1.Mechanism of Ferroptosis in Cerebral Ischemia-reperfusion and Interventional Mechanism of Huoxue Huayu Jiedu Prescription Based on "Blood Stasis and Toxin" Pathogenesis
Jiayue HAN ; Danyi PAN ; Jiaxuan XIAO ; Yuchen LIU ; Jiyong LIU ; Yidi ZENG ; Jinxia LI ; Caixing ZHENG ; Hua LI ; Wanghua LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(8):51-60
ObjectiveTo explore the material basis of the "interaction of blood stasis and toxin" mechanism in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, as well as the protective role of Huoxue Huayu Jiedu prescription (HXHYJDF) against ferroptosis. MethodsSixty SPF-grade male SD rats were randomly divided into six groups: sham group, model group, deferoxamine (DFO) group (100 mg·kg-1), low-dose HXHYJDF group (4.52 g·kg-1), medium-dose HXHYJDF group (9.04 g·kg-1), and high-dose HXHYJDF group (18.07 g·kg-1), with ten rats in each group. Except for the sham group, the other groups were used to replicate the model of focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in the middle cerebral artery of rats by the reforming Longa method. Neurological function was assessed at 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th days post-reperfusion using the modified neurological severity scores (m-NSS). Brain tissue pathology and the morphology of mitochondria were observed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and transmission electron microscopy. The contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), divalent iron ions (Fe2+), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the ischemic cerebral tissue were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Immunohistochemistry and Western blot (WB) were used to detect the expression of iron death marker proteins glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), ferroportin-1 (FPN1), transferrin receptor protein 1 (TfR1), and ferritin mitochondrial (FtMt) in brain tissue. ResultsCompared with the sham group, the mNSS score of the model group was significantly increased (P<0.01). HE staining showed that the number of neurons in the cortex of brain tissue was seriously reduced, and the intercellular space was widened. The nucleus was fragmented, and the cytoplasm was vacuolated. The results of transmission electron microscopy showed that the mitochondria in the cytoplasm contracted and rounded, and the mitochondrial cristae decreased. The matrix was lost and vacuolated, and the density of the mitochondrial bilayer membrane increased. The results of ELISA showed that the content of GSH decreased significantly (P<0.01), and the contents of MDA, Fe2+, and ROS increased significantly (P<0.01). The results of immunohistochemistry and WB showed that the expression of GPX4 and FPN1 proteins was significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the expression of FtMt and TfR1 proteins was significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with those of the model group, the m-NSS scores of the high-dose and medium-dose HXHYJDF groups began to decrease on the 3rd and 5th days, respectively (P<0.05, P<0.01). The results of HE and transmission electron microscopy showed that the intervention of HXHYJDF improved the pathological changes of neurons and mitochondria. The results of ELISA showed that the content of GSH in the medium-dose and high-dose HXHYJDF groups increased significantly (P<0.01), and the contents of MDA, Fe2+, and ROS decreased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01). The content of GSH in the low-dose HXHYJDF group increased significantly (P<0.01), and the contents of MDA and ROS decreased significantly (P<0.01). The results of immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of GPX4 and FPN1 in the high-dose HXHYJDF group increased significantly (P<0.01), and the expression of FtMt and TfR1 decreased significantly (P<0.01). The expression of GPX4 and FPN1 in the medium-dose HXHYJDF group increased significantly (P<0.05), and the expression of TfR1 decreased significantly (P<0.01). WB results showed that the expression levels of FPN1 and GPX4 proteins in the high-dose, medium-dose, and low-dose HXHYJDF groups were significantly up-regulated (P<0.01), and the expression levels of FtMt and TfR1 proteins were significantly down-regulated (P<0.01). ConclusionHXHYJDF can significantly improve neurological dysfunction symptoms in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, improve the pathological morphology of the infarcted brain tissue, and protect the brain tissue of rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury to a certain extent. Neuronal ferroptosis is involved in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, with increased levels of MDA, Fe2+, ROS, and TfR1 and decreased levels of FtMt, FPN1, GPX4, and GSH potentially constituting the material basis of the interaction of blood stasis and toxin mechanism in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. HXHYJDF may exert brain-protective effects by regulating iron metabolism-related proteins, promoting the discharge of free iron, reducing brain iron deposition, alleviating oxidative stress, and inhibiting ferroptosis.
3.Optimized lipid nanoparticles enable effective CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing in dendritic cells for enhanced immunotherapy.
Kuirong MAO ; Huizhu TAN ; Xiuxiu CONG ; Ji LIU ; Yanbao XIN ; Jialiang WANG ; Meng GUAN ; Jiaxuan LI ; Ge ZHU ; Xiandi MENG ; Guojiao LIN ; Haorui WANG ; Jing HAN ; Ming WANG ; Yong-Guang YANG ; Tianmeng SUN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(1):642-656
Immunotherapy has emerged as a revolutionary approach to treat immune-related diseases. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a pivotal role in orchestrating immune responses, making them an attractive target for immunotherapeutic interventions. Modulation of gene expression in DCs using genome editing techniques, such as the CRISPR-Cas system, is important for regulating DC functions. However, the precise delivery of CRISPR-based therapies to DCs has posed a significant challenge. While lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have been extensively studied for gene editing in tumor cells, their potential application in DCs has remained relatively unexplored. This study investigates the important role of cholesterol in regulating the efficiency of BAMEA-O16B lipid-assisted nanoparticles (BLANs) as carriers of CRISPR/Cas9 for gene editing in DCs. Remarkably, BLANs with low cholesterol density exhibit exceptional mRNA uptake, improved endosomal escape, and efficient single-guide RNA release capabilities. Administration of BLANmCas9/gPD-L1 results in substantial PD-L1 gene knockout in conventional dendritic cells (cDCs), accompanied by heightened cDC1 activation, T cell stimulation, and significant suppression of tumor growth. The study underscores the pivotal role of cholesterol density within LNPs, revealing potent influence on gene editing efficacy within DCs. This strategy holds immense promise for the field of cancer immunotherapy, offering a novel avenue for treating immune-related diseases.
4.A New Model for Diagnosis and Treatment of Growth and Development-related Diseases from the Perspective of the Integration of Exercise, Medicine, and Education
Jiaqi QIANG ; Yutong WANG ; Jiaxuan LIU ; Yingjing WANG ; Shi CHEN ; Hui PAN
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(3):537-544
Growth and development-related diseases result from the interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors. The collaboration between healthcare, sports, and education sectors integrates multidisciplinary resources and strengths to promote standardized diagnostic and therapeutic processes. This approach establishes a comprehensive closed-loop system encompassing early screening and referral, diagnosis and comprehensive evaluation, intervention and support plan formulation, as well as long-term management andoutcome assessment. It provides systematic scientific support for the healthy growth of children and adolescents, shifting disease intervention to the subclinical stage. Against the backdrop of societal informatization and intelligent development, this diagnostic and therapeutic model not only safeguards the holistic health of children and adolescents but also offers novel perspectives and feasible pathways for managing growth and development-related diseases. The implementation of this systematic diagnostic and therapeutic paradigm presents an innovative solution with Chinese characteristics for addressing such conditions, while injecting new vitality into the advancement of national health initiatives.
5.The Mediating Effect of Vitamin D on the Association Between Exercise and Triglyceride in Adolescents: A Prospective Cross-sectional Study
Bochuan HUANG ; Xiaoyuan GUO ; Yutong WANG ; Jiaxuan LIU ; Hui PAN ; Shi CHEN
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(3):584-590
To investigate the mediating role of vitamin D in the association between exerciseand triglyceride among adolescents, as well as its potential molecular mechanisms. This prospective cross-sectional study utilized convenience sampling, enrolling 2021-grade students from Jining No. 7 Middle School on June 5, 2023. Moderate-intensity exercise frequency was assessed via standardized questionnaires, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were measured using chemiluminescence, and triglyceride levels were determined via fully automated biochemical analysis. Spearman's rank correlation analysis was employed to examine the relationships among moderate-intensity exercise, triglyceride, and vitamin D. A mediation model was constructed using the Baron & Kenny causal steps approach, adjusting for confounders including age, sex, body mass index (BMI), dairy intake, sweet food consumption, and fast-food intake. Subgroup analyses were performed based on BMI. The significance of the mediation effect was confirmed using both the Bootstrap and Sobel tests. A total of 354 adolescents meeting the inclusion criteria were enrolled, including 142 females (40.11%) and 212 males (59.89%), with a median age of 13.25(12.83, 13.83)years. Spearman's analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between moderate-intensity exercise and triglyceride levels ( Vitamin D serves as a key mediator in the triglyceride-lowering effect of exercise among adolescents, independent of age, sex, and dietary habits. This mediation effect is particularly pronounced in adolescents with BMI < 24 kg/m2. The underlying mechanism may involve vitamin D-regulated lipid metabolism-related gene expression and suppression of inflammatory pathways, suggesting that targeting vitamin D signaling could be a potential molecular strategy for early intervention in adolescent dyslipidemia.
6.Obesity, type 2 diabetes and fracture risk: New insights from large-scale data studies
Wenjin XIAO ; Cairui LIU ; Keyu ZHU ; Peng WEI ; Jiaxuan GU ; Pianpian ZHAO ; Houfeng ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism 2025;41(10):818-822
Fragility fractures represent the final clinical manifestation of osteoporosis and are influenced by a range of risk factors. This article discusses the findings from two large-scale studies utilizing biobank and genomic data to investigate the relationships among obesity, type 2 diabetes and fracture risk, and to explore their implications for health management. The studies suggest that general obesity(defined by body mass index, BMI), central obesity(defined by waist circumference), and peripheral obesity exert different effects on fracture risk in older adults. Specifically, individuals who are overweight based on BMI have a lower fracture risk compared to those with normal weight, whereas an increased waist circumference is associated with a higher fracture risk. Moreover, genetic research indicates that genetically determined type 2 diabetes is not causally associated with increased fracture risk. In contrast, observational studies have reported a higher fracture risk in patients with type 2 diabetes; however, this association becomes non-significant after adjusting for diabetes-related risk factors. These findings highlight that maintaining a moderately elevated BMI may benefit bone formation in the elderly by providing mechanical loading to stimulate bone formation. Additionally, effective management of type 2 diabetes complications is essential for reducing fracture risk, and a certain degree of obesity may confer a protective effect against fractures in individuals with type 2 diabetes.
7.Optimal parameters for physical interventions in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell differentiation
Xun LIU ; Hougan OUYANG ; Rongbin PAN ; Zi WANG ; Fen YANG ; Jiaxuan TIAN
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(31):6727-6732
BACKGROUND:In recent years,it has been found that physical interventions play a significant role in influencing proliferation,differentiation,and migration of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.However,the current physical intervention still exists such as basic research data to be strengthened,unified parameter standards need to be further improved and other shortcomings.OBJECTIVE:To review the effects of physical interventions on the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.METHODS:PubMed and CNKI databases were searched for relevant articles using"bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSC),bone marrow stromal cells,osteogenesis differentiation,chondrocytes differentiation,electrical stimulation,mechanical stimulation,hypoxia,electromagnetic fields,low intensity pulsed ultrasound"as English and Chinese search terms.A total of 58 articles were selected for review.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Physical interventions have been applied to regulate the proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells by altering specific microenvironments,but the parameters have not yet been unified.The future investigation should further optimize and explore the best parameters and conditions of action of the relevant physical factors on the role of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and differentiation.(2)It is difficult to carry out the application of certain special physical environmental conditions through low-cost conventional means,pending subsequent research and development to further reduce the difficulty of constructing special physical conditions.(3)The use of physical factors to rationally intervene in differentiation and proliferation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells has not yet been widely applied in the clinic,and further research is needed to promote clinical translation in the future.
8.Preoperative plasma adiponectin predicts electroconvulsive therapy response in patients with depression
Shaoxing WANG ; Zhiguo LI ; Jiaxuan HUANG ; Xinyi LIU ; Xinxin ZHENG ; Yanqing ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases 2025;51(10):601-607
Objective To investigate the potential role of plasma adiponectin concentration in predicting the response of patients with depression to electroconvulsive therapy(ECT).Methods This study enrolled depressive patients scheduled for ECT at the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University between January 2022 and March 2024.Patients were categorized as either ECT responders(>50%reduction)or non-responders(≤50%reduction)based on post-ECT reduction rate of the 24-item Hamilton depression scale(HAMD)scores from baseline.Plasma adiponectin levels were measured in all patients before their first ECT treatment.To identify predictors of ECT response in patients with depression,the predictive value of plasma adiponectin was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis.Results A total of 80 patients with depression were enrolled including 44 in the ECT-responsive group and 36 in the non-responsive group.The plasma adiponectin level was significantly higher in the responsive group than in the non-responsive group[5.67(3.64,10.55)μg/mL vs.4.01(2.59,5.04)μg/mL,P=0.002].Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between plasma adiponectin levels and the HAMD reduction rate(r=0.300,P=0.007).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that plasma adiponectin was independently associated with the response to ECT in patients with depression(OR=1.218,95%CI:1.009-1.470,P=0.040).Furthermore,ROC curve analysis demonstrated that the area under the curve(AUC)for adiponectin in predicting ECT response was 0.748(95%CI:0.583-0.813).Conclusion Pretreatment plasma adiponectin may serve as a potential biomarker for predicting response to ECT in patients with depression.
9.Optimal parameters for physical interventions in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell differentiation
Xun LIU ; Hougan OUYANG ; Rongbin PAN ; Zi WANG ; Fen YANG ; Jiaxuan TIAN
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(31):6727-6732
BACKGROUND:In recent years,it has been found that physical interventions play a significant role in influencing proliferation,differentiation,and migration of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.However,the current physical intervention still exists such as basic research data to be strengthened,unified parameter standards need to be further improved and other shortcomings.OBJECTIVE:To review the effects of physical interventions on the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.METHODS:PubMed and CNKI databases were searched for relevant articles using"bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSC),bone marrow stromal cells,osteogenesis differentiation,chondrocytes differentiation,electrical stimulation,mechanical stimulation,hypoxia,electromagnetic fields,low intensity pulsed ultrasound"as English and Chinese search terms.A total of 58 articles were selected for review.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Physical interventions have been applied to regulate the proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells by altering specific microenvironments,but the parameters have not yet been unified.The future investigation should further optimize and explore the best parameters and conditions of action of the relevant physical factors on the role of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and differentiation.(2)It is difficult to carry out the application of certain special physical environmental conditions through low-cost conventional means,pending subsequent research and development to further reduce the difficulty of constructing special physical conditions.(3)The use of physical factors to rationally intervene in differentiation and proliferation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells has not yet been widely applied in the clinic,and further research is needed to promote clinical translation in the future.
10.Optimization and evaluation of mouse model construction method for severe periodontitis
Jiaxuan WANG ; Qianqian ZHANG ; Baiyan SUI ; Xin LIU
Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University(Medical Science) 2025;45(1):79-86
Objective·To investigate an optimal severe periodontitis mouse model by comparing two induction methods:simple ligature and ligature combined with injection of Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide(P.g.LPS).Methods·Fifteen C57BL/6 mice were divided into three groups:a healthy control group,a simple ligature-induced periodontitis group,and a ligature combined with P.g.LPS injection-induced periodontitis group.After 14 d,the following evaluations were conducted:tooth mobility and probing depth under a stereomicroscope;alveolar bone resorption[bone volume fraction,bone mineral density,the distance from the cemento-enamel junction(CEJ)to the alveolar bone crest(ABC),and the area between CEJ and ABC]analyzed via micro computed tomography(Micro-CT)and stereomicroscopic examination.The serum levels of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results·Compared with the simple ligature group,mice in the ligature with P.g.LPS injection group exhibited significantly increased tooth mobility[(2.20±0.45)vs(1.40±0.55)]and probing depth[(1.05±0.21)mm vs(0.58±0.39)mm],with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).The ligature with P.g.LPS injection group also demonstrated significantly reduced bone volume fraction[(16.44%±3.35%)vs(28.97%±7.90%)]and bone mineral density[(0.42±0.04)g/cm3 vs(0.55±0.08)g/cm3],as well as increased distance from CEJ to ABC[(0.88±0.03)mm vs(0.74±0.12)mm]and area between CEJ and ABC[(0.34±0.01)mm2 vs(0.30±0.02)mm2],all with statistically significant differences(all P<0.05).Additionally,serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were significantly elevated in the ligature with P.g.LPS injection group compared to the simple ligature group(both P<0.05).Conclusion·The method of ligature combined with continuous P.g.LPS injection is more effective for constructing a severe periodontitis mouse model,making it suitable for studying the progression and treatment of severe periodontitis.

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