Objective:To investigate protective effect and mechanism of Tim-3 on sepsis-induced acute lung injury(ALI)by pro-moting mitophagy of alveolar macrophages and inhibiting activation of NLRP3 inflammasome.Methods:LPS-stimulated mouse alveo-lar macrophage(MH-S)model and sepsis-induced ALI mouse model were constructed.Tim-3 siRNA interference technique was used to knock down Tim-3 expression in MH-S cells,and anti-Tim-3 antibody mice were injected intraperitoneally to block Tim-3 function.Western blot was used to detect protein expressions of NLRP3,ASC,cleaved-caspase-1 and mitophagy-related proteins(LC3B,P62,PINK1 and Parkin)in MH-S cells and lung tissue of mice with sepsis-induced ALI.Laser confocal fluorescence staining was used to measure ROS level and mitochondrial membrane potential of MH-S cells.Pathological examination of lung tissue was performed in mice with sepsis-induced ALI in each group,and degree of lung tissue injury was evaluated by Smith scoring system.Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)and lung tissue were collected from mice with ALI induced by sepsis in each group.BCA protein quantification method was used to determine protein concentration in BALF.MPO activity in lung tissue was detected by colorimetry.MDA content in lung tissue was detected by TBA method.LC3B protein expression in lung tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results:In mouse alveolar macrophages,Tim-3 knockdown could promote expressions of NLRP3,ASC,cleaved-caspase-1 and P62 proteins,increase ROS release,inhibit PINK1/Parkin pathway activation and LC3B protein expression,and reduce mitochondrial membrane potential.In mice with sepsis-induced ALI,Tim-3 functional blockade could promote expressions of NLRP3,ASC,cleaved-caspase-1 and P62 proteins in lung tissue,aggravate lung pathological injury and pulmonary edema,increase MPO activity and MDA content in lung tissue,and reduce positive rate of LC3B protein.Conclusion:Tim-3 plays a protective role in sepsis-induced ALI by promoting mitophagy in alveolar macrophages and inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation via PINK1/Parkin.

Objective:To investigate protective effect and mechanism of Tim-3 on sepsis-induced acute lung injury(ALI)by pro-moting mitophagy of alveolar macrophages and inhibiting activation of NLRP3 inflammasome.Methods:LPS-stimulated mouse alveo-lar macrophage(MH-S)model and sepsis-induced ALI mouse model were constructed.Tim-3 siRNA interference technique was used to knock down Tim-3 expression in MH-S cells,and anti-Tim-3 antibody mice were injected intraperitoneally to block Tim-3 function.Western blot was used to detect protein expressions of NLRP3,ASC,cleaved-caspase-1 and mitophagy-related proteins(LC3B,P62,PINK1 and Parkin)in MH-S cells and lung tissue of mice with sepsis-induced ALI.Laser confocal fluorescence staining was used to measure ROS level and mitochondrial membrane potential of MH-S cells.Pathological examination of lung tissue was performed in mice with sepsis-induced ALI in each group,and degree of lung tissue injury was evaluated by Smith scoring system.Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)and lung tissue were collected from mice with ALI induced by sepsis in each group.BCA protein quantification method was used to determine protein concentration in BALF.MPO activity in lung tissue was detected by colorimetry.MDA content in lung tissue was detected by TBA method.LC3B protein expression in lung tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results:In mouse alveolar macrophages,Tim-3 knockdown could promote expressions of NLRP3,ASC,cleaved-caspase-1 and P62 proteins,increase ROS release,inhibit PINK1/Parkin pathway activation and LC3B protein expression,and reduce mitochondrial membrane potential.In mice with sepsis-induced ALI,Tim-3 functional blockade could promote expressions of NLRP3,ASC,cleaved-caspase-1 and P62 proteins in lung tissue,aggravate lung pathological injury and pulmonary edema,increase MPO activity and MDA content in lung tissue,and reduce positive rate of LC3B protein.Conclusion:Tim-3 plays a protective role in sepsis-induced ALI by promoting mitophagy in alveolar macrophages and inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation via PINK1/Parkin.

To investigate the effects of Biyan Jiedu Capsules on the proliferation and apoptosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells and their molecular mechanism, nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells CNE1 and CNE2 were used. They were divided into control group(30% blank serum medium), low-(10% drug-containing serum + 20% blank serum medium), medium-(20% drug-containing serum + 10% blank serum medium), and high-(30% drug-containing serum medium) concentration group of Biyan Jiedu Capsules according to in vitro experiment. After 24 h of intervention, the effects of Biyan Jiedu Capsules on the proliferation of CNE1 and CNE2 were detected by CCK-8 assay, clonal formation experiment, and EdU staining. The effect of Biyan Jiedu Capsules on apoptosis of CNE1 and CNE2 was detected by flow cytometry. Western blot was used to detect the effect of Biyan Jiedu Capsules on the expression of X-linked apoptosis inhibitor protein(XIAP), survivin, proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA), and PI3K/Akt pathway-related proteins in CNE1 and CNE2. The results showed that compared with the control group, the survival rate of CNE1 and CNE2 in the medium and high concentration groups of Biyan Jiedu Capsules could be decreased in a concentration-dependent way(P<0.05, P<0.01). At the same time, EdU staining and clonal formation experiments showed that the proliferation of CNE1 and CNE2 was significantly inhibited in the medium and high concentration groups of Biyan Jiedu Capsules(P<0.05, P<0.01). Flow cytometry showed that the apoptosis rate of CNE1 and CNE2 was significantly increased in all concentration groups of Biyan Jiedu Capsules(P<0.01), and the apoptosis rate was concentration-dependent. Western blot showed that the expressions of XIAP, survivin, PCNA, p-PI3K, and p-Akt in all concentration groups of Biyan Jiedu Capsules were significantly down-regulated(P<0.05, P<0.01). In conclusion, Biyan Jiedu Capsules can inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells possibly by down-regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
Humans ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/physiopathology* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Capsules ; Carcinoma/drug therapy*

This study aims to explore the mechanism of Jiaotai Pills in treating depression based on metabolomics and network pharmacology. The chemical constituents of Jiaotai Pills were identified by UHPLC-Orbitrap Exploris 480, and the targets of Jiaotai Pills and depression were retrieved from online databases. STRING and Cytoscape 3.7.2 were used to construct the protein-protein interaction network of core targets of Jiaotai Pills in treating depression and the "compound-target-pathway" network. DAVID was used for Gene Ontology(GO) function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses of the core targets. The mouse model of depression was established with chronic unpredictable mild stress(CUMS) and treated with different doses of Jiaotai Pills. The behavioral changes and pathological changes in the hippocampus were observed. UHPLC-Orbitrap Exploris 120 was used for metabolic profiling of the serum, from which the differential metabolites and related metabolic pathways were screened. A "metabolite-reaction-enzyme-gene" network was constructed for the integrated analysis of metabolomics and network pharmacology. A total of 34 chemical components of Jiaotai Pills were identified, and 143 core targets of Jiaotai Pills in treating depression were predicted, which were mainly involved in the arginine and proline, sphingolipid, and neurotrophin metabolism signaling pathways. The results of animal experiments showed that Jiaotai Pills alleviated the depression behaviors and pathological changes in the hippocampus of the mouse model of CUMS-induced depression. In addition, Jiaotai Pills reversed the levels of 32 metabolites involved in various pathways such as arginine and proline metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, and porphyrin metabolism in the serum of model mice. The integrated analysis showed that arginine and proline metabolism, cysteine and methionine metabolism, and porphyrin metabolism might be the key pathways in the treatment of depression with Jiaotai Pills. In conclusion, metabolomics combined with network pharmacology clarifies the antidepressant mechanism of Jiaotai Pills, which may provide a basis for the clinical application of Jiaotai Pills in treating depression.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Depression/genetics* ; Mice ; Network Pharmacology ; Metabolomics ; Male ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Protein Interaction Maps/drug effects* ; Antidepressive Agents

Based on the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor(α7nAChR), this study examined how tetrahydropalmatine(THP) affected BV2 microglia exposed to lipopolysaccharide(LPS), aiming to clarify the possible mechanism underlying the anti-depression effect of THP from the perspectives of preventing inflammation and regulating polarization. First, after molecular docking and determination of the content of Corydalis saxicola Bunting total alkaloids, THP was initially identified as a possible anti-depression component. The BV2 microglia model of inflammation was established with LPS. BV2 microglia were allocated into a normal group, a model group, low-and high-dose(20 and 40 μmol·L~(-1), respectively) THP groups, and a THP(20 μmol·L~(-1))+α7nAChR-specific antagonist MLA(1 μmol·L~(-1)) group. The CCK-8 assay was used to screen the safe concentration of THP. A light microscope was used to examine the morphology of the cells. Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to determine the expression of α7nAChR. qRT-PCR was performed to determine the mRNA levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS), cluster of differentiation 86(CD86), suppressor of cytokine signaling 3(SOCS3), arginase-1(Arg-1), cluster of differentiation 206(CD206), tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α, interleukin(IL)-6, and IL-1β. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was employed to measure the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in the cell supernatant. The experimental results showed that THP at concentrations of 40 μmol·L~(-1) and below had no effect on BV2 microglia. THP improved the morphology of BV2 microglia, significantly up-regulated the protein level of α7nAChR, significantly down-regulated the mRNA levels of iNOS, CD86, SOCS3, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, significantly up-regulated the mRNA levels of Arg-1 and CD206, and dramatically lowered the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in the cell supernatant. However, the antagonist MLA abolished the above-mentioned ameliorative effects of THP on LPS-treated BV2 microglia. As demonstrated by the aforementioned findings, THP protected LPS-treated BV2 microglia by regulating the M1/M2 polarization and preventing inflammation, which might be connected to the regulation of α7nAChR on BV2 microglia.
Berberine Alkaloids/chemistry* ; alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor/chemistry* ; Microglia/metabolism* ; Mice ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Corydalis/chemistry* ; Humans ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Inflammation/drug therapy* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/immunology* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/immunology*

The objective of this study was to evaluate the toxicity and safety of novel Mycobacterium tuberculosis fusion strain protein derivatives,referred to as B/R strain active proteins.In cellular experiments,RAW264.7 cells were treated with each vaccine preparation,and apoptosis rates were measured.In subsequent animal experiments,C57BL/6 mice were immunized via subcutaneous injection,and their survival and body weight changes were monitored and recorded at 2,4,8,12,and 16 weeks.The lungs and spleens were harvested to calculate organ coefficients,and pathological examinations were conducted.At the eighth week of immunization,the mice were infected with high concentrations of BCG,and pathological changes in the lungs and spleens were observed 4 weeks post-infection.The apoptosis rate at 6 hours was significantly higher in the experimental group than the PBS group(P<0.05).At 12 and 24 hours,the apoptosis rate in the experimental group remained higher than that in the PBS group,although this difference was not statistically significant.After immunization,mice in all four groups exhibited normal growth patterns,as indicated by stable body weight changes.At 4 and 12 weeks post-immunization,the lung coefficients in the protein group were significantly higher than those in the PBS group at the same time points.Additionally,the lung coefficients in the BCG group were significantly elevated across all time periods(P<0.05).The spleen coefficients in the protein and BCG groups were significantly higher than those in the PBS group at 2,4,8,12,and 16 weeks,whereas the ICD B/R group showed higher spleen coefficients than the PBS group only at week 8(P<0.05).Pathological examination revealed normal lung and spleen tissues in the PBS group.However,during the 2-8 weeks immunization period,lung and spleen tissues in all experimental groups exhibited varying degrees of damage,which gradually diminished by 12-16 weeks.Notably,no tuberculosis nodules were observed in any experimental group.After infection with high concentrations of BCG,no overt pathological changes were observed on the surfaces of the lungs and spleens in any group.Microscopic examination revealed less severe pathological changes in the lungs and spleens of mice in the experimental groups than the PBS group.Furthermore,no statistically significant differences were observed between the protein group and the BCG group.Our findings suggested that the B/R strain active proteins'toxicity and safety profiles were comparable to those of BCG,and showed immunoprotective effects.This study provides an experimental foundation for the development of a novel tuberculosis vaccine.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the toxicity and safety of novel Mycobacterium tuberculosis fusion strain protein derivatives,referred to as B/R strain active proteins.In cellular experiments,RAW264.7 cells were treated with each vaccine preparation,and apoptosis rates were measured.In subsequent animal experiments,C57BL/6 mice were immunized via subcutaneous injection,and their survival and body weight changes were monitored and recorded at 2,4,8,12,and 16 weeks.The lungs and spleens were harvested to calculate organ coefficients,and pathological examinations were conducted.At the eighth week of immunization,the mice were infected with high concentrations of BCG,and pathological changes in the lungs and spleens were observed 4 weeks post-infection.The apoptosis rate at 6 hours was significantly higher in the experimental group than the PBS group(P<0.05).At 12 and 24 hours,the apoptosis rate in the experimental group remained higher than that in the PBS group,although this difference was not statistically significant.After immunization,mice in all four groups exhibited normal growth patterns,as indicated by stable body weight changes.At 4 and 12 weeks post-immunization,the lung coefficients in the protein group were significantly higher than those in the PBS group at the same time points.Additionally,the lung coefficients in the BCG group were significantly elevated across all time periods(P<0.05).The spleen coefficients in the protein and BCG groups were significantly higher than those in the PBS group at 2,4,8,12,and 16 weeks,whereas the ICD B/R group showed higher spleen coefficients than the PBS group only at week 8(P<0.05).Pathological examination revealed normal lung and spleen tissues in the PBS group.However,during the 2-8 weeks immunization period,lung and spleen tissues in all experimental groups exhibited varying degrees of damage,which gradually diminished by 12-16 weeks.Notably,no tuberculosis nodules were observed in any experimental group.After infection with high concentrations of BCG,no overt pathological changes were observed on the surfaces of the lungs and spleens in any group.Microscopic examination revealed less severe pathological changes in the lungs and spleens of mice in the experimental groups than the PBS group.Furthermore,no statistically significant differences were observed between the protein group and the BCG group.Our findings suggested that the B/R strain active proteins'toxicity and safety profiles were comparable to those of BCG,and showed immunoprotective effects.This study provides an experimental foundation for the development of a novel tuberculosis vaccine.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C),ratio of triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C), and triglyceride glucose index (TyG) on metabolic syndrome (MS) in adult women.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 24 410 adult women who received health examination in health management center of the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University were selected from January 2019 to December 2021 as subjects. The subjects′ basic information, physical examination results, and laboratory examination data were collected retrospectively. The relationship between non-HDL-C, TG/HDL-C, TyG, and MS in adult women were examined using multivariate logistic regression analysis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed and the area under the curve (AUC) were calculated to evaluate the diagnostic value of each indicator for MS in adult women.Results:Among 24 410 adult females, 800 (3.3%) were found to have MS. After adjusting for age, body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, blood uric acid, history of hypertension, history of diabetes, fatty liver, non HDL-C ( OR=1.608), TG/HDL-C ( OR=1.311), TyG ( OR=13.288) were all risk factors for MS in adult women. non-HDL-C, TG/HDL-C, and TyG, as well as their combined AUC of ROC, were 0.795 (95% CI: 0.742-0.776), 0.909 (95% CI: 0.902-0.917), 0.942 (95% CI: 0.937-0.948), and 0.944 (95% CI: 0.937-0.950), respectively. TyG had the highest diagnostic value for MS in adult women among the three indicators, the optimal cutoff value for TyG was 8.237, with a sensitivity of 93.5% and a specificity of 85.5%. Conclusion:non-HDL-C, TG/HDL-C, TyG, as well as their combination, all demonstrate good diagnostic value for MS in adult women.

Primary liver cancer(PLC)is a common malignant tumor in China.It ranks second in the cause of tumor mortality and it is a serious threat to the lives and health of people.Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)is the preferred treatment for patients with HCC who cannot be surgically cured,which is of great significance for prolonging the patient's life.However,the incidence of nausea and vomiting after TACE is very high,which is an important reason for the decline of patient treatment compliance,which seriously affects the quality of life and the effect of interventional therapy.This paper reviews the domestic and abroad literature concerning the nausea and vomiting in patients after TACE,focusing on the clinical features of nausea and vomiting,the risk factors and the assessment tools,so as to provide a scientific basis for clinical early identification and effective intervention of nausea and vomiting after TACE.(J Intervent Radiol,2024,33:565-570)

The pharmaceutical manufacturing model is gradually changing from intermittent manufacturing to continuous manufacturing and intelligent manufacturing. This paper briefly reviewed the supervision and research progress in continuous pharmaceutical manufacturing in China and abroad and described the definition and advantages of continuous pharmaceutical manufacturing. The continuous manufacturing of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) at the current stage was summarized in the following three terms: the enhancement of the continuity of intermittent manufacturing operations, the integration of continuous equipment to improve physical continuity between units, and the application of advanced process control strategies to improve process continuity. To achieve continuous manufacturing of TCM, the corresponding key technologies, such as material property characterization, process modeling and simulation, process analysis technology, and system integration, were analyzed from the process and equipment, respectively. It was proposed that the continuous manufacturing equipment system should have the characteristics of high speed, high response, and high reliability, "three high(H~3)" for short. Considering the characteristics and current situation of TCM manufacturing, based on the two dimensions of product quality control and production efficiency, a maturity assessment model for continuous manufacturing of TCM, consisting of operation continuity, equipment continuity, process continuity, and quality control continuity, was proposed to provide references for the application of continuous manufacturing technology for TCM. The implementation of continuous manufacturing or the application of key continuous manufacturing technologies in TCM can help to systematically integrate advanced pharmaceutical technology elements and promote the uniformity of TCM quality and the improvement of production efficiency.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Reproducibility of Results ; China ; Quality Control ; Pharmaceutical Preparations