1.Simultaneous determination of cyromazine and melamine in poultry eggs and meat with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
ZHANG Xiang ; WU Xiaoqiong ; GE Miaohua ; ZHOU Ying ; OUYANG Nan
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(7):751-756
Objective:
To establish an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method based on solid-phase extraction column purification for simultaneous determination of cyromazine and melamine in poultry eggs and meat.
Methods:
Eggs, quail eggs, and chicken were collected from markets. After homogenization, the sample was extracted with 0.5% formic acid in acetonitrile, subjected to solid-phase extraction using an MCX cartridge, and eluted with 5% ammonia in methanol. The eluate was collected, evaporated to near dryness under nitrogen, and reconstituted in a 10% aqueous methanol solution. Separated using TSK gel Amide-80 column (2.0 mm×150 mm, 5 μm), cyromazine and melamine were simultaneously detected in positive ion multiple reaction monitoring mode via tandem mass spectrometry, with quantification achieved by isotope dilution internal standard methods. Efficiency was enhanced and matrix interference minimized by optimizing conditions such as sample extraction, solid-phase extraction cartridge selection, and instrumental parameters. Calibration curves were constructed, and detection limits, quantification limits, spiked recoveries, and relative standard deviations for (RSD) of cyromazine and melamine were calculated.
Results:
After method optimization, matrix effects for cyromazine and melamine ranged from 0.97 to 1.04, indicating no significant matrix suppression or enhancement. Both cyromazine and melamine exhibited excellent linearity within the concentration range of 1.0-200.0 ng/mL, with correlation coefficients ≥0.999 5. The limits of detection were 0.3 μg/kg for cyromazine and 0.5 μg/kg for melamine, the quantification limits were 1.0 and 1.5 μg/kg, respectively. At spiked levels of 1.0, 20.0, and 150.0 μg/kg, the average recoveries ranged from 78.6% to 103.1%, with RSD between 3.5% and 6.3%. Among 95 samples tested, cyromazine was detected in 6 samples and melamine in 5 samples; neither cyromazine nor melamine was detected in chicken samples.
Conclusion
The UPLC-MS/MS method established in this study enables simultaneous detection and accurate quantification of cyromazine and melamine in poultry eggs and meat.
2.Evolution-guided design of mini-protein for high-contrast in vivo imaging.
Nongyu HUANG ; Yang CAO ; Guangjun XIONG ; Suwen CHEN ; Juan CHENG ; Yifan ZHOU ; Chengxin ZHANG ; Xiaoqiong WEI ; Wenling WU ; Yawen HU ; Pei ZHOU ; Guolin LI ; Fulei ZHAO ; Fanlian ZENG ; Xiaoyan WANG ; Jiadong YU ; Chengcheng YUE ; Xinai CUI ; Kaijun CUI ; Huawei CAI ; Yuquan WEI ; Yang ZHANG ; Jiong LI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(10):5327-5345
Traditional development of small protein scaffolds has relied on display technologies and mutation-based engineering, which limit sequence and functional diversity, thereby constraining their therapeutic and application potential. Protein design tools have significantly advanced the creation of novel protein sequences, structures, and functions. However, further improvements in design strategies are still needed to more efficiently optimize the functional performance of protein-based drugs and enhance their druggability. Here, we extended an evolution-based design protocol to create a novel minibinder, BindHer, against the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). It not only exhibits super stability and binding selectivity but also demonstrates remarkable properties in tissue specificity. Radiolabeling experiments with 99mTc, 68Ga, and 18F revealed that BindHer efficiently targets tumors in HER2-positive breast cancer mouse models, with minimal nonspecific liver absorption, outperforming scaffolds designed through traditional engineering. These findings highlight a new rational approach to automated protein design, offering significant potential for large-scale applications in therapeutic mini-protein development.
3.Targeting Programmed Cell Death in Acquired Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Ferroptosis, Necroptosis, and Pyroptosis.
Shasha ZHANG ; Hairong XIAO ; Yanqin LIN ; Xujun TANG ; Wei TONG ; Buwei SHAO ; He LI ; Lei XU ; Xiaoqiong DING ; Renjie CHAI
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(6):1085-1102
Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), the most commonly-occurring form of hearing loss, is caused mainly by injury to or the loss of hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons in the cochlea. Numerous environmental and physiological factors have been shown to cause acquired SNHL, such as ototoxic drugs, noise exposure, aging, infections, and diseases. Several programmed cell death (PCD) pathways have been reported to be involved in SNHL, especially some novel PCD pathways that have only recently been reported, such as ferroptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis. Here we summarize these PCD pathways and their roles and mechanisms in SNHL, aiming to provide new insights and potential therapeutic strategies for SNHL by targeting these PCD pathways.
Humans
;
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/metabolism*
;
Necroptosis/drug effects*
;
Pyroptosis/drug effects*
;
Ferroptosis/drug effects*
;
Animals
4.Intracellular concentration of ADA2 is a marker for monocyte differentiation and activation.
Liang DONG ; Bingtai LU ; Wenwen LUO ; Xiaoqiong GU ; Chengxiang WU ; Luca TROTTA ; Mikko SEPPANEN ; Yuxia ZHANG ; Andrey V ZAVIALOV
Frontiers of Medicine 2025;19(2):359-375
Adenosine, a critical molecule regulating cellular function both inside and outside cells, is controlled by two human adenosine deaminases: ADA1 and ADA2. While ADA1 primarily resides in the cytoplasm, ADA2 can be transported to lysosomes within cells or secreted outside the cell. Patients with ADA2 deficiency (DADA2) often suffer from systemic vasculitis due to elevated levels of TNF-α in their blood. Monocytes from DADA2 patients exhibit excessive TNF-α secretion and differentiate into pro-inflammatory M1-type macrophages. Our findings demonstrate that ADA2 localizes to endolysosomes within macrophages, and its intracellular concentration decreases in cells secreting TNF-α. This suggests that ADA2 may function as a lysosomal adenosine deaminase, regulating TNF-α expression by the cells. Interestingly, pneumonia patients exhibit higher ADA2 concentrations in their bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), correlating with elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. Conversely, cord blood has low ADA2 levels, creating a more immunosuppressive environment. Additionally, secreted ADA2 can bind to apoptotic cells, activating immune cells by reducing extracellular adenosine levels. These findings imply that ADA2 release from monocytes during inflammation, triggered by growth factors, may be crucial for cell activation. Targeting intracellular and extracellular ADA2 activities could pave the way for novel therapies in inflammatory and autoimmune disorders.
Humans
;
Adenosine Deaminase/deficiency*
;
Monocytes/cytology*
;
Cell Differentiation
;
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism*
;
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*
;
Biomarkers/metabolism*
;
Macrophages/metabolism*
;
Pneumonia/metabolism*
5.Research progress of traditional Chinese medicine monomer and compound intervention on the Wnt signaling pathway in regulating bone metabolism
Ting LI ; Xiaoqiong ZHANG ; Mei LIU ; Qin WANG
China Pharmacy 2024;35(5):623-628
Bone metabolism refers to the decomposition and anabolism occurring during bone remodeling, and its balance is regulated by bone resorption and bone formation. A slight deviation of this balance causes various skeletal diseases, such as osteoporosis and renal osteodystrophy. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) monomers and compounds have certain advantages in treating bone metabolism diseases. The Wnt signaling pathway includes the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, dependent on β-catenin, and the non-canonical Wnt signaling pathway, independent of β-catenin. Both types of pathways can maintain bone metabolism balance by regulating bone formation and bone resorption and are essential for bone development, bone mass maintenance, and bone remodeling. A variety of TCM monomers (albiflorin, catalpol and icariin) and formulas (Zuogui pill, Yishen gugu prescription, Duzhong jiangu prescription, etc.) have been confirmed to promote differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts, bone injury repair, and osteoporosis improvement by activating the Wnt signaling pathway in recent years. Here, this article summarizes the research progress in the Wnt signaling pathway regulation of bone metabolism by TCM monomers and compounds to provide ideas for the clinical application of TCM and the research and development of new drugs for the prevention and treatment of bone metabolism diseases.
6.Identification of banana ADA1 gene family members and their expression profiles under biotic and abiotic stresses.
Qiqi ZHAO ; Wenhui REN ; Huifei ZHU ; Qiuzhen WU ; Chunyu ZHANG ; Xiaoqiong XU ; Binbin LUO ; Yuji HUANG ; Yukun CHEN ; Yuling LIN ; Zhongxiong LAI
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2024;40(1):190-210
The Spt-Ada-Gcn5-acetyltransferase (SAGA) is an ancillary transcription initiation complex which is highly conserved. The ADA1 (alteration/deficiency in activation 1, also called histone H2A functional interactor 1, HFI1) is a subunit in the core module of the SAGA protein complex. ADA1 plays an important role in plant growth and development as well as stress resistance. In this paper, we performed genome-wide identification of banana ADA1 gene family members based on banana genomic data, and analyzed the basic physicochemical properties, evolutionary relationships, selection pressure, promoter cis-acting elements, and its expression profiles under biotic and abiotic stresses. The results showed that there were 10, 6, and 7 family members in Musa acuminata, Musa balbisiana and Musa itinerans. The members were all unstable and hydrophilic proteins, and only contained the conservative SAGA-Tad1 domain. Both MaADA1 and MbADA1 have interactive relationship with Sgf11 (SAGA-associated factor 11) of core module in SAGA. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that banana ADA1 gene family members could be divided into 3 classes. The evolution of ADA1 gene family members was mostly influenced by purifying selection. There were large differences among the gene structure of banana ADA1 gene family members. ADA1 gene family members contained plenty of hormonal elements. MaADA1-1 may play a prominent role in the resistance of banana to cold stress, while MaADA1 may respond to the Panama disease of banana. In conclusion, this study suggested ADA1 gene family members are highly conserved in banana, and may respond to biotic and abiotic stress.
Musa/genetics*
;
Phylogeny
;
Fungal Proteins
;
Cell Nucleus
;
Histones
;
Stress, Physiological/genetics*
7.Effects of Lipopharyngeal Qibi Formula on swallowing function and apoptosis in central cortical swallowing neurons in rats after stroke
Yanjie LI ; Sijin LI ; Xiaoqiong HUA ; Hewei QIN ; Xiaoqin JIN ; Zhixin ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(16):2527-2533
BACKGROUND:The treatment of post-stroke dysphagia with Lipopharyngeal Qibi Formula has achieved good efficacy,and 5-hydroxytryptamine in peripheral serum and neurotransmitters in the nucleus tractus solitarius are closely related to swallowing.Therefore,this study was conducted to explore the modulatory effects of peripheral serum and nucleus tractus solitarius neurotransmitters in swallowing by using modern medical experimental methods such as molecular biology,thereby developing new ideas for the exploration of their mechanisms. OBJECTIVE:To verify the therapeutic effect of Lipopharyngeal Qibi Formula on post-stroke dysphagia and to investigate its mechanism of action. METHODS:Thirty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into model group(n=14),treatment group(n=14)and sham-operated group(n=10).Animals in the model and treatment groups were modeled by reperfusion after 90 minutes of transient cerebral ischemia by wire bolus method.At 6 hours after modeling,neurological function was scored,and rats with a score of 2 were selected for subsequent experiments.The treatment group was given compound Lipopharyngeal Qibi Formula by gavage starting from the 2nd day after modeling and the remaining two groups were given normal saline by gavage.Changes in body mass,24-hour food and water intake were recorded on days 2,7,14 and 30.The swallowing initiation response time and the number of swallows were detected using a biosignal collector and a tonic transducer on days 14 and 30.After the swallowing test,the ischemic area of the brain in each group was measured by TTC staining.The expression of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the nucleus tractus solitarius of the medulla oblongata was measured by immunohistochemistry.The mRNA and protein expression levels of BCL-2 and BAX in the insula,premotor cortex,cingulate cortex and thalamus of rats in each group were measured by RT-PCR and Western blot,respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the sham-operated group,the body mass,24-hour food intake and water intake were reduced,the swallow initiation response time was prolonged,and the number of swallows was reduced in the treatment and model groups at day 14 of gavage(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the body mass,24-hour food intake and water intake of rats were increased in the treatment group at day 30 of gavage(P<0.05),but were still lower than those in the sham-operated group.Compared with the model group,the swallow initiation reaction time was shortened and the number of swallows increased in the treatment group,but the number of swallows was still significantly lower than that in the sham-operated group(P<0.05).Cerebral ischemia area was reduced in the treatment group compared with the model group,and the number of 5-hydroxytryptamine-positive cells in the nucleus tractus solitarius of the medulla oblongata was increased in the treatment group compared with the model group,but it was still significantly lower than that in the sham-operated group(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the expression of BCL-2 mRNA and protein in the insula,cingulate cortex and thalamus of rats in the treatment group were significantly increased,the expression of BAX mRNA and protein were significantly decreased,and the BCL-2/BAX ratio was significantly increased(P<0.05).To conclude,the Chinese herbal compound Lipopharyngeal Qibi Formula could improve the number of swallows and swallowing initiation response time,as well as 24-hour food intake,body mass and other swallowing-related indexes in rats with post-stroke dysphagia.The mechanism of action may be achieved by improving the area of cerebral ischemia,inhibiting the apoptosis of neuronal cells in the insula,cingulate cortex and thalamus of rats,thus improving the regulation of the higher centers on the medulla oblongata swallowing center,and regulating the level of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the nucleus tractus solitarius.
8.Immunogenicity, protective efficacy and preliminary protective mechanism of KPC-2, a drug resistance target from Klebsiella pneumoniae
Xiaoqiong WANG ; Guangyang MING ; Zhifu CHEN ; Qiang GOU ; Yue YUAN ; Liqun ZHAO ; Jinyong ZHANG ; Renjian HU
Chinese Journal of Microbiology and Immunology 2024;44(1):2-10
Objective:To develop a recombinant protein vaccine based on KPC-2, a drug resistance target in Klebsiella pneumoniae, and evaluate its immunogenicity, protective efficacy and mechanism in a mouse model of pneumonia. Methods:KPC-2 was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified using GST affinity chromatography. A recombinant protein vaccine was prepared with KPC-2 and used to immunize New Zealand rabbits through subcutaneous injection. Serum samples were isolated from cardiac blood and Protein G chromatography was used to purify polyclonal antibodies against KPC-2. Opsonophagocytic killing assay was used to assess the bactericidal activity of the polyclonal antibodies in vitro. Female BALB/c mice were immunized three times with the recombinant protein vaccine, and the titers of specific IgG antibodies in serum were measured by indirect ELISA. One week after the last vaccination, the mice were infected with Klebsiella pneumoniae strain SRT through tracheal intubation, and received a single intravenous dose of meropenem (0.1 mg) 1 h later. The protective efficacy of the KPC-2 recombinant protein vaccine was evaluated by comparing the survival rates, bacterial colonization and histopathological changes between vaccine group and adjuvant group as well as the survival rates between meropenem group and normal saline group. Moreover, the protective efficacy of polyclonal antibodies against KPC-2 was evaluated through passive immunization. Results:The level of specific IgG antibodies in serum was significantly higher in the vaccine group than in the adjuvant group ( t=4.325, P<0.05). The survival rate in the vaccine group was also higher than that of the adjuvant group [70% (7/10) vs 10% (1/10), P<0.05]. Furthermore, lung inflammation was less severe and bacterial burden was reduced in the vaccine group as compared with those of the control group ( t=3.127, P<0.05). Both active and passive vaccination strategies demonstrated strong protective efficacy against Klebsiella pneumoniae infection, and had a synergistic effect when used in combination with antibiotic therapy. The polyclonal antibodies against KPC-2 had bactericidal activity in vitro ( t=5.427, P<0.05). Conclusions:The prepared KPC-2 vaccine has better immunogenicity and protective efficacy. It can induce strong humoral immune responses. This study suggest that drug resistance target may be used as a candidate antigen for future vaccine development.
9.Research status and hotspot analysis of dietary restriction regulating inflammation based on CiteSpace and VOSviewer visualization software
Xiaoqiong TONG ; Li WU ; Li ZHANG ; Bin YUAN ; Yujun LI ; Dazhang BAI ; Guohui JIANG
China Medical Equipment 2024;21(6):149-156
Objective:To conduct visualization analysis on the literature on dietary restriction(DR)regulating inflammation based on CiteSpace and VOSviewer visualization software,and to explore research hotspots and trends in this field.Methods:The literature on DR regulation inflammation in Web of Science core databases from January 1 2010 to September 29 2022 were searched.CiteSpace and VOSviewer visualization software was used to conduct quantitative and visual analysis of the annual publication volume,countries,institutions,authors,citation frequency and keywords of the retrieved literature.Results:A total of 1 344 papers related to the topic were included,and the annual number of papers was generally on the rise,with the highest citation frequency of 1 676 times.The United States(481 papers)is the country with the largest number of publications,followed by China(181 papers).The research hotspots in this field focused on calorie restriction(CR),ketogenic diet,aging,metabolic diseases,adipose tissue and gut microbiota.Conclusion:DR regulation of inflammation is increasingly favored by international and domestic researchers,and future research hotspots may be CR mimics(CRMs),intestinal microbiota,neurodegenerative diseases and cardiovascular diseases.The overall research trend is to further clarify the anti-inflammatory mechanism of DR,find new therapeutic targets,and conduct more rigorous clinical trials with more effective regimens that have been proven in vitro and animal models.
10.Newcastle disease virus suppresses antigen presentation via inhibiting IL-12 expression in dendritic cells
NAN FULONG ; NAN WENLONG ; YAN XIN ; WANG HUI ; JIANG SHASHA ; ZHANG SHUYUN ; YU ZHONGJIE ; ZHANG XIANJUAN ; LIU FENGJUN ; LI JUN ; ZHOU XIAOQIONG ; NIU DELEI ; LI YIQUAN ; WANG WEI ; SHI NING ; JIN NINGYI ; XIE CHANGZHAN ; CUI XIAONI ; ZHANG HE ; WANG BIN ; LU HUIJUN
Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B 2024;25(3):254-270,后插1-后插4
As a potential vectored vaccine,Newcastle disease virus(NDV)has been subject to various studies for vaccine development,while relatively little research has outlined the immunomodulatory effect of the virus in antigen presentation.To elucidate the key inhibitory factor in regulating the interaction of infected dendritic cells(DCs)and T cells,DCs were pretreated with the NDV vaccine strain LaSota as an inhibitor and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS)for further detection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),flow cytometry,immunoblotting,and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR).The results revealed that NDV infection resulted in the inhibition of interleukin(IL)-12p40 in DCs through a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)-dependent manner,thus inhibiting the synthesis of IL-12p70,leading to the reduction in T cell proliferation and the secretion of interferon-γ(IFN-γ),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),and IL-6 induced by DCs.Consequently,downregulated cytokines accelerated the infection and viral transmission from DCs to T cells.Furthermore,several other strains of NDV also exhibited inhibitory activity.The current study reveals that NDV can modulate the intensity of the innate?adaptive immune cell crosstalk critically toward viral invasion improvement,highlighting a novel mechanism of virus-induced immunosuppression and providing new perspectives on the improvement of NDV-vectored vaccine.


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail