1.Molecular mechanisms of hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis comorbid with fatty liver disease
Shuo DONG ; Ying WANG ; Xiwang WANG ; Jingjing JIN ; Kai WEI ; Xiao WANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(3):739-744
Both hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis and fatty liver disease are associated with lipid metabolism disorders and are commonly comorbid with each other in clinical practice. The pathogenesis of such comorbidity involves the interaction between multiple factors such as hypertriglyceridemia, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and insulin resistance, and these factors may form a vicious cycle and jointly promote disease progression. In clinical practice, hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis is characterized by severe disease conditions, a high incidence rate of complications, a high mortality rate, and a tendency for recurrence, and it can easily lead to multi-organ damage and even multiple organ failure without timely treatment, posing a serious threat to the life of patients. Starting from the various signaling pathways associated with hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis comorbid with fatty liver disease, this article discusses the potential molecular mechanisms of synergistic pathogenesis between hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis and fatty liver disease, so as to provide a reference for the early prevention and treatment of such comorbidity.
2.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.
3.Occurrence status and influencing factors of frailty in elderly patients with heart failure
Zi YIN ; Jingjing DONG ; Huaiyu XU
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2025;36(6):176-179
Objective To analyze the occurrence status and risk factors of frailty in elderly patients with heart failure (HF), and improve the prognosis of elderly patients with HF. Methods Totally 306 elderly patients with HF who received treatment in the hospital were selected from April 2021 to April 2024 as the study subjects. The occurrence of frailty was counted, and the patients were divided into frailty group and non-frailty group according to occurrence status of frailty. Univariate and logistic multivariate regression analyses were adopted to analyze the risk factors of frailty in elderly HF patients. Results Among the 306 patients, there were 92 cases of frailty, with an incidence rate of 30.07%. There were obvious differences in age, HF grading, nutritional status, negative emotions, left ventricular ejection fraction, hemoglobin and creatinine between groups (P<0.05). After logistic multivariate analysis, it was found that age≥70 years old, HF grading, malnutrition, negative emotions and creatinine were the high risk factors for frailty in elderly patients with HF, and left ventricular ejection fraction and hemoglobin level were the protective factors (OR: 1.662, 95%CI: 0.845-3.268; OR: 4.586, 95%CI: 2.318-9.071; OR: 3.971, 95%CI: 1.806-8.731; OR: 3.307, 95%CI: 1.457-7.503; OR: 0.456, 95%CI: 0.255-0.816; OR: 0.525, 95%CI: 1.156-0.967, P<0.05). Conclusion The risk of frailty is high in elderly patients with HF, and is affected by age, heart failure grading, nutritional status, negative emotions, left ventricular ejection fraction, hemoglobin and creatinine. Clinically, it is necessary to take prevention and intervention measures for such patients to reduce the occurrence of frailty.
4.Real-world efficacy and safety of azvudine in hospitalized older patients with COVID-19 during the omicron wave in China: A retrospective cohort study.
Yuanchao ZHU ; Fei ZHAO ; Yubing ZHU ; Xingang LI ; Deshi DONG ; Bolin ZHU ; Jianchun LI ; Xin HU ; Zinan ZHAO ; Wenfeng XU ; Yang JV ; Dandan WANG ; Yingming ZHENG ; Yiwen DONG ; Lu LI ; Shilei YANG ; Zhiyuan TENG ; Ling LU ; Jingwei ZHU ; Linzhe DU ; Yunxin LIU ; Lechuan JIA ; Qiujv ZHANG ; Hui MA ; Ana ZHAO ; Hongliu JIANG ; Xin XU ; Jinli WANG ; Xuping QIAN ; Wei ZHANG ; Tingting ZHENG ; Chunxia YANG ; Xuguang CHEN ; Kun LIU ; Huanhuan JIANG ; Dongxiang QU ; Jia SONG ; Hua CHENG ; Wenfang SUN ; Hanqiu ZHAN ; Xiao LI ; Yafeng WANG ; Aixia WANG ; Li LIU ; Lihua YANG ; Nan ZHANG ; Shumin CHEN ; Jingjing MA ; Wei LIU ; Xiaoxiang DU ; Meiqin ZHENG ; Liyan WAN ; Guangqing DU ; Hangmei LIU ; Pengfei JIN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(1):123-132
Debates persist regarding the efficacy and safety of azvudine, particularly its real-world outcomes. This study involved patients aged ≥60 years who were admitted to 25 hospitals in mainland China with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between December 1, 2022, and February 28, 2023. Efficacy outcomes were all-cause mortality during hospitalization, the proportion of patients discharged with recovery, time to nucleic acid-negative conversion (T NANC), time to symptom improvement (T SI), and time of hospital stay (T HS). Safety was also assessed. Among the 5884 participants identified, 1999 received azvudine, and 1999 matched controls were included after exclusion and propensity score matching. Azvudine recipients exhibited lower all-cause mortality compared with controls in the overall population (13.3% vs. 17.1%, RR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.67-0.90; P = 0.001) and in the severe subgroup (25.7% vs. 33.7%; RR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.66-0.88; P < 0.001). A higher proportion of patients discharged with recovery, and a shorter T NANC were associated with azvudine recipients, especially in the severe subgroup. The incidence of adverse events in azvudine recipients was comparable to that in the control group (2.3% vs. 1.7%, P = 0.170). In conclusion, azvudine showed efficacy and safety in older patients hospitalized with COVID-19 during the SARS-CoV-2 omicron wave in China.
5.Gut microbiota-derived tryptophan metabolites regulated by Wuji Wan to attenuate colitis through AhR signaling activation.
Wanghui JING ; Sijing DONG ; Yinyue XU ; Jingjing LIU ; Jiawei REN ; Xue LIU ; Min ZHU ; Menggai ZHANG ; Hehe SHI ; Na LI ; Peng XIA ; Haitao LU ; Sicen WANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(1):205-223
Disruption of the intestinal mucosal barrier caused by gut dysbiosis and metabolic imbalance is the underlying pathology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Traditional Chinese medicine Wuji Wan (WJW) is commonly used to treat digestive system disorders and showed therapeutic potential for IBD. In this interdisciplinary study, we aim to investigate the pharmacological effects of WJW against experimental colitis by combining functional metabolomics and gut-microbiota sequencing techniques. Treatment with WJW altered the profile of the intestinal microbiota and notably increased the abundance of Lactobacillus, thereby facilitating the conversion of tryptophan into indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and indoleacrylic acid (IA). These indole derivatives activated the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway, which reduced colonic inflammation and restored the expression of intestinal barrier proteins. Interestingly, the beneficial effects of WJW on gut barrier function improvement and tryptophan metabolism were disappeared in the absence of gut microbiota. Finally, pre-treatment with the AhR antagonist CH-223191 confirmed the essential role of IAA-mediated AhR activation in the therapeutic effects of WJW. Overall, WJW enhanced intestinal barrier function and reduced colonic inflammation in a murine colitis model by modulating Lactobacillus-IAA-AhR signaling pathway. This study provides novel insights into colitis pathogenesis and presents an effective therapeutic and preventive approach against IBD.
6.A synthetic peptide, derived from neurotoxin GsMTx4, acts as a non-opioid analgesic to alleviate mechanical and neuropathic pain through the TRPV4 channel.
ShaoXi KE ; Ping DONG ; Yi MEI ; JiaQi WANG ; Mingxi TANG ; Wanxin SU ; JingJing WANG ; Chen CHEN ; Xiaohui WANG ; JunWei JI ; XinRan ZHUANG ; ShuangShuang YANG ; Yun ZHANG ; Linda M BOLAND ; Meng CUI ; Masahiro SOKABE ; Zhe ZHANG ; QiongYao TANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(3):1447-1462
Mechanical pain is one of the most common causes of clinical pain, but there remains a lack of effective treatment for debilitating mechanical and chronic forms of neuropathic pain. Recently, neurotoxin GsMTx4, a selective mechanosensitive (MS) channel inhibitor, has been found to be effective, while the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here, with multiple rodent pain models, we demonstrated that a GsMTx4-based 17-residue peptide, which we call P10581, was able to reduce mechanical hyperalgesia and neuropathic pain. The analgesic effects of P10581 can be as strong as morphine but is not toxic in animal models. The anti-hyperalgesic effect of the peptide was resistant to naloxone (an μ-opioid receptor antagonist) and showed no side effects of morphine, including tolerance, motor impairment, and conditioned place preference. Pharmacological inhibition of TRPV4 by P10581 in a heterogeneous expression system, combined with the use of Trpv4 knockout mice indicates that TRPV4 channels may act as the potential target for the analgesic effect of P10581. Our study identified a potential drug for curing mechanical pain and exposed its mechanism.
7.YTHDF1 regulation of Fis1 on the activation and proliferation and migration ability of hepatic stellate cells
Lin Jia ; Feng Sun ; Qiqi Dong ; Jingjing Yang ; Renpeng Zhou ; Wei Hu ; Chao Lu
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(1):49-58
Objective:
To explore the effect of YTH domain family protein 1(YTHDF1) on the activation, proliferation and migration of hepatic stellate cells(HSCs) by regulating mitochondrial fission mediated by mitochondrial fission protein 1(Fis1).
Methods:
The mouse hepatic stellate cell line JS-1 was treated with 5 ng/ml TGF-β1 for 24 h to induce its activation and proliferation, andYTHDF1-siRNA was used to construct aYTHDF1silencing model.The experiment was divided into Control group, TGF-β1 group, TGF-β1+si-NC group and TGF-β1+si-YTHDF1 group.Expression changes ofYTHDF1,Fis1and key indicators of fibrosis, type Ⅰ collagen(CollagenⅠ) and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA) were detected through reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR) and Western blot; CCK-8 was used to detect cell proliferation ability; Transwell migration assay and cell scratch assay were used to detect cell migration ability; immunofluorescence staining experiment was used to detect the effect ofYTHDF1onFis1-mediated mitochondrial fission; finally, JC-1 staining was used to experimentally detect the effect ofYTHDF1on mitochondrial membrane potential.
Results:
Compared with the Control group, RT-qPCR and Western blot experimental results showed that the expression ofYTHDF1andFis1increased in the TGF-β1 group(P<0.05,P<0.01;P<0.000 1), as well as the fibrosis markersCollagenⅠand the expression level of α-SMA increased(P<0.01;P<0.001,P<0.000 1); while adding CCK-8, the experimental results showed that the proliferation ability of HSCs in the TGF-β1 group was enhanced(P<0.000 1); Transwell experimental results showed that the migration ability of HSCs in the TGF-β1 group was enhanced(P<0.01); the cell scratch experiment results showed that the migration ability of HSCs in the TGF-β1 group was enhanced(P<0.000 1); the immunofluorescence experiment results showed that the TGF-β1 group Mito-Tracker Red staining andFis1co-localization signal increased(P<0.05); JC-1 staining experiment results showed that the mitochondrial membrane potential increased in the TGF-β1 group(P<0.01). Compared with the TGF-β1+si-NC group, RT-qPCR and Western blot experimental results showed that the expression ofYTHDF1andFis1in the TGF-β1+si-YTHDF1 group was reduced(P<0.01;P<0.001), and fibrosis markers the levels ofCollagenⅠandα-SMAwere reduced(P<0.01;P<0.001,P<0.01).CCK-8 experimental results showed that the proliferation ability of HSCs in the TGF-β1+si-YTHDF1 group was weakened(P<0.000 1); Transwell experiment results showed that the migration ability of HSCs in the TGF-β1+si-YTHDF1 group was weakened(P<0.001); cell scratch experiment results showed that the migration ability of HSCs in the TGF-β1+si-YTHDF1 group was weakened(P<0.000 1); immunofluorescence experiment results showed that the Mito-Tracker Red staining andFis1co-localization signal decreased in the TGF-β1+si-YTHDF1 group(P<0.01); JC-1 staining experiment results showed that mitochondrial membrane potential decreased in the TGF-β1+si-YTHDF1 group(P<0.05).
Conclusion
YTHDF1promotes the activation, proliferation and migration capabilities of HSCs by positively regulatingFis1-mediated mitochondrial fission. This suggests thatYTHDF1may be a key gene involved in regulating the activation, proliferation and migration of HSCs.
8.Research progress on the relationship between the photobiomodulation and amblyopia
Shuxian HU ; Mei LIU ; Jingjing DONG ; Yang YANG ; Li LIU ; Xuan MA ; Liyun GUO
International Eye Science 2025;25(9):1431-1435
Amblyopia is a common visual development disorder and is the main cause of monocular vision impairment in children and adults. Photobiomodulation(PBM), a non-invasive treatment method, has gradually gained attention in the field of ophthalmology. This paper begins with the macroscopic manifestation of light on the animal model of amblyopia. Additionally, it discusses the pathological changes of the amblyopic retina and the human eye's central nervous system, as well as the influence and mechanism of PBM on the visual perception and processing system and its chemical effect on the visual system through dopamine and melatonin. It examines its mechanism of action, current clinical application status, and future development direction in order to provide new ideas and theoretical foundation for amblyopia treatment.
9.Lipid Bilayer Fluidity Regulates CD40L-Mediated Cell Contact Interface Formation
Jinhui MA ; Jingjing FENG ; Xiaoyan JIANG ; Xiaoting DONG ; Xiaoxi SUN ; Jiangguo LIN ; Ying FANG ; Jianhua WU
Journal of Medical Biomechanics 2025;40(5):1303-1308,1324
Objective To study how lipid bilayer fluidity modulates the interaction between β1 integrin and CD40L,as well as the formation of CD40L-mediated tumor cell contact interfaces.Methods Supported lipid bilayers(SLB)with different fluidities were prepared through adjusting the 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-[N-(5-amino-l-carboxypentyl)iminodiacetic acid]succinyl nickel salt(DGS-NTA)content.The functionalization of lipid bilayers was achieved by anchoring fluorescently labeled CD40L molecules onto the membrane surface.The contact interface formation of PC9 cells on the functionalized lipid bilayers was observed through confocal fluorescence imaging and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching(FRAP)experiments,and data of two dimensional(2D)reaction kinetics of β1 integrin and CD40L were extracted from Zhu-Golan plots.Results The diffusion coefficient of molecules in lipid bilayer was negatively correlated with DGS-NTA content.High fluidity of lipid bilayer promoted CD40L accumulation at cell contact interface and expanded the cell contact area.The 2D dissociation constants(2D Kd)of β1 integrin-CD40L complexes were approximately 13,31 and 65 molecules/μm2 for the three lipid bilayers with high,moderate and low fluidities,respectively.Conclusions High fluidity of lipid bilayers significantly facilitates diffusion and aggregation of CD40L to the cell contact interface,thus enhancing β1 integrin-CD40L interaction and the stability of cell contact interfaces.
10.Research advances on association between placental structural/functional abnormalities and congenital heart disease
Haihui WANG ; Yue LIANG ; Jingjing WANG ; Ranran LANG ; Jie DONG ; Xiaohong WANG
Chinese Journal of Perinatal Medicine 2025;28(11):995-999
Congenital heart disease (CHD) may result from various risk factors including genetic, epigenetic, and environmental elements. The parallel and synchronous development of the placenta and fetal heart establishes a regulatory relationship known as the placenta-heart axis. Placental insufficiency may impact fetal cardiac development, while abnormal cardiac development can conversely disrupt placental structure and function. This review examines the association between placental abnormalities and CHD, providing insights into the etiology and underlying mechanisms of CHD.


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