1.Correlation of the interaction between uric acid and inflammatory factors and hyperuricemia in overweight/obese patients
Zengyun YUAN ; Yuan LIU ; Xin LIU ; Guangquan LI ; Pei ZHONG ; Yuanting YING ; Xuezhi YANG
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2026;37(1):171-174
Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the interaction of uric acid and inflammatory factors and hyperuricemia in overweight/obese patients. Methods The personnel with hyperuricemia who underwent physical examination in our hospital from September 2021 to September 2022 were selected as the study subjects, and they were divided into 100 cases of overweight group and 90 cases of obese group according to the BMI index; 120 cases of healthy and non-hyperuricemic personnel were randomly selected as the control group; venous blood of the three groups was collected in 5 mL after 8 h of fasting, and were tested respectively for serum uric acid, lipid indexes and inflammatory factors: IL-6, IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-10. Results Glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL were significantly higher in the obese group versus the overweight group (P<0.001), while HDL was significantly lower than the control group (P<0.001), and these changes were more pronounced in the obese group (P<0.001).The Pearson correlation coefficient pointed out that the levels of serum uric acid in patients with hyperuricosuric acid were significantly associated with the pro-inflammatory factors IL- 6, IL-2, IFN-γ, and TNF-α were significantly positively correlated (P<0.001), whereas they were significantly negatively correlated with the anti-inflammatory factors IL-4, IL-10 (P<0.001). Conclusion High uric acid levels in overweight/obese patients can cause enhanced inflammatory responses and reduced expression levels of anti-inflammatory factors, and the interaction between uric acid and pro-inflammatory factors aggravates the condition of patients with hyperuricemia.
2.Olfactory Receptors Expressed in The Intestine and Their Functions
Pei-Wen YANG ; Meng-Meng YUAN ; Ying ZHOU ; Peng LI ; Gui-Hong QI ; Ying YANG ; Zhong-Yi MAO ; Meng-Sha ZHOU ; Xiao-Shuang MAO ; Jian-Ping XIE ; Yi-Nan YANG ; Shi-Hao SUN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(3):534-549
Olfactory receptors (ORs) form the largest superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Traditionally recognized for their role in the nasal olfactory epithelium, where they mediate the sense of smell, accumulating evidence has firmly established their ectopic expression in non-olfactory tissues, including the intestine, lungs, and kidneys. The intestine, as the primary site for nutrient digestion and absorption, harbors a highly complex chemical environment. To adapt to this environment, the gut employs a sophisticated network of “chemosensors” to monitor luminal contents and maintain homeostasis. Among these sensors, intestinal ORs have emerged as crucial functional components, serving as a molecular bridge that connects environmental chemical signals—such as food-derived odorants—to specific physiological responses. This discovery has significantly deepened our understanding of how dietary flavors and compounds influence intestinal physiology at the molecular level. This review systematically summarizes the expression profiles, ligand classification, and biological functions of ORs within the gastrointestinal tract. Studies indicate that intestinal ORs exhibit distinct spatial distribution patterns across different gut segments and display cell-type specificity, particularly within enterocytes and enteroendocrine cells. These receptors function as versatile sensors capable of recognizing a wide variety of ligands, including exogenous dietary components, gut microbiota metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, and endogenous small molecules like azelaic acid. Upon activation by specific ligands, intestinal ORs trigger intracellular signaling cascades, primarily involving the AC-cAMP-PKA pathway or calcium influx channels. A major focus of this review is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which these receptors regulate the secretion of gut hormones. Activation of specific ORs in enteroendocrine cells has been shown to stimulate the release of hormones such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), peptide YY (PYY), and serotonin (5-HT), thereby modulating systemic energy metabolism, glucose homeostasis, and gastrointestinal motility. Furthermore, the review addresses the critical roles of ORs in immune regulation and pathology. Evidence suggests that specific ORs contribute to the maintenance of intestinal immune homeostasis and may offer protection against inflammation. Beyond their involvement in inflammatory responses, ORs such as Olfr78 have been shown to regulate the differentiation and function of intestinal endocrine cells. Similarly, Olfr544 has been demonstrated to alleviate intestinal inflammation by remodeling the gut microbiome and metabolome. These findings collectively suggest that specific ORs hold promise as therapeutic targets for mitigating intestinal inflammation and maintaining gut homeostasis. Additionally, the review explores the emerging role of ORs in cancer. Although OR expression is often downregulated in tumor tissues compared to normal mucosa, activation of specific ORs by certain ligands can inhibit tumor cell proliferation and migration and induce apoptosis via pathways such as MEK/ERK and p38 MAPK. Conversely, other receptors, such as OR7C1, may serve as biomarkers for cancer-initiating cells. In conclusion, intestinal ORs represent a vital component of the gut’s sensory network. The review also discusses the translational potential of these findings. By elucidating the precise pairing relationships between dietary components and specific ORs, novel therapeutic strategies could be developed. Intestinal ORs may thus emerge as promising targets for nutritional and pharmacological interventions in metabolic diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, and malignancies.
3.Strategies of HIV-1 Vaccines Based on mRNA Platforms
Pei LIU ; Zhong-Yue FANG ; Xin-Xin CHEN ; Shao-Wei LI ; Ying GU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(4):826-839
Since its emergence in the 1980s, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has caused a global pandemic, posing a severe threat to human life and health as well as social development. Although pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) effectively curbs HIV transmission and antiretroviral therapy (ART) significantly extends the lifespan of patients, vaccines remain a pivotal tool for blocking transmission and ending the pandemic. The high genetic variability of HIV-1, the glycan shield of its envelope glycoproteins, and the long-term persistence of latent reservoirs have repeatedly led to bottlenecks in traditional vaccine strategies. In recent years, mRNA technology has offered a novel approach to addressing these challenges, leveraging advantages such as sequence programmability, short production cycles, native conformational expression of antigens, and self-adjuvant effects. In recent years, mRNA vaccine technology has emerged as a transformative solution to longstanding vaccinology challenges, characterized by its sequence programmability, rapid production cycles, native conformational antigen expression, and intrinsic self-adjuvanting properties. Unlike traditional platforms reliant on pathogen culture or recombinant proteins, mRNA vaccines can be expeditiously designed and updated based solely on viral genomic sequences. Lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-encapsulated mRNA facilitates endogenous antigen expression and presentation, simultaneously eliciting potent humoral and cellular immune responses. Within this landscape, self-amplifying mRNA (saRNA) further extends in vivo antigen expression to enhance the persistence of immune responses. Moreover, the LNP delivery system not only protects mRNA from degradation and mediates endosomal escape but also synergizes with mRNA to optimize immune activation via self-adjuvant effects. Importantly, mRNA platforms circumvent the pre-existing immunity associated with viral vectors and the genomic integration risks of DNA vaccines, positioning them as a cornerstone for global pandemic preparedness. This review systematically delineates recent advances in mRNA technology for HIV-1 vaccine development, focusing on four pivotal research frontiers. First, mRNA innovations building upon the RV144 trial optimize antigens through codon modification and multivalent designs to induce more durable and broad-spectrum immunity. Second, particulate mRNA vaccine strategies, utilizing virus-like particles (VLPs) and ferritin nanoparticles, achieve in situ antigen self-assembly, significantly enhancing B cell activation and reducing infection risks in non-human primate models. Third, germline-targeting mRNA vaccines address the low-affinity barrier of broadly neutralizing antibody (bNAp) precursors, efficiently activating rare precursor B cells and promoting affinity maturation. Fourth, therapeutic mRNA vaccines offer unique advantages for an HIV functional cure; combining immunogens with mRNA-encoded adjuvants potentiates cellular immunity, while LNP-mediated “shock-and-kill” strategies specifically activate latent reservoirs to guide immune clearance. Comparative analyses with traditional platforms reveal that mRNA technology redefines antigen production and presentation, simulating chronic infection through sustained expression and enabling dual-pathway presentation via endogenous synthesis. Furthermore, we explore the mechanistic innovations of mRNA vaccines in inducing bNAps: sustained in vivo production prolongs the activation window for precursor B cells and maintains germinal center (GC) reactions; endogenously expressed antigens adopt native conformations to expose conserved epitopes; and self-adjuvanting effects modulate the functions of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and follicular helper T cells (Tfh), driving somatic hypermutation and affinity maturation. We also address critical clinical translation challenges, including immune durability, adaptability to special populations, and large-scale LNP manufacturing, while proposing targeted optimization strategies. In conclusion, this review establishes a theoretical framework for utilizing mRNA technology to overcome HIV-1 immune escape, transitioning from a descriptive paradigm to a problem-solving-based synthesis of evidence. By integrating preclinical and early clinical data, we bridge the gap between basic design and translational verification. mRNA technology is poised to become a central pillar inHIV-1 prevention and therapy, providing a robust toolset to achieve the global goal of ending the AIDS pandemic and offering a blueprint for vaccine development against other recalcitrant infectious diseases.
4.Exploring the Pathogenesis Evolution and Treatment Strategies of Skin Cancer from the Perspective of "Spleen Deficiency, Sweat Pore Obstruction,and Toxin Accumulation"
Yiwei ZHONG ; Xueqian WANG ; Ruijuan CAI ; Ying TAN ; Baojin HAN ; Hongsheng LIN
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(15):1618-1622
This paper discusses the pathogenesis and treatment strategies of skin cancer based on the theory of "spleen deficiency-sweat pore obstruction-toxin accumulation". It is believed that although the disease is located in the skin and body hair, it is not only the localized disorder but closely related to the imbalance of qi and blood of zang-fu (脏腑) organs. The core of the disease is the synergistic disorder of spleen, sweat pore, and skin and body hair. The disease progression follows a dynamic evolution from spleen deficiency with loss of nourishment, initial closure of sweat pore to binding of dampness and stasis with obstruction of sweat pore, and then to cancer toxin consolidation with damage to sweat pore. Based on this, three principles of building earth, opening sweat pore and attacking toxin are established. The method of fortifying spleen and raising the clear aims to consolidate the root and restore validity, with commonly used prescriptions including modifications of Buzhong Yiqi Decoction (补中益气汤), Liujunzi Decoction (六君子汤) and Guipi Decoction (归脾汤). The method of opening sweat pores with acrid-moistening medicinals is suggested when dredging and unblocking the sweat pore, commonly using acrid and warm dispersing medicinals, supplemented with herbs that nourish fluids and moisten dryness. The method of clearing heat and removing toxin is to break cancer toxin directly, and modifications of prescriptions such as Wuwei Xiaodu Beverage (五味消毒饮), Xiaolei Pills (消瘰丸) and Xihuang Pills (犀黄丸) are commonly used. These approaches provide valuable ideas for the prevention and treatment of skin cancer with traditional Chinese medicine.
5.Exploring the Pathogenesis Evolution and Treatment Strategies of Skin Cancer from the Perspective of "Spleen Deficiency, Sweat Pore Obstruction,and Toxin Accumulation"
Yiwei ZHONG ; Xueqian WANG ; Ruijuan CAI ; Ying TAN ; Baojin HAN ; Hongsheng LIN
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(15):1618-1622
This paper discusses the pathogenesis and treatment strategies of skin cancer based on the theory of "spleen deficiency-sweat pore obstruction-toxin accumulation". It is believed that although the disease is located in the skin and body hair, it is not only the localized disorder but closely related to the imbalance of qi and blood of zang-fu (脏腑) organs. The core of the disease is the synergistic disorder of spleen, sweat pore, and skin and body hair. The disease progression follows a dynamic evolution from spleen deficiency with loss of nourishment, initial closure of sweat pore to binding of dampness and stasis with obstruction of sweat pore, and then to cancer toxin consolidation with damage to sweat pore. Based on this, three principles of building earth, opening sweat pore and attacking toxin are established. The method of fortifying spleen and raising the clear aims to consolidate the root and restore validity, with commonly used prescriptions including modifications of Buzhong Yiqi Decoction (补中益气汤), Liujunzi Decoction (六君子汤) and Guipi Decoction (归脾汤). The method of opening sweat pores with acrid-moistening medicinals is suggested when dredging and unblocking the sweat pore, commonly using acrid and warm dispersing medicinals, supplemented with herbs that nourish fluids and moisten dryness. The method of clearing heat and removing toxin is to break cancer toxin directly, and modifications of prescriptions such as Wuwei Xiaodu Beverage (五味消毒饮), Xiaolei Pills (消瘰丸) and Xihuang Pills (犀黄丸) are commonly used. These approaches provide valuable ideas for the prevention and treatment of skin cancer with traditional Chinese medicine.
6.The pathological diagnostic efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy using a fork-tip needle
Bahetinuer JIASHAER ; Mei YING ; Baohui SONG ; Tianyin CHEN ; Yiqun ZHANG ; Yunshi ZHONG ; Pinghong ZHOU ; Mingyan CAI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2026;33(4):689-693
Objective To compare the pathological diagnosis rate, number of punctures, and applicability to different lesion locations between a fork-tip biopsy needle and a conventional needle. Methods A retrospective collection of data was conducted on 137 patients who underwent endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine needle biopsy (novel needle group, n=12) or aspiration (conventional needle group, n=125) at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University from January to August 2023. After propensity score matching at a ratio of 1∶5, there were 12 patients in the novel needle group and 60 patients in the conventional needle group. The pathological diagnosis rate and number of punctures were compared between the two groups. The stratified analyses on the size and location of lesions were performed. Results After matching, the pathological diagnosis rate was 91.7% (11/12) in the novel needle group, with a median of 2 punctures; the rate was 61.7% (37/60) in the conventional needle group, with a median of 3 punctures. No statistically significant differences in pathological diagnosis rate and number of punctures were observed between the two groups. Subgroup analysis showed that for lesions ≥20 mm, there was no significant difference in the number of punctures between the novel and conventional needles. The novel needle achieved a significantly higher pathological diagnosis rate for subepithelial tumors compared with the conventional needle (100.0% vs 30.4%, P=0.019), whereas no significant differences were found for pancreatic masses or lymph node lesions. Conclusions Compared with EUS-guided aspiration using the conventional needle, EUS-guided biopsy using the novel fork-tip needle shows a trend toward a higher pathological diagnosis rate, with particular advantages in subepithelial tumors.
7.Mechanisms of Babaodan in Attenuating Acetaminophen-induced Acute Liver Injury via Metabolic Reprogramming and Inflammatory Pathways
Ying ZHANG ; Yuchang AN ; Xiang ZHU ; Mei ZHONG ; Yanfang ZHENG ; Mingqing HUANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(20):122-130
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of Babaodan (BBD) against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced acute liver injury (ALI) based on transcriptomics. MethodsA total of 36 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=6 per group): normal group, model group, N-acetylcysteine group (NAC, 120 mg·kg-1), and BBD low-, medium-, and high-dose groups (BBD-L, BBD-M, BBD-H groups, 75, 150, 300 mg·kg-1, respectively). Except for the normal group, all other groups were subjected to APAP-induced ALI. The serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured in each group. Hepatic levels or activities of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were detected using commercial kits. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to evaluate the degree of liver histopathological damage. Transcriptomic analysis was employed to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis was performed to identify differential pathways involved in BBD intervention against ALI. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and Western blot were applied to validate the expression of differential genes and related pathway proteins. Additionally, glucose (GLU) consumption, as well as lactate (LD) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content were assessed across all mouse groups. ResultsPharmacodynamic evaluation showed that, compared with the normal group, the model group exhibited significantly elevated serum levels of ALT, AST, TC, TG, and LDL-C (P<0.01), significantly increased MDA level (P<0.01), and significantly decreased GSH-Px level (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, BBD intervention at different doses significantly reduced the serum levels of ALT, AST, TC, TG, and LDL-C (P<0.05, P<0.01), increased GSH-Px level (P<0.05, P<0.01), significantly decreased MDA level (P<0.01), and ameliorated hepatic histopathological injury. Liver transcriptomic analysis revealed that, following high-dose BBD intervention, the core genes were mainly enriched in pathways related to inflammatory responses and energy metabolic reprogramming, including the interleukin-17 (IL-17) signaling pathway, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway, fructose and mannose metabolism, and glycolysis. Real-time PCR validation demonstrated that, compared with the normal group, the mRNA expression levels of glycolysis-related genes [hexokinase 1 (HK1), hexokinase 2 (HK2), 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3), 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 4 (PFKFB4), pyruvate kinase M (PKM), and lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA)], as well as inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β)] were significantly upregulated in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the BBD-H group showed significantly decreased mRNA expression of HK1, HK2, PFKFB3, PFKFB4, PKM, LDHA, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β (P<0.05, P<0.01). Western blot results indicated that, compared with the normal group, the model group had significantly increased expression of glycolysis-related proteins [glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), HK1, PFKFB3, and PKM], inflammatory proteins [interleukin-18 (IL-18), TNF-α, and IL-1β], and phosphorylated (p)-PI3K and p-Akt proteins (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the BBD-H group exhibited significantly decreased expression of GLUT1, HK1, PFKFB3, PKM, IL-18, TNF-α, IL-1β, p-PI3K, and p-Akt (P<0.05, P<0.01). Metabolic indicator measurements showed that, compared with the model group, the BBD-H group showed significantly reduced GLU consumption, LD and ATP content (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionBBD may alleviate APAP-induced ALI through dual regulation of metabolic reprogramming and inflammatory responses, potentially via inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
8.Exploring Mechanism of Luoshi Neiyi Prescription in Treating Endometriosis Based on Ferroptosis and Serum Metabolomics
Haixia PAN ; Yingqiao ZHONG ; Ting MAO ; Ziyi DENG ; Meilin WU ; Lei HUANG ; Siyang CHEN ; Yong GUO ; Ying ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(20):201-212
ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the mechanism by which Luoshi Neiyi prescription treats endometriosis (EMs) through regulating ferroptosis, and to screen key metabolites and analyze their association with ferroptosis. MethodsClinical samples of normal endometrium from patients without EMs and eutopic and ectopic endometrium from EMs patients (10 cases each) were collected and divided into control group, eutopic group, and EMs group. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to observe ectopic lesions of EMs. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was adopted to determine the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), ferrous ion (Fe2+), GPX4 and glutathione (GSH) in endometrial tissues, as well as serum levels of Fe2+, GPX4 and GSH. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of SLC7A11, GPX4, transferrin receptor (TFR) and ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1). In the in vitro experiment, primary stromal cells were isolated from ectopic lesions of EMs patients. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to determine the optimal concentration of drug-containing serum for intervention. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured, and Real-time PCR was applied to detect ferroptosis-related indicators. In the animal experiments, an EM rat model was established, and the rats were randomly assigned to the sham operation group, EMs group, low-dose Luoshi Neiyi Formula group (7.87 g·kg-1), high-dose Luoshi Neiyi prescription group (15.74 g·kg-1), and danazol group (42 mg·kg-1). Untargeted metabolomics detection and pathway enrichment analysis were conducted on serum samples from patients and rats. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to assess the relationship between differential metabolites and ferroptosis indicators. The correlations between differential metabolites in patient endometrium and serum and key ferroptosis indicators (GPX4, Fe2+, MDA, GSH) as well as ferroptosis-related mRNAs (GPX4, SLC7A11, FTH1) were analyzed, and correlation heatmaps were generated accordingly. ResultsCompared with normal eutopic endometrium, ectopic lesions in EMs patients showed glandular disorganization and stromal fibrosis. In ectopic endometrium, the contents of MDA, ROS, and Fe2+ decreased, while GPX4 level increased, and the mRNA expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4 was upregulated (P<0.05, P<0.01). In serum, the levels of GPX4 and Fe2+ were elevated, whereas the GSH level declined, suggesting abnormalities in ferroptosis-related pathways in ectopic lesions (P<0.05, P<0.01). After intervention with Luoshi Neiyi prescription-containing serum, the intracellular ROS level in ectopic endometrial stromal cells was elevated, the mRNA expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4 was downregulated, and TFR mRNA expression was upregulated (P<0.05, P<0.01). Metabolomics analysis revealed 1104 and 198 differential metabolites in EMs patients and EMs rats, respectively, compared with their corresponding control groups, and both low-dose and high-dose Luoshi Neiyi prescription were found to regulate this metabolic disturbance, with the core regulatory pathways mainly involving arginine and proline metabolism. Correlation analysis showed that the glycerophospholipids including PI(16∶0/17∶0) and PI[18∶2(9Z,12Z)] were negatively correlated with GPX4 and positively correlated with MDA, while 17α-hydroxyprogesterone was positively correlated with GPX4, SLC7A11, and FTH1 q<0.05). ConclusionLuoshi Neiyi prescription may systematically ameliorate disease-associated metabolic dysregulation via modulation of the serum arginine and proline metabolism pathway, and may regulate ferroptosis in ectopic lesions through a mechanism potentially linked to the serum glycerophospholipid and steroid metabolism pathways. Collectively, these findings provide experimental evidence for the clinical application of Luoshi Neiyi prescription.
9.Mechanisms of Babaodan in Attenuating Acetaminophen-induced Acute Liver Injury via Metabolic Reprogramming and Inflammatory Pathways
Ying ZHANG ; Yuchang AN ; Xiang ZHU ; Mei ZHONG ; Yanfang ZHENG ; Mingqing HUANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(20):122-130
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of Babaodan (BBD) against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced acute liver injury (ALI) based on transcriptomics. MethodsA total of 36 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=6 per group): normal group, model group, N-acetylcysteine group (NAC, 120 mg·kg-1), and BBD low-, medium-, and high-dose groups (BBD-L, BBD-M, BBD-H groups, 75, 150, 300 mg·kg-1, respectively). Except for the normal group, all other groups were subjected to APAP-induced ALI. The serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured in each group. Hepatic levels or activities of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were detected using commercial kits. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to evaluate the degree of liver histopathological damage. Transcriptomic analysis was employed to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis was performed to identify differential pathways involved in BBD intervention against ALI. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and Western blot were applied to validate the expression of differential genes and related pathway proteins. Additionally, glucose (GLU) consumption, as well as lactate (LD) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content were assessed across all mouse groups. ResultsPharmacodynamic evaluation showed that, compared with the normal group, the model group exhibited significantly elevated serum levels of ALT, AST, TC, TG, and LDL-C (P<0.01), significantly increased MDA level (P<0.01), and significantly decreased GSH-Px level (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, BBD intervention at different doses significantly reduced the serum levels of ALT, AST, TC, TG, and LDL-C (P<0.05, P<0.01), increased GSH-Px level (P<0.05, P<0.01), significantly decreased MDA level (P<0.01), and ameliorated hepatic histopathological injury. Liver transcriptomic analysis revealed that, following high-dose BBD intervention, the core genes were mainly enriched in pathways related to inflammatory responses and energy metabolic reprogramming, including the interleukin-17 (IL-17) signaling pathway, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway, fructose and mannose metabolism, and glycolysis. Real-time PCR validation demonstrated that, compared with the normal group, the mRNA expression levels of glycolysis-related genes [hexokinase 1 (HK1), hexokinase 2 (HK2), 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3), 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 4 (PFKFB4), pyruvate kinase M (PKM), and lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA)], as well as inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β)] were significantly upregulated in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the BBD-H group showed significantly decreased mRNA expression of HK1, HK2, PFKFB3, PFKFB4, PKM, LDHA, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β (P<0.05, P<0.01). Western blot results indicated that, compared with the normal group, the model group had significantly increased expression of glycolysis-related proteins [glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), HK1, PFKFB3, and PKM], inflammatory proteins [interleukin-18 (IL-18), TNF-α, and IL-1β], and phosphorylated (p)-PI3K and p-Akt proteins (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the BBD-H group exhibited significantly decreased expression of GLUT1, HK1, PFKFB3, PKM, IL-18, TNF-α, IL-1β, p-PI3K, and p-Akt (P<0.05, P<0.01). Metabolic indicator measurements showed that, compared with the model group, the BBD-H group showed significantly reduced GLU consumption, LD and ATP content (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionBBD may alleviate APAP-induced ALI through dual regulation of metabolic reprogramming and inflammatory responses, potentially via inhibition of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
10.Exploring Mechanism of Luoshi Neiyi Prescription in Treating Endometriosis Based on Ferroptosis and Serum Metabolomics
Haixia PAN ; Yingqiao ZHONG ; Ting MAO ; Ziyi DENG ; Meilin WU ; Lei HUANG ; Siyang CHEN ; Yong GUO ; Ying ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(20):201-212
ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the mechanism by which Luoshi Neiyi prescription treats endometriosis (EMs) through regulating ferroptosis, and to screen key metabolites and analyze their association with ferroptosis. MethodsClinical samples of normal endometrium from patients without EMs and eutopic and ectopic endometrium from EMs patients (10 cases each) were collected and divided into control group, eutopic group, and EMs group. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to observe ectopic lesions of EMs. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was adopted to determine the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), ferrous ion (Fe2+), GPX4 and glutathione (GSH) in endometrial tissues, as well as serum levels of Fe2+, GPX4 and GSH. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of SLC7A11, GPX4, transferrin receptor (TFR) and ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1). In the in vitro experiment, primary stromal cells were isolated from ectopic lesions of EMs patients. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to determine the optimal concentration of drug-containing serum for intervention. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured, and Real-time PCR was applied to detect ferroptosis-related indicators. In the animal experiments, an EM rat model was established, and the rats were randomly assigned to the sham operation group, EMs group, low-dose Luoshi Neiyi Formula group (7.87 g·kg-1), high-dose Luoshi Neiyi prescription group (15.74 g·kg-1), and danazol group (42 mg·kg-1). Untargeted metabolomics detection and pathway enrichment analysis were conducted on serum samples from patients and rats. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to assess the relationship between differential metabolites and ferroptosis indicators. The correlations between differential metabolites in patient endometrium and serum and key ferroptosis indicators (GPX4, Fe2+, MDA, GSH) as well as ferroptosis-related mRNAs (GPX4, SLC7A11, FTH1) were analyzed, and correlation heatmaps were generated accordingly. ResultsCompared with normal eutopic endometrium, ectopic lesions in EMs patients showed glandular disorganization and stromal fibrosis. In ectopic endometrium, the contents of MDA, ROS, and Fe2+ decreased, while GPX4 level increased, and the mRNA expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4 was upregulated (P<0.05, P<0.01). In serum, the levels of GPX4 and Fe2+ were elevated, whereas the GSH level declined, suggesting abnormalities in ferroptosis-related pathways in ectopic lesions (P<0.05, P<0.01). After intervention with Luoshi Neiyi prescription-containing serum, the intracellular ROS level in ectopic endometrial stromal cells was elevated, the mRNA expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4 was downregulated, and TFR mRNA expression was upregulated (P<0.05, P<0.01). Metabolomics analysis revealed 1104 and 198 differential metabolites in EMs patients and EMs rats, respectively, compared with their corresponding control groups, and both low-dose and high-dose Luoshi Neiyi prescription were found to regulate this metabolic disturbance, with the core regulatory pathways mainly involving arginine and proline metabolism. Correlation analysis showed that the glycerophospholipids including PI(16∶0/17∶0) and PI[18∶2(9Z,12Z)] were negatively correlated with GPX4 and positively correlated with MDA, while 17α-hydroxyprogesterone was positively correlated with GPX4, SLC7A11, and FTH1 q<0.05). ConclusionLuoshi Neiyi prescription may systematically ameliorate disease-associated metabolic dysregulation via modulation of the serum arginine and proline metabolism pathway, and may regulate ferroptosis in ectopic lesions through a mechanism potentially linked to the serum glycerophospholipid and steroid metabolism pathways. Collectively, these findings provide experimental evidence for the clinical application of Luoshi Neiyi prescription.


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