal cancer cells by targeting CRYAB
Bing ZHENG ; Penghao LI ; Xianyue BU ; Jinzhen PAN ; Linyue ZHENG ; Hui WANG
International Journal of Biomedical Engineering 2025;48(3):271-278
Objective:To study the expression of transcription factor 12 (TCF12) in colorectal cancer cells, and to explore the effects of TCF12 on proliferation, migration, and aerobic glycolysis of colorectal cancer HT-29 cells and its mechanism.Methods:After culturing, HT-29 cells were divided into a control group and a knockdown group based on treatment conditions, and were transfected with 50 nmol/L of small interfering RNA (siRNA) and TCF12 siRNA, respectively. On the basis of the knockdown group, HT-29 cells were infected with adenovirus vector overexpressing αB-crystallin (CRYAB) with an infection multiplicity of 50, which was set as the overexpression group. The relative expression of TCF12 in HT-29 cells was detected using Western blotting. The cell survival rate, cell clone number and cell migration number of HT-29 cells were detected using cell counting kit-8, clone formation assay and cell invasion assay, respectively. Glucose uptake, relative lactic acid production and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level of HT-29 cells were detected by related kits. The relative expression of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), hexokinase 2 (HK2), lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), CRYAB, phosphorylated phosphoinositide 3-kinase (p-PI3K)/PI3K and phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt)/Akt proteins were detected by Western blotting. Data were analyzed by an independent sample t test or one-way analysis of variance. Results:The relative expression of TCF12 protein in the knockdown group was lower than that in the control group (0.14±0.03 vs 0.99±0.05, t=7.526, P<0.01). The cell survival rate, the cell clone number and the cell migration number per unit field of view in the knockdown group were all lower than those in the control group [(60.00±5.10)% vs (94.67±2.08)%, t=15.368, P<0.01; 52±5 vs 148±6, t=23.164, P<0.01; 26±4 vs 78±4, t=18.265, P<0.01]. Glucose uptake, relative lactic acid production and ATP level in the knockdown group were lower than those in the control group [(0.41±0.04) mg/ml vs (1.27±0.07) mg/ml, t=22.567, P<0.01; (55.00±6.08)% vs (98.00±4.58)%, t=18.257, P<0.01; (8.33±1.25) μmol/L vs (19.67±1.70) μmol/L, t=13.165, P<0.01]. The relative expression of GLUT1, HK2 and LDHA proteins in the knockdown group were all lower than those in the control group (0.38±0.05 vs 0.98±0.09, 0.12±0.03 vs 0.97±0.04, and 0.64±0.05 vs 0.99±0.06, all P<0.01). The relative expression of CRYAB, p-PI3K/PI3K and p-Akt/Akt proteins in the knockdown group were all lower than those in the control group (0.18±0.04 vs 0.92±0.03, t=11.265, P<0.01; 0.34±0.10 vs 0.92±0.04, t=18.257, P<0.01; 0.51±0.04 vs 1.11±0.07, t=13.165, P<0.01). The cell survival rate, the cell clone number and the cell migration number per unit field of view p in the overexpression group were all higher than those in the knockdown group [(97.00±6.56)% vs (45.67±6.03)%, t=12.762, P<0.01; 136.67±5.69 vs 44.33±6.03, t=22.585, P<0.01; 57.33±5.51 vs 24.67±4.51, t=25.312, P<0.01]. Glucose uptake, relative lactic acid production and ATP level in the overexpression group were all higher than those in the knockdown group [(1.25±0.08) mg/ml vs (0.51±0.05) mg/ml, t=22.164, P<0.01; (44.00±3.06)% vs (19.67±3.06)%, t=25.822, P<0.01; (21.00±2.00) μmol/L vs (9.33±1.53) μmol/L, t=18.876, P<0.01]. The relative expression level of CRYAB, p-PI3K/PI3K and p-Akt/Akt proteins in the overexpression group were all higher than those in the knockdown group (6.00±0.63 vs 0.96±0.24, t=12.79, P<0.01; 2.13±0.25 vs 0.10±0.03, t=13.90, P<0.01; 2.07±0.21 vs 0.46±0.04, t=13.17, P<0.01). Conclusions:TCF12 may promote the proliferation, migration and aerobic glycolysis of colorectal cancer cells by regulating CRYAB/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
9.Exploration on the mechanism of Shengxue Tongbian Granules in improving intestinal injury in septic rats based on bioinformatics and experimental validation
Xuan HE ; Aihua ZHENG ; Bing GUO ; Siqin TANG ; Min WANG ; Hongmei LIU
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;47(10):1418-1424
Objective:To explore the molecular mechanism of TCM compound Shengxue Tongbian Granules in improving intestinal injury in septic rats through bioinformatics and experimental validation methods.Methods:The GSE131761 gene set was processed by bioinformatics to screen differential genes, then weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was applied to screen modular genes. The intersection of modular genes and differential genes was taken, and finally, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) technique was applied to further obtain the key targets of sepsis, which was validated by experiments. Totally 72 SD rats were divided into sham-operation group, model group, dexamethasone group (0.15 mg/kg), Shengxue Tongbian Granules low- (0.3 g/kg), medium- (0.6 g/kg), and high-dosage (1.2 g/kg) groups, with 12 rats in each group. Corresponding drug interventions were administered to each treatment group before and 12 hours after modeling. The sham-operation group and the model group were gavaged daily with equal amounts of saline. Samples were collected after 24 hours. HE staining was used to detect the pathological morphology of intestinal tissues in each group of rats; ELISA was used to detect the levels of TNF-α, diamine oxidase (DAO), IL-6, IL-10, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in rat serum. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein expressions of MPO and neutrophil elastase (NE/LANE) in intestinal tissue, and Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of peptidyl arginine deaminase (PAD4) in intestinal tissue.Results:Seven final key genes related to sepsis were selected, namely ANXA3, CYP1B1, FCAR, LILRA5, PADI4, NOV, and S100A12. Experimental results showed that drug administration alleviated intestinal injury; compared with the model group, the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, MPO, and DAO decreased in the Shengxue Tongbian Granules high-dosage group ( P<0.05), the levels of ELANE and MPO were reduced in Shengxue Tongbian Granules low-, medium-, and high-dosage groups ( P<0.05), and PAD4 expression was reduced in the Shengxue Tongbian Granules high-dosage group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Shengxue Tongbian Granules can improve the intestinal injury of septic rats, and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of PAD4-mediated formation of NETs and the improvement of inflammatory response.
10.Comparison of clinical characteristics between primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia and adrenal cortisol-producing adenoma
Bing LI ; Ming-Xiu YANG ; Huai-Jin XU ; Jing-Xuan WANG ; Qing-Zheng WU ; Ya-Jing WANG ; Yi-Jun LI ; Kang CHEN ; Yu CHENG ; Qi NI ; Ya-Qi YIN ; Li ZANG ; Qing-Hua GUO ; Jian-Ming BA ; Wei-Jun GU ; Jing-Tao DOU ; Zhao-Hui LYU ; Yi-Ming MU
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2025;50(7):779-785
Objective To comparatively analyze the clinical characteristics of primary bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia(PBMAH)and adrenal cortisol-producing Adenoma(CPA),and enhance the understanding of two diseases.Methods The clinical data of 85 PBMAH patients(PBMAH group)and 195 CPA patients(CPA group)diagnosed at Department of Endocrinology,the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital,from September 2014 to August 2024 were retrospectively analyzed.The demographic characteristics,comorbidities,biochemical indicators,adrenocorticotropic hormone-cortisol(ACTH-F)levels,and adrenal imaging features and treatment conditions were compared between the two groups.Results(1)General characteristics:Compared with CPA group,PBMAH group had older age at diagnosis and a higher proportion of male patients.(2)Clinical characteristics:Compared with CPA group,PBMAH group had a longer disease duration,a higher proportion of subclinical Cushing's syndrome(CS),and a higher proportion of hypertension,impaired glucose tolerance/diabetes,bone mass reduction or osteoporosis,with higher serum potassium levels,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.01).(3)Hormone levels:Both PBMAH and CPA groups showed ACTH-F rhythm disorder,significantly increased cortisol levels and suppressed ACTH.Compared with PBMAH group,CPA group had stronger autonomous cortisol secretion ability,manifested by increased midnight serum cortisol(F0:00),16:00 serum cortisol(F16:00),24-hour urinary free cortisol(24 h UFC)levels and lower 8:00 serum ACTH(ACTH8:00)and 16:00 serum ACTH(ACTH16:00)(P<0.01).After low-dose dexamethasone suppression test(LDDST),CPA group showed lower suppression rates of ACTH and cortisol,and higher proportions of paradoxical elevation in serum cortisol and 24 h UFC compared with PBMAH(P<0.01).Conclusions PBMAH has a longer disease course and higher proportions of comorbid metabolic disorders than CPA,mostly manifested as subclinical Cushing's syndrome.CPA has stronger autonomous cortisol secretion ability,with cortisol less likely to be suppressed after LDDST and more obvious paradoxical elevation of cortisol and 24 h UFC.


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