1.Mechanism of Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu Prescription Against Damage to Hippocampal Synaptic Microenvironment via Suppressing GluR2/Parkin Signal-mediated Mitophagy in Rats with Diabetes-related Depression
Jian LIU ; Lin LIU ; Xiaoyuan LIN ; Wei LI ; Yuhong WANG ; Hui YANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(1):104-112
ObjectiveTo reveal the mechanism of Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu prescription against damage to hippocampal synaptic microenvironment via suppressing glutamate receptor 2 (GluR2)/Parkin signal-mediated mitophagy in rats with diabetes-related depression (DD). MethodsEighty male SD rats underwent adaptive feeding for 5 days before the study. Ten rats were randomly assigned to the normal group. The model of DD rats was established with the rest by 2-week high-fat diet + streptozotocin (STZ) tail intravenous injection + 28 days of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) combined with isolation. The rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a GluR2 blocker group (5 μg·kg-1), a GluR2 agonist group (10 μg·kg-1), a metformin + fluoxetine group (0.18 g·kg-1 metformin + 1.8 mg·kg-1 fluoxetine), and high- and low-dose Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu prescription groups (20.52 and 10.26 g·kg-1, respectively). The rats in the GluR2 blocker group and the GluR2 agonist group were continuously injected with CNQX and Cl-HIBO in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus once a week starting from stress modeling, respectively, while the metformin + fluoxetine group and the high- and low-dose Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu prescription groups were continuously given intragastric administration for 28 d at the same time of stress modeling. Depression-like behavior was evaluated by open field and forced swimming experiments. The levels of serum insulin and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in hippocampus were detected by biochemical analysis. The levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) in hippocampus were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The autophagosomes of hippocampal neurons were observed by transmission electron microscopy. The morphology and structure of dendrites and spines of hippocampal neurons were evaluated by Golgi staining. Western blot detected the expression levels of GluR2 and Parkin proteins in hippocampus. The expression levels of GluR2, Parkin, regulating synaptic membrane exocytosis protein 3 (RIMS3), and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus were detected by immunofluorescence. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the model group exhibited reduced total activity distance in the open field and increased immobility time in forced swimming (P<0.01), lowered levels of serum insulin and ATP, 5-HT, and DA in hippocampus (P<0.01), increased autophagosomes of hippocampal neurons, significantly damaged morphology and structure of dendrites and spines of hippocampal neurons, decreased expression levels of GluR2, RIMS3, and PSD95 in hippocampus, and an increased Parkin expression level (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the GluR2 blocker group and the GluR2 agonist group showed aggravation and alleviation of the above abnormal changes, respectively (P<0.05, P<0.01). The above depression-like behavior was significantly improved in the high- and low-dose Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu prescription groups to different degrees. Specifically, the two groups saw elevated levels of serum insulin and ATP, 5-HT, and DA in hippocampus (P<0.05, P<0.01), restrained increase in autophagosomes and damage to morphology and structure of dendrites and spines of hippocampal neurons, up-regulated protein expression levels of GluR2, RIMS3, and PSD95, and down-regulated Parkin expression level (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionZuogui Jiangtong Jieyu prescription can ameliorate the mitophagy-mediated damage to hippocampal synaptic microenvironment in DD rats, the mechanism of which might be related to the regulation of GluR2/Parkin signaling pathway.
2.Analysis of the dilemmas of the simplified ethical review procedure in practice
Benze HU ; Yuhong HUANG ; Xufang GU ; Weihua GUO ; Siyuan HU ; Yaqing YANG
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(1):46-51
In September 2023, the Measures for Scientific and Technological Ethics Review (Trial Implementation) was issued, revising the provisions related to the simplified procedure for ethical review in Chapter 3, Section 3. This revision of these provisions provides systematic guarantees for further optimizing ethical review work, ensuring that ethical review procedure is well-regulated, and improving scientific research efficiency. The “simplified procedure” does not mean reducing the quality and requirements of the review. Instead, based on always following internationally recognized ethical standards and emphasizing not violating national laws and regulations, improving the efficiency of ethical review and subsequent research work, and promoting the development of life sciences and medical research involving humans. In practical work, it introduces numerous new opportunities and challenges for the improvement of ethics review ability, such as new tests on the judgment and decision-making power of ethics committees, how to ensure the reliability and controllability of the conditions related to the simplified review procedure, and how to determine the basic conditions for adopting the simplified review procedure for review. Therefore, to actively respond to the challenges and possible risks brought by the simplified procedure review, efforts should be made to achieve three “unifications”, including the unification of researchers’ moral autonomy and the heteronomy of supervision implemented by relevant departments; the unification of the standard formulation of the simplified procedure review and the review work in practice; and the unification of ethical responsibility and legal responsibility.
3.Effect of Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu Formula on hippocampal H3K18la modification in a rat model of diabetes mellitus complicated with depression and prediction of related regulatory genes
Hui YANG ; Wei LI ; Shihui LEI ; Jinxi WANG ; Zhuo LIU ; Pan MENG ; Lin LIU ; Fan JIANG ; Yuhong WANG
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(6):791-801
Objective:
To investigate the effects of Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu Formula (ZGJTJYF) on histone H3 lysine 18 lactylation (H3K18la) in the hippocampus of rats with diabetes mellitus complicated with depression (DD) and predict the regulatory genes of H3K18la.
Methods:
Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control, model, and positive drug (metformin [0.18 g/kg] and fluoxetine [1.8 mg/kg]) groups, and the three groups were treated with high, medium, and low ZGJTJYF doses (20.52, 10.26, and 5.13 g/kg, respectively), with 10 rats per group. After treatment, the forced swimming and water maze tests were performed to assess depressive-like behaviors and cognitive function. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure blood insulin, glycosylated hemoglobin, lactate levels, and lactate content in the hippocampus. Western blotting was used to detect H3K18la expression in the hippocampus. Cleavage Under Targets and lagmentation(CUT&Tag) experiments targeted hippocampal H3K18la epigenetic modification regions to analyze the transcription factors bound by H3K18la. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Protein-Protein Interaction networks were constructed to identify key pathways and target genes regulated by H3K18la.
Results:
Compared with the normal group, the model group rats showed prolonged immobility time in the forced swim test, increased escape latency in the water maze experiment, decreased target quadrant distance ratio (P<0.01), increased serum lactate content, and decreased lactate content in hippocampal homogenate (P<0.01), as well as decreased H3K18la protein expression in the hippocampus (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, ZGJTJYF reduced the immobility time in the forced swim test and the escape latency in the water maze test (P<0.01), while the distance ratio in the target quadrant increased (P<0.01) in model rats. Lowered fasting blood glucose, insulin, and glycosylated hemoglobin levels (P<0.05, P<0.01) were also observed. ZGJTJYF also increased the lactate content and H3K18la protein expression in hippocampal homogenate (P<0.05, P<0.01). The DNA sequences bound by H3K18la were predominantly enriched at the transcription start sites. ZGJTJYF modulated H3K18la-associated pathways, including cell adhesion junctions, tumor growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling, stem cell pluripotency regulation, mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) signaling pathway, and insulin resistance, leading to the identification of 12 target genes.
Conclusion
ZGJTJYF enhances hippocampal lactate levels and H3K18la modification in DD rats, which may regulate neural cell interactions, neurogenic stem cell function, TGF-β signaling, MAPK signaling, and insulin resistance pathways.
4.SRSF7 promotes pulmonary fibrosis through regulating PKM alternative splicing in lung fibroblasts.
Tongzhu JIN ; Huiying GAO ; Yuquan WANG ; Zhiwei NING ; Danyang BING ; Yan WANG ; Yi CHEN ; Xiaomu TIAN ; Qiudi LIU ; Zhihui NIU ; Jiayu GUO ; Jian SUN ; Ruoxuan YANG ; Qianqian WANG ; Shifen LI ; Tianyu LI ; Yuhong ZHOU ; Wenxin HE ; Yanjie LU ; Yunyan GU ; Haihai LIANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(6):3041-3058
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic interstitial lung disease, is characterized by aberrant wound healing, excessive scarring and the formation of myofibroblastic foci. Although the role of alternative splicing (AS) in the pathogenesis of organ fibrosis has garnered increasing attention, its specific contribution to pulmonary fibrosis remains incompletely understood. In this study, we identified an up-regulation of serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 7 (SRSF7) in lung fibroblasts derived from IPF patients and a bleomycin (BLM)-induced mouse model, and further characterized its functional role in both human fetal lung fibroblasts and mice. We demonstrated that enhanced expression of Srsf7 in mice spontaneously induced alveolar collagen accumulation. Mechanistically, we investigated alternative splicing events and revealed that SRSF7 modulates the alternative splicing of pyruvate kinase (PKM), leading to metabolic dysregulation and fibroblast activation. In vivo studies showed that fibroblast-specific knockout of Srsf7 in conditional knockout mice conferred resistance to bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Importantly, through drug screening, we identified lomitapide as a novel modulator of SRSF7, which effectively mitigated experimental pulmonary fibrosis. Collectively, our findings elucidate a molecular pathway by which SRSF7 drives fibroblast metabolic dysregulation and propose a potential therapeutic strategy for pulmonary fibrosis.
5.Engineered Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 targeted delivery of extracellular PD-L1-mFc fragment for treating inflammatory bowel disease.
Yuhong WANG ; Lin HU ; Lei WANG ; Chonghai ZHANG ; Wenhao SHEN ; Hongli YANG ; Min LI ; Xin ZHANG ; Mengmeng XU ; Muxing ZHANG ; Kai YANG ; Xiaopeng TIAN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(11):6019-6033
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an autoimmune disorder involving complex immune regulation, where balancing localized and systemic immunosuppression is a key challenge. This study aimed to enhance the therapeutic efficacy by engineering the probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN). We removed endogenous plasmids pMUT1 and pMUT2 from wild-type EcN and expressed the mPD-L1 (19‒238 aa)-mFc fusion protein on the bacterial surface using a cytolysin A (ClyA) fragment. This modification stabilized mPD-L1 (19‒238 aa) protein expression and promoted its recruitment to outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). The engineered strain, EcNΔpMUT1/2-ClyA-mPD-L1-mFc (EcN-ePD-L1-mFc), features conditional ePD-L1-mFc expression under the araBAD promoter, enhancing gut-targeted release and reducing systemic side effects. This strain improved treatment targeting and efficiency by enabling direct ePD-L1-mFc interaction with immune cells at inflammation sites. OMVs from this strain induced Treg proliferation, inhibited effector T cell proliferation in vitro, and significantly improved intestinal inflammation and colonic epithelial barrier repair in vivo. Additionally, the bacterium restored intestinal microbiota balance, increasing Lactobacillaceae and reducing Bacteroides. This study highlights the engineered bacterium's potential for targeted intestinal immune modulation and offers a novel local IBD treatment approach with promising clinical prospects.
6.Practice of Cybersecurity Risk Management in Large Hospitals Based on a Situational Awareness Platform
Baofeng SUN ; Weiyi ZHANG ; Yang YANG ; Yuhong LI
Journal of Medical Informatics 2024;45(10):81-85
Purpose/Significance To analyze the network security risk events monitored by the situational awareness platform of large hospitals,to find out the causes,and to put forward solutions and suggestions for improvement.Method/Process Taking the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University as an example,the paper analyzes risk events on the situational awareness platform,screens the risky ter-minals on the hospital intranet,carries out rectification and reinforcement,analyzes the department distribution and causes of risky termi-nals,and puts forward suggestions for improvement.Result/Conclusion The number of risky terminals in medical and technical depart-ments is large,mainly due to the lack of management and the lack of full coverage of antivirus software.Through the rectification and rein-forcement of risky terminals,the number of network security risk events has been significantly reduced.Strengthening the hospital terminal security management,enhancing staff awareness of network security,and strengthening network security protection in different areas can ef-fectively reduce the incidence of hospital network security risk events and improve the hospital network security protection capability.
7.Chaijin-Jieyu-Anshen tablet-medicated serum protects rat ACC neurons from synaptic damage via GR/CX3CR1 double signaling in an in vitro de-pression model
Jian LIU ; Hui YANG ; Hongqing ZHAO ; Pan MENG ; Yuhong WANG
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2024;40(6):997-1007
AIM:To explore the mechanism by which Chaijin-Jieyu-Anshen tablet(CJJY)-medicated serum prevents synaptic injury in rat anterior cingulate cortex(ACC)neurons using an in vitro depression model.METHODS:Cells(astrocytes,microglia and neurons)were isolated from the ACC of SD rats.The isolated cells were characterized by immunofluorescence staining.An in vitro depression model was developed using 1 mg/L lipopolysaccharide(LPS)com-bined with 200 μmol/L corticosterone(CORT).These cells were divided into control group,model group(CORT+LPS),glucocorticoid receptor(GR)blocker(GR-)group(CORT+LPS+RU486),GR agonist(GR+)group(CORT+LPS+dexa-methasone),CX3C chemokine receptor 1(CX3CR1)blocker(CX3-)group(CORT+LPS+AZD8797),CX3CR1 agonist(CX3+)group(CORT+LPS+fractalkine),CJJY group(CORT+LPS+CJJY-medicated serum),CJJY/GR+group(CORT+LPS+CJJY-medicated serum+dexamethasone),and CJJY/CX3+group(CORT+LPS+CJJY-mediated serum+fractalkine).The morphological characteristics of all ACC cells were observed by high-content analysis.The levels of neuroendocrine-related factors,adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH),corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH)and CORT,and neuroin-flammatory mediators,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-1β(IL-1β),IL-6 and glutamate(Glu),in the cell supernatants were quantified by ELISA.Immunofluorescence staining was used to analyze the protein expression of GR and vesicular glutamate transporter 1(VGluT1)in astrocytes,as well as CX3CR1 and adenosine A2A receptor(A2AR)in microglia.Immunofluorescence staining with Nissl and β-tubulin was performed to evaluate synaptic damage in ACC neurons.RESULTS:In an in vitro model of depression,CJJY-medicated serum prevented morphological damage to ACC neurons,microglia and astrocytes.Moreover,CJJY-medicated serum reversed abnormal increases in the levels of ACTH,CRH,CORT,TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6 and Glu in cell supernatants(P<0.05 or P<0.01).It was also found that CJJY-medi-cated serum reduced abnormal expression of GR,VGluT1,CX3CR1 and A2AR(P<0.05 or P<0.01),alleviating damage to the neuronal dendrites and dendritic spines of ACC neurons.CONCLUSION:The CJJY-medicated serum regulates GR/CX3CR1 double signaling in glia,and attenuates rat ACC neuronal synaptic damage in an in vitro depression model,indicating that CJJY-medicated serum controls depression by affecting the GR/CX3CR1 double signaling.
8.Expert consensus on endodontic therapy for patients with systemic conditions
Xu XIN ; Zheng XIN ; Lin FEI ; Yu QING ; Hou BENXIANG ; Chen ZHI ; Wei XI ; Qiu LIHONG ; Chen WENXIA ; Li JIYAO ; Chen LILI ; Wang ZUOMIN ; Wu HONGKUN ; Lu ZHIYUE ; Zhao JIZHI ; Liang YUHONG ; Zhao JIN ; Pan YIHUAI ; Pan SHUANG ; Wang XIAOYAN ; Yang DEQIN ; Ren YANFANG ; Yue LIN ; Zhou XUEDONG
International Journal of Oral Science 2024;16(3):390-397
The overall health condition of patients significantly affects the diagnosis,treatment,and prognosis of endodontic diseases.A systemic consideration of the patient's overall health along with oral conditions holds the utmost importance in determining the necessity and feasibility of endodontic therapy,as well as selecting appropriate therapeutic approaches.This expert consensus is a collaborative effort by specialists from endodontics and clinical physicians across the nation based on the current clinical evidence,aiming to provide general guidance on clinical procedures,improve patient safety and enhance clinical outcomes of endodontic therapy in patients with compromised overall health.
9.Research on risk factors for microcirculation obstruction after acute myocardial infarction reperfusion
Yuhong GAN ; Zhi YANG ; Miao WEN ; Yitian LONG ; Liangchao GAO ; Qiong LI ; Bing FU
Journal of Practical Radiology 2024;40(4):562-566
Objective To investigate the risk factors of microcirculation obstruction(MVO)after reperfusion in patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI).Methods Forty-one patients with AMI who received treatment with myocardial reperfusion were retrospectively selected.Cardiac magnetic resonance(CMR)was used to determine whether the patients had MVO.The patients were divided into MVO and non-MVO groups.The basic data,laboratory examination and CMR parameters of patients were collected and compared between the groups,and the risk factors related to MVO were screened out by logistic regression analysis.Results Delayed myocardial enhancement was observed in all 41 patients,among which 11 cases(26.8%)were with MVO.A total of 206 delayed myocardial enhancement segments were observed,of which 77 segments combined with MVO and 129 segments without MVO.AMI patients with MVO had a higher rate of transmural myocardial infarction,greater infarct volume,left ventricular myocardial mass(LVMM)and edema degree,as well as lower ejection fraction of left and right ventricles(P<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that infarct volume[odds ratio(OR)=1.116,95%confidence interval(CI)1.017-1.224,P=0.020]was an independent risk factor for MVO after AMI reperfusion.Conclusion Infarct volume is an independent risk factor for MVO after AMI reperfusion,and MVO is associated with left and right ventricular function impairment.
10.Modified Xiaoyaosan Alleviates Depression-like Behaviors by Regulating Activation of Hippocampal Microglia Cells in Rat Model of Juvenile Depression
Jiayi SHI ; Yun XIANG ; Ziyang ZHOU ; Dahua WU ; Feng QIU ; Chang LEI ; Hongyu ZENG ; Kaimei TAN ; Hongqing ZHAO ; Dong YANG ; Yuhong WANG ; Pengxiao GUO ; Xiuli ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(5):46-56
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Baihuan Xiaoyao Decoction (Xiaoyaosan added with Lilii Bulbus and Albiziae Cortex) in alleviating depression-like behaviors of juvenile rats by regulating the polarization of microglia. MethodSixty juvenile SD rats were randomized into normal control, model, fluoxetine, and low-, medium-, and high-dose (5.36, 10.71, 21.42 g·kg-1, respectively) Baihuan Xiaoyao decoction groups. The rat model of juvenile depression was established by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). The sucrose preference test (SPT) was carried out to examine the sucrose preference of rats. Forced swimming test (FST) was carried out to measure the immobility time of rats. The open field test (OFT) was conducted to measure the total distance, the central distance, the number of horizontal crossings, and the frequency of rearing. Morris water maze (MWM) was used to measure the escape latency and the number of crossing the platform. The immunofluorescence assay was employed to detect the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS, the polarization marker of M1 microglia) and CD206 (the polarization marker of M2 microglia). Real-time polymerase chain reaction was employed to determine the mRNA levels of iNOS, CD206, pro-inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6] and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) in the hippocampus. Western blotting was employed to determine the protein levels of iNOS and CD206 in the hippocampus. The levels of IL-4 and IL-6 in the hippocampus were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ResultCompared with the normal control group, the model rats showed a reduction in sucrose preference (P<0.05), an increase in immobility time (P<0.05), decreased motor and exploratory behaviors (P<0.05), and weakened learning and spatial memory (P<0.05). In addition, the model rats showed up-regulated mRNA and protein levels of iNOS and mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, Baihuan Xiaoyao decoction increased the sucrose preference value (P<0.05), shortened the immobility time (P<0.01), increased the motor and exploratory behaviors (P<0.05), and improved the learning and spatial memory (P<0.01). Furthermore, the decoction down-regulated the positive expression and protein level of iNOS, lowered the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 (P<0.01), promoted the positive expression of CD206, and elevated the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 (P<0.01) in the hippocampus of the high dose group. Moreover, the high-dose Baihuan Xiaoyao decoction group had higher sucrose preference value (P<0.01), shorter immobility time (P<0.01), longer central distance (P<0.01), stronger learning and spatial memory (P<0.01), higher positive expression and protein level of iNOS (P<0.01), lower levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 (P<0.05, P<0.01), lower positive expression and mRNA level of iNOS (P<0.05), and higher levels of IL-4 and IL-10 (P<0.05, P<0.01) than the fluoxetine group. ConclusionBaihuan Xiaoyao decoction can improve the depression-like behavior of juvenile rats by inhibiting the M1 polarization and promoting the M2 polarization of microglia in the hippocampus.


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