1.Berberine ameliorates coronary artery endothelial cell injury in Kawasaki disease through complement and coagulation cascades.
Jin-Wen LIAO ; Xin GUO ; Bo LIANG ; Xu-Xia LI ; Ming-Guo XU
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(1):101-108
OBJECTIVES:
To explore the role of berberine (BBR) in ameliorating coronary endothelial cell injury in Kawasaki disease (KD) by regulating the complement and coagulation cascade.
METHODS:
Human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC) were divided into a healthy control group, a KD group, and a BBR treatment group (n=3 for each group). The healthy control group and KD group were supplemented with 15% serum from healthy children and KD patients, respectively, while the BBR treatment group received 15% serum from KD patients followed by the addition of 20 mmol/L BBR. Differential protein expression was analyzed and identified using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation technology and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, followed by GO functional enrichment analysis and KEGG signaling pathway enrichment analysis of the differential proteins. Western blot was used to detect differential protein expression.
RESULTS:
A total of 518 differential proteins were identified between the KD group and the healthy control group (300 upregulated proteins and 218 downregulated proteins). A total of 422 differential proteins were identified between the BBR treatment group and the KD group (221 upregulated proteins and 201 downregulated proteins). Bioinformatics analysis showed that compared to the healthy control group, the differential proteins in the KD group were enriched in the complement and coagulation cascade and ribosome biogenesis in eukaryotes. Compared to the KD group, the differential proteins in the BBR treatment group were also enriched in the complement and coagulation cascade and ribosome biogenesis in eukaryotes. Western blot results indicated that compared to the healthy control group, the expression of complement C1q subcomponent subunit C (C1QC), kininogen-1 (KNG1), complement C1s subcomponent (C1S), and C4b-binding protein alpha chain (C4BPA) was increased in the KD group (P<0.05). Compared to the KD group, the expression of KNG1, C1S, C1QC, and C4BPA was decreased in the BBR treatment group (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
The complement and coagulation cascade may be involved in the regulation of BBR treatment for coronary injury in KD, and C1QC, KNG1, C1S, and C4BPA may serve as biomarkers for this treatment.
Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome/blood*
;
Humans
;
Endothelial Cells/pathology*
;
Complement System Proteins/physiology*
;
Coronary Vessels/drug effects*
;
Male
;
Blood Coagulation/drug effects*
;
Berberine/therapeutic use*
;
Female
;
Child, Preschool
;
Infant
2.Prognostic value of serum CD4+ and NK cells for the treatment response in children with aplastic anemia.
Chun-Can WU ; Mei YAN ; Hailiguli NURIDDIN ; Xu-Kai MA ; Yu LIU
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(6):690-695
OBJECTIVES:
To evaluate the clinical value of CD4⁺ cell percentage (CD4⁺%) and NK cell percentage (NK%) in predicting treatment outcomes in children with aplastic anemia (AA), providing a reference for precise diagnosis and treatment.
METHODS:
This retrospective study analyzed the clinical data of AA children treated with cyclosporine A at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from January 2019 to April 2024. The study involved 48 AA children as the observation group and 50 children undergoing medical check-ups during the same period as the control group. Lymphocyte subset data were collected from both groups to analyze differences and their relationship with treatment efficacy. Based on hematological responses, the observation group was divided into an effective group of 18 patients (HR group, including complete and partial remission) and an ineffective group of 30 patients (NHR group, including non-remission).
RESULTS:
Univariate analysis showed that NK% in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The observation group was followed up for 3 months. The HR group had a lower CD4⁺% than the NHR group (P=0.018) and a higher NK% than the NHR group (P=0.029). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that a high CD4⁺% was a risk factor for poor treatment efficacy (OR=1.062), whereas a high NK% was a protective factor (OR=0.820). The area under the curve for the prediction of HR in pediatric AA by combining CD4⁺% and NK% was 0.812.
CONCLUSIONS
A higher CD4⁺% at diagnosis is a predictor of poor treatment response, whereas a higher NK% is associated with better outcomes.
Humans
;
Anemia, Aplastic/blood*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Killer Cells, Natural
;
Child
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Child, Preschool
;
Prognosis
;
Adolescent
;
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes
;
Infant
3.The Influence of COVID-19 Infection on the Mobilization and Collection of Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cells in Patients with Multiple Myeloma.
Guo-Rong WANG ; Guang-Zhong YANG ; Yun LENG ; Yin WU ; Ai-Jun LIU ; Wen-Ming CHEN
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(2):455-462
OBJECTIVE:
To analyze the effect of COVID-19 infection on the mobilization and collection of autologous peripheral blood stem cells in patients with multiple myeloma.
METHODS:
The general baseline data, treatment factors before mobilization collection, collection status, and treatment overview after collection of autologous peripheral blood stem cells at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University from January 1, 2020 to July 15, 2023 were analyzed.
RESULTS:
269 patients underwent mobilization and collection of autologous peripheral blood stem cells. Among them, 32 cases with COVID-19 infection history (COVID-19 group) and 237 cases without COVID-19 infection history (non-COVID-19 group). In the COVID-19 group, 17 cases were treated with chemotherapy (etoposide)+G-CSF, and 15 cases were treated with plerixafor +G-CSF. In the non-COVID-19 group, 214 cases were treated with chemotherapy +G-CSF, 17 cases were treated with plerixafor +G-CSF, and 6 cases were treated with chemotherapy + plerixafor +G-CSF. The number of CD34+ cells, collection success rate, and excellence rate in the COVID-19 group and the non-COVID-19 group were [5.52 (0.94-26.87) vs 4.80 (0.53-37.20)]×106/kg (P =0.610), (93.8% vs 85.2%) (P =0.275), (62.5% vs 49.4%) (P =0.190), respectively. Among 113 patients mobilized with etoposide +G-CSF, the number of CD34+ cells, success rate, and excellence rate collected from COVID-19 infection (17 cases) and non-COVID-19 infection (96 cases) were [7.54 (2.66-26.87) vs 7.78 (2.26-37.20)]×106/kg (P =0.847), (100.0% vs 100.0%) (no P value), (82.4% vs 86.5%) (P =0.655), respectively. Among 32 patients mobilized by plerixafor +G-CSF, the number of CD34+ cells, success rate and excellence rate of COVID-19 infection (15 cases) and non-COVID-19 infection (17 cases) were [3.82 (0.94-7.27) vs 4.11 (0.53-9.05)]×106/kg (P =0.821), (86.7% vs 88.2%) (P =0.893), (40.0% vs 35.3%) (P =0.784), respectively. In 32 patients with COVID-19 infection, the number of CD34+ cells collected by etoposide +G-CSF (17 cases) and plerixafor +G-CSF (15 cases), as well as the success rate and excellence rate were [7.54 (2.66-26.87) vs 3.82(0.94-7.27)]×106/kg (P =0.004), (100.0% vs 86.7%) (P =0.120), (82.4% vs 40.0%) (P =0.014), respectively. By 2023.7.31, 232 patients (86.2%, 232/269) had received transplantation, including 24 patients in the COVID-19 group and 208 patients in the non-COVID-19 group. The median number of CD34+ cells infused in the two groups was [3.67 (2.50-13.44) vs 3.11(1.12-19.89)]×106/kg (P =0.058), the median days of neutrophil engraftment [11(9-13) vs 11(9-17)] (P =0.674), the median days of platelet engraftment [11(0-23), 12(0-43)] (P =0.279), respectively.
CONCLUSION
The history of COVID-19 infection did not affect the PBSC mobilization, collection and transplantation of patients with myeloma. In patients with COVID-19 infection, the results of chemotherapy mobilization with etoposide seems to be better than that of plerixafor mobilization, but further research is needed to clarify.
Humans
;
COVID-19/complications*
;
Multiple Myeloma/complications*
;
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization
;
Transplantation, Autologous
;
Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor/therapeutic use*
;
Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation
;
SARS-CoV-2
;
Middle Aged
;
Peripheral Blood Stem Cells
;
Male
;
Female
;
Cyclams
;
Benzylamines
4.The Expression and Significance of PD-1, Th1, Th2, and Th17 Cytokines in Multiple Myeloma.
Di LIU ; Qian CHEN ; Ling LI ; Hua-Xin JIANG
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(5):1366-1373
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the expression and clinical significance of programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1), Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokines in multiple myeloma (MM).
METHODS:
A total of 76 MM patients treated in the Tengzhou Central People's Hospital from May 2021 to May 2023 were collected as MM group, and 48 healthy individuals who underwent physical examination during the same period were included as control group. The expression of PD-1 on the surface of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and the levels of serum Th1 cytokines [interleukin (IL) -2, interferon γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)], Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-6, IL-10) and Th17 cytokines (IL-17) were detected in the two groups. Spearman correlation was used to examine the relationship between PD-1, Th1, Th2 and Th17 cytokines and clinical stage and immune typing of MM patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the related factors affecting the efficacy of chemotherapy in MM patients, and the factors were tested for multicollinearity. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to analyze the predictive value of PD-1, Th1, Th2 and Th17 cytokines in chemotherapy efficacy of MM patients.
RESULTS:
The levels of CD4+T PD-1, CD8+T PD-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17 in the MM group were higher than those in the control group, while the levels of IL-2, IFN-γ, and TNF-α were lower (all P <0.001). The levels of CD4+T PD-1, CD8+T PD-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17 in R-ISS stage III patients were higher than those in stage II and I patients, and the levels in stage II patients were higher than those in stage I patients (all P <0.05). The IL-2 level in R-ISS stage III patients was lower than that in stage II and I patients, and IL-2 level in R-ISS stage II patients was lower than that in stage I patients (all P <0.05). The levels of CD4+T PD-1, CD8+T PD-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17 in IgG patients were higher than those in IgA, light chain, and non secretory patients, while the level of IL-2 was lower (all P <0.05). Correlation analysis showed that CD4+T PD-1, CD8+T PD-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17 were positively correlated with R-ISS staging in MM patients (r =0.623, 0.635, 0.728, 0.330, 0.742, 0.412), and negatively correlated with immune classification (r =-0.664, -0.756, -0.642, -0.479, -0.613, -0.323). IL-2 was negatively correlated with R-ISS staging in MM patients (r =-0.280), and positively correlated with immune classification (r =0.483). The levels of CD4+T PD-1, CD8+T PD-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17 in the non-remission group were higher than those in the remission group, while the level of IL-2 was lower (all P <0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the increased CD4+T PD-1, CD8+T PD-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-17 were risk factors for the efficacy of chemotherapy in MM patients (OR >1, P <0.05), while the increased IL-2 was a protective factor (OR < 1, P <0.05). The results of multicollinearity test showed that the tolerance of the seven factors included was between 0.714-0.885, and the variance inflation factor was between 1.130-1.400. There was no multicollinearity. The ROC curve analysis results showed that the area under the curve for the combined prediction of chemotherapy efficacy in MM patients by the above 7 factors was 0.942, with specificity of 0.741 and sensitivity of 0.909.
CONCLUSION
The expression levels of PD-1 on the surface of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and serum Th2 and Th17 cytokines in MM patients are high, while Th1 cytokines are low. PD-1, Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokines are related to clinical stage and immune classification of MM patients. The combined detection of these indicators can help predict the chemotherapy efficacy of MM patients.
Humans
;
Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/metabolism*
;
Multiple Myeloma/blood*
;
Cytokines/metabolism*
;
Th17 Cells/metabolism*
;
Th1 Cells/metabolism*
;
Th2 Cells/metabolism*
;
Female
;
Male
;
Interleukin-10
;
Interferon-gamma
;
Middle Aged
;
Interleukin-17
;
Interleukin-2
;
Interleukin-4
;
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
;
Interleukin-6
;
Aged
5.Effective Salvage Mobilization of Peripheral Blood Stem Cells with High-Dose Etoposide in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Patients Who Failed Initial Mobilization with High-Dose Cyclophosphamide.
Yue-Qi WANG ; Shi-Hua ZHAO ; Yi MA ; Xi-Lin CHEN ; Shun-Zong YUAN ; Na-Na CHENG ; Guang-Ning SHI ; Wen-Rong HUANG ; Xiu-Bin XIAO
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(5):1380-1385
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the safety and efficacy of high-dose etoposide (VP-16) combined with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) as salvage mobilization for peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) patients.
METHODS:
From April 2021 to May 2023, eight NDMM patients who had failed to yield sufficient PBSC during initial mobilization with high-dose cyclophosphamide (CTX) combined with rhG-CSF underwent salvage mobilization with 1.2 g/m2 etoposide combined with rhG-CSF 10 μg/(kg·d). The effects and adverse reactions of initial mobilization and salvage mobilization were analyzed.
RESULTS:
For salvage mobilization and initial mobilization, the numbers of PBSC collections were 16 and 18, respectively. The mean value of total collected CD34+ cells were (11.90±5.75)×106/kg and (1.67±0.75)×106/kg (P =0.0010) in salvage mobilization group and initial mobilization group, respectively. The proportion of patients with a total collection of CD34+ cell count≥2×106/kg were 100% and 37.5% (P =0.0625), and the proportion of patients with a total collection of CD34+ cell count≥5×106/kg were 87.5% and 0% (P =0.0156) in salvage mobilization group and initial mobilization group, respectively. For five patients who underwent high-dose CTX initial mobilization but had a total CD34+ cell count < 2×106/kg, successful collection was achieved through salvage mobilization with high-dose VP-16. Salvage mobilization with high-dose VP-16 was scheduled 2-3 weeks after failure of CTX mobilization. Adverse reactions of high-dose VP-16 mobilization did not increase compared to the initial mobilization with high-dose CTX.
CONCLUSION
As a salvage mobilization regimen, VP-16 1.2 g/m2 combined with rhG-CSF is safe and highly effective in NDMM patients who failed to initial mobilization with high-dose CTX combined with rhG-CSF.
Humans
;
Multiple Myeloma/therapy*
;
Etoposide/therapeutic use*
;
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization/methods*
;
Cyclophosphamide/therapeutic use*
;
Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor
;
Salvage Therapy
;
Peripheral Blood Stem Cells
;
Male
;
Middle Aged
;
Female
;
Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation
6.Icariin improves busulfan- and cyclophosphamide-induced reproductive function damage in male mice.
Yao WU ; Shan-Shan SHI ; Hai-Yan LIU ; Hao HUANG ; Xing-Hua SHI ; Jing HOU
National Journal of Andrology 2025;31(1):25-33
OBJECTIVE:
To comprehensively evaluate the effect of icariin in alleviating reproductive function damage (RFD) in male mice via in vitro and in vivo experiments.
METHODS:
We isolated Leydig cells from 60 KM male mice in vitro, and examined the toxic effect of icariin on the Leydig cells using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8). We equally randomized the mice into six groups: normal control, RFD model control (made by intraperitoneal injection of busulfan at 10 mg/kg combined with cyclophosphamide (CP) at 120 mg/kg), positive control, and low-, medium- and high-dose icariin. After modeling, we treated the mice in the positive control group with Wuziyanzong Pills and those in the low-, medium- and high-dose icariin groups by intragastrical administration of icariin at 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg-1, respectively, for 30 successive days. Then we obtained the weight and visceral coefficients of the reproductive organs, calculated the sperm count, observed the pathological changes in the testis tissue by HE staining, measured the serum testosterone (T) level by ELISA, determined the indexes of testicular oxidative stress and nitric oxide (NO) signaling pathway by colorimetric assay, and detected the expression levels of the pro-apoptotic genes Fas and Bax by qRT-PCR.
RESULTS:
CCK-8 assay confirmed that icariin had no toxic effect on the isolated Leydig cells of the mice, and could effectively reduce busulfan- and CP-induced cytotoxicity and promote the secretion of serum T. Icariin at 80 mg/kg significantly increased the visceral coefficient of the testis and promoted spermatogenesis (P<0.05), but had little effect on the visceral coefficient of the epididymis in the RFD model mice. Testicular histomorphometric observation revealed significantly improved testis structure, intact boundary membrane of seminiferous tubules and increased numbers of various types of spermatogenic cells of the model mice after treated with icariin. Compared with the mice in the model control group, those treated with high-dose icariin showed a significantly reduced content of malondialdehyde (MDA) (by 35.3%, P<0.01), elevated total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) and superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity (P<0.05), and decreased NO content and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in the testis tissue (P<0.01). In addition, icariin exhibited an evident inhibitory effect on the expressions of the pro-apoptotic genes Bax and Fas.
CONCLUSION
Icariin can ameliorate oxidative stress-induced damage to the testicular function and protect spermatogenesis of male mice by elevating TAOC, decreasing NOS activity, inhibiting the NO level in the testis, and suppressing busulfan- and CP-induced apoptosis of testicular cells.
Animals
;
Male
;
Cyclophosphamide/adverse effects*
;
Mice
;
Busulfan/adverse effects*
;
Flavonoids/pharmacology*
;
Leydig Cells/drug effects*
;
Oxidative Stress/drug effects*
;
Testis/drug effects*
;
Apoptosis/drug effects*
;
Testosterone/blood*
7.Beneficial influence of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol on the endothelium in relation to endothelial repair.
Yuji SHIMIZU ; Shin-Ya KAWASHIRI ; Hirotomo YAMANASHI ; Seiko NAKAMICHI ; Naomi HAYASHIDA ; Yasuhiro NAGATA ; Takahiro MAEDA
Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 2025;30():24-24
BACKGROUND:
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) is regarded as a risk factor for endothelial dysfunction. However, LDLc stimulates the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells (CD34-positive cells), which contribute to endothelial repair. Therefore, LDLc may have a beneficial influence on the endothelium of individuals with lower endothelial repair activity.
METHODS:
This cross-sectional study included 245 men aged 60-69 years. Endothelial repair activity was categorized by the circulating levels of CD34-positive cells based on median values. The status of endothelium was evaluated using the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI).
RESULTS:
Among individuals with low levels of circulating CD34-positive cells, LDL-c levels were significantly inversely correlated with CAVI and positively correlated with circulating CD34-positive cells. No significant correlations were observed among the participants with high levels of circulating CD34-positive cells. Among low levels of CD34-positive cells, the adjusted standardized parameter (β) and p value were -0.24 (p = 0.021) for CAVI and 0.41 (p < 0.001) for CD34-positive cells, whereas among high levels of CD34-positive cells, the corresponding values were 0.03 (p = 0.738) and -0.09 (p = 0.355).
CONCLUSION
LDLc has a beneficial influence on endothelial health among individuals with low endothelial repair activity, possibly by stimulating the proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells.
Humans
;
Middle Aged
;
Male
;
Aged
;
Cross-Sectional Studies
;
Cholesterol, LDL/blood*
;
Endothelium, Vascular/physiology*
;
Antigens, CD34/blood*
;
Hematopoietic Stem Cells
8.Peripheral blood mitochondrial DNA copy number as a predictor of steatotic liver disease development: insights from epidemiological and experimental studies.
Genki MIZUNO ; Atsushi TESHIGAWARA ; Hiroya YAMADA ; Eiji MUNETSUNA ; Yoshiki TSUBOI ; Yuji HATTORI ; Mirai YAMAZAKI ; Yoshitaka ANDO ; Itsuki KAGEYAMA ; Takuya WAKASUGI ; Naohiro ICHINO ; Keisuke OSAKABE ; Keiko SUGIMOTO ; Ryosuke FUJII ; Hiroaki ISHIKAWA ; Nobutaka OHGAMI ; Koji OHASHI ; Koji SUZUKI
Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 2025;30():42-42
BACKGROUND:
Mitochondria, which harbor their own genome (mtDNA), have attracted attention due to the potential of mtDNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) as an indicator of mitochondrial dysfunction. Although mtDNA-CN has been proposed as a simple and accessible biomarker for metabolic disorders such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, the underlying mechanisms and the causal relationship remain insufficiently elucidated. In this investigation, we combined longitudinal epidemiological data, animal studies, and in vitro assays to elucidate the potential causal relationship between reduced mtDNA-CN and the development of steatotic liver disease (SLD).
METHODS:
We conducted a longitudinal study using data from a health examination cohort initiated in 1981 in Yakumo, Hokkaido, Japan. Data from examinations performed in 2015 and 2022 were analyzed, focusing on 76 subjects without SLD at baseline (2015) to assess the association between baseline mtDNA-CN and subsequent risk of SLD development. In addition, 28-day-old SD rats were fed ad libitum on a 45% high-fat diet and dissected at 2 and 8 weeks of age. Blood and liver mtDNA-CN were measured and compared at each feeding period. Additionally, in vitro experiments were performed using HepG2 cells treated with mitochondrial function inhibitors to induce mtDNA-CN depletion and to examine its impact on intracellular lipid accumulation.
RESULTS:
Epidemiological analysis showed that the subjects with low mtDNA-CN had a significantly higher odds ratio for developing SLD compared to high (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 4.93 [1.08-22.50]). Analysis of the animal model showed that 8 weeks of high-fat diet led to the development of fatty liver and a significant decrease in mtDNA-CN. A further 2 weeks of high-fat diet consumption resulted in a significant decrease in hepatic mtDNA-CN, despite the absence of fatty liver development, and a similar trend was observed for blood. Complementary in vitro experiments revealed that pharmacologically induced mitochondrial dysfunction led to a significant reduction in mtDNA-CN and was associated with increases in intracellular lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that reduced mtDNA-CN may contribute causally to SLD development and could serve as a convenient, noninvasive biomarker for early detection and risk assessment.
Animals
;
DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics*
;
Humans
;
Male
;
DNA Copy Number Variations
;
Female
;
Fatty Liver/blood*
;
Rats
;
Middle Aged
;
Longitudinal Studies
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Adult
;
Japan/epidemiology*
;
Aged
;
Biomarkers/blood*
;
Hep G2 Cells
;
Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects*
9.Huanglian-Renshen-Decoction Maintains Islet β-Cell Identity in T2DM Mice through Regulating GLP-1 and GLP-1R in Both Islet and Intestine.
Wen-Bin WU ; Fan GAO ; Yue-Heng TANG ; Hong-Zhan WANG ; Hui DONG ; Fu-Er LU ; Fen YUAN
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(1):39-48
OBJECTIVE:
To elucidate the effect of Huanglian-Renshen-Decoction (HRD) on ameliorating type 2 diabetes mellitus by maintaining islet β -cell identity through regulating paracrine and endocrine glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)/GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) in both islet and intestine.
METHODS:
The db/db mice were divided into the model (distilled water), low-dose HRD (LHRD, 3 g/kg), high-dose HRD (HHRD, 6 g/kg), and liraglutide (400 µ g/kg) groups using a random number table, 8 mice in each group. The db/m mice were used as the control group (n=8, distilled water). The entire treatment of mice lasted for 6 weeks. Blood insulin, glucose, and GLP-1 levels were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The proliferation and apoptosis factors of islet cells were determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF) staining. Then, GLP-1, GLP-1R, prohormone convertase 1/3 (PC1/3), PC2, v-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homologue A (MafA), and pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (PDX1) were detected by Western blot, IHC, IF, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively.
RESULTS:
HRD reduced the weight and blood glucose of the db/db mice, and improved insulin sensitivity at the same time (P<0.05 or P<0.01). HRD also promoted mice to secrete more insulin and less glucagon (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Moreover, it also increased the number of islet β cell and decreased islet α cell mass (P<0.01). After HRD treatment, the levels of GLP-1, GLP-1R, PC1/3, PC2, MafA, and PDX1 in the pancreas and intestine significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01).
CONCLUSION
HRD can maintain the normal function and identity of islet β cell, and the underlying mechanism is related to promoting the paracrine and endocrine activation of GLP-1 in pancreas and intestine.
Animals
;
Glucagon-Like Peptide 1/metabolism*
;
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/metabolism*
;
Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor/metabolism*
;
Insulin-Secreting Cells/pathology*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
;
Male
;
Blood Glucose/metabolism*
;
Insulin/blood*
;
Mice
;
Intestinal Mucosa/pathology*
;
Apoptosis/drug effects*
;
Cell Proliferation/drug effects*
;
Islets of Langerhans/pathology*
10.Zedoarondiol Inhibits Neovascularization in Atherosclerotic Plaques of ApoE-/- Mice by Reducing Platelet Exosomes-Derived MiR-let-7a.
Bei-Li XIE ; Bo-Ce SONG ; Ming-Wang LIU ; Wei WEN ; Yu-Xin YAN ; Meng-Jie GAO ; Lu-Lian JIANG ; Zhi-Die JIN ; Lin YANG ; Jian-Gang LIU ; Da-Zhuo SHI ; Fu-Hai ZHAO
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(3):228-239
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the effect of zedoarondiol on neovascularization of atherosclerotic (AS) plaque by exosomes experiment.
METHODS:
ApoE-/- mice were fed with high-fat diet to establish AS model and treated with high- and low-dose (10, 5 mg/kg daily) of zedoarondiol, respectively. After 14 weeks, the expressions of anti-angiogenic protein thrombospondin 1 (THBS-1) and its receptor CD36 in plaques, as well as platelet activation rate and exosome-derived miR-let-7a were detected. Then, zedoarondiol was used to intervene in platelets in vitro, and miR-let-7a was detected in platelet-derived exosomes (Pexo). Finally, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were transfected with miR-let-7a mimics and treated with Pexo to observe the effect of miR-let-7a in Pexo on tube formation.
RESULTS:
Animal experiments showed that after treating with zedoarondiol, the neovascularization density in plaques of AS mice was significantly reduced, THBS-1 and CD36 increased, the platelet activation rate was markedly reduced, and the miR-let-7a level in Pexo was reduced (P<0.01). In vitro experiments, the platelet activation rate and miR-let-7a levels in Pexo were significantly reduced after zedoarondiol's intervention. Cell experiments showed that after Pexo's intervention, the tube length increased, and the transfection of miR-let-7a minics further increased the tube length of cells, while reducing the expressions of THBS-1 and CD36.
CONCLUSION
Zedoarondiol has the effect of inhibiting neovascularization within plaque in AS mice, and its mechanism may be potentially related to inhibiting platelet activation and reducing the Pexo-derived miRNA-let-7a level.
Animals
;
MicroRNAs/genetics*
;
Exosomes/drug effects*
;
Plaque, Atherosclerotic/genetics*
;
Neovascularization, Pathologic/genetics*
;
Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/metabolism*
;
Humans
;
Blood Platelets/drug effects*
;
Apolipoproteins E/deficiency*
;
Thrombospondin 1/metabolism*
;
CD36 Antigens/metabolism*
;
Platelet Activation/drug effects*
;
Male
;
Mice
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL

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