The efficacy of Xiangmei Pills on rats with ulcerative colitis(UC) was investigated by characterizing the spectrum of the active chemical components of Xiangmei Pills. Rapid identification and classification of the main chemical components were performed,and the therapeutic effects of Xiangmei Pills on the proteins and intestinal flora of UC rats were analyzed to explore the mechanism of its action in treating UC. Fifty SD rats were acclimatized to feeding for 3 d and randomly divided into blank group, model group,mesalazine group(0. 4 g·kg~(-1)), low-dose group of Xiangmei Pills(1. 89 g·kg~(-1)), and high-dose group of Xiangmei Pills(5. 67 g·kg~(-1)), with 10 rats in each group. 5% dextrose sodium sulfate(DSS) was given by gavage to induce the male SD rat model with UC,and the corresponding medicinal solution was given by gavage after 10 days, respectively. The therapeutic effect of Xiangmei Pills on rats with UC was evaluated according to body mass, disease activity index(DAI), and hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, and the histopathological changes in the colon were observed. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/electrostatic field orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS) technique was used to rapidly and accurately identify the main chemical constituents of Xiangmei Pills. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor(AhR),interferon-γ(IFN-γ), mucin-2(MUC-2), and cytochrome P450 1A1(CYP1A1) in colon tissue. Interleukin-22(IL-22) expression in colon tissue was detected by immunofluorescence. The 16S r DNA high-throughput sequencing technique was used to study the modulatory effects of Xiangmei Pills on the intestinal flora structure of rats with UC. Pharmacodynamic results showed that compared with that of the blank group, the colon tissue of the model group was congested, and ulcers were visible in the mucosa; compared with that in the model group, the histopathology of the colon of the rats with UC in the groups of Xiangmei Pills were improved, with scattered ulcers and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration. Chemical analysis showed that a total of 45 components were identified by mass spectrometry information, including 15 phenolic acids, 8 coumarins, 15 organic acids, 3 amino acids, 2 flavonoids, and 2 other components. Compared with those in the blank group, the levels of Ah R, CYP1A1, MUC-2, and IL-22 proteins in the colon tissue of rats in the model group were significantly decreased, and the level of IFN-γ protein was significantly increased; the intestinal flora of rats in the model group was disorganized, with a decrease in the abundance of the flora; the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes,unclassified genera of Ascomycetes, Prevotella of the Prevotella family, and Prevotella decreased significantly, and that of Firmicutes decreased, but the difference was not statistically significant. The relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Bifidobacterium, and Lactobacillus increased significantly. Compared with those of the model group, the levels of Ah R, CYP1A1, MUC-2, and IL-22proteins in the colonic tissue of the groups of Xiangmei Pills were significantly higher, and the levels of IFN-γ proteins were significantly lower. The recovery of the intestinal flora was accelerated, and the diversity of the intestinal flora was significantly increased. The relative abundance of Bacteroidetes was significantly increased, and that of unclassified genera of Ascomycetes,Lactobacillus, Prevotella of the Prevotella family, and Prevotella was significantly increased. The relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Bifidobacterium was significantly decreased. This study demonstrated that Xiangmei Pills can effectively treat UC, mainly through the phenolic acid and organic acid components to stimulate the intestinal barrier, regulate protein expression and the relative abundance and diversity of intestinal flora, and play a role in the treatment of UC.
Animals ; Colitis, Ulcerative/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Male ; Rats ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/genetics* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Humans ; Mass Spectrometry ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics* ; Bacteria/drug effects*

Heart failure(HF) is the terminal stage of various cardiovascular diseases, characterized by high morbidity and mortality, and it represents one of the major disease burdens for families and society. In recent years, as research on the molecular mechanisms of HF has deepened, a competing endogenous RNA(ceRNA) network mediated by long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs) and circular RNAs(circRNAs) has been gradually constructed. Extensive research results have confirmed that the ceRNA network is widely involved in pathological processes such as inflammation, oxidative stress, myocardial hypertrophy, apoptosis, remodeling of extracellular matrix components and structure, and ferroptosis in HF. It reveals the complex pathological mechanisms of HF at the epigenetic level. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) plays a unique role in improving symptoms and prognosis of HF and intervenes in the ceRNA network in HF through multi-level and multi-target mechanisms. It improves key pathological processes such as myocardial fibrosis and inflammation, making progress in treating HF at the molecular level. This article summarized recent Chinese and international research on the regulatory mechanisms of ceRNA networks in HF, elaborated on the mechanisms of action of ceRNA networks in different pathological stages of HF, and summarized how effective components and compounds of TCM intervene in the ceRNA network to improve HF, so as to refine the molecular mechanisms of HF and provide directions for more precise molecular targeted therapeutic strategies.
Humans ; Heart Failure/metabolism* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; RNA, Circular/genetics* ; RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolism* ; Gene Regulatory Networks/drug effects* ; RNA/metabolism* ; RNA, Competitive Endogenous

From the perspective of competitive endogenous RNA(ceRNA) constructed by metastasy-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1(Malat1) and microRNA 16-5p(miR-16-5p), the improvement mechanism of Tonggu Xiaotong Capsules(TGXTC) on the imbalance and disorder of "cholesterol-iron" metabolism in chondrocytes of osteoarthritis(OA) was explored. In vivo experiments, 60 8-week-old C57BL/6 mice were acclimatized and fed for 1 week and then randomly divided into two groups: blank group(12 mice) and modeling group(48 mice). The animals in modeling group were anesthetized by 5% isoflurane inhalation, which was followed by the construction of OA model. They were then randomly divided into model group, TGXTC group, Malat1 overexpression group, and TGXTC+Malat1 overexpression(TGXTC+Malat1-OE) group, with 12 mice in each group. The structural changes of mouse cartilage tissues were observed by Masson staining after the intervention in each group. RT-PCR was employed to detect the mRNA levels of Malat1 and miR-16-5p in cartilage tissues. Western blot was used to analyze the protein expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1(ABCA1), sterol regulatory element-binding protein(SREBP), cytochrome P450 family 7 subfamily B member 1(CYP7B1), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein(CHOP), acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4(ACSL4), and glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4) in cartilage tissues. In vitro experiments, mouse chondrocytes were induced by thapsigargin(TG), and the combination of Malat1 and miR-16-5p was detected by double luciferase assay. The fluorescence intensity of Malat1 in chondrocytes was determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The miR-16-5p inhibitory chondrocyte model was constructed. RT-PCR was used to analyze the levels of Malat1 and miR-16-5p in chondrocytes under the inhibition of miR-16-5p. Western blot was adopted to analyze the regulation of TG-induced chondrocyte proteins ABCA1, SREBP, CYP7B1, CHOP, ACSL4, and GPX4 by TGXTC under the inhibition of miR-16-5p. The results of in vivo experiments showed that,(1) compared with model group, TGXTC group exhibited a relatively complete cartilage layer structure. Compared with Malat1-OE group, TGXTC+Malat1-OE group showed alleviated cartilage surface damage.(2) Compared with model group, TGXTC group had a significantly decreased Malat1 mRNA level and an increased miR-16-5p mRNA level in mouse cartilage tissues(P<0.01).(3) Compared with the model group, the protein levels of ABCA1 and GPX4 in the cartilage tissue of mice in the TGXTC group increased, while the protein levels of SREBP, CYP7B1, CHOP and ACSL4 decreased(P<0.01). The results of in vitro experiments show that,(1) dual-luciferase was used to evaluate that miR-16-5p has a targeting effect on the Malat1 gene.(2)Compared with TG+miR-16-5p inhibition group, TG+miR-16-5p inhibition+TGXTC group had an increased mRNA level of miR-16-5p and an decreased mRNA level of Malat1(P<0.01).(3) Compared with TG+miR-16-5p inhibition group, TG+miR-16-5p inhibition+TGXTC group exhibited increased expression of ABCA1 and GPX4 proteins and decreased expression of SREBP, CYP7B1, CHOP, and ACSL4 proteins(P<0.01). The reasults showed that TGXTC can regulate the ceRNA of Malat1 and miR-16-5p to alleviate the "cholesterol-iron" metabolism disorder of osteoarthritis chondrocytes.
Animals ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolism* ; Chondrocytes/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice ; Osteoarthritis/drug therapy* ; Iron/metabolism* ; Male ; Cholesterol/metabolism* ; Humans ; Capsules ; RNA, Competitive Endogenous

From the perspective of circular RNA forkhead box protein O3(circFOXO3) regulating glycolysis in osteoarthritis(OA) chondrocytes, this study investigated the mechanism by which Tougu Xiaotong Capsules(TGXTC) alleviated OA degeneration. In in vivo experiments, after randomized grouping and relevant interventions, morphological staining was used to observe structural changes in cartilage tissue. The mRNA level of circFOXO3 in cartilage tissue was detected by real-time quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR). Western blot analysis was used to detect changes in the expression of glucose transporter 1(GLUT1), hexokinase 2(HK2), pyruvate kinase M2(PKM2), lactate dehydrogenase A(LDHA), and matrix metalloproteinase 13(MMP13). In in vitro experiments, fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH) was used to detect circFOXO3 expression in chondrocytes from each group. A lentiviral vector was used to construct circFOXO3-silenced(sh-circFOXO3) chondrocytes. RT-qPCR was used to analyze the changes in circFOXO3 levels after silencing, and Western blot was used to assess the regulatory effects of TGXTC on GLUT1, HK2, PKM2, LDHA, and MMP13 proteins in interleukin-1β(IL-1β)-induced chondrocytes under sh-circFOXO3 conditions. Masson staining and alcian blue staining results showed that the cartilage layer structure in the TGXTC and positive drug groups was improved compared with that in the model group. The mRNA level of circFOXO3 was significantly upregulated in both the TGXTC and positive drug groups, while the expression of the above-mentioned proteins was significantly reduced. FISH results showed that TGXTC upregulated the fluorescence intensity of circFOXO3 in IL-1β-induced chondrocytes. In the circFOXO3 silencing experiment, compared with the IL-1β group, circFOXO3 levels in the IL-1β + sh-circFOXO3 group were significantly decreased. Compared with the IL-1β + TGXTC group, circFOXO3 levels were significantly reduced in the IL-1β + sh-circFOXO3 + TGXTC group. Western blot results indicated that the elevated levels of GLUT1, HK2, PKM2, LDHA, and MMP13 proteins in chondrocytes of the IL-1β group were significantly inhibited by TGXTC intervention. However, this regulatory effect was attenuated after circFOXO3 silencing. In conclusion, TGXTC alleviate glycolytic metabolism disorder in OA chondrocytes and delay OA degeneration by regulating circFOXO3.
Chondrocytes/metabolism* ; Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; RNA, Circular/metabolism* ; Osteoarthritis/genetics* ; Glycolysis/drug effects* ; Humans ; Forkhead Box Protein O3/metabolism* ; Male ; Capsules ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 13/genetics*

The oxytocin receptor (OXTR) has garnered increasing attention for its role in regulating both mature behaviors and brain development. It has been established that OXTR mediates a range of effects that are region-specific or period-specific. However, the current studies of OXTR expression patterns in mice only provide limited help due to limitations in resolution. Therefore, our objective was to generate a comprehensive, high-resolution spatiotemporal expression map of Oxtr mRNA across the entire developing mouse brain. We applied RNAscope in situ hybridization to investigate the spatiotemporal expression pattern of Oxtr in the brains of male mice at six distinct postnatal developmental stages (P7, P14, P21, P28, P42, P56). We provide detailed descriptions of Oxtr expression patterns in key brain regions, including the cortex, basal forebrain, hippocampus, and amygdaloid complex, with a focus on the precise localization of Oxtr⁺ cells and the variance of expression between different neurons. Furthermore, we identified some neuronal populations with high Oxtr expression levels that have been little studied, including glutamatergic neurons in the ventral dentate gyrus, Vgat⁺Oxtr⁺ cells in the basal forebrain, and GABAergic neurons in layers 4/5 of the cortex. Our study provides a novel perspective for understanding the distribution of Oxtr and encourages further investigations into its functions.
Animals ; Receptors, Oxytocin/metabolism* ; Male ; Brain/growth & development* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Single-Cell Analysis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; Animals, Newborn

During the hyperacute phase of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), the mass effect and blood components mechanically lead to brain damage and neurotoxicity. Our findings revealed that the mass effect and transferrin precipitate neuronal oxidative stress and iron uptake, culminating in ferroptosis in neurons. M6A (N6-methyladenosine) modification, the most prevalent mRNA modification, plays a critical role in various cell death pathways. The Fto (fat mass and obesity-associated protein) demethylase has been implicated in numerous signaling pathways of neurological diseases by modulating m6A mRNA levels. Regulation of Fto protein levels in neurons effectively mitigated mass effect-induced neuronal ferroptosis. Applying nanopore direct RNA sequencing, we identified voltage-dependent anion channel 3 (Vdac3) as a potential target associated with ferroptosis. Fto influenced neuronal ferroptosis by regulating the m6A methylation of Vdac3 mRNA. These findings elucidate the intricate interplay between Fto, Vdac3, m6A methylation, and ferroptosis in neurons during the hyperacute phase post-ICH and suggest novel therapeutic strategies for ICH.
Ferroptosis/physiology* ; Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO/genetics* ; Animals ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Transferrin/pharmacology* ; Mice ; Methylation ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Adenosine/metabolism* ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; Male ; Oxidative Stress/physiology*

Loss-of-function variants in CSDE1 have been strongly linked to neuropsychiatric disorders, yet the precise role of CSDE1 in neurogenesis remains elusive. In this study, we demonstrate that knockout of Csde1 during cortical development in mice results in impaired neural progenitor proliferation, leading to abnormal cortical lamination and embryonic lethality. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that Csde1 upregulates the transcription of genes involved in the cell cycle network. Applying a dual thymidine-labelling approach, we further revealed prolonged cell cycle durations of neuronal progenitors in Csde1-knockout mice, with a notable extension of the G1 phase. Intersection with CLIP-seq data demonstrated that Csde1 binds to the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of mRNA transcripts encoding cell cycle genes. Particularly, we uncovered that Csde1 directly binds to the 3' UTR of mRNA transcripts encoding Cdk6, a pivotal gene in regulating the transition from the G1 to S phases of the cell cycle, thereby maintaining its stability. Collectively, this study elucidates Csde1 as a novel regulator of Cdk6, sheds new light on its critical roles in orchestrating brain development, and underscores how mutations in Csde1 may contribute to the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders.
Animals ; Neurogenesis/genetics* ; Cell Cycle/genetics* ; Mice, Knockout ; Mice ; Neural Stem Cells/metabolism* ; DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism* ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 6/genetics* ; Cell Proliferation ; 3' Untranslated Regions ; Cerebral Cortex/embryology* ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

Neuropathic pain is frequently comorbidity with cognitive deficits. Neuralized1 (Neurl1)-mediated ubiquitination of CPEB3 in the hippocampus is critical in learning and memory. However, the role of Neurl1 in the cognitive impairment in neuropathic pain remains elusive. Herein, we found that lumbar 5 spinal nerve ligation (SNL) in male rat-induced neuropathic pain was followed by learning and memory deficits and LTP impairment in the hippocampus. The Neurl1 expression in the hippocampal CA1 was decreased after SNL. And this decrease paralleled the reduction of ubiquitinated-CPEB3 level and reduced production of GluA1 and GluA2. Overexpression of Neurl1 in the CA1 rescued cognitive deficits and LTP impairment, and reversed the reduction of ubiquitinated-CPEB3 level and the decrease of GluA1 and GluA2 production following SNL. Specific knockdown of Neurl1 or CPEB3 in bilateral hippocampal CA1 in naïve rats resulted in cognitive deficits and impairment of synaptic plasticity. The rescued cognitive function and synaptic plasticity by the treatment of overexpression of Neurl1 before SNL were counteracted by the knockdown of CPEB3 in the CA1. Collectively, the above results suggest that the downregulation of Neurl1 through reducing CPEB3 ubiquitination and, in turn, repressing GluA1 and GluA2 production and mediating synaptic plasticity impairment in hippocampal CA1 leads to the genesis of cognitive deficits in neuropathic pain.
Animals ; Male ; Neuralgia/metabolism* ; Rats ; Down-Regulation/physiology* ; Ubiquitination/physiology* ; Neuronal Plasticity/physiology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; CA1 Region, Hippocampal/metabolism* ; Cognitive Dysfunction/metabolism* ; RNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism* ; Receptors, AMPA/metabolism*

The regulatory processes in developmental biology research are significantly influenced by long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). However, the dynamics of lncRNA expression during human tooth development remain poorly understood. In this research, we examined the lncRNAs present in the dental epithelium (DE) and dental mesenchyme (DM) at the late bud, cap, and early bell stages of human fetal tooth development through bulk RNA sequencing. Developmental regulators co-expressed with neighboring lncRNAs were significantly enriched in odontogenesis. Specific lncRNAs expressed in the DE and DM, such as PANCR, MIR205HG, DLX6-AS1, and DNM3OS, were identified through a combination of bulk RNA sequencing and single-cell analysis. Further subcluster analysis revealed lncRNAs specifically expressed in important regions of the tooth germ, such as the inner enamel epithelium and coronal dental papilla (CDP). Functionally, we demonstrated that CDP-specific DLX6-AS1 enhanced odontoblastic differentiation in human tooth germ mesenchymal cells and dental pulp stem cells. These findings suggest that lncRNAs could serve as valuable cell markers for tooth development and potential therapeutic targets for tooth regeneration.
Humans ; RNA, Long Noncoding/metabolism* ; Odontogenesis/genetics* ; Tooth Germ/embryology* ; Cell Differentiation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Mesoderm/metabolism* ; Tooth/embryology* ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Dental Pulp/cytology*

Host-derived small RNAs are emerging as critical regulators in the dynamic interactions between host tissues and the microbiome, with implications for microbial pathogenesis and host defense. Among these, transfer RNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) have garnered attention for their roles in modulating microbial behavior. However, the bacterial factors mediating tsRNA interaction and functionality remain poorly understood. In this study, using RNA affinity pull-down assay in combination with mass spectrometry, we identified a putative membrane-bound protein, annotated as P-type ATPase transporter (PtaT) in Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), which binds Fn-targeting tsRNAs in a sequence-specific manner. Through targeted mutagenesis and phenotypic characterization, we showed that in both the Fn type strain and a clinical tumor isolate, deletion of ptaT led to reduced tsRNA intake and enhanced resistance to tsRNA-induced growth inhibition. Global RNA sequencing and label-free Raman spectroscopy revealed the phenotypic differences between Fn wild type and PtaT-deficient mutant, highlighting the functional significance of PtaT in purine and pyrimidine metabolism. Furthermore, AlphaFold 3 prediction provides evidence supporting the specific binding between PtaT and Fn-targeting tsRNA. By uncovering the first RNA-binding protein in Fn implicated in growth modulation through interactions with host-derived small RNAs (sRNAs), our study offers new insights into sRNA-mediated host-pathogen interplay within the context of microbiome-host interactions.
Fusobacterium nucleatum/growth & development* ; RNA-Binding Proteins/genetics* ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics* ; RNA, Bacterial/metabolism* ; Humans ; RNA, Transfer/metabolism*