1.Role of chronic stress-glucocorticoid-histone deacetylase axis in postopera-tive cognitive dysfunction induced by chronic stress
Zhiying ZHENG ; Xiangdan GONG ; Tianjiao XIA ; Chaochao CHEN ; Xiaoping GU
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2025;41(2):268-276
AIM:To explore the impact of chronic stress on postoperative cognitive dysfunction in rats and to elucidate the mechanistic link to histone deacetylase 2(HDAC2).METHODS:A repeated social defeat stress model and a prolonged isoflurane anesthesia model were established in mice.The rats were randomly assigned to four groups:control(Ctrl)group,isoflurane anesthesia(Iso)group,chronic social defeat stress(RSDS)group,and chronic social de-feat stress combined with isoflurane anesthesia(RSDS+Iso)group.Anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated using the social avoidance test and the novelty-suppressed feeding test.Cognitive function was assessed through the novel object recogni-tion test and the Morris water maze.Plasma corticosterone levels were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Primary hippocampal neurons were isolated from fetal mouse hippocampi and classified into four groups:con-trol group,chronic stress combined with prolonged isoflurane anesthesia(Cort+Iso)group,CAY-10683 intervention(CAY),and CAY-10683 treatment(CAY+Cort+Iso)group.Cell viability was determined using CCK-8 assay,and pro-tein expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)and HDAC2 were analyzed by Western blot.RE-SULTS:The RSDS mouse model was successfully established,with ELISA results indicating a significant increase in plasma corticosterone levels in mice subjected to chronic stress combined with prolonged isoflurane anesthesia.Behavioral assessments and Western blot analyses revealed that mice exposed to prolonged isoflurane anesthesia following chronic stress showed marked declines in cognitive function and hippocampal BDNF protein expression levels.Additionally,chronic stress significantly elevated HDAC2 protein expression in the hippocampi of mice undergoing prolonged isoflurane anesthesia.Treatment with an HDAC2 inhibitor reduced HDAC2 protein expression in primary hippocampal neurons sub-jected to chronic stress combined with prolonged isoflurane anesthesia,concurrently increasing BDNF protein expression levels.CONCLUSION:Chronic stress significantly worsens postoperative cognitive dysfunction induced by prolonged isoflurane anesthesia,associated with increased HDAC2 protein expression in the hippocampus.Inhibition of HDAC2 ef-fectively counteracts the reduction in BDNF,a protein crucial for cognitive function,caused by the combination of chronic stress and prolonged isoflurane anesthesia.
2.Spousal correlations of blood lipid based on a family design
Yixin LI ; Huangda GUO ; Hexiang PENG ; Tianjiao HOU ; Hanyu ZHANG ; Yinxi TAN ; Yi ZHENG ; Mengying WANG ; Yiqun WU ; Xueying QIN ; Jin LI ; Ying YE ; Tao WU ; Dafang CHEN ; Yonghua HU ; Liming LI
Journal of Peking University(Health Sciences) 2025;57(3):423-429
Objective:To explore the spousal correlations of total cholesterol(TC),total triglyceride(TG),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),and to investigate the reasons behind these spousal correlations.Methods:Participants and data were from the baseline survey of family-based cohort studies in Fangshan,Beijing and Tulou,Fujian.The ori-gin of spousal correlations were explored from perspectives of convergence,assortative mating,social ho-mogamy.Pearson's correlation and generalized linear models(GLM)were used to estimate the spousal correlation.Convergence was assessed by Pearson's correlation between the phenotypic differences be-tween couples and the duration of marriage,with GLM used for further validation.Pearson's correlation of genetic risk scores(GRS)and couple-specific Mendelian randomization(MR)were calculated to assess the genetic correlation and possible causal relationships between spouses.Two-independent-sample t-tests were used to compare GRS consistency across subgroups divided by education attainment,couple-specific MR and Q statistics used to test assortative mating in subgroups and intergroup differences.Results:In the study,342 couples(287 couples from Fangshan and 55 couples from Fujian)were included,with the average age of(64.91±8.76)years.Spousal correlations of TC,TG,HDL-C,and LDL-C showed statistically significant associations both before and after adjusting for covariates,with effect sizes of 0.229(95%CI:0.125-0.327),0.257(95%CI:0.155-0.354),0.179(95%CI:0.074-0.280),and 0.181(95%CI:0.076-0.282).For convergence,for each additional year of marriage,ΔTC increased by 0.016 mmol/L(95%CI:0.001-0.033 mmol/L),and ΔLDL-C increased by 0.017 mmol/L(95%CI:0.002-0.031 mmol/L).For assortative mating,GRS correlations and results of couple specific MR didn't show any statistical significance.For social homogamy,no differences in GRS or assortative mating were found between subgroups stratified by education attainment.Conclusion:The blood lipid in participants exhibit spousal phenotypic correlations,however,no effects of convergence,assortative mating or social homogamy were observed.More independent studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to further validate these findings in the future.
3.Analysis of neuromedin U remodeling the metabolic microenvironment of pancreatic tumors through Hedgehog signaling pathway
Yuchang WANG ; Yidan ZHANG ; Tianjiao HU ; Mingjia GAO ; Ning HAN ; Jiani ZHANG ; Rui ZHENG
Cancer Research and Clinic 2025;37(6):422-428
Objective:To construct an in situ pancreatic tumor model in mice and explore the mechanism of neuromedin U (NMU) remodeling the metabolic microenvironment of pancreatic tumors via the Hedgehog signaling pathway.Methods:C57BL/6 NMU -/- heterozygous mice were bred in one cage with a female-to-male ratio of 2:1. The tail tissues of offspring rats were taken, and knockout primers were designed according to the sequence structure of NMU gene. The C57BL/6 NMU -/- mouse genotypes were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and agarose gel electrophoresis. Five C57BL/6 NMU -/- homozygotes and five wild type mice aged 8 to 9 weeks were selected, and Panc02 cell suspension of pancreatic cancer in logarithmic growth phase was injected into pancreatic tail tissue to construct tumor bearing mice model of pancreatic tumor in situ. After 3 weeks of tumor loading, flow cytometry was used to detect the abundance changes of CD8 + T cells in the spleen tissues of two groups of mice. GSE102238 (data published in August 2017) and GSE62452 (data published in July 2016) datasets were download from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, including 119 samples of pancreatic cancer tissue and 111 samples of normal pancreatic tissue adjacent to cancer, and the differential expression factors of the two groups of samples were screened. R language limma package was used to analyze the differential expression of NMU mRNA in pancreatic cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues; the relative expression level of NMU mRNA in pancreatic cancer patients of different ages and tumor grades was analyzed by ggpubr package. The relative expression level data of NMU mRNA in pancreatic tumor patients were extracted, and the patients were divided into high expression group (>2.48) and low expression group (<2.48) based on the median value (2.48). The CIBERSORT algorithm was used to calculate the difference in the content of infiltrating immune cells in pancreatic tumors between the two groups of patients. The overall survival of patients with different relative expression levels of NMU mRNA in the OncoLnc database (59 cases in the high expression group and 59 cases in the low expression group) was compared. The data of 178 patients with pancreatic cancer in TCGA-PAAD of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database (updated in March 2024) were download. According to the median value of relative expression of NMU mRNA (2.740), the patients were divided into the high expression group (>2.740) and the low expression group (<2.740), with 89 cases in each group. GSEA software was used to analyze the biological functions and pathways in which the genes enriched significantly. The molecules and key targets for molecular docking were explored using the large molecule protein interaction tool PDBePISA. Spearman correlation analysis was performed using R language data packets. Results:The results of C57BL/6 NMU -/- mouse genotypes analyzed by using the gel electrophoresis pattern of PCR amplification products of tail tissues showed that the wild type was one 380 bp electrophoretic band, the homozygous type was one 450 bp electrophoretic band, and the heterozygous type was 450 bp and 380 bp electrophoretic bands. After identifying and screening pure strains mouse, reproduction was carried out, and C57BL/6 NMU -/- homozygous mice were successfully obtained. The results of flow cytometry analysis showed that the proportion of CD8 + T cells in the spleen tissues of C57BL/6 NMU -/- wild-type and homozygous pancreatic tumor bearing mice was (30.38±0.37)% and (37.00±0.48)%, with a statistically significant difference between the two groups ( t = 9.79, P < 0.001). The absolute values of CD8 + T cells were (8.36±0.27)×10 4 and (10.20±0.28)×10 4, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( t = 3.71, P = 0.013). In the GEO database GSE102238 and GSE62452 datasets, there were differentially expressed genes in pancreatic cancer tissues compared with adjacent tissues, including 219 up-regulated genes and 325 down-regulated genes in pancreatic cancer tissues; among them, NMU was an upregulated differentially expressed gene. The relative expression of NMU mRNA in patients aged > 65 year or grade G3-G4 was higher than that in patients aged ≤ 65 years or grade G1-G2, and the differences were statistically significant (both P < 0.05). The analysis results of CIBERSORT algorithm showed that the expression abundance of CD8 + T cells, initial CD4 + T cells, activated memory CD4 + T cells, and γδ T cells in the high expression group of NMU was lower than that in the low expression group (all P < 0.05). The overall survival of the high expression group of NMU was worse than that of the low expression group in the OncoLnc database ( P = 0.010). GSEA enrichment analysis and Spearman correlation analysis revealed significant changes in the Hedgehog signaling pathway, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids and pyrimidine nucleotide metabolism, which affected tumor metabolic remodeling. Conclusions:NMU may remodel the tumor microenvironment of pancreatic cancer by regulating Hedgehog signaling pathway.
4.Spousal correlations of blood lipid based on a family design
Yixin LI ; Huangda GUO ; Hexiang PENG ; Tianjiao HOU ; Hanyu ZHANG ; Yinxi TAN ; Yi ZHENG ; Mengying WANG ; Yiqun WU ; Xueying QIN ; Jin LI ; Ying YE ; Tao WU ; Dafang CHEN ; Yonghua HU ; Liming LI
Journal of Peking University(Health Sciences) 2025;57(3):423-429
Objective:To explore the spousal correlations of total cholesterol(TC),total triglyceride(TG),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),and to investigate the reasons behind these spousal correlations.Methods:Participants and data were from the baseline survey of family-based cohort studies in Fangshan,Beijing and Tulou,Fujian.The ori-gin of spousal correlations were explored from perspectives of convergence,assortative mating,social ho-mogamy.Pearson's correlation and generalized linear models(GLM)were used to estimate the spousal correlation.Convergence was assessed by Pearson's correlation between the phenotypic differences be-tween couples and the duration of marriage,with GLM used for further validation.Pearson's correlation of genetic risk scores(GRS)and couple-specific Mendelian randomization(MR)were calculated to assess the genetic correlation and possible causal relationships between spouses.Two-independent-sample t-tests were used to compare GRS consistency across subgroups divided by education attainment,couple-specific MR and Q statistics used to test assortative mating in subgroups and intergroup differences.Results:In the study,342 couples(287 couples from Fangshan and 55 couples from Fujian)were included,with the average age of(64.91±8.76)years.Spousal correlations of TC,TG,HDL-C,and LDL-C showed statistically significant associations both before and after adjusting for covariates,with effect sizes of 0.229(95%CI:0.125-0.327),0.257(95%CI:0.155-0.354),0.179(95%CI:0.074-0.280),and 0.181(95%CI:0.076-0.282).For convergence,for each additional year of marriage,ΔTC increased by 0.016 mmol/L(95%CI:0.001-0.033 mmol/L),and ΔLDL-C increased by 0.017 mmol/L(95%CI:0.002-0.031 mmol/L).For assortative mating,GRS correlations and results of couple specific MR didn't show any statistical significance.For social homogamy,no differences in GRS or assortative mating were found between subgroups stratified by education attainment.Conclusion:The blood lipid in participants exhibit spousal phenotypic correlations,however,no effects of convergence,assortative mating or social homogamy were observed.More independent studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to further validate these findings in the future.
5.Role of chronic stress-glucocorticoid-histone deacetylase axis in postopera-tive cognitive dysfunction induced by chronic stress
Zhiying ZHENG ; Xiangdan GONG ; Tianjiao XIA ; Chaochao CHEN ; Xiaoping GU
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2025;41(2):268-276
AIM:To explore the impact of chronic stress on postoperative cognitive dysfunction in rats and to elucidate the mechanistic link to histone deacetylase 2(HDAC2).METHODS:A repeated social defeat stress model and a prolonged isoflurane anesthesia model were established in mice.The rats were randomly assigned to four groups:control(Ctrl)group,isoflurane anesthesia(Iso)group,chronic social defeat stress(RSDS)group,and chronic social de-feat stress combined with isoflurane anesthesia(RSDS+Iso)group.Anxiety-like behaviors were evaluated using the social avoidance test and the novelty-suppressed feeding test.Cognitive function was assessed through the novel object recogni-tion test and the Morris water maze.Plasma corticosterone levels were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Primary hippocampal neurons were isolated from fetal mouse hippocampi and classified into four groups:con-trol group,chronic stress combined with prolonged isoflurane anesthesia(Cort+Iso)group,CAY-10683 intervention(CAY),and CAY-10683 treatment(CAY+Cort+Iso)group.Cell viability was determined using CCK-8 assay,and pro-tein expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)and HDAC2 were analyzed by Western blot.RE-SULTS:The RSDS mouse model was successfully established,with ELISA results indicating a significant increase in plasma corticosterone levels in mice subjected to chronic stress combined with prolonged isoflurane anesthesia.Behavioral assessments and Western blot analyses revealed that mice exposed to prolonged isoflurane anesthesia following chronic stress showed marked declines in cognitive function and hippocampal BDNF protein expression levels.Additionally,chronic stress significantly elevated HDAC2 protein expression in the hippocampi of mice undergoing prolonged isoflurane anesthesia.Treatment with an HDAC2 inhibitor reduced HDAC2 protein expression in primary hippocampal neurons sub-jected to chronic stress combined with prolonged isoflurane anesthesia,concurrently increasing BDNF protein expression levels.CONCLUSION:Chronic stress significantly worsens postoperative cognitive dysfunction induced by prolonged isoflurane anesthesia,associated with increased HDAC2 protein expression in the hippocampus.Inhibition of HDAC2 ef-fectively counteracts the reduction in BDNF,a protein crucial for cognitive function,caused by the combination of chronic stress and prolonged isoflurane anesthesia.
6.Analysis of neuromedin U remodeling the metabolic microenvironment of pancreatic tumors through Hedgehog signaling pathway
Yuchang WANG ; Yidan ZHANG ; Tianjiao HU ; Mingjia GAO ; Ning HAN ; Jiani ZHANG ; Rui ZHENG
Cancer Research and Clinic 2025;37(6):422-428
Objective:To construct an in situ pancreatic tumor model in mice and explore the mechanism of neuromedin U (NMU) remodeling the metabolic microenvironment of pancreatic tumors via the Hedgehog signaling pathway.Methods:C57BL/6 NMU -/- heterozygous mice were bred in one cage with a female-to-male ratio of 2:1. The tail tissues of offspring rats were taken, and knockout primers were designed according to the sequence structure of NMU gene. The C57BL/6 NMU -/- mouse genotypes were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and agarose gel electrophoresis. Five C57BL/6 NMU -/- homozygotes and five wild type mice aged 8 to 9 weeks were selected, and Panc02 cell suspension of pancreatic cancer in logarithmic growth phase was injected into pancreatic tail tissue to construct tumor bearing mice model of pancreatic tumor in situ. After 3 weeks of tumor loading, flow cytometry was used to detect the abundance changes of CD8 + T cells in the spleen tissues of two groups of mice. GSE102238 (data published in August 2017) and GSE62452 (data published in July 2016) datasets were download from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, including 119 samples of pancreatic cancer tissue and 111 samples of normal pancreatic tissue adjacent to cancer, and the differential expression factors of the two groups of samples were screened. R language limma package was used to analyze the differential expression of NMU mRNA in pancreatic cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues; the relative expression level of NMU mRNA in pancreatic cancer patients of different ages and tumor grades was analyzed by ggpubr package. The relative expression level data of NMU mRNA in pancreatic tumor patients were extracted, and the patients were divided into high expression group (>2.48) and low expression group (<2.48) based on the median value (2.48). The CIBERSORT algorithm was used to calculate the difference in the content of infiltrating immune cells in pancreatic tumors between the two groups of patients. The overall survival of patients with different relative expression levels of NMU mRNA in the OncoLnc database (59 cases in the high expression group and 59 cases in the low expression group) was compared. The data of 178 patients with pancreatic cancer in TCGA-PAAD of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database (updated in March 2024) were download. According to the median value of relative expression of NMU mRNA (2.740), the patients were divided into the high expression group (>2.740) and the low expression group (<2.740), with 89 cases in each group. GSEA software was used to analyze the biological functions and pathways in which the genes enriched significantly. The molecules and key targets for molecular docking were explored using the large molecule protein interaction tool PDBePISA. Spearman correlation analysis was performed using R language data packets. Results:The results of C57BL/6 NMU -/- mouse genotypes analyzed by using the gel electrophoresis pattern of PCR amplification products of tail tissues showed that the wild type was one 380 bp electrophoretic band, the homozygous type was one 450 bp electrophoretic band, and the heterozygous type was 450 bp and 380 bp electrophoretic bands. After identifying and screening pure strains mouse, reproduction was carried out, and C57BL/6 NMU -/- homozygous mice were successfully obtained. The results of flow cytometry analysis showed that the proportion of CD8 + T cells in the spleen tissues of C57BL/6 NMU -/- wild-type and homozygous pancreatic tumor bearing mice was (30.38±0.37)% and (37.00±0.48)%, with a statistically significant difference between the two groups ( t = 9.79, P < 0.001). The absolute values of CD8 + T cells were (8.36±0.27)×10 4 and (10.20±0.28)×10 4, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( t = 3.71, P = 0.013). In the GEO database GSE102238 and GSE62452 datasets, there were differentially expressed genes in pancreatic cancer tissues compared with adjacent tissues, including 219 up-regulated genes and 325 down-regulated genes in pancreatic cancer tissues; among them, NMU was an upregulated differentially expressed gene. The relative expression of NMU mRNA in patients aged > 65 year or grade G3-G4 was higher than that in patients aged ≤ 65 years or grade G1-G2, and the differences were statistically significant (both P < 0.05). The analysis results of CIBERSORT algorithm showed that the expression abundance of CD8 + T cells, initial CD4 + T cells, activated memory CD4 + T cells, and γδ T cells in the high expression group of NMU was lower than that in the low expression group (all P < 0.05). The overall survival of the high expression group of NMU was worse than that of the low expression group in the OncoLnc database ( P = 0.010). GSEA enrichment analysis and Spearman correlation analysis revealed significant changes in the Hedgehog signaling pathway, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids and pyrimidine nucleotide metabolism, which affected tumor metabolic remodeling. Conclusions:NMU may remodel the tumor microenvironment of pancreatic cancer by regulating Hedgehog signaling pathway.
7.Structure-activity Omics of Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Case Study of Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Effect of Qizhi Weitong Granules
Xiansheng MENG ; Ying ZHENG ; Ying MENG ; Bing QI ; Sicong LIU ; Xi LUO ; Xinpeng QIN ; Yongrui BAO ; Shuai WANG ; Tianjiao LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(15):129-135
The complex chemical composition and limited research ideas of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have led to the unclear material basis and mechanism of the medicinal effects, which is a common problem hindering the modernization of TCM in China. The introduction of computer virtual technology has provided a new perspective for TCM research. In this study, we established the research method of structure-activity omics to study the relationships between the structures and effects of different compounds in TCM based on the chemical structures of TCM components and to analyze and predict the material basis and multitarget synergistic mechanism of TCM. Furthermore, a structure-activity omics study was carried out with the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Qizhi Weitong granules as an example. This study provides support for screening the pharmacodynamic components and analyzing the active ingredients of TCM and gives insights into the research on the material basis and mechanism of compound efficacy and the development of lead compounds of TCM, thus promoting the modern research and the innovative development of TCM.
8.Structure-activity Omics of Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Effect of Corydalis Rhizoma in Qizhi Weitong Granules
Xinpeng QIN ; Ying MENG ; Sicong LIU ; Ying ZHENG ; Yongrui BAO ; Shuai WANG ; Tianjiao LI ; Ling HAN ; Wei ZOU ; Xiansheng MENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(15):136-145
ObjectiveTo explain the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Corydalis Rhizoma by the means of structure-activity omics. MethodOn the basis of the previous in vitro screening study, we studied the in vivo efficacy of the alkaloids in Corydalis Rhizoma. With the targets as a bridge, the structures of chemical components in Corydalis Rhizoma were connected with the efficacy. The molecular docking of the alkaloids in Corydalis Rhizoma with the targets of inflammation and pain was carried out. According to the docking scores and the differences in the structural nucleus of Corydalis Rhizoma alkaloids, a study of structure-activity omics was carried out to summarize the rules of their connection. ResultThe alkaloids in Corydalis Rhizoma had good anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in vivo, involving 53 chemical components and 73 targets. There were 3 074 targets associated with inflammation and pain, and 42 targets of direct action were shared by the chemical components and the disease. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) and molecular docking analysis predicted that the main active components of Corydalis Rhizoma were tetrahydropalmatine and palmatine, and the core targets were prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), glutamate receptor metabotropic 5 (GRM5), estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), solute carrier family 6 member 4 (SLC6A4), and fusion oncoproteins (FOS). According to the differences of mother nucleus, the 53 alkaloid components of Corydalis Rhizoma were classified into 8 categories, including protoberberine, berberine, and aporphine, which had high binding affinities with PTGS2, GRM5 and other targets. The relationship between the structures of Corydalis Rhizoma alkaloids and docking scores in each group showed the same law. In protoberberine, appropriate substituents with hydroxyl, alkoxy or methyl groups on the A and D rings of the parent ring were conducive to enhancing the binding activities with the two targets. In berberine, the structure containing a methyl group on position 13 had strong binding affinities with the two targets. It is hypothesized that the methyl fragment changes the binding mode between the component structure and amino acid residues, which greatly improves the binding affinity. ConclusionThis study employs the method of structure-activity omics to analyze the material basis for the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of alkaloids in Corydalis Rhizoma, and the structure-activity omics provides new ideas for revealing the pharmacodynamic substances of traditional Chinese medicine.
9.Gene-gene/gene-environment interaction of transforming growth factor-β signaling pathway and the risk of non-syndromic oral clefts
Tianjiao HOU ; Zhibo ZHOU ; Zhuqing WANG ; Mengying WANG ; Siyue WANG ; Hexiang PENG ; Huangda GUO ; Yixin LI ; Hanyu ZHANG ; Xueying QIN ; Yiqun WU ; Hongchen ZHENG ; Jing LI ; Tao WU ; Hongping ZHU
Journal of Peking University(Health Sciences) 2024;56(3):384-389
Objective:To explore the association between polymorphisms of transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)signaling pathway and non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate(NSCL/P)among Asian populations,while considering gene-gene interaction and gene-environment interaction.Methods:A total of 1 038 Asian NSCL/P case-parent trios were ascertained from an international consortium,which conducted a genome-wide association study using a case-parent trio design to investigate the genes affec-ting risk to NSCL/P.After stringent quality control measures,343 single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)spanning across 10 pivotal genes in the TGF-β signaling pathway were selected from the original genome-wide association study(GWAS)dataset for further analysis.The transmission disequilibrium test(TDT)was used to test for SNP effects.The conditional Logistic regression models were used to test for gene-gene interaction and gene-environment interaction.Environmental factors collected for the study in-cluded smoking during pregnancy,passive smoking during pregnancy,alcohol intake during pregnancy,and vitamin use during pregnancy.Due to the low rates of exposure to smoking during pregnancy and al-cohol consumption during pregnancy(<3%),only the interaction between maternal smoking during pregnancy and multivitamin supplementation during pregnancy was analyzed.The threshold for statistical significance was rigorously set at P=1.46 × 10-4,applying Bonferroni correction to account for multiple testing.Results:A total of 23 SNPs in 4 genes yielded nominal association with NSCL/P(P<0.05),but none of these associations was statistically significant after Bonferroni's multiple test correction.How-ever,there were 6 pairs of SNPs rs4939874(SMAD2)and rs1864615(TGFBR2),rs2796813(TGFB2)and rs2132298(TGFBR2),rs4147358(SMAD3)and rs1346907(TGFBR2),rs4939874(SMAD2)and rs1019855(TGFBR2),rs4939874(SMAD2)and rs12490466(TGFBR2),rs2009112(TGFB2)and rs4075748(TGFBR2)showed statistically significant SNP-SNP interaction(P<1.46 × 10-4).In contrast,the analysis of gene-environment interactions did not yield any significant results after being cor-rected by multiple testing.Conclusion:The comprehensive evaluation of SNP associations and interac-tions within the TGF-β signaling pathway did not yield any direct associations with NSCL/P risk in Asian populations.However,the significant gene-gene interactions identified suggest that the genetic architec-ture influencing NSCL/P risk may involve interactions between genes within the TGF-β signaling path-way.These findings underscore the necessity for further investigations to unravel these results and further explore the underlying biological mechanisms.
10.Structure-activity Omics on Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Effect of Cyperi Rhizoma in Qizhi Weitong Granules
Ying ZHENG ; Sicong LIU ; Xi LUO ; Bing QI ; Shuai WANG ; Yongrui BAO ; Tianjiao LI ; Liang WANG ; Dong YAO ; Xiansheng MENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(21):153-160
ObjectiveTo elucidate the pharmacodynamic substances responsible for the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Cyperi Rhizoma by structure-activity omics. MethodOn the basis of the previous in vitro efficacy study by our research group, this study explored the in vivo efficacy of the flavonoids in Cyperi Rhizoma. The flavonoids in Cyperi Rhizoma and their targets were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), PharmMapper, Swiss TargetPrediction, and available articles. The targets of the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects were collected from DisGeNET and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM). The common targets shared by flavonoids and the effects were selected as the direct targets of flavonoids endowing Cyperi Rhizoma with anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of the core targets was constructed. The method of structure-activity omics was employed to correlate the structure and efficacy of one or more classes of chemical components in Cyperi Rhizoma with the targets as a bridge. The components were classified according to structure. Molecular docking of components to core targets was carried out via SYBYL-X 2.1.1, PyMol, and Discovery Studio 4.5 visualizer. Two targets with the highest binding affinity were selected to explore the relationship between compound structures and targets. ResultThe flavonoids in Cyperi Rhizoma exerted anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects on the mouse model of pain induced by formaldehyde. Eighteen components and 115 direct targets were screened out, and the core targets with high activities were protein kinase B1 (Akt1), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), cellular tumor antigen p53 (TP53), prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). According to the structures, the flavonoids in Cyperi Rhizoma were classified into bioflavonoids, flavonols, flavones, and flavanes. The molecular docking results showed that flavonoids of Cyperi Rhizoma had the highest binding affinity to TP53 and PTGS2. The results of structure-activity omics showed that bioflavonoids represented the best binding structure to the targets, while their polyhydroxyl etherification resulted in a significant decrease in the binding affinity to PTGS2. Glycosides had higher binding affinity to PTGS2. The introduction of the long-chain hydrocarbon group to the A ring of flavonols facilitated the binding to TP53, while the change of B ring substituents was not the main factor affecting the binding affinity. The 3,4-dihydroxyl flavane outperformed 3-hydroxyl flavane in the binding to TP53, while the two compounds showed similar binding affinity to PTGS2. ConclusionThe method of structure-activity omics was used to analyze the material basis for the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of flavonoids in Cyperi Rhizoma. Structure-activity omics provides new ideas for revealing the pharmacodynamic substances of traditional Chinese medicine.

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