1.Mechanism and Clinical Research Progress of Puerarin in Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure
Wenjie LU ; Siqi ZHONG ; Lu ZHANG ; Wenting LIN ; Zhijun ZENG ; Shaohua WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):327-336
Chronic heart failure (CHF) is an end-stage cardiac syndrome driven by multiple factors. Its pathological process involves interactions of multiple pathways such as energy metabolism dysfunction, neuroendocrine dysregulation, and myocardial fibrosis. Although current clinical medicine can alleviate symptoms through single-target approaches, significant limitations in reversing cardiac remodeling and disease progression remain. Puerarin, a major bioactive isoflavone constituent derived from Pueraria lobata, exhibits multidimensional pharmacological effects, such as vasodilatory effects, regulation of neuroendocrine balance, enhancement of metabolic homeostasis, and suppression of myocardial apoptosis. This review systematically integrated puerarin's multi-target regulatory network, elucidating its mechanisms such as improving energy metabolism by AMP-activated protein kinase/mechanistic target of rapamycin (AMPK/mTOR) pathway, inhibiting fibrosis mediated by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad signals, and attenuating oxidative-inflammatory cascades by regulating nuclear factor erythroid 2 (E2)-related factor 2/nuclear transcription factor-κB(Nrf2/NF-κB) axis. Clinical research data was used to validate its efficacy in improving the left ventricular ejection function and reducing the therapeutic potential of cardiovascular events' risks. The study proposed that puerarin's "systemic regulation" characteristic breaks through the limitations of traditional single-target drugs and prospected its clinical translation pathway based on metabolomics and nano-delivery technology, offering an integrative perspective from molecular mechanisms to precise therapy for the research on modernization of traditional Chinese medicine.
2.Mechanism and Clinical Research Progress of Puerarin in Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure
Wenjie LU ; Siqi ZHONG ; Lu ZHANG ; Wenting LIN ; Zhijun ZENG ; Shaohua WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):327-336
Chronic heart failure (CHF) is an end-stage cardiac syndrome driven by multiple factors. Its pathological process involves interactions of multiple pathways such as energy metabolism dysfunction, neuroendocrine dysregulation, and myocardial fibrosis. Although current clinical medicine can alleviate symptoms through single-target approaches, significant limitations in reversing cardiac remodeling and disease progression remain. Puerarin, a major bioactive isoflavone constituent derived from Pueraria lobata, exhibits multidimensional pharmacological effects, such as vasodilatory effects, regulation of neuroendocrine balance, enhancement of metabolic homeostasis, and suppression of myocardial apoptosis. This review systematically integrated puerarin's multi-target regulatory network, elucidating its mechanisms such as improving energy metabolism by AMP-activated protein kinase/mechanistic target of rapamycin (AMPK/mTOR) pathway, inhibiting fibrosis mediated by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad signals, and attenuating oxidative-inflammatory cascades by regulating nuclear factor erythroid 2 (E2)-related factor 2/nuclear transcription factor-κB(Nrf2/NF-κB) axis. Clinical research data was used to validate its efficacy in improving the left ventricular ejection function and reducing the therapeutic potential of cardiovascular events' risks. The study proposed that puerarin's "systemic regulation" characteristic breaks through the limitations of traditional single-target drugs and prospected its clinical translation pathway based on metabolomics and nano-delivery technology, offering an integrative perspective from molecular mechanisms to precise therapy for the research on modernization of traditional Chinese medicine.
3.Mechanistic study of mitochondrial dysfunction in renal injury induced by maternal bone lead mobilization during pregnancy in rats
Ling LI ; Lin ZHANG ; Li LI ; Yuting WEI ; Man LYU ; Zeshi ZHANG ; Li MA ; Anxin LU ; Yin LIN ; Shaohua WANG ; Chonghuai YAN
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2026;43(3):286-292
Background Lead is a typical persistent environmental pollutant that can accumulate in bones for decades. During pregnancy, alterations in calcium metabolism promote the mobilization of bone lead, resulting in secondary exposure; however, the mechanisms by which pregnancy-associated bone lead mobilization affects maternal renal function remain unclear. Objective To investigate the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in pregnancy-related bone lead mobilization-induced renal injury. Methods Newly weaned female Wistar rats were randomly assigned to a control or a lead-exposed group administered either 0.05% sodium acetate or 0.05% lead acetate in drinking water. Following a 4-week lead exposure and a 4-week washout period, the females were co-housed with healthy age-matched males for mating. Rats were sacrificed at early (gestational day 3) and late (gestational day 17) pregnancystages, respectively. Renal histopathology was assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining staining. Mitochondria-related indicators, including oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and energy metabolism, were measured. Differential metabolites were identified using serum metabolomics. Results Renal injury in the lead-exposed pregnant rats progressed in a time-dependent manner, characterized by degeneration of proximal tubular epithelial cells, glomerular hyaline changes, and interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration. Repeated measures ANOVA indicated a significant interaction between the treatment factor (lead exposure) and the temporal factor (gestational stage) on renal injury (P<0.001). Further analysis of mitochondrial function-related indicators in late-pregnancy renal tissue revealed that the lead exposure group exhibited significantly increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) (P<0.05), accompanied by a reduction in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH) activities (P<0.05); regarding inflammatory markers, levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were elevated (P<0.01), whereas interleukin-33 (IL-33) was decreased in the lead-exposed group (P<0.05); energy metabolism-related indicators, including adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level, Na+-K+-ATPase and Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase activities, and mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I, III, and V activities, were significantly reduced (P<0.05) in the lead-exposed gorup. The typical differential metabolite N-methylisoleucine, identified through serum metabolomics analysis, was negatively correlated with blood lead levels, kidney injury scores, and IL-1β, while positively correlated with catalase (CAT) activity and Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase. Conclusions Mitochondrial dysfunction may play a critical role in renal injury induced by bone lead mobilization during late gestation.
4.Knowledge and adaptive behavior of food delivery riders during high temperature and heat wave
QIU Yidan ; GU Shaohua ; WANG Aihong ; LU Beibei ; SHI Bijun ; WANG Yong ; ZHANG Dandan
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2026;38(1):93-97
Objective:
To investigate the status of heat illness, knowledge awareness and adaptive behaviors of heat wave knowledge among food delivery riders, so as to provide a basis for optimizing heat wave response measures for food delivery riders.
Methods:
In November 2022, food delivery riders from a large food delivery platform in Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province were selected as survey subjects using a cluster sampling method. A self-designed electronic questionnaire was used to select demographic information, work status, lifestyle behaviors and disease history, heat illness status, knowledge awareness and adaptive behaviors of heatwave.
Results:
A total of 911 questionnaires were distributed, and 830 valid questionnaires were recovered, resulting in a valid response rate of 91.11%. Among the respondents, 796 (95.90%) were male, and 818 (98.55%) worked full-time. The mean age was (27.75±8.00) years. A total of 470 respondents (56.63%) had a work tenure of less than 1 year. The primary working hours were 8-<12 hours, with 504 people accounting for 60.72%. There were 108 cases of heatstroke, with an occurrence rate of 13.01%. And 286 people reported heat-related symptoms, with an occurrence rate of 34.46%. The overall awareness rate of heat wave knowledge was 73.22%, while the awareness rate of heat warning signal classification was relatively low at 9.04%. The heat wave cognition score was (5.86±1.31) points. There were statistically significant differences in heat wave cognition scores among food delivery riders of different ages, educational levels, family annual income, work tenures, and work durations (all P<0.05). Regarding positive adaptive behaviors, the number of riders paying attention to weather forecasts and actively learning about preventive measures was higher (734 people each, accounting for 88.43%). Regarding negative adaptive behaviors, the number of riders who often drank ice-cold beverages was higher (509 people, accounting for 61.33%). The heat wave adaptive behavior score was (6.88±1.77) points. There were statistically significant differences in adaptive behavior scores among riders with different educational levels, family annual income, work tenures, and smoking frequency (all P<0.05).
Conclusions
The occurrence rates of heatstroke and heat-related symptoms among food delivery riders are relatively high. The knowledge awareness and adaptive behaviors regarding heat wave are at a moderate level. It is suggested to strengthen health education, reinforce risk cognition of heat wave, and promote positive adaptive behaviors among food delivery riders.
5.Mechanisms and Clinical Research Advances of Curcumin in Modulation of Hyperlipidemia
Zhijun ZENG ; Wenjie LU ; Xiaoxue MA ; Yanhua JI ; Yun TONG ; Siyu LING ; Yue ZENG ; Chao LE ; Shaohua WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(18):325-334
Hyperlipidemia is a common metabolic disorder driven by dysregulated lipid metabolism, whose pathological progression involves multifaceted interactions across various signaling pathways, including disrupted cholesterol homeostasis, insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress. Although existing clinical medications such as statins can effectively reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol through single-target inhibition, significant limitations remain in comprehensively improving reverse cholesterol transport, metabolic inflammation, and coordinated regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. Curcumin, the primary polyphenolic active compound derived from the traditional medicinal herb turmeric, exhibits multi-dimensional pharmacological effects including modulation of lipid metabolism, improvement of insulin sensitivity, suppression of inflammatory responses, and enhancement of antioxidant defense. This review systematically integrates the multi-target regulatory network of curcumin, elucidating its key mechanisms: Balancing the low density lipoprotein receptor/proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (LDLR/PCSK9) signaling pathway to promote reverse cholesterol transport, activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α/γ (PPARα/γ) signaling pathways to coordinate glucolipid metabolic homeostasis, remodeling the gut microbiota-bile acid axis, inhibiting nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB)-mediated inflammatory responses, and activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/antioxidant response element (Nrf2/ARE) antioxidant signaling pathway. Furthermore, supported by clinical research data, the review validates curcumin's therapeutic potential in reducing total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels, increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), as well as improving vascular endothelial function and insulin sensitivity. The study highlights the multi-target regulatory properties of curcumin and discusses future clinical applications based on nano-delivery systems and personalized treatment strategies, providing a theoretical basis and novel insights for the prevention and treatment of hyperlipidemia and related metabolic disorders.
6.Distribution characteristics, source apportionment, and health risk assessment of metals and metalloids in PM2.5 in a southern city in 2019
Yaxin QU ; Suli HUANG ; Chao WANG ; Jie JIANG ; Jiajia JI ; Daokui FANG ; Shaohua XIE ; Xiaoheng LI ; Ning LIU
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(2):196-204
Background Metals and metalloids in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) may cause damage to the respiratory and circulatory systems of the human body, and long-term exposure is prone to causing chronic poisoning, cancer, and other adverse effects. Objective To assess the distribution characteristics of metals and metalloids in outdoor PM2.5 in a southern city of China, conduct source apportionment, and evaluate the associated health risks, thereby providing theoretical support for further pollution control measures. Methods PM2.5 samples were collected in districts A, B, and C of a southern China city, and the concentrations of 17 metals and metalloids were detected by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Pollution sources were assessed through enrichment factor and principal components analysis, and the main pollution sources were quantified using absolute principal component scores-multivariate linear regression (APCS-MLR). Health risks were evaluated based on the Technical guide for environmental health risk assessment of chemical exposure (WS/T777—2021). Results The ambient air PM2.5 concentrations in the city were higher in winter and spring, and lower in summer and autumn. The annual average concentrations of ambient PM2.5 in districts A, B, and C were 36.7, 31.9, and 24.4 μg·m−3, respectively. The ambient PM2.5 levels in districts B and C were below the second-grade limit set by the Ambient air quality standards (GB 3095—2012). The enrichment factors of cadmium (Cd), aluminum (Al), and antimony (Sb) were greater than 10, those of copper (Cu), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), mercury (Hg), and molybdenum (Mo) fell between 1 and 10, and those of manganese (Mn), vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), barium (Ba), beryllium (Be), and uranium (U) were below or equal to 1. The comprehensive evaluation of source analysis showed that the main pollution sources in districts A and C and the whole city were coal-burning. In district B, the main pollution source was also coal combustion, followed by industrial process sources and dust sources. The carcinogenic risks of As and Cr were between 1×10−6 and 1×10−4. However, the hazard quotients for 15 metals and metalloids in terms of non-carcinogenic risk were below 1. Conclusion Cr and As in the atmospheric PM2.5 of the city present a certain risk of cancer and should be paid attention to. In addition, preventive control measures should be taken against relevant pollution sources such as industrial emission, dust, and coal burning.
7.Expression of ZNF711 gene in ovarian cancer and its prognostic value
Li ZHANG ; Yixuan WANG ; Shaohua ZHANG ; Zanhong WANG
Cancer Research and Clinic 2025;37(3):211-217
Objective:To investigate the expression of ZNF711 in ovarian cancer and its relationship with prognosis and its possible role.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted. The GEPIA database (data updated in October 2020) was used to analyze the expression of ZNF711 mRNA in 426 ovarian cancer samples and 88 normal ovarian tissue samples; 424 ovarian cancer patients were screened from the GEPIA database, and 373 ovarian cancer patients were screened from the Kaplan-Meier Plotter database. The patients were grouped according to the median relative expression levels of ZNF711 mRNA in ovarian cancer samples from the two databases, and the overall survival of the two groups in the same database was compared. The cBioPortal database (data updated in September 2023) was used to screen for the top 30 genes co-expressed with ZNF711 in ovarian cancer tissues from 489 ovarian serous cystadenoma samples in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database; these 30 co-expressed genes were imported into the David database (data updated in October 2023) for Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. The correlation between ZNF711 expression and 6 types of immune cell infiltration in ovarian cancer was analyzed based on the TIMER database gene module. The ovarian cancer tissues from 178 ovarian cancer patients who underwent surgical treatment at Shanxi Bethune Hospital from January 2012 to December 2017, as well as the normal ovarian tissues from 53 patients who underwent total hysterectomy and bilateral adnexectomy for uterine fibroids during the same period were collected. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of ZNF711 protein in ovarian tissues. The immunohistochemical score was calculated by multiplying the positive cell ratio score and the staining intensity score, ranging from 0 to 12 points, and low or high expression of ZNF711 protein was determined by whether it was ≤ 8 points. The overall survival of patients with high and low expression of ZNF711 protein, as well as the distribution of patients with high and low expression of ZNF711 protein in different clinicopathological stratifications were compared; univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze the influencing factors of overall survival in ovarian cancer patients.Results:Among 426 ovarian cancer tissue samples and 88 normal ovarian tissue samples in the GEPIA database, the relative expression level of ZNF711 mRNA in ovarian cancer tissues was lower than that in normal ovarian tissues, and the difference was statistically significant ( P < 0.05). The median relative expression levels of ZNF711 mRNA in ovarian cancer tissues were 8.46 and 8.57 in the GEPIA database and Kaplan-Meier Plotter database, respectively. The overall survival of the ZNF711 high expression group (212 cases) was better than that of the ZNF711 low expression group (212 cases) in the GEPIA database ( P = 0.010), and the overall survival of the ZNF711 high expression group (242 cases) was better than that of the ZNF711 low expression group (131 cases) in the Kaplan-Meier Plotter database ( P = 0.002). GO enrichment analysis of the top 30 ZNF711 co-expressed genes screened from ovarian cancer tissues in the cBioPortal database showed that these genes were mainly enriched in biological processes such as DNA-templated regulation of transcription, synapse assembly, regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase Ⅱ promoter, cell adhesion of calcium channels, etc. The involved cellular compositions were mainly enriched in the nucleus, ribonucleoprotein complex, etc. The involved molecular functions were mainly enriched in RNA polymerase Ⅱ core promoter proximal region sequence-specific DNA binding, protein binding, mRNA 3'UTR AU-rich region binding, etc. KEGG pathway analysis showed that the ZNF711 co-expressed genes were mainly enriched in processes such as herpes simplex virus type Ⅰ infection, osteoclast differentiation, antigen processing and presentation, Fc γ R-mediated phagocytosis, etc. Analysis using TIMER database found that the expression level of ZNF711 was negatively correlated with B cells, CD8 + T cells, neutrophils, and dendritic cells (all P < 0.05), but it was not correlated with CD4 + T cells or macrophages (both P > 0.05). The immunohistochemistry results of clinical specimens showed that the immunohistochemical scores of ZNF711 in 178 cases of ovarian cancer tissue and 53 cases of normal ovarian tissue were (3.0±1.6) points and (6.9±1.8) points, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( t = 14.42, P < 0.001); the overall survival of the ZNF711 low expression group (63 cases) was worse than that of the ZNF711 high expression group (115 cases) ( P = 0.008); there were statistically significant differences in the distribution of high and low expression of ZNF711 protein among ovarian cancer patients of different ages, International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology staging, R0 resection, differentiation degree, and ascites (all P = 0.001). The results of multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that non-R0 resection (non-R0 resection vs. R0 resection, HR = 15.862,95% CI: 4.440-56.661) and low expression of ZNF711 protein (high expression vs. low expression, HR = 0.421, 95% CI: 0.089-1.987) were independent risk factors for poor overall survival in ovarian cancer patients (both P < 0.05). Conclusions:ZNF711 is lowly expressed in ovarian cancer and is associated with poor prognosis of patients. It may be an important molecule involved in the progression of ovarian cancer.
8.Clinical application of blonanserin in the treatment of schizophrenia:expert consensus from China(2024)
Tianmei SI ; Zheng LU ; Fude YANG ; Xiaoping WANG ; Chuan SHI ; Dengtang LIU ; Yingjun ZHENG ; Hong DENG ; Shaohua HU ; Xin YU
Chinese Mental Health Journal 2025;39(6):561-574
Blonanserin,a second-generation atypical antipsychotic agent,acts as an antagonist for dopamine D2,D3,and serotonin 5-HT2A receptors.Clinical studies have demonstrated that blonanserin is non-inferior to other antipsychotics,such as haloperidol and risperidone,in alleviating the symptoms of schizophrenia.Moreover,it exhib-its beneficial effects on cognitive symptoms and social functioning,with a favorable safety profile,making it one of the key treatment options for schizophrenia.With extensive clinical experience accumulated in China,this expert consensus aims to provide psychiatrists with updated and localized guidance on the optimal use of blonan-serin.Based on a systematic review of the latest evidence-particularly studies in Chinese population,this paper pres-ents the updated Chinese expert recommendations for the clinical use of blonanserin in 2024.
9.Effect and mechanism of basic fibroblast growth factor in enhancing neurological recovery after spinal cord injury in rats
Lijuan ZHU ; Ting CAO ; Shaohua TIAN ; Xianbao CAO ; Jun WANG ; Wenlong ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Trauma 2025;41(8):789-797
Objective:To investigate the neurorestorative effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on neurological function recovery in rats with spinal cord injury and its potential mechanisms.Methods:Ninety adult SD rats were selected and randomly divided into 6 groups using a random number table: sham-operated group ( n=24), spinal cord injury group ( n=24), bFGF group ( n=24), bFGF autophagy pathway validation group ( n=6), bFGF+rapamycin group ( n=6), and bFGF+MHY1485 group ( n=6). A spinal cord injury model was established by impacting the T 10 spinal cord segment using a self-made Allen′s weight-drop impactor. The sham-operated group underwent a 3 cm midline dorsal incision without spinal cord injury; the bFGF group received immediate intrathecal injection of 100 μl bFGF solution (20 μg/L) after injury; the sham surgery group and spinal cord injury group received an equal volume of saline after injury; the bFGF autophagy pathway validation group received the identical treatment as the bFGF group; the bFGF+rapamycin group received the same treatment as the bFGF group with additional intraperitoneal injection of rapamycin (4 mg·kg -1·d -1); the bFGF+MHY1485 group received the identical bFGF treatment plus intraperitoneal injection of MHY1485 (10 mg·kg -1·d -1). At 28 days after injury, the rats were sacrificed and the spinal cord tissue was collected at 5 mm from the injury epicenter for HE staining and pathological observation. At 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after injury, BBB scoring was used to assess hindlimb motor function; P wave latency and P1-N1 wave amplitude were recorded to evaluate neuroelectrophysiological changes; Western blot analysis was performed to detect the expression levels of phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3-II (LC3-II) and evaluate changes in mTOR signaling pathway and autophagy activity. At 28 days after injury, behavioral alterations, neuroelectrophysiological changes, and auctophagy-related protein expression levels were assessed in the bFGF autophagy pathyway validation group, bFGF+rapamycin group and bFGF+MHY1485 group. Results:At 28 days after injury, the sham-operated group exhibited regular nuclear morphology, while the spinal cord injury group showed disordered cell structures and the bFGF group displayed relatively normal nuclear morphology. At 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after injury, the BBB scores in both the spinal cord injury group and bFGF group were lower than those in the sham-operated group ( P<0.01), with higher scores in the bFGF group than those in the spinal cord injury group ( P<0.01). At 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after injury, P-wave latency was longer and P1-N1 wave amplitude was lower in both the spinal cord injury group and bFGF group compared to those in the sham-operated group ( P<0.01), with shorter P-wave latency and higher P1-N1 wave amplitude in the bFGF group compared to those in the spinal cord injury group ( P<0.01). Western blot results indicated that at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after injury, in the spinal cord injury group, p-mTOR/mTOR levels were lower than those in both the sham-operated group and bFGF group ( P<0.01), while LC3-II expression levels were higher ( P<0.01); in the bFGF group, p-mTOR/mTOR levels were higher than those in the spinal cord injury group but lower than those in the sham-operated group ( P<0.01), and LC3-II expression levels were lower than those in the spinal cord injury group but higher than those in the sham-operated group ( P<0.01). At 28 days after injury, the BBB scores were higher in both the bFGF autophagy pathway validation group and bFGF+MHY1485 group than those in the bFGF+rapamycin group ( P<0.01), with higher scores in the bFGF+MHY1485 group than those in the bFGF autophagy pathway validation group ( P<0.01). P-wave latency was shorter in both the bFGF autophagy pathway validation group and bFGF+MHY1485 group than those in the bFGF+rapamycin group ( P<0.01), with shorter P-wave latency in the bFGF+MHY1485 group than that in the bFGF autophagy pathway validation group ( P<0.01). P1-N1 wave amplitude was lower in both the bFGF autophagy pathway validation group and bFGF+MHY1485 group than that in the bFGF+rapamycin group ( P<0.01), with lower P1-N1 wave amplitude in the bFGF+MHY1485 group than that in the bFGF autophagy pathway validation group ( P<0.01). The p-mTOR/mTOR levels were higher in both the bFGF autophagy pathway validation group and bFGF+MHY1485 group than those in the bFGF+rapamycin group ( P<0.01), with higher p-mTOR/mTOR levels in the bFGF+MHY1485 group than those in the bFGF autophagy pathway validation group ( P<0.01). The LC3-II expression levels were higher in both the bFGF autophagy pathway validation group and bFGF+MHY1485 group than those in the bFGF+rapamycin group ( P<0.01), with higher LC3-II expression levels in the bFGF+MHY1485 group than those in the bFGF autophagy pathway validation group ( P<0.01). Conclusion:bFGF can improve the pathological state, motor behavior, and neuroelectrophysiological function in rats with spinal cord injury, for which the mechanism of action may involve downregulating cellular autophagy function by activating the mTOR pathway, thereby inhibiting excessive autophagy to promote neuronal regeneration and repair.
10.Single-cell transcriptome sequencing and clinical significance analysis of cellular heterogeneity in chronic skin ulcers
Chuwang WANG ; Jianda ZHOU ; Yanlian XIANG ; Peiting LI ; Shaohua WANG ; Jia CHEN ; Shuyue CHEN ; Wu XIONG ; Yu LIU ; Xiao FU
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2025;34(2):327-337
Background and Aims:Chronic skin ulcers are a significant disease affecting patients'daily lives and psychological well-being.Abnormalities in the cells and extracellular matrix within the tissue may disrupt the balance of the microenvironment,hindering the normal skin repair process and leading to delayed healing of the ulcer.There is currently a lack of research on the mechanisms underlying the development of chronic ulcers and their diagnostic biomarkers.Single-cell sequencing,a newly developed high-throughput sequencing method in recent years,uses gene sequencing at the single-cell resolution to precisely reveal disease mechanisms and has been applied in various diseases.This study used single-cell transcriptome sequencing(scRNA-Seq)to investigate the cellular heterogeneity in chronic skin ulcer tissue to elucidate the potential molecular mechanisms behind delayed healing and provide new insights for clinical treatment.Methods:The scRNA-Seq technology was used to compare the differences in cell subpopulations and gene expression between chronic ulcer tissue and normal skin tissue.Single cells were sorted using a microfluidic platform,and cDNA libraries were constructed for subsequent differential gene analysis and functional enrichment analysis.Results:scRNA-Seq analysis revealed significant immune-metabolic remodeling features in chronic ulcer tissue:the number of B cells,monocytes,and macrophages in ulcer tissue increased by 2.1 to 3.5 times compared to the normal tissue control.This was accompanied by widespread activation of collagen synthesis genes(COL1A1/COL3A1)and synergistic suppression of immune regulators(e.g.,granzyme family GZMA/GZMB/H).Cross-cell subpopulation functional network analysis showed that hypoxia response mediated by the HIF-1 signaling pathway and PI3K/Akt pathway abnormalities formed a positive feedback loop,exacerbating the imbalance in the secretion of inflammatory factors(CXCL3/8,TGFBI)and compensatory upregulation of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation.Conclusion:Chronic skin ulcers exhibit significant differences in cellular heterogeneity and gene expression,suggesting that chronic ulcers are not simply tissue defects but a complex pathological process dominated by chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation.The coordinated dysregulation of multiple cell subpopulations in the ulcer microenvironment,along with persistent inflammatory responses and metabolic abnormalities,is interconnected through the HIF-1/TNF/MAPK pathway network.Downregulation of granzyme gene family members and abnormal histone modifications may contribute to immune clearance defects,providing a theoretical basis for developing novel therapies targeting epigenetic regulation or mitochondrial function.


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