1.Bufalin reduces PD-L1 expression in colorectal cancer cells through suppressing TAM-mediated STAT3 phosphorylation
LU Chang1,2 ; SHANG Jing3 ; CHEN Jinbao4 ; ZHU Yuan2 ; ZHONG Jiani2 ; YIN Peihao1,5
Chinese Journal of Cancer Biotherapy 2026;33(4):373-378
[摘 要] 目的:探讨蟾毒灵(BU)对肿瘤相关巨噬细胞(TAM)介导的结直肠癌(CRC)细胞程序性死亡蛋白-配体1(PD-L1)表达的调控作用及其分子机制。方法:采用HCT116细胞与THP-1来源巨噬细胞构建体外共培养体系。佛波酯(PMA)诱导THP-1细胞分化为M0型巨噬细胞,进一步以HCT116细胞条件培养基(CM)刺激形成TAM样细胞。流式细胞术检测CD11b、CD206表达,以评价巨噬细胞极化水平;RT-qPCR及WB法检测TGF-β、IL-10、STAT3/p-STAT3及PD-L1表达变化;慢病毒转染构建STAT3敲低细胞系HCT116sh-STAT3,结合BU干预验证STAT3/PD-L1信号通路作用。结果:HCT116细胞CM可诱导巨噬细胞向M2表型极化,表现为CD11b⁺CD206⁺细胞比例升高(P < 0.01)及TGF-β、IL-10表达增加(均P < 0.001)。TAM条件培养基可显著促进HCT116细胞STAT3磷酸化(P < 0.001)并上调PD-L1 mRNA及蛋白表达水平(P < 0.001或P < 0.01)。BU干预后,TAM介导的STAT3磷酸化水平明显下降,PD-L1表达同步下调(均P < 0.01)。STAT3敲低可降低PD-L1表达,其作用趋势与BU一致。结论:BU可通过抑制TAM介导的STAT3信号激活,下调CRC细胞PD-L1表达,提示其在肿瘤免疫微环境调控中具有潜在的应用价值。
2.Erchentang Ameliorates SiO2-induced Lung Injury by Regulating Oxidative Stress and Metabolic Disorders via Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathway
Jun LU ; Xinyi ZHU ; Ziyi LIU ; Jixia HU ; Jialu CHEN ; Rong XIAO ; Zhibin WANG ; Chang LIU ; Fangguo LU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(13):32-42
ObjectiveTo observe the protective effect of Erchentang (ECT) on SiO2-induced lung injury in rats and to explore its underlying mechanism. MethodsA rat model of lung injury was established by a single intratracheal instillation of 50 mg·mL-1 SiO2 suspension. Thirty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned to five groups: control, model, low and high-dose (4.5 g·kg-1·d-1 and 9 g·kg-1·d-1, respectively) ECT, and dexamethasone (0.2 mg·kg-1·d-1). All the groups were treated for 4 consecutive weeks. Histopathological alterations in the lung tissue were examined by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the lung tissue were measured through biochemical assays. The expression of key molecules in the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway was determined by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR), Western blot, and immunofluorescence assay. The primary active components of ECT were identified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), and their binding affinity to Nrf2/HO-1 was assessed by molecular docking. Untargeted metabolomics of the lung tissue was performed based on UPLC-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS), and correlation analysis was performed to identify differential metabolites and parameters closely associated with the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. ResultsCompared with the control group, the model group exhibited a reduction in body weight gain, an increase in lung index, increased MDA content, weakened SOD and GSH-Px activities in the lung tissue, down-regulated mRNA and protein levels of Nrf2 and protein levels of HO-1 and GPX4, and an up-regulated protein level of Keap1 (P<0.05, P<0.01). Treatment with ECT attenuated the SiO2-induced decline in body weight (P<0.05), alleviated inflammatory cell infiltration and silicotic nodule formation in alveoli, and reduced the MDA content and enhanced the SOD and GSH-Px activities in the lung tissue (P<0.05, P<0.01). UPLC-MS/MS and molecular docking revealed that core components of ECT, such as hesperidin and glycyrrhizic acid, displayed strong binding affinity to Nrf2/HO-1. Molecular biological experiments demonstrated that ECT promoted nuclear translocation of Nrf2, up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of HO-1 and GPX4, and down-regulated Keap1 expression (P<0.05, P<0.01). Metabolomic analysis indicated that ECT reversed the SiO2-induced aberrant expression of metabolites, including linoleic acid and glutamine (P<0.05, P<0.01). Correlation analysis showed that Nrf2 and HO-1 were positively correlated with SOD and GSH-Px (P<0.05, P<0.01), but negatively correlated with glutamine and serine (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionECT may activate the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway through its core active components, thereby regulating oxidative stress and metabolic disorders to ameliorate SiO2-induced lung injury in rats. This study provides experimental evidence for ECT in the prevention and treatment of occupational lung injury.
3.Pathological changes and macrophage polarization in the liver and spleen of mice infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis
Xiaoyu QIN ; Yuchun CAI ; Yang HONG ; Fanna WEI ; Yahong HU ; Yumeng CAI ; Yuan HU ; Ting ZHANG ; Xiaojin MO ; Bin XU ; Yan LU ; Jiahui SUN ; Yan ZHOU ; Zelin ZHU ; Muxin CHEN
Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control 2026;38(2):169-183
Objective To investigate the temporal changes in pathological damage and macrophage polarization in liver and spleen tissues of mice infected with Angiostrongylus cantonensis, and to preliminarily unravel the peripheral immune responses during the early stage of A. cantonensis infection. Methods Forty female BALB/c mice at ages of 6 to 8 weeks were randomly divided into four groups, including the control group and 7-, 14-, and 21-day infection groups, with 10 mice in each group. Each mouse in the infection groups was inoculated with 30 third-stage (L3) larvae of A. cantonensis by oral gavage, and five mice were randomly selected from each infection group on days 7, 14, and 21 post-infection, while mice in the control group were given the same volume of physiological saline and five mice were randomly selected from the control group on the day of oral gavage. Mouse liver and spleen tissues were sampled. The histopathological changes of mouse liver and spleen tissues were observed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, and the percentage of positive staining area and the co-localization positive rates of the macrophage surface antigens F4/80, CD86, and CD206 were quantified in mouse liver and spleen tissues using immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining. In addition, five mice were collected from each infection group on days 7, 14, and 21 post-infection, and five mice were collected from the control group on the day of oral gavage. Mouse liver and spleen tissues were sampled for detection of macrophage markers CD86 and CD206 and macrophage phenotyping using flow cytometry, and the expression of M1 macrophage markers, including inducible nitric oxide synthase (Nos2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and M2 markers, including arginase 1 (Arg1), mannose receptor C-type 1 (Mrc1) and chitinase-like protein 3 (Chil3) was quantified in mouse liver and spleen tissues using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assay. Results Proliferative lesions of the hepatocyte were observed in mouse liver tissues and the follicular structures of the mouse spleen white pulp were disrupted 21 days post-infection with A. cantonensis. Immunohistochemical staining showed that there were significant differences in the percentages of F4/80, CD86 and CD206 positive staining areas in the liver and spleen tissues among the four groups of mice (F = 242.40, 197.14, 183.19, 157.65, 242.35 and 146.24; all P values < 0.001), and the percentages of positive staining in the liver and spleen tissues of mice in the 14-day infection group [(4.45 ± 0.51)%, (3.74 ± 0.67)%, (8.32 ± 0.72)%, (16.56 ± 1.14)%, (11.62 ± 0.52)%, and (8.29 ± 0.72)%, respectively] and the 21-day infection group [(3.70 ± 0.11)%, (3.22 ± 0.43)%, (11.53 ± 1.03)%, (12.59 ± 1.05)%, (9.02 ± 0.83)%, and (11.67 ± 1.10)%, respectively] were higher than in the control group [(0.35 ± 0.16)%, (0.40 ± 0.02)%, (0.93 ± 0.05)%, (2.78 ± 0.26)%, (2.33 ± 0.20)%, and (1.85 ± 0.20)%, respectively] (all P values < 0.05). Immunofluorescence staining showed significant differences in the positive rates of F4/80 co-localization with CD86 and CD206 in mouse liver and spleen tissues among the four groups (F = 24.42, 25.28, 54.51 and 130.55; all P values < 0.001). Flow cytometry detected significant differences in the proportions of CD86+ and CD206+ macrophages in mouse liver and spleen tissues among the four groups (F = 67.98, 18.41, 29.77, 172.80; all P values < 0.001), and the proportions of CD206+ macrophages in the liver and spleen of the 21-day infection group were significantly higher than those in the control group [(9.25 ± 2.55)% vs (3.83 ± 0.72)%, and (4.22 ± 0.56)% vs (0.47 ± 0.18)%, respectively] (both P values < 0.05). In addition, RT-qPCR assay quantified significant differences in the relative mRNA expression of M1 macrophage markers (IL-1β, TNF-α and Nos2) and M2 macrophage markers (Arg1, Chil3 and Mrc1) in mouse liver and spleen tissues among the four groups (F = 41.30, 31.82, 199.33, 19.96, 62.01, 119.76, 23.67, 95.90, 72.27, 82.59, 123.41 and 29.75; all P values < 0.05). Conclusions A. cantonensis infection may cause progressive pathological damage in mouse liver and spleen tissues, accompanied by dynamic temporal changes in macrophage polarization. M1 macrophage polarization predominates at the early stage of A. cantonensis infection and shifts towards M2 polarization at the later stages, suggesting that M2 polarization may participate in immune regulation at late stages of A. cantonensis infection by suppressing excessive inflammatory responses and promoting tissue repair.
4.TAZ WW Domain-Mediated Regulation of Gluconeogenesis and Tumorigenesis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma through Interaction with the Glucocorticoid Receptor
Hongxiang HUANG ; Jinhong CHEN ; Xingyu TAO ; Peiyuan ZHONG ; Yanqiu MENG ; Sujuan PENG ; Wanying LUO ; Zhiyong HE ; Shuai LUO ; Xie ZHU ; Zhihui LU ; Li CHEN ; Yangyang LIU
Endocrinology and Metabolism 2026;41(2):267-287
Background:
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality, characterized by poor prognosis due to its high proliferative and invasive potential. Tumor metabolic reprogramming, particularly involving glucose metabolism, is essential for tumor survival. This study investigates the role of the Hippo pathway effector transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) in regulating gluconeogenesis and promoting tumorigenesis in HCC.
Methods:
TAZ expression in HCC was analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas data and validated in clinical samples and cell lines. TAZ was overexpressed or silenced in HCC cell lines to evaluate its effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. The expression and prognostic relevance of the gluconeogenesis-related genes phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (PCK1) and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6PC) were examined, along with their correlation with TAZ expression. Tumor growth was assessed in nude mice. Interactions between TAZ and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) were investigated using co-immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays.
Results:
TAZ was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines. TAZ overexpression enhanced proliferation, reduced apoptosis, and promoted migration and invasion. In contrast, PCK1 and G6PC were downregulated in HCC and showed a negative correlation with TAZ expression.
Conclusion
TAZ modulates gluconeogenesis and accelerates tumor growth, whereas its knockdown attenuates tumor progression. TAZ interacts with GR, suppressing its transcriptional activity on gluconeogenic gene promoters.
5.The Effect of Zhiqiao Gancao Decoction (枳壳甘草汤) on Intervertebral Disc Nucleus Pulposus Cell Apoptosis and the Hippo-YAP/TAZ Signaling Pathway in Tail Intervertebral Disc Degeneration Model Rats
Zaishi ZHU ; Zeling HUANG ; Junming CHEN ; Bo XU ; Binjie LU ; Hua CHEN ; Xingxing DUAN ; Yuwei LI ; Xiaofeng SHEN
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(5):509-517
ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism by which Zhiqiao Gancao Decoction (枳壳甘草汤, ZGD) delays intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) based on the Hippo-yes-associated protein (YAP)/transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) signaling pathway. MethodsA total of 50 SD rats were randomly divided into sham surgery group, model group, low-dose ZGD group, high-dose ZGD group, and high-dose ZGD + inhibitor group, with 10 rats in each group. In the sham surgery group, the rats were pierced in the skin and muscle at the Co6/7/8 segments of the tail with a 21G needle (depth approximately 2 mm) without damaging the intervertebral disc. In the other groups, rats were injected with a 21G needle at the Co6/7/8 segments of the tail to establish an IDD model by piercing the tail intervertebral disc 5 mm. One week after modeling, rats in the low-dose and high-dose ZGD groups were given 6.24 and 12.24 g/(kg·d) of the decoction via gastric gavage, respectively. The high-dose ZGD + inhibitor group was given 12.24 g/(kg·d) of the decoction and an intraperitoneal injection of YAP/TAZ inhibitor Verteporfin 10 mg/kg. The sham surgery and model groups were given 5 ml/(kg·d) of normal saline via gavage. The gavage was given once a day, and the intraperitoneal injection was given every other day. After 4 weeks of continuous intervention, the pathological changes of the tail intervertebral discs were observed using HE staining, Oil Red O-Green staining, and Toluidine Blue staining. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of aggrecan and MMP3 in the nucleus pulposus. TUNEL fluorescence staining was performed to detect apoptosis in the nucleus pulposus, and the apoptosis rate was calculated. Western blot was used to detect the Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling pathway, including YAP, phosphorylated YAP (p-YAP), phosphorylated MST1/2 (p-MST1/2), phosphorylated TAZ (p-TAZ) and apoptosis-related proteins, such as Cleaved Caspase 3, P53, Bcl-2 and Bax. ResultsCompared with sham surgery group, the rats in the model group showed significant degenerative changes in the intervertebral disc. The levels of aggrecan, Bcl-2, and YAP proteins in the nucleus pulposus decreased, while the levels of p-MST1/2, p-YAP, p-TAZ, P53, Bax, Cleaved Caspase 3, MMP3 proteins, and the apoptosis rate increased (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the drug intervention groups showed partial recovery in intervertebral disc degeneration. The levels of aggrecan, Bcl-2, and YAP proteins increased, while the levels of p-MST1/2, p-YAP, p-TAZ, P53, Bax, Cleaved Caspase 3, MMP3 proteins, and the apoptosis rate decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The high-dose ZGD group showed more significant recovery in intervertebral disc degeneration compared to the low-dose ZGD group, with a decrease in the levels of p-MST1/2, p-YAP, p-TAZ, P53, Bax, Cleaved Caspase 3, MMP3 proteins, and apoptosis rate, and an increase in the levels of aggrecan, Bcl-2, and YAP proteins (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with the high-dose ZGD group, the high-dose ZGD + inhibitor group showed a reduced recovery in intervertebral disc degeneration, with an increase in the levels of p-MST1/2, p-YAP, p-TAZ, P53, Bax, Cleaved Caspase 3, MMP3 proteins, and apoptosis rate, and a decrease in the levels of aggrecan, Bcl-2, and YAP proteins (P<0.05 or P<0.01). ConclusionZGD may delay intervertebral disc degeneration by inhibiting the phosphorylation of YAP in the nucleus pulposus, maintaining the function of the Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling pathway, and reducing apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells.
6.Impact factor selection for non-fatal occupational injuries among manufacturing workers by LASSO regression
Yingheng XIAO ; Chunhua LU ; Juan QIAN ; Ying CHEN ; Yishuo GU ; Zeyun YANG ; Daozheng DING ; Liping LI ; Xiaojun ZHU
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(2):133-139
Background As a pillar industry in China, the manufacturing sector has a high incidence of non-fatal occupational injuries. The factors influencing non-fatal occupational injuries in this industry are closely related at various levels, including individual, equipment, environment, and management, making the analysis of these influencing factors complex. Objective To identify influencing factors of non-fatal occupational injuries among manufacturing workers, providing a basis for targeted interventions and surveillance. Methods A total of
7.Value of umbilical vein catheter color Doppler ultrasonic blood flow spectral parameters and myocardial performance index in diagnosing fetal heart malformation
Xuanjia CHEN ; Yu ZHU ; Xia GAO ; Lu LIU
Journal of Clinical Medicine in Practice 2025;29(5):31-35
Objective To explore the value of prenatal ultrasound indicators in diagnosing fetal heart malformation during pregnancy.Methods A case-control study was conducted,and 76 fetuses with confirmed heart malformation during follow-up in the hospital were selected as case group,and another 76 fetuses without any heart malformation were selected as control group.The results of ultra-sound examinations during pregnancy for both groups were compared,including umbilical vein cathe-ter color Doppler ultrasonic blood flow spectral parameters,cardiac axis angle,and myocardial per-formance index(MPI).Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the value of each indicator in auxiliary diagnosis of fetal congenital heart malformation during pregnancy.Results The ventricular systolic velocity,peak atrial systolic velocity,peak ventricular diastolic ve-locity,and maximum A-wave velocity in the case group were significantly lower than those in the con-trol group,while the pulsatility index,venous preload index,and venous peak flow index were signif-icantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).Values of area under the curve(AUC)of ROC curves for ventricular systolic velocity,peak ventricular diastolic velocity,peak atrial systolic ve-locity,maximum A-wave velocity,pulsatility index,venous preload index,and venous peak flow index in diagnosing fetal heart malformation were 0.680,0.753,0.590,0.859,0.674,0.715 and 0.663,respectively.The left ventricular MPI,right ventricular MPI,and cardiac axis angle in the case group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).The values of AUC for left ventricular MPI,right ventricular MPI,and cardiac axis angle in diagnosing fetal heart malformation were 0.502,0.571 and 0.712,respectively.Conclusion Implementation of umbilical vein cathe-ter color Doppler ultrasonic blood flow spectral parameters,cardiac axis angle,and MPI screening during pregnancy has important reference value for auxiliary diagnosis of fetal heart malformation.
8.Perifornical UCN3 Neurons Regulate Overeating-Induced Weight Gain.
Shanshan LU ; Xinran ZHANG ; Wanqi CHEN ; Baofang ZHANG ; Haiyang JING ; Yunlong XU ; Fengling LI ; Chenyu JIANG ; Gaowei CHEN ; Xiaofei DENG ; Yingjie ZHU
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(6):1103-1108
9.Expert consensus on early orthodontic treatment of class III malocclusion.
Xin ZHOU ; Si CHEN ; Chenchen ZHOU ; Zuolin JIN ; Hong HE ; Yuxing BAI ; Weiran LI ; Jun WANG ; Min HU ; Yang CAO ; Yuehua LIU ; Bin YAN ; Jiejun SHI ; Jie GUO ; Zhihua LI ; Wensheng MA ; Yi LIU ; Huang LI ; Yanqin LU ; Liling REN ; Rui ZOU ; Linyu XU ; Jiangtian HU ; Xiuping WU ; Shuxia CUI ; Lulu XU ; Xudong WANG ; Songsong ZHU ; Li HU ; Qingming TANG ; Jinlin SONG ; Bing FANG ; Lili CHEN
International Journal of Oral Science 2025;17(1):20-20
The prevalence of Class III malocclusion varies among different countries and regions. The populations from Southeast Asian countries (Chinese and Malaysian) showed the highest prevalence rate of 15.8%, which can seriously affect oral function, facial appearance, and mental health. As anterior crossbite tends to worsen with growth, early orthodontic treatment can harness growth potential to normalize maxillofacial development or reduce skeletal malformation severity, thereby reducing the difficulty and shortening the treatment cycle of later-stage treatment. This is beneficial for the physical and mental growth of children. Therefore, early orthodontic treatment for Class III malocclusion is particularly important. Determining the optimal timing for early orthodontic treatment requires a comprehensive assessment of clinical manifestations, dental age, and skeletal age, and can lead to better results with less effort. Currently, standardized treatment guidelines for early orthodontic treatment of Class III malocclusion are lacking. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the etiology, clinical manifestations, classification, and early orthodontic techniques for Class III malocclusion, along with systematic discussions on selecting early treatment plans. The purpose of this expert consensus is to standardize clinical practices and improve the treatment outcomes of Class III malocclusion through early orthodontic treatment.
Humans
;
Malocclusion, Angle Class III/classification*
;
Orthodontics, Corrective/methods*
;
Consensus
;
Child
10.The research progress on periodontitis by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
Liang XIE ; Qian CHEN ; Hao XU ; Cui LI ; Jiayu LU ; Yuangui ZHU
International Journal of Oral Science 2025;17(1):44-44
Periodontitis has emerged as one of the most critical oral diseases, and research on this condition holds great importance for the advancement of stomatology. As the most authoritative national scientific research funding institution in China, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) has played a pivotal role in driving the progress of periodontal science by supporting research on periodontitis. This article provides a comprehensive review of the research and development progress related to periodontitis in China from 2014 to 2023, highlighting the significant contributions of the NSFC to this field. We have summarized the detailed funding information from the NSFC, including the number of applicant codes, funded programs and the distribution of funded scholars. These data illustrate the efforts of the NSFC in cultivating young scientists and building research groups to address key challenges in national scientific research. This study offers an overview of the current hot topics, recent breakthroughs and future research prospects related to periodontitis in China.
China
;
Periodontitis
;
Humans
;
Foundations
;
Research Support as Topic
;
Natural Science Disciplines
;
Dental Research/economics*

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail