1.Role of innate immune mechanisms triggered by mitochondrial DNA release in metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease and targeted intervention strategies
Yu ZHOU ; Kaiyang LI ; Mei YANG ; Qi ZHAO ; Yiming ZHAO ; Fei ZHANG ; Qian WANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(8):1960-1966
Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide, with a complex pathogenesis. Mitochondria play a pivotal role in this disease process, and studies have confirmed that mitochondrial dysfunction can exacerbate metabolic disorders and induce innate immune imbalance, while mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is the core molecule mediating these two pathological effects. After the abnormal release of mtDNA, it can be recognized by intracellular pattern recognition receptors, which in turn triggers innate immune responses and causes tissue damage, forming a pathological pathway of “mtDNA release-immune activation-tissue damage”. Currently, there is a lack of systematic reviews summarizing the mechanism of action of this pathway in different stages of MAFLD and the intervention strategies targeting this pathway. This article systematically reviews the core molecular mechanism of this pathway, its pathological role in the development and progression of MAFLD, and the current intervention strategies targeting this mechanism, in order to provide a theoretical basis for analyzing the pathogenesis of MAFLD and developing novel therapeutic strategies.
2.Exploring Content and Distribution Patterns of 22 Ginsenosides in Stems and Leaves of Panax ginseng with Different Stem Colors by UHPLC-QqQ-MS
Tianxin ZHANG ; Yang YANG ; Jiabing ZHANG ; Lixia WANG ; Xiaoxu CHEN ; Xiaoyu ZHU ; Dade YU ; Hongwei WU ; Zhuju WANG ; Kaiyang LIU ; Liying TANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(21):198-209
ObjectiveTo systematically elucidate the accumulation characteristics of secondary metabolites in the stems and leaves of Panax ginseng with different stem colors. MethodsUltra-high-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QqQ-MS) was employed to determine the of 22 ginsenosides in the stems and leaves of 2- to 5-year-old P. ginseng plants with green and purple stems. Principal component analysis (PCA), orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were performed to explore the distribution patterns of ginsenosides from three dimensions: tissue distribution, growth duration, and stem color. Results① Tissue distribution: Leaves served as the primary organ for ginsenoside accumulation, exhibiting significantly higher total ginsenoside content than stems, which indicated distinct tissue-specific distribution of ginsenosides. ② Growth duration: Ginsenoside levels in stems generally peaked in the 2-year-old plants before stabilizing, while those in leaves displayed a declining-rebounding pattern, indicating that the 2-year-old plants (harvest stage) was a critical time point for the resurgence of leaf ginsenosides. ③ Stem color: A stage-specific correlation was observed between stem color and ginsenoside accumulation. In stems, the early-growth stage (2-year-old) of purple-stemmed plants exhibited higher content of specific ginsenosides (e.g., ginsenoside Rk1 and notoginsenoside R1), which may be associated with its stronger early-stage stress resistance. In leaves, the content of core ginsenosides (e.g., ginsenosides Re and Rd) in 5-year-old plants with green stems showed a surpassing trend, demonstrating higher potential of resource development. ConclusionThe accumulation of ginsenosides in P. ginseng stems and leaves is multidimensionally regulated by tissue type, growth duration, and stem color phenotypes. Purple-stemmed plants exhibit early-stage specific ginsenoside accumulation and stress resistance potential, whereas green-stemmed plants are more advantageous for core leaf ginsenoside development at the harvest stage. The findings confirm that aboveground stem color can serve as a biomarker for directed breeding and efficient resource utilization of P. ginseng.
3.Exploring Content and Distribution Patterns of 22 Ginsenosides in Stems and Leaves of Panax ginseng with Different Stem Colors by UHPLC-QqQ-MS
Tianxin ZHANG ; Yang YANG ; Jiabing ZHANG ; Lixia WANG ; Xiaoxu CHEN ; Xiaoyu ZHU ; Dade YU ; Hongwei WU ; Zhuju WANG ; Kaiyang LIU ; Liying TANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(21):198-209
ObjectiveTo systematically elucidate the accumulation characteristics of secondary metabolites in the stems and leaves of Panax ginseng with different stem colors. MethodsUltra-high-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QqQ-MS) was employed to determine the of 22 ginsenosides in the stems and leaves of 2- to 5-year-old P. ginseng plants with green and purple stems. Principal component analysis (PCA), orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were performed to explore the distribution patterns of ginsenosides from three dimensions: tissue distribution, growth duration, and stem color. Results① Tissue distribution: Leaves served as the primary organ for ginsenoside accumulation, exhibiting significantly higher total ginsenoside content than stems, which indicated distinct tissue-specific distribution of ginsenosides. ② Growth duration: Ginsenoside levels in stems generally peaked in the 2-year-old plants before stabilizing, while those in leaves displayed a declining-rebounding pattern, indicating that the 2-year-old plants (harvest stage) was a critical time point for the resurgence of leaf ginsenosides. ③ Stem color: A stage-specific correlation was observed between stem color and ginsenoside accumulation. In stems, the early-growth stage (2-year-old) of purple-stemmed plants exhibited higher content of specific ginsenosides (e.g., ginsenoside Rk1 and notoginsenoside R1), which may be associated with its stronger early-stage stress resistance. In leaves, the content of core ginsenosides (e.g., ginsenosides Re and Rd) in 5-year-old plants with green stems showed a surpassing trend, demonstrating higher potential of resource development. ConclusionThe accumulation of ginsenosides in P. ginseng stems and leaves is multidimensionally regulated by tissue type, growth duration, and stem color phenotypes. Purple-stemmed plants exhibit early-stage specific ginsenoside accumulation and stress resistance potential, whereas green-stemmed plants are more advantageous for core leaf ginsenoside development at the harvest stage. The findings confirm that aboveground stem color can serve as a biomarker for directed breeding and efficient resource utilization of P. ginseng.
4.Role and mechanism of T helper 17 cells/regulatory T cells immune balance regulated by the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway mediated in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
Qian WANG ; Kaiyang LI ; Mei YANG ; Hang ZHANG ; Shengjin ZHU ; Qi ZHAO ; Jing HUANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;42(5):942-947
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH)is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by hepatocyte fatty degeneration and ballooning degeneration,and it plays an important role in the progression of hepatic steatosis.Recent studies have shown that immune homeostasis imbalance between T helper 17(Th17)and regulatory T(Treg)cells are closely associated with the pathological process of NASH.Transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)is a key cytokine for regulating the differentiation and proliferation of Th17/Treg cells,and TGF-β1 binds to its receptor and activates the Smad signaling pathway,thereby regulating the immune balance of Th17/Treg cells and the expression of inflammatory factors and participating in the repair of liver inflammation.This article systematically reviews the molecular mechanism of the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway in affecting NASH by regulating the immune balance of Th17/Treg cells,in order to provide a theoretical basis for the research on the pathogenesis of NASH and related treatment strategies.
5.Research progress of transmissible gastroenteritis vaccine
Mei LIU ; Longlong WANG ; Mingqing SHAO ; Shengmei PANG ; Kaiyang ZHANG ; Peng DAI ; Guowei DING ; Qiangde DUAN
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science 2025;45(7):1535-1542
Transmissible gastroenteritis(TGE)is a highly contagious gastrointestinal disease of pigs caused by the transmissible gastroenteritis virus(TGEV).It results in severe diarrhea and high mortality in suckling piglets.As no specific treatment available,vaccination is considered to be one of the most cost-effective measures for preventing and controlling TGE.However,the immune protection provided by vaccines based on traditional TGEV strains is becoming inadequate due to the continuous emergence of strong and new strains of the virus,which poses a serious threat to the pig industry's health and development.Therefore,the development of new vaccines with im-proved efficiency and broad-spectrum coverage is urgently needed.This paper aims to summarize the pathogenic structural characteristics of TGEV,discuss the latest advancements in TGEV vac-cine research and development,and propose future strategies for the development of highly effec-tive TGEV vaccines.The findings of this paper can serve as a valuable reference for effectively pre-venting and controlling TGE in clinical practice.
6.Construction and application of pediatric diagnosis and treatment island in a tertiary hospital
Kaiyang GENG ; Hesheng CHANG ; Li ZHANG ; Chen WANG ; Liming YANG ; Ming ZHANG ; Ting WANG ; Zhili JI
Chinese Journal of Hospital Administration 2025;41(6):491-494
Establishing a one-stop diagnosis and treatment mode centered on patients and linked by diseases is of great significance for optimizing the medical process and improving the medical experience. In March 2024, a tertiary hospital integrated pediatric outpatient and emergency resources, established a pediatric diagnosis and treatment island through reasonable department settings, strengthened talent team construction, optimized diagnosis and treatment processes, and established supporting guarantee mechanisms. It was officially put into use in June of the same year, providing one-stop diagnosis and treatment services for children and achieving the goal of " not leaving the island for minor illnesses and not leaving the hospital for major illnesses". Before the operation of island (January May 2024), the complaint rate and waiting time for pediatric outpatient and emergency department were 39 cases per 100 000 patients and 15 to 30 minutes, respectively; After operation (June August 2024), the complaint rate and waiting time decreased to 17 cases per 100 000 people and 10 to 20 minutes respectively; The average monthly comprehensive income of outpatient and emergency departments increased by 33%. The pediatric diagnosis and treatment island mode could assist in the sustainable high-quality development of pediatrics in hospital, and provide references for optimizing outpatient and emergency department management in other tertiary public hospitals. In the future, we should further enrich the service content of the island and strengthen information technology construction.
7.ATF3 regulates inflammatory response in atherosclerotic plaques in mice through the NF-κB signaling pathway.
Bing XIA ; Jin PENG ; Jiuyang DING ; Jie WANG ; Guowei TANG ; Guojie LIU ; Yun WANG ; Changwu WAN ; Cuiyun LE
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(6):1131-1142
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the role of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) in atherosclerotic plaques for regulating inflammatory responses during atherosclerosis (AS) progression.
METHODS:
Human coronary artery specimens from autopsy cases were examined for ATF3 protein expression and localization using immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting. Apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE-/-) mouse models of AS induced by high-fat diet (HFD) feeding for 12 weeks were subjected to tail vein injection of adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9) to knock down ATF3 expression. After an additional 5 weeks of HFD feeding, the mice were euthanized for analyzing structural changes of the aortic plaques, and the expression levels of ATF3, inflammatory factors (CD45, CD68, IL-1β, and TNF-α), and NF-κB pathway proteins (P-IKKα/β and P-NF-κB p65) were detected. In the cell experiment, THP-1-derived foam cells were transfected with an ATF3-overexpressing plasmid or an ATF3-specific siRNA to validate the relationship between ATF3 and NF‑κB signaling.
RESULTS:
In human atherosclerotic plaques, ATF3 expression was significantly elevated and partially co-localized with CD68. ATF3 knockout in ApoE-/- mice significantly increased aortic plaque volume, upregulated the inflammatory factors, enhanced phosphorylation of the NF‑κB pathway proteins, and increased the expressions of VCAM1, MMP9, and MMP2 in the plaques. In THP-1-derived foam cells, ATF3 silencing caused activation of the NF‑κB pathway, while ATF3 overexpression suppressed the activity of the NF-κB pathway.
CONCLUSIONS
AS promotes ATF3 expression, and ATF3 deficiency exacerbates AS progression by enhancing plaque inflammation via activating the NF-κB pathway, suggesting the potential of ATF3 as a therapeutic target for AS.
Animals
;
Activating Transcription Factor 3/metabolism*
;
Signal Transduction
;
NF-kappa B/metabolism*
;
Humans
;
Mice
;
Plaque, Atherosclerotic/metabolism*
;
Inflammation/metabolism*
;
Apolipoproteins E
;
Atherosclerosis/metabolism*
;
Diet, High-Fat
8.Role and mechanism of T helper 17 cells/regulatory T cells immune balance regulated by the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway mediated in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
Qian WANG ; Kaiyang LI ; Mei YANG ; Hang ZHANG ; Shengjin ZHU ; Qi ZHAO ; Jing HUANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(5):942-947
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by hepatocyte fatty degeneration and ballooning degeneration, and it plays an important role in the progression of hepatic steatosis. Recent studies have shown that immune homeostasis imbalance between T helper 17 (Th17) and regulatory T (Treg) cells are closely associated with the pathological process of NASH. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is a key cytokine for regulating the differentiation and proliferation of Th17/Treg cells, and TGF-β1 binds to its receptor and activates the Smad signaling pathway, thereby regulating the immune balance of Th17/Treg cells and the expression of inflammatory factors and participating in the repair of liver inflammation. This article systematically reviews the molecular mechanism of the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway in affecting NASH by regulating the immune balance of Th17/Treg cells, in order to provide a theoretical basis for the research on the pathogenesis of NASH and related treatment strategies.
9.Development, reliability, and validity of a treatment-related quality of life scale for Chinese patients with multiple myeloma
Chunyan SUN ; Zhen CAI ; Bing CHEN ; Lijuan CHEN ; Wenming CHEN ; Kaiyang DING ; Juan DU ; Rong FU ; Chengcheng FU ; Da GAO ; Guangxun GAO ; Yanjuan HE ; Jian HOU ; Ming JIANG ; Fei LI ; Jian LI ; Juan LI ; Zhenyu LI ; Aijun LIAO ; Jing LIU ; Jun LUO ; Jianmin LUO ; Yanping MA ; Jianqing MI ; Ting NIU ; Hongling PENG ; Yongping SONG ; Luqun WANG ; Rong ZHAN ; Xi ZHANG ; Yu HU
Chinese Journal of Hematology 2025;46(8):713-721
Objective:To develop a treatment-related quality of life scale for Chinese patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and to test its reliability and validity.Methods:The initial scale was constructed through a literature search, Delphi expert correspondence, and cognitive testing. This study conducted a preliminary survey of 379 patients with MM and a formal survey of 865 patients from the hematology departments of 155 hospitals nationwide from February 2024 to March 2024. The final scale was obtained after conducting item analysis and reliability and validity tests on the initial scale.Results:The constructed scale contains 36 items covering six domains: physiological, psychological, social, treatment side effects, general health, and others. In the preliminary survey, the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of each item ranged from 0.597 to 0.939, and the test-retest reliability was 0.747 ( P<0.001). Exploratory factor analysis extracted eight common factors with a cumulative variance contribution of 60.058%. In the formal survey, the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of each item ranged from 0.484 to 0.930, and the test-retest reliability was 0.835 ( P<0.001). Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a comparative fit index of 0.750, a root-mean-square error of approximation of 0.090, and a root-mean-square residual of 0.067. Conclusion:The treatment-related quality of life scale for Chinese patients with MM designed in this study exhibited good reliability and validity, reflecting the impact of treatment on the quality of life of patients. This scale can provide a reference to clinicians for assessing the disease status of patients.
10.Research progress in the use of oncolytic viruses to induce tumor immunogenic cell death
Sibo ZHANG ; Lifang JIA ; Lulu LI ; Jing WANG ; Kaiyang LIU
Chinese Journal of Comparative Medicine 2025;35(10):149-161
Immunogenic cell death(ICD)is a form of cell death that can activate the immune system,especially in the treatment of cancer.ICD can enhance the recognition of tumors by the immune system and the release of damage associated molecular patterns(DAMPs),to achieve tumor cell death.Oncolytic viruses(OVs)can selectively infect and kill tumor cells without damaging normal cells.OVs are type Ⅱ ICD inducers that induce ICD in tumor cells by targeting the endoplasmic reticulum.Here,we review the characteristics of ICD and the mechanism of ICD induction by OVs.We also review the latest clinical progress involving ICD and discuss future treatment strategies for tumors.

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