1.KDM5A/cGAS-STING–mediated microglial activation contributes to prenatal fine particulate matter induced cerebral cortical injury in offspring mice
Wenke NIE ; Li ZHOU ; Siqi WANG ; Chao SONG ; Hang YU ; Wanwei LI ; Mengxiao LUAN ; Lu SUN ; Li YU
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2026;43(3):270-277
Background Prenatal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is closely associated with cortical damage and neuroinflammation in offspring. The cyclic guanosine monophosphate–adenosine monophosphate synthase (cGAS)–stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway is a key regulator of inflammation and may be subject to epigenetic regulation. Objective To investigate the role of cGAS-STING pathway activation in PM2.5-induced cortical damage in offspring mice during pregnancy and the underlying epigenetic regulatory mechanisms. Methods Open field tests were used to assess depressive-like behavior in offspring mice. Morphological analysis was conducted to evaluate cortical damage and microglial activation in offspring brains. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blot (WB) were performed to detect changes in the expression of key molecules in the cGAS-STING pathway in cortical tissue. A PM2.5-induced microglial cell injury model was established in BV2 cells. Microglial activation was observed, cell viability was measured using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), and the expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and key molecules in the cGAS-STING pathway were detected by RT-qPCR and WB. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to explore the epigenetic regulatory association between the STING signaling pathway and lysine-specific demethylase 5A (KDM5A). Changes in KDM5A mRNA and protein expression, as well as the protein level of histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3), were detected in an in vitro PM2.5 injury model. Using small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology, the KDM5A gene was silenced in BV2 cells exposed to PM2.5. The protein expression of H3K4me3 was detected to evaluate improvements in microglial activation, changes in inflammatory markers such as iNOS and mannose receptor (CD206), and alterations in the cGAS-STING pathway. Results Compared with the control group, the total distance of offspring mice in the PM2.5 group was significantly reduced, and both the distance traveled and the time spent in the central area of the open field were significantly decreased (P<0.01, P<0.001), indicating depressive-like behavior in the offspring mice. Compared with the control group, the offspring mice in the PM2.5 group exhibited disorganized cortical structure and significantly activated microglia (P<0.01), with significantly increased mRNA and protein levels of cGAS and STING (P<0.05, P<0.01, or P<0.001). The in vitro experiments demonstrated that the PM2.5 treatment induced BV2 cells to polarize toward the M1 phenotype, exhibiting a distinct amoeboid morphology, with upregulated expression of the pro-inflammatory factor iNOS (P<0.05, P<0.01, or P<0.001) and activation of the cGAS-STING pathway (P<0.05, P<0.01). The analysis of RNA-seq data from KDM5A knockout cells revealed significantly downregulated STING expression, suggesting that KDM5A may activate the STING signaling pathway. The in vitro experiments further confirmed that the PM2.5-treated BV2 cells exhibited significantly elevated mRNA and protein levels of KDM5A (P<0.01), while the H3K4me3 protein levels were markedly reduced (P<0.05). After silencing KDM5A in BV2 cells exposed to PM2.5, compared with the PM2.5+siNC group, the PM2.5+siKDM5A group showed no obvious microglial activation and polarized toward the M2 phenotype, with significantly decreased expression levels of iNOS, cluster of differentiation 16 (CD16), and interleukin-1β (P<0.05, P<0.01), and significantly increased expression levels of anti-inflammatory factors CD206, YM1, and interleukin-10 (P<0.01, P<0.001). Meanwhile, the expression levels of cGAS and STING were also reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion KDM5A activates microglia through the cGAS-STING pathway, thereby contributing to PM2.5-induced cortical damage in offspring mice during pregnancy.
2.Application Analysis of Animal Models of Diarrhea-predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome Based on Data Mining
Fangli LUO ; Luqiang SUN ; Yujun HOU ; Siqi WANG ; Ying LI ; Siyuan ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(2):219-226
ObjectiveBased on literature data mining, this study explores the modeling elements of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) animal models in China and abroad, providing references and suggestions for improving modeling methods and evaluation indicators. MethodsRelevant literature on IBS-D animal experiments from 2014 to 2024 was retrieved through computer searches in databases such as China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data, VIP, Chinese Medical Journals Full-text Database, and PubMed. Information on experimental animal species, gender, body weight, modeling methods, modeling periods, intervention controls, modeling standards, and detection indicators was organized. Microsoft Excel 2021 software was used to establish a database and perform statistical analysis to examine the characteristics of IBS-D animal models. ResultsA total of 398 articles that met the inclusion criteria were reviewed. The IBS-D animal models were predominantly established using SD rats, Wistar rats, and C57BL/6 mice. Male animals were more commonly used, with rats typically aged 6-8 weeks and mice aged 4-6 weeks. In terms of interventions, piverium bromide was the main Western medicine, Tongxieyaofang was the primary Chinese medicine, and electroacupuncture was the primary acupuncture method. Among the modeling methods, the multi-factor combined composite modeling approach was the most common. Modeling periods were mainly concentrated between 1-14 days and 15-30 days. The success criteria for modeling were mainly evaluated based on the animal's general condition, fecal appearance, visceral sensitivity, gastrointestinal motility, behavior, and pathology. Detection indicators included apparent indexes, pathological markers, biochemical indicators, oxidative stress, brain-gut peptides, neurotransmitters, inflammatory factors, immune function, intestinal permeability, autophagy, apoptosis, proteins related to relevant signaling pathways, intestinal microbiota and its metabolites, etc. ConclusionThere are various methods for establishing IBS-D animal models, but no unified and universally accepted method has been established. The operation of the same modeling methods and the evaluation standards of the models vary across studies. Based on the results of data mining, the authors suggest that the multi-factor combined composite modeling approach most closely reflects the pathophysiological processes of IBS-D, better simulating the complex clinical symptoms of IBS-D patients, such as abdominal pain and diarrhea, and has a high degree of clinical relevance. This method is relatively recommended. While animal models in general align with Western medicine standards, models incorporating traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes are relatively few. Therefore, one of the future directions for research is to establish IBS-D animal models that meet the combined clinical disease and syndrome requirements of both Western and Chinese medicine.
3.Salidroside alleviates PM2.5-induced pulmonary fibrosis through PINK1/Parkin
Ruixi ZHOU ; Wenbo WU ; Limin ZHANG ; Meina WU ; Chen LIU ; Siqi LI ; Xiaohong LI ; Mengxiao LUAN ; Qin WANG ; Li YU ; Yumei LIU ; Wanwei LI
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(10):1240-1246
Background Existing studies have confirmed that fine particulate matter (PM2.5)is one of the important factors inducing pulmonary fibrosis. Pulmonary fibrosis is the terminal stage of a major category of lung diseases characterized by the destruction of tissue structure, and eventually leading lung ventilation and ventilation dysfunction. No effective pulmonary fibrosis treatment is available yet. Objective To investigate the protective effect of salidroside on pulmonary fibrosis induced by the exposure of PM2.5 and its molecular mechanism. Methods Seventy 7-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups: control group (intratracheal instillation of normal saline + saline by gavage, n=25), Sal group (intratracheal instillation of normal saline + Sal 60 mg·kg−1 by gavage, n=10), PM2.5 group (intratracheal instillation of PM2.5 5 mg·kg−1 + saline by gavage, n=10), and Sal + PM2.5 group (intratracheal instillation of PM2.5 5 mg·kg−1 +Sal 60 mg·kg−1 by gavage, n=10). The mice were administered by gavage once daily, intratracheal instillation once every 3 d, and every 3 d constituted an experimental cycle. At the end of the 26-30th cycles, 3 mice in the control group and 3 mice in the PM2.5 group were randomly sacrificed, and the lung tissues were collected for Masson staining to verify whether the pulmonary fibrosis model was successfully established. After 30 cycles, the model was successfully constructed. After 1 week of continuous observation, the mice were sacrificed, and the blood and lung tissues of the mice were collected to make lung tissue sections. Assay kits were correspondingly employed to detect oxidative stress indicators such as serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Western blotting was used to detect the expression of fibrosis-related proteins (Collagen-III, α-SMA), mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins (MFN1, Drp1), and mitophagy-related proteins (PINK1, Parkin, and LC3). Results Compared with the control group, the weight gain rate of the PM2.5 group was slowed down (P<0.05), which was alleviated by the Sal intervention (P<0.05). The lung coefficient increased after the PM2.5 exposure (P<0.05), which was alleviated by Sal intervention. Compared with the control group, the PM2.5 group showed severe alveolar structure damage, inflammatory cell infiltration, and blue collagen deposition, and significantly increased the lung injury score, collagen volume fraction (CVF), Szapiel score, and Ashcroft score (P<0.05), as well as serum oxidative stress levels (P<0.05). The protein expression levels of Collagen-III, α-SMA, Drp1, PINK1, Parkin, and LC3 II/I were increased (P<0.05), and the expression of MFN1 was decreased (P<0.05). Compared with the PM2.5 group, the Sal intervention alleviated lung injury, reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen deposition, showing decreased lung injury score, CVF, Szapiel score, and Ashcroft score (P<0.05), and decreased serum oxidative stress levels (P<0.05); the protein expression levels of Collagen-III, α-SMA, PINK1, Parkin, and LC3 II/I were decreased (P<0.05), the expression level of Drp1 was decreased, and the expression level of MFN1 was increased. Conclusion In the process of pulmonary fibrosis induced by PM2.5 exposure in mice, Sal may affect mitochondrial autophagy through PINK1/Parkin pathway and play a protective role. The specific mechanism needs to be further verified.
4.Biomechanical characteristics of lower limbs after discoid lateral meniscus injury surgery.
Zirui ZHOU ; Siqi WANG ; Xiaojing TIAN ; Bingbing XU ; Mingming LEI ; Jianquan WANG
Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery 2025;39(7):891-895
OBJECTIVE:
To review the research progress on the lower limb biomechanical characteristics of patients with discoid lateral meniscus (DLM) injury after surgery.
METHODS:
By searching relevant domestic and international research literature on DLM, the postoperative characteristics of knee joint movement biomechanics, tibiofemoral joint stress distribution, lower extremity force line, and patellofemoral joint changes in patients with DLM injury were summarized.
RESULTS:
Surgical treatment can lead to varying degrees of changes in the lower limb biomechanical characteristics of patients with DLM injury. Specifically, the kinematic biomechanics of the knee joint can significantly improve, but there are still problems such as extension deficits in the affected knee joint. The peak stress of the tibiofemoral joint decreases with the increase of the residual meniscus volume, and the degree of change is closely related to the residual meniscus volume. Preserving a larger volume of the meniscus, especially the anterior horn volume, helps to reduce stress concentration. The lower extremity force line will deviate outward after surgery, and the more meniscus is removed during surgery, the greater the change in the lower extremity force line after surgery. There are conditions such as cartilage degeneration, position and angle changes in the patellofemoral joint after surgery.
CONCLUSION
The changes in the lower limb biomechanical characteristics after DLM injury are closely related to the choice of surgical methods and rehabilitation programs. However, the mechanisms of biomechanical changes in multiple lower limb joints and individual differences still need to be further studied and clarified.
Humans
;
Biomechanical Phenomena
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Tibial Meniscus Injuries/physiopathology*
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Menisci, Tibial/physiopathology*
;
Knee Joint/surgery*
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Lower Extremity/physiopathology*
;
Patellofemoral Joint/physiopathology*
;
Range of Motion, Articular
;
Knee Injuries/physiopathology*
5.Crosstalk between Tumor Cells and Neural Signals in Neuroendocrine Carcinoma Metastasis: Communication Hijacking Based Perspective.
Shuping SONG ; Xinyi WANG ; Siqi ZHOU ; Xuchen CHENG ; Weixuan LIN ; Yongxuan WANG ; Yanqin SUN
Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer 2025;28(2):138-145
Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) represents a category of malignant tumors originating from neuroendocrine cells. Given that NEC cells exhibit characteristics of both neural and endocrine cells, they can hijack neuronal signaling pathways and dynamically regulate the expression of neuronal lineage markers during tumor metastasis, thereby constructing a microenvironment conducive to tumor growth and metastasis. Conversely, alterations in the tumor microenvironment can enhance the interactions between neurons and tumor cells, ultimately synergistically promoting the metastasis of NEC. This review highlights recent advancements in the field of cancer neuroscience, uncovering neuronal lineage markers in NEC that facilitate tumor dissemination through mediating crosstalk, bidirectional communication, and synergistic interactions between tumor cells and the nervous system. Consequently, the latest findings in tumor neuroscience have enriched our understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying tumor metastasis, opening new research avenues for a deeper comprehension of the complex biological processes involved in tumor metastasis, particularly brain metastasis. This review provides a comprehensive review of the crosstalk between tumor cells and neural signaling in the metastasis of NEC.
.
Humans
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Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/metabolism*
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Signal Transduction
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Animals
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Neoplasm Metastasis
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Neurons/pathology*
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Tumor Microenvironment
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Cell Communication
6.mRNA display-enabled discovery of proximity-triggered covalent peptide-drug conjugates.
Ruixuan WANG ; Siqi RAN ; Jiabei GUO ; Da HU ; Xiang FENG ; Jixia ZHOU ; Zhanzhi ZHANG ; Futian LIANG ; Jiamin SHANG ; Lingxin BU ; Kaiyi WANG ; Junyi MAO ; Huixin LUO ; Rui WANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(10):5474-5485
Peptide-drug conjugates (PDCs) have emerged as a promising modality in precision oncology, enabling targeted delivery of cytotoxic payloads while minimizing off-target toxicity. The integration of covalent warheads, such as those based on sulfur(VI) fluoride exchange (SuFEx) chemistry, enhances drug-target residence time and tumor accumulation. However, existing screening methods for covalent peptide (CP) libraries require post-translational warhead conjugation, limiting throughput. Here, we present an integrated mRNA display platform that incorporates covalent warheads during ribosomal synthesis, enabling efficient screening of ultra-diverse covalent macrocyclic peptide libraries (>1013 variants). This approach, using site-specific incorporation of N-chloroacetyl-d-phenylalanine and fluorosulfate-l-tyrosine, accelerated the discovery of irreversibly binding (K i = 3.58 μmol/L) Nectin-4-targeting peptide CP-N1-N3 via proximity-triggered SuFEx. The peptide was further conjugated to cytotoxic payloads, yielding the covalent PDC CP-N1-MMAE with potent cytotoxicity (IC50 ≈ 43 nmol/L) against MDA-MB-468 cells. This platform establishes a new paradigm for precision covalent drug discovery.
7.Application of Different Doses of Remifentanil Combined with Sevoflurane in Ambulatory Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy under Pain Threshold Index Monitoring
Jiaqi LIU ; Siqi GAO ; Ningli ZHANG ; Jie OUYANG ; Jun JIANG ; Yuan LI ; Fuquan LI ; Chen ZHOU
Journal of Kunming Medical University 2025;46(6):149-155
Objective To investigate the application value of different doses of remifentanil combined with sevoflurane under pain threshold index(PTi)monitoring in ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Methods 152 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia were selected from December 2023 to June 2024 at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University.Patients were randomly divided into R1 group(n=38),R2 group(n=38),R3 group(n=38),and R4 group(n=38)using a random number table.On the basis of sevoflurane at 0.7 minimum alveolar concentration(MAC),patients in R1~R4 groups were combined with 0.1,0.2,0.3,and 0.4 μg/kg·min remifentanil,respectively.The changes in PTi at different time points,pre-and post-operative blood stress indicators[cortisol(Cor),norepinephrine(NE),and blood glucose(Glu)concentrations]were compared,and the incidence of intraoperative hypertension,hypotension,tachycardia,bradycardia,and postoperative nausea and vomiting were recorded.Results Compared with R1 group,PTi in R2,R3,and R4 groups decreased from the start of surgery(T3)to 5 min after extubation(T11)(P<0.05);compared with R2 group,PTi in R3 and R4 groups was lower at T3~T11(P<0.05);no statistically significant difference was found in PTi changes between R3 and R4 groups at different time points(P>0.05).Postoperative Cor,NE,and Glu concentrations showed statistically significant differences among the four groups(P<0.001),but no significant difference was found preoperatively(P>0.05).Compared with preoperative values,Cor,NE,and Glu levels significantly increased in all groups(P<0.001),with R1 group>R2 group>R4 group>R3 group.The incidence of intraoperative hypertension,hypotension,bradycardia,and tachycardia showed statistically significant differences(P<0.001),with R4>R1>R2=R3.The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting also showed statistically significant differences(P<0.001),with R1 group>R4 group>R2 group>R3 group.Conclusion Sevoflurane at 0.7 MAC combined with 0.3 μg/kg·min remifentanil provides good analgesic effects for patients undergoing ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy,reduces stress response,and has high safety,making it worthy of clinical promotion.
8.Relationship between social anxiety and mobile phone addiction among college students: the pathway of alienation
Huiyu ZHOU ; Siqi XIONG ; Nuo HAN ; Yingshan BAO
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(6):541-547
BackgroundMobile phone addiction among college students seriously impairs their physical and psychological health and has garnered growing social concern. Although both social anxiety and alienation are closely associated with mobile phone addiction, the mediating role of alienation in the relationship between social anxiety and mobile phone addiction, as well as its various dimensions, remains insufficiently explored. ObjectiveTo investigate the influence of social anxiety on mobile phone addiction and its dimensions among college students, and to examine the mediating role of alienation, thereby providing references for the prevention and intervention in mobile phone addiction in this population. MethodsIn June 2024, a cluster random sampling method was employed to select 850 college students from two universities in Heilongjiang Province. Participants completed the Interaction Anxiousness Scale (IAS), the Mobile Phone Addiction Index (MPAI), and the Adolescent Students' Alienation Scale (ASAS). Spearman correlation analysis was conducted to examine the correlation between the scores on each scale. Mediation analysis examining the role of alienation in the relationship between social anxiety and mobile phone addiction including its dimensions were conducted using model 4 of the process macro version 3.3 in SPSS. ResultsA total of 796 valid questionnaires were recovered, yielding an effective response rate of 93.65%. The IAS total score was positively correlated with MPAI total score and all its subscale scores including loss of control, withdrawal, avoidance, and inefficiency (r=0.303, 0.207, 0.237, 0.208, 0.340, P<0.01). The ASAS total score also showed positive correlations with the MPAI score and its subscales (r=0.506, 0.394, 0.439, 0.343, 0.470, P<0.01). Additionally, the IAS total score was positively correlated with ASAS total score (r=0.461, P<0.01). Alienation played a mediating role between social anxiety and mobile phone addiction as well as its subscales, with indirect effects of 0.215 (95% CI: 0.167–0.266), 0.189 (95% CI: 0.147–0.239), 0.161 (95% CI: 0.119–0.206), 0.145 (95% CI: 0.103–0.191), and 0.194 (95% CI: 0.149–0.242), accounting for 76.51%, 82.17%, 87.98%, 74.36%, and 60.25% of the total effects, respectively. ConclusionSocial anxiety among college students not only exerts a direct effect on mobile phone addiction and its dimensions, but also indirectly influences them through the mediating role of alienation. [Funded by Youth Project of Heilongjiang Province Philosophy and Social Sciences Research Planning (number, 25SHC011); Teaching Research Project of Heilongjiang University of Science and Technology in 2025 (number, JY25-27)]
9.Clinical Study on the Treatment of Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration of Liver and Kidney Insufficiency Type with Modified Zhujing Pills
Siqi FENG ; Xin ZHOU ; Yuanzhong ZHANG ; Ning YANG ; Siqi ZHOU ; Caijian XIONG ; Qingzi JIN ; Kang TAO ; Xinrong XU
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;40(5):521-526
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical efficacy of modified Zhujing Pills in the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration(AMD)of liver and kidney insufficiency type.METHODS 64 patients with dry AMD of liver and kidney insufficiency type were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group,32 patients each.The control group was given oral treat-ment with Laishiding capsules,and the experimental group was given oral treatment with modified Zhujing Pills granules.The treatment course for both groups was 3 months.Before and after treatment,the patients in the two groups were observed for TCM syndrome scores,visual acuity,fundus autofluorescence(AF),changes in drusen area within 5 mm of the fovea,and plasma superoxide dis-mutase(SOD),glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)activity and malondialdehyde(MDA)levels.RESULTS After treatment,the scores of TCM syndromes in the experimental group were significantly reduced(P<0.05,P<0.01),and the efficacy of TCM syn-dromes was better than that of the control group(P<0.01);the visual acuity of the patients in the experimental group was significantly improved,AF was significantly weakened and the area of drusen was reduced(P<0.05,P<0.01),which were better than those in the control group(P<0.05);the plasma SOD and GSH-Px activities of the experimental group were increased,and the MDA level was significantly lowered(P<0.05,P<0.01),which were better than the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Modified Zhujing Pills can reduce fundus AF intensity,decrease macular drusen area,improve visual acuity,and reduce TCM syndrome scores in pa-tients with dry AMD.The therapeutic mechanism may be related to its antioxidant effect.
10.Study on the Mechanism of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction in Regulating Intestinal Microbiota Mediated Tryptophan Metabolism and Intervening in Parkinson's Disease
Siqi GUO ; Peng ZHOU ; Huaxu ZHU ; Qichun ZHANG
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;40(9):885-895
OBJECTIVE To analyze the effect of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction(HLJDD)on the intestinal flora and metabolites of Parkinson's disease(PD)model mice,and explore the mechanism of HLJDD in intervening in PD based on 16S rRNA technology and non-targeted metabolomics technology.METHODS The PD model of mice was induced by subcutaneous injection of MPTP 20 mg·kg-1·d-1 and peritoneal injection of probenecid 200 mg·kg-1·d-1,and the weight and behavior indexes of mice were measured after drug intervention.HPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS technique was used to detect the levels of neurotransmitters in the striatum of mice.The levels of striatal inflammatory factors were detected by ELISA.The changes of intestinal flora in mice were analyzed by 16S rRNA technology.UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS was used to detect endogenous metabolites in mouse striatum,Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA)was adopted to screen potential differential metabolites,and MetaboAnalyst 5.0 was introduced to predict metabolic pathways associated with PD.RESULTS HLJDD significantly improved the motor symptoms and neuroinflammation of PD mice(P<0.01),regulated the level of neurotransmitters,and corrected the intestinal microbiota disorder of PD mice,manifes-ted by the increase of intestinal microbial diversity and the restoration of microbiota profile.After treatment with HLJDD,the abun-dance of Prevotella and Akkermansia in PD mice was significantly increased,and the abundance of Clostridium was decreased(P<0.01).The abnormal metabolite levels were restored mainly by regulating the tryptophan metabolic pathway in the feces and striatum of PD model mice.CONCLUSION HLJDD can significantly improve the pathological damage of PD model mice,and the regulation of disordered intestinal flora and tryptophan metabolism pathway may be the potential mechanism of HLJDD to intervene in PD.

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