1.Luteolin alleviates liver fibrosis by inhibiting autophagy of hepatic stellate cells
Shu-ling CHEN ; Xi-xuan WANG ; Rui-qi LI ; Da-wei YANG ; Hui CAO ; Yong-feng YANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(10):1875-1883
Aim To explore the mechanism of luteolin in alleviating hepatic fibrosis.Methods C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the control group,CCl4 group,silybin group(100 mg·kg-1)and luteo-lin group(100 mg·kg-1).After 10-week modeling and 2-week treatment,the serum levels of aminotrans-ferase and liver histopathology were examined.Hepatic fibrosis and autophagy-related gene expression were as-sessed using immunohistochemistry and immunofluores-cence.Human hepatic stellate cell line(LX2)was cultured and divided into control,TGF-β1(10 mg·L-1),TGF-β1+silybin(40 μmol·L-1),TGF-β1+luteolin(40 μmol·L-1).Fibrotic and autophagy-re-lated markers were analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR,Western blot,immunofluorescence and MDC staining.Results Compared with the CCl4 group,the treatment groups showed significantly improved liver function and reduced hepatic fibrosis,with markedly downregulated COL1A1 and α-SMA expression,and luteolin demonstrated superior efficacy.Compared with TGF-β1 group,luteolin treatment significantly de-creased mRNA levels of COL1A1,ACTA2 and MAP1LC3B,while increasing the mRNA level of SQSTM1,the protein levels of COL1A1 and α-SMA de-creased,p62 was enhanced,the LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ ratio was downregulated,and autophagy was reduced.These effects of luteolin were reversed by autophagy inducer rapamycin.Conclusion Luteolin alleviates liver fi-brosis by decreasing the autophagy of hepatic stellate cells.
2.O-GlcNAcylated YTHDF2 promotes bladder cancer progression by regulating the tumor suppressor gene PER1 via m6A modification.
Li WANG ; Da REN ; Zeqiang CAI ; Wentao HU ; Yuting CHEN ; Xuan ZHU
Journal of Central South University(Medical Sciences) 2025;50(5):827-839
OBJECTIVES:
Bladder cancer is a common malignancy with high incidence and poor prognosis. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is widely involved in diverse physiological processes, among which the m6A recognition protein YTH N6-methyladenosine RNA binding protein F2 (YTHDF2) plays a crucial role in bladder cancer progression. This study aims to elucidate the molecular mechanism by which O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) modification of YTHDF2 regulates its downstream target, period circadian regulator 1 (PER1), thereby promoting bladder cancer cell proliferation.
METHODS:
Expression of YTHDF2 in bladder cancer was predicted using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Twenty paired bladder cancer and adjacent normal tissues were collected at the clinical level. Normal bladder epithelial cells (SV-HUC-1) and bladder cancer cell lines (T24, 5637, EJ-1, SW780, BIU-87) were examined by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry for expression of YTHDF2, PER1, and proliferation-related proteins [proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), minichromosome maintenance complex component 2 (MCM2), Cyclin D1]. YTHDF2 was silenced in 5637 and SW780 cells, and cell proliferation was assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation, and EdU assays. Bioinformatics was used to predict glycosylation sites of YTHDF2, and immunoprecipitation (IP) was performed to detect O-GlcNAc modification levels of YTHDF2 in tissues and cells. Bladder cancer cells were treated with DMSO, OSMI-1 (O-GlcNAc inhibitor), or Thiamet G (O-GlcNAc activator), followed by cycloheximide (CHX), to assess YTHDF2 ubiquitination by IP. YTHDF2 knockdown and Thiamet G treatment were further used to evaluate PER1 mRNA stability, PER1 m6A modification, and cell proliferation. TCGA was used to predict PER1 expression in tissues; SRAMP predicted potential PER1 m6A sites. Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP) assays measured PER1 m6A modification. Finally, the effects of knocking down YTHDF2 and PER1 on 5637 and SW780 cell proliferation were assessed.
RESULTS:
YTHDF2 expression was significantly upregulated in bladder cancer tissues compared with adjacent tissues (mRNA: 2.5-fold; protein: 2-fold), which O-GlcNAc modification levels increased 3.5-fold (P<0.001). YTHDF2 was upregulated in bladder cancer cell lines, and its knockdown suppressed cell viability (P<0.001), downregulated PCNA, MCM2, and CyclinD1 (all P<0.05), reduced colony numbers 3-fold (P<0.01), and inhibited proliferation. YTHDF2 exhibited elevated O-GlcNAc modification in cancer cells. OSMI-1 reduced YTHDF2 protein stability (P<0.01) and enhanced ubiquitination, while Thiamet G exerted opposite effects (P<0.001). Thiamet G reversed the proliferation-suppressive effects of YTHDF2 knockdown, promoting cell proliferation (P<0.01) and upregulating PCNA, MCM2, and CyclinD1 (all P<0.05). Mechanistically, YTHDF2 targeted PER1 via m6A recognition, promoting PER1 mRNA degradation. Rescue experiments showed that PER1 knockdown reversed the inhibitory effect of YTHDF2 knockdown on cell proliferation, upregulated PCNA, MCM2, and Cyclin D1 (all P<0.05), and promoted bladder cancer cell proliferation (P<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
O-GlcNAc modification YTHDF2 promotes bladder cancer development by downregulating the tumor suppressor gene PER1 through m6A-mediated post-transcriptional regulation.
Humans
;
Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/metabolism*
;
RNA-Binding Proteins/genetics*
;
Cell Proliferation
;
Cell Line, Tumor
;
Disease Progression
;
Acetylglucosamine/metabolism*
;
Adenosine/metabolism*
;
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
;
Genes, Tumor Suppressor
3.Luteolin alleviates liver fibrosis by inhibiting autophagy of hepatic stellate cells
Shu-ling CHEN ; Xi-xuan WANG ; Rui-qi LI ; Da-wei YANG ; Hui CAO ; Yong-feng YANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(10):1875-1883
Aim To explore the mechanism of luteolin in alleviating hepatic fibrosis.Methods C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the control group,CCl4 group,silybin group(100 mg·kg-1)and luteo-lin group(100 mg·kg-1).After 10-week modeling and 2-week treatment,the serum levels of aminotrans-ferase and liver histopathology were examined.Hepatic fibrosis and autophagy-related gene expression were as-sessed using immunohistochemistry and immunofluores-cence.Human hepatic stellate cell line(LX2)was cultured and divided into control,TGF-β1(10 mg·L-1),TGF-β1+silybin(40 μmol·L-1),TGF-β1+luteolin(40 μmol·L-1).Fibrotic and autophagy-re-lated markers were analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR,Western blot,immunofluorescence and MDC staining.Results Compared with the CCl4 group,the treatment groups showed significantly improved liver function and reduced hepatic fibrosis,with markedly downregulated COL1A1 and α-SMA expression,and luteolin demonstrated superior efficacy.Compared with TGF-β1 group,luteolin treatment significantly de-creased mRNA levels of COL1A1,ACTA2 and MAP1LC3B,while increasing the mRNA level of SQSTM1,the protein levels of COL1A1 and α-SMA de-creased,p62 was enhanced,the LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ ratio was downregulated,and autophagy was reduced.These effects of luteolin were reversed by autophagy inducer rapamycin.Conclusion Luteolin alleviates liver fi-brosis by decreasing the autophagy of hepatic stellate cells.
4.Discussion on the Academic Thoughts of Chinese Medical Master XUAN Guo-Wei in Treating Dermatosis by Harmonizing Therapy for Removing Toxins
Chi LIU ; Sha ZHOU ; Yuan-Sheng WU ; Shu-Qing XIONG ; Yue PEI ; Hong-Yi LI ; Wen-Feng WU ; Da-Can CHEN ; Guo-Wei XUAN
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;41(10):2526-2531
The concept of'harmony'is the soul of traditional Chinese culture,which has a profound impact on the formation and development of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).TCM is rooted in traditional Chinese culture,and the mode of thinking in TCM is in line with traditional Chinese culture.Based on the harmony culture,TCM has developed a unique view of health,disease and therapeutics.From the view of the harmony culture and by combining with years of clinical experience in treating dermatosis,Chinese medical master XUAN Guo-Wei has applied the concept of'harmony'in the TCM syndrome differentiation and treatment system in clinic,and has developed the academic thoughts of harmonizing therapy for removing toxins for the diagnosis and treatment of dermatosis.The thoughts of harmonizing therapy for removing toxins includes four aspects,namely harmonizing yin and yang,harmonizing healthy qi and pathogenic qi,harmonizing water and fire(i.e.,clod and hot),and harmonizing the administration of formula and drugs,aiming to remove toxins and expel pathogens and value the harmony.The thoughts of harmonizing therapy for removing toxins will beneficial to the comprehensive understanding of the unique health-disease-therapeutics concept in TCM,and will be helpful for managing the doctor-patient relationship,which is of enlightening significance to the modern clinical practice with TCM.
5.Chinese Medical Master XUAN Guo-Wei's Experience in Treating Skin Diseases by Using Skin-Related Chinese Medicinals
Jia-Jue WANG ; Ling-Feng XIE ; Hong-Yi LI ; Xiu-Mei MO ; Da-Can CHEN ; Guo-Wei XUAN
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;41(10):2532-2537
In accordance with the theory of'treating the skin diseases with the skin',skin-related Chinese medicinals are usually used for the treatment of skin diseases,which reflects the thinking mode of holistic syndrome differentiation and classification according to the manifestations in traditional Chinese medicine.With ying-yang theory as the principle of differentiation and treatment of diseases and based on the core pathogenesis of'yin-yang imbalance causing the manifestations of the skin'for the skin diseases,Chinese medical master XU AN Guo-Wei has used skin-related Chinese medicinals in the treatment of skin diseases and has given full play to their unique advantage by following the theory of'treating the skin diseases with the skin'and'balanced regulation of yin and yang'.In the clinical practice,allergic skin diseases were usually treated with Cicadae Periostracum plus Dictamni Cortex for dispelling wind and relieving itching,hypopigmentation related skin diseases were usually treated with Sojae Semen Nigrum skin plus Dictamni Cortex for dispelling wind and tonifying kidney,autoimmune skin diseases were usually treated with Moutan Cortex plus Lycii Cortex for nourishing yin,clearing heat and activating blood,and skin diseases associated with abnormal sebum secretion were usually treated with Mori Cortex plus Lycii Cortex for purging lung and nourishing kidney.Skin-related Chinese medicinals have the actions of expelling wind and promoting eruption of papules,tonifying kidney and nourishing yin.The medication method of'treating the skin diseases with the skin'will provide reference for the treatment of skin diseases.
6.Consideration on pre-clinical pharamacodynamic evaluation of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis innovative drugs
Shi-qi WANG ; Na NING ; Yu ZHOU ; Mao-shan YIN ; Yin WANG ; Yi RONG ; Wei ZHOU ; Hong-yuan DA ; Qing-li WANG ; Xuan YE
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(22):3363-3368
Efficiency in pharmacodynamic study and evaluation is the critical issue in current drug research and development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH).Resmetirom,the first marketed medicine for NASH,is approved by pathological surrogate endpoints,meanwhile several clinical trials suspended due to failure to achieve the liver histologic surrogate endpoints.The well-done non-clinical pharmacodynamic study basing on pathological features(ballooning degeneration,lobular inflammation,fibrosis)of NASH,is a great support to the whole research and development projects of new medicines for NASH.In this article,we discussed the necessity and feasibility of the NASH non-clinical pharmacodynamic study combining the clinical trials of NASH drug,the pathological features and the animal models of NASH,in order to facilitate the high-quality research and development of NASH drugs.
7.Consideration on pre-clinical pharamacodynamic evaluation of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis innovative drugs
Shi-qi WANG ; Na NING ; Yu ZHOU ; Mao-shan YIN ; Yin WANG ; Yi RONG ; Wei ZHOU ; Hong-yuan DA ; Qing-li WANG ; Xuan YE
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(22):3363-3368
Efficiency in pharmacodynamic study and evaluation is the critical issue in current drug research and development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH).Resmetirom,the first marketed medicine for NASH,is approved by pathological surrogate endpoints,meanwhile several clinical trials suspended due to failure to achieve the liver histologic surrogate endpoints.The well-done non-clinical pharmacodynamic study basing on pathological features(ballooning degeneration,lobular inflammation,fibrosis)of NASH,is a great support to the whole research and development projects of new medicines for NASH.In this article,we discussed the necessity and feasibility of the NASH non-clinical pharmacodynamic study combining the clinical trials of NASH drug,the pathological features and the animal models of NASH,in order to facilitate the high-quality research and development of NASH drugs.
8.Evaluation of Microsphere-based xMAP Test for gyrA Mutation Identification in Mycobacterium Tuberculosis.
Xi Chao OU ; Bing ZHAO ; Ze Xuan SONG ; Shao Jun PEI ; Sheng Fen WANG ; Wen Cong HE ; Chun Fa LIU ; Dong Xin LIU ; Rui Da XING ; Hui XIA ; Yan Lin ZHAO
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2023;36(4):384-387
9.Robot-assisted laparoscopic enucleation in the treatment of leiomyosarcoma of urinary bladder: A case report.
Zhongyi ZENG ; Xiao WU ; Kai PENG ; Da REN ; Xuan ZHU ; Lei ZHANG
Journal of Central South University(Medical Sciences) 2023;48(5):782-788
Leiomyosarcoma of urinary bladder (LMS-UB) is a highly malignant mesenchymal tumor, accounting for less than 0.5% of all bladder malignancies, with a predominant clinical presentation of hematuria. Here we report a case of low-grade LMS-UB. A 44-year-old male patient was admitted to the hospital with urodynia for 2 weeks. The patient's pelvis CT showed a mass on the right part of the bladder. For this reason, he was initially diagnosed with bladder cancer. We performed a robot-assisted laparoscopic enucleation of the bladder tumor and low-grade LMS-UB was diagnosed with the histopathological examination. He underwent 5 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery. At 19months postoperative follow-up, the patient had no symptoms, recurrence, or distant metastasis. There is no report on the treatment of LMS-UB with minimally invasive enucleation worldwide. This case provides a new comprehensive treatment method of enucleation combined with adjuvant chemotherapy for early low-grade LMS-UB to reduce complications and improve patients' quality of life after surgery.
Male
;
Humans
;
Adult
;
Urinary Bladder/surgery*
;
Leiomyosarcoma/secondary*
;
Robotics
;
Quality of Life
;
Pelvis/pathology*
;
Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/pathology*
;
Laparoscopy/methods*
10.Functional Autapses Form in Striatal Parvalbumin Interneurons but not Medium Spiny Projection Neurons.
Xuan WANG ; Zhenfeng SHU ; Quansheng HE ; Xiaowen ZHANG ; Luozheng LI ; Xiaoxue ZHANG ; Liang LI ; Yujie XIAO ; Bo PENG ; Feifan GUO ; Da-Hui WANG ; Yousheng SHU
Neuroscience Bulletin 2023;39(4):576-588
Autapses selectively form in specific cell types in many brain regions. Previous studies have also found putative autapses in principal spiny projection neurons (SPNs) in the striatum. However, it remains unclear whether these neurons indeed form physiologically functional autapses. We applied whole-cell recording in striatal slices and identified autaptic cells by the occurrence of prolonged asynchronous release (AR) of neurotransmitters after bursts of high-frequency action potentials (APs). Surprisingly, we found no autaptic AR in SPNs, even in the presence of Sr2+. However, robust autaptic AR was recorded in parvalbumin (PV)-expressing neurons. The autaptic responses were mediated by GABAA receptors and their strength was dependent on AP frequency and number. Further computer simulations suggest that autapses regulate spiking activity in PV cells by providing self-inhibition and thus shape network oscillations. Together, our results indicate that PV neurons, but not SPNs, form functional autapses, which may play important roles in striatal functions.
Parvalbumins/metabolism*
;
Corpus Striatum/metabolism*
;
Interneurons/physiology*
;
Neurons/metabolism*
;
Neostriatum

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