1.Effects of resistance training on quadriceps mass and knee joint function in patients with osteoporosis and sarcopenia
Jian ZHOU ; Tao ZHANG ; Weili ZHOU ; Xingcheng ZHAO ; Jun WANG ; Jie SHEN ; Li QIAN ; Ming LU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(5):1081-1088
BACKGROUND:The quadriceps strength of patients with osteoporosis and sarcopenia is significantly reduced,which can further reduce the function of the knee joint,affect the function of the lower limbs and even lead to a decrease in whole-body coordination.It is speculated that a reasonable quadriceps training program and personalized guidance are beneficial to the recovery of knee joint function in patients with osteoporosis and sarcopenia.OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of short-term moderate-intensity resistance rehabilitation training on the mass and function of the quadriceps and knee joint function in patients with osteoporosis and sarcopenia.METHODS:Using the integrated physical examination and rehabilitation model,375 patients with osteoporosis and sarcopenia were screened at the Health Management Center of Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center.They underwent 12 weeks of combined/comprehensive exercise rehabilitation based on resistance exercise,including quadriceps resistance isotonic and isometric contraction training twice a week(3-5 sets each time,10-15 minutes per set)and aerobic exercise/balance exercise two or three times a week(30 minutes each time).Assessments and data collection were performed before rehabilitation training,12 weeks after rehabilitation training,and at follow-up 12 weeks after stopping rehabilitation training,mainly including knee joint range of motion and proprioception,quadriceps muscle strength,and cross-sectional area(magnetic resonance imaging results),pain,knee joint function(Hospital for Special Surgery score)and walking function("up-and-go"time and 6 m pace test results)as well as the patient's psychological status assessment.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:All 375 patients completed 12 weeks of rehabilitation training and 12 weeks of follow-up without any adverse events.(1)Compared with before training,the patients' gait speed and knee range of motion increased significantly after 12 weeks of rehabilitation training(P<0.01),the time of"stand-to-walk"decreased(P<0.01),and the proprioception of the knee joint and the strength of the quadriceps femoris were significantly improved(P<0.01);and at the follow-up visit 12 weeks after stopping training,the above indicators and functions of the patients were well maintained(P>0.05).(2)Magnetic resonance imaging results showed that the effective cross-sectional area of the quadriceps femoris did not improve significantly after 12 weeks of rehabilitation training(P>0.05);but the Hospital for Special Surgery score of knee joint function increased significantly(P<0.01),and the visual analog pain scale score decreased significantly(P<0.01),suggesting that this may be related to the improvement of quadriceps femoris quality by resistance rehabilitation training.(3)The results of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale score showed that the anxiety and depression scores of the patients continued to decrease,both at 12 weeks of rehabilitation training and at 12 weeks after stopping training(P<0.01).It is suggested that resistance rehabilitation training of the quadriceps can help patients with osteoporosis and sarcopenia to restore quadriceps muscle strength,increase range of motion,improve proprioception and joint stability,thereby enhancing knee joint function,reducing pain,improving depression and anxiety,and to a certain extent promoting the coordinated recovery of the musculoskeletal system.
2.Association between daytime outdoor physical activity and common oral diseases among primary school students
ZHAO Binbin, ZHOU Yi, LU Xiuzhen, SUN Ying, CHEN Xin
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(5):719-722
Objective:
To explore the association between daytime outdoor physical activity (OPA) and oral health indicators among primary school students, aiming to provide evidence for developing oral health intervention strategies based on natural exposure.
Methods:
In October 2023, based on the "Tianchang Children s Light Exposure and Growth Development Cohort", 799 second and third grades children were recruited from two primary schools in Tianchang, Chuzhou City, Anhui Province. Physical activity intensity and light exposure were objectively monitored for 24 hours over 5 consecutive days using triaxial accelerometers synchronized with portable illuminance meters. Standardized oral examinations were performed to record dental caries, gingivitis, and malocclusion. Demographics, lifestyle variables, and household socioeconomic data were collected via questionnaires. Multiple linear regression (for the number of carious teeth) and Logistic regression (for gingivitis risk) were used to analyze the relationship between daytime outdoor moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and oral health outcomes.
Results:
The average daytime outdoor MVPA was (0.76±0.35)h, with (0.95±0.40)h on weekdays and (0.49±0.47)h on weekends. The detection rates for dental caries, gingivitis, and malocclusion were 31.0%, 4.6%, and 59.7%, respectively. Compared with children with good oral health, the duration of outdoor MVPA on school days was reduced in children with caries or gingivitis ( Z =-11.4, -5.01, both P <0.01). Multiple regression analysis showed that after adjusting for factors such as gender, age, body mass index, oral hygiene behaviors, an increase in daytime outdoor MVPA duration was associated with a decrease in the number of dental caries ( β=-0.64, 95%CI =-0.93 to -0.35) and a reduced risk of gingivitis ( OR= 0.58 , 95%CI =0.34-0.98) in primary school students (both P <0.05). The association was primarily observed on school days ( β=-0.72, 95%CI = -1.07 to -0.37; OR=0.42, 95%CI =0.21-0.85) (both P < 0.05).
Conclusions
Daytime outdoor MVPA on weekdays is significantly associated with a lower number of carious teeth and a reduced risk of gingivitis in primary school students. Increasing daytime outdoor activities on weekdays may serve as a promising and potential strategy for promoting children s oral health.
3.Correlation between serum total bile acid level and cognitive function in patients with stable schizophrenia and its predictive value for cognitive impairment
Cong CAO ; Hang YIN ; Xuehao XU ; Fenglan WANG ; Qiuyan LU ; Weishan SUN ; Qin WANG ; Aihua ZHOU
Sichuan Mental Health 2026;39(2):133-139
BackgroundPersistent cognitive impairment is prevalent among patients with stable schizophrenia. While serum total bile acid (TBA) level in acute-phase patients are known to be associated with cognitive dysfunction, the relationship between serum TBA and multi-dimensional cognitive functions in stable phase patients remains unclear. ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between serum TBA level and cognitive function in patients with stable schizophrenia, and to evaluate its predictive value for cognitive impairment, thereby providing a serological biomarker for the timely identification and objective assessment of cognitive dysfunction. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on 137 inpatients with stable schizophrenia at The Fourth People's Hospital of Yancheng from March to December 2024. All participants met the diagnostic criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5). Cognitive function was evaluated using the Chinese Brief Cognitive Test (C-BCT), patients were categorized into four groups: normal cognition (n=28), mild impairment (n=28), moderate impairment (n=47), and severe impairment (n=34). Fasting venous blood samples were collected, and serum TBA level was quantified using an enzymatic cycle assay. Spearman correlation analysis was ultilized to determine the relationship between serum TBA level, overall cognitive function, and specific cognitive domains. Binary Logistic regression model was used (adjusting for covariates such as age, gender, and disease duration) to analyze the impact of serum TBA level on overall and individual cognitive functions. The predictive value of serum TBA level for overall cognitive impairment was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. ResultsSerum TBA levels differed significantly among the four groups (H=18.677, P<0.01). Specifically, serum TBA levels in both the moderate and severe cognitive impairment groups were significantly higher than those in the normal cognitive group (adjusted P<0.01). Serum TBA level was positively correlated with the severity grading of overall cognitive impairment (rs=0.354, P<0.05), and negatively correlated with T-scores on the trail making test (rs=-0.328, P<0.05), continuous performance test (rs=-0.247, P<0.05), digit span (rs=-0.265, P<0.05), and symbol coding (rs=-0.221, P<0.05). Binary Logistic regression analysis identified serum TBA level as an independent risk factor for overall cognitive impairment (OR=1.322, 95% CI: 1.021 - 1.713, P=0.034), with a particularly robust predictive ability for impaired information processing speed (OR=1.325, 95% CI: 1.057 - 1.661, P=0.015). The area under ROC curve (AUC) for serum TBA level in predicting overall cognitive impairment was 0.738, with a sensitivity of 60.61% and a specificity of 78.64%. ConclusionIn patients with stable schizophrenia, elevated serum TBA levels are associated with worse overall cognitive function, as well as deficits in information processing speed, attention, working memory, and executive function. Serum TBA serves as an independent risk factor and exhibits moderate predictive value for overall cognitive impairmen,particularly in the domain of information processing speed. [Funded by Yancheng Municipal Health Commission Medical Research Project (number, YK2024141)]
4.Neuroprotective Effects of Transcranial Magneto-acoustic Stimulation on Parkinson’s Disease Model Mice by Regulating Mitophagy and Mitochondrial Homeostasis
Shuai ZHANG ; Yan-Bin WANG ; Yi-Hao XU ; Jin-Rui MI ; Xiao-Chao LU ; Yu-Chen AN ; Ji-Zhou LIU ; Jia-Qi SUN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1457-1470
ObjectiveTranscranial magneto-acoustic stimulation (TMAS) is an emerging non-invasive neuromodulation technique that may provide a novel non-pharmacological intervention strategy for Parkinson's disease (PD). PD is characterized by the progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), leading to motor impairments such as bradykinesia, tremor, and rigidity. Increasing evidence indicates that mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired mitochondrial quality control are central mechanisms underlying dopaminergic neuronal loss. In particular, abnormalities in mitophagy and mitochondrial fission-fusion balance contribute substantially to oxidative stress, energy metabolic failure, and neuronal injury. At present, most clinical treatments for PD mainly alleviate symptoms but do not effectively halt disease progression. Therefore, exploring new interventions targeting the core pathological mechanisms is of considerable significance. This study aims to investigate whether TMAS can improve neural damage and motor dysfunction in PD mice by regulating mitophagy and the fission/fusion dynamic balance, thereby providing theoretical and experimental support for its application in PD treatment. MethodsMale C57BL/6 mice were used in this study. A PD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) for 7 consecutive days. After model induction, mice in the intervention group received TMAS once daily for 14 consecutive days, whereas the corresponding control group received sham stimulation. The stimulation target was positioned over the primary motor cortex (M1). Motor performance was evaluated using the pole test and the open-field test. To verify the activation effect of TMAS on the target cortical region, c-Fos immunohistochemistry was performed in the M1. To assess nigral dopaminergic neuronal injury, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry was used to quantify TH-positive neurons in the SNc. Mitochondrial function was evaluated by measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content in the SNc. Western blot was further performed to determine the expression of mitophagy-related proteins, including PINK1, Parkin, LC3-II, and p62, as well as mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins, including Drp1 and Opa1. ResultsTMAS significantly increased the number of c-Fos-positive cells in M1 (P<0.000 1), indicating effective activation of neurons in the targeted cortical region. Compared with the control group, MPTP-treated mice exhibited marked motor dysfunction, including a significant reduction in total distance traveled in the open-field test (P<0.000 1) and mean speed (P=0.000 1), as well as significant prolongation of turn time and total climbing time in the pole test (P<0.000 1). These behavioral impairments were accompanied by a substantial loss of TH-positive dopaminergic neurons in the SNc, whereas TMAS significantly increased TH-positive neuron survival (P<0.000 1). In parallel, MPTP induced a pronounced increase in ROS levels and a significant reduction in ATP content, indicating severe mitochondrial dysfunction and energy metabolism impairment (P<0.01). TMAS treatment significantly improved motor performance, as reflected by the reversal of MPTP-induced impairment in the open-field and pole tests, and significantly reduced ROS accumulation (P<0.01) while restoring ATP production (P<0.001). At the molecular level, MPTP markedly downregulated PINK1 and Parkin, decreased p62 expression, increased LC3-II accumulation, elevated Drp1 expression, and reduced Opa1 expression, whereas TMAS significantly reversed these abnormalities, suggesting restoration of mitophagy-related mitochondrial quality control and re-establishment of mitochondrial fission-fusion balance. Collectively, these findings indicate that TMAS ameliorates MPTP-induced neurotoxicity and restores mitochondrial homeostasis and energy metabolism. ConclusionTMAS effectively attenuates neural damage and improves motor dysfunction in MPTP-induced PD mice. Its neuroprotective effects are closely associated with multidimensional regulation of the mitochondrial quality control system, including restoration of PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy and rebalancing of Drp1/Opa1-related mitochondrial dynamics. Rather than acting only as a symptomatic neuromodulatory intervention, TMAS may influence a key pathological axis of PD by improving mitochondrial homeostasis in SNc and protecting nigral dopaminergic neurons. These findings provide experimental evidence supporting TMAS as a promising non-invasive physical intervention for PD.
5.Influencing Factors of Depression in Patients with Postoperative Ovarian Cancer
Jialiang YAO ; Long ZHANG ; Jianhui TIAN ; Ze LIU ; Yun YANG ; Yiyang ZHOU ; Minghua LI ; Wang YAO ; Wenfei SHI ; Xinyi LU ; Pan YU ; Enchao CONG
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2026;53(5):349-359
Objective To explore the prevalence of depressive symptoms in postoperative patients with ovarian cancer and to analyze its influencing factors from multiple dimensions, including clinical characteristics, psychological factors, and laboratory indicators. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted, which enrolled 235 postoperative patients with ovarian cancer. Depressive status was assessed using the patient health questionnaire, and the demographic, pathological, and medical record data of the patients were collected using the generalized anxiety disorder scale, Pittsburgh sleep quality index, European organization for research and treatment of cancer quality of life questionnaire core 30, and ECOG performance status score. Peripheral blood tumor marker (CA125), routine blood test, lymphocyte subsets, and serum cytokine levels were measured. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results The prevalence of depression in postoperative patients with ovarian cancer was 39.15% (92/235). Univariate analysis showed that ECOG score ≥ 2 points, pain, anxiety, poor sleep quality, low quality of life, low life satisfaction, tumor recurrence, six or more cycles of chemotherapy, as well as higher levels of CA125, NLR, and NAR, and lower hemoglobin levels were significantly associated with depression (all P<0.05). Multivariate binary Logistic regression analysis showed that anxiety (OR=1.975, 95%CI: 1.231-3.170), sleep efficiency (OR=4.181, 95%CI: 1.211-14.43), sleep latency (OR=34.806, 95%CI: 4.258-284.542), ECOG performance status score, cognitive function (OR=0.918, 95%CI: 0.868-0.97), and life satisfaction were independent risk factors for depression (all P<0.05). Laboratory indicators were not independent influencing factors in the multivariate Logistic regression model. Conclusion Depression in postoperative patients with ovarian cancer is influenced by physiological, psychological, and social factors. Clinical management should focus on patients with anxiety, sleep disorders, poor physical condition, and low life satisfaction, and a comprehensive prevention and treatment strategy centered on psychological intervention and taking into account symptom management and social support should be implemented.
6.Neuroprotective Effects of Transcranial Magneto-acoustic Stimulation on Parkinson’s Disease Model Mice by Regulating Mitophagy and Mitochondrial Homeostasis
Shuai ZHANG ; Yan-Bin WANG ; Yi-Hao XU ; Jin-Rui MI ; Xiao-Chao LU ; Yu-Chen AN ; Ji-Zhou LIU ; Jia-Qi SUN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1457-1470
ObjectiveTranscranial magneto-acoustic stimulation (TMAS) is an emerging non-invasive neuromodulation technique that may provide a novel non-pharmacological intervention strategy for Parkinson's disease (PD). PD is characterized by the progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), leading to motor impairments such as bradykinesia, tremor, and rigidity. Increasing evidence indicates that mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired mitochondrial quality control are central mechanisms underlying dopaminergic neuronal loss. In particular, abnormalities in mitophagy and mitochondrial fission-fusion balance contribute substantially to oxidative stress, energy metabolic failure, and neuronal injury. At present, most clinical treatments for PD mainly alleviate symptoms but do not effectively halt disease progression. Therefore, exploring new interventions targeting the core pathological mechanisms is of considerable significance. This study aims to investigate whether TMAS can improve neural damage and motor dysfunction in PD mice by regulating mitophagy and the fission/fusion dynamic balance, thereby providing theoretical and experimental support for its application in PD treatment. MethodsMale C57BL/6 mice were used in this study. A PD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) for 7 consecutive days. After model induction, mice in the intervention group received TMAS once daily for 14 consecutive days, whereas the corresponding control group received sham stimulation. The stimulation target was positioned over the primary motor cortex (M1). Motor performance was evaluated using the pole test and the open-field test. To verify the activation effect of TMAS on the target cortical region, c-Fos immunohistochemistry was performed in the M1. To assess nigral dopaminergic neuronal injury, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry was used to quantify TH-positive neurons in the SNc. Mitochondrial function was evaluated by measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content in the SNc. Western blot was further performed to determine the expression of mitophagy-related proteins, including PINK1, Parkin, LC3-II, and p62, as well as mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins, including Drp1 and Opa1. ResultsTMAS significantly increased the number of c-Fos-positive cells in M1 (P<0.000 1), indicating effective activation of neurons in the targeted cortical region. Compared with the control group, MPTP-treated mice exhibited marked motor dysfunction, including a significant reduction in total distance traveled in the open-field test (P<0.000 1) and mean speed (P=0.000 1), as well as significant prolongation of turn time and total climbing time in the pole test (P<0.000 1). These behavioral impairments were accompanied by a substantial loss of TH-positive dopaminergic neurons in the SNc, whereas TMAS significantly increased TH-positive neuron survival (P<0.000 1). In parallel, MPTP induced a pronounced increase in ROS levels and a significant reduction in ATP content, indicating severe mitochondrial dysfunction and energy metabolism impairment (P<0.01). TMAS treatment significantly improved motor performance, as reflected by the reversal of MPTP-induced impairment in the open-field and pole tests, and significantly reduced ROS accumulation (P<0.01) while restoring ATP production (P<0.001). At the molecular level, MPTP markedly downregulated PINK1 and Parkin, decreased p62 expression, increased LC3-II accumulation, elevated Drp1 expression, and reduced Opa1 expression, whereas TMAS significantly reversed these abnormalities, suggesting restoration of mitophagy-related mitochondrial quality control and re-establishment of mitochondrial fission-fusion balance. Collectively, these findings indicate that TMAS ameliorates MPTP-induced neurotoxicity and restores mitochondrial homeostasis and energy metabolism. ConclusionTMAS effectively attenuates neural damage and improves motor dysfunction in MPTP-induced PD mice. Its neuroprotective effects are closely associated with multidimensional regulation of the mitochondrial quality control system, including restoration of PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy and rebalancing of Drp1/Opa1-related mitochondrial dynamics. Rather than acting only as a symptomatic neuromodulatory intervention, TMAS may influence a key pathological axis of PD by improving mitochondrial homeostasis in SNc and protecting nigral dopaminergic neurons. These findings provide experimental evidence supporting TMAS as a promising non-invasive physical intervention for PD.
7.Regulatory effects of G3BP2 on activation, proliferation, and migratory capacity in hepatic stellate cells
Qiqi DONG ; Wenjie SUN ; Minghui LI ; Jingjing YANG ; Renpeng ZHOU ; Wei HU ; Chao LU
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(3):501-508
ObjectiveTo investigate the role of Ras-GTPase-activating protein SH3 domain-binding protein 2 (G3BP2) in regulating the activation, proliferation, and migration of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). MethodsThe mouse HSCs (JS-1 cell line) were treated with 5 μg/L transforming growth factor-beta 1(TGF-β1) for 24 hours to establish an HSC activation and proliferation model. A G3BP2 knockdown system was constructed using siRNA interference technology. The experiment was divided into four groups: Control, TGF-β1 treatment, TGF-β1+si-NC, and TGF-β1+ G3BP2-siRNA. The expression levels of key fibrosis indicators, including type I collagen (Collagen I), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and G3BP2, were detected by Western blot and RT-qPCR. Cell proliferation activity was assessed using the CCK-8 proliferation assay kit and EdU fluorescence labeling technology. Cell migration ability was analyzed by scratch wound healing assay and Transwell migration assay. The formation level of stress granules was quantified by immunofluorescence microscopy to investigate the effects of G3BP2 on stress granule formation in activated HSCs. ResultsStimulation with TGF-β1 upregulated the expression of G3BP2 in JS-1 cells (RT-qPCR: P0.000 1; Western blot: P0.000 1), while a downward trend in its expression was observed in the G3BP2‑silenced group (RT-qPCR: P0.01; Western blot: P0.000 1). Compared with the control group, the TGF-β1 group exhibited increased protein expression levels of α-SMA and Collagen I (RT-qPCR: both P0.01; Western blot: P0.01 and P0.05, respectively), concomitant with an increased number of stress granules and enhanced cell proliferation and migration capacity (all P0.001). The experimental results demonstrated that G3BP2 knockout effectively reversed the aforementioned phenotypes, with the G3BP2-silenced group showing reduced expression of fibrotic markers (all P0.01), decreased stress granule formation (P0.01), and reduced cell proliferation and migration capacity (all P0.05), compared to the negative control group. ConclusionG3BP2 enhances the activation, proliferation, and migration of HSCs by promoting the formation of stress granules, thereby accelerating the pathological progression of liver fibrosis. This suggests that stress granules may serve as important regulators in controlling the activation, proliferation, and migration of HSCs.
8.Role of IL-17A in acute inhalational pneumonia caused by highly virulent and multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Qi KUANG ; Xiaoyu ZHU ; Lu LI ; Xueyan WANG ; Peijie YAN ; Lili ZHANG ; Meng LÜ ; Lingfei HU ; Dongsheng ZHOU ; Wenhui YANG
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(4):599-605
ObjectiveTo investigate the role of interleukin (IL)-17A in acute inhalational pneumonia induced by the highly drug-resistant and hypervirulent Staphylococcus aureus strain USA300-R in mice. MethodsAn acute inhalational pneumonia model was established in mice using an aerosolized pulmonary delivery technique. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were employed to examine the expression dynamics of Il17a mRNA and IL-17A protein, respectively, in the lungs of infected mice. Il17a knockout (Il17a-/-) mice were generated using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology. The survival rate, body weight, bacterial load in lung tissue, and histopathological changes were compared between Il17a-/- and wild-type (WT) mice following inhalational infection with USA300-R. Results12 hours after USA300-R infection, compared to pre-infection, the expression level of Il17a mRNA in lung tissue and the level of IL-17A protein in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) increased by approximately 50-fold (P<0.01) and 6-fold (P<0.001), respectively. Compared to WT mice, Il17a-/- mice exhibited approximately 10-fold higher bacterial loads in lung tissue at both 12 and 24 hours post-infection (P<0.001, P<0.05). However, they showed significantly attenuated lung histopathological injury, reduced alveolar wall thickening, markedly decreased neutrophil infiltration, and an approximately 50% improvement in survival rate (P<0.05). ConclusionIn acute Staphylococcus aureus USA300-R inhalational pneumonia, IL-17A contributes to bacterial clearance by recruiting neutrophils; however, excessive neutrophil infiltration exacerbates pulmonary inflammation and injury, reduces survival rates, and represents a potential therapeutic target.
9.Integrated network pharmacology analysis and cellular evidence reveal the mechanisms of Myristica fragrans against atherosclerosis
Shuxian LU ; Zhiling ZHOU ; Yifeng ZHANG ; Jun YU
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(4):618-627
ObjectiveTo explore the potential mechanisms by which Myristica fragrans prevents and treats atherosclerosis (AS). MethodsThe major active components of Myristica fragrans and their shared targets with AS were obtained from databases. The shared targets were subjected to pathway enrichment analysis and PPI network construction using the ClusterProfile package and the STRING database. Molecular docking between key targets and major active components was performed using AutoDock. Gene expression data from early and late, as well as stable and unstable AS plaques, were used to validate changes of key targets and major pathways during AS progression. Western blot, flow cytometry, YO-PRO-1/PI staining, and TUNEL staining were applied to verify the main mechanisms. ResultsNine active components of Myristica fragrans interacted with 293 AS-related targets, among which eight components acted on an average of 57.0% of the shared targets. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses indicated that the anti-AS effects mainly involved oxidative stress, inflammation, lipid metabolism, fluid shear stress, and apoptosis pathways. PPI network revealed JUN, CASP3, MAPK3, and AKT1 as key targets mainly involved in regulating apoptosis. Molecular docking showed stable binding conformations and high affinities between major components and these targets. Integrated analysis of gene expression in early and late, as well as stable and unstable AS plaques, showed significant enrichment of leukocyte apoptosis pathways in late and unstable plaques. Cell experiments further confirmed that Myristica fragrans significantly reduced Cleaved-CASP3(P=0.04)and p-MAPK3(P=0.000 3)levels, increased p-AKT1(P=0.004)levels, and inhibited macrophage apoptosis. ConclusionMyristica fragrans potentially interferes with AS development by modulating pathways related to oxidative stress, inflammation, lipid metabolism, fluid shear stress, and apoptosis, with CASP3, MAPK3, and AKT1 serving as key targets mediating its anti-apoptotic and anti-AS effects.
10.Protective effect and mechanism of genistein on etoposide-induced chondrocyte senescence
Jinhong WANG ; Tianyu CHEN ; Lifang MAO ; Yingjie ZHAO ; Renpeng ZHOU ; Wei HU ; Chao LU
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(4):636-643
ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect of genistein (Gen) on etoposide-induced chondrocyte senescence and its underlying mechanism. MethodsThe C28/I2 cell line was treated with different concentrations of Gen and etoposide, and the cell viability was detected by the CCK-8 assay. The senescence model of C28/I2 chondrocytes was induced by etoposide, with Gen intervention. Senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) staining was performed to detect the senescence-positive rate and staining characteristics of chondrocytes. The expressions of peroxiredoxin 6 (Prdx6), cyclin-dependent kinaseto clarify the functional necessity of Prdx6. ResultsCompared with the etoposide group, the C28/I2 chondrocyte viability significantly increased (P<0.01), the expression ofsenescence-associated proteins p21 and p16 decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05), the expression of senescence-associated genes p21 and p16 reduced (both P<0.01), the fluorescence intensity of senescence-associated proteins p21 and p16 was diminished (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the proportion of SA-β-gal-positive cells decreased (P<0.01) in the Gen+etoposide group. Compared with the Control group, the expression of Prdx6 was downregulated in the etoposide group (P<0.05). Compared with the etoposide group, the expression of Prdx6 was upregulated in the Gen+etoposide group (P<0.01). Compared with the Control group, the GPx activity significantly decreased in the si-Prdx6 group (P<0.01). Furthermore, compared with the si-Prdx6 group, the GPx activity increased in the si-Prdx6+Gen group (P<0.05). Molecular docking results revealed that Gen formed hydrogen bond interactions with the active site of Prdx6. After Prdx6 knockdown, the expression of senescence-associated genes p21 and p16 and the fluorescence intensity of senescence-associated proteins p21 and p16 both increased in the Gen+etoposide+si-Prdx6 group (both P<0.01). ConclusionGen can inhibit etoposide-induced senescence of C28/I2 chondrocytes by upregulating the expression of Prdx6. This study provides potential drug targets and experimental basis for the prevention and treatment of chondrocyte senescence-related diseases.


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail