1.Effect Analysis of Different Interventions to Improve Neuroinflammation in The Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
Jiang-Hui SHAN ; Chao-Yang CHU ; Shi-Yu CHEN ; Zhi-Cheng LIN ; Yu-Yu ZHOU ; Tian-Yuan FANG ; Chu-Xia ZHANG ; Biao XIAO ; Kai XIE ; Qing-Juan WANG ; Zhi-Tao LIU ; Li-Ping LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):310-333
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a central neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive decline and memory impairment in clinical. Currently, there are no effective treatments for AD. In recent years, a variety of therapeutic approaches from different perspectives have been explored to treat AD. Although the drug therapies targeted at the clearance of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) had made a breakthrough in clinical trials, there were associated with adverse events. Neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the onset and progression of AD. Continuous neuroinflammatory was considered to be the third major pathological feature of AD, which could promote the formation of extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. At the same time, these toxic substances could accelerate the development of neuroinflammation, form a vicious cycle, and exacerbate disease progression. Reducing neuroinflammation could break the feedback loop pattern between neuroinflammation, Aβ plaque deposition and Tau tangles, which might be an effective therapeutic strategy for treating AD. Traditional Chinese herbs such as Polygonum multiflorum and Curcuma were utilized in the treatment of AD due to their ability to mitigate neuroinflammation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and indomethacin had been shown to reduce the level of inflammasomes in the body, and taking these drugs was associated with a low incidence of AD. Biosynthetic nanomaterials loaded with oxytocin were demonstrated to have the capability to anti-inflammatory and penetrate the blood-brain barrier effectively, and they played an anti-inflammatory role via sustained-releasing oxytocin in the brain. Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells could reduce neuroinflammation and inhibit the activation of microglia. The secretion of mesenchymal stem cells could not only improve neuroinflammation, but also exert a multi-target comprehensive therapeutic effect, making it potentially more suitable for the treatment of AD. Enhancing the level of TREM2 in microglial cells using gene editing technologies, or application of TREM2 antibodies such as Ab-T1, hT2AB could improve microglial cell function and reduce the level of neuroinflammation, which might be a potential treatment for AD. Probiotic therapy, fecal flora transplantation, antibiotic therapy, and dietary intervention could reshape the composition of the gut microbiota and alleviate neuroinflammation through the gut-brain axis. However, the drugs of sodium oligomannose remain controversial. Both exercise intervention and electromagnetic intervention had the potential to attenuate neuroinflammation, thereby delaying AD process. This article focuses on the role of drug therapy, gene therapy, stem cell therapy, gut microbiota therapy, exercise intervention, and brain stimulation in improving neuroinflammation in recent years, aiming to provide a novel insight for the treatment of AD by intervening neuroinflammation in the future.
2.Transzonal Projections and Follicular Development Abnormalities in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Di CHENG ; Yu-Hua CHEN ; Xia-Ping JIANG ; Lan-Yu LI ; Yi TAN ; Ming LI ; Zhong-Cheng MO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(10):2499-2511
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder affecting a substantial proportion of women of reproductive age. It is frequently associated with ovulatory dysfunction, infertility, and an increased risk of chronic metabolic diseases. A hallmark pathological feature of PCOS is the arrest of follicular development, closely linked to impaired intercellular communication between the oocyte and surrounding granulosa cells. Transzonal projections (TZPs) are specialized cytoplasmic extensions derived from granulosa cells that penetrate the zona pellucida to establish direct contact with the oocyte. These structures serve as essential conduits for the transfer of metabolites, signaling molecules (e.g., cAMP, cGMP), and regulatory factors (e.g., microRNAs, growth differentiation factors), thereby maintaining meiotic arrest, facilitating metabolic cooperation, and supporting gene expression regulation in the oocyte. The proper formation and maintenance of TZPs depend on the cytoskeletal integrity of granulosa cells and the regulated expression of key connexins, particularly CX37 and CX43. Recent studies have revealed that in PCOS, TZPs exhibit significant structural and functional abnormalities. Contributing factors—such as hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and dysregulation of critical signaling pathways (including PI3K/Akt, Wnt/β‑catenin, and MAPK/ERK)—collectively impair TZP integrity and reduce their formation. This disruption in granulosa-oocyte communication compromises oocyte quality and contributes to follicular arrest and anovulation. This review provides a comprehensive overview of TZP biology, including their formation mechanisms, molecular composition, and stage-specific dynamics during folliculogenesis. We highlight the pathological alterations in TZPs observed in PCOS and elucidate how endocrine and metabolic disturbances—particularly androgen excess and hyperinsulinemia—downregulate CX43 expression and impair gap junction function, thereby exacerbating ovarian microenvironmental dysfunction. Furthermore, we explore emerging therapeutic strategies aimed at preserving or restoring TZP integrity. Anti-androgen therapies (e.g., spironolactone, flutamide), insulin sensitizers (e.g., metformin), and GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., liraglutide) have shown potential in modulating connexin expression and enhancing granulosa-oocyte communication. In addition, agents such as melatonin, AMPK activators, and GDF9/BMP15 analogs may promote TZP formation and improve oocyte competence. Advanced technologies, including ovarian organoid models and CRISPR-based gene editing, offer promising platforms for studying TZP regulation and developing targeted interventions. In summary, TZPs are indispensable for maintaining follicular homeostasis, and their disruption plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of PCOS-related folliculogenesis failure. Targeting TZP integrity represents a promising therapeutic avenue in PCOS management and warrants further mechanistic and translational investigation.
3.Mechanism of effect of rosiglitazone on pancreatic cancer in diabetic mice based on impact of PPARy on glucose transport and metabolism
Rui-Ping HU ; Li-Feng SHANG ; He-Jing WANG ; Hong-Xia CHE ; Ming-Liang WANG ; Huan YANG ; Yuan-Yuan JIN ; Fei-Fei ZHANG ; Jian-Ling ZHANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(7):1325-1334
Aim To explore the mechanism of the effect of rosiglitazone(Rsg)on the pancreatic cancer in diabetic mice based on the impact of PPARγ on glu-cose transport and metabolism.Methods A high-fat and high sugar diet combined with STZ was used to construct T2DM model;T2DM mice and normal mice were subcutaneously injected with PANC02 cells to construct a transplanted tumor model.T2DM trans-planted tumor mice and normal transplanted tumor mice were divided into the following groups:Rsg,PPARy inhibitor(PIN-2),rosiglitazone+PPARγ in-hibitor(Rsg+PIN-2),and normal transplanted tumor mice(NDM)and T2DM transplanted tumor mice(DM)were used as control groups,respectively.Tis-sue samples were collected after intervention.Tissue pathological changes were observed by HE staining.The expressions of Ki67 and PCNA proteins were de-tected by immunohistochemistry.Cell apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay.The expression of PPARγwas detected by immunofluorescence.The expressions of Glucokinase,GLUT2,Nkx6.1,PDX-1RT-PCR were determined by Western blot.Results Rsg could significantly reduce the tumor mass,pathological chan-ges,Ki67 and PCNA expression of transplanted tumors(P<0.05),increase cell apoptosis and the expression of PPARγ,Glucokinase,GLUT2,Nkx6.1,PDX-1 proteins in NDM and DM mice(P<0.05).PIN-2 could reverse the indicator changes caused by Rsg in NDM and DM mice.However,compared with NDM mice,the above related indicators of the DM group mice were more sensitive to Rsg and PIN-2.Conclu-sions Compared to non-diabetic pancreatic cancer,rosiglitazone can more sensitively inhibit the prolifera-tion of pancreatic cancer with T2DM,induce apopto-sis,and reprogram the metabolism of pancreatic cancer with T2DM by activating PPA Rγ and altering the ex-pression of glucose and lipid metabolism genes,there-by exerting an anti-cancer effect.
4.Effect of LncRNAuc.48+on CGRP-mediated trigeminal neuralgi
Meng-Xia TAN ; Rao-Ping WU ; Ai-Xia ZHANG ; Yun GAO ; Wei XIONG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(10):1866-1871
Aim To investigate how the long non-cod-ing RNA uc.48+(lncRNA uc.48+)affected calci-tonin gene-related peptide(CGRP)in the trigeminal ganglion(TG)of rats with trigeminal neuralgia(TN)and its potential mechanism.Methods Chronic con-striction injury of the infraorbital nerve(CCI-ION)in rats was used to create the animal model for trigeminal neuralgia.After modeling,uc.48+siRNA was injec-ted locally via the infraorbital foramen to knock down lncRNA uc.48+,and uc.48+plasmid was transfect-ed into normal rats to over-express lncRNA uc.48+.The face mechanical pain threshold(MWT)of each group was measured by behavioral test,and the content and changes of CGRP in rat TG were observed using qPCR and protein blotting.The change in serum in-flammatory cytokine 1L-1β was determined using ELISA.Results The MWT in TN rats treated with the uc.48+siRNA increased significantly,but the protein and mRNA levels of CGRP in TG decreased significantly(P<0.01),and the level of 1L-1β de-creased as well(P<0.01).In addition,the MWT of normal rats transfected with uc.48+plasmid was sig-nificantly diminished,and the mRNA and protein lev-els of CGRP in TG were markedly elevated(P<0.01),as were the levels of 1L-1β(P<0.01),compared to normal rats.Conclusions Knocking out uc.48+in TN rats reduces pain,while overexpressing uc.48+exacerbates pain transmission in trigeminal neuralgia.The mechanism by which uc.48+small in-terference inhibits trigeminal neural pathology pain may be through decreasing CGRP expression in TG of rats with TN,therefore ameliorating mechanical pain sensi-tivity.
5.Comparison of intracellular uptake and target protein binding characteristics of two BTK inhibitors with different selectivities
Teng ZHANG ; Ting-Fei TAN ; Ying-Li ZHAO ; Gong-Wei HAN ; Zi-Tong XIA ; Han-Bing SHI ; He-Ying LIU ; Jun-Ping WANG ; Quan XIA
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(10):1899-1905
Aim To investigate the intracellular up-take and target protein binding characteristics of two Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors(BTKi)with differ-ent selectivities to provide further insights into the mechanisms of drug off-target-related bleeding risk.Methods Ibrutinib(non-selective BTKi)and za-nubrutinib(selective BTKi)were used as study drugs.After incubation of MEC-1 cells and human platelets with drugs,the cellular thermal shift assay(CETSA)was combined with Western blot to obtain the melting curve and isothermal curve to analyze the binding char-acteristics of the two drugs with the target protein BTK.After incubation of MEC-1 cells and human platelets with drugs,the concentrations of the two drugs were detected by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS)to analyze the intracellular uptake of the two drugs.Results CETSA analysis confirmed that zanubrutinib was more selective for the target protein BTK compared to ibrutinib.LC-MS/MS analysis showed that both drugs were uptaken intracel-lularly by MEC-1 cells and platelets in a concentration-dependent manner.Conclusions While BTKi targe-ting BTK to B lymphocytes exerts therapeutic effects,off-target effects on platelets due to differences in their intracellular uptake,and target-binding characteristics may be one of the reasons for the differences in bleed-ing risk across selective BTKi.
6.Impact of cold circulation liquid temperature on ablation focus morphology of microwave ablation for porcine liver in vitro
Xia LUO ; Ping HE ; Xin YANG ; Juying ZHANG ; Qiong JIANG ; Linli FENG ; Hanmei LI ; Xiaoqing TANG ; You YANG ; Jinhong YU
Chinese Journal of Interventional Imaging and Therapy 2024;21(5):294-297
Objective To observe the impact of cold circulation liquid temperature on ablation focus morphology of microwave ablation(MWA)for in vitro porcine liver tissue.Methods Twenty in vitro fresh porcine liver blocks were randomly divided into ice water circulation group(group A)and normal temperature circulation group(group B),respectively.Ten target ablations in each subgroups in group A and group B,i.e.A1 and B1(50 W,1 min),A2 and B2(50 W,5 min),A3 and B3(60 W,1 min),A4 and B4(60 W,5 min),A5 and B5(70 W,1 min)as well as A6 and B6(70 W,5 min)subgroups were performed using different ablation power(50,60,70 W)and ablation time(1,5 min),respectively.Then the morphology indexes of ablation foci,including longitudinal diameter(LD),transverse diameter(TD),roundness index(RI)and volume(V)were compared between subgroups in group A and B,also among subgroups within group A and B.Results Under the same ablation power and time,LD of ablation foci in subgroups of group A were all smaller than those of group B(all P<0.05).Significant differences of RI of ablation foci were found between A1 and B1,A2 and B2,A4 and B4,A5 and B5 as well as A6 and B6 subgroups(all P<0.05),but not between A3 and B3 subgroups(P>0.05).However,the main effect of cold circulation liquid temperature on ablation focus TD(F=1.125)nor V(F=3.332)was not significant(both P≥0.05).Under the same cold circulation liquid temperature,significant differences of the morphology indexes of ablation foci were detected between A1 and A2,A3 and A4 as well as A5 and A6 subgroups,also between corresponding subgroups in group B(all P<0.05).Conclusion During MWA for in vitro porcine liver tissue under constant ablation power and time,taken ice water as the cold circulation liquid was benefit to ablation focus shaped spherically.With the extension of ablation time,the larger the ablation focus,the higher the RI.
7.Surveillance of bacterial resistance in tertiary hospitals across China:results of CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program in 2022
Yan GUO ; Fupin HU ; Demei ZHU ; Fu WANG ; Xiaofei JIANG ; Yingchun XU ; Xiaojiang ZHANG ; Fengbo ZHANG ; Ping JI ; Yi XIE ; Yuling XIAO ; Chuanqing WANG ; Pan FU ; Yuanhong XU ; Ying HUANG ; Ziyong SUN ; Zhongju CHEN ; Jingyong SUN ; Qing CHEN ; Yunzhuo CHU ; Sufei TIAN ; Zhidong HU ; Jin LI ; Yunsong YU ; Jie LIN ; Bin SHAN ; Yunmin XU ; Sufang GUO ; Yanyan WANG ; Lianhua WEI ; Keke LI ; Hong ZHANG ; Fen PAN ; Yunjian HU ; Xiaoman AI ; Chao ZHUO ; Danhong SU ; Dawen GUO ; Jinying ZHAO ; Hua YU ; Xiangning HUANG ; Wen'en LIU ; Yanming LI ; Yan JIN ; Chunhong SHAO ; Xuesong XU ; Wei LI ; Shanmei WANG ; Yafei CHU ; Lixia ZHANG ; Juan MA ; Shuping ZHOU ; Yan ZHOU ; Lei ZHU ; Jinhua MENG ; Fang DONG ; Zhiyong LÜ ; Fangfang HU ; Han SHEN ; Wanqing ZHOU ; Wei JIA ; Gang LI ; Jinsong WU ; Yuemei LU ; Jihong LI ; Qian SUN ; Jinju DUAN ; Jianbang KANG ; Xiaobo MA ; Yanqing ZHENG ; Ruyi GUO ; Yan ZHU ; Yunsheng CHEN ; Qing MENG ; Shifu WANG ; Xuefei HU ; Wenhui HUANG ; Juan LI ; Quangui SHI ; Juan YANG ; Abulimiti REZIWAGULI ; Lili HUANG ; Xuejun SHAO ; Xiaoyan REN ; Dong LI ; Qun ZHANG ; Xue CHEN ; Rihai LI ; Jieli XU ; Kaijie GAO ; Lu XU ; Lin LIN ; Zhuo ZHANG ; Jianlong LIU ; Min FU ; Yinghui GUO ; Wenchao ZHANG ; Zengguo WANG ; Kai JIA ; Yun XIA ; Shan SUN ; Huimin YANG ; Yan MIAO ; Mingming ZHOU ; Shihai ZHANG ; Hongjuan LIU ; Nan CHEN ; Chan LI ; Jilu SHEN ; Wanqi MEN ; Peng WANG ; Xiaowei ZHANG ; Yanyan LIU ; Yong AN
Chinese Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy 2024;24(3):277-286
Objective To monitor the susceptibility of clinical isolates to antimicrobial agents in tertiary hospitals in major regions of China in 2022.Methods Clinical isolates from 58 hospitals in China were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility using a unified protocol based on disc diffusion method or automated testing systems.Results were interpreted using the 2022 Clinical &Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)breakpoints.Results A total of 318 013 clinical isolates were collected from January 1,2022 to December 31,2022,of which 29.5%were gram-positive and 70.5%were gram-negative.The prevalence of methicillin-resistant strains in Staphylococcus aureus,Staphylococcus epidermidis and other coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species(excluding Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Staphylococcus schleiferi)was 28.3%,76.7%and 77.9%,respectively.Overall,94.0%of MRSA strains were susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and 90.8%of MRSE strains were susceptible to rifampicin.No vancomycin-resistant strains were found.Enterococcus faecalis showed significantly lower resistance rates to most antimicrobial agents tested than Enterococcus faecium.A few vancomycin-resistant strains were identified in both E.faecalis and E.faecium.The prevalence of penicillin-susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae was 94.2%in the isolates from children and 95.7%in the isolates from adults.The resistance rate to carbapenems was lower than 13.1%in most Enterobacterales species except for Klebsiella,21.7%-23.1%of which were resistant to carbapenems.Most Enterobacterales isolates were highly susceptible to tigecycline,colistin and polymyxin B,with resistance rates ranging from 0.1%to 13.3%.The prevalence of meropenem-resistant strains decreased from 23.5%in 2019 to 18.0%in 2022 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa,and decreased from 79.0%in 2019 to 72.5%in 2022 in Acinetobacter baumannii.Conclusions The resistance of clinical isolates to the commonly used antimicrobial agents is still increasing in tertiary hospitals.However,the prevalence of important carbapenem-resistant organisms such as carbapenem-resistant K.pneumoniae,P.aeruginosa,and A.baumannii showed a downward trend in recent years.This finding suggests that the strategy of combining antimicrobial resistance surveillance with multidisciplinary concerted action works well in curbing the spread of resistant bacteria.
8.Practice of"scientific problem-based discussion-situational teaching"in course of Medical Immunology
Miaoran XIA ; Wei WANG ; Xulong ZHANG ; Jiangnan XU ; Ping CHEN
Chinese Journal of Immunology 2024;40(12):2634-2637
Medical Immunology is a core basic course for medical majors.In order to broaden students'horizons,cultivate students'scientific thinking,and improve students'problem-solving ability,we designed the"scientific problem-based discussion-situational teaching"module in Medical Immunology course.We create"scientific research situations"based on"cutting-edge topics"to allow students investigating in the laboratory just like scientific researchers.The course includes three parts:"Problem-Lecture-Dis-cussion","Teaching by Expert"and"Experiment Observation",allowing students to experience the research processes,including how to propose,analyze and solve the scientific questions.This teaching method effectively promotes students'understanding and ap-plication of theoretical knowledge,increases their team spirit,cultivates their scientific thinking,and stimulates their interests in sci-entific research.
9.The Regulatory Role of m6A Modification in Viral Infection of Host Cells
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2024;40(10):1362-1373
N6-methyladenosine(m6A)is a methylation modification on the 6th nitrogen atom of the RNA molecule adenine,and is the most common post-transcriptional modification in messenger RNA(mRNA)and non-coding RNA(ncRNA).m6A modification plays a crucial role in all stage of RNA cy-cle,including RNA stabilization,splicing,nuclear export,folding,translation and degradation.m6A modification requires the participation of methyltransferase(writers),demethylase(erasers)and m6 A readers.The important roles of m6A modification involved in virus-host interactions have been largely ex-plored based on the rapid development of high-throughput RNA sequencing technology.Studies have shown that m6A modification participates in a variety of viral RNAs,and is associated with viral en-trance,replication and progeny virion release.Viruses can also alter host transcriptome by m6A modifica-tion to impact viral infectivity or host resistance.This review explored the role of m6A modification in re-spiratory virus,retrovirus and herpes virus,etc.infected cells,and the regulatory effects of m6A modifi-cations on viral replication and host immune response.It will help to further clarify the mechanisms of vi-rus-host interactions and benefit the development of antiviral drugs.
10.Establishment of an indirect ELISA for detection of antibodies against Cysticercus pisiformis infection based on TPO18 protein
Zexiang WANG ; Yonglu LUO ; Ping XUE ; Liang CHE ; Yousen WANG ; Huitian GOU ; Xia-Olin SUN
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science 2024;44(6):1213-1222
Cysticercosis,caused by the larval stage of the tapeworm Taenia pisiformis,known as Cysticercus pisiformis,is a parasitic ailment affecting lagomorphs,particularly domestic rabbits,posing a threat to the rabbit industry and the safety of rabbit meat products.This study aims to i-dentify the distribution of the TPO18 antigen in Cysticercus pisiformis and Taenia pisiformis and establish an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)for detecting antibodies against rabbit cysticercosis.The research involved the prokaryotic expression of the 18 kDa antigen of rabbit Cysticercus pisiformis and the isolation of soluble TPO18 protein post-purification.Immuni-zing rabbits with the TPO18 protein resulted in the production of polyclonal antibodies with a titer of up to 1∶51 200.Western blot analysis validated the antigenicity of the polyclonal antibodies a-gainst total proteins from rabbit Cysticercus pisiformis,Taenia pisiformis and the recombinant TPO18 protein.Immunohistochemistry revealed the distribution of the TPO18 antigen in rabbit Cysticercus pisiformis and Taenia pisiform is,indicating the effective reactivity of the polyclonal antibodies with total proteins from both parasites and the recombinant TPO18 protein.TPO18 an-tigen in rabbit Cysticercus pisiformis predominantly localized in the germinal layer and the paren-chyma,while in Taenia pisiformis,it was mainly present in the suckers,sucker peripheries,collec-ting duct upper cells,and parenchyma.An indirect ELISA based on the TPO18 antigen was devel-oped using the recombinant antigen,and its technical parameters were optimized.The optimized ELISA conditions included a serum dilution of 1∶100,antigen coating concentration of 5 mg/L,coating for 1 h at 37 ℃ followed by overnight incubation at 4 ℃,blocking with 1%BSA for 60 min at 37 ℃,serum reaction for 60 min,secondary antibody dilution at 1∶1 000,secondary antibody incubation for 60 min,substrate reacting for 15 min,with a cutoff value of 0.295.Sensitivity,speci-ficity,and repeatability tests of the ELISA demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity without cross-reactivity with positive sera of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus,Hepatic coccidiosis,Eimer-ia stiedae,or Toxoplasma gondii.The intra-and inter-assay coefficients of variation were both less than 7%,indicating excellent repeatability.Application of this ELISA,compared to postmortem ex-amination,on 86 clinical serum samples showed a concordance rate of 97.7%.In conclusion,this study successfully established an indirect ELISA for detecting antibodies against rabbit Cysticercus pisiformis,presenting a novel monitoring approach for assessing rabbit infections with Cysticer-cus pisiformis.

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