1.Experimental study on sleep deprivation inhibiting clock gene CRY1 expression in vascular tissue and promoting vascular senescence
Jialong NIU ; Furong WANG ; Kexin WANG ; Wenjie WANG ; Yixuan LIU ; Xiaoyi MA ; Zhongke WANG ; Hailong GE
Chinese Journal of Arteriosclerosis 2025;33(5):395-401
Aim To investigate the relationship between sleep deprivation and vascular aging,as well as the un-derlying mechanisms.Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control group,senescence group,sleep deprivation group,and sleep deprivation+senescence group,with 6 rats in each group.The modified level table method deprived rats of sleep duration.Senescence-associated β-galactosidase(SA-β-Gal)staining was used to detect the senes-cence status of rat vascular tissue.The mRNA and protein expression of tumor suppressor protein p53,silent information regulator 1(SIRT1)and clock gene cryptochrome 1(CRY1)was detected by real-time fluorescence quantification PCR(RT-qPCR),Western blot and immunohistochemistry.Results Compared with the control group,the intensity of SA-β-Gal staining was increased in the vascular tissues of the senescence group rats,the expression level of p53 was elevat-ed,the expression level of SIRT1 was decreased.Similar changes were observed in the sleep deprivation group and the sleep deprivation+senescence group,including intensified SA-β-Gal staining,elevated p53 levels,and reduced SIRT1 lev-els in vascular tissues.Additionally,compared with the control group,the sleep deprivation group showed reduced CRY1 levels in vascular tissues,while only CRY1 mRNA levels were reduced in the sleep deprivation+senescence group.Fur-thermore,compared with the senescence group,the sleep deprivation+senescence group exhibited intensified SA-β-Gal staining,increased p53 level,decreased SIRT1 level,and reduced CRY1 mRNA level in vascular tissues.Conclusion Sleep deprivation may promote the expression of vascular aging-related factors,potentially through the inhibition of CRY1 expression in vascular tissues.
2.Hypoxia inducible factor 1 and depressive disorder
Lan WU ; Yinping XIE ; Hailong GE ; Chen LI ; Junjie HUANG ; Lujia SI ; Ling XIAO ; Gaohua WANG
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2025;34(4):375-379
Depressive disorder is a kind of mental disorder characterized by persistent and significant depressed mood, with complex etiology and high recurrence rate. At present, more precise and effective diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are still required. Increasing evidence suggests that hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) and related pathways are involved in regulating the development and recovery of depression. HIF-1 enhances neuroplasticity, mitigates neuroinflammatory responses, alleviates oxidative stress, and modulates brain energy metabolism by influencing specific molecules associated with depression. This paper reviews pertinent domestic and international studies, examine the potential mechanisms of HIF-1 in the pathogenesis and progression of depression, and explore antidepressant treatment strategies targeting the HIF-1 signaling pathway. This article provides novel insights into elucidating the pathogenesis of depression and developing innovative therapeutic approaches.
3.Advances in basic research on transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 channel in the pathogenesis and treatment of major depressive disorder
Junjie HUANG ; Yinping XIE ; Hailong GE ; Chen LI ; Lujia SI ; Lan WU ; Ling XIAO ; Gaohua WANG
Chinese Journal of Psychiatry 2025;58(1):69-74
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common mental disorder characterized by long-term low mood, anhedonia, and may even lead to suicidal behavior. The development and progression of MDD involves a range of pathological alterations in the central nervous system, including dysfunction of synaptic transmission, hyper-activation of neuroinflammation, and diminished neurogenesis. The transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channel is highly expressed in brain regions associated with depression, and can regulate physiological activities such as neuroinflammation, neurogenesis, and synaptic transmission efficacy. Hence, the TRPV1 channel should be implicated in the pathogenesis of depression and be considered as a promising candidate for antidepressant treatment. This paper provides an overview of the structure and function of TRPV1 channel, with a focus on elucidating the potential mechanism of action of TRPV1 channel in depression, and explores its research trajectory and development prospects in the context of depression therapy.
4.Experimental study on sleep deprivation inhibiting clock gene CRY1 expression in vascular tissue and promoting vascular senescence
Jialong NIU ; Furong WANG ; Kexin WANG ; Wenjie WANG ; Yixuan LIU ; Xiaoyi MA ; Zhongke WANG ; Hailong GE
Chinese Journal of Arteriosclerosis 2025;33(5):395-401
Aim To investigate the relationship between sleep deprivation and vascular aging,as well as the un-derlying mechanisms.Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control group,senescence group,sleep deprivation group,and sleep deprivation+senescence group,with 6 rats in each group.The modified level table method deprived rats of sleep duration.Senescence-associated β-galactosidase(SA-β-Gal)staining was used to detect the senes-cence status of rat vascular tissue.The mRNA and protein expression of tumor suppressor protein p53,silent information regulator 1(SIRT1)and clock gene cryptochrome 1(CRY1)was detected by real-time fluorescence quantification PCR(RT-qPCR),Western blot and immunohistochemistry.Results Compared with the control group,the intensity of SA-β-Gal staining was increased in the vascular tissues of the senescence group rats,the expression level of p53 was elevat-ed,the expression level of SIRT1 was decreased.Similar changes were observed in the sleep deprivation group and the sleep deprivation+senescence group,including intensified SA-β-Gal staining,elevated p53 levels,and reduced SIRT1 lev-els in vascular tissues.Additionally,compared with the control group,the sleep deprivation group showed reduced CRY1 levels in vascular tissues,while only CRY1 mRNA levels were reduced in the sleep deprivation+senescence group.Fur-thermore,compared with the senescence group,the sleep deprivation+senescence group exhibited intensified SA-β-Gal staining,increased p53 level,decreased SIRT1 level,and reduced CRY1 mRNA level in vascular tissues.Conclusion Sleep deprivation may promote the expression of vascular aging-related factors,potentially through the inhibition of CRY1 expression in vascular tissues.
5.Hypoxia inducible factor 1 and depressive disorder
Lan WU ; Yinping XIE ; Hailong GE ; Chen LI ; Junjie HUANG ; Lujia SI ; Ling XIAO ; Gaohua WANG
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2025;34(4):375-379
Depressive disorder is a kind of mental disorder characterized by persistent and significant depressed mood, with complex etiology and high recurrence rate. At present, more precise and effective diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are still required. Increasing evidence suggests that hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) and related pathways are involved in regulating the development and recovery of depression. HIF-1 enhances neuroplasticity, mitigates neuroinflammatory responses, alleviates oxidative stress, and modulates brain energy metabolism by influencing specific molecules associated with depression. This paper reviews pertinent domestic and international studies, examine the potential mechanisms of HIF-1 in the pathogenesis and progression of depression, and explore antidepressant treatment strategies targeting the HIF-1 signaling pathway. This article provides novel insights into elucidating the pathogenesis of depression and developing innovative therapeutic approaches.
6.Advances in basic research on transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 channel in the pathogenesis and treatment of major depressive disorder
Junjie HUANG ; Yinping XIE ; Hailong GE ; Chen LI ; Lujia SI ; Lan WU ; Ling XIAO ; Gaohua WANG
Chinese Journal of Psychiatry 2025;58(1):69-74
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common mental disorder characterized by long-term low mood, anhedonia, and may even lead to suicidal behavior. The development and progression of MDD involves a range of pathological alterations in the central nervous system, including dysfunction of synaptic transmission, hyper-activation of neuroinflammation, and diminished neurogenesis. The transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channel is highly expressed in brain regions associated with depression, and can regulate physiological activities such as neuroinflammation, neurogenesis, and synaptic transmission efficacy. Hence, the TRPV1 channel should be implicated in the pathogenesis of depression and be considered as a promising candidate for antidepressant treatment. This paper provides an overview of the structure and function of TRPV1 channel, with a focus on elucidating the potential mechanism of action of TRPV1 channel in depression, and explores its research trajectory and development prospects in the context of depression therapy.
7.Effect analysis of trimethylamine N-oxide and its precursors on susceptibility to pancreatic diseases
Jie LIU ; Xinyu LUO ; Boliang PEI ; Peng GE ; Shurong MA ; Yalan LUO ; Hailong CHEN
Chinese Critical Care Medicine 2024;36(9):950-956
Objective:To investigate the causal relationship between trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and its precursors (betaine, carnitine, and choline) and pancreatic diseases based on the Mendelian randomization (MR) method.Methods:Genome-wide association study data of TMAO, betaine, carnitine, choline, acute pancreatitis (AP), chronic pancreatitis (CP), pancreatic cancer (PC), and circulating immune cell characteristics (white blood cell, lymphocyte, monocyte, neutrophil, eosinophil and basophil) were collected. According to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE)-MR reporting guidelines, the available genetic variants [single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)] were strictly screened. The causal relationship between exposure (TMAO and its precursors) and outcomes (pancreatic diseases and circulating immune cell characteristics) was evaluated using inverse variance weighting (IVW), MR-Egger regression and weighted median. The reliability of the results was evaluated by sensitivity analysis based on MR-Egger regression, MR-PRESSO, Cochrane's Q test and leave-one-out method. Results:A total of 36 SNP associated with TMAO and its precursors were included. Five of these were associated with TMAO, 13 with betaine, 12 with carnitine, and 6 with choline. ① MR analysis showed that TMAO may increase the risk of AP [odds ratio ( OR) = 1.100, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 1.008-1.200, P = 0.032], and choline may reduce the risk of alcoholic acute pancreatitis (AAP; OR = 0.743, 95% CI was 0.585-0.944, P = 0.015). The analysis results of MR-Egger regression and weighted median were consistent with the IVW results. There is no evidence to support a causal relationship between TMAO and its precursors and the risk of CP and PC. Sensitivity analysis indicated that SNP analyzed by MR showed no heterogeneity and low pleiotropy. The leave-one-out method analysis determined that after excluding any SNP, the effect intervals of the remaining SNP on the results were similar to the overall effect intervals, which suggested the robustness of MR results. ② There was a positive causal relationship between plasma TMAO level and circulating monocyte count ( OR = 1.017, 95% CI was 1.000*-1.034, P = 0.048, * represented that the data was obtained by correcting to 3 decimal places from 1.000 1). The causal effect obtained by MR-Egger regression and weighted median analysis was consistent with the results of IVW. Sensitivity analysis illustrated SNP analyzed by MR showed no heterogeneity and pleiotropy. The leave-one-out method analysis determined that after excluding any SNP, the effect intervals of the remaining SNP on the results were similar to the overall effect intervals, which suggested the robustness of MR results. Conclusion:TMAO and choline may change the risk of AP, and TMAO may contribute to the increase of circulating monocyte count in AP.
8.Research progress on bitter taste receptor agonists in depression
Hailong GE ; Ling XIAO ; Yinping XIE ; Lujia SI ; Limin SUN ; Guohao YUAN ; Chen LI ; Gaohua WANG
Chinese Journal of Psychiatry 2024;57(4):251-256
Depression is a common debilitating disorder affecting over 300 million individuals worldwide, emphasizing the pressing need to develop novel treatment targets for this disorder. Nevertheless, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely elucidated, and the currently available antidepressant treatments are suboptimal in terms of their efficacy and delayed onset of action. Thus, identifying and exploring new therapeutic avenues is of paramount importance. Recent clinical and preclinical studies have demonstrated that numerous bitter taste receptor type 2 members (Tas2Rs) agonists, including epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), resveratrol, caffeine, humulones, and berberine, can significantly alleviate depressive symptoms in both human patients and animal models of depression. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the antidepressant effects of Tas2Rs agonists remain largely unknown. Intriguingly, a growing body of evidence suggests that Tas2Rs agonists may modulate various signaling pathways and systems including neurotransmission, inflammation, brain-gut axis, and the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier, all of which are believed to be implicated in the pathophysiology of depression. Therefore, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the potential mechanisms of Tas2Rs agonists in depression, It synthesizes current evidence regarding its involvement in neurotransmission, inflammation, brain-gut communication, blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier function, and other relevant pathways. This review will not only provide a valuable foundation for future research on the therapeutic potential of Tas2Rs agonists for depressive disorders but also offer new insights into the understanding of the pathophysiology of depression and the development of novel treatment strategies for this disorder.
9.The role of mitochondrial homeostasis imbalance and dysfunction in the pathogenesis of depression
Yinping XIE ; Lujia SI ; Hailong GE ; Chen LI ; Junjie HUANG ; Leimin WANG ; Ling XIAO ; Gaohua WANG
Chinese Journal of Psychiatry 2024;57(12):808-813
Major depressive disorder is a common mental disorder with high rate of disability and suicide rate, but its pathogenesis remains unclear. Numerous studies indicate that energy metabolism is impaired in patients with depression, with the changes in the expression of critical genes that regulate mitochondrial homeostasis (mitochondrial biogenesis, fusion and fission, and mitophagy). Mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to reduced ATP production, oxidative stress, and inflammation, plays a significant role in the onset and development of depression, but the mechanism is still uncertain, and conflicting research findings exist. This paper reviews the intrinsic connections and potential mechanism between mitochondrial homeostasis imbalance, dysfunction, and depression, from two aspects: mitochondrial imbalance and dysfunction. It also discusses the limitations of current research, providing insight into understanding the pathogenesis of depression and developing novel mitochondrial-targeted therapeutic strategies.
10.Research progress on bitter taste receptor agonists in depression
Hailong GE ; Ling XIAO ; Yinping XIE ; Lujia SI ; Limin SUN ; Guohao YUAN ; Chen LI ; Gaohua WANG
Chinese Journal of Psychiatry 2024;57(4):251-256
Depression is a common debilitating disorder affecting over 300 million individuals worldwide, emphasizing the pressing need to develop novel treatment targets for this disorder. Nevertheless, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely elucidated, and the currently available antidepressant treatments are suboptimal in terms of their efficacy and delayed onset of action. Thus, identifying and exploring new therapeutic avenues is of paramount importance. Recent clinical and preclinical studies have demonstrated that numerous bitter taste receptor type 2 members (Tas2Rs) agonists, including epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), resveratrol, caffeine, humulones, and berberine, can significantly alleviate depressive symptoms in both human patients and animal models of depression. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the antidepressant effects of Tas2Rs agonists remain largely unknown. Intriguingly, a growing body of evidence suggests that Tas2Rs agonists may modulate various signaling pathways and systems including neurotransmission, inflammation, brain-gut axis, and the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier, all of which are believed to be implicated in the pathophysiology of depression. Therefore, this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the potential mechanisms of Tas2Rs agonists in depression, It synthesizes current evidence regarding its involvement in neurotransmission, inflammation, brain-gut communication, blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier function, and other relevant pathways. This review will not only provide a valuable foundation for future research on the therapeutic potential of Tas2Rs agonists for depressive disorders but also offer new insights into the understanding of the pathophysiology of depression and the development of novel treatment strategies for this disorder.

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