1.Tanyu Tongzhi Youhua Prescription Regulates cGAS/STING Signaling Pathway to Inhibit Inflammation and Ameliorate No-reflow Phenomenon in Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury
Sijia WU ; Yingying LI ; Haonan WU ; Xiang LI ; Lingfeng ZHOU ; Huamin ZHANG ; Danli TANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):99-107
ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate the protective effects of the Tanyu Tongzhi Youhua prescription(TYTZP) against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats via regulation of the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)/stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway. MethodsFifty-six 8-week-old male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into sham group, model group, ticagrelor group (32.4 mg·kg-1), RU320521 (RU.521cGAS inhibitors) group (5 mL·kg-1), groups of TYTZP with low dose (3.6 g·kg-1), medium dose (7.2 g·kg-1), and high dose (14.4 g·kg-1), with eight rats per group. The ticagrelor group and groups of TYTZP with different doses received pre-treatment for seven days according to their respective protocols. The RU.521 group received an intraperitoneal injection one hour before modeling. A rat model of the no-reflow phenomenon in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury was established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery in situ. Myocardial no-reflow area was determined by thioflavin staining. Histopathological morphology of myocardial tissue was observed via hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Cardiac function was detected by echocardiography. Myocardial microcirculation function change was observed by using real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography. The myocardial enzyme levels in the serum were measured by serum biochemical analysis. The double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) levels were detected by using PicoGreen. The protein expression of cGAS, STING, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 in myocardial tissue was detected by Western blot. The levels of cardiac troponin Ⅰ (cTNⅠ), cardiac troponin T (cTNT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the peripheral blood were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ResultsCompared with the sham group, the model group showed a significantly increased myocardial no-reflow area (P<0.01). Myocardial fiber rupture and disarray and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed by HE staining. The ultrasound results indicated that left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) (P<0.01) were significantly decreased. Real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography showed that the peak time of myocardial blood perfusion was significantly prolonged (P<0.01), and the levels of creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), cTNⅠ, cTNT, and dsDNA were significantly elevated (P<0.01). Western blot results showed that the myocardial protein expressions of cGAS, STING, and NF-κB p65 were upregulated (P<0.01). ELISA results showed that the inflammatory factors in the serum such as IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α were increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the group of the TYTZP significantly reduced the levels of myocardial enzyme, troponins, and dsDNA (P<0.01, P<0.05), improved cardiac function and myocardial microcirculation, alleviated histopathological morphology and inflammatory infiltration, inhibited activation of the cGAS/STING pathway, reduced the expression of NF-κB p65 (P<0.01, P<0.05), and inhibited inflammatory response. ConclusionThe TYTZP mitigates the no-reflow phenomenon in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, and its mechanism is associated with inhibiting the activation of the cGAS/STING pathway and attenuating inflammatory responses.
2.Tanyu Tongzhi Youhua Prescription Regulates cGAS/STING Signaling Pathway to Inhibit Inflammation and Ameliorate No-reflow Phenomenon in Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury
Sijia WU ; Yingying LI ; Haonan WU ; Xiang LI ; Lingfeng ZHOU ; Huamin ZHANG ; Danli TANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(8):99-107
ObjectiveThis paper aims to investigate the protective effects of the Tanyu Tongzhi Youhua prescription(TYTZP) against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats via regulation of the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)/stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway. MethodsFifty-six 8-week-old male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into sham group, model group, ticagrelor group (32.4 mg·kg-1), RU320521 (RU.521cGAS inhibitors) group (5 mL·kg-1), groups of TYTZP with low dose (3.6 g·kg-1), medium dose (7.2 g·kg-1), and high dose (14.4 g·kg-1), with eight rats per group. The ticagrelor group and groups of TYTZP with different doses received pre-treatment for seven days according to their respective protocols. The RU.521 group received an intraperitoneal injection one hour before modeling. A rat model of the no-reflow phenomenon in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury was established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery in situ. Myocardial no-reflow area was determined by thioflavin staining. Histopathological morphology of myocardial tissue was observed via hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Cardiac function was detected by echocardiography. Myocardial microcirculation function change was observed by using real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography. The myocardial enzyme levels in the serum were measured by serum biochemical analysis. The double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) levels were detected by using PicoGreen. The protein expression of cGAS, STING, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 in myocardial tissue was detected by Western blot. The levels of cardiac troponin Ⅰ (cTNⅠ), cardiac troponin T (cTNT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the peripheral blood were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ResultsCompared with the sham group, the model group showed a significantly increased myocardial no-reflow area (P<0.01). Myocardial fiber rupture and disarray and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed by HE staining. The ultrasound results indicated that left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) (P<0.01) were significantly decreased. Real-time myocardial contrast echocardiography showed that the peak time of myocardial blood perfusion was significantly prolonged (P<0.01), and the levels of creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), cTNⅠ, cTNT, and dsDNA were significantly elevated (P<0.01). Western blot results showed that the myocardial protein expressions of cGAS, STING, and NF-κB p65 were upregulated (P<0.01). ELISA results showed that the inflammatory factors in the serum such as IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α were increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the group of the TYTZP significantly reduced the levels of myocardial enzyme, troponins, and dsDNA (P<0.01, P<0.05), improved cardiac function and myocardial microcirculation, alleviated histopathological morphology and inflammatory infiltration, inhibited activation of the cGAS/STING pathway, reduced the expression of NF-κB p65 (P<0.01, P<0.05), and inhibited inflammatory response. ConclusionThe TYTZP mitigates the no-reflow phenomenon in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, and its mechanism is associated with inhibiting the activation of the cGAS/STING pathway and attenuating inflammatory responses.
3.Research progress on the relationship between sarcopenia and cardiovascular metabolic diseases in elderly population
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2026;37(2):141-144
Sarcopenia is a syndrome with clinical manifestations of gradual decline in muscle mass and function. It mostly occurs in the elderly population, which can lead to weight loss and muscle strength weakening, resulting in difficulties in daily activities and seriously affecting the quality of life of patients. In recent years, the relationship between sarcopenia and cardiovascular metabolic diseases has received extensive attention. Studies have shown that sarcopenia is closely related to cardiovascular metabolic diseases such as hypertension, coronary heart disease and diabetes mellitus, and interacts with each other through insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation and other mechanisms. This paper reviews the research progress on sarcopenia and cardiovascular metabolic diseases in the elderly in recent years, focusing on the relationship between sarcopenia and cardiovascular metabolic diseases, aiming to provide new ideas for clinical prevention and treatment of sarcopenia.
4.Application of Insect and Vine Medicinal Pairs in the Treatment of Postoperative Recurrence and Metastasis of Bladder Cancer:from the Perspective of Blood Collaterals Theory
Canlin WANG ; Sijia LIU ; Xin CHEN ; Jianxin LU ; Yaqiang ZHANG ; Shuqi SONG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;67(10):1120-1124
Based on the theory of blood collateral, postoperative recurrence and metastasis of bladder cancer are considered to arise primarily from the binding of stasis and toxin, which accumulate and hide within the blood collaterals. Accordingly, treatment should focus on clearing and resolving the deeply concealed stasis toxin retained in the blood collaterals. The paired use of insect and vine medicinals may exert synergistic effects by simultaneously searching out and eliminating pathogenic factors, guiding the action of herbs to the channels, and unblocking the collaterals. Drawing on clinical practice, the stasis-toxin pathogenesis of postoperative recurrence and metastasis of bladder cancer can be divided into four stages including stagnation and astringent of collateral qi, formation of fixed stasis nests, transformation of persistent stasis into toxin, and deficiency of healthy qi with lingering toxin. Accordingly, four herb pairs are proposed for each stage based on conventional treatment, which are Dilong (Pheretima)-Daxueteng (Caulis Sargentodoxae), Shuizhi (Hirudo)-Jixueteng (Caulis Spatholobi), Wugong (Scolopendra)-Luoshiteng (Caulis Trachelospermi), and Quanxie (Scorpio)-Qianjinteng (stephania). Their potential modern pharmacological mechanisms are further discussed.
5.Prediction models for the mortality risk in traumatic hemorrhage based on machine learning
Yiquan WANG ; Sijia TIAN ; Shengmei NIU ; Zhipei HUANG ; Fei QIN ; Jinjun ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Emergency Medicine 2025;34(11):1574-1578
Objective:To evaluate the predictive performance of machine learning methods for predicting the risk of death in traumatic hemorrhage, and address the low prediction accuracy of traditional trauma scores, provide a reference for developing a more robust prediction method for severe trauma patients.Methods:Clinical data of severe trauma patients from the National Trauma Medical Center between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024 were collected. ElasticNet, Recursive Feature Elimination, and Mutual Information-based feature selection methods were used to screen variables and compared with traditional hypothesis testing methods. Built the prediction models for mortality risk in traumatic hemorrhage using Logistic Regression, ElasticNet, and Support Vector Machine (SVM) and compared the predictive performance.Results:The study included 5,601 trauma patients, the results of the variable screening and importance ranking were consistent with three feature selection methods. The classification accuracy and AUC values for the three models were as follows: Overall accuracy was 83.2%, survival accuracy was 84.0%, death accuracy was 76.3%, and an AUC was 0.86 in logistic regression; Overall accuracy was 78.9%, survival accuracy was 78.5%, death accuracy was 81.7%, and an AUC was 0.88 in ElasticNet; Overall accuracy was 84.7%, survival accuracy was 86.1%, death accuracy was 72.4%, and an AUC was 0.86 in SVM. The prediction performance of three models is quite little.Conclusion:Machine learning methods can effectively improve the prediction of death risk for traumatic hemorrhage,and has wide applications.
6.Prognostic model of ferroptosis-related genes in gastric cancer and experimental validation
Zhao Zhang ; Hongjun Tian ; Keshuo Ding ; Yong Zhu ; Feng Lin ; Sijia Yang ; Wenbin Wang
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(12):2215-2226
Objective:
To identify ferroptosis-related genes associated with gastric cancer prognosis and investigate their potential molecular functions.
Methods:
Gene expression profiles and clinical information of gastric cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues were obtained from TCGA database. Differential expression analysis of ferroptosis-related genes was performed using the "DESeq2" package in R software. Key genes were identified and a prognostic model for gastric cancer was constructed through Cox regression analysis based on the LASSO algorithm. Patients were stratified into high-risk and low-risk groups according to the median risk score. The accuracy of the model was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and ROC curve analysis. Immune cell infiltration in gastric cancer patients was assessed with the "CIBERSORT" package. The mRNA expression of differentially expressed genes(DEGs) with prognostic significance was examined in both gastric cancer and adjacent normal tissue samples. In vitro experiments were conducted to validate the impact of hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 1(HCAR1) on the malignant biological behavior of gastric cancer.
Results:
Based on ferroptosis-related genes from the TCGA database, a novel prognostic model was constructed. It demonstrated robust predictive power for survival in both training and validation cohorts. RT-qPCR analysis of 8 pairs of gastric cancer and normal tissues revealed that the expression patterns of 6 prognostic DEGs in cancer tissues were consistent with those predicted by the model. In vitro experiments confirmed that downregulation of the key gene HCAR1 could inhibit the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of gastric cancer cells.
Conclusion
The ferroptosis-related gene based prognostic model exhibits robust predictive capability, allowing for accurate determination of prognosis and survival in individuals with gastric cancer.
7.Expression of SNRPA and related molecular mechanisms in gastric cancer
Sijia WANG ; Min CUI ; Bingmei LI ; Meichen TONG ; Na ZHOU ; Qian ZHANG ; Zhang CAO
Chinese Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology 2025;41(7):853-861,867
Purpose To investigate the expression of SNRPA in gastric cancer and its effect on the proliferation,migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells.Methods The expression of SNRPA in gastric cancer tissues was ana-lyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)database.The level of SNRPA was detected by immunohistochemistry(EnVision method),and its relationship with clinicopathological parameters was analyzed.Western blot was used to detect the expression of SNRPA in 15 cases of fresh gastric cancer and paracancerous tissues.The expression of SNRPA in MGC-803 and GES-1 cells was detected by immunofluorescence staining.The effects of SNRPA expression on the proliferation,migration and invasion of gastric cancer cell lines were determined by RNA interference technology and cell function assays,and the expression levels of Cyclin D1 protein and EMT-related proteins(E-cadherin,N-cadher-in)were detected by Western blot.Results The expression level of SNRPA in gastric cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in normal gastric mucosal tissues(P<0.05),with an area under the curve(AUC)of 0.902 for diag-nostic accuracy.The Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that the survival time of the group with high expression of SNRPA was shorter.SNRPA expression correlated with tumor size,Ki67,infiltration depth,and p53 status(P<0.05).Compared with the corresponding control group,SNRPA silencing inhibited the proliferation,migration and in-vasion ability of gastric cancer cells,accompanied by decreased Cyclin D1 and N-cadherin expression and increased E-cadherin expression(P<0.05).Conclusion SNRPA expression is upregulated in gastric cancer tissues and cell lines,promoting the proliferation,migration,and invasion of gastric cancer cells,and may be a potential molecular marker for gastric cancer.
8.Protein palmitoylation: A potential therapeutic target in cardiovascular diseases.
Sijia ZHAO ; Yanyan YANG ; Hong LI ; Pin SUN ; Xiangqin HE ; Chao WANG ; Jingjing ZHANG ; Yu TIAN ; Tao YU ; Zhirong JIANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(10):5127-5144
Palmitoylation, an essential covalent attachment of a fatty acid (usually C16 palmitate) to cysteine residues within proteins, is crucial for regulating protein functionality and enzymatic activities. This lipid modification facilitates the anchoring of proteins to cellular membranes, dictating their subcellular distribution and influencing protein transport dynamics and intracellular positioning. Additionally, it plays a role in regulating protein degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Palmitoylation is implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of cardiovascular diseases by modulating substrates and prompting additional post-translational modifications, as well as by interacting with other molecular alterations. Moreover, an intervention strategy focusing on palmitoylation processes is anticipated to offer novel therapeutic avenues for cardiovascular pathologies and address extant challenges in clinical settings. This review consolidates current research on the role and importance of palmitoylation in cardiovascular diseases by exploring its regulatory functions, the catalyzing enzymes, and the involved substrates. It highlights recent discoveries connecting palmitoylation-targeted therapies to cardiovascular health and examines potential approaches and future challenges in cardiovascular treatment.
9.High glucose induces hippocampal neuron impairment through the SKP1/COX7C pathway: A potential mechanism for perimenopausal depression.
Ziqi WANG ; Zhiyuan LIU ; Sijia FENG ; Xintong SONG ; Dequan LIU ; Ning MA ; Xinyue ZHANG ; Weiwei LIU ; Dan Ohtan WANG ; Xiaoling LIU ; Takashi IKEJIMA
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(11):5832-5853
Perimenopause raises the risk and incidence of depression, whereas the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Disturbed glucose regulation has been widely documented in depressive disorders, which renders the brain susceptible to various stresses such as estrogen depletion. However, whether and how glucose dysfunction regulates depression-like behaviors and neuronal damage in perimenopausal transition remains unexplored. Here, a prominent depressive phenotype was found in perimenopausal mice induced by the ovarian toxin 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD). The VCD depression susceptible group (VCDSS) and the VCD depression resilient group (VCDRES) were determined using a ROC-based behavioral screening approach. We found that the hippocampus, a crucial region linked to depression, had hyperglycemia and mitochondrial abnormalities. Interestingly, oral administration of the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin (EMPA) and intrahippocampal glucose infusion suggest a close relationship between hyperglycemia in the hippocampus and the susceptibility to depression. We verified that cytochrome c oxidase 7c (COX7C) downregulation is a potential cause of the high glucose-induced neuronal injury using proteomic screening and biochemical validations. High glucose causes COX7C to be ubiquitinated in a S-phase kinase associated protein 1 (SKP1)-dependent manner. According to these results, SKP1/COX7C represents a unique therapeutic target and a novel molecular route for treating perimenopausal depression.
10.Metabolome and transcriptome association study reveals biosynthesis of specialized benzylisoquinoline alkaloids in Phellodendron amurense.
Tingxia LIU ; Wanran ZHANG ; Sijia WANG ; Ya TIAN ; Yifan WANG ; Ranran GAO ; Shilin CHEN ; Wei SUN ; Wei MA ; Zhichao XU
Chinese Herbal Medicines 2025;17(1):178-188
OBJECTIVE:
Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) have pharmacological functions and clinical use. BIAs are mainly distributed in plant species across the order Ranunculales and the genus Phellodendron from Sapindales. The BIA biosynthesis has been intensively investigated in Ranunculales species. However, the accumulation mechanism of BIAs in Phellodendron is largely unknown. The aim of this study is to unravel the biosynthetic pathways of BIAs in Phellodendron amurens.
METHODS:
The transcriptome and metabolome data from 18 different tissues of P. amurense were meticulously sequenced and subsequently subjected to a thorough analysis. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), a powerful systems biology approach that facilitates the construction and subsequent analysis of co-expression networks, was utilized to identify candidate genes involved in BIAs biosynthesis. Following this, recombinant plasmids containing candidate genes were expressed in Escherichia coli, a widely used prokaryotic expression system. The purpose of this genetic engineering endeavor was to express the candidate genes within the bacteria, thereby enabling the assessment of the resultant enzyme activity.
RESULTS:
The synonymous substitutions per synonymous site for paralogs indicated that at least one whole genome duplication event has occurred. The potential BIA biosynthetic pathway of P. amurense was proposed, and two PR10/Bet v1 members, 14 CYP450s, and 33 methyltransferases were selected as related to BIA biosynthesis. One PR10/Bet v1 was identified as norcoclaurine synthase, which could catalyze dopamine and 4-hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde into (S)-norcoclaurine.
CONCLUSION
Our studies provide important insights into the biosynthesis and evolution of BIAs in non-Ranunculales species.


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