1.Ras Guanine Nucleotide-Releasing Protein-4 Inhibits Erythropoietin Production in Diabetic Mice with Kidney Disease by Degrading HIF2A
Junmei WANG ; Shuai HUANG ; Li ZHANG ; Yixian HE ; Xian SHAO ; A-Shan-Jiang A-NI-WAN ; Yan KONG ; Xuying MENG ; Pei YU ; Saijun ZHOU
Diabetes & Metabolism Journal 2025;49(3):421-435
Background:
In acute and chronic renal inflammatory diseases, the activation of inflammatory cells is involved in the defect of erythropoietin (EPO) production. Ras guanine nucleotide-releasing protein-4 (RasGRP4) promotes renal inflammatory injury in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of RasGRP4 in the production of renal EPO in diabetes.
Methods:
The degree of tissue injury was observed by pathological staining. Inflammatory cell infiltration was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. Serum EPO levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and EPO production and renal interstitial fibrosis were analyzed by immunofluorescence. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of key inflammatory factors and the activation of signaling pathways. In vitro, the interaction between peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and C3H10T1/2 cells was investigated via cell coculture experiments.
Results:
RasGRP4 decreased the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 2-alpha (HIF2A) via the ubiquitination–proteasome degradation pathway and promoted myofibroblastic transformation by activating critical inflammatory pathways, consequently reducing the production of EPO in T2DM mice.
Conclusion
RasGRP4 participates in the production of renal EPO in diabetic mice by affecting the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in PBMCs, degrading HIF2A, and promoting the myofibroblastic transformation of C3H10T1/2 cells.
2.Ras Guanine Nucleotide-Releasing Protein-4 Inhibits Erythropoietin Production in Diabetic Mice with Kidney Disease by Degrading HIF2A
Junmei WANG ; Shuai HUANG ; Li ZHANG ; Yixian HE ; Xian SHAO ; A-Shan-Jiang A-NI-WAN ; Yan KONG ; Xuying MENG ; Pei YU ; Saijun ZHOU
Diabetes & Metabolism Journal 2025;49(3):421-435
Background:
In acute and chronic renal inflammatory diseases, the activation of inflammatory cells is involved in the defect of erythropoietin (EPO) production. Ras guanine nucleotide-releasing protein-4 (RasGRP4) promotes renal inflammatory injury in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of RasGRP4 in the production of renal EPO in diabetes.
Methods:
The degree of tissue injury was observed by pathological staining. Inflammatory cell infiltration was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. Serum EPO levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and EPO production and renal interstitial fibrosis were analyzed by immunofluorescence. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of key inflammatory factors and the activation of signaling pathways. In vitro, the interaction between peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and C3H10T1/2 cells was investigated via cell coculture experiments.
Results:
RasGRP4 decreased the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 2-alpha (HIF2A) via the ubiquitination–proteasome degradation pathway and promoted myofibroblastic transformation by activating critical inflammatory pathways, consequently reducing the production of EPO in T2DM mice.
Conclusion
RasGRP4 participates in the production of renal EPO in diabetic mice by affecting the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in PBMCs, degrading HIF2A, and promoting the myofibroblastic transformation of C3H10T1/2 cells.
3.Ras Guanine Nucleotide-Releasing Protein-4 Inhibits Erythropoietin Production in Diabetic Mice with Kidney Disease by Degrading HIF2A
Junmei WANG ; Shuai HUANG ; Li ZHANG ; Yixian HE ; Xian SHAO ; A-Shan-Jiang A-NI-WAN ; Yan KONG ; Xuying MENG ; Pei YU ; Saijun ZHOU
Diabetes & Metabolism Journal 2025;49(3):421-435
Background:
In acute and chronic renal inflammatory diseases, the activation of inflammatory cells is involved in the defect of erythropoietin (EPO) production. Ras guanine nucleotide-releasing protein-4 (RasGRP4) promotes renal inflammatory injury in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of RasGRP4 in the production of renal EPO in diabetes.
Methods:
The degree of tissue injury was observed by pathological staining. Inflammatory cell infiltration was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. Serum EPO levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and EPO production and renal interstitial fibrosis were analyzed by immunofluorescence. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of key inflammatory factors and the activation of signaling pathways. In vitro, the interaction between peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and C3H10T1/2 cells was investigated via cell coculture experiments.
Results:
RasGRP4 decreased the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 2-alpha (HIF2A) via the ubiquitination–proteasome degradation pathway and promoted myofibroblastic transformation by activating critical inflammatory pathways, consequently reducing the production of EPO in T2DM mice.
Conclusion
RasGRP4 participates in the production of renal EPO in diabetic mice by affecting the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in PBMCs, degrading HIF2A, and promoting the myofibroblastic transformation of C3H10T1/2 cells.
4.Ras Guanine Nucleotide-Releasing Protein-4 Inhibits Erythropoietin Production in Diabetic Mice with Kidney Disease by Degrading HIF2A
Junmei WANG ; Shuai HUANG ; Li ZHANG ; Yixian HE ; Xian SHAO ; A-Shan-Jiang A-NI-WAN ; Yan KONG ; Xuying MENG ; Pei YU ; Saijun ZHOU
Diabetes & Metabolism Journal 2025;49(3):421-435
Background:
In acute and chronic renal inflammatory diseases, the activation of inflammatory cells is involved in the defect of erythropoietin (EPO) production. Ras guanine nucleotide-releasing protein-4 (RasGRP4) promotes renal inflammatory injury in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of RasGRP4 in the production of renal EPO in diabetes.
Methods:
The degree of tissue injury was observed by pathological staining. Inflammatory cell infiltration was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. Serum EPO levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and EPO production and renal interstitial fibrosis were analyzed by immunofluorescence. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of key inflammatory factors and the activation of signaling pathways. In vitro, the interaction between peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and C3H10T1/2 cells was investigated via cell coculture experiments.
Results:
RasGRP4 decreased the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 2-alpha (HIF2A) via the ubiquitination–proteasome degradation pathway and promoted myofibroblastic transformation by activating critical inflammatory pathways, consequently reducing the production of EPO in T2DM mice.
Conclusion
RasGRP4 participates in the production of renal EPO in diabetic mice by affecting the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in PBMCs, degrading HIF2A, and promoting the myofibroblastic transformation of C3H10T1/2 cells.
5.Mechanism of circ_0103552 regulating lung cancer A549 cell proliferation,migration and invasion by targeting miR-1200
Fang ZHOU ; Meng WANG ; Shi-Zhao CHENG ; Zheng WANG ; Si-Pei ZHANG ; Xi-Ke LU
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(11):2099-2104
Aim To explore the effect of circ_0103552 on the proliferation,migration and invasion of lung cancer A549 cells and its possible mechanism.Meth-ods qRT-PCR was used to detect circ_0103552 and miR-1200 expression in lung cancer tissues and adja-cent tissues.A549 cells were grouped into si-NC,si-circ_0103552,miR-NC,miR-1200,si-circ_0103552+anti-miR-NC,si-circ_0103552+anti-miR-1200 groups.Cell proliferation,clone formation,migration and invasion were detected.The targeting relationship between circ_0103552 and miR-1200 was assessed u-sing the dual luciferase reporter experiment.The ex-pression of E-cadherin and N-cadherin protein was de-tected by Western blot.Results Compared with adja-cent tissues,circ_0103552 expression in lung cancer tissue increased(P<0.05),while miR-1200 expres-sion decreased(P<0.05).Circ_0103552 knockdown or miR-1200 overexpression reduced cell viability,N-cadherin,cloning,invasion,and promoted E-cadherin protein(P<0.05).Circ_0103552 could target miR-1200.Down-regulating miR-1200 could reverse the in-hibitory effect of circ_0103552 knockdown on prolifera-tion,migration and invasion,as well as the promotion effect on cell apoptosis(P<0.05).Conclusion Circ_0103552 could promote lung cancer cell progres-sion by targeting miR-1200.
6.Orthopaedic robot assisted closed reduction and cannulated screw internal fixation for the treatment of femoral neck fractures
Shou-Hai JIANG ; Chuan-Kai ZHANG ; Fang-Teng JIA ; Qiang CHEN ; Meng XU ; Pei-Lin YANG ; Yu-Shuai ZHANG
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2024;37(2):119-123
Objective To investigate the preliminary clinical effect of closed reduction and cannulated nail internal fixa-tion for femoral neck fracture assisted by robot navigation and positioning system.Methods From July 2019 to January 2020,16 cases of femoral neck fracture(navigation group)were treated with closed reduction and internal fixation guided by robot system,including 7 males and 9 females,aged 25 to 72 years old with an average of(53.61±5.45)years old;Garden classification of fracture:3 cases of type Ⅰ,3 cases of type Ⅱ,8 cases of type Ⅲ,2 cases of type Ⅳ.Non navigation group(control group):20 cases of femoral neck fracture were treated with closed reduction and hollow nail internal fixation,8 males and 12 females,aged 46 to 70 years old with an average of(55.23±4.64)years old;Garden type Ⅰ in 2 cases,type Ⅱ in 4 cases,type Ⅲ in 11 cases,type Ⅳ in 3 cases.The operation time,fluoroscopy times,guide needle drilling times,screw adjustment times,intraoperative bleeding volume and other indicators of two groups were evaluated.Results Both groups were followed up for 12 to 18 months with an average of(15.6±2.8)months.The fractures of both groups were healed without delayed union and nonunion.There was no significant difference in healing time between two groups(P=0.782).There was no significant differ-ence in Harris scores between two groups at the last follow-up(P=0.813).There was no significant difference in operation time between two groups(P>0.05).There were significant differences between two groups in fluoroscopy times,guide needle drilling times,hollow screw replacement times,and intraoperative bleeding volume(P<0.05).Conclusion Closed reduction and hollow screw internal fixation assisted by robot navigation system for femoral neck fracture has the advantages of minimally invasive operation,precise screw placement,and reduction of X-ray radiation damage during operation.
7.Melatonin alleviates autophagy in cortical neurons of neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage via the PI3K/AKT pathway
Chen-Meng LIU ; Xiao-Tian GAO ; Hai-Mo ZHANG ; Hui-Ning BI ; Chen LIANG ; Jing-Ying JIANG ; Pei-Lun XIAO ; Xiao-He YU ; Xiao-Li WANG
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2024;26(6):631-638
Objective To observe the effects of melatonin on autophagy in cortical neurons of neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage(HIBD)and to explore its mechanisms via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway,aiming to provide a basis for the clinical application of melatonin.Methods Seven-day-old Sprague-Dawley neonatal rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group,an HIBD group,and a melatonin group(n=9 each).The neonatal rat HIBD model was established using the classic Rice-Vannucci method.Neuronal morphology in the neonatal rat cerebral cortex was observed with hematoxylin-eosin staining and Nissl staining.Autophagy-related protein levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3)and Beclin-1 were detected by immunofluorescence staining and Western blot analysis.Phosphorylated phosphoinositide 3-kinase(p-PI3K)and phosphorylated protein kinase B(p-AKT)protein expression levels were measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.The correlation between autophagy and the PI3K pathway in the melatonin group and the HIBD group was analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis.Results Twenty-four hours post-modeling,neurons in the sham operation group displayed normal size and orderly arrangement.In contrast,neurons in the HIBD group showed swelling and disorderly arrangement,while those in the melatonin group had relatively normal morphology and more orderly arrangement.Nissl bodies were normal in the sham operation group but distorted in the HIBD group;however,they remained relatively intact in the melatonin group.The average fluorescence intensity of LC3 and Beclin-1 was higher in the HIBD group compared to the sham operation group,but was reduced in the melatonin group compared to the HIBD group(P<0.05).The number of p-PI3K+and p-AKT+cells decreased in the HIBD group compared to the sham operation group but increased in the melatonin group compared to the HIBD group(P<0.05).LC3 and Beclin-1 protein expression levels were higher,and p-PI3K and p-AKT levels were lower in the HIBD group compared to the sham operation group(P<0.05);however,in the melatonin group,LC3 and Beclin-1 levels decreased,and p-PI3K and p-AKT increased compared to the HIBD group(P<0.05).The correlation analysis results showed that the difference of the mean fluorescence intensity of LC3 and Beclin-1 protein in the injured cerebral cortex between the melatonin and HIBD groups was negatively correlated with the difference of the number of p-PI3K+and p-AKT+cells between the two groups(P<0.05).Conclusions Melatonin can inhibit excessive autophagy in cortical neurons of neonatal rats with HIBD,thereby alleviating HIBD.This mechanism is associated with the PI3K/AKT pathway.
8. Function of Cortactin/N-cadherin signal axis in pathological myocardial hypertrophy
Yue-Mei WANG ; Wen-Jing YU ; Xi-Meng SUN ; Jing ZHANG ; Jing LU ; Pei-Qing LIU
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(2):234-242
Aim To investigate the regulatory effect of Cortaetin on pathological myocardial hypertrophy induced by isoprenaline (ISO) and the underlying mechanism. Methods ISO was used to stimulate neonatal rat cardiomyocytes for 24 h, and myocardial hypertrophy model was established at the cellular level. C57BL/6 mice were injected subcutaneously with ISO for one week to establish myocardial hypertrophy model at animal level. RT-qPCR was used to detect the changes of mRNA and Western blot was used to detect the changes of relative protein content. Immunofluorescence was used to measure the subcellular location of Cortaetin and the change of its expression. The overex-pression of Cortaetin by adenovirus infection and the knockdown of Cortaetin by transfection of small interfering RNA were studied. Results On the cellular and animal levels, ISO-induced myocardial hypertrophy models were successfully established, and it was observed that ISO caused the decrease of Cortaetin and N-cadherin protein levels. Overexpression of Cortaetin could reverse the decrease of N-cadherin protein level and myocardial hypertrophy caused by ISO. Knockdown of Cortaetin showed the opposite effect. Conclusion Cortaetin, in combination with N-cadherin, may play a role in combating myocardial hypertrophy by enhancing the connections between cardiomyocytes.
9.A prospective cohort study of factors associated with longevity in older adults in 10 areas of China
Shuoyu LI ; Yiqian ZHANG ; Meng XIAO ; Dianjianyi SUN ; Canqing YU ; Yueqing WANG ; Pei PEI ; Junshi CHEN ; Zhengming CHEN ; Liming LI ; Jun LYU
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2024;45(1):26-34
Objective:To evaluate the associations of sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle factors with longevity status in older adults in China.Methods:After excluding those born after 31 st December 1938, a total of 51 870 older adults from the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) were included. The attained age was defined according to the survival age or age on 31 st December 2018. According to the attained age, the old persons were categorized into non-longevity (died before age 80 years) and longevity (attained age ≥80 years). The longevity group was further divided into two groups: longevity with death occurring before 2019, and longevity and survival to 2019. The information about socio-demographic characteristics and lifestyles was collected at the 2004-2008 baseline survey. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to analyze the associations between exposure factors and outcomes by taking the non-longevity group as the reference group. Results:A total of 51 870 older adults aged 65-79 years in the baseline survey were included for analysis. During a follow-up for (10.2±3.5) years, 38 841 participants were longevity, and 30 354 participants still survived at the end of 2018. Compared to men, rural populations, non-married individuals, those with an annual household income of less than 10 000 yuan, and those with education levels of primary school or below, the adjusted ORs(95% CI) for longevity and survival to 2019 in women, urban residents, married individuals, those with annual household incomes ≥20 000 yuan, and those with education levels of college or university were 1.68 (1.58-1.78), 1.69 (1.61-1.78), 1.15 (1.10-1.21), 1.44 (1.36-1.53), and 1.32 (1.19-1.48), respectively. The OR (95% CI) for longevity and survival to 2019 was 1.09 (1.08-1.10) for those with an increase of 4 MET-hour/day in total physical activity level. With those who never or almost never smoked, had no alcohol drinking every week, had normal weight (BMI: 18.5-23.9 kg/m 2), and WC <85 cm (man)/<80 cm (woman) as the reference groups, the ORs(95% CI) of longevity and survival to 2019 were 0.64 (0.60-0.69) for those smoking ≥20 cigarettes per day, 1.29 (1.14-1.46) for those with alcohol drinking every week, 1.13 (1.01-1.26) for those with pure alcohol drinking <30 g per day, 0.56 (0.52-0.61) for those being underweight, 1.27 (1.19-1.36) for those being overweight, 1.23 (1.11-1.36) for those with obesity, and 0.86 (0.79-0.93) for those with central obesity. Further stratified analysis by WC was performed. In the older adults with WC <85 cm (man)/<80 cm (woman), the ORs (95% CI) of longevity and survival was 1.80 (1.69-1.92) for those with each 5 kg/m 2 increase in BMI and 1.02 (0.96-1.08) for those with WC ≥85 cm (man)/≥80 cm (woman). There was a statistically significant difference in the association between BMI and longevity between the two WC groups (interaction test P<0.001). Conclusion:This study showed that women, the married, those with higher socioeconomic status and education level, and those with healthy lifestyles were more likely to achieve longevity.
10.Development of a prediction model for incidence of diabetic foot in patients with type 2 diabetes and its application based on a local health data platform
Yexian YU ; Meng ZHANG ; Xiaowei CHEN ; Lijia LIU ; Pei LI ; Houyu ZHAO ; Yexiang SUN ; Hongyu SUN ; Yumei SUN ; Xueyang LIU ; Hongbo LIN ; Peng SHEN ; Siyan ZHAN ; Feng SUN
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2024;45(7):997-1006
Objective:To construct a diabetes foot prediction model for adult patients with type 2 diabetes based on retrospective cohort study using data from a regional health data platform.Methods:Using Yinzhou Health Information Platform of Ningbo, adult patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2022 were included in this study and divided randomly the train and test sets according to the ratio of 7∶3. LASSO regression model and bidirectional stepwise regression model were used to identify risk factors, and model comparisons were conducted with net reclassification index, integrated discrimination improvement and concordance index. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models were constructed, and a nomogram plot was drawn. Area under the curve (AUC) was calculated as a discriminant evaluation indicator for model validation test its calibration ability, and calibration curves were drawn to test its calibration ability.Results:No significant difference existed between LASSO regression model and bidirectional stepwise regression model, but the better bidirectional stepwise regression model was selected as the final model. The risk factors included age of onset, gender, hemoglobin A1c, estimated glomerular filtration rate, taking angiotensin receptor blocker and smoking history. AUC values (95% CI) of risk outcome prediction at year 5 and 7 were 0.700 (0.650-0.749) and 0.715(0.668-0.762) for the train set and 0.738 (0.667-0.801) and 0.723 (0.663-0.783) for the test set, respectively. The calibration curves were close to the ideal curve, and the model discrimination and calibration powers were both good. Conclusions:This study established a convenient prediction model for diabetic foot and classified the risk levels. The model has strong interpretability, good discrimination power, and satisfactory calibration and can be used to predict the incidence of diabetes foot in adult patients with type 2 diabetes to provide a basis for self-assessment and clinical prediction of diabetic foot disease risk.

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