1.Mechanisms of Gut Microbiota Influencing Reproductive Function via The Gut-Gonadal Axis
Ya-Qi ZHAO ; Li-Li QI ; Jin-Bo WANG ; Xu-Qi HU ; Meng-Ting WANG ; Hai-Guang MAO ; Qiu-Zhen SUN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(5):1152-1164
Reproductive system diseases are among the primary contributors to the decline in social fertility rates and the intensification of aging, posing significant threats to both physical and mental health, as well as quality of life. Recent research has revealed the substantial potential of the gut microbiota in improving reproductive system diseases. Under healthy conditions, the gut microbiota maintains a dynamic balance, whereas dysfunction can trigger immune-inflammatory responses, metabolic disorders, and other issues, subsequently leading to reproductive system diseases through the gut-gonadal axis. Reproductive diseases, in turn, can exacerbate gut microbiota imbalance. This article reviews the impact of the gut microbiota and its metabolites on both male and female reproductive systems, analyzing changes in typical gut microorganisms and their metabolites related to reproductive function. The composition, diversity, and metabolites of gut bacteria, such as Bacteroides, Prevotella, and Firmicutes, including short-chain fatty acids, 5-hydroxytryptamine, γ-aminobutyric acid, and bile acids, are closely linked to reproductive function. As reproductive diseases develop, intestinal immune function typically undergoes changes, and the expression levels of immune-related factors, such as Toll-like receptors and inflammatory cytokines (including IL-6, TNF-α, and TGF-β), also vary. The gut microbiota and its metabolites influence reproductive hormones such as estrogen, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone, thereby affecting folliculogenesis and spermatogenesis. Additionally, the metabolism and absorption of vitamins can also impact spermatogenesis through the gut-testis axis. As the relationship between the gut microbiota and reproductive diseases becomes clearer, targeted regulation of the gut microbiota can be employed to address reproductive system issues in both humans and animals. This article discusses the regulation of the gut microbiota and intestinal immune function through microecological preparations, fecal microbiota transplantation, and drug therapy to treat reproductive diseases. Microbial preparations and drug therapy can help maintain the intestinal barrier and reduce chronic inflammation. Fecal microbiota transplantation involves transferring feces from healthy individuals into the recipient’s intestine, enhancing mucosal integrity and increasing microbial diversity. This article also delves into the underlying mechanisms by which the gut microbiota influences reproductive capacity through the gut-gonadal axis and explores the latest research in diagnosing and treating reproductive diseases using gut microbiota. The goal is to restore reproductive capacity by targeting the regulation of the gut microbiota. While the gut microbiota holds promise as a therapeutic target for reproductive diseases, several challenges remain. First, research on the association between gut microbiota and reproductive diseases is insufficient to establish a clear causal relationship, which is essential for proposing effective therapeutic methods targeting the gut microbiota. Second, although gut microbiota metabolites can influence lipid, glucose, and hormone synthesis and metabolism via various signaling pathways—thereby indirectly affecting ovarian and testicular function—more in-depth research is required to understand the direct effects of these metabolites on germ cells or granulosa cells. Lastly, the specific efficacy of gut microbiota in treating reproductive diseases is influenced by multiple factors, necessitating further mechanistic research and clinical studies to validate and optimize treatment regimens.
2.The Role and Mechanism of Circadian Rhythm Regulation in Skin Tissue Regeneration
Ya-Qi ZHAO ; Lin-Lin ZHANG ; Xiao-Meng MA ; Zhen-Kai JIN ; Kun LI ; Min WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(5):1165-1178
Circadian rhythm is an endogenous biological clock mechanism that enables organisms to adapt to the earth’s alternation of day and night. It plays a fundamental role in regulating physiological functions and behavioral patterns, such as sleep, feeding, hormone levels and body temperature. By aligning these processes with environmental changes, circadian rhythm plays a pivotal role in maintaining homeostasis and promoting optimal health. However, modern lifestyles, characterized by irregular work schedules and pervasive exposure to artificial light, have disrupted these rhythms for many individuals. Such disruptions have been linked to a variety of health problems, including sleep disorders, metabolic syndromes, cardiovascular diseases, and immune dysfunction, underscoring the critical role of circadian rhythm in human health. Among the numerous systems influenced by circadian rhythm, the skin—a multifunctional organ and the largest by surface area—is particularly noteworthy. As the body’s first line of defense against environmental insults such as UV radiation, pollutants, and pathogens, the skin is highly affected by changes in circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythm regulates multiple skin-related processes, including cyclic changes in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, as well as DNA repair mechanisms and antioxidant defenses. For instance, studies have shown that keratinocyte proliferation peaks during the night, coinciding with reduced environmental stress, while DNA repair mechanisms are most active during the day to counteract UV-induced damage. This temporal coordination highlights the critical role of circadian rhythms in preserving skin integrity and function. Beyond maintaining homeostasis, circadian rhythm is also pivotal in the skin’s repair and regeneration processes following injury. Skin regeneration is a complex, multi-stage process involving hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling, all of which are influenced by circadian regulation. Key cellular activities, such as fibroblast migration, keratinocyte activation, and extracellular matrix remodeling, are modulated by the circadian clock, ensuring that repair processes occur with optimal efficiency. Additionally, circadian rhythm regulates the secretion of cytokines and growth factors, which are critical for coordinating cellular communication and orchestrating tissue regeneration. Disruptions to these rhythms can impair the repair process, leading to delayed wound healing, increased scarring, or chronic inflammatory conditions. The aim of this review is to synthesize recent information on the interactions between circadian rhythms and skin physiology, with a particular focus on skin tissue repair and regeneration. Molecular mechanisms of circadian regulation in skin cells, including the role of core clock genes such as Clock, Bmal1, Per and Cry. These genes control the expression of downstream effectors involved in cell cycle regulation, DNA repair, oxidative stress response and inflammatory pathways. By understanding how these mechanisms operate in healthy and diseased states, we can discover new insights into the temporal dynamics of skin regeneration. In addition, by exploring the therapeutic potential of circadian biology in enhancing skin repair and regeneration, strategies such as topical medications that can be applied in a time-limited manner, phototherapy that is synchronized with circadian rhythms, and pharmacological modulation of clock genes are expected to optimize clinical outcomes. Interventions based on the skin’s natural rhythms can provide a personalized and efficient approach to promote skin regeneration and recovery. This review not only introduces the important role of circadian rhythms in skin biology, but also provides a new idea for future innovative therapies and regenerative medicine based on circadian rhythms.
3.Synthesis and anti-tumor activity of ursolic acid-triazole derivatives
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(1):172-178
Ten ursolic acid derivatives were designed from the lead compound ursolic acid by introducing 1,2,3-triazole at C-3 and C-28. The target compounds were synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR and 13C NMR. MTT assay was used to study the antitumor activity of these compounds in human cancer cells with high expression (MCF-7 and SGC-7901). The results showed that the antitumor activity of all compounds on MCF-7 and SGC-7901 tumor cells was significantly higher than that of ursolic acid. The compound
4.Danggui Shaoyaosan Regulates Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 Signaling Pathway to Inhibit Ferroptosis in Rat Model of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Xinqiao CHU ; Yaning BIAO ; Ying GU ; Meng LI ; Tiantong JIANG ; Yuan DING ; Xiaping TAO ; Shaoli WANG ; Ziheng WEI ; Zhen LIU ; Yixin ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(16):35-42
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Danggui Shaoyaosan on ferroptosis in the rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and explore the underlying mechanism based on the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11)/glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) signaling pathway. MethodsThe sixty SD rats were randomly grouped as follows: control, model, Yishanfu (0.144 g·kg-1), and low-, medium-, and high-dose (2.44, 4.88, and 9.76 g·kg-1, respectively) Danggui Shaoyaosan. A high-fat diet was used to establish the rat model of NAFLD. After 12 weeks of modeling, rats were treated with corresponding agents for 4 weeks. Then, the body weight and liver weight were measured, and the liver index was calculated. At the same time, serum and liver samples were collected. The levels or activities of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and Fe2+ in the serum and TC, TG, free fatty acids (FFA), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and Fe2+ in the liver were measured. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and oil red O staining were employed to observe the pathological changes in the liver. Immunofluorescence was used to assess the reactive oxygen species (ROS) content in the liver. Mitochondrial morphology was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The protein levels of Nrf2, SLC7A11, GPX4, transferrin receptor 1 (TFR1), and divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) in the liver were determined by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the control group, the model group showed increases in the body weight, liver weight, liver index, levels or activities of TC, TG, ALT, AST, and Fe2+ in the serum, levels of TC, TG, FFA, MDA, Fe2+, and ROS in the liver, and protein levels of TFR1 and DMT1 in the liver (P<0.01), and decreases in the activities of SOD, GPX and the protein levels of Nrf2, SLC7A11, and GPX4 in the liver (P<0.05, P<0.01). Meanwhile, the liver tissue in the model group presented steatosis, iron deposition, mitochondrial shrinkage, and blurred or swollen mitochondrial cristae. Compared with the model group, all doses of Danggui Shaoyaosan reduced the body weight, liver weight, liver index, levels or activities of TC, TG, ALT, AST, and Fe2+ in the serum, levels of TC, TG, FFA, MDA, Fe2+, and ROS in the liver, and protein levels of TFR1 and DMT1 in the liver (P<0.01), while increasing the activities of SOD and GPX and the protein levels of Nrf2, SLC7A11, and GPX4 in the liver (P<0.01). Furthermore, Danggui Shaoyaosan alleviated steatosis, iron deposition, and mitochondrial damage in the liver. ConclusionDanggui Shaoyaosan may inhibit lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis by activating the Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 signaling pathway to treat NAFLD.
5.Progress of intraosseous basivertebral nerve ablation for symptomatic Modic alterations
Gui LIAO ; Yu-Min MENG ; Zhuan ZOU ; Kai-Zhen XIAO ; Guang-Yu HUANG ; Rong-He GU
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2024;37(4):423-428
Chronic lumbar and back pain caused by degenerative vertebral endplates presents a challenging issue for pa-tients and clinicians.As a new minimally invasive spinal treatment method,radiofrequency ablation of vertebral basal nerve in bone can denature the corresponding vertebral basal nerve through radiofrequency ablation of degenerative vertebral endplate.It blocks the nociceptive signal transmission of the vertebral base nerve,thereby alleviating the symptoms of low back pain caused by the degenerative vertebral endplate.At present,many foreign articles have reported the operation principle,opera-tion method,clinical efficacy and related complications of radiofrequency ablation of the vertebral basal nerve.The main pur-pose of this paper is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the current relevant research,and provide a reference for the follow-up clinical research.
6.Antibiotic bone cement covered reconstruction plate for infected anterior pelvic ring fractures
Meng LI ; Ke-Jing WANG ; Zhen-Yang GAO ; Yun-Fei XIE ; Tao GUO
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2024;37(5):451-457
Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of antibiotic bone cement covered reconstruction steel plate in the treatment of infected anterior pelvic ring fracture.Methods From January 2017 to March 2022,11 patients with infected ante-rior pelvic ring fracture were treated with antibiotic bone cement covered reconstruction steel plate including 7 males and 4 fe-males and the age ranged from 27 to 49 years old.The pelvic fractures were classified according to the Tile typology:4 cases of Cl type,4 cases of C2 type,and 3 cases of C3 type.Among them,2 cases of infected anterior ring were infected after internal fixation of anterior ring,and 9 patients were infected with infected anterior ring due to incomplete early debridement,which was classified as infected according to the injury severity score(ISS)for 24 to 38 scores.The anterior ring was internally fixed by extended debridement,irrigation,and antibiotic bone cement covered reconstruction plate,and the posterior ring fractures were all closed reduction and internally fixed with sacroiliac screws.Results All 11 cases obtained follow-up from 13 to 20 months.A-mong them,2 patients had recurrence of postoperative infection,1 case was re-dissected and replaced with antibiotic bone cement-coated internal fixation,and 1 case had a milder infection without accumulation of the medullary cavity,and the infection was controlled by retaining the plate and replacing the antibiotic bone cement only after dissecting.Two cases developed incisional oozing,which healed after removal of the internal fixation three months postoperatively.All patients did not show pelvic fracture redisplacement or reinfection during the follow-up period.All 11 cases eventually healed bony.At the final follow-up,according to the Matta score,the fracture reduction was excellent in 6 cases,good in 4,and possible in 1.According to the Majeed functional score,it was excellent in 6,good in 3,and possible in 2.Conclusion Antibiotic bone cement covered reconstruction plate is ef-fective in the treatment of infected anterior pelvic ring fracture,with high intraoperative safety and low recurrence rate of infec-tion,which is conducive to the early postoperative rehabilitation and significantly shortens the course of the disease.
7.Study on the safety and efficacy of novel portable extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in animal experiments in vivo
Meng-En ZHAI ; Jian-Chao LUO ; Lin-He LU ; Yu-Chao REN ; Ping JIN ; Zhen-Hua LIU ; Jian YANG ; Zhen-Xiao JIN ; Jin-Cheng LIU ; Yang LIU
Chinese Journal of Interventional Cardiology 2024;32(8):447-450
Objective To verify the safety and efficacy of a new portable extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO)system(Xijing Advanced Life Support System JC-Ⅲ)in large animals.Methods A total of 10 healthy small fat-tail sheep underwent veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(VA-ECMO)support by carotid arterial-jugular catheterization to evaluate the performance of the JC-Ⅲ ECMO system.Systemic anticoagulation was achieved by continuous infusion of heparin.Active coagulation time(ACT)was recorded every 2 hours during the experiment,and the ACT was maintained between 200-250 s.Centrifugal pump speed is set at 3 000-3 500 r/min.The changes of hemoglobin,blood cell counts,hematocrit,liver and kidney function were monitored before and 24 h after ECMO initiation,respectively.After the experiment,the pump and oxygenator were dissected to probe the thrombosis.Results The success rate of VA-ECMO operation was 100%,and there was no hemolysis,pump thrombosis and oxygenator thrombosis after 24 h of ECMO.Before and after the operation,there were no significant changes in indicators such as hemoglobin content,white blood cell counts,platelet counts,alanine aminotransferase concentration,aspartate aminotransferase concentration,urea,creatinine,high-sensitivity troponin Ⅰ,and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(all P>0.05).Conclusions This in vivo study confirms that Xijing Advanced Life support System JC-Ⅲ is safe and effective.
8.Optical coherence tomography detection of non-culprit coronary lesions vulnerable plaques at high risk of developing major adverse cardiovascular events
Hong YANG ; Sen LIU ; Cheng LIU ; Meng-Wei WEI ; Qi-Qi SHAO ; Ya-Qi ZHOU ; Zhen-Yan FU
Chinese Journal of Interventional Cardiology 2024;32(11):635-641
Objective To investigate the value of optical coherence tomography(OCT)in predicting the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)in patients of acute coronary syndrome(ACS).Methods Four hundred and forth-eight ACS patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)and OCT from February 2015 to February 2022 were selected as the study subjects.We found 749 non-culprit coronary lesions.And follow up the patients,median follow-up was 5 years[interquartile interval(IQR):3-7 years].Kaplan-meier was used to estimate the cumulative incidence of MACE,multivariate Cox regression was used to analyze the risk of MACE with OCT parameters non-culprit coronary lesions,and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of OCT parameters for MACE in non-culprit coronary lesions.Results A total of 749 non-culprit coronary lesions were detected,and 41 MACE cases were caused by non-culprit coronary lesions imaged by OCT.Compared with plaques without thin-cap fibroatheroma(TCFA)and minimal lumen area(MLA)<3.5 mm2,the incidence of MACE was significantly associated with vulnerable plaques with TCFA and MLA<3.5 mm2(33%vs.3%,HR 13.62,95%CI 6.71-27.65,P<0.001).Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that larger maximum lipid arc(HR 1.02,95%CI 1.01-1.03,P<0.001),smaller maximum lipid cap thickness(HR 0.97,95%CI 0.96-0.99,P<0.001)and MLA(HR 0.31,95%CI 0.18-0.55,P<0.001)were independent risk factors for MACE.The area under ROC curve(AUC)of the thinnest fiber cap thickness for predicting MACE occurrence was 0.858(95%CI 0.802-0.913),and the optimal cutoff value was 66.5 μm.The AUC of maximum lipid arc for predicting MACE occurrence was 0.853(95%CI 0.786-0.920),and the optimal cut-off value was 180.35°.The AUC of MLA for predicting MACE was 0.821(95%CI 0.766-0.876),and the optimal cutoff was 3.575 mm2.Conclusions The non-culprit coronary lesions with TCFA and MLA<3.5 mm2 were significantly associated with an increased risk of subsequent MACE development at the lesion level,and OCT imaging helps early identification of the risk of MACE development in non-culprit coronary lesions in patients of ACS.
9.FLASH Interacts with Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein Ⅳ(PML Ⅳ)and Enhances the SUMOylation of p53
Meng-Ni WANG ; Zhen-Zhen XIONG ; Zhi-Ying WANG ; Jian-Hua WU ; Xiao-Zhong SHI
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2024;40(10):1426-1440
As a unique gene in the genome,FLASH(FADD-like interleukin-1β-converting enzyme asso-ciated huge protein)/CASP8AP2 is involved in multiple cellular processes,including apoptosis,histone gene pre-mRNA processing,transcriptional regulation,and cell cycle progression.Clinical studies have shown that FLASH is a valuable prognostic marker for acute lymphoblastic leukemia,and a crucial factor for the survival of various cancer cells.Therefore,in-depth research into the function of FLASH may offer new perspectives for the treatment of related diseases.Our previous research identified FLASH as a bind-ing partner of p53,demonstrating that FLASH enhances the transcriptional activity of p53.Here we fur-ther investigate the molecular mechanisms of the interaction between FLASH and p53,revealing that the p53-K386R mutation(SUMOylation residue)attenuated its interaction with FLASH(aa 51-200)and FLASH-SIM(SUMO-interacting motif)(aa 1 534-1 806)significantly.However,SUMO can bind to FLASH-SIM directly,instead of FLASH(aa 51-200).Subsequent research shows that overexpression of FLASH in cells enhances global SUMO1 conjugation and p53-SUMO1 conjugation,therefore providing a plausible explanation for the underlying mechanism of FLASH enhancing the transcriptional activity of p53.Since promyelocytic leukemia protein nuclear body(PML NB)serves as subcellular reactors for SUMO conjugation within the cell,and the PML Ⅳ isoform can specifically enhance the SUMO modifica-tion of p53,we have investigated the interaction between FLASH and PML Ⅳ,and elucidated the struc-tural basis of their interaction:both FLASH-N3A(501-802)and FLASH-C2(1 807-1 981)bind to PML Ⅳ(aa 228-633).Further investigations reveal that they can synergistically enhance global SUMO1 modification as well as SUMO1 modification of p53.The interaction between FLASH and tumor suppres-sors p53 or PML Ⅳ enriches our understanding of its function and reveals the potential mechanism of FLASH in tumor development,therefore offering novel insights into cancer diagnosis and treatment.
10.Exploration and Practice of the Construction of Molecular Biology in English
Yu-Meng CHEN ; Meng-Hao CAI ; Hai-Zhen WU ; Li-Qiang FAN ; Jian ZHAO ; Hui-Zhan ZHANG ; Jian-Hua FAN
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2024;40(10):1471-1478
Molecular Biology is a key basic professional course for all the students specializing in Biolo-gy,Biotechnology,and Bioengineering.With the promotion of double world-class project and first-class undergraduate construction,the development of English-taught course faces challenges.We started to teach the Molecular Biology course in English at the East China University of Science and Technology since 2019,the construction of Molecular Biology course has been reformed and practiced,including the combination of imagery,vividness and classroom teaching,the combination of advanced,cutting-edge and classical theories,and the comprehensive coverage of the teaching process,which has effectively pro-moted the construction and practice of Molecular Biology course.The Molecular Biology course taught in English greatly increased the students'professional and scientific research ability,international vision and English academic communication ability,comprehensive ability and satisfaction,and teachers'teaching and research ability.This course provides an effective reference for fostering innovative profes-sional first-class undergraduates and the construction of Molecular Biology course.

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