1.Dawn of CAR-T cell therapy in autoimmune diseases
Yuxin LIU ; Minghao DONG ; Yunhui CHU ; Luoqi ZHOU ; Yunfan YOU ; Xiaowei PANG ; Sheng YANG ; Luyang ZHANG ; Lian CHEN ; Lifang ZHU ; Jun XIAO ; Wei WANG ; Chuan QIN ; Daishi TIAN
Chinese Medical Journal 2024;137(10):1140-1150
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy has achieved remarkable success in the treatment of hematological malignancies. Based on the immunomodulatory capability of CAR-T cells, efforts have turned toward exploring their potential in treating autoimmune diseases. Bibliometric analysis of 210 records from 128 academic journals published by 372 institutions in 40 countries/regions indicates a growing number of publications on CAR-T therapy for autoimmune diseases, covering a range of subtypes such as systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, among others. CAR-T therapy holds promise in mitigating several shortcomings, including the indiscriminate suppression of the immune system by traditional immunosuppressants, and non-sustaining therapeutic levels of monoclonal antibodies due to inherent pharmacokinetic constraints. By persisting and proliferating in vivo, CAR-T cells can offer a tailored and precise therapeutics. This paper reviewed preclinical experiments and clinical trials involving CAR-T and CAR-related therapies in various autoimmune diseases, incorporating innovations well-studied in the field of hematological tumors, aiming to explore a safe and effective therapeutic option for relapsed/refractory autoimmune diseases.
2.Effects of CoCl2 on hypoxia-associated protein,lipid metabolism enzyme and insu-lin signaling pathway in primary bovine adipocytes
Tong YANG ; Yunhui FAN ; Xidan ZHENG ; Lu LU ; Zhuo WANG ; Qing LI ; Cheng YANG ; Chuang XU ; Qiushi XU ; Yuanyuan CHEN
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science 2024;44(10):2190-2196
This study utilized the CCK-8 assay to examine the effects of various concentrations of CoCl2(0,50,100,200,300,400 μmol/L)and different treatment durations(0,6,12,24,48 h)on the viability of adipocytes,in order to determine the most suitable treatment conditions.Western blot analysis was employed to investigate the impact of different concentrations of CoCl2(0,50,100,200,400 μmol/L)on the expression of hypoxia and its downstream key proteins in adipocytes.The results indicated that higher concentrations of CoCl2 led to lower adipocyte viability,with sig-nificant decreases in cell viability observed in the 300,400 μmol/L treatment groups(P<0.01),while the 200 μmol/L group exhibited the highest cell viability.Compared to the control group,the 200 μmol/L CoCl2 treatment group showed a significant upregulation in the expression of hypoxia and its downstream signaling pathway key molecules:hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha(HIF-1α),glucose transporter type 4(GLUT4),vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1(FLT-1),prolyl hydroxylase 2(PHD2),and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)(P<0.01).Addi-tionally,the 200 μmol/L CoCl2 treatment group exhibited higher levels of key lipolytic enzymes,including adipose triglyceride lipase(ATGL),perilipin 1(PLIN1),protein kinase A(PKA),and increased phosphorylation levels of hormone-sensitive lipase(HSL)in the 300 and 400 μmol/L groui ps(P<0.01).CoCl2-mediated hypoxia in the 200 μmol/L treatment group also in-creased the protein expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)and the phosphorylation level of protein kinase B(Akt).These findings suggest that adding 200 μmol/L CoCl2 can enhance the expression of hypoxia-related proteins,lipolytic enzymes,and insulin-related signaling proteins in primary bovine adipocytes.
3.Progress of Clinical and Pharmacological Mechanisms of Kidney-tonifying Formula for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease
Meng XIAO ; Xiaolian ZHANG ; Wei LIU ; Jinna YANG ; Wenjia WANG ; Yunhui HU ; Jiansong FANG
Traditional Chinese Drug Research & Clinical Pharmacology 2024;35(10):1628-1636
Alzheimer's disease(AD) is a common neurodegenerative disease with increasing incidence rate. Up to now,there is no ideal treatment for AD. It has become a public health problem worldwide. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) believes that kidney deficiency is the key symptomatic element of deterioration and temporal progression symptoms,accompanied by the AD process. The treatment of tonifying kidneys,supplementing essence and replenishing marrow is the fundamental method for AD in TCM. Clinical studies have shown that kidney-tonifying formula can significantly improve the cognitive function and daily ability of patients with mild and moderate AD and have no obvious adverse reactions. Its mechanism of action may be related to the protection of nerves,reduction of β-amyloid (Aβ) level in the brain,inhibition of inflammatory factors activation and anti-oxidative stress. Besides reviewing the clinical and pharmacological research progress of kidney-tonifying formula for AD,this article also discusses the advantages and shortcomings of kidney-tonifying formula in the prevention and treatment of AD based on TCM theory and modern medical research. The aim of this study is to provide references of kidney nourishing therapy in TCM for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
4.Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Element, Evolutionary Patterns of Patients with Hepatitis B Virus-Related Acute on Chronic Liver Failure at Different Stages: A Multi-Center Clinical Study
Simiao YU ; Kewei SUN ; Zhengang ZHANG ; Hanmin LI ; Xiuhui LI ; Hongzhi YANG ; Qin LI ; Lin WANG ; Xiaozhou ZHOU ; Dewen MAO ; Jianchun GUO ; Yunhui ZHUO ; Xianbo WANG ; Xin DENG ; Jiefei WANG ; Wukui CAO ; Shuqin ZHANG ; Mingxiang ZHANG ; Jun LI ; Man GONG ; Chao ZHOU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(12):1262-1268
ObjectiveTo explore the syndrome elements and evolving patterns of patients with hepatitis B virus-related acute on chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) at different stages. MethodsClinical information of 1,058 hospitalized HBV-ACLF patients, including 618 in the early stage, 355 in the middle stage, and 85 in the late stage, were collected from 18 clinical centers across 12 regions nationwide from January 1, 2012 to February 28, 2015. The “Hepatitis B-related Chronic and Acute Liver Failure Chinese Medicine Clinical Questionnaire” were designed to investigate the basic information of the patients, like the four diagnostic information (including symptoms, tongue, pulse) of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and to count the frequency of the appearance of the four diagnostic information. Factor analysis and cluster analysis were employed to determine and statistically analyze the syndrome elements and patterns of HBV-ACLF patients at different stages. ResultsThere were 76 four diagnostic information from 1058 HBV-ACLF patients, and 53 four diagnostic information with a frequency of occurrence ≥ 5% were used as factor analysis entries, including 36 symptom information, 12 tongue information, and 5 pulse information. Four types of TCM patterns were identified in HBV-ACLF, which were liver-gallbladder damp-heat pattern, qi deficiency and blood stasis pattern, liver-kidney yin deficiency pattern, and spleen-kidney yang-deficiency pattern. In the early stage, heat (39.4%, 359/912) and dampness (27.5%, 251/912) were most common, and the pattern of the disease was dominated by liver-gallbladder damp-heat pattern (74.6%, 461/618); in the middle stage, dampness (30.2%, 187/619) and blood stasis (20.7%, 128/619) were most common, and the patterns of the disease were dominated by liver-gallbladder damp-heat pattern (53.2%, 189/355), and qi deficiency and blood stasis pattern (27.6%, 98/355); and in the late stage, the pattern of the disease was dominated by qi deficiency (26.3%, 40/152) and yin deficiency (20.4%, 31/152), and the patterns were dominated by qi deficiency and blood stasis pattern (36.5%, 31/85), and liver-gallbladder damp-heat pattern (25.9%, 22/85). ConclusionThere are significant differences in the distribution of syndrome elements and patterns at different stages of HBV-ACLF, presenting an overall trend of evolving patterns as "from excess to deficiency, transforming from excess to deficiency", which is damp-heat → blood stasis → qi-blood yin-yang deficiency.
5.The influence of renally inappropriate medication on the frailty of elderly patients with diabetes
Wanying YANG ; Xiangming ZHOU ; Yuanyuan MIAO ; Yunhui ZHAO ; Lu WANG ; Tingyu KE ; Lili BAN
China Pharmacy 2024;35(2):214-218
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of renally inappropriate medication (RIM) on the frailty of elderly patients with diabetes. METHODS The data of elderly patients with diabetes mellitus admitted to a third-grade class A hospital in Yunnan province from January to December 2022 were collected, and Beers criteria (2019 edition) and Chinese version of FRAIL scale were used to evaluate RIM and the frailty of the patients; the patients were divided into the trial group (with RIM) and the control group (without RIM) according to whether there was RIM. The propensity score matching was used to balance confounding factors between two groups, and the influence of RIM on the frailty of elderly diabetic patients was analyzed by the Logistic regression model. RESULTS Among the 367 patients, 80 patients (21.80%) had RIM, the drugs involved RIM were spironolactone (82.56%), rivaroxaban (13.95%) and gabapentin (3.49%). After reaching the balance between groups using the propensity score matching method, the incidence of frailty was 77.94% in trial group and 27.94% in control group (P<0.001); the difference was not statistically significant in other confounding factors between the two groups (P>0.05). Results of Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of frailty in the experimental group was 3.118 times that of the control group (odds ratio was 3.118,95% confidence interval was 1.758-5.530, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS RIM is a risk factor for the frailty of elderly patients with diabetes, which can be considered as an indicator for early identification and screening of the frailty of elderly diabetes patients.
6.Mendelian randomization study on the correlation between gluten free diet and rheumatoid arthritis
Yuyan HAN ; Lulu HUANG ; Mengni YANG ; Shihong HUANG ; Yan HUANG ; Yuanyuan XIAO ; Hongying LI ; Yunhui YOU
Chinese Journal of Rheumatology 2024;28(3):162-166
Objective:To evaluate the relationship between gluten-free diet and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods:Data were obtained from large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and genetic loci that are independent of gluten-free diet and RA of people of Europe2 were selected as instrumental variables. The gluten-free diet GWAS data included 64 949 individuals and 9 851 867 controls. Data were obtained from GWAS of 58 284 RA patients and 13 108 512 controls. The inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR Egger, weighted median method and weighted model were used to conduct two sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Cochran Q test and mendelian randomness pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) were used to assess SNP heterogeneity. Applying the MR Egger intercept to test the level pleiotropy of SNP. The sensitivity analysis of the "leave one method" that evaluates whether MR studies were influenced by a single SNP. Results:After matching GFD and RA data, three SNPs were included as instrumental variables in the study. IVW showed that GFD could significantly reduce the risk of RA ( β=-60.83, s x=3.82, P<0.001). The weighted median method and weighted pattern also showed that the gluten free diet could reduce the risk of RA ( β=-57.97, s x=4.41, P<0.001; β=-55.81, s x=5.10, P=0.008). Sensitivity analysis of the correlation between GFD and RA showed that there might be heterogeneity between SNPs (Cochran Q test, Q=12.80, P=0.002). The MR-PRESSO results showed that no abnormal SNP was detected ( P=0.174). The forest map showed that SNPs was closely related to GFD and RA stability. The method comparison chart showed that the results of multiple testing methods were basically consistent. The funnel plot showed that SNPs were basically symmetrical, indicating that there was no pleiotropy in MR analysis. The MR Egger intercept test showed no horizontal pleiotropy in MR analysis (intercept value was-0.24, P=0.174). The sensitivity analysis of the "leave one method" is suggested that no single SNP had a significant impact on the overall results. Conclusion:Gluten free diet is related to the risk reduction of RA.
7.Mechanism of Dahuang Tangluo Pills in Improving Renal Inflammatory Injury in Diabetic Kidkdey Disease by Regulating AGEs/RAGE/IKK/NF-κB Pathway
Pu ZHANG ; Jianqing LIANG ; Xia YANG ; Min BAI ; Xiangdong ZHU ; Chunxia XUE ; Beibei SU ; Yunhui ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(20):77-85
ObjectiveTo explore the protective effects of Dahuang Tangluo pills on early diabetic kidkdey disease (DKD) in db/db mice. MethodEight db/m mice were selected as the control group. Forty male db/db mice were selected and blood samples were collected via tail vein to measure fasting blood glucose (FBG). Mice with FBG ≥ 16.7 mmol·L-1, increased urine output, and persistent albuminuria were considered successful in model establishment. After successful modeling, they were randomly divided into a model group, a dapagliflozin group (1.5 mg·kg-1·d-1), and high, medium, and low dose groups of Dahuang Tangluo pills (3.6, 1.8, 0.9 g·kg-1·d-1, respectively), with eight mice in each group. All medication groups were administered orally, while the control and model groups were given an equal amount of distilled water by gavage daily. After continuous administration for 10 weeks, the survival status of the mice was observed, and their body weight, FBG, and kidney function-related indicators were measured. Inflammatory indicators in renal tissues were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, Masson staining, and electron microscopy were used to observe the pathological changes in renal tissues in each group. Immunofluorescence was employed to examine the expression of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and receptors for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) proteins. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and Western blot were utilized to detect the gene and protein expression levels of AGEs, RAGE, inhibitor of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) kinase (IKK), and NF-κB in the renal tissues of mice in each group. ResultCompared with control group, the model group showed a significant increase in body weight, FBG, serum creatinine (SCr), urinary microalbumin/urine creatinine ratio (ACR), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG) (P<0.05). The levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in renal tissues were significantly elevated (P<0.05). Renal histopathological staining and electron microscopy revealed loose arrangement, gaps, structural disarray, mesangial proliferation, and significant fibrosis in renal tissues. Real-time PCR results showed a significant increase in the expression of RAGE, IKK, and NF-κB genes in renal tissues (P<0.05). Immunofluorescence results demonstrated a significant increase in the expression of AGEs and RAGE proteins in renal tissues (P<0.05). Western blot results showed a significant increase in the expression of AGEs, RAGE, IKK, and NF-κB proteins in renal tissues (P<0.05). After drug intervention, compared with model group, the dapagliflozin group and the high-dose Dahuang Tangluo pills group showed significant reductions in body weight, FBG, SCr, and ACR (P<0.05), and a significant decrease in TC in mouse serum (P<0.05), while the high-dose Dahuang Tangluo pills group showed a significant decrease in TG in mouse serum (P<0.05). All treatment groups showed a significant reduction in ICAM-1, IL-6, and TNF-α in renal tissues (P<0.05). Renal histopathological staining and electron microscopy showed improved kidney injury, decreased collagen fiber deposition, and reduced mesangial proliferation in all treatment groups. Real-time PCR results showed a significant decrease in the expression of RAGE, IKK, and NF-κB genes in the dapagliflozin group and the high- and medium-dose Dahuang Tangluo pills groups (P<0.05). Immunofluorescence results demonstrated a significant decrease in the expression of AGEs and RAGE proteins in the dapagliflozin group and the high- and medium-dose Dahuang Tangluo pills groups (P<0.05). Western blot results showed a significant decrease in the expression of AGEs, RAGE, IKK, and NF-κB proteins in the dapagliflozin group and the high- and medium-dose Dahuang Tangluo pills groups (P<0.05). ConclusionDahuang Tangluo pills can improve the pathological structure of the kidneys and reduce renal inflammation in DKD mice, possibly through inhibiting the AGEs/RAGE/IKK/NF-κB pathway.
8.Association between umbilical blood organophosphate esters exposure and meconium microbiome of newborns
Yang LIU ; Liyi ZHANG ; Wenjuan MA ; Yunhui ZHANG
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2024;41(9):1004-1011
Background Animal studies have shown that exposure to organophosphate esters (OPEs) disturbs the composition of gut microbiome in rodents and zebrafish. However, current associated evidence in humans is limited. Considering the importance of gut microbiome in neonatal development, we need to investigate the impact of OPEs exposure on the early development stage of neonatal microbiome. Objective To investigate the associations between umbilical OPEs exposure and the diversity and composition of gut microbiome in newborns. Methods Based on the Shanghai Maternal-Child Pairs Cohort (MCPC), 391 mother-infant pairs with comprehensive follow-up information and bio-samples were enrolled in this study. Concentrations of OPEs in neonatal cord blood were quantified using ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Meconium samples were collected after delivery and measured through 16S rRNA sequencing on the Illumina Miseq platform. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess the effects of OPEs exposure on the alpha diversity of meconium microbiome. Principal coordinate analysis and permutational multivariate analysis of variance based on unweighted UniFrac distance were used to compare the beta diversity differences between high and low exposure groups of OPEs. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) was utilized to analyze the differential gut microbiome taxa between high and low OPEs exposure groups. The functional pathways involved in the meconium microbiome were predicted based on the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database, and multivariate analysis by linear models (MaAsLin2) were conducted to explore the effects of OPEs exposure on gut microbiome pathways. Results Seven OPEs were detectable in the neonatal cord blood samples, of which four were detected higher than 50% including tributyl phosphate (TBP), tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP), 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPP), and tris (2-chloro-1 (chloromethyl) ethyl) phosphate (TDCPP), and the median concentrations of these four congeners were as follows: 0.52 μg·L−1 for TBP, 2.41 μg·L−1 for TBEP, 0.13 μg·L−1 for EHDPP, and 2.23 μg·L−1 for TDCPP. A significant association was observed between umbilical TBEP and TDCPP exposure and alpha diversity indices in neonatal meconium microbiome. Beta diversity significantly differed across varied high and low OPEs exposure groups. The results of LEfSe analysis indicated a significant correlation between umbilical OPEs exposure and 27 genera, including Streptococcus, Corynebacterium, Neisseria, Haemophilus, and Parabacteroides. The MaAsLin2 analysis identified associations between OPEs exposure and upregulation of pathways related to linoleic acid metabolism, steroid biosynthesis, Toll and Imd signaling pathway, retinol metabolism, NOD like receptor signaling pathway, and fatty acid biosynthesis . Conclusion Umbilical OPEs exposure is associated increased alpha diversity indices, increased relative abundances of Neisseria, Streptococcus, Parabacteroides, and Corynebacterium in the gut microbiome, as well as predicted metabolic pathway alterations in linoleic acid metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis, etc. These findings indicate that umbilical OPEs exposure may disrupt meconium microbiome equilibrium.
9.Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells attenuate diabetic nephropathy through the IGF1R-CHK2-p53 signalling axis in male rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus
ZHANG HAO ; WANG XINSHU ; HU BO ; LI PEICHENG ; ABUDUAINI YIERFAN ; ZHAO HONGMEI ; JIEENSIHAN AYINAER ; CHEN XISHUANG ; WANG SHIYU ; GUO NUOJIN ; YUAN JIAN ; LI YUNHUI ; LI LEI ; YANG YUNTONG ; LIU ZHONGMIN ; TANG ZHAOSHENG ; WANG HUA
Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B 2024;25(7):568-580,中插1-中插3
Diabetes mellitus(DM)is a disease syndrome characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia.A long-term high-glucose environment leads to reactive oxygen species(ROS)production and nuclear DNA damage.Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell(HUcMSC)infusion induces significant antidiabetic effects in type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)rats.Insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF1)receptor(IGF1R)is important in promoting glucose metabolism in diabetes;however,the mechanism by which HUcMSC can treat diabetes through IGF1R and DNA damage repair remains unclear.In this study,a DM rat model was induced with high-fat diet feeding and streptozotocin(STZ)administration and rats were infused four times with HUcMSC.Blood glucose,interleukin-6(IL-6),IL-10,glomerular basement membrane,and renal function were examined.Proteins that interacted with IGF1R were determined through coimmunoprecipitation assays.The expression of IGF1R,phosphorylated checkpoint kinase 2(p-CHK2),and phosphorylated protein 53(p-p53)was examined using immunohistochemistry(IHC)and western blot analysis.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to determine the serum levels of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine(8-OHdG).Flow cytometry experiments were used to detect the surface markers of HUcMSC.The identification of the morphology and phenotype of HUcMSC was performed by way of oil red"O"staining and Alizarin red staining.DM rats exhibited abnormal blood glucose and IL-6/10 levels and renal function changes in the glomerular basement membrane,increased the expression of IGF1 and IGF1R.IGF1R interacted with CHK2,and the expression of p-CHK2 was significantly decreased in IGF1R-knockdown cells.When cisplatin was used to induce DNA damage,the expression of p-CHK2 was higher than that in the IGF1R-knockdown group without cisplatin treatment.HUcMSC infusion ameliorated abnormalities and preserved kidney structure and function in DM rats.The expression of IGF1,IGF1R,p-CHK2,and p-p53,and the level of 8-OHdG in the DM group increased significantly compared with those in the control group,and decreased after HUcMSC treatment.Our results suggested that IGF1R could interact with CHK2 and mediate DNA damage.HUcMSC infusion protected against kidney injury in DM rats.The underlying mechanisms may include HUcMSC-mediated enhancement of diabetes treatment via the IGF1R-CHK2-p53 signalling pathway.
10.Functional exercise compliance among young and middle-aged stroke patients
Yunhui XU ; Dandan YING ; Jing YANG
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2023;35(2):171-175
Objective:
To investigate the compliance of functional exercises and identify its influencing factors among young and middle-aged stroke patients, so as to provide insights into rehabilitation management among young and middle-aged stroke patients.
Methods:
Stroke patients at ages of 18 to 59 years were recruited from those receiving rehabilitation treatment in Tongde Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University from January 2021 to June 2022. Participants' demographics and clinical data were collected through questionnaire surveys. The compliance of functional exercises was assessed using Stroke Functional Exercise Adherence Questionnaire, and patients' social support, exercise self-efficacy and depression were assessed using the Social Support Rating Scale, Exercise Self-efficacy Scale and Self-rating Depression Scale. The factors affecting functional exercise compliance were identified among young and middle-aged stroke patients with a multivariable linear regression model.
Results:
A total of 230 questionnaires were allocated and 213 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective recovery rate of 92.61%. The respondents included 129 men (60.56%) and 84 women (39.44%) and had a mean age of (53.49±7.95) years. The total score of functional exercise compliance was (41.37±9.11) points among the participants. Multivariable linear regression analysis identified education level (β'=0.376), monthly household income per capita (β'=0.309), history of stroke onset (β'=-0.238), rehabilitation instruction (β'=0.284), depression (β'=-0.261), exercise self-efficacy (β'=0.152), and social support level (β': 0.277 to 0.415) as factors affecting the functional exercise compliance among young and middle-aged stroke patients.
Conclusion
Education level, income, history of stroke onset, depression, exercise self-efficacy and social support may affect the compliance of exercise compliance among young and middle-aged stroke patients.


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