1.Regulation of Immune Function by Exercise-induced Metabolic Remodeling
Hui-Guo WANG ; Gao-Yuan YANG ; Xian-Yan XIE ; Yu WANG ; Zi-Yan LI ; Lin ZHU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(6):1574-1586
Exercise-induced metabolic remodeling is a fundamental adaptive process whereby the body reorganizes systemic and cellular metabolism to meet the dynamic energy demands posed by physical activity. Emerging evidence reveals that such remodeling not only enhances energy homeostasis but also profoundly influences immune function through complex molecular interactions involving glucose, lipid, and protein metabolism. This review presents an in-depth synthesis of recent advances, elucidating how exercise modulates immune regulation via metabolic reprogramming, highlighting key molecular mechanisms, immune-metabolic signaling axes, and the authors’ academic perspective on the integrated “exercise-metabolism-immunity” network. In the domain of glucose metabolism, regular exercise improves insulin sensitivity and reduces hyperglycemia, thereby attenuating glucose toxicity-induced immune dysfunction. It suppresses the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and interrupts the AGEs-RAGE-inflammation positive feedback loop in innate and adaptive immune cells. Importantly, exercise-induced lactate, traditionally viewed as a metabolic byproduct, is now recognized as an active immunomodulatory molecule. At high concentrations, lactate can suppress immune function through pH-mediated effects and GPR81 receptor activation. At physiological levels, it supports regulatory T cell survival, promotes macrophage M2 polarization, and modulates gene expression via histone lactylation. Additionally, key metabolic regulators such as AMPK and mTOR coordinate immune cell energy balance and phenotype; exercise activates the AMPK-mTOR axis to favor anti-inflammatory immune cell profiles. Simultaneously, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is transiently activated during exercise, driving glycolytic reprogramming in T cells and macrophages, and shaping the immune landscape. In lipid metabolism, exercise alleviates adipose tissue inflammation by reducing fat mass and reshaping the immune microenvironment. It promotes the polarization of adipose tissue macrophages from a pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype to an anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype. Moreover, exercise alters the secretion profile of adipokines—raising adiponectin levels while reducing leptin and resistin—thereby influencing systemic immune balance. At the circulatory level, exercise improves lipid profiles by lowering pro-inflammatory free fatty acids (particularly saturated fatty acids) and triglycerides, while enhancing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) function, which has immunoregulatory properties such as endotoxin neutralization and macrophage cholesterol efflux. Regarding protein metabolism, exercise triggers the expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) that act as intracellular chaperones and extracellular immune signals. Exercise also promotes the secretion of myokines (e.g., IL-6, IL-15, irisin, FGF21) from skeletal muscle, which modulate immune responses, facilitate T cell and macrophage function, and support immunological memory. Furthermore, exercise reshapes amino acid metabolism, particularly of glutamine, arginine, and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), thereby influencing immune cell proliferation, biosynthesis, and signaling. Leucine-mTORC1 signaling plays a key role in T cell fate, while arginine metabolism governs macrophage polarization and T cell activation. In summary, this review underscores the complex, bidirectional relationship between exercise and immune function, orchestrated through metabolic remodeling. Future research should focus on causative links among specific metabolites, signaling pathways, and immune phenotypes, as well as explore the epigenetic consequences of exercise-induced metabolic shifts. This integrated perspective advances understanding of exercise as a non-pharmacological intervention for immune regulation and offers theoretical foundations for individualized exercise prescriptions in health and disease contexts.
2.The addition of 5-aminolevulinic acid to HBSS protects testis grafts during hypothermic transportation: a novel preservation strategy.
Meng-Hui MA ; Pei-Gen CHEN ; Jun-Xian HE ; Hai-Cheng CHEN ; Zhen-Han XU ; Lin-Yan LV ; Yan-Qing LI ; Xiao-Yan LIANG ; Gui-Hua LIU
Asian Journal of Andrology 2025;27(4):454-463
The aim of this investigation was to determine the optimal storage medium for testicular hypothermic transportation and identify the ideal concentration for the application of the protective agent 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA). Furthermore, this study aimed to explore the underlying mechanism of the protective effects of 5-ALA. First, we collected and stored mouse testicular fragments in different media, including Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS; n = 5), Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium/Nutrient Mixture F-12 (DMEM/F12; n = 5), and alpha-minimum essential medium (αMEM; n = 5). Storage of testicular tissue in HBSS preserved the integrity of testicular morphology better than that in the DMEM/F12 group ( P < 0.05) and the αMEM group ( P < 0.01). Testicular fragments were subsequently placed in HBSS with various concentrations of 5-ALA (0 [control], 1 mmol l -1 , 2 mmol l -1 , and 5 mmol l -1 ) to determine the most effective concentration of 5-ALA. The 2 mmol l -1 5-ALA group ( n = 3) presented the highest positive rate of spermatogonial stem cells compared with those in the control, 1 mmol l -1 , and 5 mmol l -1 5-ALA groups. Finally, the tissue fragments were preserved in HBSS with control ( n = 3) and 2 mmol l -1 5-ALA ( n = 3) under low-temperature conditions. A comparative analysis was performed against fresh testes ( n = 3) to elucidate the underlying mechanism of 5-ALA. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) for WikiPathways revealed that the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway was downregulated in the 2 mmol l -1 5-ALA group compared with that in the control group (normalized enrichment score [NES] = -1.57, false discovery rate [FDR] = 0.229, and P = 0.019). In conclusion, these data suggest that using 2 mmol l -1 5-ALA in HBSS effectively protected the viability of spermatogonial stem cells upon hypothermic transportation.
Male
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Animals
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Testis/cytology*
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Aminolevulinic Acid/pharmacology*
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Mice
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Organ Preservation/methods*
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Organ Preservation Solutions/pharmacology*
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Cryopreservation/methods*
3.Genetic profiling and intervention strategies for phenylketonuria in Gansu, China: an analysis of 1 159 cases.
Chuan ZHANG ; Pei ZHANG ; Bing-Bo ZHOU ; Xing WANG ; Lei ZHENG ; Xiu-Jing LI ; Jin-Xian GUO ; Pi-Liang CHEN ; Ling HUI ; Zhen-Qiang DA ; You-Sheng YAN
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(7):808-814
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the molecular epidemiology of children with phenylketonuria (PKU) in Gansu, China, providing foundational data for intervention strategies.
METHODS:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1 159 PKU families who attended Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child Care Hospital from January 2012 to December 2024. Sanger sequencing, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, whole exome sequencing, and deep intronic variant analysis were used to analyze the PAH gene.
RESULTS:
For the 1 159 children with PKU, 2 295 variants were identified in 2 318 alleles, resulting in a detection rate of 99.01%. The detection rates were 100% (914/914) in 457 classic PKU families, 99.45% (907/912) in 456 mild PKU families, and 96.34% (474/492) in 246 mild hyperphenylalaninemia families. The 2 295 variants detected comprised 208 distinct mutation types, among which c.728G>A (14.95%, 343/2 295) had the highest frequency, followed by c.611A>G (4.88%, 112/2 295) and c.721C>T (4.79%, 110/2 295). The cumulative frequency of the top 23 hotspot variants reached 70.28% (1 613/2 295), and most variant alleles were detected in exon 7 (29.19%, 670/2 295).
CONCLUSIONS
Deep intronic variant analysis of the PAH gene can improve the genetic diagnostic rate of PKU. The development of targeted detection kits for PAH hotspot variants may enable precision screening programs and enhance preventive strategies for PKU.
Humans
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Phenylketonurias/epidemiology*
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Female
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Male
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Retrospective Studies
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Phenylalanine Hydroxylase/genetics*
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Mutation
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Child, Preschool
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China/epidemiology*
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Child
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Infant
4.The relationship among serum RBP4,CysC levels and intestinal flora in patients with coronary heart disease
Xian-Hui SUN ; Xiao-Qing SUN ; Hong ZHANG ; Cheng-Yan TAN ; Xiu ZHOU
Chinese Journal of cardiovascular Rehabilitation Medicine 2024;33(4):401-406
Objective:To investigate serum levels of retinol-binding protein 4(RBP4)and cystatin C(CysC)in pa-tients with coronary heart disease(CHD)and their association with intestinal flora.Methods:A total of 97 CHD patients admitted in our Department of Critical Care Medicine from December 2019 to December 2020 were treated as CHD group,another 99 healthy subjects undergoing physical examination simultaneously were regarded as control group.Serum levels of RBP4 and CysC,positive rates and number of intestinal flora were compared between two groups.With serum mean levels of RBP4 and CysC in CHD patients as critical value,they were divided into serum RBP4 high level group(RBP4≥35.97 ng/ml,n=53)and low level group(RBP4<35.97 ng/ml,n=44),serum CysC high level group(CysC≥ 1.49 ng/ml,n=49)and low level group(CysC<1.49 ng/ml,n=48).Number of intestinal flora were compared between different level subgroups,and Pearson method was used to analyze the asso-ciation of RBP4,CysC levels with flora number.Results:Compared with control group,there were significant rise in RBP4 and CysC levels,and significant reductions in culture positive rates and flora numbers of Bifidobacterium,Firmicutes,Lactobacillus and Proteus(P<0.001 all),and significant rise in culture positive rates and flora numbers of Staphylococcus and Escherichia coli in CHD group(P<0.001 all).Compared with RBP4 low level group,there were significant reductions in flora numbers of Bifidobacterium,Firmicutes,Lactobacillus and Proteus,and signifi-cant rise in flora numbers of Staphylococcus and Escherichia coli in RBP4 high level group(P<0.001 all);com-pared with CysC low level group,there were significant reductions in flora numbers of Bifidobacterium,Firmicutes,Lactobacillus and Proteus,and significant rise in flora numbers of Staphylococcus and Escherichia coli in CysC high level group(P<0.001 all).Pearson correlation analysis indicated that RBP4 level was significant inversely correla-ted with flora numbers of Bifidobacterium,Firmicutes,Lactobacillus and Proteus(r=-0.626~-0.482,P<0.001 all),and significant positively correlated with flora numbers of Staphylococcus and Escherichia coli(r=0.302,0.337,P<0.01 both);CysC level was significant inversely correlated with flora numbers of Bifidobacteri-um,Firmicutes,Lactobacillus and Proteus(r=-0.621~-0.502,P<0.001 all),and significant positively corre-lated with flora numbers of Staphylococcus and Escherichia coli(r=0.308,0.340,P<0.01 both).Conclusion:Se-rum levels of RBP4 and CysC increase in CHD patients,and they are closely related to the composition of intestinal flora.
5.Study on the machanism of Huannao Yicong Deoction targeting HAMP to regulate iron metabolism and improve cognitive impairment in AD model mice
Ning-Ning SUN ; Xiao-Ping HE ; Shan LIU ; Yan ZHAO ; Jian-Min ZHONG ; Ya-Xuan HAO ; Ye-Hua ZHANG ; Xian-Hui DONG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(7):1240-1248
Aim To explore the effects of Huannao Yicong decoction(HYD)on the learning and memory ability and brain iron metabolism in APP/PS1 mice and the correlation of HAMP knockout mice and APP/PS1 double transgenic model mice.Methods The ex-periment was divided into five groups,namely,HAMP-/-group(6-month HAMP gene knockout mice),APP/PS1 group(6-month APP/PS1-double-transgenic mice),HAMP-/-+HYD,APP/PS1+HYD,and negative control group(6-month C57BL/6J mice),with six mice in each group.The dose was ad-ministered(13.68 g·kg-1 weight),and the other groups received distilled water for gavage once a day for two months.After the administration of the drug,the mice in each group were tested for learning and memory in the Morris water maze;Biochemical detec-tion was performed to detect iron ion content in each mouse brain;Western blot and RT-qPCR were carried out to analyze hippocampal transferrin(TF),transfer-rin receptor1(TFR1),membrane iron transporter1(FPN1)divalent metal ion transporter 1(DMT1)and β-amyloid protein(Aβ)protein and mRNA expression levels in each group.Results Compared with the normal group,both HAMP-/-mice and APP/PS1 mice had reduced the learning and memory capacity,in-creased iron content in brain tissue,Aβ protein ex-pression increased in hippocampus of HAMP-/-group and APP/PS1 group mice(P<0.01),the protein and mRNA expression of TF,TFR1 and DMT1 increased in hippocampal tissues of HAMP-/-and APP/PS1 groups(P<0.01),and the FPN1 protein and mRNA expres-sion decreased(P<0.01).Compared with the HAMP-and APP/PS1 groups,respectively,HAMP-/-+HYD group and APP/PS1+HYD group had improved learning and memory ability,decreased iron content,decreased Aβ protein expression(P<0.01),decreased TF,TFR1,DMT1 protein and mR-NA expression(P<0.01),and increased expression of FPN1 protein and mRNA(P<0.01).Conclusions There is some association between HAMP-/-mice and APP/PS1 mice,HYD can improve the learning and memory ability of HAMP-/-and APP/PS1 mice and reduce the Aβ deposition.The mechanism may be related to the regulation of TF,TFR1,DMT1,FPN1 expression and improving brain iron overload.
6.Molecular characteristics and drug resistance analysis of H3N2 influenza virus in Jiangsu Province from 2022 to 2023
Fei DENG ; Shen-Jiao WANG ; Hui-Yan YU ; Xian QI ; Li-Guo ZHU ; Qi-Gang DAI
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2024;40(9):848-854
On the basis of the laboratory detection results of influenza viruses in Jiangsu Province from 2022 to 2023,this study was aimed at conducting a analysis of the genetic characteristics and resistance of the H3N2 influenza virus,and evalua-ting the effectiveness of vaccines and drugs.The full genome of 29 H3N2 isolates submitted by provincewide influenza surveil-lance network laboratories was amplified and sequenced.Phylogenetic trees of the HA and NA genes were constructed.The mutation characteristics of antigenic sites,glycosylation sites,and resistance sites were analyzed,and the influenza virus neura-minidase was detected with a fluorescence luminescence method.The homology of the 29 H3N2 isolates in Jiangsu Province was relatively high.The isolates belonged to the same evolutionary branch as domestic reference strains and the 2021-2022 vaccine strains,but were in different evolutionary branches from foreign reference strains and the 2022-2023 vaccine strains.Compared with the 2021-2022 vaccine strain A/Cambodia/e0826360/2020,the H3N2 influenza viruses isolated in Jiangsu Province during 2022-2023 had four amino acid substitutions in the HA protein and two amino acid substitutions in the NA protein.No changes in glycosylation sites,receptor-binding sites,and conserved amino acid residue regions were observed.IC50 analysis indicated that the 29 H3N2 isolates were not resistant to the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir.The pre-dominant influenza viruses detected in Jiangsu Province during 2022-2023 were type A H3N2 influenza viruses.Monitoring of variations in HA and NA gene sites and influenza virus resistance aids in rapid understanding gene mutations,and can inform the selection of effective vaccine strains,and contribute to the prevention and control of influenza virus outbreaks.
7.Chemical constituents in Dolomiaea plants and their pharmacological activities: a review.
Yan-Hui LYU ; Wei CHEN ; Yan-Ping WEI ; Xin-Tong WEI ; Jie WANG ; Qian-Qian DING ; Zhan-Hong LI ; Ji-Xiang HE ; Xian-Peng ZU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(6):1463-1482
Dolomiaea plants are perennial herbs in the Asteraceae family with a long medicinal history. They are rich in chemical constituents, mainly including sesquiterpenes, phenylpropanoids, triterpenes, and steroids. The extracts and chemical constituents of Dolomiaea plants have various pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antitumor, anti-gastric ulcer, hepatoprotective and choleretic effects. However, there are few reports on Dolomiaea plants. This study systematically reviewed the research progress on the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of Dolomiaea plants to provide references for the further development and research of Dolomiaea plants.
Plant Extracts/pharmacology*
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Asteraceae
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Triterpenes
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Sesquiterpenes/pharmacology*
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents
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Phytochemicals/pharmacology*
8.Clinical application and research progress of angle Kappa in ophthalmic surgery
Yan-Qing LI ; Li LI ; Xian-Hui WU
International Eye Science 2023;23(5):778-782
The human eye has various axes and angles, of which the angle Kappa is an important indicator of the centrality of the human eye and is widely used in ophthalmic surgery. Proper preoperative evaluation and application of the angle Kappa facilitated the achievement of optimal postoperative visual quality. Chord mu is a new term that has emerged recently to better express the angle Kappa. The two concepts are not well understood clinically, limiting their usefulness. Therefore, to better understand the angle Kappa and chord mu, the definitions and connections between them are presented separately in this paper. Meanwhile, the application of angle Kappa in strabismus surgery was summarized, the method for compensating large angle Kappa in corneal refractive surgery and the clinical significance of angle Kappa in predicting postoperative centrality of multifocal intraocular lens(MIOL)in phacoemulsification combined with MIOL implantation were discussed, with a view to providing references for clinical work.
9.Comparison of distribution of eight components from Liangxue Tuizi Mixture between normal and Henoch-Schonlein purpura rats.
Li-Ling SI ; Lu NIU ; Xiao-Yan WANG ; Hui ZHANG ; Ming-Liang ZHANG ; Shuang XU ; Xian-Qing REN ; Jin-Fa TANG ; Wei-Xia LI
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(21):5915-5931
This study used UPLC-TQ-MS technology to replicate a Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP) model in rats by administering warm drugs by gavage and injecting ovalbumin with Freund's complete adjuvant emulsion. The distribution differences and characteristics of eight major components(ferulic acid, caffeic acid, neochlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, benzoyl oxypaeoniflorin, tracheloside, loganin, and paeoniflorin) in rat liver, lung, heart, spleen, and kidney tissues were determined after oral administration of the Liangxue Tuizi Mixture at a dose of 42 g·kg~(-1) in both normal physiological and HSP states at 0.5, 1, 2, 6, and 12 hours. The results showed that the distribution patterns of the eight components of Liangxue Tuizi Mixture in the tissues of normal and HSP model rats were different. The main component, paeoniflorin, in Moutan Cortex and Paeoniae Radix Alba had higher content in all tissues. The eight components were predominantly distributed in the liver, lung, and kidney tissues, followed by spleen and heart tissues.
Rats
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Animals
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IgA Vasculitis/drug therapy*
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Monoterpenes
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Administration, Oral
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Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
10.Improving Blood Monocyte Energy Metabolism Enhances Its Ability to Phagocytose Amyloid-β and Prevents Alzheimer's Disease-Type Pathology and Cognitive Deficits.
Zhi-Hao LIU ; Yu-Di BAI ; Zhong-Yuan YU ; Hui-Yun LI ; Jie LIU ; Cheng-Rong TAN ; Gui-Hua ZENG ; Yun-Feng TU ; Pu-Yang SUN ; Yu-Juan JIA ; Jin-Cai HE ; Yan-Jiang WANG ; Xian-Le BU
Neuroscience Bulletin 2023;39(12):1775-1788
Deficiencies in the clearance of peripheral amyloid β (Aβ) play a crucial role in the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Previous studies have shown that the ability of blood monocytes to phagocytose Aβ is decreased in AD. However, the exact mechanism of Aβ clearance dysfunction in AD monocytes remains unclear. In the present study, we found that blood monocytes in AD mice exhibited decreases in energy metabolism, which was accompanied by cellular senescence, a senescence-associated secretory phenotype, and dysfunctional phagocytosis of Aβ. Improving energy metabolism rejuvenated monocytes and enhanced their ability to phagocytose Aβ in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, enhancing blood monocyte Aβ phagocytosis by improving energy metabolism alleviated brain Aβ deposition and neuroinflammation and eventually improved cognitive function in AD mice. This study reveals a new mechanism of impaired Aβ phagocytosis in monocytes and provides evidence that restoring their energy metabolism may be a novel therapeutic strategy for AD.
Animals
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Mice
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Alzheimer Disease
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Amyloid beta-Peptides
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Monocytes
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Cognition
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Energy Metabolism
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Phagocytosis

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