1.Synergistic neuroprotective effects of main components of salvianolic acids for injection based on key pathological modules of cerebral ischemia.
Si-Yu TAN ; Ya-Xu WU ; Zi-Shu YAN ; Ai-Chun JU ; De-Kun LI ; Peng-Wei ZHUANG ; Yan-Jun ZHANG ; Hong GUO
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(3):693-701
This study aims to explore the synergistic effects of the main components in salvianolic acids for Injection(SAFI) on key pathological events in cerebral ischemia, elucidating the pharmacological characteristics of SAFI in neuroprotection. Two major pathological gene modules related to endothelial injury and neuroinflammation in cerebral ischemia were mined from single-cell data. According to the topological distance calculated in network medicine, potential synergistic component combinations of SAFI were screened out. The results showed that the combination of caffeic acid and salvianolic acid B scored the highest in addressing both endothelial injury and neuroinflammation, demonstrating potential synergistic effects. The cell experiments confirmed that the combination of these two components at a ratio of 1∶1 significantly protected brain microvascular endothelial cells(bEnd.3) from oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation(OGD/R)-induced reperfusion injury and effectively suppressed lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced neuroinflammatory responses in microglial cells(BV-2). This study provides a new method for uncovering synergistic effects among active components in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and offers novel insights into the multi-component, multi-target acting mechanisms of TCM.
Brain Ischemia/metabolism*
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Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology*
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Animals
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Benzofurans/pharmacology*
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Mice
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Drug Synergism
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Caffeic Acids/pharmacology*
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Polyphenols/pharmacology*
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Humans
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Alkenes/pharmacology*
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Endothelial Cells/drug effects*
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Depsides
2.Establishment of different pneumonia mouse models suitable for traditional Chinese medicine screening.
Xing-Nan YUE ; Jia-Yin HAN ; Chen PAN ; Yu-Shi ZHANG ; Su-Yan LIU ; Yong ZHAO ; Xiao-Meng ZHANG ; Jing-Wen WU ; Xuan TANG ; Ai-Hua LIANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(15):4089-4099
In this study, lipopolysaccharide(LPS), ovalbumin(OVA), and compound 48/80(C48/80) were administered to establish non-infectious pneumonia models under simulated clinical conditions, and the correlation between their pathological characteristics and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) syndromes was compared, providing the basis for the selection of appropriate animal models for TCM efficacy evaluation. An acute pneumonia model was established by nasal instillation of LPS combined with intraperitoneal injection for intensive stimulation. Three doses of OVA mixed with aluminum hydroxide adjuvant were injected intraperitoneally on days one, three, and five and OVA was administered via endotracheal drip for excitation on days 14-18 to establish an OVA-induced allergic pneumonia model. A single intravenous injection of three doses of C48/80 was adopted to establish a C48/80-induced pneumonia model. By detecting the changes in peripheral blood leukocyte classification, lung tissue and plasma cytokines, immunoglobulins(Ig), histamine levels, and arachidonic acid metabolites, the multi-dimensional analysis was carried out based on pathological evaluation. The results showed that the three models could cause pulmonary edema, increased wet weight in the lung, and obvious exudative inflammation in lung tissue pathology, especially for LPS. A number of pyrogenic cytokines, inclading interleukin(IL)-6, interferon(IFN)-γ, IL-1β, and IL-4 were significantly elevated in the LPS pneumonia model. Significantly increased levels of prostacyclin analogs such as prostaglandin E2(PGE2) and PGD2, which cause increased vascular permeability, and neutrophils in peripheral blood were significantly elevated. The model could partly reflect the clinical characteristics of phlegm heat accumulating in the lung or dampness toxin obstructing the lung. The OVA model showed that the sensitization mediators IgE and leukotriene E4(LTE4) were increased, and the anti-inflammatory prostacyclin 6-keto-PGF2α was decreased. Immune cells(lymphocytes and monocytes) were decreased, and inflammatory cells(neutrophils and basophils) were increased, reflecting the characteristics of "deficiency", "phlegm", or "dampness". Lymphocytes, monocytes, and basophils were significantly increased in the C48/80 model. The phenotype of the model was that the content of histamine, a large number of prostacyclins(6-keto-PGE1, PGF2α, 15-keto-PGF2α, 6-keto-PGF1α, 13,14-D-15-keto-PGE2, PGD2, PGE2, and PGH2), LTE4, and 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid(5S-HETE) was significantly increased, and these indicators were associated with vascular expansion and increased vascular permeability. The pyrogenic inflammatory cytokines were not increased. The C48/80 model reflected the characteristics of cold and damp accumulation. In the study, three non-infectious pneumonia models were constructed. The LPS model exhibited neutrophil infiltration and elevated inflammatory factors, which was suitable for the efficacy study of TCM for clearing heat, detoxifying, removing dampness, and eliminating phlegm. The OVA model, which took allergic inflammation as an index, was suitable for the efficacy study of Yiqi Gubiao formulas. The C48/80 model exhibited increased vasoactive substances(histamine, PGs, and LTE4), which was suitable for the efficacy study and evaluation of TCM for warming the lung, dispersing cold, drying dampness, and resolving phlegm. The study provides a theoretical basis for model selection for the efficacy evaluation of TCM in the treatment of pneumonia.
Animals
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Disease Models, Animal
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Mice
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Pneumonia/genetics*
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional
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Male
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Humans
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Cytokines/immunology*
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Female
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Lipopolysaccharides/adverse effects*
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Lung/drug effects*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal
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Ovalbumin
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
3.Effective therapeutic targeting of tumor lineage plasticity in neuroendocrine prostate cancer by BRD4 inhibitors.
Xiong ZHANG ; Yatian YANG ; Hongye ZOU ; Yang YANG ; Xingling ZHENG ; Eva COREY ; Amina ZOUBEIDI ; Nicolas MITSIADES ; Ai-Ming YU ; Yuanpei LI ; Hong-Wu CHEN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(3):1415-1429
Tumor lineage plasticity (LP) is an emerging hallmark of cancer progression. Through pharmacologically probing the function of epigenetic regulators in prostate cancer cells and organoids, we identified bromodomain protein BRD4 as a crucial player. Integrated ChIP-seq and RNA-seq analysis of tumors revealed, for the first time, that BRD4 directly activates hundreds of genes in the LP programs which include neurogenesis, axonogenesis, EMT and stem cells and key drivers such as POU3F2 (BRN2), ASCL1/2, NeuroD1, SOX2/9, RUNX1/2 and DLL3. Interestingly, BRD4 genome occupancy is reprogrammed by anti-AR drugs from facilitating AR function in CRPC cells to activating the LP programs and is facilitated by pioneer factor FOXA1. Significantly, we demonstrated that BRD4 inhibitor AZD5153, currently at clinical development, possesses potent activities in complete blockade of tumor growth of both de novo neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) and treatment-induced NEPC PDXs and that suppression of tumor expression of LP programs through reduction of local chromatin accessibility is the primary mechanism of action (MOA) by AZD5153. Together, our study revealed that BRD4 plays a fundamental role in direct activation of tumor LP programs and that its inhibitor AZD5153 is highly promising in effective treatment of the lethal forms of the diseases.
4.Inhibition of CCT5-mediated asparagine biosynthesis and anti-PD-L1 produce synergistic antitumor effects in colorectal cancer.
Yujie ZHANG ; Weiyi ZHAO ; Ling WU ; Tianjing AI ; Jie HE ; Zetao CHEN ; Chuangyuan WANG ; Hui WANG ; Rui ZHOU ; Chaoqun LIU ; Liang ZHAO
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(5):2480-2497
Abnormal amino acid metabolism promotes tumor progression by inducing malignant behaviors in tumor cells and altering the immune landscape within the tumor microenvironment. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we constructed colorectal cancer (CRC) organoids and patient-derived tumor xenograft (PDX) models, performing multifaceted validation to confirm that T-complex protein 1 subunit epsilon (CCT5), mediates the biosynthesis of aspartate and enhances sensitivity to anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy. Mechanistically, CCT5 directly binds to asparagine synthetase (ASNS) and promotes the synthesis of aspartate (Asn). The Asn-mTORC1 axis facilitates tumor cell proliferation while upregulating PD-L1 expression, which leads to a reduction in the number of effector CD8+ T cells. Treatment with l-asparaginase (ASNase) combined with anti-PD-L1 therapy effectively reverses the growth of CRC characterized by high CCT5 expression. In summary, we identify CCT5 as a potential biomarker to guide the combined use of ASNase and anti-PD-L1 antibodies in CRC treatment.
5.Association between Solid Cooking Fuel Use and Frailty Trajectories: Findings from a Nationwide Cohort in China.
Yang LIU ; Bing Jie WU ; Bing Bing FAN ; Chun Xia LI ; Chang SU ; Ai Dong LIU ; Tao ZHANG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(6):653-665
OBJECTIVE:
Burning solid cooking fuel contributes to household air pollution and is associated with frailty. However, how solid cooking fuel use contributes to the development of frailty has not been well illustrated.
METHODS:
This study recruited 8,947 participants aged ≥ 45 years from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, 2011-2018. Group-based trajectory modeling was employed to identify frailty trajectories. Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the association between solid cooking fuel use and frailty trajectories. Population-attributable fractions were used to estimate the frailty burden from solid fuel use.
RESULTS:
We identified three frailty trajectories: low-stable ( n = 5,789), moderate-increasing ( n = 2,603), and fast-increasing ( n = 555). Solid fuel use was associated with higher odds of being in the moderate-increasing ( OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.08-1.42) and fast-increasing ( OR: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.14-1.92) trajectories. These associations were strengthened by longer solid fuel use ( P for trend < 0.001). Switching to clean fuel significantly reduced the risk of being in these trajectories compared with persistent solid fuel users. Without solid fuel, 8% of moderate- and 19% of fast-increasing trajectories demonstrated frailty development like the low-stable group.
CONCLUSION
Solid cooking fuel use is associated with frailty trajectories in middle-aged and older Chinese populations.
Humans
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China/epidemiology*
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Cooking
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Male
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Female
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Middle Aged
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Aged
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Air Pollution, Indoor/adverse effects*
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Frailty/etiology*
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Longitudinal Studies
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Cohort Studies
6.Effects of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide peptide on proliferation,migration and apoptosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells by regulating the expression of PRMT6
Hui-Yan HUANG ; Yan-Fang WU ; Ai-Wei WANG ; Gui-Bing ZHANG ; Wen-Zhong SHANG ; Ye SUN
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(15):2187-2191
Objective To investigate the effect of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide peptide(GLPP)on proliferation,migration and apoptosis of diffuse large B cell lymphoma(DLBCL)cells and its mechanism.Methods OCI-LY19 cells were divided into six groups:control,GLPP,si-NC,si-protein arginine methyltransferase 6(PRMT6),GLPP+pcDNA3.1-NC and GLPP+pcDNA3.1-PRMT6 groups.The si-NC,si-PRMT6,GLPP+pcDNA3.1-NC and GLPP+pcDNA3.1-PRMT6 groups were transfected with si-NC,si-PRMT6,pcDNA3.1-NC and pcDNA3.1-PRMT6,respectively.After the transfection was completed,control,si-NC and si-PRMT6 groups were treated with RPMI-1640 medium,while the GLPP,GLPP+pcDNA3.1-NC and GLPP+pcDNA3.1-PRMT6 groups were cultured with RPMI-1640 medium containing with 20 μg·mL-1 GLPP.After administration 24 h,the cell proliferation inhibition rates,mobility rates and apoptosis rates were detected.The expression levels of PRMT6 protein were measured by Western blotting.Results The cell proliferation inhibition rates of si-NC,si-PRMT6,GLPP+pcDNA3.1-NC and GLPP+pcDNA3.1-PRMT6 groups were(1.28±0.16)%,(38.61±3.29)%,(52.84±7.74)%and(22.75±3.87)%,respectively.The number of cell migrations in the control,GLPP,si-NC,si-PRMT6,GLPP+pcDNA3.1-NC and GLPP+pcDNA3.1-PRMT6 groups was(252.65±24.65),(136.54±16.46),(231.65±21.24),(142.76±15.34),(140.23±9.84)and(192.38±23.38)cells;the apoptosis rates were(4.36±0.52)%,(28.24±2.36)%,(4.23±0.45)%,(24.54±2.27)%,(28.42±3.85)%and(14.25±2.13)%);the expression levels of PRMT6 protein were 1.82±0.21,0.56±0.05,1.78±0.19,0.54±0.05,0.29±0.02 and 0.32±0.03,respectively.The differences of above indexes were statistically significant between control group and GLPP group,between si-NC group and si-PRMT6 group,between GLPP+pcDNA3.1-NC group and GLPP+pcDNA3.1-PRMT6 group(all P<0.05).Conclusion GLPP could inhibit proliferation,migration and promote apoptosis of DLBCL cells by down-regulating PRMT6 expression.
7.Virulence determinants and genetic diversity of foodborne Yersinia enterocolitica isolated from Wenzhou
Ai-Rong XIE ; Yi LI ; Hui-Huang LOU ; Zhong-Bi XIE ; Le-Yi ZHANG ; Yu-Qin HU ; Yue-Jin WU
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2024;40(1):40-45
The aim of this study was to investigate the virulence determinants and genetic diversity of foodborne Yersinia enterocolitica from Wenzhou.A total of 71 strains of Yersinia enterocolitica were isolated from food and foodborne diarrhea ca-ses in Wenzhou,and their biotypes,serotypes,and drug resistance were analyzed.On the basis of whole genome sequencing,we assessed virulence gene profiles,and performed multilocus sequence typing(MLST)and core gene multilocus sequence typ-ing(cgMLST).A total of 94.4%(67/71)of isolates belonged to biotype 1A,and the highest proportion had serotype lA/O∶5(29.6%,21/71).The sensitivity rates of the isolates to 14 antibiotics exceeded 95.8%.A total of 16 categories and 126 viru-lence genes were identified,with two strains carrying the pYV plasmid and chromosome-related virulence genes.ST3(31.6%,12/38)was the most widespread MLST type,and cgMLST analysis revealed no dense clusters of genotypes except for strains sharing the same ST.In conclusion,pathogenic strains were identified from foodborne Yersinia enterocolitica in Wenzhou and were found to exhibit high genetic polymorphism.Enhanced regulatory supervision is essential to prevent the outbreak of food-borne diseases caused by Yersinia enterocolitica.
8.Analysis of genetic variants and molecular pathogenesis in a Chinese pedigree affected with Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia
Shan LI ; Yueyang SHENG ; Xinyu WANG ; Ying WANG ; Yanzhuo ZHANG ; Cheng′ai WU ; Xu JIANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2024;41(7):807-811
Objective:To analyze the genetic variant and molecular pathogenesis in a Chinese pedigree affected with Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (MED).Methods:A MED pedigree which had presented at the Beijing Jishuitan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University on September 13, 2020 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data of the pedigree were collected. Peripheral blood samples were drawn from pedigree members for the extraction of genomic DNA. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was carried out for the pedigree. Candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing. Wild type and mutant SLC26A2 expression plasmids were constructed and transfected into human primary chondrocytes. The effect of the variants on the protein localization and cell proliferation was determined by immunofluorescence and CCK8 assays. Results:WES and Sanger sequencing revealed that the proband has harbored compound heterozygous variants of the SLC26A2 gene, including a paternally derived c. 484G>T (p.Val162Leu) missense variant and a maternally derived c. 485_486delTG (p.Val162Glyfs*12) frameshifting variant. The SLC26A2 WT and its mutant SLC26A2 Val162Leu and SLC26A2 Val162Glyfs*12 expression plasmids were distributed in the nuclei and cytoplasm of human primary chondrocytes. Compared with SLC26A2 WT, the expressions of SLC26A2 Val162Leu and SLC26A2 Val162Glyfs*12 were decreased, along with reduced proliferation of human primary chondrocytes. Conclusion:The c. 484G>T and c. 485_486delTG compound heterozygous variants of the SLC26A2 gene may affect the proliferation of human primary chondrocytes and underlay the pathogenesis of MED in this pedigree.
9.Effect of LncRNAuc.48+on CGRP-mediated trigeminal neuralgi
Meng-Xia TAN ; Rao-Ping WU ; Ai-Xia ZHANG ; Yun GAO ; Wei XIONG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(10):1866-1871
Aim To investigate how the long non-cod-ing RNA uc.48+(lncRNA uc.48+)affected calci-tonin gene-related peptide(CGRP)in the trigeminal ganglion(TG)of rats with trigeminal neuralgia(TN)and its potential mechanism.Methods Chronic con-striction injury of the infraorbital nerve(CCI-ION)in rats was used to create the animal model for trigeminal neuralgia.After modeling,uc.48+siRNA was injec-ted locally via the infraorbital foramen to knock down lncRNA uc.48+,and uc.48+plasmid was transfect-ed into normal rats to over-express lncRNA uc.48+.The face mechanical pain threshold(MWT)of each group was measured by behavioral test,and the content and changes of CGRP in rat TG were observed using qPCR and protein blotting.The change in serum in-flammatory cytokine 1L-1β was determined using ELISA.Results The MWT in TN rats treated with the uc.48+siRNA increased significantly,but the protein and mRNA levels of CGRP in TG decreased significantly(P<0.01),and the level of 1L-1β de-creased as well(P<0.01).In addition,the MWT of normal rats transfected with uc.48+plasmid was sig-nificantly diminished,and the mRNA and protein lev-els of CGRP in TG were markedly elevated(P<0.01),as were the levels of 1L-1β(P<0.01),compared to normal rats.Conclusions Knocking out uc.48+in TN rats reduces pain,while overexpressing uc.48+exacerbates pain transmission in trigeminal neuralgia.The mechanism by which uc.48+small in-terference inhibits trigeminal neural pathology pain may be through decreasing CGRP expression in TG of rats with TN,therefore ameliorating mechanical pain sensi-tivity.
10.Potential Mechanism of Taraxaci Herba Against Bladder Cancer: A Review
Mingshun ZUO ; Zhicheng DONG ; Yu ZUO ; Hongchuan CHEN ; Hongjia CAI ; Congcong WU ; Xiaoyu AI ; Neng ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(7):290-298
Bladder cancer (BCa) is the most common malignant tumor of the urinary system, and its incidence is increasing year by year. At present, for all patients with resectable non-metastatic muscle-invasive BCa, radical cystectomy + bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection is strongly recommended, but they still face the risk of recurrence, metastasis and death. In recent years, the proportion of patients with advanced and metastatic BCa is increasing among patients with newly diagnosed BCa. Although current treatment models are diverse, they often struggle to achieve significant efficacy due to their low effectiveness and adverse effects, resulting in low survival rates for patients with advanced and metastatic BCa. Therefore, the treatment of BCa still faces great challenges, and there is an urgent need to discover an effective new antitumor drug. With the improvement of medical standards, traditional Chinese medicine has shown great advantages in the treatment of BCa. Traditional Chinese medicine is mild and easy to accept, and can inhibit tumor progression through a multi-pathway, multi-way and multi-target manner, so as to exert its anticancer effect. Taraxaci Herba is a medicinal and food homologous plant, which has many biological activities, such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation, anti-tumor, protecting liver and gallbladder, reducing blood sugar and enhancing immunity, and it has shown a clear anticancer effect in breast cancer, liver cancer, gastric cancer, tongue cancer and lung cancer. By reviewing previous studies worldwide, this article summarizes the mechanism of Taraxaci Herba extract in inducing autophagy and apoptosis, inhibiting cell migration and invasion, regulating cell cycle and proliferation, regulating cell metabolism, inhibiting tumor angiogenesis, combining the effects of chemotherapeutic drugs, and regulating the transduction of related signal pathways. On this basis, this study systematically elaborates on the potential mechanism of Taraxaci Herba against BCa, in order to provide a theoretical basis for the research and treatment of BCa.

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