1.Mechanism of action of organelle interactions in the progression of liver fibrosis and traditional Chinese medicine prevention and treatment strategies
Yuanyuan ZHENG ; Chenlu ZHAO ; Lihui ZHANG ; Sutong LIU ; Wenxia ZHAO
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(3):711-717
Liver fibrosis is the core pathological stage of the progression of various chronic liver diseases to liver cirrhosis, and hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation and the abnormal accumulation of collagen fibers are important processes for the development and progression of liver fibrosis. In recent years, studies have shown that HSC activation is regulated by the complex interactions between various organelles (including mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosome, and peroxisomes), and such interactions affect the key cellular processes such as energy metabolism, protein synthesis and folding, reactive oxygen species balance, and autophagy, thereby participating in the progression of liver fibrosis. Meanwhile, traditional Chinese medicine and its active ingredients with multi-target synergistic effects have attracted wide attention. From the perspective of the interaction between organelles, this article systematically elaborates on the specific mechanism of such interactions in the progression of liver fibrosis and reviews how traditional Chinese medicine inhibits HSC activation and collagen production by regulating the function of these organelle and their interaction networks, thereby exerting an anti-liver fibrosis effect, in order to provide a theoretical basis for in-depth understanding of the pathological mechanism of liver fibrosis and the development of new traditional Chinese medicine intervention strategies.
2.Current Status and Prospective of Research on Disease-Syndrome Integrated Animal Models of Spleen and Stomach Diseases in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Jiaqi ZHANG ; Lihui FANG ; Yongtian WEN ; Shan LIU ; Zhuo SHI ; Xintong WANG ; Xinyi DAI ; Meiling SHE ; Lanshuo HU ; Yangxi FU ; Zheng WANG ; Fengyun WANG ; Xudong TANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(5):510-516
Animal model research on spleen and stomach diseases in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is of great significance for elucidating the nature of diseases and syndromes and for revealing the mechanisms of action of Chinese herbal medicinals. At present, studies on classical TCM syndrome models of spleen and stomach diseases mainly focus on spleen deficiency syndrome, liver constraint syndrome, and damp-heat syndrome. Model construction is mostly based on the etiological and pathophysiological characteristics of syndrome, and model evaluation primarily involves macroscopic manifestations and physicochemical indicators. This paper summarizes the current research status of animal models integrating disease and syndrome for seven common spleen and stomach diseases, including chronic gastritis and gastric precancerous lesions, gastroesophageal reflux disease, functional dyspepsia, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, functional constipation, and functional diarrhea. The modeling methods and characteristics of disease-syndrome combined animal models for each disease are analyzed. It is proposed that future research on disease-syndrome integration in spleen and stomach diseases should move toward syste-matic, precise, and integrative development, and that interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary research approaches should be adopted to enhance the predictive value and application efficiency of disease-syndrome combined animal models.
3.Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease with different clinical phenotypes: Pathogenesis and strategies for integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment
Wenxia ZHAO ; Lei GAO ; Xinju CHEN ; Yuanyuan ZHENG ; Sutong LIU ; Lihui ZHANG ; Qing ZHAO ; Chenlu ZHAO
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(4):930-937
Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a chronic metabolic liver disorder with complex etiologies. Different clinical phenotypes of MAFLD (such as obesity, hyperlipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, the postmenopausal state, and chronic hepatitis B) have different mechanisms of action in the development and progression of MAFLD, leading to high heterogeneity in its clinical progression and prognosis. This article systematically reviews the pathogeneses and clinical features of the above five clinical phenotypes of MAFLD and elaborates on the corresponding individualized diagnosis and treatment regimens integrating traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, in order to provide a reference for clinical practice and improve clinical diagnosis and treatment.
4.The role of macropinocytosis in the progression of inflammatory-cancerous transformation in the liver and related targeted therapies
Yuanyuan ZHENG ; Chenlu ZHAO ; Lihui ZHANG ; Sutong LIU ; Wenxia ZHAO
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(9):1688-1694
Macropinocytosis (MP) is an actin-dependent process by which cells internalize large volumes of extracellular fluid. This engulfed material is subsequently digested and degraded within lysosomes, providing essential nutrients that enable cell survival and growth under hypoxic and nutrient-scarce microenvironments. In the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), sustained liver inflammation plays a critical role. Chronic liver inflammation not only creates favorable conditions for MP activation but also triggers relevant signaling pathways, thereby establishing a persistent positive feedback loop. This review aims to systematically elucidate the mechanistic basis of MP, summarize recent advances in its regulation via relevant signaling pathways during HCC progression, and discuss the potential value of targeting MP as a therapeutic strategy for HCC, thereby providing insights for future clinical research.
5.Safety and Efficacy of Same-day Discharge Following Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation for Arrhythmia:a Pilot Study
Yu XIA ; Qin XU ; Guanzhi CHEN ; Nianqin ZHANG ; Zhicheng HU ; Lingmin WU ; Lihui ZHENG ; Ligang DING ; Yan YAO
Chinese Circulation Journal 2025;40(7):646-652
Objectives:To preliminarily investigate the safety and efficacy of same-day discharge(SDD)following radiofrequency catheter ablation for arrhythmia.Methods:A total of 50 consecutive patients who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation for arrhythmia in the SDD strategy at Fuwai Hospital from 8 July 2024 to 18 September 2024 were included in this analysis.The study evaluated the immediate success rate of the ablation,the rate of all-cause and arrhythmia-related readmission,outpatient or emergency visits and incidence of complications within 30 days post ablation,and recurrence rate of arrhythmias over a 3-month follow-up period.Results:The average age of the 50 patients was(47.2±16.1)years old,32 patients(64.0%)were male.Radiofrequency catheter ablation was performed in 47 patients(94.0%),including 18(36.0%)atrial fibrillation(AF)ablation.Three patients(6.0%)underwent electrophysiological study only.The immediate success rate for ablation patients was 100%(47/47).None of the patients developed vascular puncture-related or ablation-related complications.The average hospital stay and postoperative observation time were(6.84±1.13)hours and(3.40±1.12)hours,respectively.The all-cause and arrhythmia-related readmission,outpatient or emergency visits rates within 30 days were 12.0%(6/50)and 2.0%(1/50),respectively.Two patients(4.0%)post ablation experienced AF recurrence during the 3-months follow-up period.Conclusions:Radiofrequency catheter ablation for arrhythmias in SDD strategy is safe,effective,and feasible.
6.Study on the Mechanism of Danhe Liuwei Dihuang Decoction in Ovariectomized NAFLD Rats Based on ERα/PGC1α/PPARα
Chenlu ZHAO ; Suping MA ; Fangdong SHANG ; Sutong LIU ; Lihui ZHANG ; Yuanyuan ZHENG ; Wenxia ZHAO
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(3):792-800
Objective To explore the effect on the expression of ERα/PGC1α/PPARα pathway,the therapeutic effect of Danhe Liuwei Dihuang Decoction on ovariectomized NAFLD rats was observed.Methods 60 female non-pregnant SPF SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group(Sham),model group(Model),estrogen group(E2),traditional Chinese medicine high,medium and low dose group(DHR-H/M/L).Sham group was given normal diet after sham operation,and the other groups were given high-fat,high-fructose and high-cholesterol diet(HF/HF/HC)after bilateral ovariectomy to prepare postmenopausal NAFLD model.The Sham group and the Model group were given normal saline by gavage,and the other groups were given corresponding doses of drugs by gavage.The intervention time was 12 weeks,and the experimental period was 14 weeks.The general condition and body weight of rats in each group were recorded.HE staining of uterus was used to observe the morphology of uterus,HE staining of liver and oil red O staining were used to observe steatosis.Serum liver function(ALT,AST)and lipid metabolism indexes(TG,TC)were measured by automatic biochemical analyzer.The levels of serum E2 and free fatty acid(FFA)and the expression of FFA and TG in liver tissue were detected by ELISA.The mRNA and protein expressions of ERα,PGC1α and PPARα in liver tissues were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot.Results Compared with the Model group,by Danhe Liuwei Dihuang Decoction,the body weight and liver weight of ovariectomized NAFLD rats significantly decreased,liver fat deposition significantly decreased,E2 level increased,ALT,AST,TG,TC,FFA and liver tissue homogenate FFA,TG content significantly decreased,liver ERα,PGC1α,PPARα mRNA and protein expression up-regulated(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusion Danhe Liuwei Dihuang Decoction can improve liver steatosis in postmenopausal NAFLD model rats.The mechanism may be related to up-regulating the expression of ERα/PGC1α/PPARα signaling pathway to promote liver FFA oxidation and reduce liver TG deposition.
7.Data Analysis of Characteristics of Congenital Endowment in Senile Dementia Patients Based on CHARLS
Lei LIU ; Yali WANG ; Huirong HUANG ; Ming DING ; Qing LIU ; Jing LI ; Saiyu ZHENG ; Lihui HE
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;42(5):1077-1083
Objective To investigate the characteristics and differences of congenital endowment in senile dementia population based on the theory of five circuits and six qi.Methods Based on the cross-sectional data of China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey(CHARLS)in 2018,the dementia status of the population aged 60 and above in China was evaluated by using the Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE),and the five-circuit and six-qi features at birth in the senile dementia population were analyzed by descriptive statistics and Chi-square goodness-of-fit test.Results A total of 854 patients with senile dementia were included.The five-circuit and six-qi features at birth in the senile dementia population were as follows:most of them were born at the heavenly stem of Bing while the least at the heavenly stem of Ji and Geng(P<0.001),most of them were born at the earthly branch of Wei while the least at the earthly branch of Zi(P<0.001),most of them were born at the yearly circuit of excessive water circuit while the least at the yearly circuit of excessive gold circuit and deficient earth circuit(P<0.001),and most of the patients were born at sitan of taiyin damp-earth and zaiquan of taiyang cold-water while the least at sitan of jueyin wind-wood and zaiquan of shaoyang ministerial fire;no statistically significant differences were found in the dominant qi and guest qi(P>0.05);most of the patients were born in the year of combination of circuit and qi being Shunhua while the least in the year of combination of circuit and qi being same celestial correspondence(P<0.001),and the patients born in the year of Shunhua usually were frequently distributed in heavenly-stem and earthly-branch year of Jiawu(P<0.001).Conclusion There is a certain relationship between the congenital endowment at birth and the incidence of senile dementia in the population of senile dementia.The circuit-qi features at birth for the prevalence of senile dementia are the yearly circuit of excessive water circuit,sitan of taiyin damp-earth and zaiquan of taiyang cold-water,and the year of the combination of circuit and qi being Shunhua.The population born at the time with the above circuit-qi features are prone to suffer the injury of the kidneys,the heart,and the spleen,and then result into illness.
8.Metformin attenuates insulin resistance by activating hypothalamic MC4R in high-fat diet-fed rats
Yan LI ; Haohao ZHANG ; Yanqi REN ; Lihui FENG ; Youqin WANG ; Lu ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2025;41(8):1467-1476
AIM:To explore the central mechanisms by which metformin(Met)attenuates insulin resistance in high-fat diet(HF)-fed rats.METHODS:Forty healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:normal chow(NC)group,HF group,HF+Met group,and HF+Met+SHU9119[melanocortin 4 receptor(MC4R)antagonist]group,with 10 rats per group.Treatments with HF and Met lasted for 12 weeks,while SHU9119 was injected for the last 10 d.Skeletal muscle AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK)and silent information regulator 1(SIRT1)ex-pression and activity were measured,along with mitochondria oxidative stress markers,mitochondrial function and quanti-ty.Systemic and skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity were assessed using the average glucose infusion rate from 60 to 120 min(GIR60-120)and 2-deoxyglucose uptake(DGU)during hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp.RESULTS:The rats in HF group exhibited significantly reduced expression and activity of AMPK/SIRT1 in skeletal muscles(P<0.05).More-over,mitochondrial oxidative stress markers,reactive oxygen species(ROS)and malondialdehyde(MDA),were marked-ly elevated(P<0.05),and the activity of antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase(GPX)and manganese superoxide dismutase(MnSOD)was significantly decreased in HF group(P<0.05).There was also a notable decline in the activity of citrate synthase(P<0.05),a marker of mitochondrial oxidative capacity,and the copy number of mitochondrial DNA in HF group.These changes were correlated with significantly decreased GIR60-120 and DGU(P<0.05).Notably,Met treat-ment(HF+Met)restored the AMPK/SIRT1 expression and activity,improved mitochondrial function,and reduced oxida-tive stress,leading to improved insulin sensitivity(P<0.05).However,these beneficial effects of Met were reversed by the MC4R antagonist SHU9119 in HF+Met+SHU9119 group.CONCLUSION:Treatment with Met enhances skeletal muscle AMPK/SIRT1 expression and activity,reverses mitochondrial dysfunction,and improves insulin resistance in HF-fed rats.These effects might be mediated through the activation of hypothalamic MC4R.
9.Protective effect of exenatide on oxidative stress in hypothalamus of diabetes mice and its mechanism
Lu ZHENG ; Haohao ZHANG ; Feifei WU ; Jiaqi GUO ; Youqin WANG ; Ruimin HAO ; Lihui FENG ; Yan LI
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2025;41(3):330-338
Objective To explore the effect of exenatide on oxidative stress in the hypothalamus of diabetes mice and its potential mechanism.Methods After one week of adaptive feeding,C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into the CON group(normal chaw diet),the T2DM group(high-fat diet,HFD),and the T2DM+Exe group(HFD+exenatide).After 8 weeks of HFD,mice in the T2DM+Exe group were intraperitoneally injected with exenatide[24 nmol/(kg·d)]for 8 weeks.The weight and glucose and lipid metabolism levels of the mice were measured,and the levels of inflammatory and adipokine factors in mice were detected using the ELISA method.Western Blot was used to detect the expression of melanocortin receptor-4(MC4R)and proopiomelanocor-tin(POMC)in the hypothalamus.Hypothalamic mitochondria were extracted,and the content of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species(ROS)was measured using a flow cytometer.The content of malondialdehyde(MDA)and the activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD)in the mitochondria were detected using assay kits.Changes in the ultrastructure of mitochondria were observed using a transmission electron microscope.In vitro experiments,pal-mitic acid(PA)and exenatide were used to treat hypothalamic GT1-7 cells,and short hairpin RNA(shRNA)was used to silence the melanocortin 4 receptor(MC4R),and observe the cellular oxidative stress and lipid deposition.Results Compared with the CON group,the T2DM group mice showed a significant increase in glucose and lipid metabolism indicators,pro-inflammatory factors,and adipose factor levels(P<0.05),the expression of MC4R and POMC proteins in the hypothalamus were decreased(P<0.05),and the mitochondrial ROS and MDA content in the hypothalamus significantly were increased(P<0.05),while SOD and CAT activities were decreased(P<0.05).Mitochondrial morphology was abnormal.After intervention with exenatide,the above indicators were signifi-cantly improved.After inhibiting MC4R expression in vitro experiments,compared with the intervention group with exenatide,the ROS and MDA content was significantly increased(P<0.05),SOD activity was decreased(P<0.05),and lipid deposition occurred in the cells.Conclusions Exenatide exhibits a protective effect on hypotha-lamic oxidative stress injury in diabetic mice,and this mechanism may be associated with the upregulation of MC4R expression.
10.Study on the Mechanism of Danhe Liuwei Dihuang Decoction in Ovariectomized NAFLD Rats Based on ERα/PGC1α/PPARα
Chenlu ZHAO ; Suping MA ; Fangdong SHANG ; Sutong LIU ; Lihui ZHANG ; Yuanyuan ZHENG ; Wenxia ZHAO
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(3):792-800
Objective To explore the effect on the expression of ERα/PGC1α/PPARα pathway,the therapeutic effect of Danhe Liuwei Dihuang Decoction on ovariectomized NAFLD rats was observed.Methods 60 female non-pregnant SPF SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group(Sham),model group(Model),estrogen group(E2),traditional Chinese medicine high,medium and low dose group(DHR-H/M/L).Sham group was given normal diet after sham operation,and the other groups were given high-fat,high-fructose and high-cholesterol diet(HF/HF/HC)after bilateral ovariectomy to prepare postmenopausal NAFLD model.The Sham group and the Model group were given normal saline by gavage,and the other groups were given corresponding doses of drugs by gavage.The intervention time was 12 weeks,and the experimental period was 14 weeks.The general condition and body weight of rats in each group were recorded.HE staining of uterus was used to observe the morphology of uterus,HE staining of liver and oil red O staining were used to observe steatosis.Serum liver function(ALT,AST)and lipid metabolism indexes(TG,TC)were measured by automatic biochemical analyzer.The levels of serum E2 and free fatty acid(FFA)and the expression of FFA and TG in liver tissue were detected by ELISA.The mRNA and protein expressions of ERα,PGC1α and PPARα in liver tissues were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot.Results Compared with the Model group,by Danhe Liuwei Dihuang Decoction,the body weight and liver weight of ovariectomized NAFLD rats significantly decreased,liver fat deposition significantly decreased,E2 level increased,ALT,AST,TG,TC,FFA and liver tissue homogenate FFA,TG content significantly decreased,liver ERα,PGC1α,PPARα mRNA and protein expression up-regulated(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusion Danhe Liuwei Dihuang Decoction can improve liver steatosis in postmenopausal NAFLD model rats.The mechanism may be related to up-regulating the expression of ERα/PGC1α/PPARα signaling pathway to promote liver FFA oxidation and reduce liver TG deposition.

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