1.Association between socio ecological risk factors, physical activity developmental trajectory and depressive symptoms among junior and senior high school students
SUN Zhiying, LIU Zhonghui, LI Fengqin, WANG Xiaoyang, XU Ke, CUI Yushan, ZHANG Xianwei
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(5):676-679
Objective:
To explore the relationship between socio ecological risk factors (SERF), physical activity (PA) developmental trajectories, and depressive symptoms among junior and senior high school students in Tianjin, in order to provide theoretical support for comprehensive interventions for adolescent depression.
Methods:
A longitudinal follow up design was adopted. In September 2022, a baseline survey was conducted using a stratified cluster random sampling method in two junior high schools and two senior high schools in Tianjin, collecting data on students basic information, SERF, PA, and depressive symptoms. Two follow up surveys were conducted in September 2023 and 2024, yielding 588 valid participants. Latent class growth analysis (LCGA) was used to identify PA developmental trajectory categories among junior and senior high school students. Logistic regression was applied to examine the associations between depressive symptoms and SERF as well as PA trajectories.
Results:
The detection rates of depressive symptoms among Tianjin junior and senior high school students over the three years were 26.53%, 20.24%, and 21.26 %, respectively. Depressive symptoms were positively correlated with SERF ( OR=1.04, 95%CI=1.03-1.05, P <0.05). The highest risks were observed in the individual dimension and family dimension ( OR =1.28, 1.21, both P <0.05). LCGA identified three PA trajectory groups:persistently low level (80.65%), persistently high level (4.58%), and slowly increasing group ( 14.77 %). Multivariate regression analysis showed that compared with the persistently low level PA, the slowly increasing PA significantly reduced the risk of depressive symptoms ( OR=0.44, 95%CI =0.20-0.88), while SERF still increased the risk of depressive symptoms ( OR=1.04, 95%CI =1.03-1.05) (both P <0.05).
Conclusion
SERF are risk factors for depression symptoms among junior and senior high school students, whereas slowly increasing PA development trajectory demonstrates a protective effect.
2.Convergent modulation of default mode network effective connectivity by modified Suanzaoren Decoction and estazolam in patients with chronic insomnia disorder
Ke WANG ; Yiding HAN ; Haohao YAN ; Xingyan GUO ; Wuhong LIN ; Ping YAO ; Min LIU ; Min CHEN ; Longbiao CUI ; Wenbin GUO ; Dongsheng LYU
Sichuan Mental Health 2026;39(4):356-366
BackgroundBoth modified Suanzaoren Decoction and estazolam serve as effective treatments for chronic insomnia disorder (CID). Default mode network (DMN) dysfunction is recognized as the primary pathophysiological mechanism underlying CID. However, it remains unclear whether the two treatments exert their therapeutic effects via convergent modulation of DMN functional connectivity. ObjectiveTo investigate the convergent remodeling characteristics of bidirectional effective connectivity (EC) of core DMN nodes with both the intra-network and the remaining whole-brain regions in CID patients with Yin-deficiency and fire-hyperactivity syndrome following the treatment with modified Suanzaoren Decoction or estazolam, so as to provide neuroimaging evidence for the convergent neural mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of both therapies in treating CID. MethodsEighty-two patients diagnosed with CID according to the International Classification of Sleep Disorder, third edition (ICSD-3) were consecutively recruited from the outpatient clinic of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Mental Health Center from October 2020 to September 2023. Based on treatment preference, patients were assigned to receive a 6-week intervention in either the modified Suanzaoren Decoction group (n=52) or the estazolam group (n=30). Ultimately, 66 patients completed follow-up assessments (modified Suanzaoren Decoction group, n=41; estazolam group, n=25). All CID patients underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning before and after treatment. Core DMN nodes including medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), bilateral inferior parietal lobule (IPL), and precuneus (PCUN) were selected as seed regions. Granger causality analysis (GCA) was employed to assess bidirectional EC between the seed regions and both the other intra-DMN nodes and the remaining whole-brain regions. Hepatic and renal function indices were detected pre- and post-treatment to evaluate the safety profiles of both treatments. ResultsAt baseline, significant between-group differences were identified in EC from the left IPL to the left middle fronto-orbital gyrus/gyrus rectus (t=5.24, Z=4.84, voxel-level P<0.001, cluster-level P<0.05, GRF-corrected), with the modified Suanzaoren Decoction group exhibiting stronger EC than the estazolam group. No significant between-group differences were observed in EC between other core DMN nodes and remaining whole-brain regions (P>0.05). Within-group pre- to post-treatment comparisons demonstrated consistent connectivity alterations in both groups. Specifically, EC from the left IPL to the supplementary motor area (SMA) decreased after treatment (modified Suanzaoren Decoction group: t=-6.28, Z=5.208; estazolam group: t=-5.58, Z=4.425). Conversely, EC from the SMA to the left IPL increased (modified Suanzaoren Decoction group: t=5.89, Z=4.968; estazolam group: t=6.15, Z=4.720). Furthermore, both groups demonstrated reduced EC from the PCUN to the left IPL (modified Suanzaoren Decoction group: t=-5.85, Z=4.94; estazolam group: t=-5.75, Z=4.515), and elevated EC from the left IPL to the PCUN (modified Suanzaoren Decoction group: t=5.29, Z=4.579; estazolam group: t=4.55, Z=3.826) (voxel-level P<0.001, cluster-level P<0.05, GRF-corrected). No significant pre- to post-treatment differences were observed in hepatic or renal function indices in either group (P>0.05). ConclusionIn CID patients with Yin-deficiency and fire-hyperactivity syndrome, both modified Suanzaoren Decoction and estazolam induce convergent bidirectional remodeling of EC between the left IPL and the SMA and the PCUN. [Funded by Natural Science Fund Project of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (number, 2019MS08099); ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT06452953]
3.Systemic Lupus Erythematosus as a Dominant Disease in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Zihan WANG ; Yanyu CHEN ; Yong CUI ; Qingwen TAO ; Mei MO ; Ke XUE ; Xiaoxiao ZHANG ; Yuan XU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(13):263-269
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a refractory autoimmune disease, is among the dominant diseases where traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) shows advantages in the field of rheumatology and immunology. The China-Japan Friendship Hospital hosted the "46th Youth Salon on Dominant Diseases (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)" organized by the China Association of Chinese Medicine, which led to a consensus on "the advantages, challenges, interdisciplinary approaches, and translational achievements of integrated TCM and Western medical approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of SLE." The diagnosis and treatment of SLE currently face several challenges, such as frequent misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis in the early stages, difficulty in achieving treatment targets, multiple side effects from pharmacotherapy, and the lack of management strategies for special populations, all of which hinder the fulfillment of the clinical needs of patients. Integrated TCM and Western medical approaches can improve clinical symptoms such as skin erythema, aversion to cold and cold limbs, fatigue, dry mouth, restlessness, and heat sensation in the palms and soles, thereby improving patients' quality of life. The approaches also help consolidate the efficacy of conventional Western medicine, slow disease progression, reduce relapse rates, address multi-organ involvement, and prevent or treat complications. Additionally, they enhance efficacy and reduce toxicity, prevent the side effects of Western medications, help reduce hormone use, and offer distinct advantages in the individualized intervention of special populations, contributing to the whole-process management of the disease. However, evidence-based medical support for this integrated approach remains limited, and the quality of available evidence is generally low. Common evaluation systems and modern research methodologies should be adopted to clarify the efficacy of TCM in SLE treatment. Efforts should be made to carry out high-quality evidence-based medical research, strengthen the development of fundamental and pharmacological research, and further explain the distinct advantages of TCM in the diagnosis and treatment of SLE. Future efforts should focus on advancing the integration of TCM and modern medicine, incorporating multi-omics technologies, individualized stratification, and other precision medicine concepts, in combination with artificial intelligence. Moreover, interdisciplinary collaboration should be promoted to utilize modern technology in exploring the essence of TCM theories and screening effective formulae, thereby comprehensively improving the diagnosis and treatment of SLE through integrated TCM and Western medical approaches.
4.Systemic Lupus Erythematosus as a Dominant Disease in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Zihan WANG ; Yanyu CHEN ; Yong CUI ; Qingwen TAO ; Mei MO ; Ke XUE ; Xiaoxiao ZHANG ; Yuan XU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(13):263-269
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a refractory autoimmune disease, is among the dominant diseases where traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) shows advantages in the field of rheumatology and immunology. The China-Japan Friendship Hospital hosted the "46th Youth Salon on Dominant Diseases (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)" organized by the China Association of Chinese Medicine, which led to a consensus on "the advantages, challenges, interdisciplinary approaches, and translational achievements of integrated TCM and Western medical approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of SLE." The diagnosis and treatment of SLE currently face several challenges, such as frequent misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis in the early stages, difficulty in achieving treatment targets, multiple side effects from pharmacotherapy, and the lack of management strategies for special populations, all of which hinder the fulfillment of the clinical needs of patients. Integrated TCM and Western medical approaches can improve clinical symptoms such as skin erythema, aversion to cold and cold limbs, fatigue, dry mouth, restlessness, and heat sensation in the palms and soles, thereby improving patients' quality of life. The approaches also help consolidate the efficacy of conventional Western medicine, slow disease progression, reduce relapse rates, address multi-organ involvement, and prevent or treat complications. Additionally, they enhance efficacy and reduce toxicity, prevent the side effects of Western medications, help reduce hormone use, and offer distinct advantages in the individualized intervention of special populations, contributing to the whole-process management of the disease. However, evidence-based medical support for this integrated approach remains limited, and the quality of available evidence is generally low. Common evaluation systems and modern research methodologies should be adopted to clarify the efficacy of TCM in SLE treatment. Efforts should be made to carry out high-quality evidence-based medical research, strengthen the development of fundamental and pharmacological research, and further explain the distinct advantages of TCM in the diagnosis and treatment of SLE. Future efforts should focus on advancing the integration of TCM and modern medicine, incorporating multi-omics technologies, individualized stratification, and other precision medicine concepts, in combination with artificial intelligence. Moreover, interdisciplinary collaboration should be promoted to utilize modern technology in exploring the essence of TCM theories and screening effective formulae, thereby comprehensively improving the diagnosis and treatment of SLE through integrated TCM and Western medical approaches.
5.Development of an artificial intelligence-based automatic MRI scoring model for extramural vascular invasion in rectal cancer and its prognostic value
Haitao HUANG ; Yunrui YE ; Lifen YAN ; Yanfen CUI ; Lili FENG ; Huifen YE ; Yulin LIU ; Ying ZHU ; Zhongwei CHEN ; Zhenhui LI ; Ke ZHAO ; Zaiyi LIU ; Changhong LIANG
Chinese Journal of Radiology 2025;59(11):1267-1274
Objective:To develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-based automatic scoring model for magnetic resonance imaging-detected extramural vascular invasion (AI-mrEMVI) and evaluate its performance and prognostic value in patients with rectal cancer.Methods:In this multicenter retrospective cohort study, a total of 2 501 rectal cancer patients from seven centers between November 2012 and December 2020 were included and divided into completely independent training ( n=1 830) and validation ( n=671) cohorts. A nnUNet-based AI-mrEMVI scoring model was constructed. Manual mrEMVI scores assigned by two radiologists served as the reference standard for accessing the accuracy of the AI-mrEMVI scoring. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression were used to evaluate the prognostic stratification ability of the AI-mrEMVI scores. The concordance index (C-index) was calculated to evaluate prognostic performance. Results:In the validation cohort, the manual mrEMVI scores were 0-2 in 425 patients (63.3%), 3 in 89 (13.4%), and 4 in 157 (23.4%). The AI-mrEMVI model identified 0-2 in 375 patients (55.9%), 3 in 95 (14.2%), and 4 in 201 (30.0%), with an overall accuracy of 81.1% (544/671, 95% CI 77.9%-84.0%). The 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates for patients with AI-mrEMVI scores of 0-2, 3, and 4 were 85.2%, 70.0%, and 58.2%, respectively, and the 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 87.2%, 81.6%, and 62.6%, respectively (DFS: χ2=48.74, P<0.001; OS: χ2=30.04, P<0.001). Multivariable Cox regression showed that for DFS, AI-mrEMVI scores of 3 and 4 were associated with hazard ratios ( HR) of 1.75 (95% CI 1.11-2.77, P=0.016) and 2.65 (95% CI 1.86-3.78, P<0.001), respectively. For OS, an AI-mrEMVI score of 4 was associated with an HR of 2.56 (95% CI 1.62-4.03, P<0.001). The C-index values of the AI-mrEMVI scoring model for predicting DFS and OS were 0.647 (95% CI 0.608-0.686) and 0.650 (95% CI 0.598-0.702), respectively. Conclusion:The proposed AI-mrEMVI automatic scoring model demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy and performed favorably in predicting DFS and OS prognostic risk in patients with rectal cancer.
6.Expert consensus on intraoperative repositioning for patients with spine fracture and dislocation (version 2025)
Dongmei BIAN ; Ke SUN ; Ningbo CHEN ; Caixia BAI ; Miao WANG ; Yafeng QIAO ; Fei WANG ; Hong WANG ; Feng TIAN ; Mei YAN ; Meng BAI ; Linjuan ZHANG ; Liyan ZHAO ; Yaqing CUI ; Xue JIANG ; Leling FENG ; Ning NING ; Junqin DING ; Lan WEI ; Yonghua ZHAI ; Yu ZENG ; Zengmei ZHANG ; Jiqun HE ; Fenggui BIE ; Hong CHEN ; Zengyan WANG ; Li LI ; Li ZHANG ; Yaying ZHOU ; Bing SHAO ; Ying WANG ; Caixia XIE ; Yanfeng YAO ; Jingjing AN ; Wen SHI ; Xiongtao LIU ; Xiaoyan AN ; Ning NAN ; Lan LI ; Xiaohui GOU ; Qiaomei LI ; Xiuting WU ; Yuqin ZHANG ; Jing LIU ; Fusen XIANG ; Xu XU ; Na MEI ; Jiao ZHOU ; Shan FAN ; Qian WANG ; Shuixia LI
Chinese Journal of Trauma 2025;41(2):138-147
Spine fracture and dislocation are common traumatic spinal conditions that often require surgical intervention due to compromised spinal stability. Surgical approaches include anterior, posterior, and combined anterior-posterior spinal procedures. According to the specific surgical requirements, patients may be placed in the prone position or repositioned between prone and supine positions during surgery. Intraoperative repositioning has become an essential step in patient positioning. However, during repositioning, patients with spinal fracture and dislocation are at increased risk for complications such as hemodynamic instability, nerve injury, and pressure injuries to the skin and soft tissue. Notably, due to the instability of the spinal cord, even minor manipulations can further exacerbate the damage, potentially leading to severe outcomes like paraplegia. Although the current clinical guidelines provide instructive recommendations for standard position, there remains no specific protocols for intraoperative repositioning in patients with spine fracture and dislocation. With a concern for the lack of clinical studies on positioning techniques, risk prevention, and operational norms for special patients, no applicable guidelines or standards are available. A consensus was required to provide clinical reference, meet the requirements of surgical treatment, and minimize the safety risks of patients caused by improper placement of positions. Professional Committee of Operating Room Nursing of Shaanxi Nursing Association organized experts in nursing management and operating room nursing from major hospitals across China to formulate Expert consensus on intraoperative repositioning for patients with spinal fracture and dislocation ( version 2025). The consensus provides 11 recommendations covering pre-repositioning preparation, intraoperative maneuvers, and post-repositioning observation, aiming to provide references for clinical standardization of the intraoperative repositioning process and protection of patients′ safety.
7.Cold stimulation regulates lipid metabolism and the secretion of exosomes from subcutaneous adipose tissue in mice.
Shuo KE ; Li XU ; Rui-Xue SHI ; Jia-Qi WANG ; Le CUI ; Yuan JI ; Jing LI ; Xiao-Hong JIANG
Acta Physiologica Sinica 2025;77(2):231-240
Cold has been a long-term survival challenge in the evolutionary process of mammals. In response to cold stress, in addition to brown adipose tissue (BAT) dissipating energy as heat through glucose and lipid oxidation to maintain body temperature, cold stimulation can strongly activate thermogenesis and energy expenditure in beige fat cells, which are widely distributed in the subcutaneous layer. However, the effects of cold stimulation on other tissues and systemic lipid metabolism remain unclear. Our previous research indicated that, under cold stress, BAT not only produces heat but also secretes numerous exosomes to mediate BAT-liver crosstalk. Whether subcutaneous fat has a similar mechanism is still unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the alterations in lipid metabolism across various tissues under cold exposure and to explore whether subcutaneous fat regulates systemic glucose and lipid metabolism via exosomes, thereby elucidating the regulatory mechanisms of lipid metabolism homeostasis under physiological stress. RT-qPCR, Western blot, and H&E staining methods were used to investigate the physiological changes in lipid metabolism in the serum, liver, epididymal white adipose tissue, and subcutaneous fat of mice under cold stimulation. The results revealed that cold exposure significantly enhanced the thermogenic activity of subcutaneous adipose tissue and markedly increased exosome secretion. These exosomes were efficiently taken up by hepatocytes, where they profoundly influenced hepatic lipid metabolism, as evidenced by alterations in the expression levels of key genes involved in lipid synthesis and catabolism pathways. This study has unveiled a novel mechanism by which subcutaneous fat regulates lipid metabolism through exosome secretion under cold stimulation, providing new insights into the systemic regulatory role of beige adipocytes under cold stress and offering a theoretical basis for the development of new therapeutic strategies for obesity and metabolic diseases.
Animals
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Lipid Metabolism/physiology*
;
Mice
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Exosomes/metabolism*
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Cold Temperature
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Subcutaneous Fat/physiology*
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Thermogenesis/physiology*
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Adipose Tissue, Brown/metabolism*
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Male
8.Intervention mechanism of Yiqi Fumai Formula in mice with experimental heart failure based on "heart-gut axis".
Zi-Xuan ZHANG ; Yu-Zhuo WU ; Ke-Dian CHEN ; Jian-Qin WANG ; Yang SUN ; Yin JIANG ; Yi-Xuan LIN ; He-Rong CUI ; Hong-Cai SHANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(12):3399-3412
This paper aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of action of the Yiqi Fumai Formula(YQFM), a kind of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), on mice with experimental heart failure based on the "heart-gut axis" theory. Based on the network pharmacology integrated with the group collaboration algorithm, the active ingredients were screened, a "component-target-disease" network was constructed, and the potential pathways regulated by the formula were predicted and analyzed. Next, the model of experimental heart failure was established by intraperitoneal injection of adriamycin at a single high dose(15 mg·kg~(-1)) in BALB/c mice. After intraperitoneal injection of YQFM(lyophilized) at 7.90, 15.80, and 31.55 mg·d~(-1) for 7 d, the protective effects of the formula on cardiac function were evaluated using indicators such as ultrasonic electrocardiography and myocardial injury markers. Combined with inflammatory factors in the cardiac and colorectal tissue, as well as targeted assays, the relevant indicators of potential pathways were verified. Meanwhile, 16S rDNA sequencing was performed on mouse fecal samples using the Illumina platform to detect changes in gut flora and analyze differential metabolic pathways. The results show that the administration of injectable YQFM(lyophilized) for 7 d significantly increased the left ventricular end-systolic internal diameter, fractional shortening, and ejection fraction of cardiac tissue of mice with experimental heart failure(P<0.05). Moreover, markers of myocardial injury were significantly decreased(P<0.05), indicating improved cardiac function, along with significantly suppressed inflammatory responses in cardiac and intestinal tissue(P<0.05). Additionally, the species of causative organisms was decreased, and the homeostasis of gut flora was improved, involving a modulatory effect on PI3K-Akt signaling pathway-related inflammation in cardiac and colorectal tissue. In conclusion, YQFM can affect the "heart-gut axis" immunity through the homeostasis of the gut flora, thereby exerting a therapeutic effect on heart failure. This finding provides a reference for the combination of TCM and western medicine to prevent and treat heart failure based on the "heart-gut axis" theory.
Animals
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Heart Failure/microbiology*
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Male
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Disease Models, Animal
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Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects*
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Heart/physiopathology*
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Humans
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
9.Mechanisms of puerarin-mediated lipid modulation to enhance glucose-lowering effects via hepatic ChREBP/PPARα/PPARγ in vitro.
Can CUI ; Han-Yue XIAO ; Li-Ke YAN ; Zhong-Hua XU ; Wei-Hua LIU ; Hui-Ping LI ; Jun TU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(14):3951-3961
This study aims to investigate the in vitro mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of puerarin on hepatic insulin resistance(IR) based on the carbohydrate response element-binding protein(ChREBP)/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor(PPAR)α/PPARγ axis involved in glucose and lipid metabolism. An IR-HepG2 cell model was established by treating cells with dexamethasone for 48 h, and the cells were then treated with 10, 20, and 40 μmol·L~(-1) puerarin for 24 h. Glucose levels and output in the extracellular fluid were measured by the glucose oxidase method, while cell viability was assessed by the cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) assay. The adenosine triphosphate(ATP) content and glycogen synthesis were evaluated through chemiluminescence and periodic acid-Schiff staining, respectively. Western blot was employed to quantify the protein levels of forkhead box protein O1(FoxO1), phosphorylated forkhead box protein O1 [p-FoxO1(Ser256)], glucagon, phosphofructokinase, liver type(PFKL), pyruvate kinase L-R(PKLR), pyruvate dehydrogenase complex 1(PDHA1), insulin receptor substrate 2(IRS2), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase p85(PI3KR1), phosphorylated protein kinase B [p-Akt(Thr308)], glycogen synthase(GYS), glycogen phosphorylase, liver type(PYGL), adiponectin(ADPN), ChREBP, PPARα, and PPARγ. Additionally, the protein levels of acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1(ACC1), phosphorylated ATP citrate lyase [p-ACLY(Ser455)], sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c(SREBP-1c), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1α(PGC1α), carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1α(CPT1α), and glucagon receptor(GCGR) were also determined. Immunofluorescence was employed to visualize the expression and nuclear location of ChREBP/PPARα/PPARγ. Furthermore, quantitative PCR with the antagonists GW6471 and GW9662 was employed to assess Pparα, Pparγ, and Chrebp. The findings indicated that puerarin effectively reduced both the glucose level and glucose output in the extracellular fluid of IR-HepG2 cells without obvious effect on the cell viability, and it increased intracellular glycogen and ATP levels. Puerarin down-regulated the protein levels of FoxO1 and glucagon while up-regulating the protein levels of p-FoxO1(Ser256), PFKL, PKLR, PDHA1, IRS2, PI3KR1, p-Akt(Thr308), GYS, PYGL, ADPN, ACC1, SREBP-1c, p-ACLY(Ser455), PGC1α, CPT1α, and GCGR in IR-HepG2 cells. Furthermore, puerarin up-regulated both the mRNA and protein levels of ChREBP, PPARα, and PPARγ and promoted the translocation into the nucleus. GW6471 was observed to down-regulate the expression of Pparα while up-regulating the expression of Chrebp and Pparγ. GW9662 down-regulated the expression of Pparγ while up-regulating the expression of Pparα, with no significant effect on Chrebp. In summary, puerarin activated the hepatic ChREBP/PPARα/PPARγ axis, thereby coordinating the glucose and lipid metabolism, promoting the conversion of glucose to lipids to exert the blood glucose-lowering effect.
Isoflavones/pharmacology*
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Humans
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PPAR gamma/genetics*
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Hep G2 Cells
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Glucose/metabolism*
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Lipid Metabolism/drug effects*
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PPAR alpha/genetics*
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Liver/drug effects*
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors/genetics*
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Insulin Resistance
10.Hypoglycemic effect and mechanism of berberine in vitro based on regulation of BMAL1:CLOCK complex involved in hepatic glycolysis, glucose oxidation a nd gluconeogenesis to improve energy metabolism.
Zhong-Hua XU ; Li-Ke YAN ; Wei-Hua LIU ; Can CUI ; Han-Yue XIAO ; Hui-Ping LI ; Jun TU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(15):4293-4303
This paper aims to investigate the hypoglycemic effect and mechanism of berberine in improving energy metabolism based on the multi-pathway regulation of brain and muscle aromatic hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocal protein 1(BMAL1): cyclin kaput complex of day-night spontaneous output cyclin kaput(CLOCK). The dexamethasone-induced hepatic insulin resistance(IR) HepG2 cell model was used; 0.5, 1, 5, 10, 20 μmol·L~(-1) berberine were administered at 15, 18, 21, 24, 30, 36 h. The time-dose effect of glucose content in extracellular fluid was detected by glucose oxidase method. The optimal dosage and time of berberine were determined for the follow-up study. Glucose oxidase method and chemiluminescence method were respectively performed to detect hepatic glucose output and relative content of ATP in cells; Ca~(2+), reactive oxygen species(ROS), mitochondrial structure and membrane potential were detected by fluorescent probes. Moreover, ultraviolet colorimetry method was used to detect the liver type of pyruvate kinase(L-PK) and phosphoenol pyruvate carboxykinase(PEPCK). In addition, pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 subunit α1(PDHA1), phosphate fructocrine-liver type(PFKL), forkhead box protein O1(FoxO1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1α(PGC1α), glucose-6-phosphatase(G6Pase), glucagon, phosphorylated nuclear factor-red blood cell 2-related factor 2(p-Nrf2)(Ser40), heme oxygenase 1(HO-1), NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1(NQO1), fibroblast growth factor 21(FGF21), uncoupled protein(UCP) 1 and UCP2 were detected by Western blot. BMAL1:CLOCK complex was detected by immunofluorescence double-staining method, combined with small molecule inhibitor CLK8. Western blot was used to detect PDHA1, PFKL, FoxO1, PGC1α, G6Pase, glucagon, Nrf2, HO-1, NQO1, FGF21, UCP1 and UCP2 in the CLK8 group. The results showed that berberine downregulated the glucose content in extracellular fluid in IR-HepG2 cells in a time-and dose-dependent manner. Moreover, berberine inhibited hepatic glucose output and reduced intracellular Ca~(2+) and ROS whereas elevated JC-1 membrane potential and improved mitochondrial structure to enhance ATP production. In addition, berberine upregulated the rate-limiting enzymes such as PFKL, L-PK and PDHA1 to promote glycolysis and aerobic oxidation but also downregulated PGC1α, FoxO1, G6Pase, PEPCK and glucagon to inhibit hepatic gluconeogenesis. Berberine not only upregulated p-Nrf2(Ser40), HO-1 and NQO1 to enhance antioxidant capacity but also upregulated FGF21, UCP1 and UCP2 to promote energy metabolism. Moreover, berberine increased BMAL1, CLOCK and nuclear BMAL1:CLOCK complex whereas CLK8 reduced the nuclear BMAL1:CLOCK complex. Finally, CLK8 decreased PDHA1, PFKL, Nrf2, HO-1, NQO1, FGF21, UCP1, UCP2 and increased FoxO1, PGC1α, G6Pase and glucagon compared with the 20 μmol·L~(-1) berberine group. BMAL1:CLOCK complex inhibited gluconeogenesis, promoted glycolysis and glucose aerobic oxidation pathways, improved the reduction status within mitochondria, protected mitochondrial structure and function, increased ATP energy storage and promoted energy consumption in IR-HepG2 cells. These results suggested that berberine mediated BMAL1:CLOCK complex to coordinate the regulation of hepatic IR cells to improve energy metabolism in vitro.
Humans
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Berberine/pharmacology*
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Gluconeogenesis/drug effects*
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Hep G2 Cells
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Glucose/metabolism*
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Liver/drug effects*
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Energy Metabolism/drug effects*
;
Hypoglycemic Agents/pharmacology*
;
ARNTL Transcription Factors/genetics*
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Glycolysis/drug effects*
;
Oxidation-Reduction/drug effects*


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