1.Mechanism of Yiqi Huoxue Therapy Regulating IL-33/ST2/IL-1RAP to Improve Nasal Mucosal Tissue Remodeling and Intervene in Allergic Rhinitis
Huan WANG ; Hongping LUO ; Meiya WANG ; Yuyin LIU ; Chenlin WANG ; Chao LIAO ; Fangqi LIANG ; Peizheng XIONG ; Li TIAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(14):298-307
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism by which Qidan Yifei Tongqiao granules (QDYF) alleviate nasal mucosal remodeling in allergic rhinitis (AR) via the interleukin-33 (IL-33)/growth stimulation expressed gene 2 (ST2)/interleukin-1 receptor accessory protein (IL-1RAP) signaling pathway from the perspective of Qi-replenishing and blood-activating therapy. MethodsFirst, according to the previous network pharmacology results, this study predicted the potential mechanisms of QDYF in treating AR by screening key pathways, components, and targets. Molecular docking was performed via AutoDock and PyMOL 2.5.5. Subsequently, a rat model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced AR was used for validation through in vivo experiments. Forty-eight rats were assigned into 6 groups: Control, model, low-dose QDYF (QDYF-L, 4.04 g·kg-1), medium-dose QDYF (QDYF-M, 8.08 g·kg-1), high-dose QDYF (QDYF-H, 16.16 g·kg-1), and loratadine (0.9 mg·kg-1). After 14 days of intervention, behavioral scores of the rats were observed. The morphological changes of nasal mucosa tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Masson staining was used to observe collagen fiber deposition in the nasal mucosal tissue and to calculate the collagen volume fraction (CVF). The expression of E-cadherin (E-cad) in the nasal mucosa tissue was detected by immunofluorescence. The serum levels of helper T cell 2 (Th2) cytokines interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-5 (IL-5), and interleukin-13 (IL-13) as well as helper T cell 1 (Th1) cytokines interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-γ (INF-γ) were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The protein levels of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), IL-33, ST2, and IL-1RAP in the nasal mucosa tissue were determined by Western blot. ResultsIL-33, ST2, and IL-1RAP had strong binding ability with the main active ingredients—wogonin, 7-methoxy-2-methylisoflavone, formononetin, naringenin, stigmasterol, and beta-sitosterol of QDYF, with the binding energy < -4.25 kcal⋅mol-1(1 cal≈4.184 J). The results of in vivo experiments showed that compared with the control group, the model group exhibited increased behavioral scores (P<0.05), aggravated pathological damage of nasal mucosa, increased collagen fiber deposition and CVF (P<0.05), elevated serum levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, up-regulated protein levels of TGF-β1, IL-33, ST2, and IL-1RAP in the nasal mucosa (P<0.05), down-regulated expression of E-cad, and declined serum levels of IL-2, IFN-γ, and IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the QDYF groups and loratadine group showed reduced behavioral scores (P<0.05), alleviated pathological damage of nasal mucosa, reduced collagen fiber deposition and CVF (P<0.05), and up-regulated E-cad expression (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the QDYF-H group and the loratadine group showed raised levels of INF-γ and IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio (P<0.05), declined serum levels of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, and down-regulated protein levels of TGF-β1, IL-33, ST2, and IL-1RAP in the nasal mucosa (P<0.05). In addition, the QDYF-H group exhibited an elevated serum IL-2 level (P<0.05). The QDYF-M group showed down-regulated protein levels of TGF-β1, IL-33 and IL-1RAP in the nasal mucosa (P<0.05). The QDYF-L group demonstrated a down-regulated protein level of ST2 in the nasal mucosa (P<0.05). ConclusionQDYF may regulate the Th1/Th2 balance through the IL-33/ST2/IL-1RAP signaling pathway, thereby ameliorating nasal mucosal tissue remodeling and alleviating AR.
2.Associations between m 6A RNA methylation and cutaneous melanoma
Fangqi CHEN ; Yan LIANG ; Ting WU ; Changzheng HUANG
Chinese Journal of Dermatology 2023;56(9):889-892
N 6-methyladenosine (m 6A) modification can regulate gene expression by influencing RNA stability, nuclear transport, translation efficiency, alternative splicing and degradation. Current studies have shown that m 6A modification is associated with multiple biological behaviors of melanoma, such as proliferation, metastasis and resistance to immunotherapy, but specific mechanisms still need further study. This review summarizes the regulation of m 6A RNA methylation, and its related biological behaviors and mechanisms of action in melanoma.
3.Study on protective effect and mechanism of Modified Yupingfeng nasal spray on nasal mucosal injury in AR model rats
Yuan XI ; Xinning HE ; Yuyin LIU ; Na ZHANG ; Ting LIU ; Fangqi LIANG ; Li TIAN
China Pharmacy 2023;34(10):1204-1210
OBJECTIVE To study protective effect and potential mechanism of Modified yupingfeng nasal spray (YPF+) on nasal mucosal injury in allergic rhinitis (AR) model rats. METHODS AR model was induced by ovalbumin (OVA) and randomly divided into model group, YPF+group (50 µg/side,twice a day), positive control group (Mometasone furoate aqueous nasal spray, 50 µg/side,once a day); the blank group was set up, with 10 rats in each group. Administration groups were given relevant medicine, and blank group and model group were given equivalent normal saline for consecutive 4 weeks. Thirty minutes after last medication, the behavioral scores of rats were recorded, and the pathological changes of their nasal mucosa tissue were observed. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in nasal mucosa tissue was detected. The protein and mRNA expressions of nucleotide- binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3),caspase-1,gasdermin D (GSDMD) were detected; the contents of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18 in serum were also determined. RESULTS Compared with blank group, in model group, the nasal mucosa tissue structure was disordered, inflammatory cells infiltrated seriously, and lamina propria vascular dilation was visible; its behavioral score and pathological score, the level of ROS, protein and mRNA expressions of NLRP3, caspase-1 and GSDMD, serum contents of IL-1β and IL-18 in nasal mucosa tissue were increased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with model group, the symptoms of nasal mucosal injury in rats of each drug group were improved to varying degrees, and the above indicators were significantly reduced (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS YPF+ may improve nasal mucosal injury of rats, relieve AR symptoms such as sneezing, itchy nose, runny nose, the mechanism of which may be associated with reducing the production of ROS in nasal mucosa and downregulating NLRP3/caspase-1/ GSDMD pathway.
4.Prognostic value and sensitivity to chemotherapy of microsatellite instability in advanced colorectal cancer
Yuchen WU ; Changsheng ZHANG ; Fei LIANG ; Dan HUANG ; Ji ZHU ; Ye XU ; Fangqi LIU
China Oncology 2015;(7):522-528
Background and purpose:Microsatellite instability (MSI) status is commonly applied to predict the prognosis and chemosensitivity in stage Ⅱ and stage Ⅲ colorectal cancer patients. However, researches of its function on metastasis colorectal cancer are limited. This study investigated its value on prognosis and chemosensitivity in metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.Methods:We retrospectively investigated tumor tissues from metastasis CRC patients who were treated with oxaliplatin and 5-FU-based therapy regimens (FOLFOX and XELOX). Immunostaining of proteins of the mismatch repair genehMLH1,hMSH2,hMSH6 andhPMS2 was performed. Prognostic value and chemosensitivity in patients with MSI status were also determined.Results:Clinical features from 113 patients were analyzed. No cor-relation of overall survival (OS) and chemosensitivity with MSI status was found. We further investigated 79 patients with synchronous metastasis and palliatively tumor resection. Median progression free survival (PFS) from 22 MSI patients was significant longer than that in 57 MSS patients (19.9 monthsvs 7 months,P=0.005). No significant difference was seen in OS comparison (P=0.07). MSI status was also an independent prognostic factors of PFS by Cox multivariate analysis (MSS/MSI,HR=2.079,P=0.043). Moreover, in this group, MSI patients had improved disease control rate (59.1%vs 31.6%, P=0.025) in chemosensitivity analysis than MSS patients.Conclusion:A better PFS in MSI patients with synchronous metastasis and palliative tumor resection was found after treated with oxaliplatin and 5-FU-based therapy and a better chemosensitivity in MSI patients was also found.

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