1.Modulation of colonic DNA methyltransferase by mild moxibustion and electroacupuncture in ulcerative colitis TET2 knockout mice
Gege FENG ; Yue ZHANG ; Huangan WU ; Lu ZHU ; Hongxiao XU ; Zhe MA ; Yan HUANG
Digital Chinese Medicine 2025;8(1):100-110
Objective:
To investigate the mechanism of in alleviating colonic mucosal inflammation in ten-eleven translocation (TET) protein 2 gene knockout (TET2-/-) mice with ulcerative colitis (UC) by regulating DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) and DNA hydroxymethylase.
Methods:
Male specific pathogen-free (SPF) grade C57BL/6J wild-type (WT) mice (n = 8) and TET2-/- mice (n = 20) were used to establish UC models by freely drinking 3% dextran sulfate sodium solution for 7 d. After UC model validation through histopathological examination in two mice from each type, the remaining mice were divided into four groups (n = 6 in each group): WT model (WT + UC), TET2-/- model (TET2-/- + UC), TET2-/- mild moxibustion (TET2-/- + MM), and TET2-/- electroacupuncture (TET2-/- + EA) groups. TET2-/- + MM group received mild moxibustion on Tianshu (ST25) and Qihai (CV6) for 10 min daily for 7 d. The TET2-/- + EA group also applied electroacupuncture (1 mA, 2/100 Hz) at the same acupoints for 10 min daily for 7 d. The disease activity index (DAI) scores of each group of mice were accessed daily. The colon lengths of mice in groups were measured following intervention. The pathological changes in the colon tissues were observed with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6, C-C motif chemokine 17 (CCL17), and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of DNMT proteins (DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B) in the colon tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression of 5-methylcytosine (5-mC), 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC), histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2), and DNA hydroxymethylase family proteins (TET 1 and TET3) was detected using immunofluorescence, which also determined the co-localization of TET1 and IL-6 protein.
Results:
Compared with WT + UC group, TET2-/- + UC group exhibited significantly higher DAI scores and shorter colon lengths (P < 0.01). Both mild moxibustion and electroacupuncture significantly decreased DAI scores and ameliorated colon shortening in TET2-/- mice (P < 0.001). Histopathological scores of TET2-/- + UC mice were significantly higher than those of WT + UC group (P < 0.001) and were significantly reduced after both mild moxibustion and electroacupuncture interventions (P < 0.001). Serum levels of IL-6, CCL17, and CXCL10 were significantly elevated in TET2-/- + UC group compared with WT + UC group (P < 0.001). Mild moxibustion significantly reduced IL-6, CCL17, and CXCL10 levels (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P < 0.01, respectively), while electroacupuncture also significantly reduced IL-6, CCL17, and CXCL10 levels (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, and P < 0.01, respectively). TET2-/- + UC mice showed increased expression levels of DNMT1, DNMT3A , DNMT3B, and 5-mC (P < 0.05, P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively), with decreased expression levels of TET1, TET3, 5-hmC, and HDAC2 (P < 0.001). Mild moxibustion significantly reduced DNMT1, DNMT3B, and 5-mC levels (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, and P < 0.001, respectively), while increasing expression levels of TET1, TET3, 5-hmC, and HDAC2 (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.05, and P < 0.001, respectively). Electroacupuncture significantly decreased 5-mC and DNMT3B levels (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively) and increased 5-hmC and HDAC2 levels (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively), but did not significantly affect TET1 and TET3 expression (P > 0.05). Compared with TET2-/- + MM group, TET2-/- + EA group showed significantly higher 5-mC expression (P < 0.001). TET2-/- + UC group exhibited markedly increased IL-6 expression and higher co-localization of TET1 and IL-6 in mucosal epithelium, whereas minimal IL-6 expression was observed in the other groups.
Conclusion
Mild moxibustion and electroacupuncture significantly ameliorate colonic inflammation exacerbated by TET2 deficiency in UC mice via epigenetic modulation. Distinct mechanisms exist between the two interventions: mild moxibustion regulates both DNMT and hydroxymethylase, whereas electroacupuncture primarily affects DNMT.
2.Development and application of chiral separation technology based on chiral metal-organic frameworks.
Gege ZHU ; Li GE ; Xinyu LI ; Bing NIU ; Qin CHEN ; Dan ZHONG ; Xiaodong SUN
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(7):101176-101176
Chirality is not only a natural phenomenon but also a bridge between chemistry and life sciences. An effective way to obtain a single enantiomer is through racemates resolution. Recent literature shows that chiral metal-organic frameworks (CMOFs) have many applications in various fields because of their diverse topologies and functionalities. This review outlines the design idea and summarizes the latest synthesis strategies and applications of CMOFs. It highlights key advances and issues in the separation domain. In conclusion, the review provides perspectives on the challenges and prospective advancements of CMOFs materials and CMOFs-based separation technologies.
3.Analysis of genome copy number variations in fetuses with isolated ventricular septal defect and a literature review.
Panlai SHI ; Yaqin HOU ; Duo CHEN ; Yanjie XIA ; Xiaofan ZHU ; Gege SUN ; Qianqian LI ; Mingcong SHE ; Xiangdong KONG
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2023;40(3):317-321
OBJECTIVE:
To assess the value of copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq) for revealing the genetic etiology of fetuses with isolated ventricular septal defect (VSD).
METHODS:
From December 2017 to December 2020, 69 fetuses with isolated VSD were identified at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. Meanwhile, 839 similar prenatal cases were selected from public databases including Wanfang data, Wanfang Medicine, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) by using keywords such as "Ventricular septal defect", "Copy number variation", and "Prenatal". A total of 908 fetuses with isolated VSD were analyzed. CNV-seq was carried out for 69 fetuses.
RESULTS:
Among the 908 fetuses, 33 (3.63%) were found to harbor pathogenic CNVs, which included 11 chromosomal aneuploidies (1.21%) and 22 pathogenic CNVs (2.42%). The pathogenic CNVs have involved 12 genetic syndromes, with those known to involve the heart development including 5 cases of 22q11.21 deletion syndrome, 2 cases of 4q terminal deletion syndrome, and 1 case of 9q subtelomere deletion syndrome. The outcome of pregnancies for 15 fetuses with pathogenic CNVs was known, of which 12 were terminated, and 3 had spontaneous closure of the ventricular septum after birth, but 1 of them had other abnormalities.
CONCLUSION
Fetuses with isolated VSD have a relatively high risk for chromosomal abnormalities, for which CNV-seq should be recommended.
Female
;
Pregnancy
;
Humans
;
DNA Copy Number Variations
;
Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular/genetics*
;
22q11 Deletion Syndrome
;
Fetus
4.Advances in research of neonatal Fc receptor inhibitors in the treatment of autoimmune disease of the nervous system
Lina ZHU ; Yao TANG ; Sai WANG ; Gege WANG ; Ziyan GUO ; Xinyu LIU ; Mengkai GUO ; Jun WU
Chinese Journal of Neurology 2023;56(7):830-836
Autoimmune diseases of the nervous system are a group of diseases caused by the body′s immune system attacking its own nervous system, resulting in structural damage and functional impairment of the corresponding tissues. Interventional clearance of pathogenic auto-antibodies has been shown to be effective in reducing immune damage, inhibiting disease progression and improving prognosis through extensive basic research and long-term clinical practice. The neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn)-mediated circulating protection mechanism of IgG contributes to the long half-life and high plasma levels of IgG. FcRn inhibitors are able to target and block the binding of FcRn to IgG, accelerating IgG clearance and reducing IgG levels. Therefore, the use of FcRn inhibitors in the treatment of autoimmune diseases of the nervous system could theoretically help to accelerate the clearance of pathogenic IgG, achieve good clinical efficacy and have promising applications. Research in this area has made considerable progress in recent years and this article will review this.
5.Genetic analysis and prenatal diagnosis for a Chinese pedigree affected with Canavan disease.
Gege SUN ; Xiaofan ZHU ; Shuang HU ; Lina LIU ; Li WANG ; Xiangdong KONG
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2022;39(8):859-863
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the genetic basis for a Chinese patient suspected for Canavan disease.
METHODS:
Whole exome sequencing (WES) was carried out for the proband, and candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing of the proband, her parents and brother. Prenatal diagnosis was provided to her mother by chorionic villi sampling (CVS) upon her subsequent pregnancy.
RESULTS:
The proband, a 4-month-old female infant, had manifested drowsiness, hypotonia and apathy. Urine metabolism screening showed elevated N-acetylaspartic acid. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging revealed abnormal myelination and multiple abnormal signals in large brain areas. WES revealed that the proband has harbored compound heterozygous variants of the ASPA gene, namely c.187A>G (p.Arg63Gly) in exon 1 and c.634+1G>A (P.?) in exon 4. Sanger sequencing confirmed that the c.187A>G (p.Arg63Gly) and c.634+1G>A (p.?) variants were respectively inherited from her mother and father. Her phenotypically normal brother has carried a heterozygous c.634+1G>A (p.?) variant. Prenatal diagnosis by CVS indicated that the fetus was a heterozygous carrier of the c.187A>G variant.
CONCLUSION
WES can facilitate the diagnosis of Canavan disease, particularly for those lacking specific phenotypes of the disease. The compound heterozygous variants of the ASPA gene probably underlay the Canavan disease in this patient, and the result has enabled prenatal diagnosis for this family.
Canavan Disease/genetics*
;
China
;
Female
;
Humans
;
Male
;
Mutation
;
Pedigree
;
Pregnancy
;
Prenatal Diagnosis
6.CNV-seq analysis of copy number variations in 217 fetuses with nasal bone dysplasia.
Panlai SHI ; Yaqin HOU ; Duo CHEN ; Ning LIU ; Zhihui JIAO ; Yin FENG ; Gege SUN ; Ruonan ZHU ; Xiangdong KONG
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2022;39(10):1076-1079
OBJECTIVE:
To assess the diagnostic value of copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq) in the genetic etiology of fetuses with nasal bone dysplasia (NBD).
METHODS:
A total of 217 fetuses discovered with NBD from December 2017 to December 2020 were divided into the isolated NBD group and NBD combined with other anomalies group, for which copy number variations (CNVs) were analyzed.
RESULTS:
A total of 40 fetal abnormalities were detected in 217 cases, with an overall abnormal rate of 18.4%. These included 31 cases with aneuploidies (14.3%, 31/217) and 9 cases with genomic CNVs (4.1%, 9/217). Five cases of trisomy 21 (3.5%, 5/144) and two CNVs cases with unknown clinical significance (1.4%, 2/144) were detected in the isolated group. As for the combined NBD group, 26 aneuploidies (35.6%, 26/73), including 19 cases with trisomy 21, 6 cases with trisomy 18, 1 case with trisomy 13, 5 cases with pathogenic CNVs (6.8%, 5/73), and 2 cases with CNVs of unknown clinical significance (2.7%, 2/73) were detected. A significant difference was detected between the two groups (P < 0.01).
CONCLUSION
The detection rate of CNV-seq is high for chromosomal aneuploidies and pathogenic CNVs in fetuses with NBD, particularly in those combined with other ultrasonic abnormalities.
Aneuploidy
;
Bone Diseases, Developmental
;
Chromosome Aberrations
;
DNA Copy Number Variations
;
Down Syndrome/genetics*
;
Female
;
Fetus/abnormalities*
;
Humans
;
Pregnancy
;
Prenatal Diagnosis
;
Trisomy
7.Study on regulation mechanism of glaucocalyxin A on the autophagy and apoptosis of HCCLM 3 hepatocellular carcinoma cells through Bcl- 2/Beclin1 target
Linlin ZHU ; Mingming ZHANG ; Gege GUO ; Zhixuan XU
China Pharmacy 2022;33(9):1082-1087
OBJECTIVE To study the regulator y mech anism of glaucocalyxin A (GLA) on autophagy and apoptosis of HCCLM3 hepatocellular carcinoma cells. METHODS HCCLM3 cells were taken ,and control group ,GLA 2.5 μg/mL group,GLA 5 μg/mL group and GLA 10 μg/mL group were mainly set according to different experimental purposes. In control group,only complete medium was added ;in each administration group ,complete medium containing the corresponding final concentration of GLA was added. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry ;mitochondrial morphology and autophagy were observed by transmission electron microscope (only control group ,GLA 5 μg/mL group);JC-1 staining and fluorescence inverted microscope were used to observe and detect the mitochondrial membrane potential of the cells ;Western blot assay was used to detect the protein expression of Bcl- 2, Bax, Beclin1 and cleaved caspase- 3 proteins in the cells ; the co-immunoprecipitation method was used to detect the binding and dissociation of Bcl- 2 and Beclin 1(only GLA 5 μg/mL group, GLA 10 μg/mL group). RESULTS Compared with control group ,GLA 5 μg/mL and GLA 10 μg/mL could induce a significant arrest of the cell cycle in the G 2-M phase for HCCLM 3,a significant decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential ,an increase in apoptosis as well as significant promotion of the protein expression of Bax ,cleaved caspase- 3 and Beclin 1,and significant inhibition of the protein expression of Bcl- 2(P<0.01). GLA 5 μg/mL also significantly changed mitochondrial morphology and increased autophagosomes. The results of co-immunoprecipitation showed that compared with GLA 5 μg/mL,GLA 10 μg/mL could enhance the binding of Bcl- 2 and Beclin 1. CONCLUSIONS GLA can regulate the autophagy and apoptosis of HCCLM 3 cells by Bcl-2/Beclin1 target. The effect is closely related to the dose of GLA.
8.Influence of trabecular microstructure modeling on finite element analysis of dental implant
Meijie SHEN ; Gege WANG ; Xinghao ZHU ; Xi DING
Chinese Journal of Stomatology 2016;51(9):542-545
Objective To analyze the influence of trabecular microstructure modeling on the biomechanical distribution of implant-bone interface with a three-dimensional finite element mandible model of trabecular structure.Methods Dental implants were embeded in the mandibles of a beagle dog.After three months of the implant installation,the mandibles with dental implants were harvested and scaned by micro-CT and cone-beam CT.Two three-dimensional finite element mandible models,trabecular microstructure(precise model) and macrostructure(simplified model),were built.The values of stress and strain of implant-bone interface were calculated using the software of Ansys 14.0.Results Compared with the simplified model,the precise models' average values of the implant bone interface stress increased obviously and its maximum values did not change greatly.The maximum values of quivalent stress of the precise models were 80% and 110% of the simplified model and the average values were 170% and 290% of simplified model.The maximum and average values of equivalent strain of precise models were obviously decreased,and the maximum values of the equivalent effect strain were 17% and 26% of simplified model and the average ones were 21% and 16% of simplified model respectively.Stress and strain concentrations at implant-bone interface were obvious in the simplified model.However,the distributions of stress and strain were uniform in the precise model.Conclusions The precise model has significant effect on the distribution of stress and strain at implant-bone interface.

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