A comprehensive phytochemical investigation of the leaves and twigs of Physalis angulata. var. villosa resulted in the isolation of 23 withanolide derivatives, including one novel 13,20-γ-lactone withanolide derivative (1) and three new withanolide derivatives (2-4). Architecturally, physalinin A (1) represents the first identified type B withanolide featuring a 13,20-γ-lactone moiety. The molecular structures of all isolates were elucidated using an integrated approach combining nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, mass spectrometry (MS), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, and quantum chemical calculations to confirm structural assignments. The antiproliferative activities of all isolated withanolides were evaluated against four human cancer cell lines (HEL, HCT-116, Colo320DM, and MDA-MB-231). Among them, eight derivatives (2, 5-8, 14, 15, and 23) exhibited significant inhibitory effects, with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values of 0.18 ± 0.03 to 17.02 ± 0.21 μmol·L^-1. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis suggested that the presence of an epoxide ring enhances anticancer activity, potentially through increased reactivity or specific interactions with molecular targets involved in cancer progression. These findings underscore the pharmacological potential of withanolides as promising lead compounds for the development of novel anticancer therapeutics.
Withanolides/isolation & purification* ; Physalis/chemistry* ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/isolation & purification* ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Plant Leaves/chemistry* ; Plant Extracts/pharmacology*

Objective To analyze the expression levels and the clinical significance of serum interleukin(IL)-4,IL-5,IL-6,IL-13 and IL-17 in children with mycoplasma pneumoniae(MP)infection accompanied by airway hyperresponsiveness(AHR).Methods A total of 120 children diagnosed with MP infection pneumonia and admitted to Nantong First People's Hospital between June 2022 and April 2024 were enrolled in the study group.According to whether their MP infection pneumonia was accompanied by AHR,the participants were divided into an AHR group(n=41)and a non-AHR group(n=79).An additional 90 healthy children undergoing physical examination were included in the control group.Baseline data,fractional exhaled nitric oxide(FeNO),tidal breathing lung function—including the ratio of volume at peak tidal expiratory flow to total expiratory volume(VPTEF/VE),the ratio of time to peak tidal expiratory flow to total expiratory time(TPTEF/TE),and inspiratory-to-expiratory time ratio(TI/TE)—as well as the levels of serum IL-4,IL-5,IL-6,IL-13 and IL-17 were compared among the 3 groups.The correlation between serum IL-4,IL-5,IL-6,IL-13 and IL-17 and clinical data of children with MP infection pneumonia accompanied by AHR was analyzed.Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent influencing factors of AHR in children with MP infection pneumonia.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were plotted to assess the diagnostic value of serum IL-4,IL-5,IL-6,IL-13 and IL-17 for MP infection pneumonia accompanied by AHR in children.Results Significant differences were observed among the AHR,non-AHR,and control groups in white blood cell(WBC)count,neutrophil percentage,eosinophil(EOS)count,platelet(PLT)count,C-reactive protein(CRP),FeNO,VPTEF/VE,TPTEF/TE,TI/TE,forced vital capacity(FVC),and forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV?)(all P<0.05).Serum IL-4,IL-5,IL-6,IL-13 and IL-17 levels showed significant differences among the 3 groups(P<0.05).Correlation analysis showed that these cytokines were positively correlated with WBC count,neutrophil percentage,EOS count,CRP,and FeNO(P<0.05),and negatively correlated with VPTEF/VE,TPTEF/TE,TI/TE,FVC,and FEV1(P<0.05).Binary logistic regression analysis identified neutrophil percentage(odds ratio[OR]=1.923;95%CI,1.496-2.472),EOS count(OR=3.074;95%CI,1.228-7.693),CRP(OR=2.382;95%CI,1.854-3.061),FeNO(OR=1.931;95%CI,1.635-2.281),VPTEF/VE(OR=0.294;95%CI,0.200-0.432),TPTEF/TE(OR=0.358;95%CI,0.177-0.722),TI/TE(OR=0.399;95%CI,0.221-0.722),IL-4(OR=1.064;95%CI,1.019-1.111),IL-5(OR=1.234;95%CI,1.095-1.390),IL-6(OR=1.013;95%CI,1.001-1.025),IL-13(OR=1.058;95%CI,1.005-1.113),IL-17(OR=1.759;95%CI,1.293-2.393),and allergy history(OR=2.989;95%CI,1.058-8.447)as independent factors associated with with AHR in children with MP infection pneumonia(P<0.05).ROC curves revealed that the areas under the ROC curves(AUC)of serum IL-4,IL-5,IL-6,IL-13 and IL-17 for predicting AHR in children with MP infection pneumonia were 0.815,0.769,0.782,0.793,and 0.815,respectively,with the sensitivities being 85.37%,75.61%,87.80%,75.61%,and 80.49%,and 95%CI being 0.739-0.892,0.677-0.861,0.679-0.867,0.715-0.882 and 0.732-0.899,respectively.Conclusion The levels of serum IL-4,IL-5,IL-6,IL-13,and IL-17 in children with MP infection pneumonia and AHR are abnormally elevated.These cytokines may serve as valuable biomarkers for assessing the risk of AHR in children with MP infection pneumonia.

Mammals exhibit limited heart regeneration ability, which can lead to heart failure after myocardial infarction. In contrast, zebrafish exhibit remarkable cardiac regeneration capacity. Several cell types and signaling pathways have been reported to participate in this process. However, a comprehensive analysis of how different cells and signals interact and coordinate to regulate cardiac regeneration is unavailable. We collected major cardiac cell types from zebrafish and performed high-precision single-cell transcriptome analyses during both development and post-injury regeneration. We revealed the cellular heterogeneity as well as the molecular progress of cardiomyocytes during these processes, and identified a subtype of atrial cardiomyocyte exhibiting a stem-like state which may transdifferentiate into ventricular cardiomyocytes during regeneration. Furthermore, we identified a regeneration-induced cell (RIC) population in the epicardium-derived cells (EPDC), and demonstrated Angiopoietin 4 (Angpt4) as a specific regulator of heart regeneration. angpt4 expression is specifically and transiently activated in RIC, which initiates a signaling cascade from EPDC to endocardium through the Tie2-MAPK pathway, and further induces activation of cathepsin K in cardiomyocytes through RA signaling. Loss of angpt4 leads to defects in scar tissue resolution and cardiomyocyte proliferation, while overexpression of angpt4 accelerates regeneration. Furthermore, we found that ANGPT4 could enhance proliferation of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, and promote cardiac repair in mice after myocardial infarction, indicating that the function of Angpt4 is conserved in mammals. Our study provides a mechanistic understanding of heart regeneration at single-cell precision, identifies Angpt4 as a key regulator of cardiomyocyte proliferation and regeneration, and offers a novel therapeutic target for improved recovery after human heart injuries.
Humans ; Mice ; Rats ; Cell Proliferation ; Heart/physiology* ; Mammals ; Myocardial Infarction/metabolism* ; Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism* ; Pericardium/metabolism* ; Single-Cell Analysis ; Zebrafish/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Shoutai pills (a traditional Chinese medicinal preparation) on immune functions and oxidative stress in pregnant rats exposed to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). METHODS: Thirty-six mature female SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (=12). After pregnancy was confirmed, the rats were given 10 mL/kg corn oil +10 mL/kg saline (control group), 500 mg/kg DEHP+10 mL/kg saline (model group), and 500 mg/kg DEHP+10 mL/kg Shoutai pills (treatment group). At 19 days of gestation, the rats were sacrificed and the fetal rats were weighed and the numbers of live and stillborn fetal rats were recorded. Serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-2 (IL-2), tumor necrosis factor-ɑ (TNF-ɑ), estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) levels were detected. The appearance, color and quality of the placenta in each group were recorded, and the placental tissues were examined pathologically. The total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH- Px), catalase (CAT), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the placental tissues were measured. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the rats with DEHP exposure showed slow weight gain in the middle and late gestation period and significantly lower fetal weight ( < 0.05) with lowered serum levels of IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-ɑ, increased estradiol level ( < 0.05), decreased placental T-AOC, GSH-Px, SOD and CAT levels, and increased ROS and MDA levels ( < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the rats treated with Shoutai pills had significantly increased weight gain in mid and late pregnancy and greater fetal weight ( < 0.05) with significantly increased serum IL-2 and IL-6 levels, decreased estradiol level ( < 0.05), slightly increased TNF-ɑ expression (> 0.05), increased placenta T-AOC, GSH- Px and CAT levels, decreased MDA level ( < 0.05), and slightly increased SOD and decreased ROS levels (>0.05). No significant difference was found in progesterone levels among the groups (>0.05). HE staining showed that the trophoblast in the placental tissue sponge in the model group was loose and irregular with numerous vacuoles. In the treatment group, the structure of the placenta remained intact with clearly visible labyrinth zone, sponge trophoblast and giant cell trophoblast, and the cell distribution in each layer was better than that in the model group. CONCLUSIONS Shoutai pills can regulate the immune function of DEHP-exposed pregnant rats possibly by antagonizing the estrogenlike effect of DEHP and regulating serum immune factors; Shoutai pills can also reduce placental tissue damage and improve pregnancy outcome by correcting DEHP-induced imbalance of oxidative stress in the placental tissues.
Animals ; Diethylhexyl Phthalate ; Female ; Oxidative Stress ; Phthalic Acids ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Codnopsispilosula polysaccharides (CPP) , which administered intra-peritoneally 200mg/kg?d-1 for 5 d or 8 d in mice, enhanced thephagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages on chiken RBC, the erythrocyte (E)rosette formation of thymus T lymphocyte and the clearance rate of charcoal particles in normal mice and antagonized the inhibition of E rosette formation and of peritoneal phagocytic activity caused by cyclophosphamide ( CY ) or hydrocortisone ( HCT ) . It inhibited the delayed type hypersensitivity ( DT H ) induced by DNCB and enhanced DT H induced by dexamethasons ( DMS ) . It has regulatory important signification in resisting decrepitude.