1.Inflammatory factor interferon-gamma affects migration and apoptosis of human vascular smooth muscle cells through pyroptosis pathway
Lingling WAN ; Mengying WU ; Yujiao ZHANG ; Qingqing LUO
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(7):1422-1428
BACKGROUND:Successful uterine spiral artery remodeling is necessary for normal pregnancy,in which vascular smooth muscle cells are important cells.Interferon-γ is associated with the loss of vascular smooth muscle cells during early pregnancy.However,the specific mechanism is not fully understood. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of interferon-γ on migration and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells through NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD pyroptosis pathway. METHODS:Human vascular smooth muscle cells were divided into control group and interferon-γ group.The control group was cultured normally,and the interferon-γ group was treated with 10 ng/mL interferon-γ for 24 hours.The migration ability of vascular smooth muscle cells was detected by Transwell assay.The apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells was detected by TUNEL assay and flow cytometry.The mRNA expression levels of NLRP3 and caspase-1 were detected by qPCR.Western blot assay was utilized to detect NLRP3,caspase-1,and cleaved N-terminal GSDMD protein expression levels. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group,the migration ability and apoptosis rate of vascular smooth muscle cells in interferon-γ group were significantly increased(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the mRNA expression levels of NLRP3 and caspase-1 in vascular smooth muscle cells of interferon-γ group were significantly increased(P<0.05).Compared with control group,the expression levels of NLRP3,caspase-1,and cleaved N-terminal GSDMD protein in vascular smooth muscle cells in the interferon-γ group were significantly increased(P<0.05).The results suggest that interferon-γ may regulate the migration and apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells through NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD pyroptosis pathway.
2.Monitoring results of mosquito-ovitraps placed in different orientations in multi-storey residential areas
Caixiong LIU ; Bin GE ; Haibing ZHANG ; Lin WANG ; Tao YANG ; Yujiao WEI ; Haiying XIE ; Yu ZHANG ; Hongxia LIU ; Juntao SHEN
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(2):109-113
ObjectiveTo find out whether there is any difference in the monitoring results of mosq-ovitraps placed in different orientations in multi-storey residential areas, so as to provide a scientific basis for routine and emergency monitoring of Aedes albopictus with mosq-ovitraps in residential areas. MethodsFrom July 6th to October 26th 2023, one mosquito ovitrap was set up in each of the 4 orientations of east, south, west and north around the buildings in a multi-storey residential area in Jinhui Town, Fengxian District, Shanghai. Data was collected and recorded 72 hours after placement. The chi-square test was used to compare the mosquito ovitrap indices (MOIs) of two independent samples, and the Kruskal⁃Wallis H test was used to compare the MOIs of multiple independent samples. ResultsAfter 16 weeks of surveillance, 997 mosquito ovitraps were recovered, of which 211 were positive, with the mosquito ovitrap index (MOI) of 21.16% and the Aedes albopictus density index of 1.03 mosquitoes·ovitrap-1. The MOIs were higher in September (24.22%) and October (23.96%), and the MOIs in the west, south and north within the two months were all above 20.00%. From July to October, the MOIs in the east, west, south and north were 20.70%, 22.20%, 25.50% and 16.20%, respectively, and the difference in MOIs among the 4 orientations was not statistically significant (χ2=6.647, P=0.084). Stratified analysis by month showed that in August, the south side of the multi-storey residential areas had the highest MOI (31.30%), the north side had the lowest MOI (1.30%), and there was a statistically significant difference in MOI in the east, west, south and north (χ2=25.986, P<0.001). In October, the MOI in the west was the highest (33.30%) and the MOI in the east was the lowest (6.30%), the difference in MOIs of the 4 orientations was statistically significant (χ2=12.007, P=0.007). The MOIs in the south side of the building in the outskirts of the residential area from the 1st week in July to the 4th week in October was lower (19.20%) than that in the south side of the inner building (31.70%), and the difference in MOI was statistically significant (χ2=5.118, P=0.024). ConclusionThe study of MOI in different orientations in a multi-storey residential area is a preliminary exploration based on field work, and the results show that there is a difference in MOIs in different orientations during the peak breeding period of mosquitoes. Further indicators such as temperature, humidity and wind speed in different orientations can be collected to explore the influencing factors of MOIs.
3.Nanomedicine strategies for cuproptosis: Metabolic reprogramming and tumor immunotherapy.
Ruixuan ZHANG ; Yunfei LI ; Hui FU ; Chengcheng ZHAO ; Xiuyan LI ; Yuming WANG ; Yujiao SUN ; Yingpeng LI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(9):4582-4613
Cuproptosis, a recently discovered form of regulated cell death involving copper ion metabolism, has emerged as a promising approach for tumor therapy. This pathway not only directly eliminates tumor cells but also promotes immunogenic cell death (ICD), reshaping the tumor microenvironment (TME) and initiating robust anti-tumor immune responses. However, translating cuproptosis-based therapies into clinical applications is hindered by challenges, including complex metabolic regulation, TME heterogeneity, and the precision required for effective drug delivery. To address these limitations, nanoparticles offer transformative solutions by providing precise delivery of cuproptosis-inducing agents, controlled drug release, and enhanced therapeutic efficacy through simultaneous modulation of metabolic pathways and immune responses. This review systematically discusses recent advancements in nanoparticle-based cuproptosis delivery systems, highlighting nanoparticle design principles and their synergistic effects when integrated with other therapeutic modalities such as ICB, PTT, and CDT. Furthermore, we explore the potential of cuproptosis-based nanomedicine for personalized cancer treatment by emphasizing strategies for TME stratification and therapeutic optimization tailored to patient profiles. By integrating current insights from metabolic reprogramming, tumor immunotherapy, and nanotechnology, this review aims to facilitate the clinical translation of cuproptosis nanomedicine and significantly contribute to the advancement of precision oncology.
4.A rapid method for detecting prfA and hly toxin genes of Listeria monocytogenes using double nucleic acid colloidal gold strips.
Yan LIU ; Jianyu YANG ; Yujiao ZHOU ; Wenbo DING ; Xianyu ZHANG ; Linran GAO ; Beizhen PAN ; Jifei YANG ; Yundong ZHAO
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(2):387-394
OBJECTIVES:
To detect prfA and hly toxin genes of Listeria monocytogenes using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and colloidal gold technology.
METHODS:
L. monocytogenes DNA was extracted by boiling method. With prfA and hly of L. monocytogenes as the target genes, the 5' ends of upstream and downstream primers of prfA gene were labeled with 6-FAM and biotin, and the 5' ends of upstream and downstream primers of hly gene were labeled with digoxin and biotin, respectively, to establish the toxin gene detection method. Using cloning transformation, sequencing analysis, cloning of positive control products, the detection kid was developed and its specificity, sensitivity, reproducibility and stability were tested, followed by verification with sample testing.
RESULTS:
The concentration of L. monocytogenes DNA extracted by boiling method was 148.81±0.97 ng/μL, and the A260/A280 ratio ranged from 1.8 to 2.0. The PCR products showed a 100% homology with the gene sequences in GenBank database after cloning, transformation and sequencing. The colloidal gold strip yielded positive results only for L. monocytogenes samples without cross-reactions with Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli or Bacillus cereus, and its minimum detection limit was 10-2 ng/μL, demonstrating a 10-fold greater sensitivity of the test than agarose gel electrophoresis. The test also showed good reproducibility of the results when performed by different operators with good stability of the test strips after storage for 6 to 12 months. The test results showed that this kit could accurately and quickly detect L.monocytogenes in the test samples.
CONCLUSIONS
The detection kit developed in this study can simultaneously detect prfA and hly toxin genes of L. monocytogenes with good specificity, sensitivity, reproducibility and stability for use in food safety inspection.
Listeria monocytogenes/isolation & purification*
;
Gold Colloid
;
Bacterial Toxins/genetics*
;
Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods*
;
Hemolysin Proteins/genetics*
;
Bacterial Proteins/genetics*
;
DNA, Bacterial/genetics*
;
Food Microbiology
;
Heat-Shock Proteins
5.Dynamics of histone acetylation modification in sepsis.
Ruxin LIU ; Yujiao TANG ; Xue BAI ; Mengfei CHEN ; Ling ZHANG
Chinese Critical Care Medicine 2025;37(8):774-779
Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by the host's dysregulated response to infection, with a complex pathogenesis and high mortality rate. Currently, there are no clear and effective treatment drugs available. Epigenetic modification serves as a major mechanism regulating gene expression under pathological and physiological conditions, and it has been shown to play a critical role in regulating the occurrence and development of sepsis. Histone acetylation modification, as a sophisticated epigenetic modification mechanism, plays a crucial regulatory role in many aspects of life. It can jointly regulate the acetylation status of histones through histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and histone deacetylase (HDAC), thereby changing DNA expression and dynamically regulating sepsis related gene expression at the epigenetic level. Previous studies have shown that histone acetylation can participate in the progression of sepsis by regulating inflammatory mediators, nuclear factor-ΚB (NF-ΚB) signaling pathway, autophagy, efferocytosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis. These mechanisms are promising targets for novel sepsis treatments. In addition, with the deepening of research, it has been found that various selective/non selective histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACI) can regulate histone acetylation status by acting on different HDAC targets, which has been shown to alleviate organ damage caused by sepsis and improve prognosis in septic animal models. This article further summarizes the role and potential applications of histone acetylation in sepsis, providing new ideas for the treatment of sepsis.
Sepsis/metabolism*
;
Acetylation
;
Humans
;
Histones/metabolism*
;
Histone Acetyltransferases/metabolism*
;
Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
;
Epigenesis, Genetic
;
Histone Deacetylases/metabolism*
;
Signal Transduction
;
NF-kappa B/metabolism*
;
Animals
6.Application Prospect of Using Injectable Hydrogels in the Treatment of Refractory Angina
Bingxin MEN ; Nana HU ; Yaping ZHANG ; Yujiao JIANG ; Yihua WANG ; Jin ZHANG
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(6):1527-1533
In recent years, the prevalence of obstructive coronary artery disease has continued to rise. Despite the widespread application of strategies such as intensive pharmacotherapy, coronary artery bypass grafting, or percutaneous coronary intervention, a subset of patients still experience recurrent angina symptoms, which severely impacts their quality of life. For such cases of refractory angina (RA), researchers domestically and internationally have explored therapeutic approaches such as spinal cord stimulation, transmyocardial laser revascularization, and sympathectomy. However, existing studies are largely limited to small-scale clinical trials, and their clinical translation still faces challenges due to insufficient validation of safety and efficacy. Injectable hydrogels, as functional materials with hydrophilic three-dimensional network structures, demonstrate unique advantages in the treatment of RA. They can not only provide mechanical support but also serve as controlled-release carriers for drugs and proteins, and synergize with gene therapy and stem cell therapy to promotemyocardial tissue repair. This article systematically reviews the application prospects of injectable hydrogels in the treatment of RA, aiming to provide insights for future therapeutic strategies.
7.Clinical and pathological features of patients with congenital hepatic fibrosis: An analysis of 26 cases
Shixuan LIU ; Yujiao ZHANG ; Ying ZHENG ; Aiping SONG ; Tailing WANG ; Xiuhong WANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(11):2317-2322
ObjectivesTo summarize the clinical and pathological features of patients with congenital liver fibrosis (CHF), and to investigate the differences in clinical and pathological features between patients in different age groups. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed for the clinicopathological data of 26 patients with pathologically confirmed CHF in China-Japan Friendship Hospital from August 2005 to June 2023, and the patients were stratified by age to investigate the clinical and pathological features of patients in different age groups. ResultsAmong the 26 patients, there were 12 male patients and 14 female patients, with an age of onset of 4 — 61 years. There were 19 patients with portal hypertension type (73.08%), 2 patients with cholangitis type (7.69%), 4 patients with mixed type (15.38%), and 1 patient with occult type (3.85%). Of all 26 patients, 4 had unknown clinical symptoms, and among the 22 patients with clear clinical symptoms, 10 (45.45%) attended the hospital due to upper gastrointestinal bleeding caused by portal hypertension. Pathological manifestations included roughly normal liver parenchyma separated by fibrous septa in the portal area, with the presence of abnormal reactive bile duct hyperplasia. Denser fibrous septa and a lack of portal veins with the corresponding caliber were observed in 4 pediatric patients with disease onset before the age of 10 years, with a significant reduction or even disappearance of compensatory thin-walled blood vessels. ConclusionPortal hypertension-type CHF is the most common type in clinical practice. Patients with an early age of onset have certain histopathological features of the liver, with the presence of serious complications associated with portal hypertension. Therefore, liver biopsy should be performed for patients suspected of CHF in clinical practice, and genetic testing should be performed when necessary. Early identification and diagnosis are of great importance for improving the prognosis of patients.
8.Association of particulate matter and ozone with the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in a district of Shanghai
Yu GU ; Xinyu HAN ; Yujiao ZHANG ; Yizhou CHEN ; Bangyu ZOU ; Tiejun ZHANG
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(9):768-775
ObjectiveTo investigate the association of particulate matter and ozone with the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in a district of Shanghai, and to provide epidemiological evidence for the further identification of early health hazards of air pollution and for the prevention and control of NAFLD. MethodsBased on Songjiang Sub-cohort of Shanghai Natural Population Cohort, a cross-sectional survey design was used to recruit participants from 2016 to 2017. Annual average exposure levels to air pollution from 2009 to 2017 were matched to the participant’s residential address using a high-resolution and high-quality ambient air pollutants dataset in China. NAFLD was diagnosed according to the “Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of metabolism⁃associated (non⁃alcoholic) fatty liver disease” by the Chinese Medical Association. Multivariate logistic regression models were employed to analyze the association between air pollution and the prevalence of NAFLD, and stratified analyses were used to compare differences by age, gender, obesity, and lifestyle habits within subgroups. ResultsA total of 32 791 individuals were included in the study. The prevalence of NAFLD among community residents in suburban Shanghai was 38.88%. For every 1 μg·m-3 increase in PM1, PM2.5, PM10, or O3, the risk of NAFLD increased correspongdinglt, with the odds ratios (95%CI) of 1.071 (1.043‒1.099), 1.065 (1.042‒1.089), 1.041 (1.027‒1.055), or 1.061 (1.032‒1.091), respectively. There were differences in effects across different gender, age, and obesity status subgroups. ConclusionPM1, PM2.5, PM10, and O3 are positively associated with an increased risk of NAFLD. Stratified analyses reveal that individuals aged 65 years old or above exhibited greater susceptibility to PM1, PM2.5, and O3, whereas those aged less than 65 years old are more vulnerable to PM10. Males are more sensitive to PM1 and O3, and females are more susceptible to PM2.5 and PM10. The association between air pollutant exposure and NAFLD risk is more pronounced among obese participants compared to that in non-obese counterparts.
9.Establishment and evaluation of method for rapid detection of Bacillus cereus cytK and nhe toxin genes by dual nucleic acid test strips
Jifei YANG ; Beizhen PAN ; Yan LIU ; Yujiao ZHOU ; Jianyu YANG ; Xianyu ZHANG ; Wenbo DING ; Haoyu LI ; Liyuan SUN
Journal of Jilin University(Medicine Edition) 2025;51(2):516-525
Objective:To establish a method of dual nueleic acid test strips for rapid detection of Bacillus cereus cytK and nhe toxin genes based on polymerase chain reaction(PCR)and colloidal gold technique,and to evaluate its specificity,sensitivity,repeatability and stability.Methods:Bacillus cereus DNA was extracted by boiling method.Specific primers were designed with Bacillus cereus cytK and nhe as the target genes.Clonal transformation was used to identify the PCR products.The optimal labeling amounts of colloidal gold-labeled streptavidin,quality control line(C line),cytK detection line(T1)and nhe detection line(T2)were determined.The nucleic acid test strips were assembled and its specificity,sensitivity,reproducibility and stability were evaluated.Results:The DNA concentration of Bacillus cereus was 248 mg·L-1,and the purities were 1.8-2.0.After cloning and plasmid sequencing,the similarities between the PCR products and the sequences of cytK and nhe registered in the GenBank database were 100%.Under the condition of pH 7.0,the optimal amount of streptavidin labeling per 200 μL of colloidal gold solution was 6.0 μL;the optimal marking amount was 2.00 g·L-1 for the quality control line(C line),0.550 g·L-1 for cytK gene detection line(T1)and 0.2 g·L-1 for nhe gene detection line(T2).In the specificity test,positive result on the test strips was seen only for Bacillus cereus,and no cross-reactivity was observed for Staphylococcus aureus,Escherichia coli,Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis,which were consistent with the electrophoresis results.Sensitivity assay showed that even when DNA concentration was reduced to 10-2 mg·L-1,three bands(C line,T1 line and T2 line)could be observed,and the detection limit of the test strip was one-tenth of agarose gel electrophoresis(10-1 mg·L-1).The nucleic acid test strips were verified by different operators in different laboratories,and the results were consistent.The stability of the test strips was verified at the 6th,9th and 12th months,and the results showed good stability.Conclusion:The dual nucleic acid test strip method established in this study can simutaneously detect the cytK and nhe toxin genes of Bacillus cereus with high sensitivity and specificity,achieving short-term visual detection.
10.Establishment of LAMP combined with CRISPR/Cas12a system for detecting tlh gene of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and its evaluation
Yujiao ZHOU ; Jifei YANG ; Yan LIU ; Wenbo DING ; Xianyu ZHANG ; Jianyu YANG ; Linran GAO ; Yundong ZHAO ; Liyuan SUN
Journal of Jilin University(Medicine Edition) 2025;51(5):1399-1406
Objective:To establish a rapid detection method for pathogenic microorganisms by combining loop-mediated isothermal amplification(LAMP)and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 12a(Cas12a)(CRISPR-Cas12a)system,and to evaluate its efficacy for detecting the thermolabile hemolysin(tlh)gene of Vibrio parahaemolyticus(Vp).Methods:Using the tlh gene of Vp as the target gene,LAMP primers and CRISPR RNA(crRNA)were designed to construct and optimize the optimal concentration ratio of each component in the LAMP-CRISPR detection system.Bacillus cereus,Staphylococcus aureus,and Escherichia coli were used as control groups,and the specificity,sensitivity,reproducibility and positive conformity rate were verified to establish a rapid LAMP-CRISPR/Cas12a method for detecting the tlh gene of Vp.Results:The method specifically detected Vp,while Bacillus cereus,Staphylococcus aureus,and Escherichia coli yielded negative results.The DNA extraction concentration of Vp was 190.67 mg·L-1 with an A(260)/(A280)ratio of 1.84.Under the reaction conditions of 37℃ with 80 cycles for 40 min using quantitative PCR(qPCR)method,when the concentrations of Cas12a protein and crRNA in the LAMP-CRISPR/Cas12a system were 50 nmol·L-1,the visual brightness and relative fluorescence intensity peaks were high.The sensitivity of LAMP CRISPR/Cas12a for detecting Vp DNA concentration could reach 10-6 mg·L-1.The reproducibility test results showed that different experimenters had consistent results in different experimental environments and times.Conclusion:The established LAMP-CRISPR/Cas12a method can rapidly detect the tlh gene of Vp with high sensitivity and specificity,and can achieve short-term visual detection in the field.

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