1.Role of Innate Trained Immunity in Diseases
Chuang CHENG ; Yue-Qing WANG ; Xiao-Qin MU ; Xi ZHENG ; Jing HE ; Jun WANG ; Chao TAN ; Xiao-Wen LIU ; Li-Li ZOU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):119-132
The innate immune system can be boosted in response to subsequent triggers by pre-exposure to microbes or microbial products, known as “trained immunity”. Compared to classical immune memory, innate trained immunity has several different features. Firstly, the molecules involved in trained immunity differ from those involved in classical immune memory. Innate trained immunity mainly involves innate immune cells (e.g., myeloid immune cells, natural killer cells, innate lymphoid cells) and their effector molecules (e.g., pattern recognition receptor (PRR), various cytokines), as well as some kinds of non-immune cells (e.g., microglial cells). Secondly, the increased responsiveness to secondary stimuli during innate trained immunity is not specific to a particular pathogen, but influences epigenetic reprogramming in the cell through signaling pathways, leading to the sustained changes in genes transcriptional process, which ultimately affects cellular physiology without permanent genetic changes (e.g., mutations or recombination). Finally, innate trained immunity relies on an altered functional state of innate immune cells that could persist for weeks to months after initial stimulus removal. An appropriate inducer could induce trained immunity in innate lymphocytes, such as exogenous stimulants (including vaccines) and endogenous stimulants, which was firstly discovered in bone marrow derived immune cells. However, mature bone marrow derived immune cells are short-lived cells, that may not be able to transmit memory phenotypes to their offspring and provide long-term protection. Therefore, trained immunity is more likely to be relied on long-lived cells, such as epithelial stem cells, mesenchymal stromal cells and non-immune cells such as fibroblasts. Epigenetic reprogramming is one of the key molecular mechanisms that induces trained immunity, including DNA modifications, non-coding RNAs, histone modifications and chromatin remodeling. In addition to epigenetic reprogramming, different cellular metabolic pathways are involved in the regulation of innate trained immunity, including aerobic glycolysis, glutamine catabolism, cholesterol metabolism and fatty acid synthesis, through a series of intracellular cascade responses triggered by the recognition of PRR specific ligands. In the view of evolutionary, trained immunity is beneficial in enhancing protection against secondary infections with an induction in the evolutionary protective process against infections. Therefore, innate trained immunity plays an important role in therapy against diseases such as tumors and infections, which has signature therapeutic effects in these diseases. In organ transplantation, trained immunity has been associated with acute rejection, which prolongs the survival of allografts. However, trained immunity is not always protective but pathological in some cases, and dysregulated trained immunity contributes to the development of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Trained immunity provides a novel form of immune memory, but when inappropriately activated, may lead to an attack on tissues, causing autoinflammation. In autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis, trained immunity may lead to enhance inflammation and tissue lesion in diseased regions. In Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, trained immunity may lead to over-activation of microglial cells, triggering neuroinflammation even nerve injury. This paper summarizes the basis and mechanisms of innate trained immunity, including the different cell types involved, the impacts on diseases and the effects as a therapeutic strategy to provide novel ideas for different diseases.
2.Research progress on drug resistance mechanism of sorafenib in radioiodine refractory differentiated thyroid cancer
En-Tao ZHANG ; Hao-Nan ZHU ; Zheng-Ze WEN ; Cen-Hui ZHANG ; Yi-Huan ZHAO ; Ying-Jie MAO ; Jun-Pu WU ; Yu-Cheng JIN ; Xin JIN
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(13):1986-1990
Most patients with differentiated thyroid cancer have a good prognosis after radioiodine-131 therapy,but a small number of patients are insensitive to radioiodine-131 therapy and even continue to develop disease.At present,some targeted drugs can improve progression-free survival in patients with radioactive iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer(RAIR-DTC),such as sorafenib and levatinib,have been approved for the treatment of RAIR-DTC.However,due to the presence of primary and acquired drug resistance,drug efficacy in these patients is unsatisfactory.This review introduces the acquired drug resistance mechanism of sorafenib in the regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase(PI3K)pathways and proposes related treatment strategies,in order to provide a reference for similar drug resistance mechanism of sorafenib and effective treatment of RAIR-DTC.
3.Application of Functionalized Liposomes in The Delivery of Natural Products
Cheng-Yun WANG ; Xin-Yue LAN ; Jia-Xuan GU ; Xin-Ru GAO ; Long-Jiao ZHU ; Jun LI ; Bing FANG ; Wen-Tao XU ; Hong-Tao TIAN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(11):2947-2959
Plant natural products have a wide range of pharmacological properties, not only can they be used as plant dietary supplements to meet the nutritional needs of the human body in the accelerated pace of life, but also occupy an important position in the research and development of therapeutic drugs for the treatment of tumors, inflammation and other diseases, and have been widely accepted by the public due to their good safety. However, despite the above advantages of plant natural products, limiting factors such as low solubility, poor stability, lack of targeting, high toxicity and side effects, and unacceptable odor have greatly impeded their conversion to clinical applications. Therefore, the development of new avenues for the application of new natural products has become an urgent problem to be solved at present. In recent years, with the continuous development of research, various strategies have been developed to improve the bioavailability of natural products. Among them, nanocarrier delivery system is one of the most attractive strategies at present. In past studies, a large number of nanomaterials (organic, inorganic, etc.) have been developed to encapsulate plant-derived natural products for their efficient delivery to specific organs and cells. Up to now, nanotechnology has not only been limited to pharmaceutical applications, but is also competing in the fields of nanofood processing technology and nanoemulsions. Among the various nanocarriers, liposomes are the largest nanocarriers with the largest market share at present. Liposomes are bilayer nanovesicles synthesized from amphiphilic substances, which have advantages such as high drug loading capacity and stability. Attractively, the flexible surface of liposomes can be modified with various functional elements. Functionalized modification of liposomes with different functional elements such as antibodies, nucleic acids, peptides, and stimuli-responsive moieties can bring out the excellent drug delivery function of liposomes to a greater extent. For example, the modification of functional elements with targeting function such as nucleic acids and antibodies on the surface of liposomes can deliver natural products to the target location and improve the bioavailability of drugs; the modification of stimulus-responsive groups such as photosensitizers, magnetic nanoparticles, pH-responsive groups, and temperature sensitizers on the surface of liposomes can achieve controlled release of drugs, localized targeting, and synergistic thermotherapy. In addition to the above properties, by using functionalized liposomes to encapsulate natural products with irritating properties can also effectively mask the irritating properties of natural products, improve public acceptance, and increase the possibility of application of irritating natural products. There are various strategies for modifying liposomes with functional elements, and the properties of functionalized liposomes constructed by different construction strategies differ. The commonly used construction strategies for functionalized liposomes include covalent modification and non-covalent modification. These two types of construction strategies have their own advantages and disadvantages. Covalent modification has better stability than non-covalent modification, but its operation is cumbersome. With the above background, this review focuses on the three typical problems faced by plant natural products at present, and summarizes the specific applications of functionalized liposomes in them. In addition, this paper summarizes the construction strategies for building different types of functionalized liposomes. Finally, this paper will also review the opportunities and challenges faced by functionalized liposomes to enter clinical therapy, and explore the opportunities to overcome these problems, with a view to better realizing the precise control of plant nanomedicines, and providing ideas and inspirations for researchers in related fields as well as relevant industrial staff.
4.Application Progress of Electrochemical Methods in Quality Control of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Yan-Bing PAN ; IHSAN AWAIS ; Min SHI ; Wen-Wen MA ; MURTAZA GHULAM ; Ke-Fei HU ; Jun LI ; Xian-Ju HUANG ; Han CHENG
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2024;52(1):22-34
The quality control of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)is the core issue to ensure the modernization,industrialization and internationalization of TCM.Compared with other detection methods,electrochemical analysis method has many advantages such as high sensitivity,fast detection speed and low cost,making it an important means of quality control for TCM and having broad development prospects.This article reviewed the research progress of electrochemical methods in quality control of TCM in recent years,discussed the application of electrochemical fingerprinting technique in identification of TCM,and comprehensively summarized the application of electrochemical technology in analyzing effective components and harmful substances in TCM,including flavonoids,alkaloids,quinones,glycosides,heavy metals and pesticide residues.Finally,the development prospects of electrochemical methods in the field of quality control of TCM were discussed.
5.Toxicokinetics of MDMA and Its Metabolite MDA in Rats
Wei-Guang YU ; Qiang HE ; Zheng-Di WANG ; Cheng-Jun TIAN ; Jin-Kai WANG ; Qian ZHENG ; Fei REN ; Chao ZHANG ; You-Mei WANG ; Peng XU ; Zhi-Wen WEI ; Ke-Ming YUN
Journal of Forensic Medicine 2024;40(1):37-42
Objective To investigate the toxicokinetic differences of 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine(MDMA)and its metabolite 4,5-methylene dioxy amphetamine(MDA)in rats af-ter single and continuous administration of MDMA,providing reference data for the forensic identifica-tion of MDMA.Methods A total of 24 rats in the single administration group were randomly divided into 5,10 and 20 mg/kg experimental groups and the control group,with 6 rats in each group.The ex-perimental group was given intraperitoneal injection of MDMA,and the control group was given intraperi-toneal injection of the same volume of normal saline as the experimental group.The amount of 0.5 mL blood was collected from the medial canthus 5 min,30 min,1 h,1.5 h,2 h,4 h,6 h,8 h,10 h,12 h after administration.In the continuous administration group,24 rats were randomly divided into the experi-mental group(18 rats)and the control group(6 rats).The experimental group was given MDMA 7 d by continuous intraperitoneal injection in increments of 5,7,9,11,13,15,17 mg/kg per day,respectively,while the control group was given the same volume of normal saline as the experimental group by in-traperitoneal injection.On the eighth day,the experimental rats were randomly divided into 5,10 and 20 mg/kg dose groups,with 6 rats in each group.MDMA was injected intraperitoneally,and the con-trol group was injected intraperitoneally with the same volume of normal saline as the experimental group.On the eighth day,0.5 mL of blood was taken from the medial canthus 5 min,30 min,1 h,1.5 h,2 h,4 h,6 h,8 h,10 h,12 h after administration.Liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry was used to detect MDMA and MDA levels,and statistical software was employed for data analysis.Results In the single-administration group,peak concentrations of MDMA and MDA were reached at 5 min and 1 h after administration,respectively,with the largest detection time limit of 12 h.In the continuous administration group,peak concentrations were reached at 30 min and 1.5 h af-ter administration,respectively,with the largest detection time limit of 10 h.Nonlinear fitting equations for the concentration ratio of MDMA and MDA in plasma and administration time in the single-administration group and continuous administration group were as follows:T=10.362C-1.183,R2=0.974 6;T=7.397 3C-0.694,R2=0.961 5(T:injection time;C:concentration ratio of MDMA to MDA in plasma).Conclusions The toxicokinetic data of MDMA and its metabolite MDA in rats,obtained through single and continuous administration,including peak concentration,peak time,detection time limit,and the relationship between concentration ratio and administration time,provide a theoretical and data foundation for relevant forensic identification.
6.Comparison of the predictive value of new simplified insulin resistance assessment indexes in identifying left ventricular subclinical dysfunction in T2DM patients
Yan-Yan CHEN ; Meng-Ying LI ; Jie ZHOU ; Jian-Fang FU ; Ying ZHANG ; Yi WANG ; Cheng WANG ; Xiang-Yang LIU ; Sheng-Jun TA ; Li-Wen LIU ; Ze-Ping LI ; Xiao-Miao LI
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2024;49(2):137-143
Objective To investigate the predictive value of new simplified insulin resistance(IR)assessment indexes in identifying subclinical left ventricular systolic function impairment in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods A total of 150 T2DM patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF≥50%)who were admitted to Department of Endocrinology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University from June 2021 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.All patients underwent two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography to measure left ventricular global longitudinal strain(GLS).According to GLS value,the subjects were divided into the normal group(GLS≥18%group,n=80)and the impaired group(GLS<18%group,n=70).Some new simplified IR assessment indicators were calculated and compared between the two groups,including body mass index(BMI),TG/HDL-C ratio,triglyceride-glucose(TyG)index,TyG-BMI index,TyG-WHR and metabolic score for IR(METS-IR).Correlation between the GLS and the new simplified IR assessment indexes was analyzed.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of different simplified IR assessment indexes,with the area under the curve(AUC)calculated.Furthermore,according to whether the subjects were complicated with hypertension,binary logistics regression analysis was performed to explore the independent correlation between the simplified IR assessment index and GLS<18%.Results Total 150 were included with aged(54.5±13.7)years with 96(64.0%)men and 54(36.0%)women.Compared with the GLS≥18%group,the TG/HDL-C ratio,TyG index,TyG-BMI,and METS-IR of subjects in the GLS<18%group were significantly increased(P<0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed that TG/HDL-C ratio,TyG index,TyG-BMI,TyG-WHR,and METS-IR were negatively correlated with GLS(P<0.05).ROC analysis showed that TyG index had a certain predictive value for the evaluation of GLS<18%(AUC=0.678,95%CI 0.591-0.765,P<0.001).Stratification based on hypertension and further adjusting for confounding factors,TyG index remains significantly associated with GLS<18%(OR=3.249,95%CI 1.045-10.103,P=0.042).Conclusions The novel simplified insulin resistance evaluation indexes are closely associated with left ventricular subclinical systolic dysfunction in T2DM patients with preserved ejection fraction.TyG index is an effective index to identify left ventricular subclinical dysfunction in these populations.
7.Research status of esketamine and postoperative cognitive dysfunction
Shi-Long GAO ; Xue-Cheng HAN ; Wen-Hu MA ; Xue-Jun WANG
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(16):2447-2451
Objective As a new type of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid(NMDA)receptor antagonist,esmolamine has the same pharmacological mechanism and site as ketamine,but its affinity to NMDA receptor is 3-4 times that of ketamine,and its analgesic effect is 2-2.5 times that of ketamine.Postoperative cognitive dysfunction is the most common complication in elderly patients undergoing anesthesia and surgery.The incidence is higher in elderly patients over 65 years old,which seriously affects the quality of postoperative recovery and increases the medical burden.It is one of the clinical problems to be solved urgently.In recent years,with the clinical application of esmolamine,it has been found that intraoperative use of esmolamine can make the hemodynamics of surgical patients more stable,reduce the release of inflammatory factors and reduce the incidence of postoperative cognitive impairment.This article reviews the research progress of the effect of esmolamine on postoperative cognitive dysfunction in the field of clinical and basic research at home and abroad,in order to provide clinical reference.
8.Effectiveness of Histopathological Examination of Ultrasound-guided Puncture Biopsy Samples for Diagnosis of Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis
Fei Wen GU ; Xia SHI ; Xin MA ; Lei Jun YU ; Chuan Jin XU ; Cheng Cheng QIAN ; Dong Zhi HU ; Hui ZHANG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2024;37(2):170-177
Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of histopathological examination of ultrasound-guided puncture biopsy samples in extrapulmonary tuberculosis(EPTB). Methods This study was conducted at the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center.A total of 115 patients underwent ultrasound-guided puncture biopsy,followed by MGIT 960 culture(culture),smear,GeneXpert MTB/RIF(Xpert),and histopathological examination.These assays were performed to evaluate their effectiveness in diagnosing EPTB in comparison to two different diagnostic criteria:liquid culture and composite reference standard(CRS). Results When CRS was used as the reference standard,the sensitivity and specificity of culture,smear,Xpert,and histopathological examination were(44.83%,89.29%),(51.72%,89.29%),(70.11%,96.43%),and(85.06%,82.14%),respectively.Based on liquid culture tests,the sensitivity and specificity of smear,Xpert,and pathological examination were(66.67%,72.60%),(83.33%,63.01%),and(92.86%,45.21%),respectively.Histopathological examination showed the highest sensitivity but lowest specificity.Further,we found that the combination of Xpert and histopathological examination showed a sensitivity of 90.80%and a specificity of 89.29%. Conclusion Ultrasound-guided puncture sampling is safe and effective for the diagnosis of EPTB.Compared with culture,smear,and Xpert,histopathological examination showed higher sensitivity but lower specificity.The combination of histopathology with Xpert showed the best performance characteristics.
9.Biomarkers Screening and Mechanisms Analysis of the Restraint Stress-Induced Myocardial Injury in Hyperlipidemia ApoE-/-Mice
Shang-Heng CHEN ; Sheng-Zhong DONG ; Zhi-Min WANG ; Guang-Hui HONG ; Xing YE ; Zi-Jie LIN ; Jun-Yi LIN ; Jie-Qing JIANG ; Shou-Yu WANG ; Han-Cheng LIN ; Yi-Wen SHEN
Journal of Forensic Medicine 2024;40(2):172-178
Objective To explore the biomarkers and potential mechanisms of chronic restraint stress-induced myocardial injury in hyperlipidemia ApoE-/-mice.Methods The hyperlipidemia combined with the chronic stress model was established by restraining the ApoE-/-mice.Proteomics and bioinformatics techniques were used to describe the characteristic molecular changes and related regulatory mechanisms of chronic stress-induced myocardial injury in hyperlipidemia mice and to explore potential diagnostic biomarkers.Results Proteomic analysis showed that there were 43 significantly up-regulated and 58 sig-nificantly down-regulated differentially expressed proteins in hyperlipidemia combined with the restraint stress group compared with the hyperlipidemia group.Among them,GBP2,TAOK3,TFR1 and UCP1 were biomarkers with great diagnostic potential.KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated that fer-roptosis was a significant pathway that accelerated the myocardial injury in hyperlipidemia combined with restraint stress-induced model.The mmu_circ_0001567/miR-7a/Tfr-1 and mmu_circ_0001042/miR-7a/Tfr-1 might be important circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks related to ferroptosis in this model.Conclusion Chronic restraint stress may aggravate myocardial injury in hyperlipidemia mice via ferrop-tosis.Four potential biomarkers are selected for myocardial injury diagnosis,providing a new direction for sudden cardiac death(SCD)caused by hyperlipidemia combined with the restraint stress.
10.Observation on Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Xiaoyu Ointment for External Use Combined with Hydro-acupoint Manipulations for Relieving Swelling in the Treatment of Acute Soft Tissue Injury
Wen-Li LUO ; Tai-Shu CHEN ; Xue-Cheng HUANG ; Jun-Xing YANG
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;41(7):1765-1771
Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of focal external application of Xiaoyu Ointment(mainly composed of wine-processed Rhei Radix et Rhizoma,Taraxaci Herba,Lonicerae Japonicae Flos,Paeoniae Radix Rubra,Curcumae Longae Rhizoma,vinegar-processed Cyperi Rhizoma,Gardeniae Fructus,Angelicae Dahuricae Radix,Angelicae Sinensis Radix,Menthae Haplocalycis Herba,and Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix)combined with manipulations for relieving swelling on hydro-acupoints of Yinlingquan(SP9),Chize(LU5),Quchi(LI11)and Ashi points around the injury site for the treatment of acute soft tissue injury.Methods A total of 136 patients with acute soft tissue injury were randomly divided into treatment group and control group,with 68 cases in each group.The control group was treated with topical application of Loxoprofen Sodium Gel,and the treatment group was treated with topical application of Xiaoyu Ointment combined with manipulations for relieving swelling on hydro-acupoints.Five days constituted a course of treatment,and the treatment lasted for 2 courses.The changes of visual analogue scale(VAS)score of pain degree,scores of primary symptoms of degree of swelling,degree of activity limitation and pain duration,and the overall scores of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndromes in the two groups were observed before and after treatment.After treatment,the clinical efficacy and safety of the two groups were evaluated.Results(1)After 2 courses of treatment,the total effective rate of the treatment group was 94.12%(64/68)and that of the control group was 91.18%(62/68).There was no significant difference of the total effective rate(by chi-square test)between the two groups(P>0.05),but the overall efficacy of the treatment group(tested by rank sum test)was significantly superior to that of the control group(P<0.05).(2)After treatment,the VAS scores of pain degree in the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment(P<0.01),and the decrease in the treatment group was significantly superior to that in the control group,the difference being significant(P<0.01).(3)After treatment,the scores of degree of swelling,degree of activity limitation and pain duration in the two groups were significantly decreased when compared with those before treatment(P<0.01),and the decrease in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group,the differences being significant(P<0.05 or P<0.01).(4)After treatment,the overall scores of TCM syndromes in the two groups were significantly decreased when compared with those before treatment(P<0.01),but there was no significant difference between the two groups after treatment(P>0.05).(5)During the treatment period,there was no obvious adverse reaction occurring in the treatment group.In the control group,2 patients had skin flushing and itching in the medicated region,which disappeared after drug withdrawal.Conclusion Topical application of Xiaoyu Ointment combined with manipulations for relieving swelling on hydro-acupoints is effective on alleviating swelling,relieving pain and improving joint motion of range during the treatment of acute soft tissue injury.

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