1.Isorhamnetin Alleviates Inflammation-Induced Crosstalk between Kynurenine Pathway and Gut Microbiota in Depressed Mice
Mengjie XU ; Wei HE ; Ke YAN ; Xinru GAO ; Jun LI ; Dongyue XU ; Jiao XIAO ; Tingxu YAN
Biomolecules & Therapeutics 2025;33(2):297-310
Depression is a widespread psychiatric disorder with complex pathogenesis and unsatisfactory therapeutic effects. As a native flavonoid, Isorhamnetin (ISO) has been deemed to exert neuroprotective effects by antioxidation and regulation of immunity. However, no reports of anti-depressed effect of ISO have yet been found. The present study was conducted to clarify the mechanism basis of anti-depressed effect of ISO utilizing behavioral, biochemical, molecular approaches in vitro and in vivo and bio-informatics analysis. The effects of ISO on depressed mice was investigated through the SPT and FST, and the lesions were examined by H&E staining. Besides, the inflammatory factor and indicator in kynurenine pathway were assessed through detection kits, and the microbiota were checked by 16sRNA. Molecular docking study was performed to investigate the target of ISO. Additionally, Western blot was used to test the activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. The results indicated that ISO could enhance the sugar water preference of mice in SPT and reduce immobility time in FST. Further more, ISO suppressed peripheral and central inflammation, regulated the changes in kynurenine pathway and gut microbiota, inhibited activation of PI3K/AKT pathway, and presented good binding patterns with target proteins on PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that ISO alleviated depression-like behaviour by normalizing inflammation-induced dysregulation of the crosstalk between KP and gut microbiota disorder through regulated PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway.
2.Isorhamnetin Alleviates Inflammation-Induced Crosstalk between Kynurenine Pathway and Gut Microbiota in Depressed Mice
Mengjie XU ; Wei HE ; Ke YAN ; Xinru GAO ; Jun LI ; Dongyue XU ; Jiao XIAO ; Tingxu YAN
Biomolecules & Therapeutics 2025;33(2):297-310
Depression is a widespread psychiatric disorder with complex pathogenesis and unsatisfactory therapeutic effects. As a native flavonoid, Isorhamnetin (ISO) has been deemed to exert neuroprotective effects by antioxidation and regulation of immunity. However, no reports of anti-depressed effect of ISO have yet been found. The present study was conducted to clarify the mechanism basis of anti-depressed effect of ISO utilizing behavioral, biochemical, molecular approaches in vitro and in vivo and bio-informatics analysis. The effects of ISO on depressed mice was investigated through the SPT and FST, and the lesions were examined by H&E staining. Besides, the inflammatory factor and indicator in kynurenine pathway were assessed through detection kits, and the microbiota were checked by 16sRNA. Molecular docking study was performed to investigate the target of ISO. Additionally, Western blot was used to test the activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. The results indicated that ISO could enhance the sugar water preference of mice in SPT and reduce immobility time in FST. Further more, ISO suppressed peripheral and central inflammation, regulated the changes in kynurenine pathway and gut microbiota, inhibited activation of PI3K/AKT pathway, and presented good binding patterns with target proteins on PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that ISO alleviated depression-like behaviour by normalizing inflammation-induced dysregulation of the crosstalk between KP and gut microbiota disorder through regulated PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway.
3.Isorhamnetin Alleviates Inflammation-Induced Crosstalk between Kynurenine Pathway and Gut Microbiota in Depressed Mice
Mengjie XU ; Wei HE ; Ke YAN ; Xinru GAO ; Jun LI ; Dongyue XU ; Jiao XIAO ; Tingxu YAN
Biomolecules & Therapeutics 2025;33(2):297-310
Depression is a widespread psychiatric disorder with complex pathogenesis and unsatisfactory therapeutic effects. As a native flavonoid, Isorhamnetin (ISO) has been deemed to exert neuroprotective effects by antioxidation and regulation of immunity. However, no reports of anti-depressed effect of ISO have yet been found. The present study was conducted to clarify the mechanism basis of anti-depressed effect of ISO utilizing behavioral, biochemical, molecular approaches in vitro and in vivo and bio-informatics analysis. The effects of ISO on depressed mice was investigated through the SPT and FST, and the lesions were examined by H&E staining. Besides, the inflammatory factor and indicator in kynurenine pathway were assessed through detection kits, and the microbiota were checked by 16sRNA. Molecular docking study was performed to investigate the target of ISO. Additionally, Western blot was used to test the activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. The results indicated that ISO could enhance the sugar water preference of mice in SPT and reduce immobility time in FST. Further more, ISO suppressed peripheral and central inflammation, regulated the changes in kynurenine pathway and gut microbiota, inhibited activation of PI3K/AKT pathway, and presented good binding patterns with target proteins on PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that ISO alleviated depression-like behaviour by normalizing inflammation-induced dysregulation of the crosstalk between KP and gut microbiota disorder through regulated PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway.
4.Ethical considerations of using the deceased as medical research subjects
Zhaolong LU ; Xiaoyun CHEN ; Yongchuan CHEN ; Mengjie YANG ; Qiang LIU ; Hui JIANG ; Zhonglin CHEN
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(11):1447-1452
The relevant laws and regulations regarding the utilization of the deceased as medical research subjects are not yet fully developed in China nowadays. Taking the deceased as research subjects as a starting point, this paper discussed the definition of the deceased and the scope of their interest protection from multiple perspectives. It posited that the scope of interest protection for the deceased encompassed two components: spiritual personality interests and material personality interests represented by the remains. The spiritual personality interests of the deceased included identification information such as name, portrait, reputation, honor, privacy, and personal information, as well as medical and health information. The personal information of the deceased was not directly affected by the individual’s life and death status and remained relatively independent. In terms of ethical review, the research team approached from two perspectives: the remains and the personal information of the deceased. Based on the standard of whether the research subjects involve a human body, research with the remains of the deceased as the medical research subjects was classified as non-clinical research. According to the standard of whether a human body is clinically operated, research with the personal information of the deceased (including medical and health information) as the medical research subjects was recognized as clinical research without human research operation. This approach provided evidence for the application of existing laws and regulations in ethical review and record management. The ethical review of investigator-initiated clinical research conducted in medical and health institutions, as well as the regulatory conditions for exemption from ethical review, were examined. The forms, content, and acquisition of informed consent were summarized, and the risk-benefit characteristics of the research activity were evaluated, with a view to providing a basis for the smooth and compliant implementation of research activities involving the deceased as medical research subjects.
5.Reflection and Practice on the Implementation of "Exemption from Ethical Review" in Medical Institutions
Zhonglin CHEN ; Mengjie YANG ; Xiaoyun CHEN ; Li LING ; Xumin HOU ; Xuening LI ; Yu FENG
Chinese Medical Ethics 2023;36(7):736-741
From the perspective of medical institutions, this paper sorted out the contents of Article 32 of the Measures for Ethical Review of Life Sciences and Medical Research Involving Human regarding "exemption from ethical review". At the same time, combined with domestic and foreign regulations, this paper deeply considered and analyzed the applicable premise and special circumstances of the provisions from the implementation level, and then put forward suggestions from the perspective of practical operation of medical institutions, with a view to providing some practical guidance and reference for ethical practitioners of medical institutions.
6.Thinking from the Perspective of Medical Institutions on Measures for Ethical Review of Life Science and Medical Research Involving Humans
Zhonglin CHEN ; Mengjie YANG ; Xumin HOU ; Xuening LI ; Danni DONG ; Yu FENG
Chinese Medical Ethics 2023;36(5):482-487
From the perspective of medical institutions, this paper sorted out the background of the promulgation and important changes of Measures for Ethical Review of Life Science and Medical Research Involving Humans, and summarized the changes that may significantly affect the ethical review of medical institutions. It involved terminology changes and expansion of the scope of ethic review, clarification of the responsibilities and independence of the ethics committee, the refinement of the ethical review process, the emphasis on the protection of personal information and the rights and interests of subjects, and first proposal to exempt from ethical review. In addition, based on the concept of strengthening the ethical governance of science and technology in the new version of regulations, this paper shared the consideration on the governance of ethical review within medical institutions, including safeguarding the dignity and rights of subject, clarifying the role and position of ethical review, exempting the implementation of ethical review, and managing entrusted ethical review. With a view to providing a certain reference for the ethics practitioners and researchers in various medical institutions.
7.Modeling the neuro-protection of theaflavic acid from black tea and its synergy with nimodipine via mitochondria apoptotic pathway.
Dan MU ; Huaguang QIN ; Mengjie JIAO ; Shaogui HUA ; Tingzhe SUN
Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B 2021;22(2):123-135
Ischemic stroke presents a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Theaflavic acid (TFA) is a theaflavin isolated from black tea that exerts a potentially neuro-protective effect. However, the dynamic properties of TFA-mediated protection remain largely unknown. In the current study, we evaluated the function of TFA in the mitochondria apoptotic pathway using mathematical modeling. We found that TFA-enhanced B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) overexpression can theoretically give rise to bistability. The bistability is highly robust against parametric stochasticity while also conferring considerable variability in survival threshold. Stochastic simulations faithfully match the TFA dose response pattern seen in experimental studies. In addition, we identified a dose- and time-dependent synergy between TFA and nimodipine, a clinically used neuro-protective drug. This synergistic effect was enhanced by bistability independent of temporal factors. Precise application of pulsed doses of TFA can also promote survival compared with sustained TFA treatment. These data collectively demonstrate that TFA treatment can give rise to bistability and that synergy between TFA and nimodipine may offer a promising strategy for developing therapeutic neuro-protection against ischemic stroke.
8. A Single-arm Study on Minocycline Combined With Metronidazole, Rabeprazole, and Bismuth Potassium Citrate for Eradication of Helicobacter pylori Infection
Mengjie ZHANG ; Zhenyu CUI ; Zhongmei PEI ; Yingying LU ; Lungen LU ; Yingying LU
Chinese Journal of Gastroenterology 2021;26(7):413-417
Background: Antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is an important cause of failure of eradication treatment, the latest national and international consensus have recommended a quadruple regimen based on the use of amoxicillin or tetracycline as the first-line treatment for Hp eradication. Minocycline is a semi-synthetic tetracycline easily available clinically and has a low secondary resistance rate, and can be used in penicillin-allergic patients. Aims: To investigate the efficacy and safety of regimen with minocycline combined with metronidazole, rabeprazole and bismuth potassium citrate for eradication of Hp infection. Methods: Patients with Hp infection from August 2020 to January 2021 at Jiangqiao Hospital in Jiading District having the primary treatment for Hp eradication were selected. All the enrolled patients received rabeprazole enteric-coated tablets 10 mg bid + minocycline capsules 100 mg bid + metronidazole tablets 400 mg tid + bismuth potassium citrate capsules 220 mg bid for 14 days. Symptoms and adverse reactions during treatment were recorded. The eradication of Hp was determined by
9. Progress of Clinical Research on Individualized Precision Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection
Mengjie ZHANG ; Zhenyu CUI ; Lungen LU ; Yingying LU
Chinese Journal of Gastroenterology 2021;26(3):166-170
Helicobacter pylori (Hp) can cause a variety of gastric diseases and has a high infection rate. With the widespread use of antibiotics and the influence of geographical, strain and host differences, the failure rate of Hp eradication and reinfection rate are increasing. Therefore, there is a need for individualized precision treatment of refractory Hp infection. This article reviewed the progress of clinical research on individualized precision treatment of Hp infection.
10.Reimaging biological barriers affecting distribution and extravasation of PEG/peptide- modified liposomes in xenograft SMMC7721 tumor.
Hailing TANG ; Mengjie RUI ; Junhua MAI ; Wei GUO ; Yuhong XU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2020;10(3):546-556
Liposomes, as one of the most successful nanotherapeutics, have a major impact on many biomedical areas. In this study, we performed laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays to investigate the intra-tumor transport and antitumor mechanism of GE11 peptide-conjugated active targeting liposomes (GE11-TLs) in SMMC7721 xenograft model. According to classification of individual cell types in high resolution images, biodistribution of macrophages, tumor cells, cells with high epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression and interstitial matrix in tumor microenvironment, in addition, their impacts on intra-tumor penetration of GE11-TLs were estimated. Type I collagen fibers and macrophage flooded in the whole SMMC7721 tumor xenografts. Tumor angiogenesis was of great heterogeneity from the periphery to the center region. However, the receptor-binding site barriers were supposed to be the leading cause of poor penetration of GE11-TLs. We anticipate these images can give a deep reconsideration for rational design of target nanoparticles for overcoming biological barriers to drug delivery.

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