1.Study on the molecular mechanisms by which gut microbiota dysbiosis promotes the development of cholangiocarcinoma through immunometabolic reprogramming
FANG Chen ; KE Xi△ ; SHI Lijuan
Chinese Journal of Cancer Biotherapy 2026;33(4):429-438
[摘 要] 目的:通过多组学整合分析,解析肠道菌群在胆管癌(CCA)发生发展中的潜在作用机制并识别相关关键基因。方法:基于SRA数据库的16S rRNA测序数据,比较CCA患者与健康对照者的肠道菌群组成;采用孟德尔随机化(MR)分析评估菌群与CCA风险的遗传关联。通过gutMGene和GeneCards数据库获取相关代谢物与基因,进行代谢和功能富集分析。整合GEO单细胞转录组数据(GSE213452),解析肿瘤微环境的细胞组成,重点关注T细胞亚群及其功能状态,并结合TCGA-CHOL数据集验证关键候选基因的表达差异。结果:与健康对照组相比,CCA患者肠道菌群组成发生显著改变,变形菌门下菌群异常富集(LDA > 4)。MR分析进一步证实,肠杆菌目与肠杆菌科的遗传易感性均与CCA风险呈正向关联。代谢通路富集分析提示,菌群相关代谢物主要参与嘌呤代谢及糖酵解/糖异生等通路;功能富集分析显示,相关基因显著富集于NOD样受体、IL-17、Toll样受体及NF-κB信号通路等炎症免疫通路。单细胞转录组分析结果显示,CCA组织中肿瘤细胞比例显著升高(P < 0.05),T细胞比例由20.7%增至39.2%;拟时序分析结果表明,MKI67⁺ T细胞处于分化末期并呈高增殖特征,其差异基因与菌群相关基因存在交集,其中SERPINA1和IFNG表达在肿瘤免疫微环境中显著变化(P < 0.001),可能发挥核心调控作用。TCGA-CHOL数据集验证显示,SERPINA1在CCA肿瘤组织中显著下调(P < 0.001),而IFNG在肿瘤与正常组织间无显著差异(P > 0.05)。结论:肠道菌群失衡(尤其是肠杆菌科异常增殖)可能通过代谢-免疫调控网络促进CCA进展,T细胞功能变化与关键基因(SERPINA1和IFNG)在MKI67+ T细胞中的差异化表达模式密切相关。
2.Research progress on traditional Chinese medicine regulation of MAPK signaling pathway in intervening slow transit constipation
Xiangrui KONG ; Qimeng ZHANG ; Yue ZOU ; Yong LIANG ; Yu SHI ; Yang ZHANG ; Ke MENG ; Hongxi ZHANG
China Pharmacy 2026;37(11):1508-1514
low transit constipation (STC) is a common functional intestinal disorder caused by impaired colonic transit function, characterized by reduced bowel movement frequency, hard stools, and difficulty in defecation. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, which mainly includes extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 subtypes, plays a critical regulatory role in the occurrence and development of STC. This paper systematically reviews the multiple pathogenic mechanisms of the MAPK signaling pathway in STC and the research progress of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) intervention.At the mechanistic level, the MAPK signaling pathway promotes the progression of STC through the following links:(1) Activation of p38 upregulates the expression of aquaporin 3 (AQP3)/AQP4 in the colon, leading to excessive reabsorption of water in the intestinal lumen; (2) It forms a positive feedback loop with nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) to maintain low-grade intestinal inflammation, releases inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and inhibits smooth muscle contraction; (3) Overactivation of p38 downregulates the expression of occludin and mucin 2 while upregulates the expression of claudin-2, thereby disrupting the mucosal barrier; (4) The JNK/p38 signaling pathway activates the caspase cascade to induce apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells, neurons, and interstitial cells of Cajal; (5) Abnormal ERK signaling and excessive activation of p38/JNK inhibit intestinal smooth muscle contraction and reduce 5-hydroxytryptamine secretion, ultimately resulting in impaired colonic transit function.At the intervention level, TCM compound formulas and single herbs have been proven to improve STC by regulating the MAPK signaling pathway. Their effects are syndrome type-dependent:yin-nourishing formulas (Zengye Chengqi Tang, Tongbian Tang) mainly regulate the ERK/AQP axis; yang-warming formulas (Jichuan Jian) target both ERK/JNK and anti-apoptosis; heat-clearing formulas (Sanren Tang) focus on p38/NF-κB anti-inflammation. A single drug can simultaneously cover multiple aspects including water metabolism, inflammation, barrier function, apoptosis, and intestinal motility.Current relevant studies still have limitations such as mechanisms mostly remaining at the correlational level and a lack of disease-syndrome integrated research models. Future studies should combine specific inhibitors or gene knockout to identify core targets, establish disease-syndrome integrated STC models, and use network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques to deeply analyze the fine mechanism of “component-target-phenotype”, so as to provide high-quality evidence for the precise regulation of the MAPK signaling pathway by TCM in the intervention of STC.
3.The multi-center mid-term clinical outcomes of combined complete preservation of chordal structure mitral valve replacement with total anatomic complete arterial myocardial revascularization for coronary patients with moderate-to-severe or severe ischemic mitral regurgitation
Ke GUO ; Xujun CHEN ; Baoshi ZHENG ; Chao SHI ; Keli HUANG ; Yong CAO ; Chengquan LIAO ; Jingwei CHEN ; Yu LIN ; Chengxin LIU ; Quansheng CAO ; Lin SHEN ; Zhendong WANG
Chinese Journal of Surgery 2025;63(1):58-67
Objective:To evaluate the clinical outcomes of combined complete preservation of chordal structure mitral valve replacement (C-MVR) with total anatomical arterial myocardial revascularization (TACR) in coronary patients with moderate-to-severe or severe ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR).Methods:This is a retrospective multi-center case series study. Data were retrospectively collected from 127 patients with coronary artery disease with moderate to severe or severe IMR who received TACR with C-MVR from July 2015 to April 2024 in 13 hospitals in China. There were 90 males and 37 females, aged (56.5±10.7) years (range: 33 to 74 years). Perioperative data and follow-up data including left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, and patency rate of arterial grafts of patients were collected. Comparisons were made using paired sample t-test or χ2 test. Results:In this cohort of 127 patients, 67 underwent concurrent tricuspid valve repair. During surgery, 113 grafts of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA), 127 grafts of the left radial artery, 80 grafts of the right radial artery, and 110 grafts of the right internal mammary artery (RIMA) were harvested. The number of the distal anastomosis was 4.2±0.4 (range: 3 to 5). The aortic cross-clamp time and cardiopulmonary bypass time were (97.5±23.4) minutes (range: 90 to 161 minutes) and (145.4±19.2) minutes (range: 101 to 210 minutes), respectively. There was one operative death. Intraoperative placement of an intra-aortic balloon pump was performed in 21 patients to improve the left ventricular ejection. No sternal ischemic occurred. All patients completed follow-up, with a mean follow-up period of (64.3±7.5) months (range: 4 to 110 months). No major cerebrovascular events occurred during the follow-up period, and all patients survived. Left ventricular ejection fraction improved postoperatively (55.0%±5.3% vs. 41.0%±15.3%, t=17.23, P<0.01). The proportion of patients with New York Heart Association functional class ≤2 increased postoperatively (23.6% (30/127) vs. 87.3% (110/126), χ2=103.77, P<0.01). The proportion of patients with Canadian Cardiovascular Society Angina Classification ≤3 decreased postoperatively (4.8% (6/126) vs. 78.7% (100/127), χ2=142.19, P<0.01). The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter decreased postoperatively ((5.70±4.50) cm vs. (6.10±0.23) cm, t=12.15, P<0.01). Coronary multi-detector computed tomography angiography (MDCTA) follow-up was conducted for (60.5±11.7) months (range: 6 to 109 months) postoperatively. MDCTA confirmed the patency rates of the grafts: 96.4% (108/112) for the LIMA grafts, 88.9% (112/126) for the left radial artery grafts, 93.7% (74/79) for the right radial artery grafts, and 90.9% (100/110) for the free RIMA grafts. No significant differences in graft patency rates were observed between the arterial grafts ( χ2=5.24, P=0.155). Conclusion:The results of this multi-centre study demonstrate satisfactory mid-term results of C-MVR with TACR for the treatment of coronary artery disease with moderate to severe or severe IMR.
4.The multi-center mid-term clinical outcomes of combined complete preservation of chordal structure mitral valve replacement with total anatomic complete arterial myocardial revascularization for coronary patients with moderate-to-severe or severe ischemic mitral regurgitation
Ke GUO ; Xujun CHEN ; Baoshi ZHENG ; Chao SHI ; Keli HUANG ; Yong CAO ; Chengquan LIAO ; Jingwei CHEN ; Yu LIN ; Chengxin LIU ; Quansheng CAO ; Lin SHEN ; Zhendong WANG
Chinese Journal of Surgery 2025;63(1):58-67
Objective:To evaluate the clinical outcomes of combined complete preservation of chordal structure mitral valve replacement (C-MVR) with total anatomical arterial myocardial revascularization (TACR) in coronary patients with moderate-to-severe or severe ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR).Methods:This is a retrospective multi-center case series study. Data were retrospectively collected from 127 patients with coronary artery disease with moderate to severe or severe IMR who received TACR with C-MVR from July 2015 to April 2024 in 13 hospitals in China. There were 90 males and 37 females, aged (56.5±10.7) years (range: 33 to 74 years). Perioperative data and follow-up data including left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, and patency rate of arterial grafts of patients were collected. Comparisons were made using paired sample t-test or χ2 test. Results:In this cohort of 127 patients, 67 underwent concurrent tricuspid valve repair. During surgery, 113 grafts of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA), 127 grafts of the left radial artery, 80 grafts of the right radial artery, and 110 grafts of the right internal mammary artery (RIMA) were harvested. The number of the distal anastomosis was 4.2±0.4 (range: 3 to 5). The aortic cross-clamp time and cardiopulmonary bypass time were (97.5±23.4) minutes (range: 90 to 161 minutes) and (145.4±19.2) minutes (range: 101 to 210 minutes), respectively. There was one operative death. Intraoperative placement of an intra-aortic balloon pump was performed in 21 patients to improve the left ventricular ejection. No sternal ischemic occurred. All patients completed follow-up, with a mean follow-up period of (64.3±7.5) months (range: 4 to 110 months). No major cerebrovascular events occurred during the follow-up period, and all patients survived. Left ventricular ejection fraction improved postoperatively (55.0%±5.3% vs. 41.0%±15.3%, t=17.23, P<0.01). The proportion of patients with New York Heart Association functional class ≤2 increased postoperatively (23.6% (30/127) vs. 87.3% (110/126), χ2=103.77, P<0.01). The proportion of patients with Canadian Cardiovascular Society Angina Classification ≤3 decreased postoperatively (4.8% (6/126) vs. 78.7% (100/127), χ2=142.19, P<0.01). The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter decreased postoperatively ((5.70±4.50) cm vs. (6.10±0.23) cm, t=12.15, P<0.01). Coronary multi-detector computed tomography angiography (MDCTA) follow-up was conducted for (60.5±11.7) months (range: 6 to 109 months) postoperatively. MDCTA confirmed the patency rates of the grafts: 96.4% (108/112) for the LIMA grafts, 88.9% (112/126) for the left radial artery grafts, 93.7% (74/79) for the right radial artery grafts, and 90.9% (100/110) for the free RIMA grafts. No significant differences in graft patency rates were observed between the arterial grafts ( χ2=5.24, P=0.155). Conclusion:The results of this multi-centre study demonstrate satisfactory mid-term results of C-MVR with TACR for the treatment of coronary artery disease with moderate to severe or severe IMR.
5.Analysis of The Characteristics of Brain Functional Activity in Gross Motor Tasks in Children With Autism Based on Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy Technology
Wen-Hao ZONG ; Qi LIANG ; Shi-Yu YANG ; Feng-Jiao WANG ; Meng-Zhao WEI ; Hong LEI ; Gui-Jun DONG ; Ke-Feng LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(8):2146-2162
ObjectiveBased on functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), we investigated the brain activity characteristics of gross motor tasks in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and motor dysfunctions (MDs) to provide a theoretical basis for further understanding the mechanism of MDs in children with ASD and designing targeted intervention programs from a central perspective. MethodsAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 48 children with ASD accompanied by MDs were recruited into the ASD group and 40 children with typically developing (TD) into the TD group. The fNIRS device was used to collect the information of blood oxygen changes in the cortical motor-related brain regions during single-handed bag throwing and tiptoe walking, and the differences in brain activation and functional connectivity between the two groups of children were analyzed from the perspective of brain activation and functional connectivity. ResultsCompared to the TD group, in the object manipulative motor task (one-handed bag throwing), the ASD group showed significantly reduced activation in both left sensorimotor cortex (SMC) and right secondary visual cortex (V2) (P<0.05), whereas the right pre-motor and supplementary motor cortex (PMC&SMA) had significantly higher activation (P<0.01) and showed bilateral brain region activity; in terms of brain functional integration, there was a significant decrease in the strength of brain functional connectivity (P<0.05) and was mainly associated with dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and V2. In the body stability motor task (tiptoe walking), the ASD group had significantly higher activation in motor-related brain regions such as the DLPFC, SMC, and PMC&SMA (P<0.05) and showed bilateral brain region activity; in terms of brain functional integration, the ASD group had lower strength of brain functional connectivity (P<0.05) and was mainly associated with PMC&SMA and V2. ConclusionChildren with ASD exhibit abnormal brain functional activity characteristics specific to different gross motor tasks in object manipulative and body stability, reflecting insufficient or excessive compensatory activation of local brain regions and impaired cross-regions integration, which may be a potential reason for the poorer gross motor performance of children with ASD, and meanwhile provides data support for further unraveling the mechanisms underlying the occurrence of MDs in the context of ASD and designing targeted intervention programs from a central perspective.
6.Cold stimulation regulates lipid metabolism and the secretion of exosomes from subcutaneous adipose tissue in mice.
Shuo KE ; Li XU ; Rui-Xue SHI ; Jia-Qi WANG ; Le CUI ; Yuan JI ; Jing LI ; Xiao-Hong JIANG
Acta Physiologica Sinica 2025;77(2):231-240
Cold has been a long-term survival challenge in the evolutionary process of mammals. In response to cold stress, in addition to brown adipose tissue (BAT) dissipating energy as heat through glucose and lipid oxidation to maintain body temperature, cold stimulation can strongly activate thermogenesis and energy expenditure in beige fat cells, which are widely distributed in the subcutaneous layer. However, the effects of cold stimulation on other tissues and systemic lipid metabolism remain unclear. Our previous research indicated that, under cold stress, BAT not only produces heat but also secretes numerous exosomes to mediate BAT-liver crosstalk. Whether subcutaneous fat has a similar mechanism is still unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the alterations in lipid metabolism across various tissues under cold exposure and to explore whether subcutaneous fat regulates systemic glucose and lipid metabolism via exosomes, thereby elucidating the regulatory mechanisms of lipid metabolism homeostasis under physiological stress. RT-qPCR, Western blot, and H&E staining methods were used to investigate the physiological changes in lipid metabolism in the serum, liver, epididymal white adipose tissue, and subcutaneous fat of mice under cold stimulation. The results revealed that cold exposure significantly enhanced the thermogenic activity of subcutaneous adipose tissue and markedly increased exosome secretion. These exosomes were efficiently taken up by hepatocytes, where they profoundly influenced hepatic lipid metabolism, as evidenced by alterations in the expression levels of key genes involved in lipid synthesis and catabolism pathways. This study has unveiled a novel mechanism by which subcutaneous fat regulates lipid metabolism through exosome secretion under cold stimulation, providing new insights into the systemic regulatory role of beige adipocytes under cold stress and offering a theoretical basis for the development of new therapeutic strategies for obesity and metabolic diseases.
Animals
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Lipid Metabolism/physiology*
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Mice
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Exosomes/metabolism*
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Cold Temperature
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Subcutaneous Fat/physiology*
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Thermogenesis/physiology*
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Adipose Tissue, Brown/metabolism*
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Male
7.One-year seedling cultivation technology and seed germination-promoting mechanism by warm water soaking of Polygonatum kingianum var. grandifolium.
Ke FU ; Jian-Qing ZHOU ; Zhi-Wei FAN ; Mei-Sen YANG ; Ya-Qun CHENG ; Yan ZHU ; Yan SHI ; Jin-Ping SI ; Dong-Hong CHEN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(4):1022-1030
Polygonati Rhizoma demonstrates significant potential for addressing both chronic and hidden hunger. The supply of high-quality seedlings is a primary factor influencing the development of the Polygonati Rhizoma industry. Warm water soaking is often used in agriculture to promote the rapid germination of seeds, while its application and molecular mechanism in Polygonati Rhizoma have not been reported. To rapidly obtain high-quality seedlings, this study treated Polygonatum kingianum var. grandifolium seeds with sand storage at low temperatures, warm water soaking, and cultivation temperature gradients. The results showed that the culture at 25 ℃ or sand storage at 4 ℃ for 2 months rapidly broke the seed dormancy of P. kingianum var. grandifolium, while the culture at 20 ℃ or sand storage at 4 ℃ for 1 month failed to break the seed dormancy. Soaking seeds in 60 ℃ warm water further increased the germination rate, germination potential, and germination index. Specifically, the seeds soaked at 60 ℃ and cultured at 25 ℃ without sand storage treatment(Aa25) achieved a germination rate of 78. 67%±1. 53% on day 42 and 83. 40%±4. 63% on day 77. The seeds pretreated with sand storage at 4 ℃ for 2 months, soaked in 60 ℃ water, and then cultured at 25 ℃ achieved a germination rate comparable to that of Aa25 on day 77. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that warm water soaking might promote germination by triggering reactive oxygen species( ROS), inducing the expression of heat shock factors( HSFs) and heat shock proteins( HSPs), which accelerated DNA replication, transcript maturation, translation, and processing, thereby facilitating the accumulation and turnover of genetic materials. According to the results of indoor controlled experiments and field practices, maintaining a germination and seedling cultivation environment at approximately 25 ℃ was crucial for the one-year seedling cultivation of P. kingianum var. grandifolium.
Germination
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Seedlings/genetics*
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Water/metabolism*
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Seeds/metabolism*
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Polygonatum/genetics*
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Temperature
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Plant Proteins/genetics*
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Plant Dormancy
8.Proposal and research idea of "traditional Chinese medicine processing chemical biology".
Peng-Peng LIU ; Qian CAI ; Ji SHI ; Nan XU ; Hui GAO ; Ke-Wu ZENG ; Tian-Zhu JIA
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(3):833-839
Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) processing is a unique and highly distinctive pharmaceutical technology in China. Utilizing modern scientific methods to elucidate the connotations of traditional processing theory and its effects is expected to facilitate the inheritance, development, innovation, and enhancement of TCM processing, and lead to more original research outcomes in the field of TCM. The breakthrough in TCM processing lies in the study of its underlying principles, and analyzing these principles involves researching the transformation mechanisms of chemical components and the biological effect mechanisms of the transformed components. This paper proposed the concept of "TCM processing chemical biology"(TCMPCB) for the first time. Under the guidance of TCM theory, the active components transformed during TCM processing were used as chemical tools to study their targets and molecular regulatory mechanisms, aiming to clarify the scientific principles by which TCM processing affected biological effects in the organism. The research findings also provided new directions for discovering novel active components, new lead compounds, creating new decoction pieces, and developing new TCM drugs. This paper provided a detailed introduction to the background, definition, research content, research ideas, research methods, and prospects of TCMPCB, with the aim of offering new research perspectives for analyzing the principles of TCM processing and providing new pathways for achieving the "four new and eight transformations" in TCM processing.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods*
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Humans
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Animals
9.Chemical consitituents and hypoglycemic activity of Qinhuai No. 1 Rehmannia glutinosa
Meng YANG ; Zhi-you HAO ; Xiao-lan WANG ; Chao-yuan XIAO ; Jun-yang ZHANG ; Shi-qi ZHOU ; Xiao-ke ZHENG ; Wei-sheng FENG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(1):205-210
Eight compounds were isolated and purified from the ethyl acetate part of 70% acetone extract of
10.Effect of intestinal flora and metabolites on the development and progression of acute-on-chronic liver failure
Ke SHI ; Qun ZHANG ; Xianbo WANG ; Ying FENG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(3):568-573
Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a dangerous disease with severe conditions, rapid progression, and high short-term mortality. Intestinal flora and metabolites are closely associated with the development, progression, and pathogenesis of ACLF. During the development of ACLF, the destruction of intestinal integrity and the dysregulation of intestinal microecology and its metabolites mediate immune disturbance and thus aggravate systemic inflammatory response. This article elaborates on the role of intestinal flora and metabolites in the development and progression of ACLF and related therapeutic strategies.

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