1.Promoting myogenesis based on the SphK1/S1P/S1PR2 signaling pathway:a new perspective on improving skeletal muscle health through exercise
Wenhua ZHANG ; Xun LI ; Weichao ZHANG ; Xinying LI ; Guoao MA ; Xiaoqiang WANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(6):1265-1275
BACKGROUND:In recent years,improving the health of skeletal muscles through exercise has become an important research concern for scholars.Appropriate exercise has a positive effect on skeletal muscles.Among them,how to activate the sphingosine kinase1(SphK1)/sphingosine-1-phase(S1P)/sphingosine-1-phase receptor2(S1PR2)signaling pathway during exercise so as to improve the health of skeletal muscles is receiving attention from researchers. OBJECTIVE:To investigate how exercise improves the health of skeletal muscles through the SphK1/S1P/S1PR2 signaling pathway,and to explore new methods for treating related muscle diseases in order to improve human skeletal muscle health. METHODS:The first author searched for relevant literature from the establishment of the database to the present in the Web of Science,PubMed,CNKI,WanFang,and VIP databases.The search terms were"signaling pathway,SphK1,S1P,S1PR2,skeletal muscle,satellite cell,myogenesis,exercise"in Chinese and English.Finally,69 articles were included for review and analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The SphK1/S1P/S1PR2 signaling pathway is a complex regulatory network that triggers downstream signal transduction processes by SphK1 to catalyze the interaction between S1P and receptors such as S1PR2,thereby regulating multiple biological functions of cells,tissues,organs,and systems.The SphK1/S1P/S1PR2 signaling pathway can regulate satellite cell proliferation and myoblast differentiation,improving myogenesis.The physiological basis of the SphK1/S1P/S1PR2 signaling pathway and the potential impact of exercise on it were analyzed through literature research.Acute aerobic exercise can increase the expression of SphK1 in skeletal muscle.Both human and animal studies have confirmed that acute and long-term exercise can increase the expression of S1P in skeletal muscle.In addition,studies have shown that long-term resistance exercise can increase the expression of S1PR2 in skeletal muscle.Some experimental results indicate that acute and long-term exercise have no significant effect on muscle or blood S1P levels,and the reason for different results may be due to different research subjects,methods,intensities,and frequencies selected,while the specific mechanism is not yet clear.Research suggests that exercise can promote the expression of the SphK1/S1P/S1PR2 signaling pathway in skeletal muscle and regulate downstream related signaling pathways.Research on this signaling pathway may provide new strategies and methods for the treatment of skeletal muscle diseases,thereby improving skeletal muscle health.In the future,we should deepen the research on the association between SphK1/S1P/S1PR2 signaling pathway and skeletal muscle health,further reveal its regulatory relationship with satellite cells and myoblasts as well as its interactions with the upstream and downstream pathways,explore its clinical application value,take into account the changes of this pathway when formulating the rehabilitation program,explore the specific mechanisms by which different types of exercise affect the SphK1/S1P/S1PR2 signaling pathway in skeletal muscles,and use the SphK1/S1P/S1PR2 signaling pathway as a potential therapeutic target for diseases.Further development and application of human muscle models should be developed to improve research depth and accuracy.
2.Shenqi Dihuang Decoction Improves Renal Function in Mouse Model of Diabetic Kidney Disease by Inhibiting Arachidonic Acid-related Ferroptosis Via ACSL4/LPCAT3/ALOX15 Axis
Yuantao WU ; Zhibin WANG ; Xinying FU ; Xiaoling ZOU ; Wenxiao HU ; Yixian ZOU ; Jun FENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(12):140-149
ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanism of Shenqi Dihuang decoction (SQDHD) on diabetic kidney disease (DKD), with a focus on its impact on arachidonic acid-related ferroptosis. MethodsSixty C57BL/6 mice were allocated into a normal group (n=10) and a modeling group (n=50), with 43 mice successfully modeled. The successfully modeled mice were further allocated into model, low-, medium-, and high-dose (4.68, 9.36, and 18.72 g·kg-1, respectively) SQDHD, and dapagliflozin (0.13 mg·kg-1) groups. The drug treatment groups were administrated with corresponding agents by gavage, and the normal and model groups were administrated with equal volumes of normal saline by gavage. An electronic balance and a glucometer were used to monitor the body weight and fasting blood glucose level from the tail tip, respectively. Serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Histopathological changes in the renal tissue were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson staining, and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. The fluorescence intensity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in frozen sections was observed by an inverted fluorescence microscope to evaluate the levels of ferrous ions (Fe2+) and lipid peroxidation in the renal tissue. Immunofluorescence staining of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4) in the renal tissue was performed to detect their localization and expression. Western blot was employed to assess the expression levels of key ferroptosis proteins such as GPX4 and cystine/glutamate antiporter (xCT), as well as the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway-related proteins, including ACSL4, lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 3 (LPCAT3), and arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase (ALOX15). Real-time PCR was employed to measure the mRNA levels of key ferroptosis proteins, including solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) and GPX4, as well as arachidonic acid metabolism-related factors (ACSL4, LPCAT3, and ALOX15) in the renal tissue. ResultsCompared with the normal group, DKD model mice exhibited a decrease in body weight (P<0.01), increases in levels of blood glucose (P<0.01), 24-hour urinary protein, Scr, and BUN (P<0.01), along with severe pathological changes, such as mesangial cell proliferation, basement membrane thickening, tubular atrophy, and interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration. In addition, the modeling elevated the levels of Fe2+, MDA, LPO, and ROS (P<0.01), lowered the GPX4 and xCT levels (P<0.01), raised the ACSL4, LPCAT3, and ALOX15 levels (P<0.01), down-regulated the mRNA levels of GPX4 and SLC7A11 (P<0.01), and up-regulated the mRNA levels of ACSL4, LPCAT3, and ALOX15 (P<0.01) in the renal tissue. Compared with the model group, low-, medium-, and high-dose SQDHD groups and the dapagliflozin group showed an increase in body weight (P<0.01), decreases in levels of blood glucose (P<0.01), 24-hour urinary protein, and Scr (P<0.01), alleviated pathological changes in glomeruli and tubules, and reduced degree of glomerular and tubular fibrosis. The high-dose SQDHD group and the dapagliflozin group showed reductions in Fe2+, MDA, LPO, and ROS levels (P<0.01). The medium- and high-dose SQDHD groups and the dapagliflozin group exhibited increased levels of GPX4 and xCT (P<0.01), decreased levels of ACSL4, LPCAT3, and ALOX15 (P<0.05, P<0.01), and down-regulated mRNA levels of ACSL4, LPCAT3, and ALOX15 (P<0.01). ConclusionSQDHD ameliorates DKD by inhibiting ferroptosis potentially by reducing iron ion levels, inhibiting lipid peroxidation, up-regulating GPX4 expression, and down-regulating ACSL4 expression. This study provides new insights and a theoretical basis for the treatment of DKD with traditional Chinese medicine and identifies potential targets for developing novel therapeutics for DKD.
3.Shenqi Dihuang Decoction Improves Renal Function in Mouse Model of Diabetic Kidney Disease by Inhibiting Arachidonic Acid-related Ferroptosis Via ACSL4/LPCAT3/ALOX15 Axis
Yuantao WU ; Zhibin WANG ; Xinying FU ; Xiaoling ZOU ; Wenxiao HU ; Yixian ZOU ; Jun FENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(12):140-149
ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanism of Shenqi Dihuang decoction (SQDHD) on diabetic kidney disease (DKD), with a focus on its impact on arachidonic acid-related ferroptosis. MethodsSixty C57BL/6 mice were allocated into a normal group (n=10) and a modeling group (n=50), with 43 mice successfully modeled. The successfully modeled mice were further allocated into model, low-, medium-, and high-dose (4.68, 9.36, and 18.72 g·kg-1, respectively) SQDHD, and dapagliflozin (0.13 mg·kg-1) groups. The drug treatment groups were administrated with corresponding agents by gavage, and the normal and model groups were administrated with equal volumes of normal saline by gavage. An electronic balance and a glucometer were used to monitor the body weight and fasting blood glucose level from the tail tip, respectively. Serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Histopathological changes in the renal tissue were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson staining, and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining. The fluorescence intensity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in frozen sections was observed by an inverted fluorescence microscope to evaluate the levels of ferrous ions (Fe2+) and lipid peroxidation in the renal tissue. Immunofluorescence staining of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4) in the renal tissue was performed to detect their localization and expression. Western blot was employed to assess the expression levels of key ferroptosis proteins such as GPX4 and cystine/glutamate antiporter (xCT), as well as the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway-related proteins, including ACSL4, lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 3 (LPCAT3), and arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase (ALOX15). Real-time PCR was employed to measure the mRNA levels of key ferroptosis proteins, including solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) and GPX4, as well as arachidonic acid metabolism-related factors (ACSL4, LPCAT3, and ALOX15) in the renal tissue. ResultsCompared with the normal group, DKD model mice exhibited a decrease in body weight (P<0.01), increases in levels of blood glucose (P<0.01), 24-hour urinary protein, Scr, and BUN (P<0.01), along with severe pathological changes, such as mesangial cell proliferation, basement membrane thickening, tubular atrophy, and interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration. In addition, the modeling elevated the levels of Fe2+, MDA, LPO, and ROS (P<0.01), lowered the GPX4 and xCT levels (P<0.01), raised the ACSL4, LPCAT3, and ALOX15 levels (P<0.01), down-regulated the mRNA levels of GPX4 and SLC7A11 (P<0.01), and up-regulated the mRNA levels of ACSL4, LPCAT3, and ALOX15 (P<0.01) in the renal tissue. Compared with the model group, low-, medium-, and high-dose SQDHD groups and the dapagliflozin group showed an increase in body weight (P<0.01), decreases in levels of blood glucose (P<0.01), 24-hour urinary protein, and Scr (P<0.01), alleviated pathological changes in glomeruli and tubules, and reduced degree of glomerular and tubular fibrosis. The high-dose SQDHD group and the dapagliflozin group showed reductions in Fe2+, MDA, LPO, and ROS levels (P<0.01). The medium- and high-dose SQDHD groups and the dapagliflozin group exhibited increased levels of GPX4 and xCT (P<0.01), decreased levels of ACSL4, LPCAT3, and ALOX15 (P<0.05, P<0.01), and down-regulated mRNA levels of ACSL4, LPCAT3, and ALOX15 (P<0.01). ConclusionSQDHD ameliorates DKD by inhibiting ferroptosis potentially by reducing iron ion levels, inhibiting lipid peroxidation, up-regulating GPX4 expression, and down-regulating ACSL4 expression. This study provides new insights and a theoretical basis for the treatment of DKD with traditional Chinese medicine and identifies potential targets for developing novel therapeutics for DKD.
4.Therapeutic Effect of Cranial Painkiller Pills' Extract Powder in Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia Induced by Injection of Talci Pulvis into Infraorbital Foramen of Model Rats Based on OTULIN-regulated Neuroinflammation
Shuran LI ; Xinwei WANG ; Jing SUN ; Dan XIE ; Ronghua ZHAO ; Lei BAO ; Zihan GENG ; Qiyue SUN ; Jingsheng ZHANG ; Yaxin WANG ; Xihe CUI ; Xinying LI ; Bing HAN ; Tianjiao LU ; Xiaolan CUI ; Liying LIU ; Shanshan GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):21-28
ObjectiveThis paper aims to verify the therapeutic effect of Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder prepared by the new process on the rat's trigeminal neuralgia model caused by infraorbital injection of Talci Pulvis, evaluate its potential clinical application value, and compare the therapeutic effect with that of Cranial Painkiller granules, so as to provide data support for the application of the Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder and precise treatment. MethodsThe rat's trigeminal neuralgia model was constructed by infraorbital injection of Talci Pulvis, and the rats were randomly divided into the normal group, model group, carbamazepine group (60 mg·kg-1), Cranial Painkiller granules group (2.70 g·kg-1), and low, medium, and high dosage groups of Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder (1.35, 2.70, 5.40 g·kg-1) according to the basal mechanical pain thresholds, and there were 10 rats in each group. The drug was administered by gavage to each group 2 h after modeling, and distilled water was given by gavage to the normal and model groups under the same conditions once a day for 10 d. Von Frey brushes were used to measure mechanical pain thresholds in rats. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to detect pathological changes in the trigeminal ganglion, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the inflammatory factors interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in rat serum, as well as neuropeptide substance P (SP) and β-endorphin (β-EP) levels in rat brain tissue. Western blot technique was used to detect the levels of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, and OTULIN proteins in rat brain tissue. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the pain threshold of rats in the model group showed a continuous significant decrease (P<0.01). The pathological damage of brain tissue was significant (P<0.01), and the inflammatory levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α in serum were significantly elevated (P<0.01). The level of the SP in the brain tissue was significantly elevated (P<0.01), and the level of β-EP was significantly reduced (P<0.01), while the level of OTULIN was significantly reduced, and NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1 protein levels were significantly elevated (P<0.01). After administration of the drug, compared with the model group, the pain threshold of each dose group of the Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder and the Cranial Painkiller granules group significantly increased (P<0.01). The inflammatory levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α and SP levels significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the β-EP levels were significantly elevated (P<0.01), while the levels of OTULIN protein were significantly elevated (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the levels of NLRP3, ASC proteins were decreased (P<0.01)in high dose Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder. Meanwhile, compared with those in the model group, the trigeminal ganglion lesions of rats in the Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder and Cranial Painkiller granules groups showed different degrees of improvement (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionThe Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder has significant therapeutic effects on the rat model of trigeminal neuralgia induced by infraorbital injection of Talci Pulvis, and its mechanism is related to the improvement of OTULIN-regulated neuroinflammation.
5.Mechanism of Tibetan Medicine Sanwei Doukoutang to Improve Cognitive Dysfunction in 5×FAD Mice Based on Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway
Shuran LI ; Yaxin WANG ; Jing SUN ; Lei BAO ; Zihan GENG ; Dan XIE ; Ronghua ZHAO ; Yanyan BAO ; Qiyue SUN ; Jingsheng ZHANG ; Xinwei WANG ; Xinying LI ; Xihe CUI ; Xiaowei YANG ; LIUXIAN ; Mengyao CUI ; Qingshan LIU ; Shanshan GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):54-60
ObjectiveTo explore the effects of the Tibetan medicine Sanwei Doukoutang (SWDK) on cognitive dysfunction in mice suffering from Alzheimer's disease (AD) and its related mechanism. MethodsFifty SPF 5 × FAD mice were randomly divided into model group, total ginsenoside group(0.04 g·kg-1), high-, medium-, and low-dose groups of SWDK (32.60, 16.30, 8.15 g·kg-1), with 10 mice in each group, and ten wild-type mice of the same age were used as the normal group, male and female in 1∶1. Gavage administration was performed once daily for 8 weeks. The Morris water maze test and contextual fear memory experiment were used to observe learning and memory function. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was utilized to observe the changes in the pathomorphology of brain tissue in mice. The levels of synaptophysin (SYP) and postsynaptic dense substance 95 (PSD95) in mice serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The positive expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) in the dentate gyrus (DG) region of mouse brain tissue was observed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The protein levels of BDNF, Wnt family member 3A(Wnt3a), and β-catenin were detected in the hippocampus of mice by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the normal group of mice, the model group of mice had significantly more complex swimming routes and lower swimming speed (P<0.01), significantly lower percentage of time spent in the target quadrant (P<0.01), and a significantly lower percentage of freezing time (P<0.05). The number of neurons in the hippocampal region of mice was obviously reduced and unevenly arranged. The levels of SYP and PSD95(P<0.01) in the serum of mice were reduced, and the positive expression of BDNF in the DG region of the brain tissue of mice was reduced. The levels of hippocampal BDNF, Wnt3a, and β-catenin proteins in the hippocampus of mice were obviously reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the mice in the SWDK group and the total ginsenoside group had significantly shorter swimming routes, the high- and medium- dose SWDK groups significantly higher swimming speeds (P<0.01), significantly higher percentage of time spent in the target quadrant (P<0.01), obviously higher percentage of Freezing time (P<0.05), and obviously more neurons in the hippocampal region of the mice with tighter arrangement. The mice had elevated levels of serum SYP (P<0.05, P<0.01), PSD95 (P<0.01), increased BDNF-positive cells in the DG region of brain tissue, and obviously elevated levels of BDNF, Wnt3a, and β-catenin proteins in the hippocampus of mice (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionSWDK can significantly improve the cognitive dysfunction of AD mice, and its mechanism may be related to regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which promotes BDNF expression and thereby enhances synaptic plasticity, allowing neuronal signaling to be restored.
6.Therapeutic Effect of Cranial Painkiller Pills' Extract Powder in Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia Induced by Injection of Talci Pulvis into Infraorbital Foramen of Model Rats Based on OTULIN-regulated Neuroinflammation
Shuran LI ; Xinwei WANG ; Jing SUN ; Dan XIE ; Ronghua ZHAO ; Lei BAO ; Zihan GENG ; Qiyue SUN ; Jingsheng ZHANG ; Yaxin WANG ; Xihe CUI ; Xinying LI ; Bing HAN ; Tianjiao LU ; Xiaolan CUI ; Liying LIU ; Shanshan GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):21-28
ObjectiveThis paper aims to verify the therapeutic effect of Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder prepared by the new process on the rat's trigeminal neuralgia model caused by infraorbital injection of Talci Pulvis, evaluate its potential clinical application value, and compare the therapeutic effect with that of Cranial Painkiller granules, so as to provide data support for the application of the Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder and precise treatment. MethodsThe rat's trigeminal neuralgia model was constructed by infraorbital injection of Talci Pulvis, and the rats were randomly divided into the normal group, model group, carbamazepine group (60 mg·kg-1), Cranial Painkiller granules group (2.70 g·kg-1), and low, medium, and high dosage groups of Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder (1.35, 2.70, 5.40 g·kg-1) according to the basal mechanical pain thresholds, and there were 10 rats in each group. The drug was administered by gavage to each group 2 h after modeling, and distilled water was given by gavage to the normal and model groups under the same conditions once a day for 10 d. Von Frey brushes were used to measure mechanical pain thresholds in rats. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to detect pathological changes in the trigeminal ganglion, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the inflammatory factors interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in rat serum, as well as neuropeptide substance P (SP) and β-endorphin (β-EP) levels in rat brain tissue. Western blot technique was used to detect the levels of NLRP3, ASC, Caspase-1, and OTULIN proteins in rat brain tissue. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the pain threshold of rats in the model group showed a continuous significant decrease (P<0.01). The pathological damage of brain tissue was significant (P<0.01), and the inflammatory levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α in serum were significantly elevated (P<0.01). The level of the SP in the brain tissue was significantly elevated (P<0.01), and the level of β-EP was significantly reduced (P<0.01), while the level of OTULIN was significantly reduced, and NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1 protein levels were significantly elevated (P<0.01). After administration of the drug, compared with the model group, the pain threshold of each dose group of the Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder and the Cranial Painkiller granules group significantly increased (P<0.01). The inflammatory levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α and SP levels significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the β-EP levels were significantly elevated (P<0.01), while the levels of OTULIN protein were significantly elevated (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the levels of NLRP3, ASC proteins were decreased (P<0.01)in high dose Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder. Meanwhile, compared with those in the model group, the trigeminal ganglion lesions of rats in the Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder and Cranial Painkiller granules groups showed different degrees of improvement (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionThe Cranial Painkiller pills' extract powder has significant therapeutic effects on the rat model of trigeminal neuralgia induced by infraorbital injection of Talci Pulvis, and its mechanism is related to the improvement of OTULIN-regulated neuroinflammation.
7.Mechanism of Tibetan Medicine Sanwei Doukoutang to Improve Cognitive Dysfunction in 5×FAD Mice Based on Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway
Shuran LI ; Yaxin WANG ; Jing SUN ; Lei BAO ; Zihan GENG ; Dan XIE ; Ronghua ZHAO ; Yanyan BAO ; Qiyue SUN ; Jingsheng ZHANG ; Xinwei WANG ; Xinying LI ; Xihe CUI ; Xiaowei YANG ; LIUXIAN ; Mengyao CUI ; Qingshan LIU ; Shanshan GUO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(21):54-60
ObjectiveTo explore the effects of the Tibetan medicine Sanwei Doukoutang (SWDK) on cognitive dysfunction in mice suffering from Alzheimer's disease (AD) and its related mechanism. MethodsFifty SPF 5 × FAD mice were randomly divided into model group, total ginsenoside group(0.04 g·kg-1), high-, medium-, and low-dose groups of SWDK (32.60, 16.30, 8.15 g·kg-1), with 10 mice in each group, and ten wild-type mice of the same age were used as the normal group, male and female in 1∶1. Gavage administration was performed once daily for 8 weeks. The Morris water maze test and contextual fear memory experiment were used to observe learning and memory function. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was utilized to observe the changes in the pathomorphology of brain tissue in mice. The levels of synaptophysin (SYP) and postsynaptic dense substance 95 (PSD95) in mice serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The positive expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) in the dentate gyrus (DG) region of mouse brain tissue was observed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). The protein levels of BDNF, Wnt family member 3A(Wnt3a), and β-catenin were detected in the hippocampus of mice by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the normal group of mice, the model group of mice had significantly more complex swimming routes and lower swimming speed (P<0.01), significantly lower percentage of time spent in the target quadrant (P<0.01), and a significantly lower percentage of freezing time (P<0.05). The number of neurons in the hippocampal region of mice was obviously reduced and unevenly arranged. The levels of SYP and PSD95(P<0.01) in the serum of mice were reduced, and the positive expression of BDNF in the DG region of the brain tissue of mice was reduced. The levels of hippocampal BDNF, Wnt3a, and β-catenin proteins in the hippocampus of mice were obviously reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the mice in the SWDK group and the total ginsenoside group had significantly shorter swimming routes, the high- and medium- dose SWDK groups significantly higher swimming speeds (P<0.01), significantly higher percentage of time spent in the target quadrant (P<0.01), obviously higher percentage of Freezing time (P<0.05), and obviously more neurons in the hippocampal region of the mice with tighter arrangement. The mice had elevated levels of serum SYP (P<0.05, P<0.01), PSD95 (P<0.01), increased BDNF-positive cells in the DG region of brain tissue, and obviously elevated levels of BDNF, Wnt3a, and β-catenin proteins in the hippocampus of mice (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionSWDK can significantly improve the cognitive dysfunction of AD mice, and its mechanism may be related to regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which promotes BDNF expression and thereby enhances synaptic plasticity, allowing neuronal signaling to be restored.
8.Expression and in vitro activity of a neutralizing antibody against West Nile virus that reduces antibody-dependent enhancement
Xiangjun HAO ; Nan CHEN ; Wanlu ZHU ; Jing WANG ; Guojiang CHEN ; Chunxia QIAO ; Xinying LI ; Beifen SHEN ; Jiannan FENG ; Lihui CHAI ; He XIAO
Chinese Journal of Microbiology and Immunology 2024;44(1):44-49
Objective:To establish an antibody expression system to reduce the antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) effect of target antibody.Methods:Site-directed mutagenesis was used to mutate the 234 and 235 sites of the Fc region of the mammalian cell antibody expression vector-L234A and L235A to establish the antibody expression vector pFRT-IgG1κ-FcM. An antibody Wt-WNV with significant ADE effect obtained in previous work was selected and expressed by the pFRT-IgG1κ-FcM system to obtain mutant antibody FcM-WNV. The binding ability of FcM-WNV to target antigen West Nile virus envelope protein-DⅢ (WNV E-DⅢ) was detected by ELISA, and the its binding ability to human high-affinity IgG Fc receptor hFcγRⅠ (hCD64 ) was analyzed by flow cytometry. The neutralizing activity of FcM-WNV in vitro was detected by pseudovirus infection of host cells (BHK21 and K562). Results:The expression levels of FcM-WNV and Wt-WNV were comparable, and FcM-WNV could recognize and bind to WNVE-DIII in a concentration-dependent manner. Compared with Wt-WNV, the binding ability of FcM-WNV to hCD64 was significantly weakened, showing a significant decrease in fluorescence intensity. Consistent with the previous experimental results, Wt-WNV at a concentration of 5 μg/ml significantly enhanced the infection of K562 by WNV pseudovirus, while FcM-WNV at a concentration of 5 μg/ml could effectively block pseudovirus infection in both K562 and BHK21 cells.Conclusions:The established antibody expression system can effectively reduce the ADE effect of the target antibody.
9.Factors influencing phytohemagglutinin response in gamma-interferon release assay
Jing CHEN ; Keping AO ; Xinying CHEN ; Fei YE ; Dongdong LI ; Zhonghao WANG ; Yi XIE
Chinese Journal of Microbiology and Immunology 2024;44(3):259-264
Objective:To investigate the factors influencing phytohemagglutinin (PHA) response in the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection by gamma interferon release assay (IGRA). Methods:A retrospective case-control study was conducted on 360 hospitalized patients who received IGRA in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 2019 to December 2021. According to PHA response (IFN-γ level), they were divided into three groups: negative mitogen response group (IFN-γ<2 pg/ml), weak positive mitogen response group (IFN-γ: 2-100 pg/ml), and normal mitogen response group (IFN-γ>400 pg/ml).Results:Immune diseases were independently associated with negative (OR=0.34, 95%CI: 0.17-0.72, P=0.004) and weak positive mitogen responses (OR=0.29, 95%CI: 0.16-0.55, P<0.001). Infections caused by pathogens other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis was independently associated with negative mitogen response (OR=0.266, 95%CI: 0.09-0.83, P=0.023), while immunodeficiency was independently associated with weak positive mitogen response (OR=0.280, 95%CI: 0.12-0.63, P=0.002). Mitogen response was significantly correlated with the levels of albumin and hemoglobin in serum and the counts of neutrophils and lymphocytes ( P<0.001). Conclusions:Immune diseases and immunodeficiency can affect mitogen response. Therefore, clinicians should give attention to mitogen response in the interpretation of IGRA test results to prevent misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis. Besides, to a certain extent, mitogen response can reflect the infection status of hospitalized patients.
10.Structure-activity Omics on Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Effect of Paeoniae Radix Alba in Qizhi Weitong Granules
Bing QI ; Xi LUO ; Ying ZHENG ; Ying MENG ; Shuai WANG ; Yongrui BAO ; Tianjiao LI ; Ling HAN ; Xinying SHU ; Xiansheng MENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(21):169-175
ObjectiveTo elucidate the active compounds for the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Paeoniae Radix Alba from structure-activity omics. MethodOn the basis of the previous in vitro efficacy study by our research group, a mouse model of foot swelling was induced by methyl aldehyde and used to study the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of total glycosides of Paeoniae Radix Alba in vivo. The core targets of the active compounds for the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Paeoniae Radix Alba were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM), and Search Tool for Recurring Instances of Neighbouring Genes (STRING). Molecular docking was conducted for the total glucosides of Paeoniae Radix Alba with the core targets, and the key core targets with high binding affinity were screened out according to the comprehensive score of each target and active structure. The structure-activity relationship was analyzed with targets as a bridge through the combination of compound structures and pharmacological effects. ResultThe total glucosides of Paeoniae Radix Alba had good anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in vivo. The core targets of 23 active components of Paeoniae Radix Alba were epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), cellular tumor antigen p53 (TP53), and proto-oncogene transcription factor (JUN). According to the structure of the parent nucleus, there were 16 pinane monoterpene glycosides, 4 pinene monoterpene glycosides, 2 monoterpene lactone glycosides, and 1 monoterpene ketone. The key core targets screened out by molecular docking were EGFR and STAT3. The structure-activity analysis of the active compound structures and the key core targets showed that the introduction of ketone group and benzene ring group on the parent nucleus affected the binding activity. ConclusionThis study analyzed the material basis for the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of total glycosides of Paeoniae Radix Alba from structure-activity omics, providing new ideas and methods for revealing the pharmacodynamic substances in traditional Chinese medicine.

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