1.GRK2 activates TRAF2-NF-κB signalling to promote hyperproliferation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes in rheumatoid arthritis.
Chenchen HAN ; Liping JIANG ; Weikang WANG ; Shujun ZUO ; Jintao GU ; Luying CHEN ; Zhuo CHEN ; Jiajie KUAI ; Xuezhi YANG ; Liang XU ; Yang MA ; Wei WEI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(4):1956-1973
G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) participates in the phosphorylation and desensitization of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), impacting various biological processes such as inflammation and cell proliferation. Dysregulated expression and activity of GRK2 have been reported in multiple cells in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, whether and how GRK2 regulates synovial hyperplasia and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) proliferation is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the regulation of GRK2 and its biological function in RA. We found that GRK2 transmembrane activity was increased in FLSs of RA patients and collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats. Additionally, we noted a positive correlation between high GRK2 expression on the cell membrane and serological markers associated with RA and CIA. Immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry and pull-down analyses revealed tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) as a novel substrate of GRK2. Furthermore, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and molecular docking assays determined that the C-terminus of GRK2 binds to the C-terminus of TRAF2 at the Gln340 residue. GRK2 knockdown and the GRK2 inhibitor CP-25 attenuated synovial hyperplasia and FLS proliferation in CIA both in vitro and in vivo by decreasing GRK2 membrane expression and activity. Mechanistically, increased GRK2 transmembrane activity contributed to the recruitment of TRAF2 on the cell membrane, promoting GRK2-TRAF2 interactions that facilitate the recruitment of the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM47 to TRAF2. This enhanced TRAF2 Lys63 polyubiquitylation and induced nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation, leading to synovial hyperplasia and abnormal proliferation of FLSs. Our study provides a mechanistic and preclinical rationale for further evaluation of GRK2 as a therapeutic target for RA.
2.Significance and successful construction of stable transfection of MH7A cells with lower TRAF2 expression using lentiviral vector
Luying CHEN ; Liping JIANG ; Weikang WANG ; Shujun ZUO ; Jiajie KUAI ; Yang MA ; Chenchen HAN ; Wei WEI
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2024;59(2):193-199
Objective To construct a stable synovial cell line MH7A from rheumatoid arthritis(RA)patients using lentiviral vectors that interfere with the expression of tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 2(TRAF2),and to study the role of TNF-α-TRAF2 signaling in MH7A abnormal proliferation.Methods Based on the design principles of human TRAF2 gene sequence and shRNA sequence,three pairs of TRAF2 shRNA interference se-quences were designed and synthesized.The primers were annealed by PCR,and a linear vector was obtained by double enzyme digestion PLKO.1-puro.The linearized vector was connected to the annealed primers through Solu-tion I,and the connected products were introduced into receptive cells.The plates were coated,and positive colo-nies were selected for sequencing.Three different recombinant plasmids of PLKO.1-TRAF2-shRNA lentivirus were constructed,and lentivirus packaging plasmids was used to package logarithmic growth phase HEK 293T cells.Vi-rus solution was collected to infect MH7A cells.At the same time,puromycin was used to screen MH7A stable transgenic strains with low TRAF2 expression.CCK-8 method,Western blot,and qPCR were used to detect the proliferation function of MH7A induced by TNF-α and low expression of TRAF2,as well as downstream signal TRAF2,P65 protein expression and mRNA levels.Results PLKO.1-TRAF2-shRNA(1),PLKO.1-TRAF2-shR-NA(2),and PLKO.1-TRAF2-shRNA(3)lentivirus vector plasmids and control group lentivirus vector plasmids PLKO.1-puro were successfully constructed.The three TRAF2-shRNA lentivirus vector plasmids and control group lentivirus vector plasmids PLKO.1-puro were respectively introduced into the lentivirus packaging plasmid of HEK 293T to obtain virus solution.After infecting MH7A cells with the virus solution,they were treated with puromycin(2.00 μ G/mL)screening and obtaining MH7A stable transgenic plants after 2 days.Through qPCR and Western blot results,it was found that the expression of TRAF2 mRNA and protein in PLKO.1-TRAF2-shRNA(1)MH7A stably transfected cells was significantly reduced compared to the negative control group.The results of CCK-8 and Western blot showed that after knocking down TRAF2 in MH7A,the proliferation of MH7A cells with low TRAF2 expression induced by TNF-α and the phosphorylation level of P65 were significantly reduced.Conclusion A sta-ble transgenic strain of PLKO.1-TRAF2-shRNA(1)MH7A cells was successfully constructed to investigate the role of TNF-α-TRAF2 signal activation in mediating abnormal proliferation of RA synovial cells.
3.Analysis on the quality of wild and different cultivation methods of Sanghuang porus vaninii (Ljub.) L.W. Zhou & Y.C. Dai
Chenchen WU ; Lu YAN ; Jingzhe PU ; Yazhong ZHANG ; Lan HAN
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;46(2):209-214
Objective:To compare and evaluate the quality of wild and different cultivation methods of Sanghuang porus vaninii (Ljub.) L.W. Zhou & Y.C. Dai through analysis on UPLC characteristic atlas and multi-component content determination results. Methods:UPLC was used to establish the characteristic chromatogram and multi-component content determination method of Sanghuang porus vaninii (Ljub.) L.W. Zhou & Y.C. Dai, and clustering analysis, orthogonal partial least squares - discriminant analysis method were used for chemical pattern recognition analysis. Results:The results showed that there were 10 common peaks in 18 batches of Sanghuang porus vaninii (Ljub.) L.W. Zhou & Y.C. Dai. Five components were identified, erythrothioneine(peak 1), protocatechuic acid (peak 2), protocatechualdehyde (peak 3), caffeic acid (peak 4) and Hispidin (peak 5). HCA and OPLS-DA could distinguish Sanghuang porus vaninii (Ljub.) with different cultivation methods. Conclusion:Sanghuang porus vaninii (Ljub.) L.W. Zhou & Y.C. Dai in wood is closer to wild Sanghuang porus vaninii (Ljub.) L.W. Zhou & Y.C. Dai than in substitute cultivation. The UPLC characteristic atlas and multi-component content determination method established in this study can provide reference for the quality evaluation of Sanghuang porus vaninii (Ljub.) L.W. Zhou & Y.C. Dai.
4.A qualitative study on the symptom perception and coping experience of patients with low anterior resection syndrome after anus-preserving surgery for rectal cancer
Mengni WANG ; Fang WANG ; Jian YANG ; Hongli WANG ; Chenchen PANG ; Mengdan HAN
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2024;30(3):330-335
Objective:To explore the symptom perception and coping experiences of patients with low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) after anus-preserving surgery for rectal cancer.Methods:This study adopted the phenomenological research method in qualitative research. From October 2022 to January 2023, purposive sampling was used to select 15 postoperative LARS patients with rectal cancer who underwent anus-preserving surgery and underwent outpatient follow-up or hospitalization at Henan Cancer Hospital as the research subject for semi-structured in-depth interviews. Colaizzi 7-step analysis method was used to analyze, summarize, and extract themes from interview data.Results:Four themes were extracted, including attitudes and emotional responses towards symptoms, daily activities influenced by symptoms, coping status with symptom management strategies, and the need for multidimensional support for symptoms.Conclusions:LARS patients after anus-preserving surgery for rectal cancer have many discomfort symptoms and are eager to receive support and assistance. Medical and nursing staff should pay attention to the complexity of patient symptom management and promptly conduct effective symptom assessment and intervention, providing patient-centered comprehensive supportive nursing, and improving their quality of life.
5.Potential of new self-crosslinked hyaluronic acid gel on the recovery of endometrium after artificial abortion: a multicenter, prospective randomized controlled trial
Chunying LI ; Lirong TENG ; Qing LIN ; Liping ZHAO ; Yunxia ZHU ; Xin MI ; Zhenna WANG ; Xiaoye WANG ; Lisong ZHANG ; Dan HAN ; Lili MA ; Wenpei BAI ; Jianmei WANG ; Jun NI ; Huiping SHEN ; Qinfang CHEN ; Hongmei XU ; Chenchen REN ; Jing JIANG ; Guanyuan LIU ; Ping PENG ; Xinyan LIU
Chinese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2024;59(11):864-870
Objective:To evaluate the impact of self-crosslinked hyaluronic acid (SCH) gel on endometrium recovery after artificial abortion.Methods:A multicenter, prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted across 18 hospitals from December 2021 to February 2023, involving 382 women who underwent artificial abortion. Participants were randomly allocated to receive either treatment with SCH gel (SCH group) or no treatment (control group) in a 1∶1 ratio. The primary outcome was endometrium thickness in 14 to 18 days after the first postoperative menstruation. Secondary outcomes included changes in menstrual volume during the first postoperative menstruation, menstruation resumption within 6 postoperative weeks, time to menstruation resumption, duration of the first postoperative menstruation, and incidence of dysmenorrhea.Results:Baseline characteristics of participants were comparable between the two groups (all P>0.05), with 95.3% (182/191) in SCH group and 92.7% (177/191) in the control group completed the study. The postoperative endometrial thickness in SCH group was significantly greater than that in the control group [(9.78±3.15) vs (8.95±2.32) mm; P=0.005]. SCH group also had significantly fewer participants with reduced menstrual volume [23 cases (12.6%, 23/182) vs 31 cases (17.5%, 31/177); P=0.038]. Although SCH group experienced less dysmenorrhea during the first postoperative menstrual period, this difference was not statistically significant [28.5% (51/179) vs 37.1% (65/175); P=0.083]. Outcomes were similar between SCH group and the control group regarding the proportion of participants who resumed menstruation within 6 weeks postoperatively, time to menstruation resumption, and duration of the first postoperative menstruation ( P=0.792, 0.485, and 0.254, respectively). No serious adverse events were observed during the study period, and no adverse events were attributed to SCH gel treatment. Conclusion:The application of SCH gel after artificial abortion is safe and might aid in the recovery of the endometrium.
6.Bibliometric analysis of research on aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage
Yuwei HAN ; Chenchen WANG ; Guobiao LIANG ; Xiaoming LI
International Journal of Cerebrovascular Diseases 2023;31(11):836-840
Objective:To conduct a bibliometric analysis of scientific publications on aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) worldwide from 2012 to 2022 and to investigate the current research status and hotspots in this field.Methods:The Web of Science Core Collection was used as the data source. According to the set retrieval strategy, the CiteSpace bibliometric tools were used to analyze the published literature and explore the research hotspots and cutting-edge directions.Results:A total of 4 937 articles were included, and the number of publications increased year by year from 2012 to 2022. The United States is a leading country in this field, Harvard University is a leading institution in this field, and Rinkel Gabriel JE is the researcher with the most published articles in this field. The analysis of the keywords provided by the author showed that delayed cerebral ischemia, vasospasm, risk, intracranial aneurysms, endovascular treatment, risk factors, embolization, complications, Pipeline embolization device, coil embolization, hemodynamics, and wall shear stress were the main hotspots and cutting-edge directions of aSAH research.Conclusion:The results of bibliometric analysis help to grasp the current research status of aSAH and determine new directions for future research.
7.LITTIP/Lgr6/HnRNPK complex regulates cementogenesis via Wnt signaling.
Tiancheng LI ; Han WANG ; Yukun JIANG ; Shuo CHEN ; Danyuan HUANG ; Zuping WU ; Xing YIN ; Chenchen ZHOU ; Yuyu LI ; Shujuan ZOU
International Journal of Oral Science 2023;15(1):33-33
Orthodontically induced tooth root resorption (OIRR) is a serious complication during orthodontic treatment. Stimulating cementum repair is the fundamental approach for the treatment of OIRR. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) might be a potential therapeutic agent for OIRR, but its effects still lack direct evidence, and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to explore the potential involvement of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in mediating the anabolic effects of intermittent PTH and contributing to cementum repair, as identifying lncRNA-disease associations can provide valuable insights for disease diagnosis and treatment. Here, we showed that intermittent PTH regulates cell proliferation and mineralization in immortalized murine cementoblast OCCM-30 via the regulation of the Wnt pathway. In vivo, daily administration of PTH is sufficient to accelerate root regeneration by locally inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Through RNA microarray analysis, lncRNA LITTIP (LGR6 intergenic transcript under intermittent PTH) is identified as a key regulator of cementogenesis under intermittent PTH. Chromatin isolation by RNA purification (ChIRP) and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays revealed that LITTIP binds to mRNA of leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled receptor 6 (LGR6) and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (HnRNPK) protein. Further co-transfection experiments confirmed that LITTIP plays a structural role in the formation of the LITTIP/Lgr6/HnRNPK complex. Moreover, LITTIP is able to promote the expression of LGR6 via the RNA-binding protein HnRNPK. Collectively, our results indicate that the intermittent PTH administration accelerates root regeneration via inhibiting Wnt pathway. The lncRNA LITTIP is identified to negatively regulate cementogenesis, which activates Wnt/β-catenin signaling via high expression of LGR6 promoted by HnRNPK.
Mice
;
Animals
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Cementogenesis
;
Wnt Signaling Pathway
;
beta Catenin/metabolism*
;
Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein K/metabolism*
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RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics*
;
Parathyroid Hormone
;
Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/metabolism*
8.Eukaryotic expression,purification and activity identification of human His-GRK2 recombinant protein
Liping Jiang ; Luying Chen ; Jiajie Kuai ; Fengling Wang ; Hao Li ; Yanling Guan ; Yang Ma ; Chenchen Han ; Wei Wei
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2023;58(2):179-184
Objective:
To construct a human G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 ( GRK2) eukaryotic expression system.
Methods:
The primers were designed ,and the His-GRK2 target gene was amplified by PCR using the Pans-EGFP-GrK2 (full-length) gene as the template.The His-GRK2 target gene was connected to the pcDNA3.1EGFP eukaryotic expression vector. The pcDNA3. 1-EGFP-His-GRK2 plasmid was transfected into HEK 293T cells.48 h later,the expression of GRK2 protein was detected by Western blot,and the GRK2 protein was purified by nickel chelated magnetic bead method.The purification of GRK2 protein was detected by Coomassie bright blue staining and Western blot,and the activity of GRK2 protein was detected by His pull down.
Results :
The results of double enzyme digestion and sequencing showed that pcDNA3. 1-EGFP-His-GRK2 eukaryotic expression plasmid was successfully constructed.Western blot analysis showed that the molecular weight of GRK2 protein was about 80 ku,indicating that GRK2 protein was successfully expressed in HEK 293T cells (t = 6. 433,P = 0. 003) .GRK2 protein was purified by nickel chelated magnetic beads.His pull down experiment results showed that GRK2 was bound to prostaglandin E2 receptor 4 (EP4) ,suggesting that GRK2 protein had biological activity (t = 13. 5,P = 0. 000 2) .
Conclusion
The pcDNA3.1-EGFP-His-GRK2 eukaryotic expression plasmid was correctly sequenced and the GRK2 recombinant plasmid was successfully constructed.The GRK2 recombinant plasmid was successfully expressed in eukaryotic cells HEK 293T and the protein expressed was biologically active.
9.Downregulation of cardiac PIASy inhibits Cx43 SUMOylation and ameliorates ventricular arrhythmias in a rat model of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.
Tingting WANG ; Jinmin LIU ; Chenchen HU ; Xin WEI ; Linlin HAN ; Afang ZHU ; Rong WANG ; Zhijun CHEN ; Zhengyuan XIA ; Shanglong YAO ; Weike MAO
Chinese Medical Journal 2023;136(11):1349-1357
BACKGROUND:
Dysfunction of the gap junction channel protein connexin 43 (Cx43) contributes to myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced ventricular arrhythmias. Cx43 can be regulated by small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) modification. Protein inhibitor of activated STAT Y (PIASy) is an E3 SUMO ligase for its target proteins. However, whether Cx43 is a target protein of PIASy and whether Cx43 SUMOylation plays a role in I/R-induced arrhythmias are largely unknown.
METHODS:
Male Sprague-Dawley rats were infected with PIASy short hairpin ribonucleic acid (shRNA) using recombinant adeno-associated virus subtype 9 (rAAV9). Two weeks later, the rats were subjected to 45 min of left coronary artery occlusion followed by 2 h reperfusion. Electrocardiogram was recorded to assess arrhythmias. Rat ventricular tissues were collected for molecular biological measurements.
RESULTS:
Following 45 min of ischemia, QRS duration and QTc intervals statistically significantly increased, but these values decreased after transfecting PIASy shRNA. PIASy downregulation ameliorated ventricular arrhythmias induced by myocardial I/R, as evidenced by the decreased incidence of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, and reduced arrythmia score. In addition, myocardial I/R statistically significantly induced PIASy expression and Cx43 SUMOylation, accompanied by reduced Cx43 phosphorylation and plakophilin 2 (PKP2) expression. Moreover, PIASy downregulation remarkably reduced Cx43 SUMOylation, accompanied by increased Cx43 phosphorylation and PKP2 expression after I/R.
CONCLUSION
PIASy downregulation inhibited Cx43 SUMOylation and increased PKP2 expression, thereby improving ventricular arrhythmias in ischemic/reperfused rats heart.
Rats
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Male
;
Animals
;
Myocardial Reperfusion Injury/metabolism*
;
Connexin 43/genetics*
;
Sumoylation
;
Down-Regulation
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Arrhythmias, Cardiac/drug therapy*
;
Myocardial Ischemia/metabolism*
;
RNA, Small Interfering/metabolism*
10.Knockdown of IGF2BP2 inhibits colorectal cancer cell proliferation, migration and promotes tumor immunity by down-regulating MYC expression.
Tianyue LIU ; Chenying HAN ; Chenchen HU ; Siyi MAO ; Yuanjie SUN ; Shuya YANG ; Kun YANG
Chinese Journal of Cellular and Molecular Immunology 2023;39(4):303-310
Objective To investigate the effect of insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) on the proliferation, migration and tumor immune microenvironment of colorectal cancer cells and its possible molecular mechanism. Methods The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was used to analyze the expression levels of IGF2BP2 and MYC in colorectal cancer and adjacent tissues. The expression of IGF2BP2 in HCT-116 and SW480 human colorectal cancer cells was silenced by RNA interference (RNAi), and the silencing effect was detected by quantitative real-time PCR. After knocking down IGF2BP2, colony formation assay, CCK-8 assay and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay were employed to detect cell colony formation and proliferation ability. TranswellTM assay was used to detect cell migration ability. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of IGF2BP2, MYC, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and interleukin-10 (IL-10). The protein expression of IGF2BP2 and MYC was detected by western blot. The binding ability of IGF2BP2 and MYC in HCT-116 cells was detected by quantitative real-time PCR after RNA immunoprecipitation. Results The results of TCGA database showed that the expression of IGF2BP2 and MYC in colorectal cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues, and the survival time of colorectal cancer patients with high expression of IGF2BP2 was shorter. After silencing IGF2BP2, the viability, proliferation and migration of HCT-116 and SW480 cells were decreased. The mRNA expression of MYC, TGF-β and IL-10 in IGF2BP2 knockdown group was significantly decreased, while the expression of TNF-α mRNA was increased. The expression of MYC protein and the stability of MYC mRNA were significantly decreased. RIP-qPCR results showed that IGF2BP2 could bind to MYC mRNA. Conclusion Knockdown of IGF2BP2 inhibits colorectal cancer cell proliferation, migration and promotes tumor immunity by down-regulating MYC expression.
Humans
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Cell Line, Tumor
;
Cell Movement/genetics*
;
Cell Proliferation/genetics*
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Colorectal Neoplasms/metabolism*
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Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
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Interleukin-10/metabolism*
;
RNA, Messenger
;
RNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism*
;
Transforming Growth Factor beta/genetics*
;
Tumor Microenvironment/immunology*
;
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*
;
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc/metabolism*


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