1.Construction and validation of circadian rhythm genes-related prognostic risk model for lung adenocarcinoma
Yanqi CUI ; Hu ZHAO ; Yawei ZHANG ; Lin NI ; Duohuang LIAN ; Jingrong YANG ; Shixin YE ; Fengfeng XU ; Jincan ZHANG ; Zhiyong ZENG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2026;33(04):550-558
Objective To explore the relationship between circadian rhythm genes and the occurrence, development, prognosis, and tumor microenvironment (TME) of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Methods The Cancer Genome Atlas data were used to evaluate the expression, copy number variation, and somatic mutation frequency of circadian gene sets in LUAD. Gene ontology, Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes, and gene set enrichment analysis were used to explore the potential mechanisms by which circadian rhythm genes affected LUAD progression. Cox regression, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression, support vector machine recursive feature elimination, and random forest screened circadian genes and established prognostic models, and on this basis constructed nomogram to predict patients’ 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates. Kaplan-Meier survival curves, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and time-dependent ROC curves were drawn to evaluate the predictive ability of the model, and the external dataset of GEO further verified the prognostic value of the prediction model. In addition, we evaluated the association of the prognostic model with immune cells and immune checkpoint genes. Single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis was used to explore the molecular characteristics between prognostically relevant circadian genes and different immune cell populations in TME. Results Differentially expressed circadian rhythm genes were mainly enriched in biological processes related to cGMP-PKG signaling pathway, lipid and atherosclerosis, and JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Seven circadian rhythm genes: LGR4, CDK1, KLF10, ARNTL2, RORA, NPAS2, PTGDS were screened out, and a RiskScore model was established. According to the median RiskScore, samples were divided into a high-risk group and a low-risk group. Compared with patients in the low-risk group, patients in the high-risk group showed a poorer prognosis (P<0.001). Immunological characterization analysis showed that there were differences in the infiltration of multiple immune cells between the low-risk group and high-risk group. Most immune checkpoint genes had higher expression levels in the high-risk group than those in the low-risk group, and RiskScore was positively correlated with the expression of CD276, TNFSF4, PDCD1LG2, CD274, and TNFRSF9, and negatively correlated with the expression of CD40LG and TNFSF15. The scRNA-seq analysis showed that RORA and KLF10 were mainly expressed in natural killer cells. Conclusion The prognostic model based on seven feature circadian rhythm genes has certain predictive value for predicting survival of LUAD patients. Dysregulated expression of circadian genes may regulate the occurrence, progression as well as prognosis of LUAD through affecting TME, which provides a possible direction for finding potential strategies for treating LUAD from the perspective of mechanism by which circadian disorder affects immune cells.
2.Liquiritin improves macrophage degradation of engulfed tumour cells by promoting the formation of phagolysosomes via NOX2/gp91phox.
Caiyi YANG ; Kehan CHEN ; Yunliang CHEN ; Xuting XIE ; Pengcheng LI ; Meng ZHAO ; Junjie LIANG ; Xueqian XIE ; Xiaoyun CHEN ; Yanping CAI ; Bo XU ; Qing WANG ; Lian ZHOU ; Xia LUO
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(5):101093-101093
The incomplete degradation of tumour cells by macrophages (Mϕ) is a contributing factor to tumour progression and metastasis, and the degradation function of Mϕ is mediated through phagosomes and lysosomes. In our preliminary experiments, we found that overactivation of NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) reduced the ability of Mϕ to degrade engulfed tumour cells. Above this, we screened out liquiritin from Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch, which can significantly inhibit NOX2 activity and inhibit tumours, to elucidate that suppressing NOX2 can enhance the ability of Mϕ to degrade tumour cells. We found that the tumour environment could activate the NOX2 activity in Mϕ phagosomes, causing Mϕ to produce excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), thus prohibiting the formation of phagolysosomes before degradation. Conversely, inhibiting NOX2 in Mϕ by liquiritin can reduce ROS and promote phagosome-lysosome fusion, therefore improving the enzymatic degradation of tumour cells after phagocytosis, and subsequently promote T cell activity by presenting antigens. We further confirmed that liquiritin down-regulated the expression of the NOX2 specific membrane component protein gp91 phox, blocking its binding to the NOX2 cytoplasmic component proteins p67 phox and p47 phox, thereby inhibiting the activity of NOX2. This study elucidates the specific mechanism by which Mϕ cannot degrade tumour cells after phagocytosis, and indicates that liquiritin can promote the ability of Mϕ to degrade tumour cells by suppressing NOX2.
3.Research progress on molecular mechanisms of ginsenosides in alleviating acute lung injury.
Han-Yang ZHAO ; Xun-Jiang WANG ; Qiong-Wen XUE ; Bao-Lian XU ; Xu WANG ; Shu-Sheng LAI ; Ming CHEN ; Li YANG ; Zheng-Tao WANG ; Li-Li DING
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(16):4451-4470
Acute lung injury(ALI) is a critical clinical condition primarily characterized by refractory hypoxemia and infiltration of inflammatory cells in lung tissue, which can progress into a more severe form known as acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS). Immune cells and inflammatory cytokines play important roles in the progression of the disease. Due to its unclear pathogenesis and the lack of effective clinical treatments, ALI is associated with a high mortality rate and severely affects patients' quality of life, making the search for effective therapeutic agents particularly urgent. Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, the dried root of the perennial herb Panax ginseng from the Araliaceae family, contains active ingredients such as saponins and polysaccharides, which possess various pharmacological effects including anti-tumor activity, immune regulation, and metabolic modulation. In recent years, studies have shown that ginsenosides exhibit notable effects in reducing inflammation, ameliorating epithelial and endothelial cell injury, and providing anticoagulant action, indicating their comprehensive role in alleviating lung injury. This review summarizes the pathogenesis of ALI and the molecular mechanisms through which ginsenosides act at different stages of ALI development. The aim is to provide a scientific reference for the development of ginsenoside-based drugs targeting ALI, as well as a theoretical basis for the clinical application of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma in the treatment of ALI.
Ginsenosides/pharmacology*
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Humans
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Acute Lung Injury/immunology*
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Animals
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Panax/chemistry*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal
4.Clinical application of physician-modified stent grafts in complex aortic disease
Hao WANG ; Bin LIU ; Zhiwen ZHANG ; Zhe ZHANG ; Zhao LIU ; Mingyuan LIU ; Wenrui LI ; Lishan LIAN ; Bodong XU ; Hai FENG
International Journal of Surgery 2025;52(7):439-443
In the past, aortic dissection, aortic aneurysm, and other aortic diseases, primarily rely on surgical intervention. In recent years, due to breakthroughs in materials science, endovascular therapy has become the first choice for the surgical treatment of most aortic diseases. However, traditional endovascular repair cannot fully meet the clinical needs for certain complex lesions involving the aortic arch and the originations of visceral arteries. The emergence of physician-modified stent technology has brought new hope for the treatment of complex aortic diseases. This article provides a detailed introduction to the concept, development, technical characteristics, and applications of physician-modified stents in the treatment of aortic diseases, analyzing their advantages and limitations. Physician-modified stents serve as a powerful complement to traditional endovascular interventions and commercial branched stents, yet further research and refinement are still required.
5.Liquiritin improves macrophage degradation of engulfed tumour cells by promoting the formation of phagolysosomes via NOX2/gp91phox
Caiyi YANG ; Kehan CHEN ; Yunliang CHEN ; Xuting XIE ; Pengcheng LI ; Meng ZHAO ; Junjie LIANG ; Xueqian XIE ; Xiaoyun CHEN ; Yanping CAI ; Bo XU ; Qing WANG ; Lian ZHOU ; Xia LUO
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(5):1016-1032
The incomplete degradation of tumour cells by macrophages(Mφ)is a contributing factor to tumour progression and metastasis,and the degradation function of Mφ is mediated through phagosomes and lysosomes.In our preliminary experiments,we found that overactivation of NADPH oxidase 2(NOX2)reduced the ability of Mφ to degrade engulfed tumour cells.Above this,we screened out liquiritin from Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch,which can significantly inhibit NOX2 activity and inhibit tumours,to elucidate that suppressing NOX2 can enhance the ability of Mφ to degrade tumour cells.We found that the tumour environment could activate the NOX2 activity in Mφ phagosomes,causing Mφ to produce excessive reactive oxygen species(ROS),thus prohibiting the formation of phagolysosomes before degradation.Conversely,inhibiting NOX2 in Mφ by liquiritin can reduce ROS and promote phagosome-lysosome fusion,therefore improving the enzymatic degradation of tumour cells after phagocytosis,and subse-quently promote T cell activity by presenting antigens.We further confirmed that liquiritin down-regulated the expression of the NOX2 specific membrane component protein gp91 phox,blocking its binding to the NOX2 cytoplasmic component proteins p67 phox and p47 phox,thereby inhibiting the activity of NOX2.This study elucidates the specific mechanism by which Mφ cannot degrade tumour cells after phagocytosis,and indicates that liquiritin can promote the ability of Mφ to degrade tumour cells by suppressing NOX2.
6.A novel nomogram-based model to predict the postoperative overall survival in patients with gastric and colorectal cancer
Siwen WANG ; Kangjing XU ; Xuejin GAO ; Tingting GAO ; Guangming SUN ; Yaqin XIAO ; Haoyang WANG ; Chenghao ZENG ; Deshuai SONG ; Yupeng ZHANG ; Lingli HUANG ; Bo LIAN ; Jianjiao CHEN ; Dong GUO ; Zhenyi JIA ; Yong WANG ; Fangyou GONG ; Junde ZHOU ; Zhigang XUE ; Zhida CHEN ; Gang LI ; Mengbin LI ; Wei ZHAO ; Yanbing ZHOU ; Huanlong QIN ; Xiaoting WU ; Kunhua WANG ; Qiang CHI ; Jianchun YU ; Yun TANG ; Guoli LI ; Li ZHANG ; Xinying WANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2024;32(3):138-149
Objective:We aimed to develop a novel visualized model based on nomogram to predict postoperative overall survival.Methods:This was a multicenter, retrospective, observational cohort study, including participants with histologically confirmed gastric and colorectal cancer who underwent radical surgery from 11 medical centers in China from August 1, 2015 to June 30, 2018. Baseline characteristics, histopathological data and nutritional status, as assessed using Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002) score and the scored Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment, were collected. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression and Cox regression were used to identify variables to be included in the predictive model. Internal and external validations were performed.Results:There were 681 and 127 patients in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. A total of 188 deaths were observed over a median follow-up period of 59 (range: 58 to 60) months. Two independent predictors of NRS 2002 and Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM) stage were identified and incorporated into the prediction nomogram model together with the factor of age. The model's concordance index for 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival was 0.696, 0.724, and 0.738 in the training cohort and 0.801, 0.812, and 0.793 in the validation cohort, respectively.Conclusions:In this study, a new nomogram prediction model based on NRS 2002 score was developed and validated for predicting the overall postoperative survival of patients with gastric colorectal cancer. This model has good differentiation, calibration and clinical practicability in predicting the long-term survival rate of patients with gastrointestinal cancer after radical surgery.
7.Research progress in mitochondrial quality control in respiratory diseases
Jingjing XU ; Yange TIAN ; Xue MEI ; Peng ZHAO ; Yunfeng LIAN ; Xiao SUN
Chinese Journal of Comparative Medicine 2024;34(6):161-171
Respiratory diseases(e.g.,lung inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis)are a serious threat to human health.Mitochondria,organelles unique to eukaryotic cells,not only have important functions in energy production,biosynthesis,and the maintenance of intracellular homeostasis but also act as diverse signaling organelles involved in inflammation,proliferation,differentiation,cell repair,and other processes.The mitochondrial quality control system involves mitochondrial biogenesis,dynamics,and autophagy.Certain pathological mechanisms of respiratory diseases,such as oxidative stress and inflammation,are closely related to the dysregulation of mitochondrial quality control systems.This paper summarizes the progress of research into mitochondrial quality control dysregulation in respiratory diseases(chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,pulmonary fibrosis,acute lung injury,asthma,and bacterial pneumonia)to explore new ideas for the prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases.
8.Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Prospects of Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease
Shu-Hui XU ; Yan MAN ; Jin-Lian ZHAO ; Ya-Jie WANG
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2024;32(2):647-652
Chronic graft-versus-host disease(cGVHD)is one of a major complication that affecting the long-term survival and living quality of patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation,with the incidence of 30%-70%.Unlike acute GVHD,cGVHD involves a large number of immune cells and cytokines in addition to T cell,which is activated abnormally by the donor,and cytokine storms,which characterized by infiltration of donor lymphocytes and damage to host target organ.Recent studies have further made progress in targeting related immune cells and cytokines.In this review,the pathogenesis and therapeutic prospects of cGVHD were summarized from the perspectives of classical innate and adaptive immunity.
9.Luteolin ameliorates ulcerative colitis in mice via reducing the depletion of NCR+ILC3 through Notch signaling pathway
Xueqian XIE ; Pengcheng LI ; Meng ZHAO ; Bo XU ; Guixing ZHANG ; Qing WANG ; Chen NI ; Xia LUO ; Lian ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2024;22(11):991-1002
The disorder of group 3 innate lymphoid cells(ILC3)subgroup,such as the predominance of NCR-ILC3 but the deple-tion of NCR+ILC3,is unfavorable to damaged intestinal barrier repair,which leads to the prolongations and obstinacy of ulcerative colitis(UC).Our previous studies had shown that luteolin promoted NCRILC3 differentitating into NCR+ILC3 to improving the de-pletion of NCR+ILC3 in UC mice,while the mechanism is unclear.This article aimed to explore the underlying mechanism of luteolin enhancing the proportion NCR+ILC3.UC mice model was established with 2%DSS and Notch signaling was blocked,then luteolin was used to intervene.The results showed that the effect of luteolin on ameliorating disease symptoms in UC mice,including inhibit-ing the weight loss,reducing the pathological damage of colon mucosa,etc.,was diminished with blocking Notch signaling pathway.In addition,luteolin increased the proportion of NCR+ILC3,NCR+MNK3 and IL-22+ILC3,decreased intestinal permeability,pro-moted mucin secretion,and promoted ZO-1 and Occludin expression,the above effect of luteolin was neutralized by Notch inhibitor LY-411575.Luteolin activated the abnormally blocked Notch signaling pathway in UC mice.And molecular docking predicted the af-finity of luteolin for RBPJ to be-7.5 kcal·mol-1 in mouse,respectively;the affinity of luteolin for Notchl and RBPJ was respectively scored to be-6.4 kcal·mol-1 and-7.7 kcal·mol-1 homo sapiens.These results proved that luteolin is positive for enhancing the propor-tion of NCR+ILC3 via Notch signaling,and it provides a basis for targeting NCR+ILC3 for restoring intestinal barrier function to alle-viating ulcerative colitis.
10.Pathogenesis of flunarizine-induced parkinsonism from gut-brain axis perspective
Nan DING ; Lixin PAN ; Changlin LIAN ; Zhifeng XU ; Yukai WANG ; Fen ZHANG ; Guanghua ZHAO ; Xiaojue LIANG ; Wenjie LAI ; Weiqi ZENG ; Jingjuan CHEN ; Guohua ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Neuromedicine 2024;23(4):333-339
Objective:To explore the pathogenesis of flunarizine-induced parkinsonism from gut-brain axis perspective.Methods:Thirty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group and flunarizine group ( n=15). Mice in the control group were given 0.1 mL 50% polyethylene glycol 400+50% saline by gavage once/d for 2 weeks, while mice in the flunarizine group were given 6 mg/mL flunarizine+50% polyethylene glycol 400+50% saline by gavage at a daily dose of 30 mg/kg for 2 weeks. Body mass was recorded 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14 d after drug administration, and motor function was assessed by rotarod test 14 d after drug administration; 16s RNA sequencing was performed in the feces to observe the intestinal flora; intestinal transit function was detected by Evans blue by gavage; and then, the mice were sacrificed and homogenate or frozen sections (brain and intestinal tissues) were prepared; dopamine-ergic neuron expression was detected by Western blotting; RT-qPCR was applied to detect the expressions of inflammatory factors in the substantia nigra, and immunofluorescent staining was used to detect the expressions of ZO-1 and Claudin-5 in the intestinal epithelial tissues. Results:Compared with the control group, the flunarizine group had lower body mass ratio 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 14 d after drug administration (ratio to body mass before drug administration). Compared with the control group, the flunarizine group had significantly shortened residence time in rod rotating and lower rotational speed when falling ( P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the flunarizine group had decreased tyrosine hydroxylase protein in the substantia nigra without significant difference ( P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the flunarizine group had significantly increased interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in the substantia nigra (1.00±0.00 vs. 2.79±0.83; 1.00±0.00 vs. 3.39±1.37), significantly lower intestinal Evans blue propulsion rate (80.67%±4.51% vs. 50.67%±6.03%), and statistically decreased ZO-1 and Claudin-5 expressions in the colonic epithelial tissues (27.01±1.41 vs. 16.32±2.83; 37.00±2.80 vs. 24.52±2.12, P<0.05). Totally, 576 microorganisms were noted in both control group and flunarizine group, 744 in the control group alone, and 634 in the flunarizine group alone. The intestinal flora β diversity indices in the 2 groups were significantly different based on weighted Unifrac-principle coordinates analysis (PCoA, PCoA1: 39.88%; PCoA2: 30.69%). Compared with the control group, the microbial colony structure of mice in flunarizine group was dominated by phylum thick-walled bacteria and phylum warty microbacteria, and by families Muribaculaceae, Lachnospiraceae and Akkermansiaceae. Compared with the control group, the flunarizine group had significantly decreased relative abundance of Ackermannia spp. and Lactobacillus spp. in the intestinal flora ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Flunarizine may contribute to the pathogenesis of DIP by causing structural disturbances in the intestinal flora and inducing neuroinflammation based on the gut-brain axis.

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