1.Effect of "Fahan" on Metabolites of Blumea balsamifera Analyzed by Non-targeted Metabolomics
Jiayuan CAO ; Xin XU ; Xiangsheng ZHANG ; Bingnan LIU ; Yongyao WEI ; Ke ZHONG ; Yuxin PANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(2):200-207
ObjectiveTo characterize the changes of metabolites of Blumea balsamifera in the process of sweating by non-targeted metabolomics, and to investigate the influence of sweating processing on the constituents of B. balsamifera. MethodsUltra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/electrostatic field orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS) metabolomics was used to identify the metabolites in no sweating group(F1), sweating 2 d group(F2) and sweating 4 d group(F3), the differences of metabolites between the groups were compared by principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA), and differential metabolites were screened according to the variable importance in the projection(VIP) value>1 and P<0.05, and the pathway enrichment of the differential metabolites was analyzed by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG). ResultsThe results of PCA and OPLS-DA showed a clear distinction between the three groups of samples, indicating significant differences in the compositions of the three groups of samples. A total of 433 differential metabolites were screened between the F1 and F2, with 154 up-regulated and 279 down-regulated, the significant up-regulated metabolites were tangeritin, 5-O-demethylnobiletin and so on, while the metabolites with significant down-regulation included alternariol, fortunellin, etc. A total of 379 differential metabolites were screened between the F2 and F3, with 150 up-regulated and 229 down-regulated, the significant up-regulated metabolites were isoimperatorin, helianyl octanoate and so on, and the significant down-regulated metabolites were hovenoside I, goyasaponin Ⅲ, etc. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that tyrosine metabolism, isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, tryptophan metabolism, valine, leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis, pantothenate and coenzyme A biosynthesis may be the key pathways affecting metabolite differences of B. balsamifera after sweating treatment. ConclusionSweating can reduce the content of endophytic mycotoxins in B. balsamifera and has a great impact on the synthesis and metabolic pathways of total flavonoids and auxin. This study can provide a reference for the process research on the sweating conditions of B. balsamifera.
2.Construction and application of the criteria for drug utilization evaluation of low-dose rivaroxaban in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
Liang WU ; Wei WANG ; Yanghui XU ; Bo ZHU ; Yijun KE
China Pharmacy 2025;36(17):2176-2181
OBJECTIVE To construct and apply drug utilization evaluation (DUE) criteria for low-dose rivaroxaban in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) based on the dual pathway inhibition (DPI) antithrombotic therapy scheme, to promote clinical rational drug use. METHODS Based on the instructions and relevant guidelines of low-dose rivaroxaban (2.5 mg, bid), the Delphi method was used to establish the DUE criteria for low-dose rivaroxaban used in ASCVD. Weighted technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution method was used to determine the relative weights of each evaluation index, and the rationality of the filing medical records of discharged patients using low-dose rivaroxaban for ASCVD at Anqing Municipal Hospital from February 2024 to January 2025 was evaluated. RESULTS The established DUE criteria included 3 primary indicators (medication indications, medication process, medication results) and 11 secondary indicators (such as indications, contraindications, etc.). The higher weighted secondary indicators being contraindications (0.117 9) and indications (0.112 1). A total of 265 medical records were included for evaluation. The evaluation results showed that 192 cases (72.45%) had reasonable medical records, 69 cases (26.04%) had basic reasonable medical records, and 4 cases (1.51%) had unreasonable medical records; unreasonable types mainly included inappropriate combination therapy, inappropriate usage and dosage, inappropriate post- medication monitoring, and inappropriate drug switching, etc. CONCLUSIONS This study establishes a DUE criteria for low-dose rivaroxaban in ASCVD based on the DPI antithrombotic treatment regimen, and the evaluation results are intuitive, reliable, and quantifiable. The use of low-dose rivaroxaban in ASCVD patients in our hospital is relatively reasonable, but further management needs to be strengthened.
3.Identification and functional analysis of β-amyrin synthase gene in Dipsacus asper.
Huan LEI ; Hua HE ; Jiao XU ; Chang-Gui YANG ; Wei-Ke JIANG ; Tao ZHOU ; Lan-Ping GUO
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(4):1043-1050
Dipsaci Radix is a commonly used Chinese herbal medicine in China, with triterpenoid saponins as the main active components. β-Amyrin synthase, a member of the oxidosqualene cyclase superfamily, plays a crucial role in the biosynthesis of oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins. Asperosaponin Ⅵ is an oleanane-type triterpenoid saponin. To explore the β-amyrin synthase genes involved in the biosynthesis of asperosaponin Ⅵ in Dipsacus asper, this study screened the candidate genes from the transcriptome data of D. asper. Two β-amyrin synthase genes, Da OSC1 and Da OSC2, were identified by phylogenetic analysis and correlation analysis. The coding sequences of Da OSC1 and Da OSC2 were 2 286 bp and 2 295 bp in length, encoding 761 and 764 amino acids,respectively. Multiple sequence alignments showed that Da OSC1 and Da OSC2 had three conserved motifs( DCTAE, QW, and MWCYCR) unique to the oxidosqualene cyclase family. Real-time quantitative PCR results showed that Da OSC1 and Da OSC2 had the highest expression levels in the roots. Compared with normal growth conditions, the low-temperature treatment significantly upregulated the expression of Da OSC1 and Da OSC2. Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression of Da OSC1 and Da OSC2 in Nicotiana benthamiana resulted in the production of β-amyrin, which suggested that Da OSC1 and Da OSC2 were able to catalyze the synthesis of β-amyrin. This study clarified the catalytic functions of two β-amyrin synthases in D. asper, analyzed their expression patterns in different tissue and at low temperatures. The findings provide a foundation for further studying the biosynthetic pathway and regulatory mechanism of asperosaponin Ⅵ in D. asper.
Intramolecular Transferases/chemistry*
;
Phylogeny
;
Plant Proteins/chemistry*
;
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
;
Dipsacaceae/classification*
;
Saponins/metabolism*
;
Oleanolic Acid/metabolism*
4.Neuroplasticity Mechanisms of Exercise-induced Brain Protection
Li-Juan HOU ; Lan-Qun MAO ; Wei CHEN ; Ke LI ; Xu-Dong ZHAO ; Yin-Hao WANG ; Zi-Zheng YANG ; Tian-He WEI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(6):1435-1452
Neuroscience is a significant frontier discipline within the natural sciences and has become an important interdisciplinary frontier scientific field. Brain is one of the most complex organs in the human body, and its structural and functional analysis is considered the “ultimate frontier” of human self-awareness and exploration of nature. Driven by the strategic layout of “China Brain Project”, Chinese scientists have conducted systematic research focusing on “understanding the brain, simulating the brain, and protecting the brain”. They have made breakthrough progress in areas such as the principles of brain cognition, mechanisms and interventions for brain diseases, brain-like computation, and applications of brain-machine intelligence technology, aiming to enhance brain health through biomedical technology and improve the quality of human life. Due to limited understanding and comprehension of neuroscience, there are still many important unresolved issues in the field of neuroscience, resulting in a lack of effective measures to prevent and protect brain health. Therefore, in addition to actively developing new generation drugs, exploring non pharmacological treatment strategies with better health benefits and higher safety is particularly important. Epidemiological data shows that, exercise is not only an indispensable part of daily life but also an important non-pharmacological approach for protecting brain health and preventing neurodegenerative diseases, forming an emerging research field known as motor neuroscience. Basic research in motor neuroscience primarily focuses on analyzing the dynamic coding mechanisms of neural circuits involved in motor control, breakthroughs in motor neuroscience research depend on the construction of dynamic monitoring systems across temporal and spatial scales. Therefore, high spatiotemporal resolution detection of movement processes and movement-induced changes in brain structure and neural activity signals is an important technical foundation for conducting motor neuroscience research and has developed a set of tools based on traditional neuroscience methods combined with novel motor behavior decoding technologies, providing an innovative technical platform for motor neuroscience research. The protective effect of exercise in neurodegenerative diseases provides broad application prospects for its clinical translation. Applied research in motor neuroscience centers on deciphering the regulatory networks of neuroprotective molecules mediated by exercise. From the perspectives of exercise promoting neurogenesis and regeneration, enhancing synaptic plasticity, modulating neuronal functional activity, and remodeling the molecular homeostasis of the neuronal microenvironment, it aims to improve cognitive function and reduce the incidence of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. This has also advanced research into the molecular regulatory networks mediating exercise-induced neuroprotection and facilitated the clinical application and promotion of exercise rehabilitation strategies. Multidimensional analysis of exercise-regulated neural plasticity is the theoretical basis for elucidating the brain-protective mechanisms mediated by exercise and developing intervention strategies for neurological diseases. Thus,real-time analysis of different neural signals during active exercise is needed to study the health effects of exercise throughout the entire life cycle and enhance lifelong sports awareness. Therefore, this article will systematically summarize the innovative technological developments in motor neuroscience research, review the mechanisms of neural plasticity that exercise utilizes to protect the brain, and explore the role of exercise in the prevention and treatment of major neurodegenerative diseases. This aims to provide new ideas for future theoretical innovations and clinical applications in the field of exercise-induced brain protection.
5.Isorhamnetin Alleviates Inflammation-Induced Crosstalk between Kynurenine Pathway and Gut Microbiota in Depressed Mice
Mengjie XU ; Wei HE ; Ke YAN ; Xinru GAO ; Jun LI ; Dongyue XU ; Jiao XIAO ; Tingxu YAN
Biomolecules & Therapeutics 2025;33(2):297-310
Depression is a widespread psychiatric disorder with complex pathogenesis and unsatisfactory therapeutic effects. As a native flavonoid, Isorhamnetin (ISO) has been deemed to exert neuroprotective effects by antioxidation and regulation of immunity. However, no reports of anti-depressed effect of ISO have yet been found. The present study was conducted to clarify the mechanism basis of anti-depressed effect of ISO utilizing behavioral, biochemical, molecular approaches in vitro and in vivo and bio-informatics analysis. The effects of ISO on depressed mice was investigated through the SPT and FST, and the lesions were examined by H&E staining. Besides, the inflammatory factor and indicator in kynurenine pathway were assessed through detection kits, and the microbiota were checked by 16sRNA. Molecular docking study was performed to investigate the target of ISO. Additionally, Western blot was used to test the activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. The results indicated that ISO could enhance the sugar water preference of mice in SPT and reduce immobility time in FST. Further more, ISO suppressed peripheral and central inflammation, regulated the changes in kynurenine pathway and gut microbiota, inhibited activation of PI3K/AKT pathway, and presented good binding patterns with target proteins on PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that ISO alleviated depression-like behaviour by normalizing inflammation-induced dysregulation of the crosstalk between KP and gut microbiota disorder through regulated PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway.
6.Analysis of clinical characteristics and influencing factors of patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis combined with dyslipidemia.
Rong XIE ; Li-Guo ZHU ; Zi-Kai JIN ; Tian-Xiao FENG ; Ke ZHAO ; Da WANG ; Ling-Hui LI ; Xu WEI
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2025;38(5):487-493
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the co-morbid influencing factors of postmenopausal osteoporosis(PMOP) and dyslipidemia, and to provide evidence-based basis for clinical co-morbidity management.
METHODS:
Based on the 2017 to 2018 Beijing community cross-sectional survey data, PMOP patients were included and divided into the dyslipidemia group and the uncomplicated dyslipidemia group according to whether they were comorbid with dyslipidemia. Demographic characteristics, living habits and disease history were collected through questionnaires, and bone mineral density and bone metabolism biomarkers (osteocalcin, blood calcium, serum typeⅠprocollagen N-terminal prepeptide, etc.) were detected on site. Co-morbidity risk factors were analyzed using binary logistic regression.
RESULTS:
Three hundred and twenty patients with PMOP were included, including the comorbid group (75 patients) and the uncomplicated group (245 patients). The results showed that history of cardiovascular disease [OR=1.801, 95%CI(1.003, 3.236), P=0.049], history of cerebrovascular disease [OR=2.923, 95%CI(1.460, 5.854), P=0.002], frying and cooking methods[OR=5.388, 95%CI(1.632, 17.793), P=0.006], OST results[OR=0.910, 95%CI(0.843, 0.983), P=0.016], and blood Ca results [OR=60.249, 95%CI(1.862, 1 949.926), P=0.021] were the influencing factors of PMOP complicated with dyslipidemia.
CONCLUSION
Focus should be placed on the influencing factors of PMOP and dyslipidemia co-morbidities, with emphasis on multidimensional assessment, combining lifestyle interventions with bone metabolism marker monitoring to optimize co-morbidity management.
Humans
;
Dyslipidemias/epidemiology*
;
Female
;
Middle Aged
;
Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal/metabolism*
;
Aged
;
Cross-Sectional Studies
;
Risk Factors
;
Bone Density
7.Thiotepa-containing conditioning for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children with inborn errors of immunity: a retrospective clinical analysis.
Xiao-Jun WU ; Xia-Wei HAN ; Kai-Mei WANG ; Shao-Fen LIN ; Li-Ping QUE ; Xin-Yu LI ; Dian-Dian LIU ; Jian-Pei FANG ; Ke HUANG ; Hong-Gui XU
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(10):1240-1246
OBJECTIVES:
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of thiotepa (TT)-containing conditioning regimens for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in children with inborn errors of immunity (IEI).
METHODS:
Clinical data of 22 children with IEI who underwent HSCT were retrospectively reviewed. Survival after HSCT was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.
RESULTS:
Nine patients received a traditional conditioning regimen (fludarabine + busulfan + cyclophosphamide/etoposide) and underwent peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). Thirteen patients received a TT-containing modified conditioning regimen (TT + fludarabine + busulfan + cyclophosphamide), including seven PBSCT and six umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) cases. Successful engraftment with complete donor chimerism was achieved in all patients. Acute graft-versus-host disease occurred in 12 patients (one with grade III and the remaining with grade I-II). Chronic graft-versus-host disease occurred in one patient. The incidence of EB viremia in UCBT patients was lower than that in PBSCT patients (P<0.05). Over a median follow-up of 36.0 months, one death occurred. The 3-year overall survival (OS) rate was 100% for the modified regimen and 88.9% ± 10.5% for the traditional regimen (P=0.229). When comparing transplantation types, the 3-year OS rates were 100% for UCBT and 93.8% ± 6.1% for PBSCT (P>0.05), and the 3-year event-free survival rates were 100% and 87.1% ± 8.6%, respectively (P>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
TT-containing conditioning for allogeneic HSCT in children with IEI is safe and effective. Both UCBT and PBSCT may achieve high success rates.
Humans
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Transplantation Conditioning/methods*
;
Thiotepa/therapeutic use*
;
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Child, Preschool
;
Infant
;
Child
;
Transplantation, Homologous
;
Graft vs Host Disease
;
Adolescent
8.Celastrol directly targets LRP1 to inhibit fibroblast-macrophage crosstalk and ameliorates psoriasis progression.
Yuyu ZHU ; Lixin ZHAO ; Wei YAN ; Hongyue MA ; Wanjun ZHAO ; Jiao QU ; Wei ZHENG ; Chenyang ZHANG ; Haojie DU ; Meng YU ; Ning WAN ; Hui YE ; Yicheng XIE ; Bowen KE ; Qiang XU ; Haiyan SUN ; Yang SUN ; Zijun OUYANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(2):876-891
Psoriasis is an incurable chronic inflammatory disease that requires new interventions. Here, we found that fibroblasts exacerbate psoriasis progression by promoting macrophage recruitment via CCL2 secretion by single-cell multi-omics analysis. The natural small molecule celastrol was screened to interfere with the secretion of CCL2 by fibroblasts and improve the psoriasis-like symptoms in both murine and cynomolgus monkey models. Mechanistically, celastrol directly bound to the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) β-chain and abolished its binding to the transcription factor c-Jun in the nucleus, which in turn inhibited CCL2 production by skin fibroblasts, blocked fibroblast-macrophage crosstalk, and ameliorated psoriasis progression. Notably, fibroblast-specific LRP1 knockout mice exhibited a significant reduction in psoriasis like inflammation. Taken together, from clinical samples and combined with various mouse models, we revealed the pathogenesis of psoriasis from the perspective of fibroblast-macrophage crosstalk, and provided a foundation for LRP1 as a novel potential target for psoriasis treatment.
9.Small-sized twin-nanoparticles normalize tumor vasculature to enhance tumor accumulation and penetration for potent eradication of cancer stem-like cells.
Changshun ZHAO ; Wei WANG ; Zhengchun HUANG ; Yuqing WAN ; Rui XU ; Junmei ZHANG ; Bingbing ZHAO ; Ke WANG ; Suchen WEN ; Yinan ZHONG ; Dechun HUANG ; Wei CHEN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(10):5458-5473
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are proposed to account for the progression, metastasis, and recurrence of diverse malignancies. However, the disorganized vasculars in tumors hinder the accumulation and penetration of nanomedicines, posing a challenge in eliminating CSCs located distantly from blood vessels. Herein, a pair of twin-like small-sized nanoparticles, sunitinib (St)-loaded ROS responsive micelles (RM@St) and salinomycin (SAL)-loaded GSH responsive micelles (GM@SAL), are developed to normalize disordered tumor vessels and eradicate CSCs. RM@St releases sunitinib in response to the abundant ROS in the tumor extracellular microenvironment for tumor vessel normalization, which improved intratumor accumulation and homogeneous distribution of small-sized GM@SAL. Sequentially, GM@SAL effectively accesses CSCs and achieves reduction-responsive drug release at high GSH concentrations within CSCs. More importantly, RM@St significantly extends the window of vessel normalization and enhances vessel integrity compared to free sunitinib, thus further amplifying the anti-tumor effect of GM@SAL. The combination therapy of RM@St plus GM@SAL produces considerable depression of tumor growth, drastically reducing CSCs fractions to 5.6% and resulting in 78.4% inhibition of lung metastasis. This study offers novel insights into rational nanomedicines designed for superior therapeutic effects by vascular normalization and anti-CSCs therapy.
10.Isorhamnetin Alleviates Inflammation-Induced Crosstalk between Kynurenine Pathway and Gut Microbiota in Depressed Mice
Mengjie XU ; Wei HE ; Ke YAN ; Xinru GAO ; Jun LI ; Dongyue XU ; Jiao XIAO ; Tingxu YAN
Biomolecules & Therapeutics 2025;33(2):297-310
Depression is a widespread psychiatric disorder with complex pathogenesis and unsatisfactory therapeutic effects. As a native flavonoid, Isorhamnetin (ISO) has been deemed to exert neuroprotective effects by antioxidation and regulation of immunity. However, no reports of anti-depressed effect of ISO have yet been found. The present study was conducted to clarify the mechanism basis of anti-depressed effect of ISO utilizing behavioral, biochemical, molecular approaches in vitro and in vivo and bio-informatics analysis. The effects of ISO on depressed mice was investigated through the SPT and FST, and the lesions were examined by H&E staining. Besides, the inflammatory factor and indicator in kynurenine pathway were assessed through detection kits, and the microbiota were checked by 16sRNA. Molecular docking study was performed to investigate the target of ISO. Additionally, Western blot was used to test the activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. The results indicated that ISO could enhance the sugar water preference of mice in SPT and reduce immobility time in FST. Further more, ISO suppressed peripheral and central inflammation, regulated the changes in kynurenine pathway and gut microbiota, inhibited activation of PI3K/AKT pathway, and presented good binding patterns with target proteins on PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that ISO alleviated depression-like behaviour by normalizing inflammation-induced dysregulation of the crosstalk between KP and gut microbiota disorder through regulated PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway.

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