1.Intervention of Breast Cancer by Regulating Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway with Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Review
Lu LING ; Jingyu XU ; Junfei ZHAO ; Songjiang LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(8):320-330
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, and its incidence rate is also rising in China and tends to happen in younger age groups. The classical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is an important target in the treatment of breast cancer, playing a key role in the whole process of breast cancer development by regulating the expression of related signal proteins and genes. Traditional Chinese medicine has a profound history and practical experience in the treatment of malignant tumors, and the development of modern technology further highlights the therapeutic advantages of traditional Chinese medicine, which has multiple targets and components. Research shows that Chinese medicine can effectively slow down the proliferation of breast cancer cells by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and has a significant inhibitory effect on the development of breast cancer. Based on this, this paper summarized domestic and foreign relevant studies on the regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway with traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of breast cancer, analyzed the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine treating breast cancer by intervening in this signaling pathway, and summarized 44 different types of traditional Chinese medicine monomers, including terpenes (triptolide, andrographolide, etc.), flavonoids (scutellarin, sinensetin, etc.), polysaccharides (Angelica sinensis polysaccharides, etc.), phenols (curcumin, polydatin, etc.), and alkaloids (lycorine, etc.). In addition, there are 3 traditional Chinese medicines (Ganoderma lucidum, Radix actinidia chinensis, and Antrodia camphorata), 1 group of medicine pairs (Trionycis Carapax-Zedoary Turmeric), and 8 traditional Chinese medicine formulas (Compound Tubeimu, Huangqi Jiedu Tang, Xihuang Wan, Liuwei Dihuang Wan, Jiazhu Tang, Aiduqing Fang, Sini San, and compound Kushen injection). By regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and its key molecules, these single herbs, monomers, and compound herbs can reverse the epithelial mesenchymal transformation process, reduce the activity of stem cells, and inhibit the growth and metastasis of cancer cells. Besides, it can also enhance the sensitivity of drugs and radiotherapy and combat breast cancer, providing a new perspective for drug development and treatment strategies for breast cancer.
2.TCM Intervention in Prostate Cancer via Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway: A Review
Lu LING ; Jingyu XU ; Junfei ZHAO ; Songjiang LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(12):304-312
Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor that primarily arises from the epithelial tissue of the prostate in men. With the aggravation of population aging in China, the incidence rate of this disease has been continuously rising. Although the exact cause of prostate cancer remains unclear, it has been proven to be closely related to various factors, including individual genetic susceptibility, genetic mutations, dietary habits, and lifestyle. Research has shown that abnormal activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway also plays an important role in the occurrence and development of prostate cancer. Multiple experimental results have revealed that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), with its multi-target and multi-stage mechanisms of action, exerts significant regulatory effects on key biological processes such as proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of prostate cancer cells. TCM has shown excellent potential in preventing prostate cancer progression and improving patient prognosis and has become a research focus in prostate cancer treatment in recent years. Based on this, this study reviewed the research on the regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by TCM in the treatment of prostate cancer at home and abroad. It analyzed the mechanisms by which TCM intervention exerts anti-prostate cancer effects via this signaling pathway, identifying 29 different types of active ingredients in TCM, including alkaloids (e.g., capsaicin, berberine), flavonoids (e.g., icariin and hyperoside), polyphenols (e.g., gastrodin and honokiol), terpenes (e.g., oridonin), quinones (e.g., aloe-emodin), coumarins (e.g., agrimonolide), and saponins (e.g., saikosaponin-d). Additionally, one TCM medicinal substance (arsenic), one drug pair (Danggui - Qieyi combination), and two TCM formulae (Yishen Tonglong Tang and Guben Qingyuan Formula) were included. The study aims to deepen the understanding of the pathological mechanism of prostate cancer and to explore possible therapeutic targets, thereby providing new perspectives and approaches for clinical research and new drug development, and ultimately promoting the advancement and innovation of prostate cancer treatment strategies.
3.TCM Intervention in Prostate Cancer via Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway: A Review
Lu LING ; Jingyu XU ; Junfei ZHAO ; Songjiang LIU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(12):304-312
Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor that primarily arises from the epithelial tissue of the prostate in men. With the aggravation of population aging in China, the incidence rate of this disease has been continuously rising. Although the exact cause of prostate cancer remains unclear, it has been proven to be closely related to various factors, including individual genetic susceptibility, genetic mutations, dietary habits, and lifestyle. Research has shown that abnormal activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway also plays an important role in the occurrence and development of prostate cancer. Multiple experimental results have revealed that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), with its multi-target and multi-stage mechanisms of action, exerts significant regulatory effects on key biological processes such as proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of prostate cancer cells. TCM has shown excellent potential in preventing prostate cancer progression and improving patient prognosis and has become a research focus in prostate cancer treatment in recent years. Based on this, this study reviewed the research on the regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by TCM in the treatment of prostate cancer at home and abroad. It analyzed the mechanisms by which TCM intervention exerts anti-prostate cancer effects via this signaling pathway, identifying 29 different types of active ingredients in TCM, including alkaloids (e.g., capsaicin, berberine), flavonoids (e.g., icariin and hyperoside), polyphenols (e.g., gastrodin and honokiol), terpenes (e.g., oridonin), quinones (e.g., aloe-emodin), coumarins (e.g., agrimonolide), and saponins (e.g., saikosaponin-d). Additionally, one TCM medicinal substance (arsenic), one drug pair (Danggui - Qieyi combination), and two TCM formulae (Yishen Tonglong Tang and Guben Qingyuan Formula) were included. The study aims to deepen the understanding of the pathological mechanism of prostate cancer and to explore possible therapeutic targets, thereby providing new perspectives and approaches for clinical research and new drug development, and ultimately promoting the advancement and innovation of prostate cancer treatment strategies.
4.Recommendations for Standardized Reporting of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis of Animal Experiments
Qingyong ZHENG ; Donghua YANG ; Zhichao MA ; Ziyu ZHOU ; Yang LU ; Jingyu WANG ; Lina XING ; Yingying KANG ; Li DU ; Chunxiang ZHAO ; Baoshan DI ; Jinhui TIAN
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2025;45(4):496-507
Animal experiments are an essential component of life sciences and medical research. However, the external validity and reliability of individual animal studies are frequently challenged by inherent limitations such as small sample sizes, high design heterogeneity, and poor reproducibility, which impede the effective translation of research findings into clinical practice. Systematic reviews and meta-analysis represent a key methodology for integrating existing evidence and enhancing the robustness of conclusions. Currently, however, the application of systematic reviews and meta-analysis in the field of animal experiments lacks standardized guidelines for their conduct and reporting, resulting in inconsistent quality and, to some extent, diminishing their evidence value. To address this issue, this paper aims to systematically delineate the reporting process for systematic reviews and meta-analysis of animal experiments and to propose a set of standardized recommendations that are both scientific and practical. The article's scope encompasses the entire process, from the preliminary preparatory phase [including formulating the population, intervention, comparison and outcome (PICO) question, assessing feasibility, and protocol pre-registration] to the key writing points for each section of the main report. In the core methods section, the paper elaborates on how to implement literature searches, establish eligibility criteria, perform data extraction, and assess the risk of bias, based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement, in conjunction with relevant guidelines and tools such as Animal Research: Reporting of in Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) and a risk of bias assessment tool developed by the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation (SYRCLE). For the presentation of results, strategies are proposed for clear and transparent display using flow diagrams and tables of characteristics. The discussion section places particular emphasis on how to scientifically interpret pooled effects, thoroughly analyze sources of heterogeneity, evaluate the impact of publication bias, and cautiously discuss the validity and limitations of extrapolating findings from animal studies to clinical settings. Furthermore, this paper recommends adopting the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology to comprehensively grade the quality of evidence. Through a modular analysis of the entire reporting process, this paper aims to provide researchers in the field with a clear and practical guide, thereby promoting the standardized development of systematic reviews and meta-analysis of animal experiments and enhancing their application value in scientific decision-making and translational medicine.
5.Targeted therapies and immunotherapies for unresectable cholangiocarcinoma.
Shengbai XUE ; Weihua JIANG ; Jingyu MA ; Haiyan XU ; Yanling WANG ; Wenxin LU ; Daiyuan SHENTU ; Jiujie CUI ; Maolan LI ; Liwei WANG
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(16):1904-1926
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a fatal malignancy with steadily increasing incidence and poor prognosis. Since most CCA cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, systemic therapies, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, play a crucial role in the management of unresectable CCA. The recent advances in targeted therapies and immunotherapies brought more options in the clinical management of unresectable CCA. This review depicts the advances of targeted therapies and immunotherapies for unresectable CCA, summarizes crucial clinical trials, and describes the efficacy and safety of different drugs, which may help further develop precision and individualization in the clinical treatment of unresectable CCA.
Humans
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Cholangiocarcinoma/drug therapy*
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Immunotherapy/methods*
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Bile Duct Neoplasms/drug therapy*
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Molecular Targeted Therapy/methods*
6.Discovery of a potential hematologic malignancies therapy: Selective and potent HDAC7 PROTAC degrader targeting non-enzymatic function.
Yuheng JIN ; Xuxin QI ; Xiaoli YU ; Xirui CHENG ; Boya CHEN ; Mingfei WU ; Jingyu ZHANG ; Hao YIN ; Yang LU ; Yihui ZHOU ; Ao PANG ; Yushen LIN ; Li JIANG ; Qiuqiu SHI ; Shuangshuang GENG ; Yubo ZHOU ; Xiaojun YAO ; Linjie LI ; Haiting DUAN ; Jinxin CHE ; Ji CAO ; Qiaojun HE ; Xiaowu DONG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(3):1659-1679
HDAC7, a member of class IIa HDACs, plays a pivotal regulatory role in tumor, immune, fibrosis, and angiogenesis, rendering it a potential therapeutic target. Nevertheless, due to the high similarity in the enzyme active sites of class IIa HDACs, inhibitors encounter challenges in discerning differences among them. Furthermore, the substitution of key residue in the active pocket of class IIa HDACs renders them pseudo-enzymes, leading to a limited impact of enzymatic inhibitors on their function. In this study, proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology was employed to develop HDAC7 drugs. We developed an exceedingly selective HDAC7 PROTAC degrader B14 which showcased superior inhibitory effects on cell proliferation compared to TMP269 in various diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. Subsequent investigations unveiled that B14 disrupts BCL6 forming a transcriptional inhibition complex by degrading HDAC7, thereby exerting proliferative inhibition in DLBCL. Our study broadened the understanding of the non-enzymatic functions of HDAC7 and underscored the importance of HDAC7 in the treatment of hematologic malignancies, particularly in DLBCL and AML.
7.Compound Centella asiatica formula alleviates Schistosoma japonicum-induced liver fibrosis in mice by inhibiting the inflammation-fibrosis cascade via regulating the TLR4/MyD88 pathway.
Liping GUAN ; Yan YAN ; Xinyi LU ; Zhifeng LI ; Hui GAO ; Dong CAO ; Chenxi HOU ; Jingyu ZENG ; Xinyi LI ; Yang ZHAO ; Junjie WANG ; Huilong FANG
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(6):1307-1316
OBJECTIVES:
To explore the therapeutic mechanism of compound Centella asiatica formula (CCA) for alleviating Schistosoma japonicum (Sj)-induced liver fibrosis in mice.
METHODS:
The active components and targets of CCA were identified using the TCMSP database with cross-analysis of Sj-related liver fibrosis targets. A "drug-component-target-pathway-disease" network was constructed using Cytoscape 3.9.1. Functional enrichment analysis (GO/KEGG) was performed using DAVID. Molecular docking study was carried out to validate interactions between the core targets and the key compounds. For experimental validation of the results, 36 mice were divided into control group, Sj-infected model group, and CCA-treated groups. In the latter two groups, liver fibrosis was induced via abdominal infection with Sj cercariae for 8 weeks, followed by 8 weeks of daily treatment with CCA decoction or saline. Hepatic pathology of the mice was assessedwith HE and Masson staining, and hepatic expressions of collagen-I and collagen-III were detected using immunohistochemistry; serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels were determined with ELISA. Hepatic expressions of TLR4 and MyD88 proteins were analyzed with Western blotting.
RESULTS:
We identified a total of 107 bioactive CCA components and 791 targets, including 37 intersection targets linked to Sj-induced fibrosis. The core targets included TNF, TP53, JUN, MMP9, and CXCL8, involving the IL-17 signaling, lipid metabolism, TLR4/MyD88 axis, and cancer pathways. Molecular docking study confirmed strong binding affinity between quercetin (a primary CCA component) and TNF/TP53/JUN/MMP9. In Sj-infected mouse models, CCA treatment significantly attenuated hepatic inflammatory cell infiltration, reduced collagen-I and collagen-III deposition, improved tissue architecture, reduced serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels, and downregulated TLR4 and MyD88 expressions in the liver.
CONCLUSIONS
CCA mitigates Sj-induced liver fibrosis by targeting TNF, TP53, JUN, and MMP9 to modulate the TLR4/MyD88 pathway, thereby suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokine release, inhibiting hepatic stellate cell activation, reducing collagen deposition, and preventing granuloma formation in the liver.
Animals
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Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism*
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Mice
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Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88/metabolism*
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Schistosoma japonicum
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Liver Cirrhosis/parasitology*
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Schistosomiasis japonica
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Signal Transduction
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Molecular Docking Simulation
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Inflammation
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Centella/chemistry*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*
8.N-terminal domain of Rep encoded by beet severe curly top virus mediates suppression of RNA silencing and induces VIM5 expression.
Jingyu XU ; Jianxin LU ; Zhenyu YU ; Meijie HU ; Chengkai GUO ; Zhongqi QIU ; Zhongqi CHEN
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(10):3956-3968
Geminiviruses cause substantial crop yield losses worldwide. The replication initiator protein (Rep) encoded by geminiviruses is indispensable for geminiviral replication. The Rep protein encoded by beet severe curly top virus (BSCTV, genus Curtovirus, family Geminiviridae) induces VARIANT IN METHYLATION 5 (VIM5) expression in Arabidopsis leaves upon BSCTV infection. VIM5 functions as a ubiquitination-related E3 ligase to promote the proteasomal degradation of methyltransferases, resulting in reduction of methylation levels in the BSCTV C2-3 promoter. However, the specific domains of Rep responsible for VIM5 induction remain poorly characterized. Although Rep proteins from several geminiviruses act as viral suppressors of RNA silencing (VSRs), whether BSCTV Rep also possesses VSR activity remains to be illustrated. In this study, we employed a transient expression system in the 16c-GFP transgenic and the wild-type Nicotiana benthamiana plants to analyze the VSR and the VIM5-inducing activities of different truncated Rep proteins haboring distinct domains. We found that the N-terminal domain (amino acids 1-180) of Rep suppressed GFP silencing in 16c-GFP transgenic N. benthamiana leaves. The minimal N-terminal fragment (amino acids 1-104) induced VIM5 expression upon co-infiltration, while C-terminal truncations lacked VIM5-inducing activity. Our results indicate that the N-terminal domain of Rep encoded by BSCTV mediates the suppression of RNA silencing and induces VIM5 expression. Thus, our findings contribute to a better understanding of interactions between geminiviral Rep and plant hosts.
Geminiviridae/genetics*
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Nicotiana/metabolism*
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Arabidopsis/metabolism*
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RNA Interference
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Viral Proteins/metabolism*
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Arabidopsis Proteins/metabolism*
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Plants, Genetically Modified/metabolism*
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Protein Domains
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Plant Diseases/virology*
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Methyltransferases/metabolism*
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Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/metabolism*
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DNA Helicases/genetics*
9.Analysis of the Role of Pepsin in Vocal Cord Polyp and Vocal Cord Cancer
Jingyu GAO ; Renjing LUO ; Biao RUAN ; Chaowu JIANG ; Zhuohui LIU ; Ruiqing LONG ; Qiulin LIANG ; Ce ZHANG ; Lu SU ; Peng LI
Journal of Audiology and Speech Pathology 2024;32(1):21-24
Objective To investigate the expression of pepsin in vocal cord polyps and vocal cord cancer,and to compare the difference of pepsin expression.Methods From May 2020 to December 2021,27 patients with vocal cord polyp,27 patients with vocal cord cancer and 23 healthy volunteers were selected.RSI and RFS scoring scales were used for scoring,pepsin detection kit was used for saliva pepsin detection,and immunohistochemical methods were used to detect the expression of pepsin in vocal cord tissues of patients with vocal cord polyps and vocal cord cancer.Results The RSI score,RFS score and pepsin test kit results of vocal cord polyp group and vocal cord canc-er group were higher than those of non-vocal cord disease group,and the differences of the three indexes were statis-tically significant(P<0.05).RSI score,pepsin detection kit results and pepsin immunohistochemistry results of vocal cord polyp group showed no significant difference compared with vocal cord cancer group(P>0.05).The RFS score of vocal cord polyp group was significantly different from that of vocal cord cancer group(P<0.05).Conclusion Pepsin may be an important pathogenic factor of vocal cord polyp and vocal cord cancer,and play an im-portant role in the occurrence of these two diseases.The difference of pepsin expression in vocal cord polyp and vo-cal cord cancer suggests that pepsin may have different pathogenesis.
10.Dynamic Changes of Volatile Components During Processing Process of Jianchangbang Characteristic Ginger Processed Xingpo Pieces Based on HS-GC-MS
Yuxun CHEN ; Wanai XU ; Jingyu WU ; Meiqi LU ; Lingbang MENG ; Cheng XU ; Hailian ZHENG ; Xian ZHANG ; Na ZHANG ; Qianfeng GONG ; Huan YU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(20):127-134
ObjectiveTo reveal the influence of Jianchangbang characteristic processing method on the change process of volatile components and the processing mechanism of reducing toxicity and increasing efficiency of Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex(MOC) by studying the changes in the composition and content of volatile components during the processing of ginger processed Xingpo pieces. MethodSamples of raw products, ginger juice moisturized products and stir-fried and heap moisturized products of MOC were taken according to the set time points, and headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(HS-GC-MS) was used to determine the contents of volatile components in the samples, and the relative content of each component was obtained by peak area normalization. Principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) were performed on the sample data using SIMCA 14.1 software, and the differential components during the processing were screened with variable importance in the projection(VIP) value>1 as the indicator. ResultA total of 68 volatile components were identified in the samples, among which some of the chemical components with similar structures showed similar trends of changes, and there was also the phenomenon of interconversion between compounds. Compared with the raw products, the contents of 42 components in ginger juice moisturized products increased, while the contents of 25 components decreased, 19 components were unique, and 4 components were unique to the raw products. Compared with ginger juice moisturized products, MOC in the early stage of piling had three unique components, and the contents of 11 components such as cyclosativene and (+)-α-pinene increased, and the contents of 5 components such as tricyclic terpene and α-curcumene decreased, and ginger juice moisturized products had four unique components. Compared with the early stage of piling, in the later stage, the contents of 8 components such as (+)-α-pinene and camphene significantly increased, while the contents of 6 components such as linalool and α-selinene significantly decreased. During the processing of MOC, there were significant changes in the chemical composition of the samples before and after 20 days. The differences between ginger juice moistening and the early stage of piling, the early stage and the later stage of piling could be clearly distinguished. ConclusionDuring the preparation process of ginger processed Xingpo pieces, the addition of ginger juice can reduce the contents of stimulating components, and the contents of active components continue to increase in several stages, such as the addition of ginger juice, frying and heap moisturizing, the quality of the decoction pieces may change significantly at about 20 d of processing. This study can provide a research basis for exploring the processing mechanism of ginger processed Xingpo pieces.

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