1.Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment of Ischemic Stroke by Intervening in Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells: A Review
Wenxiu QIN ; Gang WEI ; Qingjie KONG ; Huiying SUN ; Junfeng XU ; Ying GAO ; Jian YANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(13):336-346
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a physical and biochemical barrier that precisely regulates brain homeostasis and plays a central role in controlling the transport of endogenous and exogenous drugs and related metabolites across the blood-brain interface. These functions of the BBB are mediated by its major components, including brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs), tight junction protein complexes, and influx and efflux transporter proteins. One of the pathological features of ischemic stroke (IS) is BBB disruption, which plays an important role in the development of post-stroke brain injury and subsequent neurological dysfunction. Therefore, given the increasing incidence of IS, there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic strategies to prevent BBB dysfunction and thereby protect injured brain tissue after IS. This study describes the pathological mechanisms by which BMEC injury after IS leads to BBB dysfunction and elucidates the association between BMECs and IS, including the regulation of apoptosis, autophagy, inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, neurotoxic effects, and cerebral edema. In addition, this article summarizes Chinese herbal medicines that may prevent and treat IS by targeting BMECs. These include monomeric compounds and single herbs such as flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, phthalides, terpenoids, and Styrax. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compound formulas and preparations include oral formulations such as Buyang Huanwu decoction, Sailuotong, Naoxintong capsules, Dandeng Tongnao capsules, and Shexiang Tongxin dropping pills, as well as injectable preparations such as Tongluo Jiunao injection, Xingnaojing injection, Danshen polyphenolic acid for injection, Yiqi Fumai injection, and Shuxuetong injection. This study aims to explore the protective effects of TCM against IS through targeted regulation of BMEC function, providing new insights into the mechanisms of IS and endovascular therapeutic strategies.
2.Screening of pyroptosis-related genes in pulmonary plague and molecular mechanisms based on bioinformatics analysis
Hao XIE ; Lingli AI ; Duo SU ; Lu LI ; Lingfei HU ; Dongsheng ZHOU ; Bo GAO ; Huiying YANG
Military Medical Sciences 2025;49(4):281-288
Objective To explore the biological functions of pyroptosis-related genes in pneumonic plague using bioinformatics methods,and to evaluate their potential applicability as diagnostic markers.Methods The pneumonic plague-related dataset GSE220123 was retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database and screened for differentially expressed pyroptosis-related genes(DE-PRGs).The functions of DE-PRGs were studied via Gene Ontology(GO),Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analyses,and immune infiltration analysis.The hub genes were identified via protein-protein interaction(PPI)network analysis,and further screened for key genes with sustained high expression characteristics based on differential expression analysis.The relative expression levels of the key genes were verified using the reverse transcription real-time quantitative PCR(qPCR)method.Results A total of 17 DE-PRGs were screened,and PPI network analysis revealed 7 Hub genes.Among them,Casp4 continued to be up-regulated during the course of pneumonic plague.The results of reverse transcription qPCR were consistent with the those of bioinformatic analyses.Conclusion DE-PRGs play a crucial role in the immune response of pneumonic plague,especially Casp4,which has significant applications as a diagnostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for pneumonic plague.
3.CRISPR/Cas9-based knockout library screening identifies BAG3 as a potential regulator of radiosensitivity
Zhengyue CAO ; Youfeng ZHANG ; Zhichun LÜ ; Huiying GAO ; Shensi XIANG ; Jingjing LI ; Xiaofei ZHENG ; Changyan LI
Military Medical Sciences 2025;49(6):421-429
Objective To identify genetic regulators of ionizing radiation(IR)sensitivity through clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated nuclease 9(Cas9)genome-wide screening.Methods A specialized single guide RNA(sgRNA)library was developed targeting 987 stress-response regulatory genes identified through Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG),Reactome and gene ontology(GO)databases,followed by construction of sgRNA plasmids and packaging into a lentiviral library.Using colon adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cells as a model system,the Cas9-stable transgenic line was established via lentiviral transduction and antibiotic selection.Library-transduced cells underwent puromycin selection,followed by γ-irradiation(dose optimized via preliminary experiments).Post-irradiation phenotypic selection was conducted after 14 days,with subsequent next-generation sequencing of surviving cell populations to identify enriched/depleted sgRNAs.Candidate genes were functionally validated through orthogonal assays:cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)proliferation analysis,clonogenic survival assays and flow cytometric quantification of reactive oxygen species(ROS)and apoptotic markers.Results The optimized screening platform identified 281 radiation response genes(165 radiosensitive and 116 radioprotective candidates).Functional validation revealed Bcl2-associated athanogene 3(BAG3)knockdown significantly enhanced radioresistance.Proliferation was increased 1.2-1.5 fold,clonogenic survival improved 1.5-2.0 fold,and ROS was reduced by 13%-25%coupled with 32%-73%apoptosis attenuation compared to control groups.Conclusion The integrated CRISPR/Cas9 screening platform effectively identifies novel radiation response regulators,as evidenced by the discovery of BAG3 as a critical radiosensitivity determinant.This high-throughput functional genomics approach provides a robust methodology for systematically mapping molecular determinants of cellular radiation response,with potential applications in both mechanistic studies and therapeutic target discovery.
4.First ATG101-recruiting small molecule degrader for selective CDK9 degradation via autophagy-lysosome pathway.
Ye ZHONG ; Jing XU ; Huiying CAO ; Jie GAO ; Shaoyue DING ; Zhaohui REN ; Huali YANG ; Yili SUN ; Maosheng CHENG ; Jia LI ; Yang LIU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(5):2612-2624
Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) is a member of the transcription CDK subfamily and plays a role in transcriptional regulation. Selective CDK9 degraders possess potent clinical advantages over reversible CDK9 inhibitors. Herein, we report the first ATG101-recruiting selective CDK9 degrader, AZ-9, based on the hydrophobic tag kinesin degradation technology. AZ-9 showed significant degradation effects and selectivity toward other homologous cell cycle CDKs in vitro and in vivo, which could also affect downstream related phenotypes. Mechanism research revealed that AZ-9 recruits ATG101 to initiate the autophagy-lysosome pathway, and forms autophagosomes through the recruitment of LC3, which then fuses with lysosomes to degrade CDK9 and the partner protein Cyclin T1. These dates validated the existence of non-proteasomal degradation pathway of hydrophobic driven protein degradation strategy for the first time, which might provide research ideas for chemical induction intervention on other types of pathogenic proteins.
5.SRSF7 promotes pulmonary fibrosis through regulating PKM alternative splicing in lung fibroblasts.
Tongzhu JIN ; Huiying GAO ; Yuquan WANG ; Zhiwei NING ; Danyang BING ; Yan WANG ; Yi CHEN ; Xiaomu TIAN ; Qiudi LIU ; Zhihui NIU ; Jiayu GUO ; Jian SUN ; Ruoxuan YANG ; Qianqian WANG ; Shifen LI ; Tianyu LI ; Yuhong ZHOU ; Wenxin HE ; Yanjie LU ; Yunyan GU ; Haihai LIANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(6):3041-3058
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic interstitial lung disease, is characterized by aberrant wound healing, excessive scarring and the formation of myofibroblastic foci. Although the role of alternative splicing (AS) in the pathogenesis of organ fibrosis has garnered increasing attention, its specific contribution to pulmonary fibrosis remains incompletely understood. In this study, we identified an up-regulation of serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 7 (SRSF7) in lung fibroblasts derived from IPF patients and a bleomycin (BLM)-induced mouse model, and further characterized its functional role in both human fetal lung fibroblasts and mice. We demonstrated that enhanced expression of Srsf7 in mice spontaneously induced alveolar collagen accumulation. Mechanistically, we investigated alternative splicing events and revealed that SRSF7 modulates the alternative splicing of pyruvate kinase (PKM), leading to metabolic dysregulation and fibroblast activation. In vivo studies showed that fibroblast-specific knockout of Srsf7 in conditional knockout mice conferred resistance to bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Importantly, through drug screening, we identified lomitapide as a novel modulator of SRSF7, which effectively mitigated experimental pulmonary fibrosis. Collectively, our findings elucidate a molecular pathway by which SRSF7 drives fibroblast metabolic dysregulation and propose a potential therapeutic strategy for pulmonary fibrosis.
6.Relationship between decline of exercise ability and mitochondrial damage in skeletal muscle of mice with high-altitude de-acclimatization
Yehui GAO ; Huiying SHANG ; Hongbo CHENG ; Weiye HAN ; Wei ZHOU ; Zhiping YU ; Xianglin TANG ; Chengrong XIAO ; Xian LIU ; Yue GAO
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2025;41(7):1375-1382
AIM:This study aims to investigate the mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle mitochondrial damage associated with decline in exercise function during high-altitude de-adaptation,using a mouse model.METHODS:Twen-ty-four healthy male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to two groups:a high-altitude de-adaptation group and a plain control group.The model group was exposed to a low-pressure,low-oxygen chamber simulating an altitude of 7 000 meters for two weeks,followed by eight days of rearing in a plain environment.The control group was maintained in a plain envi-ronment for the same duration.Grip strength and pole-climbing tests were conducted on the 1st,3rd,and 5th days post-re-turn to assess muscle strength and motor coordination.Treadmill exercises were performed on the 4th and 8th days to eval-uate exercise endurance.After the treadmill exercise on the 8th day,serum,liver,and skeletal muscle tissues were col-lected.Levels of lactic acid(LA),glucose(GLU),creatine kinase(CK),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),alanine trans-aminase(ALT),and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)in serum,as well as glycogen levels in the liver and muscle,were analyzed.Additionally,the expression of proteins related to mitochondrial biogenesis,fission,fusion,and oxidative phos-phorylation in muscle tissues was assessed using Western blot.RESULTS:(1)The model group exhibited significant re-ductions in grip strength,increased pole-climbing T-turn and total times,and decreased total time and distance in the ex-haustion running test.(2)Serum levels of LA,CK,LDH,ALT,and AST were elevated,while GLU levels decreased,and glycogen levels in both the liver and muscle were reduced in the model group following the treadmill exercise.(3)Ab-normal indicators in the model group did not return to normal by the end of the de-adaptation period.(4)Western blot analysis revealed decreased expression of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation proteins(ATP6V1A and Mt-CO2)and mitochondrial biogenesis proteins(PGC-1α and FGF21),increased levels of mitochondrial fusion proteins(OPA1 and MFN1),and no significant changes in fission protein expression(FIS1 and DRP1)in muscle tissue from the model group.CONCLUSION:Exercise capacity in mice during the high-altitude de-adaptation period significantly declined,particu-larly in terms of muscle strength,motor coordination,and endurance.This decline is closely associated with abnormal pro-tein expression related to skeletal muscle mitochondrial energy metabolism and production.
7.Application and prospect of artificial intelligence and population pharmacokinetics in personalized medication after organ transplantation
Shuai HE ; Huiying ZONG ; An’an LI ; Penglin ZHOU ; Rui GAO ; Xichao WU ; Yanjiao ZHU ; Yan LI
China Pharmacy 2025;36(14):1813-1818
Artificial intelligence (AI) and population pharmacokinetics (PPK) technologies have demonstrated significant potential in the personalized medication of immunosuppressants after organ transplantation, enabling precise prediction of drug dosages. This article provides a comprehensive review of the application status of AI and PPK in the individualized administration of immunosuppressants after organ transplantation, focuses on monitoring blood drug concentration, predicting efficacy/adverse reactions, and establishing individualized dosing models for organ transplant recipients after immunosuppressant administration, and analyzes and compares the application characteristics of different methods in different organ transplant patients as well as the integration and future development of AI and PPK technologies. AI and PPK technologies can not only significantly reduce the dependence on human resources, but also greatly improve the level of individualized treatment of immunosuppressants after organ transplantation, and reduce the discomfort and burden caused by frequent blood concentration monitoring to patients.
8.Research progress on the lipid-lowering mechanisms and clinical application of GLP-1 receptor agonists
Yanjiao ZHU ; Rui GAO ; Huiying ZONG ; An’an LI ; Penglin ZHOU ; Shuai HE ; Xichao WU ; Yan LI
China Pharmacy 2025;36(20):2615-2620
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are a novel class of antidiabetic drugs that also possess lipid- lowering and cardiovascular protective effects, with liraglutide and semaglutide being their representative medications. Based on a systematic literature search, this review summarizes the lipid-lowering mechanisms by which liraglutide and semaglutide exert direct effects on the liver and kidney (regulating autophagy, key lipid metabolism pathways, reverse cholesterol transport, etc.), direct actions on adipose tissue (affecting adipocyte proliferation and differentiation, expression of lipid metabolism proteins, and gene transcription), activation of sympathetic pathways through the central nervous system, and modulation of the gut microbiota. Additionally, it summarizes the clinical evidence of their lipid-lowering effects in populations with type 2 diabetes mellitus, overweight individuals, and others. These findings indicate that GLP-1 receptor agonists exert lipid-lowering effects by acting on multiple tissues or systems, providing crucial evidence for further elucidating the molecular mechanisms of these drugs in lipid regulation and exploring potential new ideas for their clinical applications.
9.Relationship between decline of exercise ability and mitochondrial damage in skeletal muscle of mice with high-altitude de-acclimatization
Yehui GAO ; Huiying SHANG ; Hongbo CHENG ; Weiye HAN ; Wei ZHOU ; Zhiping YU ; Xianglin TANG ; Chengrong XIAO ; Xian LIU ; Yue GAO
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2025;41(7):1375-1382
AIM:This study aims to investigate the mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle mitochondrial damage associated with decline in exercise function during high-altitude de-adaptation,using a mouse model.METHODS:Twen-ty-four healthy male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to two groups:a high-altitude de-adaptation group and a plain control group.The model group was exposed to a low-pressure,low-oxygen chamber simulating an altitude of 7 000 meters for two weeks,followed by eight days of rearing in a plain environment.The control group was maintained in a plain envi-ronment for the same duration.Grip strength and pole-climbing tests were conducted on the 1st,3rd,and 5th days post-re-turn to assess muscle strength and motor coordination.Treadmill exercises were performed on the 4th and 8th days to eval-uate exercise endurance.After the treadmill exercise on the 8th day,serum,liver,and skeletal muscle tissues were col-lected.Levels of lactic acid(LA),glucose(GLU),creatine kinase(CK),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH),alanine trans-aminase(ALT),and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)in serum,as well as glycogen levels in the liver and muscle,were analyzed.Additionally,the expression of proteins related to mitochondrial biogenesis,fission,fusion,and oxidative phos-phorylation in muscle tissues was assessed using Western blot.RESULTS:(1)The model group exhibited significant re-ductions in grip strength,increased pole-climbing T-turn and total times,and decreased total time and distance in the ex-haustion running test.(2)Serum levels of LA,CK,LDH,ALT,and AST were elevated,while GLU levels decreased,and glycogen levels in both the liver and muscle were reduced in the model group following the treadmill exercise.(3)Ab-normal indicators in the model group did not return to normal by the end of the de-adaptation period.(4)Western blot analysis revealed decreased expression of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation proteins(ATP6V1A and Mt-CO2)and mitochondrial biogenesis proteins(PGC-1α and FGF21),increased levels of mitochondrial fusion proteins(OPA1 and MFN1),and no significant changes in fission protein expression(FIS1 and DRP1)in muscle tissue from the model group.CONCLUSION:Exercise capacity in mice during the high-altitude de-adaptation period significantly declined,particu-larly in terms of muscle strength,motor coordination,and endurance.This decline is closely associated with abnormal pro-tein expression related to skeletal muscle mitochondrial energy metabolism and production.
10.Clinical characteristics and prognostic analysis of newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia with critical illness
Peiqi LIANG ; Meng GAO ; Yan XIE ; Bingqing LI ; Qian LI ; Ziyi LIU ; Dong WANG ; Huiying QIU ; Suning CHEN ; Depei WU ; Jianhong FU
Chinese Journal of Hematology 2025;46(1):39-44
Objective:This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics of patients newly diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who were admitted to the hematology intensive care unit (HCU) with critical illness. It also examined factors associated with critical illness and early mortality in these patients.Methods:Clinical data were collected from 91 newly diagnosed AML patients admitted to the HCU of the Department of Hematology, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, from October 2020 to 2024. Reasons for HCU admission, major therapeutic interventions, and risk factors for critical illness and early mortality were analyzed.Results:The median time from diagnosis to HCU admission was 3 days ( IQR: 3–9 days), and the median HCU stay was 10 days ( IQR: 3–23 days). Of the 91 patients, 71 were admitted to the HCU before induction chemotherapy, while 20 were transferred to the HCU after its initiation. The leading causes of HCU admission were pulmonary infection (78.0% ), respiratory failure (44.0% ), hepatic insufficiency (28.6% ), renal insufficiency (27.5% ), disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC; 25.3% ), and sepsis (23.1% ). Median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) and SOFA scores at HCU admission were 14 ( IQR: 11–18) and the median Sepsis Related Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score was 7 ( IQR: 4, 10). Major HCU interventions included vasoactive drugs, noninvasive and invasive mechanical ventilation, continuous renal replacement therapy, therapeutic leukocyte clearance, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Among patients receiving induction chemotherapy, the composite complete remission rate was 65.4%, and the overall remission rate was 88.5%. Thirty-five (38.5% ) patients died within 28 days of HCU admission. Independent risk factors for 28-day mortality were DIC ( OR=9.350, 95% CI 1.999–43.745, P=0.005), sepsis ( OR=6.817, 95% CI 1.571–29.582, P=0.010), and cardiac insufficiency ( OR=12.281, 95% CI 2.385–63.254, P=0.003) . Conclusion:The main reason for HCU admission in newly diagnosed critically ill AML patients was pulmonary infection. Nearly 40% of patients experisenced early death, and DIC, sepsis, and heart failure were factors influencing early mortatlity.

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