1.Phenomics of traditional Chinese medicine 2.0: the integration with digital medicine
Min Xu ; Xinyi Shao ; Donggeng Guo ; Xiaojing Yan ; Lei Wang ; Tao Yang ; Hao LIANG ; Qinghua PENG ; Lingyu Linda Ye ; Haibo Cheng ; Dayue Darrel Duan
Digital Chinese Medicine 2025;8(3):282-299
Abstract
Modern western medicine typically focuses on treating specific symptoms or diseases, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) emphasizes the interconnections of the body’s various systems under external environment and takes a holistic approach to preventing and treating diseases. Phenomics was initially introduced to the field of TCM in 2008 as a new discipline that studies the laws of integrated and dynamic changes of human clinical phenomes under the scope of the theories and practices of TCM based on phenomics. While TCM Phenomics 1.0 has initially established a clinical phenomic system centered on Zhenghou (a TCM definition of clinical phenome), bottlenecks remain in data standardization, mechanistic interpretation, and precision intervention. Here, we systematically elaborates on the theoretical foundations, technical pathways, and future challenges of integrating digital medicine with TCM phenomics under the framework of “TCM phenomics 2.0”, which is supported by digital medicine technologies such as artificial intelligence, wearable devices, medical digital twins, and multi-omics integration. This framework aims to construct a closed-loop system of “Zhenghou–Phenome–Mechanism–Intervention” and to enable the digitization, standardization, and precision of disease diagnosis and treatment. The integration of digital medicine and TCM phenomics not only promotes the modernization and scientific transformation of TCM theory and practice but also offers new paradigms for precision medicine. In practice, digital tools facilitate multi-source clinical data acquisition and standardization, while AI and big data algorithms help reveal the correlations between clinical Zhenghou phenomes and molecular mechanisms, thereby improving scientific rigor in diagnosis, efficacy evaluation, and personalized intervention. Nevertheless, challenges persist, including data quality and standardization issues, shortage of interdisciplinary talents, and insufficiency of ethical and legal regulations. Future development requires establishing national data-sharing platforms, strengthening international collaboration, fostering interdisciplinary professionals, and improving ethical and legal frameworks. Ultimately, this approach seeks to build a new disease identification and classification system centered on phenomes and to achieve the inheritance, innovation, and modernization of TCM diagnostic and therapeutic patterns.
2.NLRP6 overexpression improves nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by promoting lipid oxidation and decomposition in hepatocytes through the AMPK/CPT1A/PGC1A pathway.
Qing SHI ; Suye RAN ; Lingyu SONG ; Hong YANG ; Wenjuan WANG ; Hanlin LIU ; Qi LIU
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(1):118-125
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the regulatory role of nucleotide-bound oligomerized domain-like receptor containing pyrin-domain protein 6 (NLRP6) in liver lipid metabolism and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
METHODS:
Mouse models with high-fat diet (HFD) feeding for 16 weeks (n=6) or with methionine choline-deficient diet (MCD) feeding for 8 weeks (n=6) were examined for the development of NAFLD using HE and oil red O staining, and hepatic expressions of NLRP6 were detected with RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemical staining. Cultured human hepatocytes (LO2 cells) with adenovirus-mediated NLRP6 overexpression or knock-down were treated with palmitic acid (PA) in the presence or absence of compound C (an AMPK inhibitor), and the changes in cellular lipid metabolism were examined by measuring triglyceride, ATP and β-hydroxybutyrate levels and using oil red staining, RT-qPCR, and Western blotting.
RESULTS:
HFD and MCD feeding both resulted in the development of NAFLD in mice, which showed significantly decreased NLRP6 expression in the liver. In PA-treated LO2 cells, NLRP6 overexpression significantly decreased cellular TG content and lipid deposition, while NLRP6 knockdown caused the opposite effects. NLRP6 overexpression in PA-treated LO2 cells also increased mRNA and protein expressions of PGC1A and CPT1A, levels of ATP and β-hydroxybutyrate, and the phosphorylation level of AMPK pathway; the oxidative decomposition of lipids induced by Ad-NLRP6 was inhibited by the use of AMPK inhibitors.
CONCLUSIONS
NLRP6 overexpression promotes lipid oxidation and decomposition through AMPK/CPT1A/PGC1A to alleviate lipid deposition in hepatocytes.
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/metabolism*
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Animals
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Hepatocytes/metabolism*
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Lipid Metabolism
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Mice
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Humans
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Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha
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AMP-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism*
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Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase/metabolism*
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Diet, High-Fat
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Male
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Signal Transduction
4.Differential mRNA expression in fractional low-dose radiation-induced senescence of HBE cells
Lingyu ZHANG ; Weixu HUANG ; Yashi CAI ; Huixian LI ; Min ZHANG ; Changyong WEN ; Ping YANG ; Jianming ZOU ; Huifeng CHEN
Chinese Journal of Radiological Health 2024;33(2):116-122
Objective To explore the differentially expressed mRNAs and related biological processes and pathways in fractional low-dose ionizing radiation (LDIR)-induced senescence of normal human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells by high-throughput mRNA sequencing and bioinformatics techniques. Methods Senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining and senescence-associated secretion phenotype gene mRNA and protein expression levels were measured at 24 and 48 h after irradiating HBE cells 7 times at doses of 0, 50, 100, and 200 mGy, respectively. The differentially expressed genes were screened by high-throughput sequencing for Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses. Results The senescence-positive area of fractional low-dose irradiated HBE cells increased in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). The mRNA levels and protein expression of transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1) and matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) genes were increased in the 100 mGy × 7 and 200 mGy × 7 groups at 24 and 48 h after the end of irradiation compared with the control group. High-throughput sequencing showed that there were 882, 475, and 1205 differentially expressed mRNAs in each dose group compared with the control group. GO analysis showed that the differentially expressed mRNAs in each dose group were mainly enriched in biological processes such as cell cycle regulation, regulation of nitrogen compound metabolic process, regulation of cell division and response to stimulus. KEGG analysis showed that the differentially expressed mRNAs were mainly enriched in the pathways of cell cycle, cell senescence, and ferroptosis. Conclusion Fractional LDIR induced senescence in HBE cells, and differentially expressed mRNA-associated biological processes and pathways in senescent cells are related to cell cycle and cell senescence.
5.Researchon the training model of innovative talents in traditional Chinese medicine with the integration of science and education in local high-level universities
Lanwen GAO ; Ye GAO ; Ronghua ZHANG ; Li YANG ; Huan WANG ; Xiaoyun LI ; Lingyu LI ; Yu CAI
Modern Hospital 2024;24(1):127-129
Traditional Chinese Medicine has a long history and plays a decisive role in the fields of modern medicine and pharmacy.It is an important part of our country's traditional medicine.With the progress of the times,people are paying more and more attention to the innovation and development of traditional Chinese medicine.However,the current traditional Chinese medicine talents trained by major universities cannot meet the needs and requirements of society.This is closely related to the current talent training model of universities.Local high-level universities have unique advantages and potential in cultivating inno-vative talents in traditional Chinese medicine.They can incorporate traditional Chinese medicine culture with local characteristics into the teaching content and practical links of training traditional Chinese medicine talents,and build innovative traditional Chi-nese medicine talents integrating science and education.The training model is more conducive to cultivating top innovative talents that meet the needs of society and and the development of traditional Chinese medicine.This article analyzes and discusses how local high-level universities can develop innovative talent training models that suit the needs of traditional Chinese medicine by combining local characteristics and disciplinary advantages,so as to provide useful reference and inspiration for local high-level u-niversities in cultivating talents in traditional Chinese medicine.
6.Interaction Between Bruceoside B and Intestinal Flora and Its Inhibitory Effect on Human Lung Cancer A549 Cells
Lingyu SHI ; Wenmin WANG ; Yulin FENG ; Shilin YANG ; Yang WAN ; Daofeng CHEN ; Quan WEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(13):160-166
ObjectiveTo explore the interaction between bruceoside B and gut microbiota and the inhibitory activity of its metabolites on human lung cancer A549 cells, and to explore the value of bruceoside B in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC). MethodBruceoside B was co-incubated with the human gut microbiota under anoxic conditions in vitro, and ultra high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) was used to analyze the metabolic transformation products. Cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) assay was performed to determine the effects of bruceoside B and its metabolites on the proliferation of human lung cancer A549 cells and the half inhibitory concentration(IC50) was calculated. Five healthy male rats were gavaged with bruceoside B(2 mg·kg-1) for 7 days after adaptive feeding. The feces of rats were collected before and after administration. 16S rRNA sequencing was used to assess gut microbiota. ResultBruceoside B was mainly metabolized to brusatol by human gut microbiota, the IC50 of bruceoside B and the conversion product to A549 cells were 1 755.50, 19.57 μmol·L-1, respectively, and the conversion product had a better activity at inhibiting A549 cells proliferation than bruceoside B. Additionally, The results of intestinal flora analysis showed no significant differences in α diversity and β diversity of gut microbiota after administration. In terms of species abundance, at the phylum level, bruceoside B decreased the relative abundance of Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria, increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Patescibacteria and Cyanobacteria. At the genus level, bruceoside B decreased the relative abundance of Staphylococcus, Aerococcus and Psychrobacter, increased the relative abundance of Romboutsia, Lactobacillus, Clostridium sensu stricto 1, Norank-f-norank-o-Clostridia-UCG-014, Turicibacter, Allobaculum and Candidatus Saccharimonas. The results of functional prediction showed that the gut microbiota functional compositions were relatively stable. ConclusionBruceoside B can be deglycosylated by intestinal flora and converted into brusatol, with a significant increase in antitumor activity. The administration of bruceoside B will not cause significant changes in the structure and function of the intestinal flora, resulting in intestinal microecological balance disorders, and the administration appears to be beneficial to the intestinal flora of NSCLC patients.
7.Effects of electroacupuncture at Fengchi(GB20)on motor function and GFAP/NeuN expression around the ischemic tissue of the motor cortex in MCAO rats
Lüjia CHEN ; Lingyu HAO ; Yingjie ZHANG ; Mingshu XU ; Yanping YANG
Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science 2024;22(5):363-370
Objective:To investigate the potential mechanism of electroacupuncture(EA)at bilateral Fengchi(GB20)in treating cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and to provide a scientific basis for future experimental research and clinical applications. Methods:Forty male specific-pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups:a normal group,a normal with EA group,a model group,and a model with EA group,with 10 rats in each group.The normal group received no intervention.The normal with EA group received EA at bilateral Fengchi(GB20).The model group underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)using the suture.The model with EA group underwent MCAO and received EA at bilateral Fengchi(GB20).Cerebral blood flow was monitored using a laser Doppler cerebral blood flow meter.Neurologic damage was assessed using the neurologic deficit score,and motor ability was observed using the CatWalk gait system.The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP)and neuronal nuclei(NeuN)protein,the neuron markers,was detected by Western blotting.The protein expression levels of GFAP and NeuN,as well as the number of positive cells in the motor cortex,were detected using immunofluorescence. Results:Compared to the normal group,the cerebral blood flow values in the model group and the model with EA group decreased by more than 50%during the modeling process(P<0.01)and returned to pre-modeling levels after reperfusion(P>0.05).The neurologic deficit score increased(P<0.05),the average motor velocity decreased(P<0.05),GFAP protein expression and the number of positive cells in the motor cortex increased(P<0.05),and the NeuN protein expression and the number of positive cells decreased(P<0.05)in the model group.Compared to the model group,the neurologic deficit score decreased(P<0.05),the average motor velocity accelerated(P<0.05),GFAP and NeuN protein expression and the number of positive cells in the motor cortex increased(P<0.01)in the model with EA group. Conclusion:EA at bilateral Fengchi(GB20)can reduce neuronal loss and increase GFAP and NeuN protein expression in the motor cortex of rats after ischemia-reperfusion,improve the motor function after ischemic stroke,and accelerate the recovery of balance and stability of the affected limbs.
8.Expression and significance of ubiquitin-specific proteases 20 and hypoxia inducible factor-1α in breast cancer
Lingyu FANG ; Jinghua HU ; Junfeng WEN ; Shiqi HAN ; Yali WANG ; Lulan PU ; Jingjia LI ; Yi YANG ; Shishan DENG ; Lingmi HOU ; Fangfang ZHOU
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2024;40(16):2270-2276
Objective To explore the changes and significane of USP20 and HIF-α expression in breast cancer.Methods Following transfection of shRNA-USP20 lentivirus into breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells,the gene and protein expression levels of USP20 were detected using fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western Blot.Subsequently,the overexpression of USP20 was observed to determine its effect on HIF-α expression.Similarly,siRNA-USP20 was used to knock down USP20 in breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells,followed by detection of gene and protein expression levels using fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western Blot.The subsequent changes in HIF-α expression were then examined.Rusults The positive expression rates of USP20 and HIF-α in breast cancer tissues were 69.6%and 46.83%,respectively,while they were negatively expressed in the adjacent normal tissues,with statistically significant differences(P<0.01).The positive expressions of USP20 and HIF-α were predomi-nantly observed in the cytoplasm of breast cancer tissue,with a smaller amount present in the nucleus.There was a significant positive correlation between USP20 and HIF-α in breast cancer.Following transfection of shRNA-USP20 lentivirus into MDA-MB-231 cells,both the protein and gene expression levels of USP20 significantly increased(P<0.01).Over-expression of USP20 did not affect HIF-α mRNA levels but led to a significant increase in HIF-α protein expression(P<0.01).Conversely,siRNA-USP20 interference resulted in a significant decrease in both the protein and gene expression levels of USP20(P<0.01),without affecting HIF-α mRNA levels;however,it caused a notable reduction in HIF-α protein expression(P<0.01).Conclusion The expression of USP20 exhib-ited a significant positive correlation with HIF-α in breast cancer.Overexpression of USP20 led to a substantial increase in HIF-α protein expression,while knock-down of the USP20 gene resulted in a significant decrease in HIF-α protein levels.Therefore,it can be inferred that USP20 may exert its influence on the development of breast cancer through modulation of HIF-α expression,thereby providing crucial experimental evidence for clinical treat-ment,prognosis,and further investigations.
9.Impacts of X-rays at varying doses on liver injury and oxidative stress in mice
Mingfang LI ; Lingyu ZHANG ; Lina CAI ; Sufen ZHANG ; Yashi CAI ; Yuhua YANG ; Huifeng CHEN ; Jianming ZOU ; Weixu HUANG
Chinese Journal of Radiological Medicine and Protection 2024;44(9):734-740
Objective:To investigate the changes in liver injury and oxidative-antioxidant level in mice exposed to X-rays at varying doses.Methods:Fifty-four 8-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups, namely the control, 2 Gy irradiation, and 4 Gy irradiation groups. Then, each of the groups was further divided by days post-irradiation (i.e., 1, 3, and 7 d), and so nine sub-groups ( n = 6). After irradiation was performed as planned, all the mice were dissected and weighed, and their liver indexes were calculated to determine any histopathological changes in the liver. The peripheral blood cell count and the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were detected. Furthermore, spectrophotometry was also used to determine the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, the malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, and the reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration in liver tissues. Results:Compared to the control group, mice undergoing irradiation exhibited a significant reduction in body weight ( F = 84.03, 27.11, 25.50, P < 0.001), but significantly increased liver indexes ( F = 28.40, 17.75, P <0.001) at 1, 3, and 7 d post-irradiation. Pathological observations of these mice revealed liver injury, which proved related to dose and time course. The counts of leukocytes, neutrophils, and lymphocytes in peripheral blood decreased significantly ( F = 8.42-22.91, P < 0.05), trending downward with an increase in the radiation dose. For mice in the 4 Gy irradiation group, their AST and ALT levels increased significantly at 1 d post-irradiation ( H = 7.24, 7.82, P < 0.05), and their ALP levels rose notably at 1 and 3 d post-irradiation ( F = 11.86, 9.75, P < 0.05). Furthermore, their MDA and SOD levels initially rose and then dropped but their GSH levels exhibited an opposite trend at 1, 3, and 7 d post-irradiation. There was a positive correlation between their MDA levels in the liver and the degree of damage to histopathological lesions at 1, 3, and 7 d post-irradiation ( r = 0.30, P < 0.001). Conclusions:A model for radiation-induced liver injury of mice was preliminarily established in this study. It can be concluded that X-rays at varying doses affect the severity of liver injury, pathological grade, peripheral blood cell count, liver function index, and liver oxidative and antioxidant levels of mice, presenting a certain relationship between dose and time course effects.
10.Preparation of curcumin solid lipid nanoparticles inhalation powder loaded with nanoporous flower-shaped lactose and its in vitro inhibition effect on apoptosis
Nan LI ; Xu LI ; Peng CHENG ; Lingyu KONG ; Ping YANG
China Pharmacy 2023;34(2):150-155
OBJECTIVE To prepare the nanoporous flower-shaped lactose (FL)-loaded curcumin (Cur) solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) inhalation powder (Cur-SLN-FL), and to investigate its inhibition effect on LPS-induced apoptosis of BEAS- 2B cells. METHODS Using different kinds (lactose, sucrose, mannitol, trehalose) and different amounts (2%, 3%, 5%) of freeze-dried protectants as objects, the suspension of Cur-SLN was micronized by freeze-drying technology into lyophilized powder, which was then mixed with FL and sieved by a 200-mesh sieve to obtain Cur-SLN-FL. The physicochemical properties of Cur-SLN-FL was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and laser particle size analyzer. Using BEAS-2B cells cultured in vitro as objects, LPS-induced apoptosis and the changes of mitochondrial membrane potential after treatment of Cur-SLN-FL were detected by Annexin Ⅴ/PI double staining method and JC-1 kit. RESULTS With 3% trehalose as Cur-SLN freeze-dried protective agent, the freeze-dried powder obtained was compact and full in shape, did not shrink and collapse, and was uniform in color and light-yellow powder, which could be completely dissolved in 30 s. When FL and Cur-SLN freeze-dried powder were mixed at a ratio of 1∶2, it had a higher deposition rate of secondary distribution ([ 40.92±0.02)%]. SEM results showed that Cur-SLN-FL had a flower-shaped appearance with an average particle size of (4.95±0.57) μm and an aerodynamic particle size of (4.03±0.40) μm. The critical relative humidity of Cur-SLN-FL was about 54%, and the evacuation rate was (90.34 ± 1.21)%; the quantity of fine particles that could be inhaled by Cur-SLN-FL in the 2-7 receiving discs was (47.5±0.7)%, and the measured aerodynamic particle size was (4.33±0.08) μm. The LD50 of Cur-SLN-FL to BEAS-2B cells was 5.809 mg/mL. The apoptosis rate of model cells was significantly reduced after treatment of Cur-SLN-FL, and the mitochondrial membrane potential was significantly increased (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The preparation process of Cur-SLN-FL is simple and feasible. Cur-SLN-FL can improve LPS-induced apoptosis of BEAS-2B cells, and this effect is related to the regulation of mitochondrial membrane potential.

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