1.RGL1 overexpression promotes metastasis of colorectal cancer by upregulating motile focal adhesion assembly via activating the CDC42/RAC1 complex.
Nuozhou WENG ; Bin TAN ; Wentao ZENG ; Jiayu GU ; Lianji WENG ; Kehong ZHENG
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(5):1031-1038
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the regulatory role of Ral guanine nucleotide dissociation stimulator-like 1 (RGL1) in metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC).
METHODS:
We analyzed the differential expression of RGL1 between metastatic and non-metastatic CRC in GEO database, and examined its expression in 25 patients with metastatic CRC and 25 patients with non-metastatic CRC treated in Zhujiang Hospital between January, 2020 and December, 2022 using quantitative PCR (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry. HCT116 cell lines with stable RGL1 overexpression and SW480 cells with RGL1 knockdown were established using lentiviral vecors, and the changes in invasion and migration abilities of the cells were assessed using Transwell invasion and migration assays. The transduced cells were injected into the serosa of the cecum of nude mice, and tumor growth and liver metastasis were observed 8 weeks later. Fibronectin adhesion assays and immunofluorescence experiments were employed to assess the relationship between RGL1 and focal adhesion formation, and co-immuno-precipitation assays were performed to explore the interaction between RGL1 and GTPase activation.
RESULTS:
Compared with non-metastatic CRC, metastatic CRC showed significantly upregulated expression of RGL1. HCT116 cells overexpressing RGL1 exhibited obviously enhanced migration and invasion in vitro with increased capacity for liver metastasis in nude mice. RGL1 overexpression strongly accelerated focal adhesion assembly, facilitated the formation of motile focal adhesions, and enhanced the binding of activated CDC42/RAC1 complex to RGL1.
CONCLUSIONS
RGL1 is highly expressed in metastatic CRC and promotes distant metastasis of CRC by activating the CDC42/RAC1 complex to facilitate the formation of motile focal adhesions. These findings suggest that RGL1 can potentially serve as a therapeutic target for CRC metastasis.
Humans
;
Colorectal Neoplasms/metabolism*
;
cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein/metabolism*
;
Animals
;
Mice, Nude
;
rac1 GTP-Binding Protein/metabolism*
;
Cell Movement
;
Mice
;
Focal Adhesions/metabolism*
;
Neoplasm Metastasis
;
Cell Line, Tumor
;
HCT116 Cells
;
Up-Regulation
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Neoplasm Invasiveness
;
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
;
Female
;
Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
2.Research advances on the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in sepsis-acquired weakness.
Xiujun CHANG ; Zhaoxuan GUO ; Jiayu FANG ; Xian QIN ; Fan ZENG ; Yunping LAN
Chinese Critical Care Medicine 2025;37(10):976-981
Sepsis-acquired weakness (SAW) is a common complication in critically ill patients, yet significant gaps remain in both mechanistic understanding and therapeutic interventions for this condition. SAW not only prolongs the duration of mechanical ventilation and hospitalization but is also closely associated with increased mortality. Even if these SAW patients survive, they often experience long-term physical dysfunction after hospital discharge, leading to diminished quality of life. Emerging evidence suggests that sustained mitochondrial dysfunction may constitute a pivotal pathophysiological basis for the development and progression of SAW, primarily encompassing five key aspects: dysregulated mitochondrial quality control (MtQC), impaired oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), exacerbated oxidative stress, disrupted Ca2+; homeostasis, and their mediation of diverse myofiber injuries. This article systematically elucidates the central role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of SAW. Furthermore, we explore potential therapeutic strategies targeting mitochondrial function, including mitigating mitochondrial oxidative stress, optimizing nutritional support, and supplementing with muscle-derived mesenchymal stem cells. These insights provide a critical theoretical framework for understanding SAW mechanisms and developing clinical interventions, with particular emphasis on the translational value of mitochondrial-targeted therapies in improving outcomes for septic patients.
Humans
;
Sepsis/metabolism*
;
Mitochondria/metabolism*
;
Muscle Weakness/etiology*
;
Oxidative Stress
;
Oxidative Phosphorylation
3.The role of silent information regulator in periodontitis
Jinyi SUN ; Qinying WANG ; Ying LI ; Maohua MENG ; Helin CHEN ; Xiao ZENG ; Jiayu SHU ; Wenjie LI ; Yuncai LUO ; Qiang DONG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(11):1737-1742
BACKGROUND:Periodontitis is an inflammatory and destructive disease with plaque biofilm as the main pathogenic material,which occurs in the gingiva,periodontal ligament,alveolar bone and cementum.The antigen of bacterial complex and its secreted toxin and enzyme directly lead to the destruction of periodontal tissue and trigger the host's immune response,causing indirect damage to the body tissue.Silence information regulatory factors(Sirtuins,SIRTs)play an important role in anti-aging,anti-oxidative stress,regulating inflammation,and mediating autophagy,and are closely related to the occurrence and development of periodontitis. OBJECTIVE:To review the research status of Sirtuins in periodontitis. METHODS:The first author used the computer to search the relevant research regarding the role of Sirtuins in periodontitis in PubMed,Web of Scene,CNKI and WanFang databases.The key words were"Sirtuins,Sirtuin1-7,periodontitis"in English and Chinese.After literature screening,57 articles were included for review and analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:SIRT1,SIRT2,SIRT3,and SIRT6 participate in regulating the occurrence and development of periodontitis.Inhibition of SIRT1 expression may be the target of periodontitis treatment,while overexpression of SIRT1 can inhibit periodontitis and protect periodontal tissue.The activator of SIRT1 can reduce the inflammation of periodontal tissue and improve the systemic pathological changes caused by periodontitis.SIRT2 is involved in nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase-mediated periodontal inflammation and plays a role in the treatment and prognosis of periodontal diseases.SIRT3 can improve age-related periodontal disease.Gastrodin promotes the osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells through the up-regulation of SIRT3.The activator of SIRT3 reduces the damage of periodontitis to periodontal and renal tissues by regulating the level of autophagy in the cells.SIRT6 can inhibit the inflammatory reaction of periodontal tissue and inhibit the differentiation and mineralization of cementoblasts.SIRT6 is beneficial to the prognosis of periapical periodontitis.The relationship between SIRT4,SIRT5,SIRT7 and periodontitis is rarely reported.
4.Tacrolimus Induces Pain by Upregulating the Synaptic Expression of AMPA Receptors in the Spinal Cord Dorsal Horn
Jiayu XU ; Jing LI ; Yuan LI ; Kangli WANG ; Xiangru ZENG ; Zhanwei SUO
Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences) 2024;55(1):132-138
Objective To investigate the effects of long-term administration of tacrolimus(also known as FK506)on the pain-related behaviors in mice and to study the underlying mechanism of pain induced by FK506 via measuring the effect of FK506 on the synaptic expression and phosphorylation of alpha-amino-3-hyroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid(AMPA)receptor in the spinal cord dorsal horn of mice.Methods 1)A total of 24 mice were evenly and randomly assigned to two groups,a FK506 group and a Saline group.The FK506 group was given daily intraperitoneal injection of FK506 and the Saline group received normal saline.Both groups received injection once a day for 7 days in a row.Some of the mice(n=6 in each group)were monitored for the changes in the paw withdrawal threshold(PWT),the paw withdrawal latency(PWL),and the spontaneous pain behaviors to establish the pain model.The other mice(n=6 in each group)of each group underwent isolation of the dorsal horn when obvious pain symptoms were induced on day 7 of injection.Then,immunoblotting was performed to determine the synaptic expression and phosphorylation levels of GluA1 and GluA2 subunits of AMPA receptors.2)The mice were randomly divided into two groups,FK506+calcineurin(CaN)group and FK506+Saline group(n=6 in each group).After the pain model was constructed,the mice were given intrathecal injection of recombinant CaN(also know as 33 U)or normal saline.Then,60 minutes later,the PWT and the PWL of the mice were measured to investigate the role of CaN in FK506-induced pain.3)Another18 mice were selected.The mice were randomly and evenly assigned to three groups,a control group(receiving intraperitoneal injection of normal saline followed by intrathecal injection of normal saline),FK506+Saline group(receiving intraperitoneal injection of FK506 followed by intrathecal injection of normal saline)and FK506+CaN group(receiving intraperitoneal injection of FK506 followed by intrathecal injection of CaN).Then,60 minutes later,the spinal cords were isolated and subjected to immunoblotting assay to determine the role of CaN in FK506-induced AMPA receptor modification.Results 1)After 7 consecutive days of intraperitoneal injection of FK506,the PWT and PWL of mice dropped significantly,reaching on day 7 as low as 22.3%±0.05%and 66.6%±0.05%of the control group,respectively(P<0.01).The FK506-treated mice displayed evident spontaneous pain behavior,presenting significantly increased licking activities(P<0.01).These results indicated that FK506-induced pain model was successfully established.Immunoblotting assay showed that the total expressions of GluA1 and GluA2 subunits in the spinal dorsal horn of the FK506 group remained unchanged in comparison with those of the Saline group.However,FK506 specifically induced an increase in the synaptic expression of GluA1.In addition,the phosphorylation levels of GluA1 at Ser845 and Ser831 in FK506-treated mice were significantly increased in comparison with those of the control group(P<0.05).2)Compared with those of the mice in the FK506+Saline group,the PWT and the PWL of mice in the FK506+CaN group were significantly increased(P<0.05).3)Compared with those of the FK506+Saline group,the synaptic expression of GluA1 were decreased in FK506+CaN group(P<0.01)and the phosphorylation levels of GluA1 at Ser845 and Ser831 were significantly downregulated(P<0.001).Conclusion The hyper-expression and hyperphosphorylation of GluA1 subunit in the spinal cord dorsal horn resulting from CaN inhibition contributes to the FK506-induced pain syndrome.FK506 induces the synaptic hyper-expression and hyperphosphorylation of GluA1 in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord through CaN inhibition,thereby inducing pain.
5.Exploring the effect of Tuina on the dendritic structure of spinal cord dorsal horn in rats with lumbar disc herniation based on NR2B/PSD-95 pathway
Huanzhen ZHANG ; Bingqian WANG ; Shuijin CHEN ; Lechun CHEN ; Jingjing JIANG ; Yu JIANG ; Jincheng CHEN ; Hongye HUANG ; Jiayu FANG ; Weiquan ZENG ; Zhigang LIN
Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science 2023;21(2):129-136
Objective: To investigate the analgesic mechanism of Tuina (Chinese therapeutic massage) by observing the effect of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit 2B (NR2B)/postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95) pathway on the dendritic structure of spinal cord dorsal horn in rats with lumbar disc herniation. Methods: Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, a Tuina group, a blocker agent group, and a blocker agent + Tuina group. The sciatic nerve chronic constriction injury (CCI) model was prepared by the sciatic nerve ligation method. From the 4th day after modeling, rats in the Tuina group and the blocker agent + Tuina group were subject to daily Tuina intervention, and those in the blocker agent group and the blocker agent + Tuina group were daily intrathecally injected with NR2B blocker agent (MK-801). The spontaneous pain score was used to observe the pain behavior of all rats. The expression levels of NR2B and downstream PSD-95 were measured by immunohistochemistry, and the dendritic structure changes were observed by Golgi staining for rat spinal cord dorsal horn after 14 d of continuous intervention. Results: Compared with the blank group, the degree of rat spontaneous pain after CCI was elevated in both the model and the Tuina groups (P<0.01) and was reduced in the Tuina group after the Tuina intervention compared with the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the rat spontaneous pain level after blocking NR2B was reduced in both the blocker agent group and the blocker agent + Tuina group (P<0.05). The NR2B and PSD-95 protein levels were significantly higher in the model group compared with the blank group (P<0.01); the total number of dendritic branches was increased (P<0.01), and the total dendritic length became longer (P<0.01) in the spinal cord dorsal horn. The rat NR2B and PSD-95 protein levels were significantly decreased in the Tuina group compared with the model group (P<0.01); the total dendritic branch number was reduced (P<0.01) and the total length was shortened (P<0.01) in the spinal cord dorsal horn. After blocking NR2B, the expression levels of NR2B and downstream PSD-95 protein were significantly lower in both the blocker agent group and the blocker agent + Tuina group compared to the model group (P<0.01). The total branch number was significantly reduced (P<0.01), and the total length was significantly shortened (P<0.01) of the dendrites in the spinal cord dorsal horn. Conclusion: Tuina may exert an analgesic effect by remodeling the dendritic structure in the spinal cord dorsal horn in rats with lumbar disc herniation, and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of NR2B/PSD-95 signaling pathway.
6.Application of Medical Record Quality Control System Based on Artificial Intelligence
Yu WEN ; Xiong LI ; Feifei ZENG ; Jiayu LEI ; Shaoyong CHEN
Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences) 2023;54(6):1263-1268
Objective In this study,we used artificial intelligence(AI)technology to explore for automated medical record quality control methods,standardize the process for medical record documentation,and deal with the drawbacks of manually implemented quality control.Methods In this study,we constructed a medical record quality control system based on AI.We first designed and built,for the system,a quality control rule base based on authoritative standards and expert opinions.Then,medical records data were automatically collected through a data acquisition engine and were converted into structured data through a post-structured engine.Finally,the medical record quality control engine was combined with the rule base to analyze the data,identify quality problems,and realize automated intelligent quality control.This system was applied to the quality control of medical records and five quality control points were selected,including similarities in the history of the present illness,defects in the description of chief complaints,incomplete initial diagnosis,missing in formation in the history of menstruation,marriage,and childbirth,and mismatch between the chief complaints and the history of the present illness.We randomly selected 2 918 medical records of patients discharged in January 2022 to conduct AI quality control.Then we organized medical record quality control experts to conduct an accuracy review,made a comparison with previous manual quality control records,and analyzed the results.The number of quality problems that were verified in the accuracy review was taken as the gold standard and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were drawn for the 5 quality control points.Results According to the accuracy review performed by medical record quality control experts,the accuracy of AI quality control reached 89.57%.For the sampled medical records,the results of AI quality control were compared with those of previous manually performed quality control and only one problem detected by manual quality control of the sampled medical records was not detected by the AI quality control system.The number of medical record quality problems correctly detected by AI quality control was about 2.97 times that of manual quality control.Analysis of the ROC curves showed that the AUC of the five quality control points of the AI quality control system were statistically significant(P<0.05)and all the AUC values approximated or exceeded 0.9.In contrast,results obtained through manually performed quality control found significant AUC(0.797)for only one quality control point—similarities in the history of present illness(P<0.05).Comparison of the AUC values of the two quality control methods showed that AI quality control system had an advantage over manually performed quality control for the five quality control points.Conclusion Through the application of medical record quality control system based on AI,efficient full quality control of medical record documentation can be achieved and the detection rate of quality problems can be effectively improved.In addition,the system helps save manpower and improve the quality of medical record documentation.
7.Effect of shRNA silencing of Sp1 on radiosensitivity of glioma cells
Qiqi WANG ; Jiayu ZENG ; Qiang LI ; Xiongxiong LIU
Chinese Journal of Radiation Oncology 2022;31(7):638-642
Objective:To evaluate the effect of down-regulation of Sp1 expression on the radiosensitivity of glioma cells.Methods:The oligonucleotide sequence encoding shRNA was designed and synthesized, and cloned into LV3 (H1/GFP & Puro) vector to construct the recombinant. U251 and U87 cells were infected with recombinant lentivirus, then the stably-transfected cell lines were obtained by puromycin screening. The expression levels of Sp1 mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. Cell survival was detected by clonal survival assay, cell cycle was determined by flow cytometry, and DNA damage was measured by immunofluorescence assay, respectively.Results:At 72 h after infection, high expression of Sp1 lentiviral vector was observed in two cell lines under fluorescence microscope. RT-PCR and Western blot confirmed that the expression levels of Sp1 mRNA and protein were significantly down-regulated in both transfected cells (both P<0.01) and the silencing rates of Sp1 were above 90%. The sensitization enhancement ratio (SER) of shRNA-U251 and shRNA-U87 cells at 10% cell survival level were 1.39 and 1.18, respectively. After irradiation, the G 2/M phase ratio and the number of γ-H2AX foci in two Sp1 knockout groups were significantly increased. Conclusion:shRNA silencing of Sp1 increases the G 2/M phase arrest induced by X-ray, aggravates the degree of DNA double-strand breaks, and improves the radiosensitivity of glioma cells.
8.Roles of m6A modification in neurological diseases.
Yuan ZHANG ; Si ZHANG ; Mengmeng SHI ; Menglin LI ; Jiayu ZENG ; Jie HE
Journal of Central South University(Medical Sciences) 2022;47(1):109-115
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation modification is one of the most common epigenetic modifications for eukaryotic mRNA. Under the catalytic regulation of relevant enzymes, m6A participates in the body's pathophysiological processes via mediating RNA transcription, splicing, translation, and decay. In the past, we mainly focused on the regulation of m6A in tumors such as hematological tumors, cervical cancer, breast cancer. In recent years, it has been found that m6A is enriched in mRNAs of neurogenesis, cell cycle, and neuron differentiation. Its regulation in the nervous system is gradually being recognized. When the level of m6A modification and the expression levels of relevant enzyme proteins are changed, it will cause neurological dysfunction and participate in the occurrence and conversion of neurological diseases. Recent studies have found that the m6A modification and its associated enzymes were involved in major depressive disorder, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Fragile X syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and traumatic brain injury, and they also play a key role in the development of neurological diseases and many other neurological diseases. This paper mainly reviewed the recent progress of m6A modification-related enzymes, focusing on the impact of m6A modification and related enzyme-mediated regulation of gene expression on the central nervous system diseases, so as to provide potential targets for the prevention of neurological diseases.
Adenosine/metabolism*
;
Depressive Disorder, Major
;
Epigenesis, Genetic
;
Humans
;
Methylation
;
RNA, Messenger/metabolism*
9.Study on the application of aptamers in the screening of tumor serum markers.
Journal of Biomedical Engineering 2018;35(2):320-323
The nucleic acid adapters of tumor serum markers are oligonucleotide molecules with high specificity and high affinity with tumor serum markers obtained by screening with systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). Researchers take the advantage of the nucleic acid adapter to explore new tumor serum markers that have more diagnostic value for tumor diagnosis. Recently, some achievements have been achieved in the research of liver cancer and stomach cancer. This paper has reviewed nucleic acid adapter and its research in the serum tumor marker screening, and discussed the value of the nucleic acid adapter of serum tumor markers in the diagnosis, as well as current problems existing in the research. This paper is very useful to help people better understand the screening of nucleic acid adapters of tumor serum markers, and to provide help in discovering new tumor serum markers.
10.Aptamers selection for tumor based on cell-SELEX and its application in tumor diagnosis and treatment
Jin WANG ; Jing WANG ; Shiqi LIAO ; Jiayu ZENG
Journal of International Oncology 2018;45(5):304-307
Aptamers have shown great potential in early diagnosis,treatment of tumor because of its high specificity and affinity.The aptamers selected by cell-SELEX can identify tumor cells through target molecular changes,and then realize the prevention and treatment of tumors.At present,researchers have successfully selected a number of aptamers by using cell-SELEX technology combined with flow cytometry.To make up for the deficiencies and exert the advantages of aptamers can make aptamer technology really apply to clinical diagnosis and treatment.

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