1.FTO regulates resistance of triple-negative breast cancer to adriamycin through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway
Jin-min WU ; Yu-hang QI ; Jing-yi FANG ; Wei-zhi MU ; Zhao-lin CHEN ; Zhao-yi YANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(12):2334-2341
Aim To explore the effect of FTO on adria-mycin resistance in triple-negative breast cancer through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and to reveal the underlying mechanism.Methods The MDA-MB-231/ADR drug-resistant cell line was constructed using a method of gradually increasing adriamycin concentra-tion with intermittent induction.The half-inhibitory concentration(IC50)of adriamycin for MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-231/ADR cells and the expression of FTO were compared.After knocking down FTO in MDA-MB-231/ADR cells,CCK-8,qRT-PCR,colony formation assay,transwell,flow cytometry,and Western blot were used to assess the changes in the IC50 of adri-amycin,cell proliferation,migration,invasion,apopto-sis,and the expression of related proteins.Results FTO was highly expressed in MDA-MB-231/ADR cells.After FTO knockdown,the IC50 value of adriamy-cin in MDA-MB-231/ADR cells decreased,and the a-bilities of proliferation,migration and invasion were weakened.In the FTO knockdown group,the expres-sion levels of Bax,cleaved-caspase3,GSK-3 β proteins and the apoptosis rate significantly increased,while the expression levels of Bcl-2,Wnt5a,β-catenin,c-myc,cyclin D1,and P-gp proteins decreased.Conclusion FTO may inhibit the apoptosis of MDA-MB-231/ADR cells through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway,al-ter P-gp expression,and thereby enhance the resistance of MDA-MB-231/ADR cells to adriamycin.
2.FTO regulates resistance of triple-negative breast cancer to adriamycin through Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway
Jin-min WU ; Yu-hang QI ; Jing-yi FANG ; Wei-zhi MU ; Zhao-lin CHEN ; Zhao-yi YANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(12):2334-2341
Aim To explore the effect of FTO on adria-mycin resistance in triple-negative breast cancer through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and to reveal the underlying mechanism.Methods The MDA-MB-231/ADR drug-resistant cell line was constructed using a method of gradually increasing adriamycin concentra-tion with intermittent induction.The half-inhibitory concentration(IC50)of adriamycin for MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-231/ADR cells and the expression of FTO were compared.After knocking down FTO in MDA-MB-231/ADR cells,CCK-8,qRT-PCR,colony formation assay,transwell,flow cytometry,and Western blot were used to assess the changes in the IC50 of adri-amycin,cell proliferation,migration,invasion,apopto-sis,and the expression of related proteins.Results FTO was highly expressed in MDA-MB-231/ADR cells.After FTO knockdown,the IC50 value of adriamy-cin in MDA-MB-231/ADR cells decreased,and the a-bilities of proliferation,migration and invasion were weakened.In the FTO knockdown group,the expres-sion levels of Bax,cleaved-caspase3,GSK-3 β proteins and the apoptosis rate significantly increased,while the expression levels of Bcl-2,Wnt5a,β-catenin,c-myc,cyclin D1,and P-gp proteins decreased.Conclusion FTO may inhibit the apoptosis of MDA-MB-231/ADR cells through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway,al-ter P-gp expression,and thereby enhance the resistance of MDA-MB-231/ADR cells to adriamycin.
3.Treating Type 2 Diabetic Nephropathy by Down-regulating NOX4 to Inhibit the Oxidative Stress Pathway in Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Shu-Qi FENG ; Guo-Rong JIN ; Qun-Hang XUE ; Min HE ; Ze-Hang WANG ; Jia-Xin YAO ; Long CHEN ; Yu-Jiao WANG ; An-Xiu ZHANG ; Sheng HE ; Bing-Rui ZHOU ; Jun XIE
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(5):730-740
Diabetic nephropathy(DN)is a serious complication of diabetes mellitus and a leading cause of end-stage renal diseases.In DN patients,key pathological mechanisms include proteinuria,glomerulo-sclerosis,and fibrosis,largely driven by poor glycemic control and oxidative stress caused by prolonged hyperglycemia.This stress damages renal podocytes and triggers inflammatory mesenchymal infiltration of renal tubular cells,exacerbating the progression of proteinuria and fibrosis.Human umbilical cord-de-rived mesenchymal stem cells(hUC-MSCs)offer promising potential for treating DN due to their strong anti-oxidative properties.In this study,we developed a DN mouse model and treated the mouse via tail vein injections of hUC-MSCs(1×106 cells/mouse).The results indicated that hUC-MSCs significantly lowered fasting blood glucose levels(22.5±3.0 vs 14.7±1.1,P<0.01)and improved glucose toler-ance,as shown by intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test(IPGTT)results(P<0.05).Additionally,the renal function improved in hUC-MSCs-treated mice,with marked reductions in oxidative stress markers,including blood urea nitrogen(BUN),urinary creatinine(Ucr),urinary protein(PRO),superoxide dismutase(SOD),and malondialdehyde(MDA)(P<0.05).Histological analyses through hematoxy-lin-eosin(H&E),Periodic Acid-Schiff(PAS),and Sirius red staining demonstrated alleviation of glo-merular mesangial hyperplasia,glomerular hypertrophy,and tubular inflammation.Furthermore,hUC-MSCs treatment downregulated the expression of oxidative stress-related proteins,such as NADPH oxi-dase 4(NOX4)and thioredoxin-interacting protein(TXNIP),and reduced reactive oxygen species(ROS)production(P<0.05).Meanwhile,human renal cortical proximal tubule epithelial cells(HK-2 cells)were selected for validation in vitro experiments using high glucose treatment followed by super-natants of hUC-MSCs(MSC-CM),and Western blotting showed that the expression of both NOX4 and TXNIP was inhibited(P<0.05)and ROS expression was reduced.In conclusion,hUC-MSC treatment effectively lowered blood glucose levels and improved renal function in DN mice,likely through the sup-pression of NOX4 expression and TXNIP-mediated oxidative stress.
4.What Information do Systemic Pathological Changes Bring to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease?
Jinyue ZHOU ; Xiaoli SUN ; Keren WANG ; Min SHEN ; Jingbo YU ; Qi YAO ; Hang HONG ; Chunlan TANG ; Qinwen WANG
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(7):1289-1301
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is regarded as a neurodegenerative disease, and it has been proposed that AD may be a systemic disease. Studies have reported associations between non-neurological diseases and AD. The correlations between AD pathology and systemic (non-neurological) pathological changes are intricate, and the mechanisms underlying these correlations and their causality are unclear. In this article, we review the association between AD and disorders of other systems. In addition, we summarize the possible mechanisms associated with AD and disorders of other systems, mainly from the perspective of AD pathology. Regarding the relationship between AD and systemic pathological changes, we aim to provide a new outlook on the early warning signs and treatment of AD, such as establishing a diagnostic and screening system based on more accessible peripheral samples.
Alzheimer Disease/therapy*
;
Humans
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Brain/pathology*
5.Treating Type 2 Diabetic Nephropathy by Down-regulating NOX4 to Inhibit the Oxidative Stress Pathway in Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Shu-Qi FENG ; Guo-Rong JIN ; Qun-Hang XUE ; Min HE ; Ze-Hang WANG ; Jia-Xin YAO ; Long CHEN ; Yu-Jiao WANG ; An-Xiu ZHANG ; Sheng HE ; Bing-Rui ZHOU ; Jun XIE
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(5):730-740
Diabetic nephropathy(DN)is a serious complication of diabetes mellitus and a leading cause of end-stage renal diseases.In DN patients,key pathological mechanisms include proteinuria,glomerulo-sclerosis,and fibrosis,largely driven by poor glycemic control and oxidative stress caused by prolonged hyperglycemia.This stress damages renal podocytes and triggers inflammatory mesenchymal infiltration of renal tubular cells,exacerbating the progression of proteinuria and fibrosis.Human umbilical cord-de-rived mesenchymal stem cells(hUC-MSCs)offer promising potential for treating DN due to their strong anti-oxidative properties.In this study,we developed a DN mouse model and treated the mouse via tail vein injections of hUC-MSCs(1×106 cells/mouse).The results indicated that hUC-MSCs significantly lowered fasting blood glucose levels(22.5±3.0 vs 14.7±1.1,P<0.01)and improved glucose toler-ance,as shown by intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test(IPGTT)results(P<0.05).Additionally,the renal function improved in hUC-MSCs-treated mice,with marked reductions in oxidative stress markers,including blood urea nitrogen(BUN),urinary creatinine(Ucr),urinary protein(PRO),superoxide dismutase(SOD),and malondialdehyde(MDA)(P<0.05).Histological analyses through hematoxy-lin-eosin(H&E),Periodic Acid-Schiff(PAS),and Sirius red staining demonstrated alleviation of glo-merular mesangial hyperplasia,glomerular hypertrophy,and tubular inflammation.Furthermore,hUC-MSCs treatment downregulated the expression of oxidative stress-related proteins,such as NADPH oxi-dase 4(NOX4)and thioredoxin-interacting protein(TXNIP),and reduced reactive oxygen species(ROS)production(P<0.05).Meanwhile,human renal cortical proximal tubule epithelial cells(HK-2 cells)were selected for validation in vitro experiments using high glucose treatment followed by super-natants of hUC-MSCs(MSC-CM),and Western blotting showed that the expression of both NOX4 and TXNIP was inhibited(P<0.05)and ROS expression was reduced.In conclusion,hUC-MSC treatment effectively lowered blood glucose levels and improved renal function in DN mice,likely through the sup-pression of NOX4 expression and TXNIP-mediated oxidative stress.
6.Licorice-saponin A3 is a broad-spectrum inhibitor for COVID-19 by targeting viral spike and anti-inflammation
Yang YI ; Wenzhe LI ; Kefang LIU ; Heng XUE ; Rong YU ; Meng ZHANG ; Yang-Oujie BAO ; Xinyuan LAI ; Jingjing FAN ; Yuxi HUANG ; Jing WANG ; Xiaomeng SHI ; Junhua LI ; Hongping WEI ; Kuanhui XIANG ; Linjie LI ; Rong ZHANG ; Xin ZHAO ; Xue QIAO ; Hang YANG ; Min YE
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2024;14(1):115-127
Currently,human health due to corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has been seriously threatened.The coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)spike(S)protein plays a crucial role in virus transmission and several S-based therapeutic approaches have been approved for the treatment of COVID-19.However,the efficacy is compromised by the SARS-CoV-2 evolvement and mutation.Here we report the SARS-CoV-2 S protein receptor-binding domain(RBD)inhibitor licorice-saponin A3(A3)could widely inhibit RBD of SARS-CoV-2 variants,including Beta,Delta,and Omicron BA.1,XBB and BQ1.1.Furthermore,A3 could potently inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Omicron virus in Vero E6 cells,with EC50 of 1.016 pM.The mechanism was related to binding with Y453 of RBD deter-mined by hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry(HDX-MS)analysis combined with quan-tum mechanics/molecular mechanics(QM/MM)simulations.Interestingly,phosphoproteomics analysis and multi fluorescent immunohistochemistry(mIHC)respectively indicated that A3 also inhibits host inflammation by directly modulating the JNK and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)path-ways and rebalancing the corresponding immune dysregulation.This work supports A3 as a promising broad-spectrum small molecule drug candidate for COVID-19.
7.Structural identification of the related substances in phloroglucinol injection by two-dimensional liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry
Jia-ming LIU ; Yu-ting LU ; Min SONG ; Tai-jun HANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(1):202-213
This study aimed to identify the related substances of phloroglucinol injection by two-dimensional liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (2D-LC-Q-TOF/MS). The first-dimensional separation was carried out on an HSS T3 (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) column by gradient elution using 1.36 g·L-1 potassium dihydrogen phosphate buffer solution (pH adjusted to 3.0 with diluted phosphoric acid) and acetonitrile as the mobile phases. The separated components were then trapped in switch valve tube lines respectively and delivered to the second-dimensional desalting gradient elution which was performed with a BDS C18 (100 mm × 4.6 mm, 2.4 μm) column using 0.1% formic acid and methanol as the mobile phases. After rapid desalting, electrospray-ionization quadrupole time-of-flight high resolution mass spectrometry was used for determining the accurate masses and elemental compositions of the parents and their product ions for both phloroglucinol and its related substance. Structures of the related substances were then figured out by mass spectrometry elucidation, organic reaction mechanism analysis, and/or comparison with reference substances. Under the established analytical conditions, phloroglucinol and its related substances were adequately separated, 17 main related substances were detected and identified in the injection and its stressed samples for the first time. The identification results can provide reference for the quality control of phloroglucinol injection.
8. Mechanism and experimental validation of Zukamu granules in treatment of bronchial asthma based on network pharmacology and molecular docking
Yan-Min HOU ; Li-Juan ZHANG ; Yu-Yao LI ; Wen-Xin ZHOU ; Hang-Yu WANG ; Jin-Hui WANG ; Ke ZHANG ; Mei XU ; Dong LIU ; Jin-Hui WANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(2):363-371
Aim To anticipate the mechanism of zuka- mu granules (ZKMG) in the treatment of bronchial asthma, and to confirm the projected outcomes through in vivo tests via using network pharmacology and molecular docking technology. Methods The database was examined for ZKMG targets, active substances, and prospective targets for bronchial asthma. The protein protein interaction network diagram (PPI) and the medication component target network were created using ZKMG and the intersection targets of bronchial asthma. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomics (KEGG) and gene ontology (GO) were used for enrichment analysis, and network pharmacology findings were used for molecular docking, ovalbumin (OVA) intraperitoneal injection was used to create a bronchial asthma model, and in vivo tests were used to confirm how ZKMG affected bronchial asthma. Results There were 176 key targets for ZKMG's treatment of bronchial asthma, most of which involved biological processes like signal transduction, negative regulation of apoptotic processes, and angiogenesis. ZKMG contained 194 potentially active components, including quercetin, kaempferol, luteolin, and other important components. Via signaling pathways such TNF, vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), cancer pathway, and MAPK, they had therapeutic effects on bronchial asthma. Conclusion Key components had strong binding activity with appropriate targets, according to molecular docking data. In vivo tests showed that ZKMG could reduce p-p38, p-ERKl/2, and p-I
9.Regulatory effect of physiological tensile stress on differentiation of ATDC5 chondrocytes through Nell-1/Ihh signaling pathway
Ziwei DONG ; Huichuan QI ; Jun MA ; Qing XUE ; Jinhan NIE ; Hang YU ; Min HU
Journal of Jilin University(Medicine Edition) 2024;50(1):1-9
Objective:To discuss the regulatory effect of physiological tensile stress on the differentiation of chondrocytes,and to clarify the associated signaling pathway mechanism.Methods:The ATDC5 chondrocytes were cultured in vitro and subjected to physiological tensile stress by four-point bending cell mechanical loading device.Initially,the cells were divided into control group and tensile stress group(2 000 μstrain/2 h group),and further divided into different stress magnitudes(1 000,2 000,and 3 000 μstrain)for 2 h,and 2 000 μstrain for different duration time(1,2,and 4 h)groups;the cells without tensile stress were used as control group.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)method was used to detect the expression levels of type Ⅱ collagen(Col-Ⅱ),type Ⅹ collagen(Col-Ⅹ),aggregated proteoglycom(Aggrecan),sex-determining region Y-box protein 9(SOX9),vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA),Nel-like molecule tyep 1(Nell-1),Runt-related transcription factor 2(Runx2),Indian hedgehog(Ihh),patched homolog 1(Ptch-1),GLI family zinc finger protein 1(Gli-1),and hedgehog interacting protein 1(Hhip-1)mRNA in the cells in various groups;Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of Nell-1,Runx2,and Ihh proteins in the cells in various groups.The ATDC5 cells were divided into control group,cyclopamine group,tensile stress group,and cyclopamine + tensile stress group.RT-qPCR method was used to detect the expression levels of Nell-1,Ihh,Ptch-1,Gli-1,and Hhip-1 mRNA in the cells in various groups;Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of Nell-1 and Ihh proteins in the cells in various groups.Results:Compared with control group,the expression levels of Col-Ⅱ,Col-Ⅹ,Aggrecan,SOX9,VEGF,and PCNA mRNA in the cells in 2 000 μstrain/2 h group were significantly increased(P<0.01);after treated with 2 000 μstrain tensile stress for different duration time(1,2,and 4 h)or different tensile stresses(1 000,2 000,and 3 000 μstrain)for 2 h,compared with control group,the expression levels of Runx2 mRNA in the cells in other groups were increased with the prolongation of time or the increasing of tensile stress(P<0.01),and the expression levels of Nell-1,Ihh,Ptch-1,Gli-1,and Hhip-1 mRNA were gradually increased(P<0.01),the expression levels reached the peaking at 2 000 μstrain/2 h,and then decreased but remained significantly higher than that in control group(P<0.01).The Western blotting results showed that the expression levels of Nell-1,Runx2,and Ihh proteins in the cells were consistent with the change trend of mRNA expression levels.After pre-treated with cyclopamine,compared with control group,the expression levels of Ihh,Ptch-1,Gli-1,and Hhip-1 mRNA in the cells in cyclopamine group were significantly decreased(P<0.01),and the expression levels of Ihh,Ptch-1,Gli-1,and Hhip-1 mRNA in the cells in tensile stress and cyclopamine+tensile stress groups were significantly increased(P<0.01);compared with cyclopamine group,the expression levels of Nell-1,Ihh,Ptch-1,Gli-1,and Hhip-1 mRNA in the cells in cyclopamine+tensile stress group were significantly increased(P<0.01);compared with tensile stress group,the expression levels of Ihh,Ptch-1,Gli-1,and Hhip-1 mRNA in the cells in cyclopamine + tensile stress group were significantly decreased(P<0.01).Compared with control group,the expression level of Ihh protein in the cells in cyclopamine group was significantly decreased(P<0.01),but there was no significant difference in expression level of Nell-1 protein in the cells between control group and cyclopamine group(P>0.05),while the expression levels of Nell-1 and Ihh proteins in the cells in tensile stress group and cyclopamine + tensile stress group were significantly increased(P<0.01);compared with cyclopamine group,the expression levels of Nell-1 and Ihh proteins in the cells in tensile stress group and cyclopamine + tensile stress group were significantly increased(P<0.01);compared with tensile stress group,in the expression levels of Nell-1 and Ihh proteins in the cells in cyclopamine + tensile stress group had no significant differences(P>0.05).Conclusion:After stimulated with physiological tensile stress,Nell-1 can activate the Ihh signaling pathway upstream,and regulate the differentiation of the ATDC5 chondrocytes.
10.Discussion of the methodology and implementation steps for assessing the causality of adverse event
Hong FANG ; Shuo-Peng JIA ; Hai-Xue WANG ; Xiao-Jing PEI ; Min LIU ; An-Qi YU ; Ling-Yun ZHOU ; Fang-Fang SHI ; Shu-Jie LU ; Shu-Hang WANG ; Yue YU ; Dan-Dan CUI ; Yu TANG ; Ning LI ; Ze-Huai WEN
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(2):299-304
The assessment of adverse drug events is an important basis for clinical safety evaluation and post-marketing risk control of drugs,and its causality assessment is gaining increasing attention.The existing methods for assessing the causal relationship between drugs and the occurrence of adverse reactions can be broadly classified into three categories:global introspective methods,standardized methods,and probabilistic methods.At present,there is no systematic introduction of the operational details of the various methods in the domestic literature.This paper compares representative causality assessment methods in terms of definition and concept,methodological steps,industry evaluation and advantages and disadvantages,clarifies the basic process of determining the causality of adverse drug reactions,and discusses how to further improve the adverse drug reaction monitoring and evaluation system,with a view to providing a reference for drug development and pharmacovigilance work in China.

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