1.The Role of Histone Lactylation in Diseases and Intervention by Traditional Chinese Medicine
Xin ZHANG ; Jie DU ; Zhao-Huan LI ; Feng GAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(4):887-904
Histone lactylation is a recently identified post-translational modification, wherein lactate mediates the enzymatic addition of lactyl groups to lysine residues on histones. Since its discovery, extensive research has demonstrated that histone lactylation is widely present in human tissues and plays a pivotal role in regulating the transcription of specific genes. Subsequent studies have further established this modification as a widespread epigenetic mark with significant physiological implications. With advancing research, accumulating evidence confirms that lactylation at distinct histone sites elicits diverse biological effects—such as promoting cell proliferation, driving inflammatory responses, and enhancing fibrosis—all of which profoundly influence disease progression and serve as key drivers of disease onset and development. Conversely, inhibiting histone lactylation can alter disease outcomes, positioning histone lactylation as a promising therapeutic target. Moreover, studies have revealed crosstalk between histone lactylation and other post-translational modifications, such as acetylation and methylation, which collectively regulate disease progression. Notably, lactylation occurs not only on histones but also on non-histone proteins. Histone lactylation activates specific gene transcription and reshapes metabolic epigenetics, while non-histone lactylation directly modulates enzyme activity, signal transduction, and protein stability. These two facets form a synergistic network through shared lactate pools, common modifying enzyme systems, and pathway crosstalk, thereby constructing a multi-dimensional regulatory framework—namely, the “histone lactylation-metabolism hub-non-histone lactylation” axis. This architecture bridges metabolism and epigenetics, and deciphering its topological structure may provide novel targets for precise intervention in diseases driven by lactate-mediated signaling hijacking. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), grounded in clinical practice, has been shown to regulate histone lactylation by modulating lactate metabolism and lactylation-related enzymes, thereby influencing disease progression. Moreover, certain TCM formulations exhibit potential as alternative therapies for drug-resistant diseases, underscoring the significance of further exploring TCM-mediated regulation of histone lactylation in future therapeutic strategies. This review aims to elucidate the mechanisms underlying histone lactylation, systematically delineate the associations between site-specific histone lactylation and various diseases, present a comprehensive landscape of the “lactate-histone lactylation and functional protein lactylation” axis, and summarize the mechanistic basis and research advances in TCM-mediated regulation of histone lactylation for disease treatment. Additionally, we discuss current challenges in histone lactylation research and propose future directions, ultimately aiming to deepen understanding and broaden perspectives on the roles and therapeutic potential of histone lactylation in disease.
2.Exploring on Quality Evaluation Methods of Clinical Case Reports in Traditional Chinese Medicine Based on China Clinical Cases Library of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Kaige ZHANG ; Feng ZHANG ; Bo ZHOU ; Haimin CHEN ; Yong ZHU ; Changcheng HOU ; Liangzhen YOU ; Weijun HUANG ; Jie YANG ; Guoshuang ZHU ; Shukun GONG ; Jianwen HE ; Yang YE ; Yuqiu AN ; Chunquan SUN ; Qingjie YUAN ; Buman LI ; Xingzhong FENG ; Kegang CAO ; Hongcai SHANG ; Jihua GUO ; Xiaoxiao ZHANG ; Zhining TIAN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(1):271-276
As the core vehicle for preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) academic thought and clinical experience, the establishment of a robust quality evaluation system for TCM clinical case reports is a crucial component in the current standardization and modernization of TCM. Based on the practical experience of constructing the China Clinical Cases Library of Traditional Chinese Medicine by the China Association of Chinese Medicine, this study conducted a comprehensive analysis of critical challenges, including insufficient authenticity and unfocused evaluation criteria. It proposed a three-dimensional evaluation framework grounded in the structure-process-outcome logic, encompassing three dimensions of authenticity and standardization, characteristics and advantages, application and translational impact. This framework integrated 12 key evaluation indicators in a systematic manner. The model preserved the academic characteristics of TCM syndrome differentiation and treatment, while aligning with modern scientific research standards, achieving a balance between individualized TCM experience and standardized evaluation. Concurrently, this study provided theoretical foundations and methodological guidance for evaluating the quality of TCM clinical cases, contributing significantly to the inheritance of TCM knowledge, evidence-based practice, and the reform of talent evaluation mechanisms.
3.Targeting GYS1: From Metabolic Regulatory Mechanisms to Precision Therapeutic Strategies
Jia-Nan ZHAO ; Yu-Xuan LI ; Jie ZHU ; Hong LI ; Xiao-Feng JIN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(7):1807-1825
Glycogen synthase 1 (GYS1) is the rate-limiting enzyme responsible for glycogen synthesis in skeletal muscle, heart, brain, and other extrahepatic tissues, playing a central role in systemic energy homeostasis. The human GYS1 gene maps to chromosome 19q13.33, comprises 16 exons, and encodes a 737-amino-acid polypeptide that is highly conserved across mammals. GYS1 activity is subject to multilayered and precisely coordinated regulation. At the transcriptional level, the GYS1 promoter contains a hypoxia response element (HRE) that mediates HIF-1α-dependent induction under low-oxygen conditions, as well as a muscle-specific enhancer harboring MEF2 and MyoD binding sites that confers tissue-restricted expression. At the post-translational level, a hierarchical phosphorylation cascade serves as the primary activity switch: glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) sequentially phosphorylates four C-terminal serine residues following casein kinase II priming, while protein kinase A (PKA) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) provide parallel inhibitory inputs at both N- and C-terminal sites. Dephosphorylation and reactivation are mediated by protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) through tissue-specific glycogen-targeting regulatory subunits such as PPP1R3A and PPP1R3B, which anchor PP1 to glycogen particles and direct its activity toward GYS1. The allosteric activator glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) binds at the dimer interface, simultaneously enhancing catalytic efficiency and promoting dephosphorylation susceptibility, thereby establishing a feed-forward activation loop that couples substrate availability to glycogen synthesis. Beyond phosphorylation, GYS1 is regulated by ubiquitination (mediated by the E3 ligase PJA1), acetylation, O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) modification, and SUMOylation, which collectively modulate protein stability, subcellular localization, and protein-protein interactions. Epigenetic mechanisms, including CpG island methylation and histone acetylation dynamics, govern chromatin accessibility at the GYS1 locus, while muscle-specific microRNAs such as miR-1 and miR-206 fine-tune GYS1 expression at the post-transcriptional level. Dysregulation of GYS1 has been identified as a central pathogenic driver in a spectrum of human diseases. In inherited glycogen storage disorders—including Lafora disease, adult polyglucosan body disease (APBD), and Pompe disease—loss of upstream regulatory control leads to GYS1 hyperactivation and the accumulation of structurally abnormal or excessive glycogen, resulting in progressive neurodegeneration, myopathy, and multiorgan dysfunction. In type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), impaired insulin signaling through the PI3K-AKT-GSK3β axis maintains GYS1 in a hyperphosphorylated inactive state in skeletal muscle, compromising postprandial glucose disposal and exacerbating hyperglycemia. In oncology, GYS1 exhibits context-dependent roles across multiple cancer types. In hepatocellular carcinoma, FMO2+ cancer-associated fibroblasts stabilize GYS1 by competitively inhibiting PJA1-mediated ubiquitination, and stabilized GYS1 subsequently activates NF‑κB/CCL19 signaling to promote tertiary lymphoid structure formation and enhance anti-PD-1 immunotherapy responsiveness. In clear cell renal cell carcinoma, GYS1 promotes tumor progression through non-canonical NF‑κB pathway activation via the scaffold protein RPS27A. In triple-negative breast cancer, GYS1 has been identified as a trigger of disulfidptosis and an activator of NF-κB signaling through non-enzymatic facilitation of IκBα degradation. In colorectal cancer, mitochondrial fission deficiency drives AMPK-dependent GYS1 upregulation and glycogen accumulation as a compensatory survival mechanism, while in cervical cancer, GYS1-maintained glycogen reserves fuel the pentose phosphate pathway to generate NADPH for ROS clearance, thereby conferring cisplatin resistance in cancer stem cells. Therapeutic strategies targeting GYS1 have gained substantial momentum across these disease contexts. For glycogen storage disorders, antisense oligonucleotides, small interfering RNAs (e.g., ABX1100), and small-molecule inhibitors (e.g., MZ-101) have demonstrated preclinical and early clinical efficacy in reducing pathological glycogen accumulation. For T2DM, pharmacological activation of GYS1 through GSK3β inhibition or enhancement of PP1-mediated dephosphorylation is being explored to restore insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis. In cancer, GYS1-directed interventions—including targeted silencing to sensitize tumors to chemotherapy and immune microenvironment modulation to enhance immunotherapy—represent emerging precision oncology approaches. This review provides a comprehensive and integrated account of GYS1 gene structure, tissue-specific distribution, regulatory networks, and pathogenic roles in metabolic disorders and malignancies, with the aim of establishing a theoretical framework for the development of GYS1-targeted precision therapies.
4.Analysis of radiosensitivity indicators for radiation workers at a nuclear power plant
Nan MA ; Junchao FENG ; Yulong LIU ; Jie LI ; Yu GAO
Chinese Journal of Radiological Health 2025;34(2):264-269
Objective To analyze the health effects of long-term occupational exposure to ionizing radiation on radiation workers in a nuclear power plant, and to provide a scientific basis for their occupational health monitoring. Methods In 2023, 183 radiation workers in a nuclear power plant were subjected to the analysis of blood cell parameters such as mean red blood cell count, white blood cell count (WBC), lymphocyte count, and hemoglobin count, thyroid function indicators such as serum triiodothyronine, thyroxine, and thyrotropin, as well as the chromosomal aberration rate and micronucleus rate of the lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. Results The blood cell parameters, thyroid function indicators, chromosomal aberration rate, and micronucleus rate of these radiation workers in the nuclear power plant were within normal reference ranges. Comparison among radiation workers with different ages showed statistically significant differences in triiodothyronine (H = 6.98, P < 0.05) and micronucleus rate (H = 48.44, P < 0.05). Among the three groups of radiation workers with different working years, WBC was significantly different (χ2 = 3.87, P < 0.05), with the lowest WBC observed in radiation workers with ≥ 20 years of service. Thyroxine (χ2 = 4.01, P < 0.05) and micronucleus rate (H = 40.95, P < 0.05) also varied significantly among these three groups. Conclusion Thyroid triiodothyronine level and micronucleus rate were affected by age, while WBC, thyroid thyroxine level, and micronucleus rate were related to working years. Targeted health management should be carried out for radiation workers in nuclear power plants to improve the awareness of radiation protection and continuously enhance their health status.
5.The application strategies of non-uniform sampling in the structure elucidation of small molecule compounds—an instantiation using fuziline
Li-li ZHANG ; Ke ZHANG ; Jie LIU ; Chun-wang MENG ; Rui FENG ; Liang XIONG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(1):218-224
Two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (2D NMR) is a widely used technique for structural analysis of small molecular compounds. It can obtain information about the hydrogen-hydrogen correlation, hydrogen-carbon single bond correlation, hydrogen-carbon remote correlation, and hydrogen-hydrogen spatial arrangement of compounds. Thus, 2D NMR has an irreplaceable role in the structure elucidation of small molecular products. However, the sample amount of trace components in phytochemical research is very low, and the traditional sampling method (uniform sampling) has problems of poor spectral quality and too long measure time. Increasing the number of scans results in several hours of the acquisition time for a single two-dimensional spectrum, which in turn causes strain on the NMR machine. The non-uniform sampling (NUS) technique can shorten the acquisition time to a large extent and not affect the quality of 2D NMR data, which greatly improves the efficiency of 2D NMR acquisition. In this paper, fuziline, a small molecular compound in the lateral roots of
6.Effect of atosiban on hemodynamic parameters of uterine arteries and clinical effect evaluation in patients with previous implantation failure undergoing frozen-thawed embryo transfer
Lanlan CHENG ; Jie ZHANG ; Yungai XIANG ; Lijing WAN ; Chao LIU ; Zonggang FENG ; Li TAN
Chinese Journal of Reproduction and Contraception 2025;45(7):702-708
Objective:To investigate the effect of atosiban on hemodynamic parameters of uterine arteries and clinical effect evaluation in patients with previous implantation failure undergoing frozen-thawed embryo transfer.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze 298 cycles of FET in the Department of Reproductive Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2021 to June 2023. Patients were categorized into atosiban group ( n=149) and control group ( n=149) according to whether administered atosiban or not. The related indicators and clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups. Hemodynamic parameters of the uterine arteries, including bilateral uterine artery peak systolic velocity/diastolic velocity (S/D), pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), and serum levels of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and oxytocin were compared before and after atosiban treatment. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were applied to assess the effect of atosiban on pregnancy outcomes. The effect of atosiban on live birth rate was analyzed by age stratification. Results:The implantation rate [51.92% (135/260)], the clinical pregnancy rate [67.11% (100/149)] and the live birth rate [59.06% (88/149)] in atosiban group were significantly higher than those in control group [41.13% (102/248), P=0.015; 51.01% (76/149), P=0.005; 40.27% (60/149), P=0.001]; and the early miscarriage rate [9.00% (9/100)] was lower than that of control group [19.74% (15/76), P=0.040]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that atosiban was an independent influencing factor of live birth rate ( OR=2.236, 95% CI: 1.371-3.646, P=0.001). The post-treatment right uterine artery blood flow S/D [4.61 (4.00, 5.36)], PI [1.81 (1.58, 2.05)], RI [0.79 (0.75, 0.82)], and left uterine artery blood flow S/D [4.62 (3.83, 5.61)], PI (1.84±0.38), RI [0.79 (0.74, 0.82)] were all lower than those before treatment [right S/D 4.93 (4.06, 6.04), P<0.001; PI 1.93 (1.60, 2.17), P=0.001; RI 0.80 (0.76, 0.83), P<0.001; left S/D 5.05 (4.20, 6.32), P<0.001; PI 1.95±0.43, P<0.001; RI 0.81 (0.76, 0.84), P<0.001]. Besides, the levels of PGF2α [97.01 (85.15, 109.93) ng/L] and oxytocin [41.18 (37.16, 46.78) ng/L] after treatment in atosiban group were significantly lower than those before treatment [119.71 (108.85, 129.99) ng/L, P<0.001; 51.87 (46.44, 55.54) ng/L, P<0.001). Moreover, the endometrial peristalsis waves in atosiban group were significantly less after treatment [1.00 (0.00, 2.00) times/min] than before treatment [2.00 (1.00, 3.00) times/min], and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001). Conclusion:Atosiban can improve uterine artery blood flow and reduce endometrial peristalsis waves in women with previous implantation failure, which increases endometrial blood perfusion. Additionally, it can also reduce the levels of PGF2α and oxytocin, and optimize the pregnancy outcome of the frozen-thawed embryo transfer.
7.Impact of the LMNA gene on the migration ability of colorectal cancer cells SW480 and exploration of the related mechanisms
Weiwei LI ; Feng CAI ; Jie ZHAO ; Sai YE
Chinese Journal of Endocrine Surgery 2025;19(2):276-280
Objective:To explore the expression of lamin (LMN) gene in Colorectal cancer (CRC) , as well as the effects of knockdown LMNA expression in colorectal cancer cells on its migration ability and related molecular mechanisms.Methods:Paraffin-embedded specimens of tumor tissues and corresponding peritumoral tissues were collected from 37 colorectal cancer patients for the detection of LMNA protein expression. Colorectal cancer cell line SW480 was cultured in vitro and divided into Mock group (transfected MOCk-siRNA) and LMNA group (transfected LMNA-siRNA) . Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the LMNA mRNA content in SW480 cells of experimental group and control group. The expression levels of LMNA, Wnt and β-catenin in SW480 cells of experimental group and control group were detected by Western blotting. The migration ability of cells in each group was detected by cell scratch test. The migration ability of cells in each group were detected by transwell assay.Results:Immunohistochemical test showed that the positive rate of LMNA protein in colorectal cancer tissues was 89.19% (33/37 cases) , and the expression rate in corresponding paracancer tissues was 48.65% (18/37 cases) . The expression level of LMNA in colorectal cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in paracancer tissues ( P<0.001) . siRNA decreased the expression of LMNA protein in colorectal cancer cells SW480. The scratch healing rate was (53.71±5.34) % in the experimental group and (83.84±6.98) % in the control group. The results of Transwell experiment showed that the number of successfully migrated cells in the experimental group was 34.92±5.11, and that in the control group was 93.87±12.57. The results showed that the migration ability of SW480 cells was significantly decreased after low expression of LMNA ( P<0.01) . Western blot results showed that the relative expression level of Wnt and β-catenin in LMNA group was 0.42±0.12 and 0.22±0.11 respectively. The relative expression levels of Wnt and β-catenin in MOCK group were 1.28±0.26 and 1.14±0.21 respectively. The expression levels of P16 and Wnt and β-catenin in PC3 cells with low LMNA expression were increased ( P<0.05) , while the expressions of WNT and β-catenin were decreased (both P<0.05) . Conclusion:The expression of LMNA was significantly increased in colorectal cancer, which may be related to the malignant degree of colorectal cancer. LMNA proteins may affect the migration ability of colorectal cancer cells by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
8.Analysis of Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors for Bone Lesions in Patients with Multiple Myeloma
Chen-Yang LI ; Qi-Ke ZHANG ; Xiao-Fang WEI ; You-Fan FENG ; Yuan FU ; Qiao-Lin CHEN ; Wen-Jie ZHANG ; Yuan-Yuan ZHANG ; Shao-Hua ZHANG ; Shang-Yi ZHANG ; Jie LIU
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(6):1635-1639
Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with multiple myeloma(MM)complicated by bone lesions and the risk factors associated with bone lesions.Methods:The clinical data of 294 newly diagnosed MM patients in Gansu Provincial Hospital from January 2017 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into the bone lesion group(154 cases)and the non-bone lesions group(140 cases)based on the presence of absence of bone lesions at diagnosis.The general data and laboratory parameters were compared between the two groups.The risk factors for bone lesions in MM patients were analyzed by logistic regression analysis,and the characteristic(ROC)curves were plotted to assess the predictive value of each risk factor for the occurrence of bone lesions in MM patients.Results:Compared to the non-bone lesion group,the bone lesion group had significantly higher serum calcium levels and significantly greater proportions of patients with Durie-Salmon(DS)stage Ⅲ,and bone pain(all P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that elevated serum calcium(OR=5.135,95%CI:1.931-13.653,P=0.001),DS stage Ⅲ(OR=1.841,95%CI:1.019-3.328,P=0.043),and bone pain(OR=8.208,95%CI:4.761-14.151,P<0.001)were independent risk factors for bone lesions in MM patients.ROC curve analysis showed that serum calcium(AUC=0.619,95%CI:0.555-0.683,P<0.001)and bone pain(AUC=0.743,95%CI:0.692-0.793,P<0.001)had predictive value for bone lesions in MM patients.Conclusion:MM patients have a high incidence of bone lesions,and active monitoring and management of risk factors may improve treatment outcomes and prognosis.
9.Analysis of selenium levels in typical Keshan disease endemic and non-endemic areas of Yunnan Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
Xin ZHANG ; Shuqiu SUN ; Dandan LI ; Hongqi FENG ; Cuicui CHEN ; Jie HOU
Chinese Journal of Endemiology 2025;44(8):652-656
Objective:To investigate the selenium levels in hair, grain, and soil samples collected from residents in typical Keshan disease (KD) endemic and non-endemic areas of Yunnan Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (referred to as Inner Mongolia), and to provide basic data for evaluating the effectiveness of KD prevention and control strategies.Methods:In 2018, one county with a history of severe KD and one non-endemic county with a similar environment were selected from each of Yunnan Province and Inner Mongolia. Within each county, one natural village was selected as the survey site. Ten soil samples were collected from each village. Ten households were stratified based on their annual per capita income levels of low, medium, and high (3, 4, 3 households, respectively). Three samples of hair and three samples of grain were collected from each household, and selenium level was measured using hydride atomic fluorescence spectrometry.Results:A total of 118 hair samples, 125 grain samples, and 39 soil samples were collected. The selenium levels in the hair of residents from KD endemic areas were significantly lower than those from non-endemic areas within the same province ( P < 0.05), and there was no statistically significant difference in selenium levels in grain and soil ( P > 0.05). The selenium level in the hair of residents in Yunnan Province [0.36 (0.31, 0.41) mg/kg] was higher than that in Inner Mongolia [0.31 (0.25, 0.35) mg/kg, Z = - 3.87, P < 0.001]. The proportion of sufficient hair selenium levels (≥0.30 mg/kg) was 86.7% (52/60) in Yunnan Province and 55.2% (32/58) in Inner Mongolia, with a statistically significant difference (χ 2 = 14.26, P < 0.001). Selenium levels in grain and soil in Yunnan Province were lower than those in Inner Mongolia ( P < 0.001). The proportion of sufficient grain selenium levels (> 0.02 mg/kg) was 5.7% (4/70) in Yunnan Province and 12.7% (7/55) in Inner Mongolia, with a significant difference (χ 2 = 11.88, P = 0.003). The selenium levels in soil in both provinces reached the sufficient level (≥0.20 mg/kg). Conclusions:The selenium levels in the population of KD endemic areas are lower than those in non-endemic regions, and the selenium deficiency among residents in Inner Mongolia is more prominent than in Yunnan Province. The selenium levels in Inner Mongolia's grain and soil are higher than those in Yunnan Province. In the future prevention and control of KD attention should be paid to monitoring the selenium nutrition level of the population in KD areas, especially in Inner Mongolia areas located in the north.
10.Research hotspots and future trends in auricular acupoint therapy over the past decade
Qingqin LI ; Qin XU ; Feng GONG ; Jie QIN ; Yu JIN ; Tingting LU
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2025;31(33):4553-4558
Objective:To conduct a bibliometric analysis of research on auricular acupoint therapy (AAT) published between 2014 and 2024 in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) , in order to identify research hotspots and explore future research trends.Methods:CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and CNKI's bibliometric visualization platform were used to analyze publications from multiple perspectives, including annual publication trends, institutional distribution, author collaboration networks, keyword co-occurrence, and journal sources.Results:From 2014 to 2024, research on auricular acupoint therapy underwent a transition from rapid growth to steady development. The research focus shifted from traditional Chinese medicine theories to integration with modern neuroscience and technology. Domestic research was primarily concentrated in universities and institutes of traditional Chinese medicine, with collaboration mainly occurring at the regional level. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) became the predominant study design, although issues related to methodological rigor persist. Keyword analysis showed a shift in research hotspots from traditional conditions like headache and insomnia to contemporary health concerns such as depression, anxiety, and hyperlipidemia.Conclusions:Auricular acupoint therapy is increasingly incorporating modern scientific and technological approaches. Research methodologies are becoming more standardized, and areas of application are continuously expanding. Future studies should focus on enhancing interdisciplinary collaboration, improving research design quality, and deepening international cooperation to promote the broader adoption and development of AAT within the global healthcare system.

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