1.Coptidis Rhizoma-Scutellariae Radix alleviates CpG1826-induced cytokine storm secondary lung injury in mice by inhibiting mPTP/NLRP3 pyroptosis pathway.
Qing-Rui ZHONG ; Hong-Kai HUANG ; Yue-Jia LAN ; Huan WANG ; Yong ZENG ; Jia-Si WU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(15):4141-4152
This study aims to investigate the therapeutic effects of the Coptidis Rhizoma-Scutellariae Radix on cytokine storm secondary lung injury(CSSLI) induced by CpG1826 in mice, and to elucidate the potential molecular mechanisms by which its major active components, i.e., coptisine and wogonin, alleviate CSSLI by inhibiting the mitochondrial permeability transition pore(mPTP)/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3) inflammasome pyroptosis pathway. In vivo, a mouse model of CSSLI was established by CpG1826 induction. Pulmonary edema was assessed by lung wet-to-dry weight ratio(W/D), lung injury was evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, and ultrastructural changes in lung tissue were observed by transmission electron microscopy(TEM). The levels of interleukin(IL)-1β, high mobility group box 1 protein(HMGB1), IL-18, and IL-1α in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The results showed that the decoction of the Coptidis Rhizoma-Scutellariae Radix significantly reduced pulmonary edema, alleviated lung injury, and decreased the concentrations of related cytokines in BALF more effectively than either single herb alone, thereby improving CSSLI. In vitro, a CpG1826-induced CSSLI model was established in mouse alveolar macrophage MH-S cells. Calcein-AM quenching was used to screen for the most effective monomer components from the herb pair in inhibiting mPTP opening. Coptisine(5, 10, 20 μmol·L~(-1)) and wogonin(10, 20, 40 μmol·L~(-1)) markedly inhibited mPTP opening, with optimal effects and a clear dose-dependent pattern. These components suppressed mPTP opening, thereby reducing the release of mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA) and the accumulation of reactive oxygen species(ROS), effectively reversing the CpG1826-induced decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP). Further studies revealed that both coptisine and wogonin inhibited pyroptosis and downregulated the expression of key proteins in the NLRP3/Caspase-1/gasdermin D(GSDMD) pathway. In conclusion, the Coptidis Rhizoma-Scutellariae Radix improves CpG1826-induced CSSLI in mice, and this effect is associated with the inhibition of the mPTP/NLRP3 pyroptosis pathway, providing scientific evidence for its clinical application and further development.
Animals
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Mice
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Pyroptosis/drug effects*
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NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/immunology*
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Male
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Lung Injury/immunology*
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Cytokines/immunology*
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Scutellaria baicalensis/chemistry*
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Oligodeoxyribonucleotides/adverse effects*
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Coptis chinensis
2.Construction of a recombinant adenovirus for Mycobacterium tuberculosis c-di-AMP phosphodiesterase expression and induction of humoral immunity
Jia-hao HU ; Huan-huan NING ; Meng-juan DONG ; Yan-zhi LU ; Ting DAI ; Cong-yue ZHANG ; Zi-qing XU ; Shu-yu WANG ; Zheng-yan ZHOU ; Yin-lan BAI
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(4):364-369
A recombinant adenovirus(rAd)for expression of Mycobacterium tuberculosis(M.tb)c-di-AMP phosphodiesterase CnpB was constructed,and its induced humoral immune response was detected.The codon-optimized gene of M.tb CnpB was cloned into the adenoviral plasmid pcADV.The recombinant plasmid pcADV-CnpB was transfected into HEK293T cells,and expression was detected with Western blot.The recombinant plasmid pcADV-CnpB and the backbone plasmid were co-transfected into HEK293T cells to obtain the recombinant adenovirus rAd-CnpB.rAd-CnpB was amplified in HEK293T cells,and the target protein expression of rAd-CnpB was detected with Western blot and immunofluorescence.Mice were immunized with rAd-CnpB intranasally,and their sera and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)were collected.ELISA was used to detect levels of antigen-specific antibodies.Restriction enzyme digestion and sequencing indicated that the recombinant plasmid pcADV-CnpB was successfully constructed and led to protein expression in eukaryotic cells.rAd-CnpB was packaged and produced in HEK293T cells.After amplification and purification,rAd-CnpB with a titer of 5.53×1010 PFU/mL was obtained.rAd-CnpB led to CnpB expression in HEK293T cells.Intranasal immunization with rAd-CnpB increased levels of IgG and secretory IgA in BALF and led to high levels of IgG in sera.rAd-CnpB,the recombinant adenovirus for expression of c-di-AMP phosphodiesterase CnpB was successfully constructed,and was found to induce antigen-specific humoral and mucosal immune responses through mucosal immunization.Thus,rAd-CnpB may be used in further research on new TB vaccine strategies.
3.Application of Recombinant Collagen in Biomedicine
Huan HU ; Hong ZHANG ; Jian WANG ; Li-Wen WANG ; Qian LIU ; Ning-Wen CHENG ; Xin-Yue ZHANG ; Yun-Lan LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):395-416
Collagen is a major structural protein in the matrix of animal cells and the most widely distributed and abundant functional protein in mammals. Collagen’s good biocompatibility, biodegradability and biological activity make it a very valuable biomaterial. According to the source of collagen, it can be broadly categorized into two types: one is animal collagen; the other is recombinant collagen. Animal collagen is mainly extracted and purified from animal connective tissues by chemical methods, such as acid, alkali and enzyme methods, etc. Recombinant collagen refers to collagen produced by gene splicing technology, where the amino acid sequence is first designed and improved according to one’s own needs, and the gene sequence of improved recombinant collagen is highly consistent with that of human beings, and then the designed gene sequence is cloned into the appropriate vector, and then transferred to the appropriate expression vector. The designed gene sequence is cloned into a suitable vector, and then transferred to a suitable expression system for full expression, and finally the target protein is obtained by extraction and purification technology. Recombinant collagen has excellent histocompatibility and water solubility, can be directly absorbed by the human body and participate in the construction of collagen, remodeling of the extracellular matrix, cell growth, wound healing and site filling, etc., which has demonstrated significant effects, and has become the focus of the development of modern biomedical materials. This paper firstly elaborates the structure, type, and tissue distribution of human collagen, as well as the associated genetic diseases of different types of collagen, then introduces the specific process of producing animal source collagen and recombinant collagen, explains the advantages of recombinant collagen production method, and then introduces the various systems of expressing recombinant collagen, as well as their advantages and disadvantages, and finally briefly introduces the application of animal collagen, focusing on the use of animal collagen in the development of biopharmaceutical materials. In terms of application, it focuses on the use of animal disease models exploring the application effects of recombinant collagen in wound hemostasis, wound repair, corneal therapy, female pelvic floor dysfunction (FPFD), vaginal atrophy (VA) and vaginal dryness, thin endometritis (TE), chronic endometritis (CE), bone tissue regeneration in vivo, cardiovascular diseases, breast cancer (BC) and anti-aging. The mechanism of action of recombinant collagen in the treatment of FPFD and CE was introduced, and the clinical application and curative effect of recombinant collagen in skin burn, skin wound, dermatitis, acne and menopausal urogenital syndrome (GSM) were summarized. From the exploratory studies and clinical applications, it is evident that recombinant collagen has demonstrated surprising effects in the treatment of all types of diseases, such as reducing inflammation, promoting cell proliferation, migration and adhesion, increasing collagen deposition, and remodeling the extracellular matrix. At the end of the review, the challenges faced by recombinant collagen are summarized: to develop new recombinant collagen types and dosage forms, to explore the mechanism of action of recombinant collagen, and to provide an outlook for the future development and application of recombinant collagen.
4.Caffeic acid alleviates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury by directly targeting Keap1N532/M550 and promoting its degradation.
Ying ZHANG ; Huan LAN ; Wenjuan ZHAI ; Lin JIANG ; Xiaotong XIA ; Fang LIU ; Lin ZHANG ; Jinjun WU ; Zhongqiu LIU ; Caiyan WANG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(11):101219-101219
Myocardial infarction (MI) is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease-related death worldwide. Nonetheless, existing therapeutic approaches for MI are hampered by issues such as reliance on pharmacological agents and suboptimal patient adherence. Caffeic acid (CA) is a bioactive polyphenolic compound with important anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant functions. Still, its specific role and mechanism in treating cardiovascular disease remain to be further studied. In recent years, a large number of studies have shown that the kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1/nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Keap1/Nrf2) pathway is a key factor in the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases. In this study, H2O2-induced oxidative stress model of H9c2 cells and left anterior descending branch (LAD) conjunctival induced acute myocardial infarction reperfusion (AMI/R) model were used to evaluate the protective effect of CA on the heart. The interaction between CA and Keap1 was analyzed by CA-labeled fluorescence probe, target fishing, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), protein crystallography and surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Our results suggested that CA binds Keap1 and degrades Keap1 in a p62-dependent manner, further promoting nuclear transcription of Nrf2 and thus effectively reducing oxidative stress. In addition, based on the three-dimensional eutectic structure, it was confirmed that CA directly targets Keap1 protein by interacting with residues M550 and N532, inducing conformation changes in Keap1 protein. We also found that the CA analog chlorogenic acid (GCA) can bind Keap1. In conclusion, this study elucidates a novel molecular mechanism and structural basis for the protective effects of CA against oxidative damage via the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway.
5.Recent advance in regulated effect of microglial on AD pathology
Manqing ZHANG ; Yufei LAN ; Lei LI ; Huan ZHANG ; Jiankun LU ; Yaoyuan DONG ; Xiaoya GAO ; Chenyang WANG ; Hongbo GUO
Chinese Journal of Neuromedicine 2025;24(1):76-81
Microglia are specialized immune cells in the brain, primarily responsible for clearing debris and responding to inflammation. One of the pathological features of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the extensive activation of immune system in the brain, and the dynamic changes and dysfunction of microglia could become key factors for AD progression. This article reviews the research progress of regulated effect of microglial on AD pathology, and summarizes its potential value in AD treatment, in order to provide theoretical basis for exploring new therapeutic strategies and intervention targets for AD.
6.Effect of decentration and tilt on in vitro optical quality of intraocular lenses with different focus designs
Ruolin PAN ; Xuan LIAO ; Changjun LAN ; Lixuan XIE ; Qingqing TAN ; Suyun QIN ; Huan HUANG ; Yan WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Ophthalmology 2025;43(3):211-218
Objective:To observe the effect of different degrees of decentration and tilt on the optical quality of the intraocular lenses (IOLs) with different focus designs.Methods:The UV 3300 PC UV-visible spectrophotometer was employed to measure the spectral transmittance of the monofocal IOL CT ASPHINA 509M (509M), bifocal IOL AT LISA 809M (809M), and trifocal IOL AT LISA Tri 839MP (839MP) within Zeiss MICS platform with a refractive power of + 20 D. The modulation transfer function (MTF) values at a spatial frequency of 50 lp/mm along with MTF curves and United States Air Force (USAF) resolution test charts for each IOL at the focal point were measured at apertures of 3.0 mm and 4.5 mm using the in vitro optical quality testing system OptiSpheric IOL R&D under centered, decentered (0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9 and 1.1 mm) and tilted (3°, 5°, 7°, 9° and 11°) conditions. Results:All three IOLs filtrated the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum below 400 nm.When each IOL was in the centered position, at the 3.0 mm aperture, the MTF values were 0.772 at the far focus of the monofocal IOL 509M, 0.467 and 0.282 at the far and near focus of the bifocal IOL 809M, and 0.416, 0.147, and 0.229 at the far, intermediate, and near focus of the trifocal IOL 839MP, respectively.Whereas at the 4.5 mm aperture, the monofocal IOL 509M MTF value at the far focus was 0.664, the bifocal IOL 809M MTF values at the far and near focus were 0.506 and 0.264, and the trifocal IOL 839MP MTF values at the far, intermediate, and near focus were 0.392, 0.107, and 0.210, respectively.Among the three centered IOLs, the 509M demonstrated the highest MTF value at the far focus, followed by the 809M and then the 839MP; at the near focus, the MTF value of the 809M surpassed that of the 839MP.For decentration and tilt, the difference in MTF values of the three IOLs at the far and near focus was consistent with the differences observed when they were centered.At the same degree of decentration and tilt, all three IOLs exhibited superior optical quality at the 3.0 mm aperture compared to the 4.5 mm aperture.The optical quality of all three IOLs exhibited an overall decline as decentration and tilt increased.All three IOLs demonstrated a decrease in optical quality at the decentration of 0.3 mm or the tilt of 5°.Conclusions:The IOLs within the Zeiss MICS platform design exhibits identical spectral transmittance and UV filtering properties.Among the three IOLs, when centered, the 509M, the 839MP, and the 809M exhibit superior optical quality at the far, intermediate, and near focal points, respectively.Under decentered and tilted conditions, the 509M and the 809M demonstrate better resistance against decentration and tilt, respectively, at both far and near focuses.Additionally, all three IOLs demonstrate better optical quality at smaller apertures, given equivalent degrees of decentration or tilt.However, the optical quality at each focal point of the three IOLs decreases compared to the centered position when subjected to a decentration of 0.3 mm or a tilt of 5°.
7.Construction of a recombinant adenovirus for Mycobacterium tuberculosis c-di-AMP phosphodiesterase expression and induction of humoral immunity
Jia-hao HU ; Huan-huan NING ; Meng-juan DONG ; Yan-zhi LU ; Ting DAI ; Cong-yue ZHANG ; Zi-qing XU ; Shu-yu WANG ; Zheng-yan ZHOU ; Yin-lan BAI
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(4):364-369
A recombinant adenovirus(rAd)for expression of Mycobacterium tuberculosis(M.tb)c-di-AMP phosphodiesterase CnpB was constructed,and its induced humoral immune response was detected.The codon-optimized gene of M.tb CnpB was cloned into the adenoviral plasmid pcADV.The recombinant plasmid pcADV-CnpB was transfected into HEK293T cells,and expression was detected with Western blot.The recombinant plasmid pcADV-CnpB and the backbone plasmid were co-transfected into HEK293T cells to obtain the recombinant adenovirus rAd-CnpB.rAd-CnpB was amplified in HEK293T cells,and the target protein expression of rAd-CnpB was detected with Western blot and immunofluorescence.Mice were immunized with rAd-CnpB intranasally,and their sera and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)were collected.ELISA was used to detect levels of antigen-specific antibodies.Restriction enzyme digestion and sequencing indicated that the recombinant plasmid pcADV-CnpB was successfully constructed and led to protein expression in eukaryotic cells.rAd-CnpB was packaged and produced in HEK293T cells.After amplification and purification,rAd-CnpB with a titer of 5.53×1010 PFU/mL was obtained.rAd-CnpB led to CnpB expression in HEK293T cells.Intranasal immunization with rAd-CnpB increased levels of IgG and secretory IgA in BALF and led to high levels of IgG in sera.rAd-CnpB,the recombinant adenovirus for expression of c-di-AMP phosphodiesterase CnpB was successfully constructed,and was found to induce antigen-specific humoral and mucosal immune responses through mucosal immunization.Thus,rAd-CnpB may be used in further research on new TB vaccine strategies.
8.Effect of decentration and tilt on in vitro optical quality of intraocular lenses with different focus designs
Ruolin PAN ; Xuan LIAO ; Changjun LAN ; Lixuan XIE ; Qingqing TAN ; Suyun QIN ; Huan HUANG ; Yan WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Ophthalmology 2025;43(3):211-218
Objective:To observe the effect of different degrees of decentration and tilt on the optical quality of the intraocular lenses (IOLs) with different focus designs.Methods:The UV 3300 PC UV-visible spectrophotometer was employed to measure the spectral transmittance of the monofocal IOL CT ASPHINA 509M (509M), bifocal IOL AT LISA 809M (809M), and trifocal IOL AT LISA Tri 839MP (839MP) within Zeiss MICS platform with a refractive power of + 20 D. The modulation transfer function (MTF) values at a spatial frequency of 50 lp/mm along with MTF curves and United States Air Force (USAF) resolution test charts for each IOL at the focal point were measured at apertures of 3.0 mm and 4.5 mm using the in vitro optical quality testing system OptiSpheric IOL R&D under centered, decentered (0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9 and 1.1 mm) and tilted (3°, 5°, 7°, 9° and 11°) conditions. Results:All three IOLs filtrated the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum below 400 nm.When each IOL was in the centered position, at the 3.0 mm aperture, the MTF values were 0.772 at the far focus of the monofocal IOL 509M, 0.467 and 0.282 at the far and near focus of the bifocal IOL 809M, and 0.416, 0.147, and 0.229 at the far, intermediate, and near focus of the trifocal IOL 839MP, respectively.Whereas at the 4.5 mm aperture, the monofocal IOL 509M MTF value at the far focus was 0.664, the bifocal IOL 809M MTF values at the far and near focus were 0.506 and 0.264, and the trifocal IOL 839MP MTF values at the far, intermediate, and near focus were 0.392, 0.107, and 0.210, respectively.Among the three centered IOLs, the 509M demonstrated the highest MTF value at the far focus, followed by the 809M and then the 839MP; at the near focus, the MTF value of the 809M surpassed that of the 839MP.For decentration and tilt, the difference in MTF values of the three IOLs at the far and near focus was consistent with the differences observed when they were centered.At the same degree of decentration and tilt, all three IOLs exhibited superior optical quality at the 3.0 mm aperture compared to the 4.5 mm aperture.The optical quality of all three IOLs exhibited an overall decline as decentration and tilt increased.All three IOLs demonstrated a decrease in optical quality at the decentration of 0.3 mm or the tilt of 5°.Conclusions:The IOLs within the Zeiss MICS platform design exhibits identical spectral transmittance and UV filtering properties.Among the three IOLs, when centered, the 509M, the 839MP, and the 809M exhibit superior optical quality at the far, intermediate, and near focal points, respectively.Under decentered and tilted conditions, the 509M and the 809M demonstrate better resistance against decentration and tilt, respectively, at both far and near focuses.Additionally, all three IOLs demonstrate better optical quality at smaller apertures, given equivalent degrees of decentration or tilt.However, the optical quality at each focal point of the three IOLs decreases compared to the centered position when subjected to a decentration of 0.3 mm or a tilt of 5°.
9.Recent advance in regulated effect of microglial on AD pathology
Manqing ZHANG ; Yufei LAN ; Lei LI ; Huan ZHANG ; Jiankun LU ; Yaoyuan DONG ; Xiaoya GAO ; Chenyang WANG ; Hongbo GUO
Chinese Journal of Neuromedicine 2025;24(1):76-81
Microglia are specialized immune cells in the brain, primarily responsible for clearing debris and responding to inflammation. One of the pathological features of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the extensive activation of immune system in the brain, and the dynamic changes and dysfunction of microglia could become key factors for AD progression. This article reviews the research progress of regulated effect of microglial on AD pathology, and summarizes its potential value in AD treatment, in order to provide theoretical basis for exploring new therapeutic strategies and intervention targets for AD.
10.Dynamic changes of neuronal cells at different time points following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats
Xu-Huan ZOU ; Rui LAN ; Xue-Qin FU ; Wei-Wei WANG ; Man-Man WANG ; Chen TANG ; Shuang LIU ; Hong-Yu LI ; Xiao-Ming SHEN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(6):1056-1066
Aim To investigate the dynamic changes of neuronal cells at different time points following acute cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by establishing a model of brain ischemia-reperfusion injury.Methods Thirty male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were ran-domly divided into six groups:sham group and cere-bral ischemia-reperfusion injury(IR)groups at differ-ent time points.Focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury model was established using the middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)technique.The Longa sco-ring method was used to assess neurobehavioral scores in rats.After successful model preparation,routine paraffin sections were made,and TUNEL staining and immunohistochemistry staining with NeuN antibody were performed to observe cell apoptosis and neuronal cell survival,respectively.Immunohistochemistry stai-ning was also performed to investigate the changes in glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP)as a marker for astrocytes,ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1(IBA-1)as a marker for microglia,and CD31 as a marker for endothelial cells at different time points.Results No significant changes were observed in neu-ronal cells of the sham group at different time points.In the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury groups,cell apoptosis was activated at IR3h and increased in quan-tity with morphological damage as time progressed.Ne-uN+neurons showed signs of ischemic injury after IR3h,with abnormal cell morphology.From 12 h,Ne-uN+neurons decreased in a time-dependent manner and reached their peak severity at 24 h.GFAP+astro-cytes decreased significantly after IR3h,while poorly labeled GFAP+astrocytes increased at IR 6 h and al-most disappeared in the infarcted area at 24 h and 48 h.The number of IBA-1+microglia-positive cells de-creased at IR3h,and their volume increased at IR6h.Microglial cell death was observed in the infarcted area at IR12h.CD31+endothelial cells around the infarc-ted cortex and striatum increased significantly after IR3h and persisted until 48 h.Conclusions After cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury,the number of ap-optotic cells increases with the prolongation of time,and NeuN+neurons exhibit the most severe damage at 24 h.GFAP+astrocytes and microglial cells gradually die over time.The number of CD31+endothelial cells increases significantly around the infarcted cortex and striatum after 3 h of reperfusion and persists until 48 h.

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