1.Inhibitory effect of combined application of active components of Paeoniae Rubra Radix on Enterococcus faecalis and its mechanism
Jiani ZHANG ; Jie SAI ; Yu ZHOU ; Miao YANG ; Shufen SUN
Journal of Jilin University(Medicine Edition) 2025;51(3):680-690
Objective:To discuss the inhibitory effects of combined application of chlorogenic acid(CA),procyanidin(PC),and paeoniflorin(PF),the active components of Paeoniae Radix Rubra,on Enterococcus faecalis(E.faecalis)and its biofilm,and to clarify the mechanism.Methods:The minimal inhibitory concentration(MIC)and minimal bactericidal concentration(MBC)of CA,PC,and PF against E.faecalis were detected by microdilution method;the fractional inhibitory concentration index(FICI)and fractional bactericidal concentration index(FBCI)of the three active components of Paeoniae Radix Rubra in combination were detected by checkerboard dilution method.The experiment was divided into control group,high concentration of single-drug groups(PF-10 group,PC-6 group,and CA-10 group),and drug combination groups(CA-2+PC-1 group,CA-2+PC-2 group,PF-4+PC-2 group,PF-6+PC-2 group,PF-4+CA-4 group,and PF-6+CA-4 group).Crystal violet staining was used to detect the biofilm formation of E.faecalis in various groups after treated with three active components in combination;scanning electron microscope(SEM)was used to observe the morphology of E.faecalis biofilm in various groups after treated with three active components in combination;spot assay was used to detect the inhibitory effects of three active components in combination on E.faecalis planktonic bacteria and biofilm in various groups;SEM was used to observe the damage to E.faecalis cell membrane in various groups after treated with three active components in combination;kit was used to detect the adenosine triphosphate(ATP)levels in E.faecalis planktonic bacteria and biofilm in various groups after treated with three active components in combination.Results:Among the three active components of Paeoniae Radix Rubra,the MIC of PC was 4 g·L?1 and the MBC was 6 g·L?1;the MIC of CA was 8 g·L?1 and the MBC was 10 g·L?1;the MIC and MBC of PF were both>10 g·L?1,and the concentration of PF was selected as 10 g·L?1.The combination of PC and CA showed synergistic effects,the combination of PC and PF showed additive effects,and the combination of CA and PF showed additive effects.The crystal violet staining results showed that compared with control group,the biofilm formations of E.faecalis in PF-10 group,PC-6 group,CA-10 group,and drug combination groups were significantly decreased(P<0.05);compared with PF-10 group,the biofilm formations of E.faecalis in PC-6 group,CA-10 group,CA-2+PC-1 group,CA-2+PC-2 group,PF-4+PC-2 group,PF-6+PC-2 group,and PF-6+CA-4 group were significantly decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01).The SEM results showed that in control group,the E.faecalis biofilm was thick,with tightly connected bacteria,regular morphology,and intact cell membranes;in PF-10 group,PC-6 group,and CA-10 group,the thickness of E.faecalis biofilm was significantly reduced,and the arrangement of bacteria became relatively loose;in all drug combination groups,the E.faecalis biofilm was significantly reduced or even completely disappeared,and under high magnification,the biofilm structure was completely absent,with bacterial fragments adhering and aggregating,losing their original bacterial morphology.The spot assay results showed that compared with control group,the colonies of E.faecalis planktonic bacteria in PF-10 group,PC-6 group,and CA-10 group were significantly reduced after treated for 5,10,and 30 min,indicating gradually enhanced bactericidal effects;among drug combination groups,the combination of CA and PC significantly reduced the colonies of E.faecalis planktonic bacteria within 5 min,showing strong bactericidal effects.Compared with CA group and PC group,the colonies of E.faecalis planktonic bacteria in all drug combination groups showed no significant reduction after treated for 5,10,and 30 min;compared with control group,the colonies of E.faecalis biofilm in PF-10 group,PC-6 group,and CA-10 group were gradually decreased after the treated for 30 and 60 min,suggesting that the high concentration of single-drug groups exhibited gradually enhanced bactericidal effects on E.faecalis in biofilm.Among them,the biofilm-killing effect of PC-6 group was the most significant,with no colony formation observed after treated for 30 min;in drug combination groups,only a few colonies of E.faecalis biofilm were observed in CA-2+PC-2 group after treated for 30 min,indicating effective killing of bacteria in biofilm;compared with PC-6 group and CA-10 group,all drug combination groups achieved the bactericidal effects of high concentration of single-drug groups at low concentrations.The SEM results showed that in control group,E.faecalis exhibited an oval shape with intact cell membranes;in PF group,bacterial morphology was altered,and cell membrane integrity was damaged;in CA group,most bacterial cell membranes remained relatively intact,but the bacterial surface showed shrinkage and depression,with a few bacteria exhibiting disrupted cell membrane integrity;in PC group,the integrity of bacterial cell membranes was most severely damaged,leading to leakage of cellular contents and aggregation of cell fragments into flocculent structures;in all drug combination groups,E.faecalis exhibited ruptured cell membranes,leakage of contents,and aggregation of bacterial debris,especially in the combination of CA and PC,where the most severe disruption of bacterial cell membrane integrity and complete leakage of contents were observed;in the combination of PF and CA,bacterial surface pits and shrinkage were observed,with occasional cell membrane rupture.The kit results showed that compared with control group,the ATP levels in E.faecalis planktonic bacteria and biofilm in various groups were significantly decreased(P<0.01);compared with PF-10 group,the ATP levels in E.faecalis planktonic bacteria in CA-10 group,CA-2+PC-2 group,PF-4+CA-4 group,and PF-6+CA-4 group were significantly decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the ATP levels in E.faecalis biofilm in CA-10 group and CA-2+PC-2 group were significantly decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Conclusion:The combined application of PF,PC,and CA,the active components of Paeoniae Radix Rubra,exhibits significant inhibitory effects on E.faecalis and its biofilm formation.The pairwise combinations of three active components show synergistic or additive effects,with the combination of CA and PC demonstrating the most significant synergistic effect.The underlying mechanism may be related to the disruption of E.faecalis cell membrane integrity and inhibition of bacterial ATP levels.
2.N 6-Methyladenosine modification of circDcbld2 in Kupffer cells promotes hepatic fibrosis via targeting miR-144-3p/Et-1 axis.
Sai ZHU ; Xin CHEN ; Lijiao SUN ; Xiaofeng LI ; Yu CHEN ; Liangyun LI ; Xiaoguo SUO ; Chuanhui XU ; Minglu JI ; Jianan WANG ; Hua WANG ; Lei ZHANG ; Xiaoming MENG ; Cheng HUANG ; Jun LI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(1):296-313
Kupffer cells (KCs), as residents and sentinels of the liver, are involved in the formation of hepatic fibrosis (HF). However, the biological functions of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in KCs to HF have not been determined. In this study, the expression levels of circRNAs, microRNAs, and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) in KCs from a mouse model of HF mice were investigated using microarray and circRNA-Seq analyses. circDcbld2 was identified as a candidate circRNA in HF, as evidenced by its up-regulation in KCs. Silver staining and mass spectrometry showed that Wtap and Igf2bp2 bind to cirDcbld2. The suppression of circDcbld2 expression decreased the KC inflammatory response and oxidative stress and inhibited hepatic stellate cell (HSCs) activation, attenuating mouse liver fibrogenesis. Mechanistically, Wtap mediated the N 6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation of circDcbld2, and Igf2bp2 recognized m6A-modified circDcbld2 and increased its stability. circDcbld2 contributes to the occurrence of HF by binding miR-144-3p/Et-1 to regulate the inflammatory response and oxidative stress. These findings indicate that circDcbld2 functions via the m6A/circDcbld2/miR-144-3p/Et-1 axis and may act as a potential biomarker for HF treatment.
3.Roles of IgG1 and IgG2a subtypes in anti-glycoprotein Ⅰbα antibody-induced platelet clearance
Sai ZHANG ; Yue XIA ; Honglei YE ; Kangxi ZHOU ; Chenglin SUN ; Mengxing CHEN ; Kesheng DAI ; Rong YAN
Chinese Journal of Hematology 2025;46(6):558-563
Objective:To investigate the role of the IgG subtypes (IgG1 and IgG2a) in anti-glycoprotein (GP) Ⅰbα antibody-induced platelet clearance.Methods:Venous blood was collected from healthy volunteers, and platelets were separated. The phagocytosis of human platelets by human acute monocytic leukemia cells (THP-1 cells) induced by different anti-GPⅠbα antibodies (AN51, AK2, HIP1, TM60, VM16d, WM23, and SZ2) was detected by flow cytometry. The effects of the AN51 full-length antibody, F (ab') 2, and Fab fragments on platelet phagocytosis by THP-1 cells were detected by flow cytometry. Then, the Fc blocking antibody 2.4G2 and normal rat IgG2a or IgG1 were injected into C57BL/6J mice via the posterior ocular vein, and their effects on platelet reduction induced by R300 were detected by a hematology analyzer. Results:Compared with IgG1, the IgG2a subtype of anti-GPⅠbα antibodies induced the phagocytosis of platelets by THP-1 cells in vitro ( P<0.05). In contrast to the AN51 full-length antibody, neither AN51 F (ab') 2 nor the Fab fragment could induce THP-1 cells to phagocytose platelets ( P<0.05). Compared with the control group, anti-mouse GPⅠbα R300-induced thrombocytopenia in mice was reduced at 2, 4, and 6 h after the injection of Fc blocking antibody 2.4G2 ( P<0.05). Similarly, R300-induced thrombocytopenia in mice was reduced at 2, 4, and 6 h after the injection of rat IgG2a ( P<0.05) . Conclusion:IgG2a plays an important role in anti-GPⅠbα-induced clearance.
4.Research Progress in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pancreatic Acinar Cell Carcinoma
Wenfei LI ; Yuan XIE ; Liyang MO ; Junjie DANG ; Qi WANG ; Yang YANG ; Qiuying SUN ; Zhenping WEN ; Sai GE ; Xiaotian ZHANG
JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES 2025;4(4):437-445
Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (PACC) is a rare exocrine tumor of the pancreas with distinct clinical and pathological features. In recent years, advancements in molecular biology techniques have led to a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying PACC. Progress in imaging, endoscopic, and molecular diagnostic technologies has improved the early detection rate of PACC. The primary treatment modalities for PACC include surgical resection, chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy; however, the therapeutic efficacy still requires further improvement. This article reviews the current research status of PACC, covering its epidemiology, pathological characteristics, molecular alterations, diagnostic methods, and treatment strategies, and discusses the controversies and future directions in PACC research.
5.Mechanism of emodin improving cardiac hypertrophy in mice based on p38/ERK pathway
Jia SHI ; Sai-Ge SUN ; Yi-Lin HE ; Li XU ; Long-Xing LIU ; Zi-Jie GE ; Xiao-Yi ZOU ; Yu MA ; Yao-Cheng DING ; Kai QIAN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(7):1245-1252
Aim Mouse model of myocardial hypertro-phy was established via intraperitoneal injection of iso-proterenol(ISO)in mice.This approach allows for an in-depth investigation into the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of action of emodin,offering novel in-sights and directions for the improvement of myocardial hypertrophy.Methods The mice were randomly di-vided into the following groups:control group(CON),emodin group(EMO),MAPK activator control group(EMO+Ani),model group(ISO),treatment group(ISO+EMO),and activator intervention group(ISO+EMO+Ani).After treatment with emodin and inter-vention with MAPK activator,the heart weight ratio and cardiac size of each group were observed.Hematoxy-lin-eosin(HE)staining was used to observe the patho-logical changes in cardiac tissue,and kits were utilized to measure the levels of GSH,LDH,and MDA in the serum.Western blot was employed to detect the protein expression levels of inflammatory and oxidative factors,as well as p-p38,p-ERK,p38,and ERK in cardiac tis-sue.Results Emodin can significantly inhibit the production of myocardial inflammatory and oxidative factors induced by ISO,thereby effectively alleviating the degree of myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis.Af-ter the p38/ERK signaling pathway was specifically ac-tivated by farnesol,the improvement effect of emodin on myocardial hypertrophy was weakened.Further comparison revealed that,compared with the myocardi-al hypertrophy pathological model group,the pathologi-cal protein expression levels in the farnesol-treated group showed no significant difference,and were even higher in some indicators.Conclusion Emodin can effectively inhibit the release of inflammatory factors and improve the state of oxidative stress by modulating the p38/ERK signaling pathway,thereby exerting an ameliorative effect on myocardial hypertrophy.
6.Research Progress on the Mechanism of Action of Moxibustion in the Treatment of Essential Hypertension
Kuang YU ; Sai YING ; Zheng SUN ; Haitian SUN ; Run HONG ; Zilong ZHU ; Jianbin ZHANG
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;41(5):609-614
This paper systematically sorts out the historical evolution and modern research progress of moxibustion in the treatment of essential hypertension.It analyzes the development of moxibustion in the treatment of hypertension from early experience to the for-mation of theory,from clinical exploration,initial systematization of clinical research to the current development results,reflecting the scientific and innovative transformation of moxibustion in the treatment of essential hypertension.It reveals that moxibustion can achieve antihypertensive effects through multiple pathways,including neuron-body fluid regulation,renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system reg-ulation,cell signaling pathway regulation,vascular homeostasis,and immune system function regulation,emphasizing its internal con-sistency from macroscopic syndrome differentiation to microscopic mechanism.Through systematic integration,it can not only highlight the unique advantages of moxibustion in"multi-dimensional adjustment",but also provide a new perspective for breaking through the single-target limitation of current antihypertensive drugs.
7.A retrospective study on the relationship between pathogenic microorganism types,age and season in 2 188 children with respiratory tract infections
Yuan YUAN ; Qin SAI ; Guangling ZHANG ; Zhiyue SUN ; Kexin ZHAO ; Xinyan YU
International Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2025;46(7):806-811
Objective To explore the relationship between pathogenic microorganism types,age and season in 2 188 children with respiratory tract infections.Methods A total of 2 188 children with respiratory tract in-fections admitted to the Department of Pediatrics,962 Hospital,Joint Logistic Support Force of PLA from June 2023 to May 2024 were selected as the study subjects.Targeted next generation sequencing(tNGS)tech-nology was used to detect 107 common pathogenic microorganism in children with respiratory tract infections,including Haemophilus influenzae,rhinovirus,Moraxella catarrhalis,Mycoplasma pneumoniae,Staphylococcus aureus,Streptococcus pneumoniae,human parainfluenza virus,human respiratory syncytial virus,etc.The re-spiratory tract infection situation and epidemiological characteristics of children in Harbin were analyzed.Re-sults Among 2 188 pediatric patients,98.5%(2 156/2 188)tested positive for pathogenic microorganism,with Haemophilus influenzae accounting for the highest proportion of 33.5%(732/2 188),followed by rhino-virus of 25.0%(547/2 188)and Moraxella catarrhalis of 24.8%(543/2 188).The positive rates of Hae-mophilus influenzae and human adenovirus in male children were higher than those in female children(P<0.05),while there were no statistically significant differences in the positive positive rates of other pathogenic microorganism between male and female children(P>0.05).Except for human adenovirus and influenza A virus,which showed no statistically significant differences in positive rates among different age groups(P>0.05),there were statistically significant differences in the positive rates of other pathogenic microorganism a-mong different age groups(P<0.05).The positive rates of pathogenic microorganism in preschool children were relatively high.There were no statistically significant differences in the positive rates of Streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus in different seasons(P>0.05),while there were statistically significant differences in the positive rates of other pathogenic microorganism in different seasons(P<0.05).The positive rates of Haemophilus influenzae,Streptococcus pneumoniae,human metapneumovirus,human parainfluenza virus and SARS-Cov-2 were the highest in summer(P<0.05).Conclusion 2 188 children with respiratory tract infec-tions were mainly caused by pathogenic microorganism such as Haemophilus influenzae,rhinovirus,and Moraxella catarrhalis,etc.Preschool children is a susceptible group,and the prevalence of pathogenic microor-ganism varies seasonally.In clinical practice,relevant prevention and control measures should be developed based on this characteristic to reduce the incidence of diseases.
8.Accurate evaluation model of burning mouth syndrome based on inflammatory factors and psychological scores: a clinical study
Ying ZHANG ; Sai YE ; Hong SUN ; Xuemin SHEN ; Lan WU
Chinese Journal of Stomatology 2025;60(3):232-238
Objective:To explore the correlation between anxiety, depression, and inflammatory markers in the body fluids of patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS), creating a preliminary assessment model based on clinical data.Methods:Forty-one BMS patients were recruited according to the predefined inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria from the Department of Oral Medicine, Shanghai Ninth People′s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine between December 2021 and September 2023, along with 12 healthy controls. The pain intensity of the 41 patients was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS). Meanwhile, anxiety and depression were assessed using the Zung self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and the Zung self-rating depression scale (SDS). The concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in saliva and serum were measured using the Luminex 200 TM system and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analyses were performed using the Chi-square test, independent samples t-test, ANOVA, Spearman′s correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression, respectively. Results:The VAS score for the 41 BMS patients was (3.56±1.90), with 48.8% (20/41) and 41.5% (17/41) of patients experiencing mild and moderate pain, respectively. Only 7.3% (3/41) of patients had severe pain. Among the 41 BMS patients, 61.0% (25/41) exhibited anxiety and/or depression, in whom 39.0% (16/41) had both anxiety and depression, 9.8% (4/41) experienced anxiety without depression, and 12.2% (5/41) had depression without anxiety. The concentrations of IFN-γ and TNF-α in the serum and saliva of BMS patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (all P<0.05). In contrast, the BDNF concentration in serum was significantly lower in BMS patients than in healthy participants ( P<0.01), but was significantly higher in saliva ( P<0.001). Serum TNF-α was positively correlated with IFN-γ, IL-1β, and IL-6 (β=0.803, β=0.812, β=0.592; all P<0.01), while saliva TNF-α was negatively correlated with both anxiety and depression (β=-0.325, β=-0.321; all P<0.05). SAS scores were linearly correlated with saliva TNF-α concentrations (SAS=51.374-1.154×saliva TNF-α); saliva TNF-α concentrations were linearly correlated with saliva IFN-γ and IL-1β (saliva TNF-α=2.408+0.281×saliva IFN-γ+0.002×saliva IL-1β). Conclusions:This study provides a preliminary exploration of a clinical assessment model for BMS based on inflammatory markers and psychological scores, offering an exploratory framework for further research and optimization of the model.
9.Roles of IgG1 and IgG2a subtypes in anti-glycoprotein Ⅰbα antibody-induced platelet clearance
Sai ZHANG ; Yue XIA ; Honglei YE ; Kangxi ZHOU ; Chenglin SUN ; Mengxing CHEN ; Kesheng DAI ; Rong YAN
Chinese Journal of Hematology 2025;46(6):558-563
Objective:To investigate the role of the IgG subtypes (IgG1 and IgG2a) in anti-glycoprotein (GP) Ⅰbα antibody-induced platelet clearance.Methods:Venous blood was collected from healthy volunteers, and platelets were separated. The phagocytosis of human platelets by human acute monocytic leukemia cells (THP-1 cells) induced by different anti-GPⅠbα antibodies (AN51, AK2, HIP1, TM60, VM16d, WM23, and SZ2) was detected by flow cytometry. The effects of the AN51 full-length antibody, F (ab') 2, and Fab fragments on platelet phagocytosis by THP-1 cells were detected by flow cytometry. Then, the Fc blocking antibody 2.4G2 and normal rat IgG2a or IgG1 were injected into C57BL/6J mice via the posterior ocular vein, and their effects on platelet reduction induced by R300 were detected by a hematology analyzer. Results:Compared with IgG1, the IgG2a subtype of anti-GPⅠbα antibodies induced the phagocytosis of platelets by THP-1 cells in vitro ( P<0.05). In contrast to the AN51 full-length antibody, neither AN51 F (ab') 2 nor the Fab fragment could induce THP-1 cells to phagocytose platelets ( P<0.05). Compared with the control group, anti-mouse GPⅠbα R300-induced thrombocytopenia in mice was reduced at 2, 4, and 6 h after the injection of Fc blocking antibody 2.4G2 ( P<0.05). Similarly, R300-induced thrombocytopenia in mice was reduced at 2, 4, and 6 h after the injection of rat IgG2a ( P<0.05) . Conclusion:IgG2a plays an important role in anti-GPⅠbα-induced clearance.
10.Accurate evaluation model of burning mouth syndrome based on inflammatory factors and psychological scores: a clinical study
Ying ZHANG ; Sai YE ; Hong SUN ; Xuemin SHEN ; Lan WU
Chinese Journal of Stomatology 2025;60(3):232-238
Objective:To explore the correlation between anxiety, depression, and inflammatory markers in the body fluids of patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS), creating a preliminary assessment model based on clinical data.Methods:Forty-one BMS patients were recruited according to the predefined inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria from the Department of Oral Medicine, Shanghai Ninth People′s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine between December 2021 and September 2023, along with 12 healthy controls. The pain intensity of the 41 patients was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS). Meanwhile, anxiety and depression were assessed using the Zung self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and the Zung self-rating depression scale (SDS). The concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in saliva and serum were measured using the Luminex 200 TM system and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analyses were performed using the Chi-square test, independent samples t-test, ANOVA, Spearman′s correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression, respectively. Results:The VAS score for the 41 BMS patients was (3.56±1.90), with 48.8% (20/41) and 41.5% (17/41) of patients experiencing mild and moderate pain, respectively. Only 7.3% (3/41) of patients had severe pain. Among the 41 BMS patients, 61.0% (25/41) exhibited anxiety and/or depression, in whom 39.0% (16/41) had both anxiety and depression, 9.8% (4/41) experienced anxiety without depression, and 12.2% (5/41) had depression without anxiety. The concentrations of IFN-γ and TNF-α in the serum and saliva of BMS patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (all P<0.05). In contrast, the BDNF concentration in serum was significantly lower in BMS patients than in healthy participants ( P<0.01), but was significantly higher in saliva ( P<0.001). Serum TNF-α was positively correlated with IFN-γ, IL-1β, and IL-6 (β=0.803, β=0.812, β=0.592; all P<0.01), while saliva TNF-α was negatively correlated with both anxiety and depression (β=-0.325, β=-0.321; all P<0.05). SAS scores were linearly correlated with saliva TNF-α concentrations (SAS=51.374-1.154×saliva TNF-α); saliva TNF-α concentrations were linearly correlated with saliva IFN-γ and IL-1β (saliva TNF-α=2.408+0.281×saliva IFN-γ+0.002×saliva IL-1β). Conclusions:This study provides a preliminary exploration of a clinical assessment model for BMS based on inflammatory markers and psychological scores, offering an exploratory framework for further research and optimization of the model.

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