ObjectiveTo investigate whether Bushen Huoxue prescription improves embryo implantation through regulating exosomal miRNA to enhance maternal-fetal interface communication based on Bushen Huoxue therapy. MethodsIn the animal experiment， all the rats （except for the blank group） were administered hydroxyurea （450 mg·kg^-1） via gavage for 10 d， as well as epinephrine （0.3 mg·kg^-1） and mifepristone （5.5 mg·kg^-1） via subcutaneous injection for 7 d to establish an implantation disorder model of kidney deficiency and blood stasis type. The Bushen Huoxue prescription （BSHX） groups were administered the prescription at different doses （7.30 g·kg^-1 for the high-dose group， 3.65 g·kg^-1 for the medium-dose group， and 1.83 g·kg^-1 for the low-dose group） via gavage. The dydrogesterone group was administered the corresponding medicine （2.63 mg·kg^-1） via gavage. After intervention for 10 days， uterine histopathological changes were observed via hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Mucin （MUC1）， forkhead box protein O1 （FoxO1）， and homeobox A10 （HoxA10） expression levels were detected by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） and Western blot. Cell experiment selected primary endometrial epithelial cells （EEC） and trophoblast cells （TC） as research subjects. Exosome-free medicated serum was prepared by ultracentrifugation and cultured in complete medium. Exosomes were isolated from cell supernatants by ultracentrifugation for cross-co-culture. After 48 h， migration and invasion abilities were assessed by scratch and Transwell assays. Sequencing was then performed on EEC-origin exosomal miRNA. ResultsThe model rats exhibited thin endometrium， along with reduced blood vessels， glandules， and pinopode numbers. BSHX improved endometrial morphology and increased pinopode numbers. MUC1， FoxO1， and HoxA10 expressions were downregulated in the model rats， while these parameters were upregulated after BSHX medium- and high-dose intervention. In the cell experiment， after exosome-free medicated serum intervention for 24 h， migration and invasion abilities were enhanced in the BSHX groups （P<0.01）. In EEC-origin exosomal miRNA sequencing， gene ontology （GO） and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） analyses revealed enrichment in biological processes （gastrulation， neuronal differentiation， alongside cell development and regeneration）， involving the mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK）， FoxO1， Wnt， mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR）， and tumor necrosis factor （TNF） signaling pathways. ConclusionBSHX promotes embryo implantation by improving endometrial receptivity via regulating exosomal miRNA. These findings provide potential targets for exosomal miRNA-based assisted reproductive strategies and a novel theoretical basis for infertility treatment by traditional Chinese medicine.

ObjectiveTo screen and identify the key proteins of Monkeypox Virus （MPXV） that regulate the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 （NLRP3） inflammasome. MethodsUsing the genomic sequence of the domestic epidemic strain of MPXV as a template to construct an expression plasmid library containing 82 viral genes. To screen for viral genes that significantly inhibit the production of interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， the expression plasmids encoding NLRP3， apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD （ASC）， cysteine protease-1（Caspase-1）， and pro-IL-1β-Luc reporter gene were co-transfected into HEK293T cells， along with the viral gene plasmids. The signal of the NLRP3 inflammasome was monitored by measuring luciferase activity in the cell supernatant. The inhibition effects were further confirmed by Western Blot （WB）， and the interactions between the viral proteins and the components of the NLRP3 inflammasome were determined by Co-immunoprecipitation （Co-IP）. Additionally， site-directed mutagenesis was performed to identify the specific interaction motifs. ResultsAn NLRP3 inflammasome signal screening system were successfully established and optimized. Screening the MPXV plasmids using this system revealed that B10R most significantly inhibits IL-1β maturation in a dose-dependent manner （P＜0.000 1）. Further characterization demonstrated that B10R interacts directly with pro-IL-1β. Notably， the C-terminal motif mutant of B10R （B10Rmut-C， T96A， Y97A， I98A） lost its ability to interact with pro-IL-1β. ConclusionsThe MPXV B10R protein interacts with pro-IL-1β， thereby inhibiting the IL-1β maturation. The C-terminal motif （T96， Y97， I98） of the B10R protein is crucial for function. This study provides important clues and a foundation for further elucidating the molecular mechanisms by which MPXV regulates the NLRP3 inflammasome.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Liuwei Dihuangwan on mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR）-mediated synaptic plasticity in the prefrontal cortex-hippocampus circuit in the rat model of valproic acid （VPA）-induced autism spectrum disorder （ASD） and to explore its potential mechanism for reducing behavioral abnormalities in ASD rats. MethodsThirteen SD pregnant rats were randomized into the VPA group （10 rats） and the control group （3 rats）. On gestational day 13， the VPA group was intraperitoneally injected with VPA solution （600 mg·kg^-1）， while the control group was injected with an equal volume of normal saline. Male pups of 21 days old from both groups underwent behavioral tests to screen the ASD model rats （32 rats）. These rats were then randomly assigned to the model （distilled water）， vitamin D （1 480 U·kg^-1）， low-dose （0.75 g·kg^-1） Liuwei Dihuangwan， and high-dose （1.5 g·kg^-1） Liuwei Dihuangwan groups， and normal male pups were selected as the blank group （distilled water）， with 8 rats in each group. Each group was treated with the corresponding drug or an equal volume of distilled water via gavage daily. After drug administration， behavioral tests were conducted again， followed by anesthesia and tissue collection. Nissl staining was carried out to observe the morphological changes of neurons in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe changes in hippocampal synaptic structure. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were employed to determine the expression of mTOR， phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）， and protein kinase B （Akt） in the prefrontal cortex， as well as synaptophysin-1 （SYP-1）， postsynaptic density 95 （PSD95）， and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors （NMDARs） in the hippocampus. ResultsCompared with the control group， the model group exhibited severe growth retardation and developmental deformities， with abnormal behavioral performance and pathological damage to neurons and synapses in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Compared with the model group， all treatment groups showed reduced behavioral abnormalities and pathological damage to neurons and synapses in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus， with the most significant effects in the high-dose Liuwei Dihuangwan group. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting results showed that compared with the control group， the model group exhibited significantly increased protein levels and phosphorylation ratios of p-mTOR， p-Akt， and p-PI3K in the prefrontal cortex （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and decreased protein levels of SYP-1 and PSD95 and increased protein level of NMDARs in the hippocampus （P<0.01）. Compared with those in the model group， the protein levels of p-mTOR， p-Akt， and p-PI3K in the prefrontal cortex decreased in the vitamin D and high-dose Liuwei Dihuangwan groups （P<0.05）， and the p-mTOR/mTOR， p-Akt/Akt， and p-PI3K/PI3K ratios in the prefrontal cortex declined in the vitamin D group （P<0.05）. The high-dose Liuwei Dihuangwan group showed a reduction in p-PI3K/PI3K ratio （P<0.05）. The protein level of SYP-1 and PSD95 in the hippocampus increased in the vitamin D， low-dose Liuwei Dihuangwan， and high-dose Liuwei Dihuangwan groups （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while the protein level of NMDARs decreased in the vitamin D and high-dose Liuwei Dihuangwan groups （P<0.01）. ConclusionLiuwei Dihuangwan significantly reduces VPA-induced ASD-like behaviors and enhances the regeneration and repair of neurons in the prefrontal cortex and synaptic structures in the hippocampus by downregulating of PI3K/Akt/mTOR expression in the prefrontal cortex， upregulating SYP-1 and PSD95 expression in the hippocampus， and inhibiting NMDARs expression.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Hei Xiaoyaosan （HXS） in ameliorating cognitive impairment in the rat model of Alzheimer's disease （AD） by regulating the adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK）/sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 （SREBP2）/proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 （PCSK9）/low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 （LRP-1） signaling pathway to clear amyloid-β （Aβ） from the peripheral circulation. MethodsNinety 8-week-old specific pathogen-free （SPF）-grade male Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were acclimatized for 1 week. After acclimatization， 10 rats were randomly selected as the blank control group， and the remaining 80 rats were prepared for surgical modeling. Among the 80 rats for modeling， 70 were anesthetized and injected with 1 μL of amyloid-β_1-42 （Aβ_1-42） solution into the bilateral hippocampal CA1 region for the modeling of AD， and the remaining 10 were assigned to the sham operation group， which received an injection of 1 μL normal saline at the same anatomical site. The successfully modeled rats were randomly assigned into 6 groups （n=10 per group）： a model group， a donepezil hydrochloride group， an acadesine （AICAR， an AMPK agonist） group， and high-， medium-， and low-dose HXS groups. After 42 consecutive days of administration intervention， the Morris water maze test and T-maze test were performed to evaluate the learning and memory abilities of rats. Fluoro-Jade B （FJB） staining was conducted to observe pathological changes of neurons in the rat hippocampus， and thioflavin S staining to quantify the area of Aβ deposition in the hippocampal region. Immunofluorescence double staining （IF-DS） was performed to detect the expression of LRP-1 and Aβ signals in the liver tissue. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was employed to measure the levels of Aβ_1-42 and soluble LRP-1 （sLRP-1） in the serum. Western blot was performed to determine the protein levels of AMPK， phosphorylated AMPK （p-AMPK）， SREBP2， PCSK9， and LRP-1 in the liver tissue. Real time polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR） was adopted to assess the mRNA levels of AMPK， SREBP2， PCSK9， and LRP-1 in the liver tissue. ResultsCompared with the blank control group， the model group showed increased total swimming distance on day 6 and path length in the target quadrant on day 7 （P<0.01）， a decreased correct alternation rate in the T-maze test （P<0.01）， disarrangement of hippocampal neurons， increased FJB-positive cells （P<0.01）， enlarged area of Aβ deposition （P<0.01）. reduced LRP-1 fluorescence signals and enhanced Aβ fluorescence signals in the liver tissue （P<0.01）， elevated serum level of Aβ_1-42， declined serum level of sLRP-1 （P<0.01）， downregulated protein levels of p-AMPK and LRP-1 as well as mRNA levels of AMPK and LRP-1， and upregulated protein and mRNA levels of SREBP2 and PCSK9 in the liver tissue （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the high-dose HXS group， donepezil hydrochloride group， and AICAR group exhibited reduced total swimming distance and target quadrant path length （P<0.05， P<0.01）， an increased correct alternation rate in the T-maze test （P<0.05）， decreased FJB-positive cells （P<0.01）， reduced Aβ deposition （P<0.01） in the hippocampal tissue， enhanced LRP-1 signals and weakened Aβ signals in the liver tissue （P<0.01）， a declined serum level of Aβ_1-42 and an elevated serum level of sLRP-1 （P<0.01）， upregulated protein levels of p-AMPK and LRP-1 as well as mRNA levels of AMPK and LRP-1， and downregulated protein and mRNA levels of SREBP2 and PCSK9 in the liver tissue （P<0.01）. ConclusionHei Xiaoyaosan can regulate the AMPK/SREBP2/PCSK9/LRP-1 signaling pathway to enhance the clearance of peripheral Aβ by the liver tissue and reduce Aβ deposition in the brain， thereby improving the learning and memory abilities of AD rats.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of Hei Xiaoyaosan in preventing and treating Alzheimer's disease （AD） by activating autophagy through regulating the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK）/UNC-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1 （ULK1） signaling pathway. MethodsNinety 8-week-old male SPF-grade SD rats were selected and randomized into two groups： a blank control group （n=10） and a modeling group （n=80）. From the modeling group， 10 rats were randomly assigned as a sham group （bilateral hippocampal injection of 1 μL normal saline）， while the remaining 70 rats were injected with 1 μL Aβ_1-42 solution bilaterally into the hippocampus to replicate the AD model. The Morris water maze test was conducted to screen the successfully modeled rats， which were then randomly allocated to the model， donepezil hydrochloride， 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide 1-β-D-ribofuranoside （AICAR， an AMPK agonist）， and high-， medium-， and low-dose Hei Xiaoyaosan groups， with 10 rats per group. After 42 days of drug intervention， the Morris water maze and open field tests were conducted to assess learning and memory abilities and motor function. Pathological changes in the hippocampal tissue were observed by Nissl staining， and autophagy-related pathological damage was examined via transmission electron microscopy （TEM）. The expression of LC3 in the hippocampus was observed by immunofluorescence staining. The protein levels of AMPK， phosphorylate （p）-AMPK， ULK1， p-ULK1， p62， and autophagy related 7 （Atg7） were determined by Western blot， while the mRNA levels of AMPK and ULK1 were measured by Real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. ResultsCompared with the blank control group， the model group showed increased escape latency （P<0.01） and decreased platform crossings （P<0.01） on day 6 in the water maze test， reduced total distance traveled and average speed in the open field test （P<0.01）， disarranged neurons with Nissl body loss and evident autophagic damage， weakened LC3 fluorescence signal （P<0.01）， downregulated protein levels of p-AMPK， p-ULK1， and Atg7 and mRNA levels of AMPK and ULK1 in the hippocampus （P<0.01）， and upregulated protein level of p62 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the positive drug group， high-dose Hei Xiaoyaosan group， and AICAR group showed decreased escape latency （P<0.05， P<0.01） and increased platform crossings （P<0.01） on day 6， and increased total distance traveled and average speed in the open field test （P<0.05）. The positive drug group， high- and medium-dose Hei Xiaoyaosan groups， and the AICAR group showed alleviated cellular structural damage， regular neuronal arrangement， increased Nissl bodies， and orderly distribution of autophagosomes. Furthermore， the LC3 fluorescence intensity was enhanced in the positive drug group， high- and medium-dose Hei Xiaoyaosan groups， and the AICAR group （P<0.01）. The positive drug group， high-dose Hei Xiaoyaosan group， and the AICAR group exhibited upregulated protein and mRNA levels of p-AMPK and p-ULK1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， upregulated protein level of Atg7 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and downregulated protein level of p62 （P<0.01）. ConclusionHei Xiaoyaosan can improve learning and memory abilities and alleviate pathological status in the rat model of AD by regulating the AMPK/ULK1 signaling pathway， enhancing cellular autophagy， and repairing damaged nerve cells.

Objective : To investigate the effect of chromosome instability(CIN) associated gene polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 7(GALNT7) on proliferation and apoptosis of HCT116 colon cancer cells. Methods : The HCT116 cell line withGALNT7knockdown was constructed by lentiviral infection. The correlation betweenGALNT7and CIN was verified by chromosome spread assay. The effect ofGALNT7on cell proliferation was detected by live cell counting, and the effect ofGALNT7on cell cycle distribution was detected by flow cytometry and Western blot. Caspase-3 activity and Western blot assays were used to detect the effect ofGALNT7on apoptosis. Results : HCT116 cells showed a slower proliferation rate upon knocking down ofGALNT7, and exhibited a more scattered karyotype distribution and a phenotype of increased degree of CIN. Inhibition ofGALNT7in HCT116 cells resulted in cell cycle arrest, upregulation of P21 and downregulation of CDK6 protein levels, as well as increased levels of Caspase-3 activity, cleaved PARP1 and PUMA protein expression, and decreased levels of BCL-2 protein expression. Conclusion TheGALNT7gene may promote proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of HCT116 colon cancer cells through the suppression of CIN generation.

Several types of arthritis share the common feature that the generation of inflammatory mediators leads to joint cartilage degradation. However, the shared mechanism is largely unknown. H2BK120ub1 was reportedly involved in various inflammatory diseases but its role in the shared mechanism in inflammatory joint conditions remains elusive. The present study demonstrated that levels of cartilage degradation, H2BK120ub1, and its regulator WW domain-containing adapter protein with coiled-coil (WAC) were increased in cartilage in human rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) patients as well as in experimental RA and OA mice. By regulating H2BK120ub1 and H3K27me3, WAC regulated the secretion of inflammatory and cartilage-degrading factors. WAC influenced the level of H3K27me3 by regulating nuclear entry of the H3K27 demethylase KDM6B, and acted as a key factor of the crosstalk between H2BK120ub1 and H3K27me3. The cartilage-specific knockout of WAC demonstrated the ability to alleviate cartilage degradation in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and collagenase-induced osteoarthritis (CIOA) mice. Through molecular docking and dynamic simulation, doxercalciferol was found to inhibit WAC and the development of cartilage degradation in the CIA and CIOA models. Our study demonstrated that WAC is a key factor of cartilage degradation in arthritis, and targeting WAC by doxercalciferol could be a viable therapeutic strategy for treating cartilage destruction in several types of arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To reveal the effects and potential mechanisms by which synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) influences the distribution of amyloid precursor protein (APP) in the trans-Golgi network (TGN), endolysosomal system, and cell membranes and to reveal the effects of SV2A on APP amyloid degradation. METHODS: Colocalization analysis of APP with specific tagged proteins in the TGN, ensolysosomal system, and cell membrane was performed to explore the effects of SV2A on the intracellular transport of APP. APP, β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) expressions, and APP cleavage products levels were investigated to observe the effects of SV2A on APP amyloidogenic processing. RESULTS: APP localization was reduced in the TGN, early endosomes, late endosomes, and lysosomes, whereas it was increased in the recycling endosomes and cell membrane of SV2A-overexpressed neurons. Moreover, Arl5b (ADP-ribosylation factor 5b), a protein responsible for transporting APP from the TGN to early endosomes, was upregulated by SV2A. SV2A overexpression also decreased APP transport from the cell membrane to early endosomes by downregulating APP endocytosis. In addition, products of APP amyloid degradation, including sAPPβ, Aβ _1-42, and Aβ _1-40, were decreased in SV2A-overexpressed cells. CONCLUSION These results demonstrated that SV2A promotes APP transport from the TGN to early endosomes by upregulating Arl5b and promoting APP transport from early endosomes to recycling endosomes-cell membrane pathway, which slows APP amyloid degradation.
Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor/genetics* ; Membrane Glycoproteins/genetics* ; Animals ; Protein Transport ; Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics* ; Humans ; Mice ; Endosomes/metabolism* ; trans-Golgi Network/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) activity of total alkaloids from Gelsemium elegans Benth. (TAG) in vivo and in vitro and to elucidate their potential mechanisms of action through transcriptomic analysis. METHODS: TAG extraction was conducted, and the primary components were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The effects of TAG (100, 150, and 200 µg/mL) on various tumor cells, including SMMC-7721, HepG2, H22, CAL27, MCF7, HT29, and HCT116, were assessed. Effects of TAG on HCC proliferation and apoptosis were detected by colony formation assays and cell stainings. Caspase-3, Bcl-2, and Bax protein levels were detected by Western blotting. In vivo, a tumor xenograft model was developed using H22 cells. Totally 40 Kunming mice were randomly assigned to model, cyclophosphamide (20 mg/kg), TAG low-dose (TAG-L, 0.5 mg/kg), and TAG high-dose (TAG-H, 1 mg/kg) groups, with 10 mice in each group. Tumor volume, body weight, and tumor weight were recorded and compared during 14-day treatment. Immune organ index were calculated. Tissue changes were oberseved by hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry. Additionally, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, as well as quatitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), were performed to detect mRNA and metabolite expressions. RESULTS: HPLC successfully identified the components of TAG extraction. Live cell imaging and analysis, along with cell viability assays, demonstrated that TAG inhibited the proliferation of SMMC-7721, HepG2, H22, CAL27, MCF7, HT29, and HCT116 cells. Colony formation assays, Hoechst 33258 staining, Rhodamine 123 staining, and Western blotting revealed that TAG not only inhibited HCC proliferation but also promoted apoptosis (P<0.05). In vivo experiments showed that TAG inhibited the growth of solid tumors in HCC in mice (P<0.05). Transcriptomic analysis and RT-qPCR indicated that the inhibition of HCC by TAG was associated with the regulation of the key gene CXCL13. CONCLUSION TAG inhibits HCC both in vivo and in vitro, with its inhibitory effect linked to the regulation of the key gene CXCL13.
Animals ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Liver Neoplasms/genetics* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics* ; Humans ; Alkaloids/therapeutic use* ; Gelsemium/chemistry* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Mice ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Cardiovascular disease remains a significant factor leading to patient mortality and influencing outcomes during the perioperative period.Dexmedetomidine is an α2-adrenergic receptor agonist with functions such as analgesia,sedation,and anti-anxiety.This review summarizes various types of findings regarding dexmedetomidine in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury and conducts in-depth discussions on the corresponding mechanisms of the results,aiming to further clarify the potential cardioprotective effects of dexmedetomidine in patients with heart diseases.