1.Neuroprotective Effects of Transcranial Magneto-acoustic Stimulation on Parkinson’s Disease Model Mice by Regulating Mitophagy and Mitochondrial Homeostasis
Shuai ZHANG ; Yan-Bin WANG ; Yi-Hao XU ; Jin-Rui MI ; Xiao-Chao LU ; Yu-Chen AN ; Ji-Zhou LIU ; Jia-Qi SUN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1457-1470
ObjectiveTranscranial magneto-acoustic stimulation (TMAS) is an emerging non-invasive neuromodulation technique that may provide a novel non-pharmacological intervention strategy for Parkinson's disease (PD). PD is characterized by the progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), leading to motor impairments such as bradykinesia, tremor, and rigidity. Increasing evidence indicates that mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired mitochondrial quality control are central mechanisms underlying dopaminergic neuronal loss. In particular, abnormalities in mitophagy and mitochondrial fission-fusion balance contribute substantially to oxidative stress, energy metabolic failure, and neuronal injury. At present, most clinical treatments for PD mainly alleviate symptoms but do not effectively halt disease progression. Therefore, exploring new interventions targeting the core pathological mechanisms is of considerable significance. This study aims to investigate whether TMAS can improve neural damage and motor dysfunction in PD mice by regulating mitophagy and the fission/fusion dynamic balance, thereby providing theoretical and experimental support for its application in PD treatment. MethodsMale C57BL/6 mice were used in this study. A PD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) for 7 consecutive days. After model induction, mice in the intervention group received TMAS once daily for 14 consecutive days, whereas the corresponding control group received sham stimulation. The stimulation target was positioned over the primary motor cortex (M1). Motor performance was evaluated using the pole test and the open-field test. To verify the activation effect of TMAS on the target cortical region, c-Fos immunohistochemistry was performed in the M1. To assess nigral dopaminergic neuronal injury, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry was used to quantify TH-positive neurons in the SNc. Mitochondrial function was evaluated by measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content in the SNc. Western blot was further performed to determine the expression of mitophagy-related proteins, including PINK1, Parkin, LC3-II, and p62, as well as mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins, including Drp1 and Opa1. ResultsTMAS significantly increased the number of c-Fos-positive cells in M1 (P<0.000 1), indicating effective activation of neurons in the targeted cortical region. Compared with the control group, MPTP-treated mice exhibited marked motor dysfunction, including a significant reduction in total distance traveled in the open-field test (P<0.000 1) and mean speed (P=0.000 1), as well as significant prolongation of turn time and total climbing time in the pole test (P<0.000 1). These behavioral impairments were accompanied by a substantial loss of TH-positive dopaminergic neurons in the SNc, whereas TMAS significantly increased TH-positive neuron survival (P<0.000 1). In parallel, MPTP induced a pronounced increase in ROS levels and a significant reduction in ATP content, indicating severe mitochondrial dysfunction and energy metabolism impairment (P<0.01). TMAS treatment significantly improved motor performance, as reflected by the reversal of MPTP-induced impairment in the open-field and pole tests, and significantly reduced ROS accumulation (P<0.01) while restoring ATP production (P<0.001). At the molecular level, MPTP markedly downregulated PINK1 and Parkin, decreased p62 expression, increased LC3-II accumulation, elevated Drp1 expression, and reduced Opa1 expression, whereas TMAS significantly reversed these abnormalities, suggesting restoration of mitophagy-related mitochondrial quality control and re-establishment of mitochondrial fission-fusion balance. Collectively, these findings indicate that TMAS ameliorates MPTP-induced neurotoxicity and restores mitochondrial homeostasis and energy metabolism. ConclusionTMAS effectively attenuates neural damage and improves motor dysfunction in MPTP-induced PD mice. Its neuroprotective effects are closely associated with multidimensional regulation of the mitochondrial quality control system, including restoration of PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy and rebalancing of Drp1/Opa1-related mitochondrial dynamics. Rather than acting only as a symptomatic neuromodulatory intervention, TMAS may influence a key pathological axis of PD by improving mitochondrial homeostasis in SNc and protecting nigral dopaminergic neurons. These findings provide experimental evidence supporting TMAS as a promising non-invasive physical intervention for PD.
2.Neuroprotective Effects of Transcranial Magneto-acoustic Stimulation on Parkinson’s Disease Model Mice by Regulating Mitophagy and Mitochondrial Homeostasis
Shuai ZHANG ; Yan-Bin WANG ; Yi-Hao XU ; Jin-Rui MI ; Xiao-Chao LU ; Yu-Chen AN ; Ji-Zhou LIU ; Jia-Qi SUN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1457-1470
ObjectiveTranscranial magneto-acoustic stimulation (TMAS) is an emerging non-invasive neuromodulation technique that may provide a novel non-pharmacological intervention strategy for Parkinson's disease (PD). PD is characterized by the progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), leading to motor impairments such as bradykinesia, tremor, and rigidity. Increasing evidence indicates that mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired mitochondrial quality control are central mechanisms underlying dopaminergic neuronal loss. In particular, abnormalities in mitophagy and mitochondrial fission-fusion balance contribute substantially to oxidative stress, energy metabolic failure, and neuronal injury. At present, most clinical treatments for PD mainly alleviate symptoms but do not effectively halt disease progression. Therefore, exploring new interventions targeting the core pathological mechanisms is of considerable significance. This study aims to investigate whether TMAS can improve neural damage and motor dysfunction in PD mice by regulating mitophagy and the fission/fusion dynamic balance, thereby providing theoretical and experimental support for its application in PD treatment. MethodsMale C57BL/6 mice were used in this study. A PD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) for 7 consecutive days. After model induction, mice in the intervention group received TMAS once daily for 14 consecutive days, whereas the corresponding control group received sham stimulation. The stimulation target was positioned over the primary motor cortex (M1). Motor performance was evaluated using the pole test and the open-field test. To verify the activation effect of TMAS on the target cortical region, c-Fos immunohistochemistry was performed in the M1. To assess nigral dopaminergic neuronal injury, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry was used to quantify TH-positive neurons in the SNc. Mitochondrial function was evaluated by measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content in the SNc. Western blot was further performed to determine the expression of mitophagy-related proteins, including PINK1, Parkin, LC3-II, and p62, as well as mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins, including Drp1 and Opa1. ResultsTMAS significantly increased the number of c-Fos-positive cells in M1 (P<0.000 1), indicating effective activation of neurons in the targeted cortical region. Compared with the control group, MPTP-treated mice exhibited marked motor dysfunction, including a significant reduction in total distance traveled in the open-field test (P<0.000 1) and mean speed (P=0.000 1), as well as significant prolongation of turn time and total climbing time in the pole test (P<0.000 1). These behavioral impairments were accompanied by a substantial loss of TH-positive dopaminergic neurons in the SNc, whereas TMAS significantly increased TH-positive neuron survival (P<0.000 1). In parallel, MPTP induced a pronounced increase in ROS levels and a significant reduction in ATP content, indicating severe mitochondrial dysfunction and energy metabolism impairment (P<0.01). TMAS treatment significantly improved motor performance, as reflected by the reversal of MPTP-induced impairment in the open-field and pole tests, and significantly reduced ROS accumulation (P<0.01) while restoring ATP production (P<0.001). At the molecular level, MPTP markedly downregulated PINK1 and Parkin, decreased p62 expression, increased LC3-II accumulation, elevated Drp1 expression, and reduced Opa1 expression, whereas TMAS significantly reversed these abnormalities, suggesting restoration of mitophagy-related mitochondrial quality control and re-establishment of mitochondrial fission-fusion balance. Collectively, these findings indicate that TMAS ameliorates MPTP-induced neurotoxicity and restores mitochondrial homeostasis and energy metabolism. ConclusionTMAS effectively attenuates neural damage and improves motor dysfunction in MPTP-induced PD mice. Its neuroprotective effects are closely associated with multidimensional regulation of the mitochondrial quality control system, including restoration of PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy and rebalancing of Drp1/Opa1-related mitochondrial dynamics. Rather than acting only as a symptomatic neuromodulatory intervention, TMAS may influence a key pathological axis of PD by improving mitochondrial homeostasis in SNc and protecting nigral dopaminergic neurons. These findings provide experimental evidence supporting TMAS as a promising non-invasive physical intervention for PD.
3.SIRT5 Potentiates Hepatocarcinogenesis by Modulating Protein Acylation in Mice
Yu ZHANG ; Feng-Rui REN ; Jia-Yun LI ; Xiang-Yu CHEN ; Zi-Yi WANG ; Qi SUN ; Jun-Cheng ZHAO ; Ye ZHANG ; Zhen HUANG ; Hao HU ; Tao-Tao WEI ; Min XIAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(6):1712-1722
ObjectiveHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents 90% of all primary liver cancers. The main risk factors associated with HCC include viral hepatitis (B and/or C), alcohol abuse, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which progressively advance to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and ultimately evolve into HCC. Surgical resection represents the most effective treatment for HCC, while recent advances in immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell therapies, have provided improved treatment prospects for patients with unresectable HCC. However, the complex metabolic heterogeneity of HCC limits the therapeutic efficacy. Metabolic intermediates acyl-CoA not only provide energy and substrates for numerous biochemical reactions but also serve as donors for protein lysine acylation, a major class of post-translational modification (PTM). Therefore, a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying protein lysine acylation and hepatocarcinogenesis is urgently needed. MethodsThe levels of protein lysine acylation and silence information regulator 5 (SIRT5) expression levels in clinical HCC samples were analyzed by Western blot. Quantitative malonylome and succinylome of HCC samples were analyzed by antibody-based affinity enrichment coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The proliferation of HCC cells was analyzed with Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays, the apoptosis was quantified by Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI) staining coupled with flow cytometry, and the ability of cells to migrate was assayed by Transwell assays. The enzymatic activity of glutathione S-transferase Mu 1 (GSTM1) was quantified. Transgenic mice with hepatic overexpression of SIRT5 were constructed using CRISPR-Cas9, and primary hepatocarcinogenesis was induced by administration of diethylnitrosamine. ResultsWestern blot analysis indicated that the expression level of SIRT5 was elevated in clinical samples from HCC patients, and the levels of lysine malonylation, glutarylation, and succinylation were significantly reduced in HCC tissues. Knockout of SIRT5 in MHCC-97H and MHCC-97L hepatoma cells suppressed cell proliferation, and increased the percentage of apoptotic cells significantly. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses of the differentially malonylome and succinylome of HCC samples revealed significant enrichment in two major classes of biological processes: core energy metabolism (e.g., glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, tricarboxylic acid metabolic process, fatty acid beta oxidation) and detoxification and oxidative stress response (e.g., response to toxic substance, chemical carcinogenesis, reactive oxygen species (ROS)). SIRT5 removes malonylation from lysine residues in GSTM1 and restores its detoxification activity, which is crucial for the survival of hepatocytes under stressed conditions. More importantly, in vivo experiment indicated that hepatic-specific overexpression of SIRT5 in mice accelerated diethylnitrosamine-induced liver fibrosis and hepatocarcinogenesis, indicating the critical role of SIRT5 in HCC progression. ConclusionThis study highlights the previously unrecognized SIRT5-GSTM1 axis as a key regulator in hepatocarcinogenesis, and suggests a potential target for the treatment of patients with HCC.
4.Effects of transdiagnostic preventive intervention on depressive and anxiety symptoms with resilience among junior high school students
JIAN Kewen, QI Mengdi, LUO Rui, WANG Huanlei, BAI Yunge, WANG Yun
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(6):846-849
Objective:
To explore the effects of a classroom based transdiagnostic preventive intervention program for emotional disorders on depressive and anxiety symptoms, and resilience among junior high school students, so as to provide reference for promoting adolescent mental health.
Methods:
From October to December 2023, 72 students from a junior high school in Beijing were recruited as research subjects and divided into an intervention group ( n =36) and a control group ( n =36). The intervention group participated in 8 sessions (40 mins per session) of transdiagnostic prevention intervention course for emotional disorders; the control group students participated in research based learning lessons or class meetings. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Resilience Scale-8 (RS-8) were used to evaluate junior high school students. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare the differences in depressive and anxiety symptoms, and resilience scores between the intervention group and the control group before and after the intervention. PROCESS macro was used to test the mediating effect.
Results:
There were no statistically significant differences in the scores of depressive and anxiety symptoms, and resilience before and after intervention in the intervention group ( Z =-1.07, 0.07, 1.43, all P >0.05). In the control group, the depressive symptoms score was higher after the intervention than before, and the resilience score was lower than before the intervention ( Z = 2.23 , -2.53, both P <0.05). After intervention, the depressive symptoms score in the intervention group was lower than that in the control group, and the resilience score in the intervention group was higher than that in the control group ( Z =-2.09, 3.33, both P < 0.05). The increase in the scores of resilience played a complete mediating role between the intervention and depressive symptoms, with the mediating effect value being -0.98 (95% CI =-2.47 to -0.11), accounting for 30.98% of the total effect.
Conclusion
Transdiagnostic preventive intervention program for emotional disorders based on classroom could prevent the deterioration of depressive symptom in junior high school students, and maintaining the level of resilience is an important factor for the intervention effect.
5.Development and validation of a blood-based differential diagnosis model for pulmonary tuberculosis and community-acquired pneumonia
Xiaolan SU ; Rui ZHANG ; Zeqing YANG ; Xinrui WANG ; Ziyu BI ; Nian LIU ; Yunyan HAN ; Qi REN
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(6):1143-1150
ObjectiveTo develop and validate a diagnostic prediction model for differentiating pulmonary tuberculosis from community-acquired pneumonia based on routine blood parameters. MethodsA total of 642 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and 503 patients with community-acquired pneumonia were retrospectively enrolled from the Seventh Hospital of Tangshan. They were randomly divided into a training set and an internal validation set at a 7∶3 ratio. Additionally, 218 patients from the 981st Hospital were independently included as an external validation set. The Boruta algorithm and recursive feature elimination were employed to select predictors from 82 blood parameters, sex, and age. A multivariate Logistic regression model was established and evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analysis. ResultsThe final model incorporated eight predictors, namely uric acid, urea nitrogen, alkaline phosphatase, monoamine oxidase, alanine aminotransferase, glutathione, neutrophil percentage, and age. The model achieved areas under the curve (AUCs) of 0.800 (95%CI: 0.769-0.830), 0.787 (95%CI: 0.738-0.836), and 0.736 (95%CI: 0.667-0.835) in the training, internal validation, and external validation sets, respectively. The model demonstrated good calibration, and decision curve analysis showed clinical net benefit within the threshold probability range of 10%-80%. ConclusionThe developed model exhibits good discriminative ability and clinical utility, serving as an effective early screening tool for primary healthcare institutions.
6.Phenotypic characteristics of hexavalent chromium compound-induced malignant transformation in NIH/3T3 cells under three-dimensional culture conditions
Qi WANG ; Rui LI ; Wenke YU ; Fangfang ZHANG ; Lijin ZHU
China Occupational Medicine 2026;53(1):24-29
Objective To investigate the malignant phenotypic characteristics of NIH/3T3 cells induced by hexavalent chromium compound under three-dimensional (3D) culture conditions. Methods NIH/3T3 cells in the logarithmic growth phase were divided into four groups: two-dimensional (2D) control group, 2D transformation group, 3D control group, and 3D transformation group. The 2D control group underwent conventional culture, while the 3D control group was cultured with Matrigel. The 2D and 3D transformation groups were exposed to hexavalent chromium compound at a concentration of 0.25 mg/L based on their respective control conditions. Malignant transformation of NIH/3T3 cells was assessed using a soft agar colony formation assay. Malignant phenotypes were evaluated through assays of cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, wound healing, Transwell migration, and Transwell invasion. Results Cells in both the 2D and 3D transformation groups exhibited anchorage-independent growth, indicating successful malignant transformation. The colony formation rate of cells in the 3D transformation group was higher than that in the 2D transformation group [(6.17±1.31)% vs (1.00±0.41)%, P<0.01]. Compared with the 3D control group, cell proliferation, apoptosis rate, and migration cell count decreased [(100.00±0.00)% vs (95.01±3.49)%, (9.32±0.43)% vs (7.12±0.40)%, (62.50±11.27) vs (48.33±7.31), all P<0.05], while invasion cell count increased [(57.17±9.68) vs (122.83±15.41), P<0.05], and the relative migration area at 12, 24, and 48 hours also increased in 3D transformation group [(4.32±2.09)% vs (10.75±0.45)%, (5.87±1.32)% vs (11.47±0.99)%, (8.74±1.34)% vs (11.79±0.93)%, all P<0.05]. The proportions of cells in G0/G1, S, and G2/M phases between the 3D transformation and 3D control groups had no significant differences (all P>0.05). Conclusion Hexavalent chromium compounds induce key malignant phenotypes in NIH/3T3 cells, including anchorage-independent growth, reduced apoptosis, and enhanced migratory and invasive capacities.
7.Identification and validation of characterized gene NFE2L2 for ferroptosis in ischemic stroke
Mi WANG ; Shujie MA ; Yang LIU ; Rui QI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(7):1466-1474
BACKGROUND:Ferroptosis is closely associated with the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke,and targeting ferroptosis is a promising regimen for the treatment of ischemic stroke,but the specific regulatory targets are unclear. OBJECTIVE:To screen ferroptosis-related characterized genes in ischemic stroke by bioinformatics and machine learning methods and validate them by cellular experiments to investigate the role of ferroptosis in ischemic stroke. METHODS:Eligible ischemic stroke-related datasets and ferroptosis expression datasets were selected based on GEO database and FerrDb database,and ferroptosis-related differential genes were screened by t-test.GO functional enrichment analysis with KEGG signaling pathway enrichment analysis was performed for ferroptosis-related differential genes.Characterized genes for ferroptosis in ischemic stroke were screened by PPI network analysis and machine learning.The reliability and biological functions of the characterized genes were explored using ROC analysis and GSEA analysis,followed by cell experiment.HT22 cells were divided into control and ischemic stroke groups.No intervention was made in the control group,and 0.1 mM H2O2 was added to the ischemic stroke group for 24 hours to simulate cellular oxidative stress injury and ferroptosis.The ferroptosis and the expression of characterized genes were verified by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Forty-five ferroptosis-associated differential genes were obtained,and GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that the differential genes were closely associated with oxidative stress,autophagy,ferroptosis,adipocytokine signaling pathway,and mitochondrial metabolism.(2)A total of one ferroptosis characterized gene,nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(NFE2L2),was identified by the MCODE plugin and cytoHubba plugin in the PPI network with the LASSO algorithm and SVM-RFE algorithm in machine learning.(3)Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of NFE2L2 revealed that the diagnostic prediction models constructed in the training and validation sets had good accuracy and specificity.GSEA analysis of NFE2L2 revealed that the characterized gene was involved in the regulation of ischemic stroke pathogenesis through immunity,inflammatory response,amino acid metabolism,and neurofactor regulation.(4)RT-PCR and western blot analyses showed that the acyl coenzyme A synthetase long chain family,member 4(ACSL4)mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly higher in the ischemic stroke group compared with the control group(P<0.05),and the glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4)mRNA and protein expression levels were significantly lower in the ischemic stroke group(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the mRNA and protein expression levels of the characterized gene NFE2L2 were significantly higher in the ischemic stroke group(P<0.05).(5)It suggests that ischemic stroke is closely related to ferroptosis,and targeting the characterized gene NFE2L2 may provide certain ideas and directions for the study and treatment of ischemic stroke.
8.Epidemiological characteristics of pertussis in Jiaxing City from 2004 to 2023
LI Rui ; QI Yunpeng ; WANG Yuanhang ; ZHA Yiwei ; FU Xiaofei
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(2):139-142
Objective:
To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of pertussis in Jiaxing City from 2004 to 2023 and spatio-temporal clustering characteristics from 2022 to 2023, so as to provide insights into formulation of pertussis control measures.
Methods:
Data of pertussis cases in Jiaxing City from 2004 to 2023 were collected through the Infectious Disease Report Information System of Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System. The epidemiological characteristics of pertussis cases in Jiaxing City from 2004 to 2023 were descriptively analyzed, and the spatio-temporal clustering characteristics from 2022 to 2023 were analyzed using spatio-temporal scanning.
Results:
A total of 478 pertussis cases were reported in Jiaxing City from 2004 to 2023, with an average annual reported incidence of 0.53/105. The reported incidence showed an upward trend from 2004 to 2023 (P<0.05), with the highest in 2022 (3.17/105). Higher incidence of pertussis was reported in June to August (149 cases, 31.17%) and November to December (112 cases, 23.43%). There was no statistically significant difference in the reported incidence between males and females (0.56/105 vs. 0.50/105, P>0.05). The cases aged under one year accounted for the highest proportion, with 199 cases (41.63%). Haining City (0.68/105), Jiashan County (0.64/105) and Tongxiang City (0.60/105) ranked the top three in the reported incidence of pertussis. Spatio-temporal scanning analysis showed that from 2022 to 2023, the primary clustering area of pertussis was centered in Daqiao Town of Nanhu District, covering 27 towns (streets) in Nanhu District, Jiashan County, Xiuzhou District and Pinghu City, and the clustering time was from November to December, 2023.
Conclusions
The reported incidence of pertussis was at a low level in Jiaxing City, but showed an upward trend from 2004 to 2023. The incidence of pertussis was higher among infants under one year of age, peaked in June to August and November to December, and was concentrated in Nanhu District and its surrounding areas.
9.Advantages of Chinese Medicines for Diabetic Retinopathy and Mechanisms: Focused on Inflammation and Oxidative Stress.
Li-Shuo DONG ; Chong-Xiang XUE ; Jia-Qi GAO ; Yue HU ; Ze-Zheng KANG ; A-Ru SUN ; Jia-Rui LI ; Xiao-Lin TONG ; Xiu-Ge WANG ; Xiu-Yang LI
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(11):1046-1055
10.Study on the mechanism of long non-coding RNA AI662270 regulating insulin resistance in adipocytes in aging mice
Yi-Fan ZHANG ; Ya-Qi HU ; Rui WANG ; Shu-Wen WANG ; Cheng-Fu YUAN
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2025;50(8):999-1007
Objective To investigate the mechanism by which long non-coding RNA(lncRNA)AI662270 regulates insulin resistance in adipocytes in aging mice.Methods(1)Twenty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into youth(4-month-old)group and aged(18-month-old)group(n=10).Mice in youth group were raised to 4 months of age and euthanized by orbital exsanguination under urethane anesthesia,while aged mice were euthanized at 18 months using the same sacrifice method.Epididymal white adipose tissue(eWAT)and liver tissue were rapidly dissected.Western blotting was employed to detect the protein expression levels of tumor suppressor gene 1(p16ink4a)and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(p21kip1),RT-qPCR was used to measure the expression of 4 differentially expressed lncRNAs(C4a,AI662270,BATE1 and Gm29719).Mouse embryonic fibroblasts(3T3-L1)were cultured and divided into a normal control group(no treatment after induced differentiation into mature adipocytes)and a senescence model group[doxorubicin(ADR)-treated group;0.2 μmol/L ADR was used to induce senescent adipocytes].β-galactosidase staining was performed to assess adipocyte senescence.RT-qPCR was applied to evaluate the expression of AI662270 and senescence markers(p16ink4a,p21kip1,p53),while Western blotting was utilized to detect the expression levels of phosphorylated H2A histone family member X(γ-H2AX),p16ink4a,and p21kip1 proteins.(2)Hexokinase method was adopted to measure glucose content in mouse serum and 3T3-L1 adipocyte culture medium.RT-qPCR was performed to analyze mRNA expression levels of insulin sensitivity-related gene protein kinase B(Akt),insulin receptor substrate 1(IRS1),phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase(PI3K)and glucose transporter 4(GLUT4)in mouse eWAT and adipocytes.Western blotting was conducted to determine the protein expression levels of IRS 1,PI3K,Akt,and p-Akt.(3)Spearman correlation analysis was applied to examine the correlation between AI662270 expression levels and IRS1/PI3K mRNA expression levels.A low-expression model of AI662270 in senescent adipocytes was constructed,and RT-qPCR was used to verify the knockdown efficiency.Hexokinase method was employed to assess glucose content in the cell culture medium of senescent adipocytes after AI662270 knockdown.RT-qPCR was performed to measure the mRNA expressions of Akt,IRS1,IRS2,and PI3K,while Western blotting was utilized to detect the expressions levels of Akt and p-Akt proteins.(4)Bioinformatics analysis was performed to predict downstream target genes of AI662270 and their binding sites.RT-qPCR and Western blotting were subsequently applied to validate the expression of these downstream target genes following AI662270 knockdown.Results(1)Compared with youth group,the protein expression levels of p16ink4a and p21kip1 in eWAT of aged mice were significantly increased(P<0.05).Additionally,the expression levels of C4a,AI662270,BATE1,and Gm29719 in both eWAT and liver tissues were significantly increased in aged group(P<0.05).β-galactosidase staining revealed enhanced blue-green coloration and enlarged,flattened cellular morphology in ADR-treated senescent adipocytes compared with normal control group.Compared with normal control group,ADR-treated senescent adipocytes significantly increased the mRNA expression levels of AI662270,p16ink4a,and p21kip1,and significantly elevated protein expression levels of γ-H2AX,p16ink4a,and p21kip1(P<0.05).(2)Serum glucose content was significantly higher in aged group mice compared with youth group(P<0.01),and glucose content in the adipocyte culture medium in ADR group was significantly increased(P<0.05).The expression levels of IRS1 and PI3K in eWAT in aged group were significantly reduced compared with youth group(P<0.01).Compared with normal control group,the expression levels of IRS 1 and PI3K in adipocytes in ADR-treated group were also significantly reduced(P<0.05).(3)Spearman correlation analysis demonstrated that the expression level of AI662270 was negatively correlated with the mRNA expression levels of IRS1 and PI3K(P<0.05).RT-qPCR showed that AI662270 expression level was significantly reduced in the siAI662270-transfected senescent adipocytes compared with siNC group(P<0.05),indicating the low expression model of aged adipocytes AI662270 was successfully constructed.Hexokinase assay results showed that glucose content in the cell culture medium was significantly reduced after the AI662270 was knocked down by senescent adipocytes(P<0.05).Furthermore,the mRNA expression levels of IRS1,IRS2 and PI3K(P<0.05)and the p-Akt/Akt ratio in senescent adipocytes was significantly increased after knockdown of AI662270(P<0.01).(4)Bioinformatics analysis predicted miR-3073b-3p as a downstream target gene of AI662270,and heme oxygenase 1(Hmox1)was identified as a target molecule of miR-3073b-3p.The expression level of miR-3073b-3p in senescent adipocytes in siAI662270 group was significantly increased,while the mRNA and protein expression level of Hmox1 were significantly decreased compared with siNC group(P<0.01).Conclusions Aging significantly increases the expression of AI662270 in eWAT of mice,and the expression of AI662270 was negatively correlated with insulin sensitivity.AI662270 knockdown can reduce glucose content in senescent adipocyte culture medium,upregulate the expression of IRS1 and PI3K,and increase insulin sensitivity in senescent adipocytes,which may be mediated through the AI662270/miR-3073b-3p/Hmox1 pathway.


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