1.Exploring Chemical Constituent Distribution in Blood/Brain(Hippocampus) and Emotional Regulatory Effect of Raw and Vinegar-processed Products of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride
Yi BAO ; Yonggui SONG ; Qianmin LI ; Zhifu AI ; Genhua ZHU ; Ming YANG ; Huanhua XU ; Qin ZHENG ; Yiting HUANG ; Zihan GAO ; Dan SU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(2):189-197
ObjectiveTo investigate the migration and distribution characteristics of chemical constituents in blood and hippocampal tissues before and after vinegar processing of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride(CRPV), and to explore the potential material basis and mechanisms underlying their regulatory effects on emotional disorders by comparing the effects of raw and vinegar-processed products of CRPV. MethodsUltra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) was employed to characterize and identify the chemical constituents of raw and vinegar-processed products of CRPV extracts, as well as their migrating components in blood and hippocampal tissues after oral administration. Reference standards, databases, and relevant literature were utilized for compound annotation, with data processing performed using PeakView 1.2 software. Seventy male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into seven groups, including the blank group, model group, diazepam group(2.5 mg·kg-1), raw CRPV low/high dose groups(0.6, 1.2 g·kg-1), and vinegar-processed CRPV low/high dose groups(0.6, 1.2 g·kg-1), with 10 mice per group. Except for the blank group, all other groups underwent chronic restraint stress(2 h·d-1) for 20 d. Each drug-treated group received oral administration at the predetermined dose starting 10 d after modeling, with a total treatment duration of 10 d. Following model-based drug administration, mice underwent open-field, forced swimming, and elevated plus maze tests. After anesthesia with isoflurane, whole brains were collected from each group of mice, and hippocampi were dissected. Reactive oxygen species(ROS) level in hippocampal tissues was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe hippocampal tissue morphology. Immunofluorescence was performed to detect neuronal nuclei(NeuN) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha(PPARα) expressions in hippocampal tissue. Then, pharmacodynamic evaluations were conducted to assess the effects of raw and vinegar-processed CRPV on mood disorders, exploring the potential mechanisms. ResultsVinegar processing caused significant changes in the chemical composition of CRPV, with 18 components showing increased relative content and 35 components showing decreased relative content. The primary changes occurred in flavonoid compounds, including 20 flavonoids, 20 flavonoid glycosides, 3 triterpenes, 3 phenolic acids, 1 alkaloid, and 6 other compounds. Twenty-one components were detected in blood(15 methoxyflavones, 4 flavonoid glycosides, and 2 phenolic acids), with 17 shared between raw and vinegar-processed CRPV. Seven components reached hippocampal tissues(all common to both forms). In regulating emotional disorders, Vinegar-processed CRPV exhibited superior antidepressant-like effects compared to raw products. HE staining revealed that both treatments improved hippocampal neuronal morphology, particularly in the damaged CA1 and CA3 regions. Immunofluorescence and ELISA analyses demonstrated that both raw and vinegar-processed CRPV significantly modulated NeuN and PPARα expressions in hippocampal tissue while alleviating oxidative stress induced by excessive ROS(P<0.05). ConclusionThe chemical composition of CRPV undergoes changes after vinegar processing, but the migrating components in blood and hippocampus are primarily methoxyflavonoids. These components may serve as the potential material basis for activating the PPARα pathway, thereby negatively regulating ROS generation in the hippocampus, reducing oxidative stress, and promoting the development of NeuN-positive neurons. These findings provide experimental evidence for enhancing quality standards, pharmacodynamic material research, and active drug development of raw and vinegar-processed CRPV.
2.Comparison of Efficacy and Mechanism in Warming Yang and Dispersing Cold of Aconiti Radix Lateralis Praeparata Processed by ZHANG Zhongjing's Method and Pharmacopoeia Method
Mingjie JIAO ; Qian CHEN ; Shuyu YAN ; Yiyan SONG ; Jia ZHANG ; Fei LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(2):207-217
ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanism of decoctions from four kinds of processed products of Aconiti Radix Lateralis Praeparata(ARLP) in deficiency-cold syndrome. MethodsA total of 36 SD rats were randomly divided into the control group, model group, Shengfupian(SFP) group, Paofuzi(PFZ) group, Heishunpian(HSP) group and Paofupian(PFP) group with 6 rats in each group. Except for the control group, rats in other groups were administered hydrocortisone sodium succinate via intramuscular injection to induce a cold deficiency syndrome model. After 14 consecutive days, each ARLP decoction pieces was administered via continuous gastric lavage at a dose of 12 g·kg-1·d-1 for 7 d, while the control and model groups received an equivalent volume of physiological saline. After the end of administration, body weight, spleen weight and thymus weight were measured for calculating the spleen and thymus indexes. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe the pathological morphology of adrenal tissue. The fully automatic biochemistry analyzer was used to measure the total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), lactic dehydrogenase(LDH) and lactate(LAC) levels in serum. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was employed to measure the contents of 17-hydroxycorticosteroid(17-OHCS), cortisol(CORT), triiodothyronine(T3), thyroxine(T4), thyrotropin(TSH), immunoglobulin(Ig) M, IgG, cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate(cGMP). Western blot was used to measure the protein expression levels of protein kinase A(PKA), cAMP response element-binding protein(CREB), silent information regulator 1(Sirt1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α(PGC-1α). And high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) was used to determine the content of major alkaloids, followed by Pearson correlation analysis with pharmacodynamic indicators. ResultsAfter modeling, compare with the control group, the model rats exhibited symptoms such as lethargy and loose stools, mild abnormalities were observed in adrenal tissue structure, and both spleen and thymus indices were significantly reduced(P<0.01). Thyroid, adrenal and immune system functions were suppressed, with decreased serum cAMP level and significantly elevated cGMP level(P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the adrenal injury by hydrocortisone sodium succinate were repaired and the spleen index were increased significantly in all four ARLP groups(P<0.05, P<0.01). The thymus index in SFP and PFZ groups were increased significantly(P<0.05). The contents of T3, TSH, 17-OHCS and CORT were increased significantly in SFP and PFZ groups(P<0.05). In addition, the content of IgG in SFP, PFZ and PFP groups were increased significantly(P<0.01), while the content of IgM in PFZ and HSP groups were also increased significantly(P<0.05). Regarding the cyclic nucleotide system, PFZ significantly elevated cAMP level while reducing cGMP level(P<0.05), exhibiting the most pronounced effect among the four decoction pieces. For energy metabolism indicators, PFZ significantly improved abnormal markers including TC, TG, LDH, and LAC(P<0.05). HSP showed marked improvement effects on TG, LDH, and LAC(P<0.05). Both PFZ and SFP significantly elevated the expression levels of PKA, CREB, Sirt1, and PGC-1α proteins(P<0.01). Additionally, the diester alkaloids in ARLP showed a strong positive correlation with TG, IgG, and CORT, a strong negative correlation with LAC, a moderate positive correlation with T4, and moderate negative correlations with cAMP and spleen index. Monomeric alkaloids showed strong positive correlations with TG and IgG, strong negative correlations with LAC, moderate positive correlations with CORT and T4, and moderate negative correlations with cAMP and spleen index. However, the content of water-soluble alkaloids showed strong positive correlations with TC, LDH, 17-OHCS, T3, TSH, and thymus index, moderate positive correlations with cAMP, CORT, T4, and spleen index, and moderate negative correlation with cGMP. ConclusionAmong different processed ARLP decoction pieces, PFZ processed according to ZHANG Zhongjing's method exhibits the most potent warming and cold-dispelling effects. Its pharmacological actions are mediated through regulating the thyroid, adrenal, immune, cyclic nucleotide systems, and material-energy metabolism pathways. Among these, water-soluble alkaloids show strong or moderate correlations with more indicators of deficiency-cold syndrome and exhibit the highest content in PFZ. Therefore, PFZ processed according to ZHANG Zhongjing's method may exert its warming and cold-dispelling effects through water-soluble alkaloids.
3.Effect of red blood cell transfusion volume on postoperative oxygenation index during lung transplantation
Dapeng WANG ; Zhongping XU ; Xiaoshan LI ; Tao ZHOU ; Song WANG ; Hongyang XU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(01):72-78
Objective To investigate the impact of intraoperative red blood cell (RBC) transfusion volume on the postoperative oxygenation index in lung transplant recipients. Methods This retrospective study analyzed the clinical data of patients who underwent lung transplantation at Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from 2021 to 2023. Patients were divided into a non-severe primary graft dysfunction (PGD) group and a severe PGD group based on whether their postoperative oxygenation index was>200 mm Hg at 0, 24, and 48 h. General patient data and intraoperative RBC transfusion volumes were compared between the two groups. A binary logistic regression model was constructed to explore the effect size (OR and its 95%CI) of RBC transfusion volume on postoperative oxygenation status at different time points (0, 24, and 48 h). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was calculated to evaluate the model's diagnostic performance. Results A total of 351 patients were included (260 males, 91 females), with ages ranging from 20 to 77 years. The OR for the effect of intraoperative RBC transfusion on poor oxygenation was 1.486 (95%CI 0.982 to 2.248, P=0.061) at 0 h postoperatively, 3.111 (95%CI 1.793 to 5.399, P<0.001) at 24 h, and 1.583 (95%CI 1.026 to 2.442, P=0.038) at 48 h. This indicated that as time progressed, the postoperative oxygenation status of lung transplant recipients was affected by the intraoperative transfusion volume. Furthermore, an RBC transfusion volume>975 mLhad a significant impact on patient oxygenation at 24 and 48 h postoperatively. Conclusion The volume of intraoperative RBC transfusion has a significant impact on the oxygenation status at 24 and 48 h postoperatively. Intraoperative RBC transfusion volume is associated with the occurrence of severe PGD after lung transplantation. Controlling the volume of RBC transfusion during lung transplantation may help reduce the incidence of severe PGD.
4.Clinical efficacy of different surgical approaches for moderate-to-severe ischemic mitral regurgitation: A systematic review and network meta-analysis
Zhili WEI ; Shuai DONG ; Xuhua LI ; Yang CHEN ; Shidong LIU ; Bing SONG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(04):631-638
Objective To systematically evaluate the therapeutic effects of different surgical procedures for ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR). Methods Computer searches were conducted in CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, CBM, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science, with the search time limit from the inception of the databases to February 2024. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted data, used the Cochrane bias risk assessment tool to evaluate the quality of the included studies, and used Stata 17.0 software to analyze the data. Results A total of 19 randomized controlled trials involving 6139 patients were finally included, involving six surgical procedures, and the overall quality of the included studies was relatively high. The results of the network meta-analysis showed that the 30-day all-cause mortality rate of mitral valve repair (MVr) was significantly lower than that of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) [OR=0.24, 95%CI (0.07, 0.87), P<0.01], mitral valve replacement (MVR) [OR=0.43, 95%CI (0.23, 0.79), P=0.02], CABG+MVR [OR=0.21, 95%CI (0.04, 0.95), P=0.03] and transcatheter mitral valve edge-to-edge repair (TEER) using MitraClip [OR=0.13, 95%CI (0.02, 0.87), P<0.01]. The 30-day all-cause mortality rate of CABG+MVr was significantly lower than that of CABG [OR=0.56, 95%CI (0.33, 0.93), P=0.02] and CABG+MVR [OR=0.48, 95%CI (0.24, 0.94), P=0.04], and the best probability ranking results showed that MVR might be the most effective in reducing the 30-day all-cause mortality rate. The incidence of renal complications in CABG+MVr was significantly lower than that in CABG+MVR [OR=0.42, 95%CI (0.21, 0.83), P=0.01]; the best probability ranking results showed that CABG+MVr might be the most effective in reducing renal complications. Conclusion The current limited evidence suggests that CABG+MVr and MVr may be the best surgical intervention methods for IMR patients at present. Due to the limitations of the number and quality of included studies, the above conclusions still need to be verified by more high-quality studies.
5.From genetic association to clinical phenotype: the clinical significance of neutrophil extracellular traps in the occurrence and development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2026;34(4):338-348
Objective:
To investigate the causal relationship between neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) using Mendelian randomization (MR) methods, and to explore the clinical significance of NETs in the occurrence and development of HNSCC.
Methods:
Data related to NET biomarker myeloperoxidase-DNA complex (MPO-DNA) complex and HNSCC were obtained from the pooled statistical data of the Genome-Wide Association Study database (GWAS). This study was reviewed and approved by the Medical Ethics Committee, and informed consent was obtained from patients. Patients with HNSCC admitted to Department of Oral Maxillofacial, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University were included as the research group, and volunteers matched for age and gender were randomly selected from the Clinical Examination Center as the control group. The levels of MPO-DNA and citrullinated histone H3 (CitH3), two markers of NETs, as well as the levels of soluble adhesion factor CD44 variant 6 (CD44v6) and leukocyte differentiation antigen CD109, markers of lymph node metastasis, were measured in all subjects. Blood coagulation indicators, including plasma prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT), D-dimer (DD), and fibrinogen levels (FIB), were recorded to analyze the relationship and potential mechanisms between NETs and HNSCC.
Results:
MR results indicated a possible causal relationship between NETs and HNSCC. The inverse variance weighted P values for the four datasets were P1 = 0.037, P2 = 0.017, P3 = 0.004, and P4 = 0.023. Ultimately, 52 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and 20 healthy individuals were included. Compared with the control group, the expression levels of NETs markers MPO-DNA, CitH3, lymph node metastasis markers CD44v6 and CD109, and coagulation indicators FIB and DD were significantly elevated in the group with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, with statistically significant differences (all P<0.001). In correlation studies between NETs markers and lymph node metastasis markers, as well as coagulation indicators, the Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.686, 0.531, 0.7, and 0.5 for MPO-DNA and DD, FIB, CD44v6, and CD109, respectively, and the Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.456, 0.503, 0.525, and 0.603 for CitH3 and DD, FIB, CD44v6, and CD109, respectively (P<0.05). In terms of diagnostic efficacy, the area under the curve (AUC) for MPO-DNA, CitH3, and MPO-DNA + CitH3 in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma was 0.863, 0.892, and 0.905, respectively, with an increasing AUC of the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) in the order mentioned. Levels of MPO-DNA and CitH3 in patients with early-stage head and neck squamous cell carcinoma were (132.4 ± 16.4) ng/mL and (21.3 ± 2.9) ng/mL, respectively, which were lower than those in patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, who had MPO-DNA and CitH3 levels of (199.3 ± 33.1) ng/mL and (26.6 ± 3.7) ng/mL, respectively. The serum concentrations of FIB, DD, CD44v6, and CD109 in patients with high MPO-DNA expression were significantly higher than those in patients with low MPO-DNA expression (all P<0.05). The serum concentrations of FIB, CD44v6, and CD109 in patients with high CitH3 expression were significantly higher than those in patients with low CitH3 expression (all P<0.05).
Conclusion
The study indicates a potential causal relationship between NETs and HNSCC. NETs-related markers may serve as potential biomarkers for HNSCC, as they correlate with the hypercoagulable state of the cancer. NETs-related markers have potential diagnostic utility for HNSCC and are associated with tumor progression.
6.Expert Consensus on Clinical Application of SkinPro Ointment
Xin CUI ; Ping SONG ; Yuanyuan LI ; Yanping BAI ; Yanming XIE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(9):163-170
SkinPro Ointment is an emulsion-based preparation derived from a traditional Tibetan medical empirical formula and developed using modern pharmaceutical technology. It is an exclusive patented product of Tibet Hairong Tangguo Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and has been listed as a National Protected Traditional Chinese Medicine Variety, the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, and classified as a Category B product in the National Basic Medical Insurance Catalog. The ointment possesses the functions of clearing heat and drying dampness, activating blood circulation and dispelling wind, relieving itching and reducing inflammation. Clinically, it is used for skin pruritus caused by dampness-heat accumulation or blood-heat with wind-dryness, as well as pruritic skin diseases such as neurodermatitis, eczema, tinea pedis, and psoriasis. To clarify the standards for its clinical application and promote rational drug use, a consensus working group comprising 34 national experts in dermatology, evidence-based medicine, and pharmacy was established. Through expert interviews, the nominal group technique, and questionnaire surveys, 15 clinical issues were identified. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) evidence grading system was employed to assess the quality of evidence, leading to the formulation of the Expert Consensus on the Clinical Application of SkinPro Ointment. This consensus specifies that the intended users are physicians and pharmacists in medical institutions at all levels. It standardizes the clinical application of the ointment, including syndrome characteristics, dosage and course of treatment, combination therapy, precautions, and contraindications. Recommendations and consensus suggestions were formed addressing the 15 clinical issues, covering the following key areas: ①Indications and TCM syndromes: In TCM, the ointment mainly treats conditions such as "damp sores" (Shichuang), "white scaling" (Baibi), "collar sores" (Shelingchuang), and "damp foot Qi" (Jiaoshiqi), corresponding to eczema, psoriasis, neurodermatitis, and tinea pedis in Western medicine. The relevant TCM syndromes are identified as dampness-heat accumulation or blood-heat with wind-dryness. ②Usage and dosage: For external use, apply to the affected area 3 times daily. The dosage should follow the fingertip unit (FTU) principle. A treatment course of 1-2 weeks is recommended for mild to moderate cases; for serious cases, the course should be followed as prescribed by a physician. ③Combined therapy: The ointment can be used as monotherapy for mild cases. For moderate to severe cases, combination therapy is recommended, with reference to relevant clinical guidelines. ④Safety: Common adverse reactions include skin rashes, pruritus, and erythema. The ointment is contraindicated in patients with broken skin or obvious exudation at the affected area, as well as in patients with known hypersensitivity to any of its components. Contact with sensitive areas such as the eyes and oral mucosa should be avoided. Modern research shows that the ointment also has potential efficacy in other dermatological conditions, such as adult atopic dermatitis, tinea cruris, exfoliative keratolysis, acne vulgaris, and Malassezia folliculitis. This consensus provides a scientific basis for promoting the rational clinical use of SkinPro Ointment, improving its therapeutic efficacy, and reducing medication risks. Future updates will be dynamically revised according to emerging clinical issues and new evidence.
7.Staged Efficacy of Qijia Rougan Prescription Combined with Entecavir for Chronic Hepatitis B-related Hepatic Fibrosis with Qi Deficiency and Collateral Stasis Syndrome Based on "Zhu Ke Jiao" Theory
Baixue LI ; Xin WANG ; Jibin LIU ; Li WEN ; Cen JIANG ; Wenjun WU ; Dong WANG ; Shuwan LIU ; Huabao LIU ; Yongli ZHENG ; Liang HUANG ; Yue SU ; Song ZHANG ; Yanan SHANG ; Hang ZHOU ; Quansheng FENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(9):180-188
ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate and evaluate the staged efficacy and safety of the representative empirical prescription of the “Zhu Ke Jiao” theory, Qijia Rougan prescription, combined with entecavir in the treatment of hepatic fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B. MethodsA multicenter randomized controlled clinical study was conducted, and 101 patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B-related hepatic fibrosis (CHB-HF) who met the diagnosis and inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to an observation group (Qijia Rougan prescription + entecavir) and a control group (entecavir). The treatment duration was 24 weeks. Liver stiffness measurement (LSM), fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4), portal vein diameter, hepatitis B serology, biochemical indicators, hepatic fibrosis markers in serum [hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), procollagen Ⅲ peptide (PⅢP), and type Ⅳ collagen (Ⅳ-C)], and traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores were used as efficacy evaluation indicators. Efficacy assessments and explorations of different staged subgroups of Qijia Rougan prescription were conducted according to LSM values based on the Metavir pathological staging standard. ResultsA total of 98 cases were included for statistical analysis, with 49 cases in the observation group and 49 in the control group. The general data of the patients in both groups were comparable. Compared with the same group before treatment, the observation group showed a significant reduction in LSM and FIB-4 (P<0.01), as well as notable improvements in LN, Ⅳ-C, and various TCM syndrome scores (P<0.05, P<0.01). When compared to the control group after treatment, the observation group demonstrated significant improvements in LSM, FIB-4, and various TCM syndrome score indicators (P<0.05, P<0.01), indicating that the observation group performed better than the control group. Subgroup analysis of the regression of hepatic fibrosis stages showed that compared to the same group before treatment, the observation group had better improvement in regression of stages F2 and F3 (P<0.05). When compared to the control group after treatment, the observation group exhibited superior improvement in regression of stage F3 (P<0.05). No adverse events occurred in either group during the treatment period. ConclusionCompared with entecavir alone, the combination of Qijia Rougan prescription and entecavir significantly improves the degree of hepatic fibrosis and clinical TCM symptoms in patients. The optimal intervention period is primarily during stage F3, which is a potential “interception” point of the “Zhu Ke Jiao” theory.
8.Huaier Enhances Efficacy of Oxaliplatin in Treatment of Gastric Cancer by Improving Gut Microbiota
Shenglian ZHANG ; Zhimin DU ; Yi GONG ; Meiqi LAN ; Ping LIU ; Yajun XIONG ; Yanli GONG ; Xiaoyong SONG ; Junli LI ; Ruizhi WANG ; Yuting GAO ; Huanhu ZHANG ; Xinli SHI
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2026;53(3):176-186
Objective To elucidate the changes in the gut microbiota and molecular mechanism of huaier in
9.Mechanism of action of estrogen deficiency in autoimmune hepatitis via the intestinal barrier
Mingzhu SONG ; Ling LI ; Jinxia ZHU ; Shu ZHANG ; Guangwei LIU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(2):438-444
Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an immune-mediated chronic liver inflammatory disease with unknown pathogenesis, and intestinal barrier dysfunction is considered an important factor. Meanwhile, there are sex and age differences in the incidence rate of AIH, suggesting that hormone may be involved in regulation. On this basis, this article focuses on the association between estrogen, intestinal barrier, and immune homeostasis, systematically reviews the evidence that estrogen deficiency disrupts intestinal barrier homeostasis, and further summarizes the potential mechanism of estrogen in regulating the development and progression of AIH via intestinal barrier.
10.KDM5A/cGAS-STING–mediated microglial activation contributes to prenatal fine particulate matter induced cerebral cortical injury in offspring mice
Wenke NIE ; Li ZHOU ; Siqi WANG ; Chao SONG ; Hang YU ; Wanwei LI ; Mengxiao LUAN ; Lu SUN ; Li YU
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2026;43(3):270-277
Background Prenatal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is closely associated with cortical damage and neuroinflammation in offspring. The cyclic guanosine monophosphate–adenosine monophosphate synthase (cGAS)–stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway is a key regulator of inflammation and may be subject to epigenetic regulation. Objective To investigate the role of cGAS-STING pathway activation in PM2.5-induced cortical damage in offspring mice during pregnancy and the underlying epigenetic regulatory mechanisms. Methods Open field tests were used to assess depressive-like behavior in offspring mice. Morphological analysis was conducted to evaluate cortical damage and microglial activation in offspring brains. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blot (WB) were performed to detect changes in the expression of key molecules in the cGAS-STING pathway in cortical tissue. A PM2.5-induced microglial cell injury model was established in BV2 cells. Microglial activation was observed, cell viability was measured using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), and the expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and key molecules in the cGAS-STING pathway were detected by RT-qPCR and WB. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to explore the epigenetic regulatory association between the STING signaling pathway and lysine-specific demethylase 5A (KDM5A). Changes in KDM5A mRNA and protein expression, as well as the protein level of histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3), were detected in an in vitro PM2.5 injury model. Using small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology, the KDM5A gene was silenced in BV2 cells exposed to PM2.5. The protein expression of H3K4me3 was detected to evaluate improvements in microglial activation, changes in inflammatory markers such as iNOS and mannose receptor (CD206), and alterations in the cGAS-STING pathway. Results Compared with the control group, the total distance of offspring mice in the PM2.5 group was significantly reduced, and both the distance traveled and the time spent in the central area of the open field were significantly decreased (P<0.01, P<0.001), indicating depressive-like behavior in the offspring mice. Compared with the control group, the offspring mice in the PM2.5 group exhibited disorganized cortical structure and significantly activated microglia (P<0.01), with significantly increased mRNA and protein levels of cGAS and STING (P<0.05, P<0.01, or P<0.001). The in vitro experiments demonstrated that the PM2.5 treatment induced BV2 cells to polarize toward the M1 phenotype, exhibiting a distinct amoeboid morphology, with upregulated expression of the pro-inflammatory factor iNOS (P<0.05, P<0.01, or P<0.001) and activation of the cGAS-STING pathway (P<0.05, P<0.01). The analysis of RNA-seq data from KDM5A knockout cells revealed significantly downregulated STING expression, suggesting that KDM5A may activate the STING signaling pathway. The in vitro experiments further confirmed that the PM2.5-treated BV2 cells exhibited significantly elevated mRNA and protein levels of KDM5A (P<0.01), while the H3K4me3 protein levels were markedly reduced (P<0.05). After silencing KDM5A in BV2 cells exposed to PM2.5, compared with the PM2.5+siNC group, the PM2.5+siKDM5A group showed no obvious microglial activation and polarized toward the M2 phenotype, with significantly decreased expression levels of iNOS, cluster of differentiation 16 (CD16), and interleukin-1β (P<0.05, P<0.01), and significantly increased expression levels of anti-inflammatory factors CD206, YM1, and interleukin-10 (P<0.01, P<0.001). Meanwhile, the expression levels of cGAS and STING were also reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion KDM5A activates microglia through the cGAS-STING pathway, thereby contributing to PM2.5-induced cortical damage in offspring mice during pregnancy.


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