1.Research Progress of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Improving Diabetic Retinopathy Based on Nrf2 Signaling Pathway
Xueqing LIU ; Xinyu ZHONG ; Tingting WANG ; Ning WANG ; Man LIU ; Li WU ; Lili WU ; Lingling QIN ; Tonghua LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(9):69-78
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a microvascular complication of diabetes and one of its most common complications. Prolonged hyperglycemia induces oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, apoptosis, and pathological angiogenesis, ultimately disrupting the blood-retinal barrier(BRB) and leading to visual impairment or even blindness. Recent studies show that the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway plays an important role in the development of DR's pathological changes. Meanwhile, Chinese herbal monomers have been shown to modulate the Nrf2 signaling pathway, thereby intervening in the development of DR. In terms of inhibiting oxidative stress, saponin compounds such as platycodin-D and ginsenoside Rb1 downregulate the expression of malondialdehyde (MDA), thereby ameliorating retinal oxidative stress. Flavonoids such as total flavonoids from Pueraria lobata flower and puerarin upregulate the expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), effectively clearing lipid peroxides. Regarding the suppression of inflammation, phenolic compounds like resveratrol and chlorogenic acid inhibit the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway, reducing the release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and mitigating inflammatory responses. In the context of inhibiting apoptosis, polysaccharides such as Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharide and Angelica sinensis polysaccharide downregulate the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and suppress the activity of the executioner Caspase-3, thereby reducing the apoptosis rate. As for the inhibition of neovascularization, compounds including bilobalide and physcion significantly decrease the protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), leading to a reduction in retinal pathological angiogenesis. Furthermore, Chinese herbal compound prescriptions such as Tongluo Zhujing pills, Yiqi Huoxue Yangyin decoction, Qiming granules, and Danlou tablets can also intervene in the onset and progression of DR through the mechanisms described above. In summary, both Chinese herbal monomers and Chinese herbal compound prescriptions can modulate the Nrf2 signaling pathway to inhibit oxidative stress, alleviate inflammation, and participate in maintaining BRB integrity, suppressing retinal neovascularization, and preventing neurodegeneration, thereby delaying the progression of DR. Therefore, this paper reviews and summarizes recent studies at home and abroad on how traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) works to treat DR, and the relationship between the Nrf2 pathway and DR. It aims to provide research ideas for preventing and treating DR.
2.Effect of Chuanshanlong Granule on TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Rats with Autoimmune Thyroiditis
Fengying ZHONG ; Chengfei ZHANG ; Huizhao QIN ; Zhiyao MA ; Lili WU ; Lingling QIN ; Tonghua LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2022;28(16):42-49
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Chuanshanlong granule on Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation protein 88 (MyD88)/nuclear transcription factor -κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway, and to explore the mechanism of its treatment of autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) in rats. MethodForty AIT models were established following excess iodine and injection of porcine thyroglobulin and Freund's adjuvant into Lewis rats for six weeks. Then the rats were randomly divided into the model group, Chuanshanlong granule low-, medium- and high-dose group (0.52, 1.03, 2.06 g·kg-1·d-1), with ten in each group. Rats in the Chuanshanlong granule low-, medium- and high-dose groups were separately given 0.01 mL·g-1·d-1 Chuanshanlong granule, and those in the normal group and the model group were given the same volume of deionized water for eight weeks. Serum of rats was taken to measure thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the concentrations of free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were detected. The rat thyroid lobes were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE), and the pathological changes were observed under light microscope. In addition, the relative expression of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB protein and mRNA was determined by immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). ResultCompared with the conditions in the normal group, the serum concentrations of TPOAb and TgAb (P<0.01) and FT3 and FT4 (P<0.01) increased and TSH decreased (P<0.01) in the model group. Compared with the conditions in the model group, the concentrations of TPOAb and TgAb in the Chuanshanlong granule treatment groups reduced (P<0.01), and the concentrations of FT3 and FT4 were lowered (P<0.01) while TSH increased (P<0.01) in the Chuanshanlong granule high-dose group. HE staining showed that there was lymphocyte infiltration in the thyroid follicular space, a large number of destroyed or diminished follicular cavities, decreased colloid content, and thinned or destroyed follicular wall in the model group, while the thyroid lymphocyte infiltration in the Chuanshanlong granule treatment groups was significantly less and the structure of thyroid follicles was more complete than those in the model group. Compared with the normal group, the model group had up-regulated relative expression of TLR4, MyD88 and NF-κB protein (P<0.01) and mRNA (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the Chuanshanlong granule high-dose group had down-regulated relative expression of TLR4 protein and mRNA (P<0.05), MyD88 protein (P<0.01) and mRNA (P<0.05), and NF-κB protein and mRNA (P<0.01). ConclusionChuanshanlong granule may play a therapeutic role in AIT by inhibiting the activation of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.
3.Expression and significance of KAI1/CD82,E-cadherin and β-catenin in endometrial carcinoma
Xiaohong HUANG ; Tonghua ZHONG ; Jinliang PING ; Guorong YAO
Chinese Journal of Primary Medicine and Pharmacy 2010;17(16):2171-2173
Objective To explore the expression of KAI1/CD82,E-cadherin and β-catenin in endometrial carcinoma,and to investigate their correlations to clinicopathological parameters of endometrial carcinoma. Methods The expressions of KAI1/CD82,E-cadherin and β-catenin in 76 specimens of endometrial carcinoma,15 specimens of atypical endometrial hyperplasia and 20 specimens of proliferative endometrium were examined by immunohistochemical envision technique.Their correlations to clinicopathological parameters of endometrial carcinoma were statistically analyzed. Results Compare to normal proliferative phase endometrium and atypical endometrial hyperplasia,the expression of KAI1/CD82 in endometrial carcinoma was significantly decreased(P <0.01),the abnormal expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin in endometrial carcinoma were significantly higher(all P <0.01).In endometrial carcinoma,the expression of KAI1/CD82 was negative correlated with histological grade and depth of myometrial invasion(P <0.01,P <0.05); The abnormal expression of the E-cadherin is related to histological grade and type(P <0.01,P<0.05); The abnormal expression of β-catenin was positively correlated with histological grade and FIGO stage(P <0.01 ,P <0.05).The down-regulation expression of KAI1/CD82 was closely associated with the abnormal expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin in endometrial carcinoma(P <0.01,P <0.05). Conclusion The down-regulation of KAI1/CD82 and the aberrant expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin could be involved in the development of endometrial carcinoma.The loss or reduced expression of KAI1/CD82 was closely associated with the abnormal expression of E-cadherin and β-catenin in endometrial carcinoma.

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