1.Induction of apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells by polyphyllin 9 through regulating the Fas/FasL sig-naling pathway and the inhibitory effect on the growth of transplanted tumor in nude mice
Minna YAO ; Wei ZHANG ; Kai GAO ; Ruili LI ; Ying YIN ; Chao GUO ; Yunyang LU ; Haifeng TANG ; Jingwen WANG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(18):2238-2243
OBJECTIVE To investigate the induction of apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells by polyphyllin 9 (PP9) through the regulation of the Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) signaling pathway, and its inhibitory effect on the growth of transplanted tumor in nude mice. METHODS Based on the screening of cell lines and intervention conditions, HepG2 cells were selected as the experimental subject to investigate the effects of 2 μmol/L and 4 μmol/L PP9 treatment on cell colony formation activity, apoptosis rate, as well as the protein expressions of Fas, FasL, cleaved caspase-8 and cleaved caspase-3. Additionally, Fas inhibitor KR- 33493 was introduced to investigate the underlying mechanism of PP9’s anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activity. Using HepG2 cell tumor-bearing nude mice model as the object, and 5-fluorouracil (20 mg/kg) as the positive control, the effects of 10 mg/kg PP9 on tumor volume, tumor mass, and the protein expressions of the nuclear proliferation-associated antigen Ki-67 and cleaved caspase-3 in tumor-bearing nude mice were investigated. RESULTS Compared with the control group, 2, 4 μmol/L PP9 significantly decreased the number of clones and the clone formation rate of cells, but significantly increased the apoptosis rate, the protein expressions of Fas, FasL, cleaved caspase-8 and cleaved caspase-3 (P<0.05 or P<0.01). However, the combination of Fas inhibitor KR-33493 could significantly reverse the effect of PP9 on the up-regulation of proteins related to the Fas/FasL signaling pathway (P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the tumor volume (on day 27), mass and protein expression of Ki- 67 in nude mice of the PP9 group were significantly decreased, while the protein expression of cleaved caspase-3 was significantly increased (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS PP9 can induce apoptosis of HepG2 cells by activating the Fas/FasL signaling pathway. Meanwhile, PP9 can also effectively inhibit the growth of transplanted tumors in nude mice.
2.Epidemiological characteristics of cross-county imported dengue fever cases within Yunnan Province in 2023
Yerong TANG ; Hongning ZHOU ; Chao WU ; Chun WEI ; Xiaotao ZHAO ; Xuefei WANG ; Xiaolian GUO ; Jinyong JIANG
Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control 2025;37(5):524-529
Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of cross-county imported dengue fever cases within Yunnan province in 2023, so as to provide insights into formulation of preventive and control measures for intra-provincial spread of dengue fever. Methods All data pertaining cross-county imported dengue fever cases within Yunnan Province in 2023 were collected, and the temporal, regional and population distributions of the cases were descriptively analyzed. Results A total of 1 664 intra-provincial cross-county imported dengue fever cases were reported in 95 counties (cities, districts) cross 16 profectures (cities) in Yunnan Province in 2023, accounting for 12.34% of total cases in the province. Cross-county imported dengue fever cases were predominantly reported during the period between August and October (1 516 cases, 91.11% of total cases), and peaked in September (659 cases), with a single-day peak on October 8 (36 cases). During the period from September 4 to 10, five counties (cities) with local dengue fever epidemics, including Jinghong City of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Gengma Dai and Wa Autonomous County of Lincang City, Ruili City of Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, Mengla Coun ty of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, and Zhenkang County of Lincang City, exported 165 cross-county imported dengue fever cases to the rest of the province. Among the 1 644 intra-provincial cross-county imported dengue fever cases, the male to female ratio was 1.40∶1.00, and 1 329 cases were at ages of 15 to 55 years (79.87%), with farmers as the predominant occupation (886 cases, 53.25%). The top 5 counties (cities/districts) reporting the highest number of intra-provincial cross-county imported dengue fever cases included Simao District (266 cases) and Lancang Lahu Autonomous County (118 cases) of Pu’er City, Mengla County (91 cases) and Menghai County (91 cases) of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, and Mangshi City (73 cases) of Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, which accounting for 38.40% of total imported cases. These intra-provincial cross-county imported dengue fever cases originated from 7 counties (cities/districts) in 4 prefectures (cities), including 1 261 cases (76.70%) from Jinghong City of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, 224 cases (13.63%) from Ruili City of Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, 103 cases (6.27%) from Gengma Dai and Wa Autonomous County of Lincang City, 31 cases (1.89%) from Mengla County of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, 30 cases (1.82%) from Zhenkang County of Lincang City, 10 cases (0.61%) from Cangyuan Wa Autonomous County of Lincang City, and 5 cases (0.30%) from Mohan-Boten Economic Cooperation Zone of Kunming City. In addition, local dengue fever epidemics following intra-provincial cross-county importation of dengue fevers cases in Simao District, Jinggu Dai and Yi Autonomous County, Mangshi City, Longchuan County, and Cangyuan Wa Autonomous County. Conclusions Farmers and students are high-risk populations for intra-provincial cross-county imported dengue fever cases in Yunnan Province, and health education pertaining personal protection against dengue fever should be strengthened among these high-risk populations by governments at all levels. There is a high risk of local out-break of dengue fever following continuous introduction of intra-provincial cross-county imported cases. Standardized management of intra-provincial cross-county imported dengue fever cases should be reinforced to reduce the risk of local epidemics.
3.Inhibition of interferon regulatory factor 4 orchestrates T cell dysfunction, extending mouse cardiac allograft survival.
Wenjia YUAN ; Hedong ZHANG ; Longkai PENG ; Chao CHEN ; Chen FENG ; Zhouqi TANG ; Pengcheng CUI ; Yaguang LI ; Tengfang LI ; Xia QIU ; Yan CUI ; Yinqi ZENG ; Jiadi LUO ; Xubiao XIE ; Yong GUO ; Xin JIANG ; Helong DAI
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(10):1202-1212
BACKGROUND:
T cell dysfunction, which includes exhaustion, anergy, and senescence, is a distinct T cell differentiation state that occurs after antigen exposure. Although T cell dysfunction has been a cornerstone of cancer immunotherapy, its potential in transplant research, while not yet as extensively explored, is attracting growing interest. Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) has been shown to play a pivotal role in inducing T cell dysfunction.
METHODS:
A novel ultra-low-dose combination of Trametinib and Rapamycin, targeting IRF4 inhibition, was employed to investigate T cell proliferation, apoptosis, cytokine secretion, expression of T-cell dysfunction-associated molecules, effects of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways, and allograft survival in both in vitro and BALB/c to C57BL/6 mouse cardiac transplantation models.
RESULTS:
In vitro , blockade of IRF4 in T cells effectively inhibited T cell proliferation, increased apoptosis, and significantly upregulated the expression of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), Helios, CD160, and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen (CTLA-4), markers of T cell dysfunction. Furthermore, it suppressed the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-17. Combining ultra-low-dose Trametinib (0.1 mg·kg -1 ·day -1 ) and Rapamycin (0.1 mg·kg -1 ·day -1 ) demonstrably extended graft survival, with 4 out of 5 mice exceeding 100 days post-transplantation. Moreover, analysis of grafts at day 7 confirmed sustained IFN regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) inhibition, enhanced PD-1 expression, and suppressed IFN-γ secretion, reinforcing the in vivo efficacy of this IRF4-targeting approach. The combination of Trametinib and Rapamycin synergistically inhibited the MAPK and mTOR signaling network, leading to a more pronounced suppression of IRF4 expression.
CONCLUSIONS
Targeting IRF4, a key regulator of T cell dysfunction, presents a promising avenue for inducing transplant immune tolerance. In this study, we demonstrate that a novel ultra-low-dose combination of Trametinib and Rapamycin synergistically suppresses the MAPK and mTOR signaling network, leading to profound IRF4 inhibition, promoting allograft acceptance, and offering a potential new therapeutic strategy for improved transplant outcomes. However, further research is necessary to elucidate the underlying pharmacological mechanisms and facilitate translation to clinical practice.
Animals
;
Mice
;
Mice, Inbred BALB C
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Interferon Regulatory Factors/metabolism*
;
Heart Transplantation/methods*
;
T-Lymphocytes/immunology*
;
Sirolimus/therapeutic use*
;
Pyridones/therapeutic use*
;
Graft Survival/drug effects*
;
Pyrimidinones/therapeutic use*
;
Cell Proliferation/drug effects*
;
Apoptosis/drug effects*
;
Male
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
4.Structure and Function of GPR126/ADGRG6
Ting-Ting WU ; Si-Qi JIA ; Shu-Zhu CAO ; De-Xin ZHU ; Guo-Chao TANG ; Zhi-Hua SUN ; Xing-Mei DENG ; Hui ZHANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):299-309
GPR126, also known as ADGRG6, is one of the most deeply studied aGPCRs. Initially, GPR126 was thought to be a receptor associated with muscle development and was primarily expressed in the muscular and skeletal systems. With the deepening of research, it was found that GPR126 is expressed in multiple mammalian tissues and organs, and is involved in many biological processes such as embryonic development, nervous system development, and extracellular matrix interactions. Compared with other aGPCRs proteins, GPR126 has a longer N-terminal domain, which can bind to ligands one-to-one and one-to-many. Its N-terminus contains five domains, a CUB (complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, Bmp1) domain, a PTX (Pentraxin) domain, a SEA (Sperm protein, Enterokinase, and Agrin) domain, a hormone binding (HormR) domain, and a conserved GAIN domain. The GAIN domain has a self-shearing function, which is essential for the maturation, stability, transport and function of aGPCRs. Different SEA domains constitute different GPR126 isomers, which can regulate the activation and closure of downstream signaling pathways through conformational changes. GPR126 has a typical aGPCRs seven-transmembrane helical structure, which can be coupled to Gs and Gi, causing cAMP to up- or down-regulation, mediating transmembrane signaling and participating in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation and migration. GPR126 is activated in a tethered-stalk peptide agonism or orthosteric agonism, which is mainly manifested by self-proteolysis or conformational changes in the GAIN domain, which mediates the rapid activation or closure of downstream pathways by tethered agonists. In addition to the tethered short stem peptide activation mode, GPR126 also has another allosteric agonism or tunable agonism mode, which is specifically expressed as the GAIN domain does not have self-shearing function in the physiological state, NTF and CTF always maintain the binding state, and the NTF binds to the ligand to cause conformational changes of the receptor, which somehow transmits signals to the GAIN domain in a spatial structure. The GAIN domain can cause the 7TM domain to produce an activated or inhibited signal for signal transduction, For example, type IV collagen interacts with the CUB and PTX domains of GPR126 to activate GPR126 downstream signal transduction. GPR126 has homology of 51.6%-86.9% among different species, with 10 conserved regions between different species, which can be traced back to the oldest metazoans as well as unicellular animals.In terms of diseases, GPR126 dysfunction involves the pathological process of bone, myelin, embryo and other related diseases, and is also closely related to the occurrence and development of malignant tumors such as breast cancer and colon cancer. However, the biological function of GPR126 in various diseases and its potential as a therapeutic target still needs further research. This paper focuses on the structure, interspecies differences and conservatism, signal transduction and biological functions of GPR126, which provides ideas and references for future research on GPR126.
5.Meta-analysis on common complications of internal jugular vein cathete-rization and subclavian vein catheterization
Xueyun LIU ; Dongmei JI ; Li TANG ; Qin LU ; Weicheng GUO ; Chao YANG ; Jie JIANG
Chinese Journal of Infection Control 2025;24(2):182-192
Objective To investigate the occurrence risk for common complications of internal jugular vein(IJV)and subclavian vein(SCV)catheterization,and provide reference for the prevention and treatment of common com-plications during clinical intravenous infusion therapy.Methods Data from China National Knowledge Infrastruc-ture(CNKI),Wanfang Database,VIP Database,Embase(via OVID),PubMed,Cochrane Library,CINAHL,Web of Science,and ScienceDirect were retrieved,with the search period from database establishment to August 3,2023.Prospective cohort and experimental studies on common complications in patients with IJV and SCV cathete-rization were collected.Meta-analysis on the extracted data was performed with RevMan 5.3 software.Results A total of 29 studies involving 14 096 patients were included in the analysis,including 6 355 patients with SCV cathe-terization(SCV group)and 7 741 patients with IJV catheterization(IJV group).Meta-analysis results showed that the occurrence risk for hemopneumothorax(OR=0.23,95%CI[0.14-0.37])and catheter tip ectopic(OR=0.16,95%CI[0.03-0.85])in SCV group was higher than that in IJV group,and the occurrence risk for central venous catheter-related deep venous thrombosis in IJV group was higher than that in SCV group(OR=2.35,95%CI[1.31-4.21]),with statistically significant differences(all P<0.01).There were no statistical differences in the occurrence risk of vascular catheter-related bloodstream infection(CRBSI),catheter blockage,and catheter local he-matoma between the two groups(all P>0.05),there was difference in the combined result of subgroup analysis re-garding catheter bacterial colonization.Conclusion Compared with IJV,patients in SCV group have a higher risk of developing hemopneumothorax and catheter tip ectopic,while patients with catheterization in IJV group have a high-er risk of deep veinous thrombosis.There are no significant differences in the occurrence risk for CRBSI,catheter blockage,and catheter local hematoma between two groups of patients.It is suggested that patient's own conditions and the accessibility of deep vein catheterization should be considered more when selecting the site of deep venous catheterization.
6.The protective effect of Qingjie Huagong decoction on intestinal mucosal barrier of SAP rats based on regulation of mitochondrial autophagy by PGAM5/Drp1/PINK1/Parkin axis
Xiao-dong ZHU ; Kun-rong LIU ; Min-chao FENG ; Ying BAN ; Xi-ping TANG ; Guo-zhong CHEN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(3):561-567
Aim To investigate the mechanism of in-testinal mucosal barrier protective effect of Qingjie Huagong decoction(QJHGD)on rats with severe acute pancreatitis(SAP).Methods The SAP rat model was constructed,and the sham-operation group,the model group,the group administered with different dosages of QJHGD,and the positive control group were set up respectively.HE staining was used to observe the histopathological changes.ELISA was employed to detect the serum levels of diamine oxidase(DAO)and D-lactic acid(D-LA)in rats.Transmission electron microscopy was utilized to observe the mitochondria of ileal tissues.qRT-PCR and Western blot were applied to detect the mRNA and protein expression of PGAM5,Drp1,PINK1,Parkin,LC3B in ileal tissues of rats.Results Compared with the sham-operated group,the pancreas and ileum tissues of rats in the model group showed obvious pathological changes,with abnormal mitochondrial structure and reduced number of autoph-agic vesicles in the ileum tissues.The levels of DAO and D-LA in serum increased(P<0.01),and the mRNA and protein expression of PGAM 5,Drp 1,PINK1,Parkin,and LC3B in the ileum tissues de-creased significantly.Compared with the model group,pancreatic and ileal pathology were improved,mito-chondrial damage in the ileum was reduced,and the number of autophagic vesicles increased in the QJHGD group.The serum levels of DAO and D-LA were re-duced,and the expression of PGAM5,Drp1,PINK1,Parkin,and LC3B mRNA and protein in the ileal tis-sues increased significantly.Conclusions QJHGD may exert a protective effect on the SAP intestinal mu-cosal barrier by regulating the PGAM5/Drp1/PINK1/Parkin axis in order to elevate the level of mitochondri-al autophagy in the intestinal epithelial cells,thereby improving the level of repair of the intestinal epithelial cells.
7.Research Progress of Metal-Organic Frameworks-Aptasensors for Detection of Contaminants in Food and Medicine Homology Substances
Xing GUO ; Jin-Ju TIAN ; Xiao-Zhen TANG ; Xiao-Yue WANG ; Na SONG ; Jin-E WANG ; Chao ZHU
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(4):547-560
In recent years,the market share of food and medicine homology substances has continued to grow,and various types of contamination issues have become the focus of attention both inside and outside the industry.The contamination not only affects the original medicinal quality,but also leads to the accumulation of toxic substances in the human body,causing acute and chronic severe hazards such as vomiting,poisoning and cancer.Therefore,the development of biosensors that can conveniently,accurately and sensitively detect various pollutants in food and medicine homology substances has become a research hotspot.Aptasensors based on metal-organic frameworks(MOFs)with advantages such as strong specificity,rapid response and simple operation,have been widely used in detection of various pollutants.This review focused on the research progress of aptasensors based on MOFs for detection of food and medicine homology contamination in the past few years,and provided a detailed comparison and analysis for detection of chemical pollutants(such as pesticide residues,heavy metal residues,mycotoxins,etc.)and microbial contamination in food and medicine homology substances.Besides,the development trend and possible challenges of MOFs aptasensors in detection of food and medicine homology substances in the future were discussed,which was anticipated to provide a reference for the development of new MOFs aptasensors.
8.Effect of USP44 and NCOR1 expression on prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer
Yunguo LIAO ; Ziyu TANG ; Dan DENG ; Jingjing GUO ; Shixiang QIU ; Chao LI ; Zhipeng FENG
International Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2025;46(3):261-265
Objective To investigate the effect of ubiquitin-specific peptidase(USP)44 and nuclear receptor co-inhibitor 1(NCOR1)expression on prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer.Methods A total of 98 pa-tients with non-small cell lung cancer admitted to a hospital from May 2019 to May 2021 were selected as the study objects,and non-small cell lung cancer tissues and adjacent tissues were collected to detect the expres-sion levels of USP44 and NCOR1 in these tissues by immunohistochemical staining.The relationship between USP44 and NCOR1 expression and pathological features of non-small cell lung cancer patients was analyzed,and the prognostic factors of non-small cell lung cancer patients were analyzed by multivariate Cox regression.Results The positive expression rates of USP44 and NCOR1 in non-small cell lung cancer tissues were higher than those in adjacent tissues,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The positive expression rates of USP44 and NCOR1 in patients with medium-low differentiation,lymph node metastasis,clinical stageⅢ to Ⅳ,and pleural metastasis were higher than those in patients with highly differentiated,no lymph node metastasis,clinical stage Ⅰ to Ⅱ,and no pleural metastasis,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The 3-year overall survival rate of USP44 and NCOR1 negative non-small cell lung cancer patients was higher than that of USP44 and NCOR1 positive non-small cell lung cancer patients,and the difference was statistically significant(all P<0.05).Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that pleural metastasis,USP44 positive and NCOR1 positive were prognostic factors in non-small cell lung cancer patients(P<0.05).Conclusion The expression of USP44 and NCOR1 in patients with non-small cell lung cancer can be used as biomarkers for prognosis assessment,and provide evidence for progression assessment and clinical de-cision making of non-small cell lung cancer.
9.Expert consensus on surgical treatment and rehabilitation for competitive sports athletes returning to sports after anterior cruciate ligament injury (version 2025)
Kai HUANG ; Lunhao BAI ; Qing BI ; Hong CHEN ; Jiwu CHEN ; Xuesong DAI ; Wenyong FEI ; Weili FU ; Zhizeng GAO ; Lin GUO ; Yinghui HUA ; Jingmin HUANG ; Suizhu HUANG ; Xuan HUANG ; Jian LI ; Qiang LI ; Shuzhen LI ; Yanlin LI ; Yunxia LI ; Zhong LI ; Ning LIU ; Yuqiang LIU ; Wei LU ; Hongbin LYU ; Haile PAN ; Xiaoyun PAN ; Chao QI ; Weiliang SHEN ; Luning SUN ; Jin TANG ; Zimin WANG ; Bide WANG ; Ru WANG ; Shaobai WANG ; Licheng WEI ; Weidong XU ; Yongsheng XU ; Jizhou YANG ; Liang YANG ; Rui YANG ; Hongbo YOU ; Tengbo YU ; Jiakuo YU ; Bing YUE ; Hua ZHANG ; Hui ZHANG ; Qingsong ZHANG ; Xintao ZHANG ; Jiajun ZHAO ; Lilian ZHAO ; Qichun ZHAO ; Song ZHAO ; Jiapeng ZHENG ; Jiang ZHENG ; Zhi ZHENG ; Jingbin ZHOU ; Jinzhong ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Trauma 2025;41(4):325-338
With the rapid development of competitive sports, the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is on the rise. Such injuries may shorten athletes′ career and lead to other long-term adverse consequences. Although athletes generally recover well after ACL reconstruction, many still struggle to return to their pre-injury performance levels. Advances in the understanding of ACL anatomy and injury mechanisms, along with the evolution of surgical techniques and rehabilitation methods, have provided more individualized and tailored options for athletes following ACL injuries. However, there is currently no consensus in China regarding surgical and rehabilitation strategies for competitive athletes aiming to return to sports after ACL injuries. To this end, the Sports Medicine Committee of the Chinese Research Hospital Association and the Editorial Board of the Chinese Journal of Trauma jointly formulated the Expert consensus on surgical treatment and rehabilitation for competitive sports athletes returning to sports after anterior cruciate ligament injury ( version 2025), and presented 14 recommendations covering surgical indications, preoperative rehabilitation, surgical timing, surgical strategies and postoperative rehabilitation strategies, aiming to improve the surgical treatment and rehabilitation system for ACL injuries in competitive athletes and facilitate their return to high-level sports performance after injury.
10.Mechanism of action of Qingjie Huagong decoction reducing inflammatory response of acute pancreatitis based on PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway
Xiao-dong ZHU ; Min-chao FENG ; Kun-rong LIU ; Ying BAN ; Pan SU ; Chuan-feng XUAN ; Xiao-yi HUANG ; De-wen LI ; Xi-ping TANG ; Guo-zhong CHEN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(5):978-984
Aim To explore the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Qingjie Huagong decoction in modulating PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway in inflammatory response of acute pancreatitis(AP)mice.Methods Twenty-four mice were randomly divided into Blank group,Model group,Ustekin group,and Qingjie Hua-gong decoction group,with six mice in each group.The AP model was prepared by using rain frogin.Serum α-AMS,PNLP,IL-1β,IL-6,IL-8,IL-18,and TNF-α lev-els were detected by ELISA;the pancreatic pathology was detected by HE staining;the expressions of PI3K,AKT,and NF-κB-related proteins and mRNAs were de-tected by immunohistochemistry,Western blot,and RT-qPCR.Results Compared with the blank group,the model group showed obvious pathological damage to the pancreas,with significantly higher serum α-AMS,PN-LP,IL-1β,IL-6,IL-8,IL-18,and TNF-α levels(P<0.01),and significantly higher levels of PI3K,AKT,and NF-κB-related proteins and mRNA expression(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,both the Qingjie Huagong decoction group and the ustekin group improved the histopathological changes in the pancreas of AP mice,decreased the serum α-AMS,PNLP,IL-1β,IL-6,IL-8,IL-18,and TNF-α levels,and down-reg-ulated the expression levels of pancreatic PI3K,AKT,NF-κB-related proteins and mRNA(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusion Qingjie Huagong decoction may inhibit the inflammatory response and protect pancreat-ic tissues by regulating the expression of PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail