1.Mechanism of isorhamnetin in alleviating acute lung injury by regulating pyroptosis medicated by NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1 axis.
Ya-Lei SUN ; Yu GUO ; Xin-Yu WANG ; Ya-Su ZHANG ; Xue CHENG ; Ke ZHU ; Li-Dian CHEN ; Xiao-Dong FENG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(15):4120-4128
This study aims to explore the intervention effects of isorhamnetin(Isor) on acute lung injury(ALI) and its regulatory effects on pyroptosis mediated by the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3(NLRP3)/apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD(ASC)/cysteine aspartate-specific protease-1(caspase-1) axis. In the in vivo experiments, 60 BALB/c mice were divided into five groups. Except for the control group, the other groups were administered Isor by gavage 1 hour before intratracheal instillation of LPS to induce ALI, and tissues were collected after 12 hours. In the in vitro experiments, RAW264.7 cells were divided into five groups. Except for the control group, the other groups were pretreated with Isor for 2 hours before LPS stimulation and subsequent assessments. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe pathological changes in lung tissue, while lung swelling, protein levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF), and myeloperoxidase(MPO) levels in lung tissue were measured. Cell proliferation toxicity and viability were assessed using the cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) method. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β), IL-6, IL-18, and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α). Protein levels of NLRP3, ASC, cleaved caspase-1, and the N-terminal fragment of gasdermin D(GSDMD-N) were evaluated using immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and Western blot. The results showed that in the in vivo experiments, Isor significantly improved pathological damage in lung tissue, reduced lung swelling, protein levels in BALF, MPO levels in lung tissue, and levels of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α, and inhibited the high expression of the NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1 axis and the pyroptosis core gene GSDMD-N. In the in vitro experiments, the safe dose of Isor was determined through cell proliferation toxicity assays. Isor reduced cell death and inhibited the expression levels of the NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1 axis, GSDMD-N, and inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, Isor may alleviate ALI by modulating pyroptosis mediated by the NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1 axis.
Animals
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Pyroptosis/drug effects*
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NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/genetics*
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Acute Lung Injury/physiopathology*
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Quercetin/pharmacology*
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Caspase 1/genetics*
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CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins/genetics*
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Male
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RAW 264.7 Cells
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Humans
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Lung/metabolism*
2.Dorsal CA1 NECTIN3 Reduction Mediates Early-Life Stress-Induced Object Recognition Memory Deficits in Adolescent Female Mice.
Yu-Nu MA ; Chen-Chen ZHANG ; Ya-Xin SUN ; Xiao LIU ; Xue-Xin LI ; Han WANG ; Ting WANG ; Xiao-Dong WANG ; Yun-Ai SU ; Ji-Tao LI ; Tian-Mei SI
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(2):243-260
Early-life stress (ES) leads to cognitive dysfunction in female adolescents, but the underlying neural mechanisms remain elusive. Recent evidence suggests that the cell adhesion molecules NECTIN1 and NECTIN3 play a role in cognition and ES-related cognitive deficits in male rodents. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether and how nectins contribute to ES-induced cognitive dysfunction in female adolescents. Applying the well-established limited bedding and nesting material paradigm, we found that ES impairs recognition memory, suppresses prefrontal NECTIN1 and hippocampal NECTIN3 expression, and upregulates corticotropin-releasing hormone (Crh) and its receptor 1 (Crhr1) mRNA levels in the hippocampus of adolescent female mice. Genetic experiments revealed that the reduction of dorsal CA1 (dCA1) NECTIN3 mediates ES-induced object recognition memory deficits, as knocking down dCA1 NECTIN3 impaired animals' performance in the novel object recognition task, while overexpression of dCA1 NECTIN3 successfully reversed the ES-induced deficits. Notably, prefrontal NECTIN1 knockdown did not result in significant cognitive impairments. Furthermore, acute systemic administration of antalarmin, a CRHR1 antagonist, upregulated hippocampal NECTIN3 levels and rescued object and spatial memory deficits in stressed mice. Our findings underscore the critical role of dCA1 NECTIN3 in mediating ES-induced object recognition memory deficits in adolescent female mice, highlighting it as a potential therapeutic target for stress-related psychiatric disorders in women.
Animals
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Female
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Mice
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CA1 Region, Hippocampal/metabolism*
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Cell Adhesion Molecules/metabolism*
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CRF Receptor, Type 1/metabolism*
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Memory Disorders/etiology*
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Nectins/genetics*
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Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone/antagonists & inhibitors*
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Recognition, Psychology/physiology*
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Stress, Psychological/complications*
3.Spatial epidemiological characteristics of Toxoplasma gondii in dogs in China from 1987 to 2023
Ya-jing SU ; Xue LIN ; Xiao-yan LIANG ; Chen ZHANG ; Di XUE
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(2):121-128
Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular protozoan pathogen with a global distribution,and dogs are considered a potential risk factor for human toxoplasmosis.This study was aimed at systematically analyzing the epidemiological characteris-tics of canine T.gondii infection in China from 1987 to 2023,to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of T.gondii in the country.Epidemiological data on canine T.gondii infections in China from 1987 to 2023 were retrieved from PubMed,China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),Wanfang Database,and Baidu Scholar.A database was established with Excel,and the data were visualized with ArcGIS 10.2 software.Statistical analysis was performed in SPSS 26.0 software,and group differences were analyzed with the X2 test.A P-value of<0.05 was considered statistically significant.From 1987 to 2023,the overall seroprevalence of T.gondii antibodies in dogs in China remained stable,and the overall sero-prevalence rate was 13.97%.Yunnan Province had the highest seroprevalence,at 27.65%,whereas Shaanxi Province had the lowest seroprevalence,at 0.56%.Significant differences were observed among provinces(P<0.05).Epidemiological data on canine T.gondii infections were not available for some regions.The seroprevalence in southwestern China was significantly higher than that in other regions(P<0.05).A comparison of the seroprevalence between 1987-2004 and 2005-2023 revealed significant differences(P<0.05).Canine T.gondii infection is widespread in China and shows a stable epidemic cycle.Appro-priate prevention and control measures should be implemented,along with strengthened surveillance of T.gondii outbreaks.Public education on the prevention and control of toxoplasmosis should be enhanced to decrease transmission risk and safeguard public health.
4.Structural and Spatial Analysis of The Recognition Relationship Between Influenza A Virus Neuraminidase Antigenic Epitopes and Antibodies
Zheng ZHU ; Zheng-Shan CHEN ; Guan-Ying ZHANG ; Ting FANG ; Pu FAN ; Lei BI ; Yue CUI ; Ze-Ya LI ; Chun-Yi SU ; Xiang-Yang CHI ; Chang-Ming YU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(4):957-969
ObjectiveThis study leverages structural data from antigen-antibody complexes of the influenza A virus neuraminidase (NA) protein to investigate the spatial recognition relationship between the antigenic epitopes and antibody paratopes. MethodsStructural data on NA protein antigen-antibody complexes were comprehensively collected from the SAbDab database, and processed to obtain the amino acid sequences and spatial distribution information on antigenic epitopes and corresponding antibody paratopes. Statistical analysis was conducted on the antibody sequences, frequency of use of genes, amino acid preferences, and the lengths of complementarity determining regions (CDR). Epitope hotspots for antibody binding were analyzed, and the spatial structural similarity of antibody paratopes was calculated and subjected to clustering, which allowed for a comprehensively exploration of the spatial recognition relationship between antigenic epitopes and antibodies. The specificity of antibodies targeting different antigenic epitope clusters was further validated through bio-layer interferometry (BLI) experiments. ResultsThe collected data revealed that the antigen-antibody complex structure data of influenza A virus NA protein in SAbDab database were mainly from H3N2, H7N9 and H1N1 subtypes. The hotspot regions of antigen epitopes were primarily located around the catalytic active site. The antibodies used for structural analysis were primarily derived from human and murine sources. Among murine antibodies, the most frequently used V-J gene combination was IGHV1-12*01/IGHJ2*01, while for human antibodies, the most common combination was IGHV1-69*01/IGHJ6*01. There were significant differences in the lengths and usage preferences of heavy chain CDR amino acids between antibodies that bind within the catalytic active site and those that bind to regions outside the catalytic active site. The results revealed that structurally similar antibodies could recognize the same epitopes, indicating a specific spatial recognition between antibody and antigen epitopes. Structural overlap in the binding regions was observed for antibodies with similar paratope structures, and the competitive binding of these antibodies to the epitope was confirmed through BLI experiments. ConclusionThe antigen epitopes of NA protein mainly ditributed around the catalytic active site and its surrounding loops. Spatial complementarity and electrostatic interactions play crucial roles in the recognition and binding of antibodies to antigenic epitopes in the catalytic region. There existed a spatial recognition relationship between antigens and antibodies that was independent of the uniqueness of antibody sequences, which means that antibodies with different sequences could potentially form similar local spatial structures and recognize the same epitopes.
5.Thoughts and Practices on the Development of Forensic Medicine Discipline in the Perspective of Building a Regional High-Level Medical University
Guang CHEN ; Rong-Shuai WANG ; Li SU ; Yue ZHANG ; Xue-Xia LIU ; Shi-Yong FANG ; Zhan-Zhan LIU ; Ya-Jun XU ; Xiang XU
Journal of Forensic Medicine 2025;41(1):35-39
Under the background of forensic medicine becoming a first-level discipline,the opportuni-ties and challenges of discipline development coexist.Starting from the actual situation and characteris-tics of local medical colleges and universities,this paper discusses the problems and solutions for the development of forensic medicine discipline from the perspective of building a regional high-level medical university.Combined with the experiences of carrying out forensic medicine education in our college,this paper supplies our thoughts and practices on improving the discipline system,enhancing the ability to serve society,perfecting the talent cultivation model and promoting forensic culture,to provide reference and inspiration for the development of forensic medicine in other universities,jointly promote the advancement of forensic medicine in China to a new stage,and contribute the wisdom and strength of forensic medical experts to the construction of a law-based China,a safe China and a healthy China.
6.Nodal Marginal Zone B-Cell Lymphoma of a Single Lymph Node in the Adult Neck:Report of One Case.
Pan-Pan LI ; Ya-Ping LUO ; Xiao-Hua SHI ; Yu CHEN ; Feng-Dan WANG ; Tong SU ; Zhu-Hua ZHANG ; Feng FENG ; Zheng-Yu JIN
Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae 2025;47(4):651-659
Nodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma(NMZL),the least common subtype of marginal zone lymphoma,represents a low-grade malignancy arising from the marginal zone of lymph node follicles,composed of small B-cells with an inert non-Hodgkin lymphoma nature.It accounts for 1.5% to 1.8% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas and 10% of all marginal zone lymphomas.The low incidence and lack of typical clinical and pathological features pose a challenge to the diagnosis and clinical management of NMZL.In this article,we reported the diagnosis and treatment of a case of NMZL located in the parapharyngeal space of the left neck and reviewed the relevant literature from both domestic and international sources.We summarized the clinical manifestations,histopathological features,immunohistochemical characteristics,imaging features,diagnosis and treatment modalities,and prognosis of NMZL.
Humans
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Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone/pathology*
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Lymph Nodes/pathology*
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Neck/pathology*
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Male
7.DDAH1/ADMA promotes high glucose-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in vascular endothelial cells
Su-ya CHEN ; Hui-li CHEN ; Jin-hong PENG ; Nian-sheng LI ; Jun-lin JIANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(2):258-267
Aim To investigate the effects of dimethyl-arginine dimethylamino hydrolase 1(DDAH1)on high glucose-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and mitoph-agy in vascular endothelial cells.Methods JC-1 stai-ning was used to detect mitochondrial membrane poten-tial.DCFH-DA fluorescent probe was employed to measure reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels.Ho-echst staining was used to assess cell apoptosis.Real-time PCR was conducted to detect DDAH1 mRNA lev-els.Western blot was performed to analyze the expres-sion of DDAH1,LC3-Ⅰ and LC3-Ⅱ proteins.Mitochon-drial probe Mitotracker and autophagosome marker pro-tein LC3 were used in cell immunofluorescence co-lo-calization to assess mitochondrial autophagy,and high-performance liquid chromatography was utilized to measure the levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine(ADMA)in cell supernatant.Results High glucose treatment for 48 h significantly reduced mitochondrial membrane potential,increased ROS production,and promoted apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs).High glucose downregulated the ex-pression of LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ proteins,reduced the co-lo-calization of Mitotracker and LC3,and inhibited mito-chondrial autophagy.Autophagy inhibitors 3-MA or CQ exacerbated high glucose-induced mitochondrial dam-age and apoptosis in HUVECs,while autophagy activa-tor RAPA alleviated these effects.High glucose signifi-cantly downregulated DDAH1 protein expression in HUVECs and increased ADMA levels in cell superna-tant.DDAH1 siRNA inhibited mitochondrial autoph-agy,reduced mitochondrial membrane potential,and promoted apoptosis,whereas DDAH1 overexpression enhanced mitochondrial autophagy and alleviated high glucose-induced apoptosis in HUVECs.Conclusion High glucose-induced endothelial mitochondrial dys-function is associated with the suppression of DDAH1 expression,the increase of ADMA levels,and thereduc-tion of mitochondrial autophagy.
8.PM2.5 exposures exacerbate bleomycin-induced idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in mice by regulating ferroptosis via Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 axis
Jin-beng DING ; De-qi KONG ; Hui-min HUANG ; Yu GU ; Yue-bing CHEN ; Rui-li ZHAO ; Su-xiao LIU ; Xue-fang LIU ; Ya LI
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(2):333-339
Aim To explore the mechanisms of PM2.5 exposure exacerbating bleomycin(BLM)-induced idio-pathic pulmonary fibrosis(IFP)by regulating ferropto-sis via nuclear factor 2 related factor 2(Nrf2)/solute carrier family 7 member 11(SLC7A11)/glutathione peroxidase(GPX)4 axis.Methods Forty C57BL/6J mice were randomized into the control,BLM,PM2.5,BLM+PM2.5 and sulforaphane(SFN,Nrf2 agonist)groups,with eight mice in each group.PM2.5 expo-sures were conducted to the BLM-induced IPF mice for two weeks.The lung function was measured,and the content of hydroxyproline(HYP)in lung tissue and the pathomorphology of lungs were observed.Reactive oxygen species(ROS),malondialdehyde(MDA),ferrous ion(Fe2+)and glutathione(GSH)of the lung tissue were measured by ELISA.The mRNA and pro-teins levels of Nrf2,SLC7A11,GPX4,collagen typeⅠ(COL-1),α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)were measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR)and Western blot.Results Compared with the control group,the lung function of mice was signif-icantly reduced(P<0.01)in the BLM and PM2.5 groups,while lung tissue showed the characteristic pathological changes of pulmonary fibrosis such as a large number of inflammatory cell infiltration,alveolar wall fracture,thickening,collagen deposition,and sig-nificantly increased HYP,Fe2+,ROS,MDA(P<0.05,P<0.01),genes and proteins of COL-1,α-SMA(P<0.01);and decreased GSH,Nrf2,SLC7A11,GPX4 genes and proteins(P<0.05,P<0.01).The above-mentioned lesions were markedly aggravated in the BLM+PM2.5 group compared with the BLM(P<0.05)and PM2.5 groups(P<0.01),and were also improved in the SFN group(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusions PM2.5 exposures can exac-erbate IPF-induced IPF in mice,and the regulating of Nrf2/SLC7 A1 1/GPX4 axis and ferroptosis might be in-volved in the related mechanisms.
9.The Epigenetic Regulation of Decitabine Resistance in TP53-Mutated Myelodysplastic Syndromes:Integrated Analysis Based on RNA-seq and Methylomics
Lan ZHANG ; Yu-Ye REN ; Wei CHEN ; Wen-Ya HU ; Chen-Xi ZHAO ; Li-Ping SU
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(6):1681-1687
Objective:To investigate the effects of TP53 genetic status(wild-type/mutated/null)on the drug resistance of decitabine(DAC)in myelodysplastic syndromes(MDS)and identify key resistance-associated genes.Methods:Two myeloid cell lines with distinct TP53 status(M-07e:wild-type;SKM-1:mutated;)were treated with gradient DAC concentrations(0-10 μmol/L)for 0-72 h.Cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay.RNA-Seq transcriptomics,and methylation profiling were integrated to analyze differentially expressed genes.Results:Decitabine(DAC)treatment induced time-and dose-dependent inhibition of cell viability in CCK-8 assays,with SKM-1 cells exhibiting the highest resistance(IC50=5 μmol/L vs M-07e=0.5 μmol/L,P<0.01).Transcriptomic analysis revealed 662 upregulated and 452 downregulated genes in DAC-treated M-07e cells,while SKM-1 cells showed 515 upregulated and 73 downregulated genes.By proteomic profiling,117 upregulated and 136 downregulated proteins were identified in M-07e cells,while 91 upregulated and 46 downregulated proteins were identified in SKM-1 cells following DAC exposure.Through integrated analysis of upregulated genes and proteins expression profiles,181 candidate genes were screened out,while methylation studies identified 884 hypomethylated genes with high-sensitivity loci and CpG density.Notably,31 genes overlapped between these datasets,and functional annotation indicated these drug-resistance-associated genes are primarily involved in positive regulation of cell differentiation,negative regulation of binding processes,and negative regulation of cellular component organization.Conclusion:TP53 mutations drive DAC resistance via epigenetic reprogramming.Targeting these genes may improve outcomes in TP53-mutated MDS.
10.Driver Genes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Che CHEN ; Xu ZHANG ; Ya-Zhen SU
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(3):376-383
Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths,and al-though considerable progress has been made in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of HCC,the prognosis for patients remains poor,with a 5-year survival rate of only about 18%.The development of HCC is driven by the occurrence of mutations in driver genes that can directly promote cell proliferation,survival and metastasis.With the development of molecular biology and genomics technologies,researchers have elucidated that driver mutations that give HCC cells a selective growth advantage,the ability of the cells to resist apoptosis,maintain proliferative signals,initiate invasion and metastasis,induce angiogenesis,enable metabolic remodeling and immune escape.Exploring the key drivers of HCC development to fur-ther elucidate the pathogenesis of HCC may provide new directions for the diagnosis and treatment of HCC as well as improving the prognosis.In this paper,we summarize the driver gene mutations in HCC from various biological pathways such as telomere maintenance,cell cycle,the Wnt signaling pathway,oxida-tive stress,and epigenetic modifications.We also summarize the application prospects of driver gene mu-tations in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.We aim to provide a reference for the diagnosis,treatment and research of HCC.

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