1.The Dual Role of p21 in Hormone-related Cancers and Its Therapeutic Implications
Jia-Wen LI ; Yang CHEN ; Jia-Qi WANG ; Yu-Kai MA ; Zhi-Yi GUO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(3):593-608
p21 (encoded by the CDKN1A gene) is a critical cell cycle regulatory protein endowed with versatile biological functions. In various sex hormone-related cancers, p21 exhibits a paradoxical dual role, capable of both inhibiting tumorigenesis and promoting cancer progression, exerting dual, often opposing, effects on cellular fate that are dictated by the specific context. The clinical targeting of p21 remains elusive, largely due to its functionally pleiotropic and context-dependent nature within intricate regulatory networks. During the initial, hormone-dependent phase of cancers like breast and prostate cancer, p21 expression and activity are largely governed by the transcriptional programs of estrogen or androgen receptor signaling. This hormonal regulation contributes to the control of tumor cell proliferation and underpins the initial efficacy of endocrine therapies. In contrast, as these diseases advance to late stages or evolve into non-hormone-dependent subtypes—exemplified by castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and specific forms of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)—these conventional hormonal control mechanisms often become dysfunctional or are entirely bypassed. This fundamental transition creates a critical therapeutic void, highlighting the urgent need to identify and exploit alternative molecular pathways to effectively target p21’s function. Promising strategies may include the precise modulation of its upstream transcriptional regulators, downstream effector proteins, or the intersecting parallel signaling networks that critically influence its activity. This review provides a systematic synthesis of the intricate and interconnected mechanisms that underpin the dual effects of p21 in sex hormone-related tumors. These mechanisms are categorized into three core, interrelated functional domains. (1) cell cycle regulation: p21 executes its canonical tumor-suppressive role by binding to and inhibiting cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and by directly interacting with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), thereby inducing cell cycle arrest, predominantly at the G1/S checkpoint; (2) apoptosis modulation: p21 exerts a highly context-dependent influence on programmed cell death, functioning either as a pro-apoptotic agent under severe genotoxic stress or as a pro-survival factor by inhibiting apoptosis through interactions with proteins like Bcl-2; (3) hormonal and signaling crosstalk: p21 is an integral node within broader cellular networks, engaging in direct physical interactions with hormone receptors(e.g., AR, ER) and participating in complex feedback loops with key oncogenic pathways, including PI3K/AKT, MAPK/ERK, and p53. Critically, the role of p21 is not static but highly dynamic. It can undergo a functional switch from tumor-suppressive to tumor-promoting in response to therapeutic pressures, metabolic alterations, or evolving tumor microenvironment cues. These adaptive shifts are frequently implicated in the development of therapy resistance and disease recurrence, particularly in advanced, hormone-resistant cancers. By synthesizing these insights, this review aims to establish a coherent theoretical framework to guide the future development of novel therapeutic strategies that target the p21 pathway. It underscores the necessity of moving beyond a simplistic, binary view of p21 and emphasizes the forthcoming challenges, such as the discovery of reliable biomarkers to predict its functional state and the rational design of context-specific pharmacological modulators to selectively harness its therapeutic potential.
2.Genotype and Influence Factors Analysis of HBV DNA Positive Samples of Negative HBsAg Donors in Blood Donors without Compensation in Nan'an Area
Kai-qi CHEN ; Yi-xiu SUN ; Li-rong JIANG
Progress in Modern Biomedicine 2025;25(11):1879-1885,1920
Objective:To study genotype analysis and influence factors analysis of hepatitis B virus(HBV)deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA)positive samples of negative hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg)donors in blood donors without compensation in Nan'an area.Methods:A total of 62,000 HBsAg fast-screened blood donor samples from January 2021 to June 2024 were selected as the study objects.HBV infection,viral load and genotype of HBV DNA positive samples,single factor and influencing factor of HBV DNA positive samples were detected and analyzed.Results:Among the 62000 HBsAg fast-screened blood donor samples,the results were negative by HBsAg screening,moreover,285 cases(0.46%)were HBsAg positive and 61715 cases(99.54%)were negative.NAT positive 180 cases and 118 cases were positive for HBV DNA.The HBV DNA positive rate of HBsAg negative donors was 0.19%(118/62000).HBV DNA of the viral load of positive specimens with<20 IU/mL was higher than those with 20 to 99 IU/mL and ≥ 100 IU/mL(P<0.05).HBV DNA of C style of the genotype of positive specimens was higher than B style and unsamples(P<0.05).Univariate analysis found that HBV DNA positivity was mainly related to the history of intravenous drug use and risky sexual behavior,as well as the history of hepatitis B vaccination and blood transfusion(P<0.05).According to the Logistic regression analysis,history of intravenous drug use and risky sexual behavior,and blood transfusion were risk factors for positive HBV DNA(OR>1,P<0.05),vaccination of hepatitis B vaccine was a protective factor for HBV DNA positivity(OR<1,P<0.05).Conclusion:The proportion of HBsAg in Nan'an area is relatively high,but there are still a small number of positive samples,the main genotype was type C,and history of intravenous drug use and risky risk behaviors,as well as history of blood transfusion were all risk factors for positive HBV DNA,vaccination of hepatitis B vaccine is protective factor for HBV DNA positivity.
3.Anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects and mechanism of total flavonoids of hawthorn leaves on rat intestinal epithelial cells
Kai WANG ; Pei LIU ; Kexin QI ; Jingyi WANG ; Chenlu SUN ; Danning SHI ; Hongyue CHEN ; Daoling HE ; Yan ZHU ; Ling GAN
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science 2025;45(7):1450-1457
This study aims to investigate the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of total flavonoids of hawthorn leaves(TFHL)on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced inflammatory injury in rat intestinal epithelial(IEC-6)cells,as well as the underlying mechanisms.An in vitro inflam-mation model was first established by treating IEC-6 cells with lipopolysaccharide(LPS).IEC-6 cells were then incubated with three concentrations of TFHL for 24 h prior to a further 24 h LPS treatment.RT-qPCR was used to quantify mRNA levels of the inflammatory genes COX-2 and iN-OS,while Western blotting was used to assess protein levels of the apoptotic markers Bax,cleaved Caspase-3,Bcl-2,and the JNK/p-JNK signaling pathway.Finally,cells were pretreated with TFHL and/or the JNK inhibitor SP600125 for 24 h before LPS exposure for 24 h,in order to evaluate the combined effects of TFHL and SP600125 on LPS-induced inflammatory cytokine expression and apoptotic protein levels in IEC-6 cells.The results showed that,compared with the LPS group,the mRNA level of COX-2 and iNOS in the 2.5,5.0,10.0 mg/L TFHL group and the Bax and Caspase-3 protein levels decreased significantly(P<0.01),and the Bcl-2 protein level was significantly higher(P<0.01),p-JNK protein level and p-JNK/JNK ratio decreased significantly(P<0.01);compared with the LPS group,the COX-2 and iNOS mRNA levels of the TFHL+LPS group de-creased significantly(P<0.01),Bax,and Caspase-3 protein levels decreased significantly(P<0.01),and the level of Bcl-2 protein increased significantly(P<0.05);compared with the LPS group,the COX-2 and iNOS mRNA levels of the TFHL+SP600125 group decreased significantly(P<0.01),Bax and Caspase-3 protein levels decreased significantly(P<0.01),and Bcl-2 protein level increased significantly(P<0.01).These findings indicate that TFHL exerts anti-inflammato-ry and anti-apoptotic effects in LPS-challenged IEC-6 cells by inhibiting the JNK signaling path-way.
4.Effect of butylphthalide on the risk of post-stroke epilepsy in patients with cerebral infarction
Qi YU ; Junfeng YUAN ; Kai CHEN ; Xiuyun LI ; Zhanyong LI
Chinese Journal of Pharmacoepidemiology 2025;34(5):532-538
Objective To explore the effect of sequential therapy with butylphthalide on the risk of post-stroke epilepsy(PSE)in patients with cerebral infarction.Methods The clinical data of patients with cerebral infarction hospitalized in Langfang People's Hospital from October,2016 to October,2022 were selected and analyzed.Patients receiving butylphthalide sequential treatment were included in the butylphthalide group,patients who were hospitalized at the same time with matching gender,age(±5 years),basic disease,clinical drug treatment scheme and follow-up period but did not receive butylphthalide treatment were included in the control group.The general clinical data,laboratory examination results on admission,and incidence of PSE in the two groups were compared,and multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation between sequential therapy with butylphthalide and PSE occurrence in patients with cerebral infarction.Results A total of 1,200 patients were included,with 600 patients in each group.There was no significant difference in general clinical data such as sex,age,complications and living habits between the two groups(P>0.05).There were no significant differences between the two groups in the patients distribution of TOAST classification,NIHSS score(P>0.05).The incidence of PSE in butylphthalide group was significantly lower than that in control group(4.17%vs.7.83%,P<0.05).The application of sequential treatment with butylphthalide was a protective factor for PSE occurrence in patients with cerebral infarction[OR=0.352,95%CI(0.151,0.821),P=0.016].Conclusion Sequential treatment with butylphthalide can reduce the risk of post-stroke epilepsy in patients with cerebral infarction.
5.Genotype and Influence Factors Analysis of HBV DNA Positive Samples of Negative HBsAg Donors in Blood Donors without Compensation in Nan'an Area
Kai-qi CHEN ; Yi-xiu SUN ; Li-rong JIANG
Progress in Modern Biomedicine 2025;25(11):1879-1885,1920
Objective:To study genotype analysis and influence factors analysis of hepatitis B virus(HBV)deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA)positive samples of negative hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg)donors in blood donors without compensation in Nan'an area.Methods:A total of 62,000 HBsAg fast-screened blood donor samples from January 2021 to June 2024 were selected as the study objects.HBV infection,viral load and genotype of HBV DNA positive samples,single factor and influencing factor of HBV DNA positive samples were detected and analyzed.Results:Among the 62000 HBsAg fast-screened blood donor samples,the results were negative by HBsAg screening,moreover,285 cases(0.46%)were HBsAg positive and 61715 cases(99.54%)were negative.NAT positive 180 cases and 118 cases were positive for HBV DNA.The HBV DNA positive rate of HBsAg negative donors was 0.19%(118/62000).HBV DNA of the viral load of positive specimens with<20 IU/mL was higher than those with 20 to 99 IU/mL and ≥ 100 IU/mL(P<0.05).HBV DNA of C style of the genotype of positive specimens was higher than B style and unsamples(P<0.05).Univariate analysis found that HBV DNA positivity was mainly related to the history of intravenous drug use and risky sexual behavior,as well as the history of hepatitis B vaccination and blood transfusion(P<0.05).According to the Logistic regression analysis,history of intravenous drug use and risky sexual behavior,and blood transfusion were risk factors for positive HBV DNA(OR>1,P<0.05),vaccination of hepatitis B vaccine was a protective factor for HBV DNA positivity(OR<1,P<0.05).Conclusion:The proportion of HBsAg in Nan'an area is relatively high,but there are still a small number of positive samples,the main genotype was type C,and history of intravenous drug use and risky risk behaviors,as well as history of blood transfusion were all risk factors for positive HBV DNA,vaccination of hepatitis B vaccine is protective factor for HBV DNA positivity.
6.Effect of butylphthalide on the risk of post-stroke epilepsy in patients with cerebral infarction
Qi YU ; Junfeng YUAN ; Kai CHEN ; Xiuyun LI ; Zhanyong LI
Chinese Journal of Pharmacoepidemiology 2025;34(5):532-538
Objective To explore the effect of sequential therapy with butylphthalide on the risk of post-stroke epilepsy(PSE)in patients with cerebral infarction.Methods The clinical data of patients with cerebral infarction hospitalized in Langfang People's Hospital from October,2016 to October,2022 were selected and analyzed.Patients receiving butylphthalide sequential treatment were included in the butylphthalide group,patients who were hospitalized at the same time with matching gender,age(±5 years),basic disease,clinical drug treatment scheme and follow-up period but did not receive butylphthalide treatment were included in the control group.The general clinical data,laboratory examination results on admission,and incidence of PSE in the two groups were compared,and multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation between sequential therapy with butylphthalide and PSE occurrence in patients with cerebral infarction.Results A total of 1,200 patients were included,with 600 patients in each group.There was no significant difference in general clinical data such as sex,age,complications and living habits between the two groups(P>0.05).There were no significant differences between the two groups in the patients distribution of TOAST classification,NIHSS score(P>0.05).The incidence of PSE in butylphthalide group was significantly lower than that in control group(4.17%vs.7.83%,P<0.05).The application of sequential treatment with butylphthalide was a protective factor for PSE occurrence in patients with cerebral infarction[OR=0.352,95%CI(0.151,0.821),P=0.016].Conclusion Sequential treatment with butylphthalide can reduce the risk of post-stroke epilepsy in patients with cerebral infarction.
7.Study on intestinal protection and mechanism of magnolol in neonatal rats with necrotizing enterocolitis
Hai-yan FENG ; Yue ZHANG ; Mao XU ; Kai-qi TAN ; Yi WANG ; Zhuo-lin CHEN ; Yu-fei CHEN ; Shao-xuan CHEN ; Yang ZHAO ; Cui LIU
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(9):1728-1735
Aim To investigate the intestinal protection and possible mechanism of magnolol(MG)in newborn rats with necrotizing enterocolitis(NEC).Methods The rats were randomly divided into control group(Ctrl group),model group(NEC group)and treatment group(MG group).The NEC model was induced by hypoxia,cold stimulation,deep formula milk and LPS intragastric administration in 7-day-old rats for four days.They were killed after five days of treatment with MG(20 mg·kg-1).HE staining was used to observe the intestinal pathological injury.Western blot was used to detect the expressions of IL-1 β,TNF-α,NL-RP3,ASC,caspase-1 and tight junction protein in the distal ileum of rats.Colon contents were collected for 16S rDNA sequencing to understand the gut microbio-ta.Results MG improved the body mass and intesti-nal injury of NEC neonatal rats.The expressions of in-testinal IL-1β,TNF-α,NLRP3,ASC and caspase-1 proteins were down-regulated,and the expressions of Claudin,Occludin and ZO-1 proteins were up-regula-ted.16S rDNA showed that MG increased the diversity of intestinal flora,and at the phylum level,MG in-creased the abundance of firmicutes and bacteroides in NEC model,and decreased the abundance of pro-teobacteria.At the genus level,MG treatment in-creased the abundance of Lactobacillus,unclassified_Muribaculaceae,Racteroides,but decreased the abun-dance of Escherichia_Shigella,Rodentibacter and Fuso-bacterium.Conclusion MG intervention can protect the intestinal tract of NEC rats by potentially improving barrier function,and regulating the intestinal microbiota through the NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1 signaling pathway.
8.The Role of Zinc Finger Structure Transcription Factors ZNF148 and SP5 on P53 Transcriptional Activity
Dai-Wei WANG ; Chen ZHOU ; Pin-Zheng ZHANG ; Xu-Ying WANG ; Jia-Wen LI ; Yu-Kai MA ; Jia-Qi YAN ; Zhi-Ting WANG ; Jia-Qi WANG ; Zhi-Yi GUO
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(5):707-715
P53 is a key tumor suppressor gene,which is regulated in many ways.Zinc finger 148(ZNF148)and SP5,as zinc finger transcription factors(TFs),play important roles in tumor suppression and carcinogenesis.The regulatory relationship between these two TFs and p53 has not been reported.In this paper,Ishikawa and A549 cell lines with different p53 expression levels were used as research mod-els to explore the transcriptional regulation of the P53 gene by ZNF148 and SP5.The data showed that there were differences in the expression of ZNF148 and SP5 in the two cell lines.The mRNA expression of ZNF148 in Ishikawa was 1.9 times higher than that of A549,and the mRNA expression of SP5 in A549 was 802.4 times that of ZNF148.Data showed that in Ishikawa cells,the expression of P53 de-creased(81.8%)after ZNF148 knockdown,and increased(2.6 times)after SP5 overexpression.Transfection of si-SP5 and ZNF148 expression plasmids into A549 cells increased the mRNA expression of P53 by 6.6 times and 14.6 times,respectively.These results indicate that ZNF148 could activate,whereas SP5 could inhibit,P53 expression.The conserved cis-element of ZNF148 and SP5 TFs was found in the region of the P53 promoter by bioinformatics methods.The data from dual luciferase reporter gene assay showed that the luciferase activity of ZNF148 in Ishikawa and A549 cells was increased by 2.1-fold and 4.2-fold compared with the control group(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the normalized relative luciferase activity of transfected SP5 decreased by 77.1%and 35.7%(P<0.05).However,when the cis-element of ZNF148 and SP5 was mutated,the effect disappeared.Further trans-fection of ZNF148 and SP5 with different ratios revealed that SP5 could reverse the transcriptional activa-tion of P53 by ZNF148.Studies have shown that ZNF148 shares a common site with SP5,and the ratio of the two TFs may influence the transcriptional activity of P53.The expression of the Wnt pathway and the cell proliferation rate after knockdown of ZNF148 and SP5 were further studied to explore the role of the two TFs.Our data show that ZNF148 and SP5 could regulate the transcriptional activity of P53,and their expression levels and interaction may be the key factors regulating P53 expression.
9.Study on intestinal protection and mechanism of magnolol in neonatal rats with necrotizing enterocolitis
Hai-yan FENG ; Yue ZHANG ; Mao XU ; Kai-qi TAN ; Yi WANG ; Zhuo-lin CHEN ; Yu-fei CHEN ; Shao-xuan CHEN ; Yang ZHAO ; Cui LIU
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(9):1728-1735
Aim To investigate the intestinal protection and possible mechanism of magnolol(MG)in newborn rats with necrotizing enterocolitis(NEC).Methods The rats were randomly divided into control group(Ctrl group),model group(NEC group)and treatment group(MG group).The NEC model was induced by hypoxia,cold stimulation,deep formula milk and LPS intragastric administration in 7-day-old rats for four days.They were killed after five days of treatment with MG(20 mg·kg-1).HE staining was used to observe the intestinal pathological injury.Western blot was used to detect the expressions of IL-1 β,TNF-α,NL-RP3,ASC,caspase-1 and tight junction protein in the distal ileum of rats.Colon contents were collected for 16S rDNA sequencing to understand the gut microbio-ta.Results MG improved the body mass and intesti-nal injury of NEC neonatal rats.The expressions of in-testinal IL-1β,TNF-α,NLRP3,ASC and caspase-1 proteins were down-regulated,and the expressions of Claudin,Occludin and ZO-1 proteins were up-regula-ted.16S rDNA showed that MG increased the diversity of intestinal flora,and at the phylum level,MG in-creased the abundance of firmicutes and bacteroides in NEC model,and decreased the abundance of pro-teobacteria.At the genus level,MG treatment in-creased the abundance of Lactobacillus,unclassified_Muribaculaceae,Racteroides,but decreased the abun-dance of Escherichia_Shigella,Rodentibacter and Fuso-bacterium.Conclusion MG intervention can protect the intestinal tract of NEC rats by potentially improving barrier function,and regulating the intestinal microbiota through the NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1 signaling pathway.
10.Anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects and mechanism of total flavonoids of hawthorn leaves on rat intestinal epithelial cells
Kai WANG ; Pei LIU ; Kexin QI ; Jingyi WANG ; Chenlu SUN ; Danning SHI ; Hongyue CHEN ; Daoling HE ; Yan ZHU ; Ling GAN
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science 2025;45(7):1450-1457
This study aims to investigate the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of total flavonoids of hawthorn leaves(TFHL)on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced inflammatory injury in rat intestinal epithelial(IEC-6)cells,as well as the underlying mechanisms.An in vitro inflam-mation model was first established by treating IEC-6 cells with lipopolysaccharide(LPS).IEC-6 cells were then incubated with three concentrations of TFHL for 24 h prior to a further 24 h LPS treatment.RT-qPCR was used to quantify mRNA levels of the inflammatory genes COX-2 and iN-OS,while Western blotting was used to assess protein levels of the apoptotic markers Bax,cleaved Caspase-3,Bcl-2,and the JNK/p-JNK signaling pathway.Finally,cells were pretreated with TFHL and/or the JNK inhibitor SP600125 for 24 h before LPS exposure for 24 h,in order to evaluate the combined effects of TFHL and SP600125 on LPS-induced inflammatory cytokine expression and apoptotic protein levels in IEC-6 cells.The results showed that,compared with the LPS group,the mRNA level of COX-2 and iNOS in the 2.5,5.0,10.0 mg/L TFHL group and the Bax and Caspase-3 protein levels decreased significantly(P<0.01),and the Bcl-2 protein level was significantly higher(P<0.01),p-JNK protein level and p-JNK/JNK ratio decreased significantly(P<0.01);compared with the LPS group,the COX-2 and iNOS mRNA levels of the TFHL+LPS group de-creased significantly(P<0.01),Bax,and Caspase-3 protein levels decreased significantly(P<0.01),and the level of Bcl-2 protein increased significantly(P<0.05);compared with the LPS group,the COX-2 and iNOS mRNA levels of the TFHL+SP600125 group decreased significantly(P<0.01),Bax and Caspase-3 protein levels decreased significantly(P<0.01),and Bcl-2 protein level increased significantly(P<0.01).These findings indicate that TFHL exerts anti-inflammato-ry and anti-apoptotic effects in LPS-challenged IEC-6 cells by inhibiting the JNK signaling path-way.

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