1.MultiKano: an automatic cell type annotation tool for single-cell multi-omics data based on Kolmogorov-Arnold network and data augmentation.
Siyu LI ; Xinhao ZHUANG ; Songbo JIA ; Songming TANG ; Liming YAN ; Heyang HUA ; Yuhang JIA ; Xuelin ZHANG ; Yan ZHANG ; Qingzhu YANG ; Shengquan CHEN
Protein & Cell 2025;16(5):374-380
2.Effects of laminarin on non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy in C57BL/6 mice based on transcriptomics analysis
Lei Zhang ; Sumei Zhang ; Zhen Yang ; Weikang Hu ; Hongmei Bai ; Wenjing Zhou ; Zihan Wang ; Mingcong Li ; Shengquan Zhang ; Rongfeng Liao
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(3):392-398
Objective :
To investigate the effect of laminarin(LAM) on nonproliferative diabetes retinopathy by high throughput sequencing(RNA-seq).
Methods :
The diabetes model was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(STZ), and the effect of LAM on diabetic mice was observed.C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups: Control group, Model group, and LAM group, with 8 mice in each group. After 8 weeks of modeling, the LAM group received a 4-week intraperitoneal injection of LAM treatment. Changes in blood glucose and body weight of the three groups of mice were recorded, HE staining was performed to examine retinal lesions, and RNA-seq was used to identify differentially expressed genes(DEGs) in diabetic retinopathy(DR) under the action of STZ and LAM.
Results :
STZ successfully established the model of DR, and LAM reduced the blood sugar in diabetic mice to a certain extent and improved the pathological morphology of retinal structural looseness in diabetic mice. After RNA-seq analysis of DEGs, it was found that there were a total of 214 DEGs in the retina of the Model group mice compared to the Control group. Enrichment analysis revealed that DR could exacerbate the lesions through the PI3K Akt signaling pathway. There were a total of 42 DEGs in the retina of the Model group and LAM group mice, and enrichment showed that LAM improved the lesions through the neutrophil extracellular trap pathway. Early growth response factor 1(Egr1), FBJ osteosarcoma oncogene(Fos), nuclear receptor subfamily 4A member 1(Nr4a1), and salt-induced kinase 1(Sik1) were regulated by STZ, and LAM significantly regulated their expression, which might be closely related to LAM′s treatment of diabetic retinopathy.
Conclusion
DEGs can exacerbate the severity of diabetic retinopathyviathe PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. LAM can mitigate diabetic retinopathyviathe neutrophil extracellular trap pathway. Egr1, Fos, Nr4a1, and Sik1 are key genes involved in LAM treatment of STZ-induced DR.
3.Role of the PTTG3P/miR-146a-3p/PTTG1 pathway in castration-resistant progression of prostate cancer
Shengquan HUANG ; Min JIA ; Chun ZHOU ; Yi ZHI ; Weibing LI
Chongqing Medicine 2025;54(11):2544-2551
Objective To investigate the role of the pituitary tumor-transforming gene 3(PTTG3P)/microRNA-146a-3p(miR-146a-3p)/pituitary tumor-transforming gene 1(PTTG1)pathway in the castration-resistant transformation of prostate cancer(PCa).Methods Real-time quantitative PCR(qPCR)was used to detect the differences in PTTG3P mRNA expression between androgen-dependent PCa cells LNCaP and cas-tration-resistant PCa(CRPC)cells PC3 and DU145,as well as between primary PCa tissues and CRPC tis-sues.PTTG3P overexpression vectors and PTTG1 interference vectors(shPTTG1)were constructed and transfected into LNCaP cells.The cells were divided into the LNCaP group(control),LNCaP/PTTG3P group(transfected with PTTG3P overexpression vector),and LNCaP/PTTG3P/shPTTG group(transfected with PTTG3P overexpression vector and shPTTG).Under castrated conditions,qPCR was used to detect the ex-pression levels of PTTG3P mRNA and miR-146a-3p in each group of LNCaP cells.Cell viability assays in vitro were conducted to assess the growth status of each group of LNCaP cells,colony formation assays were performed to evaluate the tumorigenic ability of each group of LNCaP cells,and Western blotting was used to detect PTTG1 protein expression levels in each group of LNCaP cells.To investigate the role of miR-146a-3p in the PTTG3P/PTTG1 pathway,LNCaP cells were transfected with a miR-146a-3p mimic to establish a miR-146a-3p mimic cell line,and then transfected with the PTTG3P overexpression plasmid to create a miR-146a-3p mimic+PTTG3P cell line.A luciferase reporter assay was conducted to verify the relationship between miR-146a-3p and PTTG1.Results Compared with androgen-dependent PCa cells LNCaP and treatment-naive PCa tissues,PTTG3P mRNA expression was higher in CRPC cells PC3,DU145,and tissues(P<0.05).Un-der castration conditions,the cell viability and colony formation ability of the LNCaP/PTTG3P group were higher than those of the LNCaP group(P<0.05);cell viability and colony formation ability in the LNCaP/PTTG3P/shPTTG group were lower than those in the LNCaP/PTTG3P group(P<0.05);miR-146a-3p ex-pression was lower in CRPC than in treatment-naive PCa tissues(P<0.05).Overexpression of miR-146a-3p inhibited PTTG1 expression in LNCaP cells,and overexpression of PTTG3P reversed this effect(P<0.05).Conclusion Overexpression of PTTG3P promotes the progression of PCa to CRPC through the miR-146a-3p/PTTG1 pathway.The mechanism may involve PTTG3P competitively binding to miR-146a-3p,thereby upreg-ulating PTTG1 expression.
4.Csf1rCre -mediated yellow fluorescent protein can effectively label tissue-resident macrophages in various tissues
Xiaoyu Li ; Dianyuan Zhao ; Shengquan Zhang ; Jing Yang ; Li Tang
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(9):1567-1573
Objective:
To construct Csf1rCreRosa26YFPmice,and to detect the efficiency of Csf1rCre-mediated yellow fluorescent protein(YFP) labeling monocytes and tissue-resident macrophages in different tissues.
Methods:
The Rosa26YFPmutant mice had a loxP-flanked STOP sequence,followed by a yellow fluorescent protein gene(YFP)inserted into the Rosa26 locus. When crossed with mice expressing the Csf1rCrerecombinase,the STOP sequence was deleted,and yellow fluorescent protein(YFP) expression was observed in the tissues of double-mutant offspring(Csf1rCreRosa26YFP). Csf1rCremice were mated with Rosa26YFPmice,and genotype of Csf1rCreRosa26YFPmice were identified by PCR. Blood and bone marrow monocytes,liver macrophages,kidney macrophages,alveolar macrophages and spleen macrophages of adult Csf1rCreRosa26YFPmice were isolated,labeled with flow cytometry antibodies,and the recombination efficiency of Csf1rCre-mediated YFP labeling tissue macrophages was analyzed by flow cytometry.
Results:
In Csf1rCreRosa26YFPreporter mice,the median percentage of YFP + was 93. 25% in renal macrophages,92. 45% in liver macrophages,and 91. 10% in spleen macrophages. The percentage of YFP +was 94. 70% in alveolar macrophages,98. 20% in blood monocytes,and 93. 90% in bone marrow monocytes.
Conclusion
Csf1rCrecan be used to trace tissue-resident macrophages as well as bone marrow and blood monocytes. At the same time,Csf1rCrecan target these cells to prepare conditional gene knockout mice.
5.Correlation analysis of serum Chemerin with disease activity and Th17/Treg in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Wenjing XU ; Dongmei GAO ; Huixin LI ; Li WANG ; Shengquan TONG
Tianjin Medical Journal 2024;52(2):193-196
Objective To explore the correlation of serum Chemerin level with disease activity and the ratio of T helper 17/regulatory T cells(Th17/Treg)in patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA).Methods A total of 180 patients with RA who were admitted to our hospital were regarded as the observation group.According to the DAS28 score,the observation group was divided into the high activity group(60 cases),the moderate activity group(60 cases)and the low activity group(60 cases).Another 180 healthy people who underwent physical examination in our hospital during the same period were regarded as the control group.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect serum levels of Chemerin,interleukin-9(IL-9),interleukin-10(IL-10)and interleukin-17(IL-17).Flow cytometry was used to detect the Th17/Treg ratio.Spearman correlation analysis was applied to analyze the correlation between serum Chemerin level and DAS28 score.Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between serum Chemerin level and Th17,Treg cell percentage and Th17/Treg ratio.Results The results of this study showed that the serum level of Chemerin was higher in the observation group than that in the control group(P<0.05).The serum Chemerin level was positively correlated with DAS28 score(P<0.05).Serum Chemerin levels and DAS28 scores decreased in turn in the high,moderate and low activity groups(P<0.05).The percentage of Th17 cells and the ratio of Th17/Treg were higher in the observation group than those in the control group,and the percentage of Treg cells was lower in the observation group than that in the control group(P<0.05).The level of IL-10 was lower in the observation group than that in the control group,while levels of IL-17 and IL-9 were higher in the observation group than those in the control group(P<0.05).The results of Pearson correlation analysis showed that serum Chemerin level was positively correlated with the percentage of Th17 cells and the ratio of Th17/Treg,and negatively correlated with the percentage of Treg cells(P<0.05).Conclusion Serum Chemerin level is elevated in patients with RA,which is closely related to disease activity and Th17/Treg ratio.
6.Rapid evaluation of the early pathogen of severe Chlamydophila psittaci pneumonia by diagnostic bronchoscopy
Jingwen LI ; Shengquan LI ; Na LIU ; Tiantian SONG ; Lixiao ZHAO ; Xueli WANG ; Mengya GUO ; Yamei GAO ; Qiufeng WAN ; Sicheng XU
Chinese Critical Care Medicine 2023;35(1):37-42
Objective:To explore the rapid evaluation of the early pathogen of severe Chlamydophila psittaci pneumonia by bedside diagnostic bronchoscopy, so as to start effective anti-infection treatment before the results of macrogenome next generation sequencing (mNGS) test. Methods:The clinical data of three patients with severe Chlamydophila psittaci pneumonia who were successfully treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, the First People's Hospital of Aksu District, and the First Division Hospital of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps from October 2020 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, including the rapid assessment of early pathogens by bedside diagnostic bronchoscopy and the use of antibiotics to start anti-infection treatment. These patients were successfully treated. Results:The three patients were male, aged 63, 45 and 58 years old, respectively. Before the onset of the penumonia, they had a clear medical history of bird exposure. The clinical manifestations mainly included fever, dry cough, shortness of breath and dyspnea. One case had abdominal pain and lethargy. The results of laboratory examination indicated that the peripheral blood white blood cell count (WBC) of two patients were high [(10.2-11.9)×10 9/L], the percentage of neutrophils increased (85.2%-94.6%) and the percentage of lymphocytes decreased (3.2%-7.7%) in all 3 patients after admission to hospital and entering into intensive care unit (ICU). The procalcitonin (PCT) of 3 patients increased after admission, and still increased when entering ICU (0.3-4.8 ng/L), so did C-reactive protein (CRP, 58.0-162.0 mg/L) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR, 36.0-90.0 mm/1 h). After admission, serum alanine transaminase (ALT) increased in 2 cases (136.7 U/L, 220.5 U/L), so did aspartate transaminase (AST) in 2 cases (249.6 U/L, 164.2 U/L). ALT (162.2-267.9 U/L) and AST (189.8-223.2 U/L) increased in 3 patients when they entered ICU. The level of serum creatinine (SCr) of 3 patients were normal after admission and entering ICU. The chest computed tomography (CT) findings of 3 patients were acute interstitial pneumonia, bronchopneumonia and lung consolidation, of which 2 cases were accompanied by a small amount of pleural effusion, and 1 case was accompanied by more regular small air sacs. Multiple lung lobes were involved, but mainly one lung lobe. The oxygenation index (PaO 2/FiO 2) of the 3 patients admitting to ICU were 100.0, 57.5 and 105.4 mmHg (1 mmHg ≈ 0.133 kPa), respectively, which met with the diagnostic criteria of moderate and severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). All three patients received endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. Under the bedside bronchoscope, the bronchial mucosa of 3 patients were obviously congested and edematous, without purulent secretion, and there was 1 case with mucosal hemorrhage. Three patients underwent bedside diagnostic bronchoscopy, and the evaluation result of the pathogen was that it might be atypical pathogen infection, so they were given moxifloxacin, cisromet and doxycycline intravenously, respectively, and combined with carbapenem antibiotics intravenously. After 3 days, the detection results of mNGS in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) showed that only Chlamydia psittaci was infected. At this time, the condition was significantly improved, and PaO 2/FiO 2 was significantly increased. Therefore, the antibiotic treatment scheme remained unchanged, and mNGS only served to verify the initial diagnosis. Two patients were extubated on the 7th and 12th day of admission to the ICU, respectively, while one patient was extubated on the 16th day of admission to the ICU due to nosocomial infection. All 3 patients were transferred to the respiratory ward after the condition was stable. Conclusion:The bedside diagnostic bronchoscopy based on clinical characteristics is conducive to not only the rapid assessment of the early pathogens of severe Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia, but also effective anti-infection treatment before the returning of mNGS test results, which can make up for the lag and uncertainty of the mNGS test results.
7.The study of molecular mechanism of regulation of IL-10 on proliferation and differentiation of HaCaT cells
Xueli Yin ; Bo Jia ; Li Liu ; Mingcong Li ; Jun Zhang ; Zhen Yang ; Hongmei Bai ; Weikang Hu ; Sumei Zhang ; Shengquan Zhang
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2023;58(6):890-895
Objective:
To investigate the effects of interleukin ( IL) -10 on the proliferation of HaCaT cells and CaCl2 induced expression of differentiation markers and its possible molecular mechanisms.
Methods:
HaCaT cells were treated with various concentrations of IL-10 (0,3,10,30 ng / ml) for different time (0,24,48,72 h) ,cell proliferation was measured using MTS,and cell cycle was determined by flow cytometry.HaCaT cells were pretreated with IL-10 (final concentration 10 ng / ml) for 1 h,then incubated with or without CaCl2 (final concentration 1. 2 mmol / L) for 24,48,72 h ,Western blot was performed to detect the effect of IL-10 on the expression of HaCaT keratinocyte differentiation markers.After pretreatment of HaCaT cells with PD98059,an inhibitor of mitogen-activated kinase-ERK1 /2,and LY294002,an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol kinase-serine / threonine kinase (PI3K-AKT) ,the total RNA and proteins were extracted separately,real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot were used to examine the influence of IL-10 on the expression of differentiation markers (Keratin1,Keratin5,Involucrin) .
Results :
MTS results revealed that IL-10 (30 ng / ml and lower doses) did not alter the proliferation of HaCaT cells in 72 h.Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that IL-10 had no significant influence on cell cycle progression.The results of Western blot showed that IL-10 upregulated the expression of differentiation markers Involucrin,while there was no significant effect on Keratin1 and Keratin5 .Mechanism research analysis demonstrated that IL-10 could activate ERK1 /2 and AKT ,increase their phosphorylation levels ; RT-qPCR and Western blot results showed that PD98059 and LY294002 partially blocked IL-10 induced Involucrin expression.
Conclusion
At a particular concentration range,IL-10 has little effect on HaCaT proliferation ,but it partially upregulates the expression of differentiation marker Involucrin via the MAPKs-ERK1 /2 and PI3K-AKT pathways.
8.Efficacy of Tuina plus Ba Duan Jin for primary dysmenorrhea due to cold-induced blood stasis
Jiali FU ; Xinxin TAN ; Yao LI ; Renzhen ZHANG ; Shengquan LONG ; Xi DING ; Jiaxin ZHANG ; Qiyu WEN ; Zhongzheng LI ; Jue HONG
Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science 2023;21(6):470-475
Objective:To observe the effect of Ba Duan Jin(Eight-brocade Exercise)plus Tuina(Chinese therapeutic massage)in treating primary dysmenorrhea due to cold-induced blood stasis in female college students and on the score of fatigue scale-14(FS-14). Methods:Seventy-two female college students with primary dysmenorrhea due to cold-induced blood stasis were randomized into a Tuina group and a joint group,with 36 cases in each group.The Tuina group only received Tuina manipulations.In the joint group,besides the same Tuina manipulations,patients practiced Ba Duan Jin.For both groups,the once-daily intervention was conducted from 6 d before the menstrual period until menstrual day 1 for 3 menstrual cycles.Changes in the scores of COX menstrual symptom scale(CMSS),visual analog scale(VAS),and FS-14 after the intervention were observed.Clinical efficacy was also estimated. Results:During the process,1 case dropped out in the Tuina group,and 35 cases completed the intervention;2 cases dropped out in the joint group,and 34 cases completed the intervention.The total effective rate was 94.1%in the joint group,higher than 88.6%in the Tuina group(P<0.05).After treatment,the symptom duration and intensity scores in the scores of CMSS,VAS,and FS-14 declined in both groups(P<0.05 or P<0.01);the CMSS symptom duration score and FS-14 score were lower in the joint group than in the Tuina group(P<0.05). Conclusion:Tuina manipulations alone or combined with Ba Duan Jin practice can effectively treat primary dysmenorrhea due to cold-induced blood stasis in female college students;when combined with Ba Duan Jin practice,Tuina manipulations can more significantly improve pain duration and fatigue,suggesting the advantages of combining Tuina Gongfa and manipulations.
9.Effects of lanosterol synthase inhibitor on differentiation and apoptosis of KCs
Li Liu ; Yanan Gu ; Mingcong Li ; Yixuan Huang ; Shengquan Zhang
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2022;57(2):173-177
Objective :
To investigate the effects of RO or incubation with cholesterol ( CH) on the differentiation and apoptosis of KCs.
Methods :
Ca2 + ( 1. 8 mmol/L) was added to KCs for 1 day after co - culture of RO alone or combined with CH in KCs for different time. The expression of Involucrin (INV) and Loricrin in KCs was analyzed by Western blot. After co⁃culture of RO alone or combination with CH in KCs for different time , the apoptotic changes of KCs cells were detected by flow cytometry and the expression of apoptotic proteins Bax and Bcl⁃2 were verified by Western blot.
Results :
RO down⁃regulated the expression of Ca2 + induced differentiation marker protein INV , but weakly inhibited the expression of Loricrin , while CH showed no antagonistic effect on RO. RO induced
apoptosis of KCs cells in a time dependent manner. CH could antagonize the apoptotic effect of RO on KCs ; the expression of Bcl⁃2 and Bax was inhibited when RO was applied alone , CH could partially antagonize the inhibition effect of RO on Bcl⁃2 expression , but had no significant effect on Bax; however, RO reduced the ratio of Bcl⁃2/Bax in a time⁃dependent manner, and CH partially weakened the effect of RO on the ratio of Bcl⁃2/Bax.
Conclusion
RO may inhibit KCs differentiation and induce KCs cell apoptosis by down⁃regulating the expression of Loricrin and Bcl⁃2.
10.Whole-brain transcriptome analysis of wool sterol synthase heterozygous knockout mice
Yanling Li ; Yuhao Li ; Xiaomei Sun ; Jun Zhang ; Sumei Zhang ; Shengquan Zhang
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2022;57(9):1389-1393
Objective :
To investigate the molecular changes of lanosterol synthase(LSS) gene dysfunction and cholesterol levels that may affect brain function.
Methods:
The differentially expressed genes in LSS knockout(+/-) mice and WT C57 BL/6 mice were analyzed by RNA-SEQ,and the signal pathways involved in the differentially expressed genes were analyzed by KEGG enrichment. The differential genes were detected by real-time quantitative PCR and the protein expression of differential genes was detected by Western blot.
Results:
By RNA-SEQ analysis, LSS(+/-) heterozygous knockout resulted in the difference of 320 genes in the mouse brain, including 145 up-regulated genes and 175 down-regulated genes.KEGG enrichment analysis showed that these differentially expressed genes involved in neural-activated receptor and ligand pathways, hippocampal signaling pathways and glutamate synaptic pathways.Real-time quantitative PCR showed that CCKBR and Htr5 b were up-regulated, respectively. Western blot results showed that CCKBR gene was highly expressed in the total protein of all brain tissues of LSS knockout(+/-) mice.
Conclusion
LSS heterozygotic knockout may affect brain function and animal behavior.


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