Pancreatic cancer （PC）， a highly malignant tumor of the digestive system， is characterized by extremely high incidence and mortality rates， imposing a severe burden on the healthcare system. Despite significant advancements in comprehensive therapeutic strategies for PC， clinical benefits for patients remain limited due to the high heterogeneity and unique microenvironment of the tumor. Therefore， further elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying PC progression and developing novel， effective therapeutic strategies have become an urgent necessity in the current research. Programmed cell death （PCD） is a genetically orchestrated process of autonomous cell demise that is crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis. Recent studies have demonstrated that tumor cells can remodel the tumor microenvironment by modulating various PCD pathways—including apoptosis， autophagy， pyroptosis， and ferroptosis—thereby driving tumor proliferation， invasion， and drug resistance. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） possesses unique advantages in anti-tumor therapy， characterized by multi-component， multi-target， and multi-pathway regulation. Accumulating evidence suggests that TCM formulas and their natural active compounds can effectively delay the malignant progression of PC by modulating PCD in tumor cells. This article systematically summarizes the molecular mechanisms of PCD in PC progression and reviews the mechanisms by which TCM formulas and natural active compounds intervene in PC through PCD modulation. This review aims to provide theoretical support and future research directions for the prevention and treatment of PC with TCM.

AIM:To investigate the effect of Jianpi-Huayu decoction(JPHYD)combined with gemcitabine(GEM)on ferroptosis of pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells and its mechanism.METHODS:PANC-1 cells were cultured in vitro,and CCK8 method was used to detect the cell viability after different concentrations of JPHYD and GEM,and ap-propriate concentrations were selected for follow-up experiments.EDU assay and clonogenesis assay were used to detect cell proliferation.The apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry.Intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS)were de-tected by DCFH-DA fluorescent probe and lipid peroxidation was detected by BODIPY 581/591C11 staining.The contents of glutathione(GSH),ferrous ion(Fe2+)and malondialdehyde(MDA)in the cells were detected by the kit.The mRNA levels and protein expression levels of Nrf2,HO-1,SLC7A11,GPX4,TFR1 and ACSL4 were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot.RESULTS:Compared with the control group,the cell viability of PANC-1 treated with JPHYD and GEM was significantly decreased in a concentration-dependent manner.And the combined use of the two can significantly im-prove the cytotoxic effect of GEM and have a synergistic effect;Compared with control group,JPHYD group,GEM group and JPHYD+GEM group can significantly reduce EDU positive efficiency,colony formation numbers and promote cell apoptosis,and the combined group has the most obvious effect.After adding JPHYD+GEM into the cells,the cells be-came rounded and the cell viability decreased.The addition of ferrostatin-1(Fer-1),an inhibitor of ferroptosis,had no significant effect on cell morphology and viability,and the co-treatment with JPHYD+GEM and Fer-1 could reverse the ef-fects of JPHYD+GEM on cell morphology and viability.Compared with control group and GEM group,JPHYD+GEM group can significantly increase the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS)and lipid peroxidation,increase the levels of Fe2+and MDA,decrease the levels of GSH,further promote lipid peroxidation and induce ferroptosis.JPHYD+GEM also significantly down-regulated the mRNA and protein expressions of Nrf2,HO-1,SLC7A11 and GPX4,and up-regulated the mRNA and protein expressions of TFR1 and ACSL4.The addition of Fer-1 significantly reversed the activation of iron death in the combined treatment group and reversed its efficacy,and the difference was statistically signif-icant.CONCLUSION:Jianpi Huayu decoction and gemcitabine may induce ferroptosis of PANC-1 cells by inhibiting Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 axis in vitro,thus playing a synergistic anticancer role.

To investigate the transcriptionally regulatory mechanism of the senp8 promoter in yellow cat-fish(Pelteobagrus fulvidraco);this study used P.fulvidraco as the research subject.Dual-luciferase re-porter assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay were employed to analyze the functional activity of the promoter;coupled with in vivo experiments.The results indicated that the 2 045 bp senp8 promoter se-quence contained key transcription factor binding sites such as SP1;TATA-Box;CCAAT-Box;SREBP1;PPARα;and PPARγ.The binding sites of SREBP1(-901/-910 bp);PPARα(-1 291/-1 308 bp);and PPARγ(-1 292/-1 306 bp)in the senp8 promoter positively regulate its activity;and oleic acid or palmitic acid promote this binding.Furthermore;high-fat feeding promoted the expression of the senp8 gene and its protein in the liver of P.fulvidraco;oleic acid or palmitic acid treatment significantly en-hanced the activity of the senp8 promoter;and this enhancement could be achieved through the regulatory effects of SREBP1;PPARα;and PPARγ response elements.Additionally;high-fat feeding influenced the mRNA and protein expression levels of genes related to deSUMOylation modification in the liver of P.fulvidraco.This study provides new insights into the relationship between deSUMOylation modification and the regulation of lipid metabolism in the vertebrates.

Objective To investigate the effects of Sini Powder on serum hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA)axis-related hormones and inflammatory factors in liver cancer mice with comorbid depression,and to evaluate its effect on depressive behavior and tumor proliferation activity.Methods Forty-eight specific pathogen-free female C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to either a blank(n=8)or model group(n=40).The modeling group was subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS)for six weeks.Both groups underwent orthotopically transplanted liver tumor surgery at the end of the fourth week of CUMS treatment.At the end of the sixth week of CUMS treatment,color Doppler ultrasonography was used to observe tumor formation in the orthotopic transplantation liver tumors,and the tail suspension test was used to assess depressive behavior.Non-tumor-bearing and deceased mice were excluded.The remaining model group mice were stratified by tail suspension immobility time and randomly assigned to the following groups:model group(distilled water),Fluoxetine group(5.0 mg/kg),and Sini Powder low-dose,medium-dose,and high-dose groups(5.2,10.4,and 20.8 g/kg,respectively),with six mice per group.The treatments were administered once daily for 21 consecutive days.After treatment,depressive behaviors were assessed using the open field,tail suspension,and forced swimming tests.The proliferation status of the orthotopic liver transplantation tumor was evaluated by measuring the size of the tumor,observing pathological changes in the tumor tissue through hematoxylin and eosin staining,and detecting the positive cell rate of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(Ki-67)in the tumor tissue using immunohistochemistry.The levels of HPA axis-related hormones in serum,such as corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH),adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH),corticosterone(CORT),as well as inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-1β(IL-1β),and interleukin-6(IL-6)were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Western blotting was used to assess mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPKs)phosphorylation and the expression of nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB),NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing receptor 3(NLRP3),and cysteine aspartic protease-1(Caspase-1)in orthotopic tumors.Results Compared with the blank group,the model group showed reduced total distance traveled in open field test,prolonged immobility times in the tail suspension and forced swimming tests(P<0.05,P<0.01),indicating successful establishment of the liver cancer with comorbid depression mice model.Also,the model group showed increased orthotopic tumor volume(P<0.01),and elevated serum CRH,ACTH,CORT,TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6 levels(P<0.01).The phosphorylation of MAPKs in tumor tissues was suppressed(P<0.01),while NF-κB,NLRP3,and Caspase-1 expression levels were downregulated(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,Sini Powder medium-and high-dose groups exhibited increased total distance traveled in the open field test(P<0.05),reduced forced swimming test and prolonged total distance traveled in open field test(P<0.01),while Sini Powder high-dose group showed reduced immobility times in the tail suspension test(P<0.05).Also,Sini Powder low-dose,medium-dose,and high-dose groups showed slower tumor growth,histological changes,including vacuolization and necrosis,decreased Ki-67 positive cell rate(P<0.01),and reduced serum CRH,ACTH,CORT,TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6 levels(P<0.05).Additionally,the phosphorylation of MAPKs in tumor tissues was suppressed(P<0.01),and NF-κB,NLRP3,and caspase-1 expression levels were downregulated(P<0.01).Conclusion Sini Powder may alleviate depressive behaviors and suppress tumor proliferation activity in liver cancer mice with comorbid depression by modulating MAPKs activation,inhibiting NF-κB,NLRP3,and Caspase-1 expressions,and reducing serum inflammatory factors and HPA axis-related hormones levels.

AIM:To investigate the effect of Jianpi-Huayu decoction(JPHYD)combined with gemcitabine(GEM)on ferroptosis of pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells and its mechanism.METHODS:PANC-1 cells were cultured in vitro,and CCK8 method was used to detect the cell viability after different concentrations of JPHYD and GEM,and ap-propriate concentrations were selected for follow-up experiments.EDU assay and clonogenesis assay were used to detect cell proliferation.The apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry.Intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS)were de-tected by DCFH-DA fluorescent probe and lipid peroxidation was detected by BODIPY 581/591C11 staining.The contents of glutathione(GSH),ferrous ion(Fe2+)and malondialdehyde(MDA)in the cells were detected by the kit.The mRNA levels and protein expression levels of Nrf2,HO-1,SLC7A11,GPX4,TFR1 and ACSL4 were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot.RESULTS:Compared with the control group,the cell viability of PANC-1 treated with JPHYD and GEM was significantly decreased in a concentration-dependent manner.And the combined use of the two can significantly im-prove the cytotoxic effect of GEM and have a synergistic effect;Compared with control group,JPHYD group,GEM group and JPHYD+GEM group can significantly reduce EDU positive efficiency,colony formation numbers and promote cell apoptosis,and the combined group has the most obvious effect.After adding JPHYD+GEM into the cells,the cells be-came rounded and the cell viability decreased.The addition of ferrostatin-1(Fer-1),an inhibitor of ferroptosis,had no significant effect on cell morphology and viability,and the co-treatment with JPHYD+GEM and Fer-1 could reverse the ef-fects of JPHYD+GEM on cell morphology and viability.Compared with control group and GEM group,JPHYD+GEM group can significantly increase the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS)and lipid peroxidation,increase the levels of Fe2+and MDA,decrease the levels of GSH,further promote lipid peroxidation and induce ferroptosis.JPHYD+GEM also significantly down-regulated the mRNA and protein expressions of Nrf2,HO-1,SLC7A11 and GPX4,and up-regulated the mRNA and protein expressions of TFR1 and ACSL4.The addition of Fer-1 significantly reversed the activation of iron death in the combined treatment group and reversed its efficacy,and the difference was statistically signif-icant.CONCLUSION:Jianpi Huayu decoction and gemcitabine may induce ferroptosis of PANC-1 cells by inhibiting Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 axis in vitro,thus playing a synergistic anticancer role.

Objective To investigate the effects of Sini Powder on serum hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal(HPA)axis-related hormones and inflammatory factors in liver cancer mice with comorbid depression,and to evaluate its effect on depressive behavior and tumor proliferation activity.Methods Forty-eight specific pathogen-free female C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to either a blank(n=8)or model group(n=40).The modeling group was subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS)for six weeks.Both groups underwent orthotopically transplanted liver tumor surgery at the end of the fourth week of CUMS treatment.At the end of the sixth week of CUMS treatment,color Doppler ultrasonography was used to observe tumor formation in the orthotopic transplantation liver tumors,and the tail suspension test was used to assess depressive behavior.Non-tumor-bearing and deceased mice were excluded.The remaining model group mice were stratified by tail suspension immobility time and randomly assigned to the following groups:model group(distilled water),Fluoxetine group(5.0 mg/kg),and Sini Powder low-dose,medium-dose,and high-dose groups(5.2,10.4,and 20.8 g/kg,respectively),with six mice per group.The treatments were administered once daily for 21 consecutive days.After treatment,depressive behaviors were assessed using the open field,tail suspension,and forced swimming tests.The proliferation status of the orthotopic liver transplantation tumor was evaluated by measuring the size of the tumor,observing pathological changes in the tumor tissue through hematoxylin and eosin staining,and detecting the positive cell rate of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(Ki-67)in the tumor tissue using immunohistochemistry.The levels of HPA axis-related hormones in serum,such as corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH),adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH),corticosterone(CORT),as well as inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-1β(IL-1β),and interleukin-6(IL-6)were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Western blotting was used to assess mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPKs)phosphorylation and the expression of nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB),NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing receptor 3(NLRP3),and cysteine aspartic protease-1(Caspase-1)in orthotopic tumors.Results Compared with the blank group,the model group showed reduced total distance traveled in open field test,prolonged immobility times in the tail suspension and forced swimming tests(P<0.05,P<0.01),indicating successful establishment of the liver cancer with comorbid depression mice model.Also,the model group showed increased orthotopic tumor volume(P<0.01),and elevated serum CRH,ACTH,CORT,TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6 levels(P<0.01).The phosphorylation of MAPKs in tumor tissues was suppressed(P<0.01),while NF-κB,NLRP3,and Caspase-1 expression levels were downregulated(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,Sini Powder medium-and high-dose groups exhibited increased total distance traveled in the open field test(P<0.05),reduced forced swimming test and prolonged total distance traveled in open field test(P<0.01),while Sini Powder high-dose group showed reduced immobility times in the tail suspension test(P<0.05).Also,Sini Powder low-dose,medium-dose,and high-dose groups showed slower tumor growth,histological changes,including vacuolization and necrosis,decreased Ki-67 positive cell rate(P<0.01),and reduced serum CRH,ACTH,CORT,TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6 levels(P<0.05).Additionally,the phosphorylation of MAPKs in tumor tissues was suppressed(P<0.01),and NF-κB,NLRP3,and caspase-1 expression levels were downregulated(P<0.01).Conclusion Sini Powder may alleviate depressive behaviors and suppress tumor proliferation activity in liver cancer mice with comorbid depression by modulating MAPKs activation,inhibiting NF-κB,NLRP3,and Caspase-1 expressions,and reducing serum inflammatory factors and HPA axis-related hormones levels.

To investigate the transcriptionally regulatory mechanism of the senp8 promoter in yellow cat-fish(Pelteobagrus fulvidraco);this study used P.fulvidraco as the research subject.Dual-luciferase re-porter assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay were employed to analyze the functional activity of the promoter;coupled with in vivo experiments.The results indicated that the 2 045 bp senp8 promoter se-quence contained key transcription factor binding sites such as SP1;TATA-Box;CCAAT-Box;SREBP1;PPARα;and PPARγ.The binding sites of SREBP1(-901/-910 bp);PPARα(-1 291/-1 308 bp);and PPARγ(-1 292/-1 306 bp)in the senp8 promoter positively regulate its activity;and oleic acid or palmitic acid promote this binding.Furthermore;high-fat feeding promoted the expression of the senp8 gene and its protein in the liver of P.fulvidraco;oleic acid or palmitic acid treatment significantly en-hanced the activity of the senp8 promoter;and this enhancement could be achieved through the regulatory effects of SREBP1;PPARα;and PPARγ response elements.Additionally;high-fat feeding influenced the mRNA and protein expression levels of genes related to deSUMOylation modification in the liver of P.fulvidraco.This study provides new insights into the relationship between deSUMOylation modification and the regulation of lipid metabolism in the vertebrates.