1.Olfactory Receptors Expressed in The Intestine and Their Functions
Pei-Wen YANG ; Meng-Meng YUAN ; Ying ZHOU ; Peng LI ; Gui-Hong QI ; Ying YANG ; Zhong-Yi MAO ; Meng-Sha ZHOU ; Xiao-Shuang MAO ; Jian-Ping XIE ; Yi-Nan YANG ; Shi-Hao SUN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(3):534-549
Olfactory receptors (ORs) form the largest superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Traditionally recognized for their role in the nasal olfactory epithelium, where they mediate the sense of smell, accumulating evidence has firmly established their ectopic expression in non-olfactory tissues, including the intestine, lungs, and kidneys. The intestine, as the primary site for nutrient digestion and absorption, harbors a highly complex chemical environment. To adapt to this environment, the gut employs a sophisticated network of “chemosensors” to monitor luminal contents and maintain homeostasis. Among these sensors, intestinal ORs have emerged as crucial functional components, serving as a molecular bridge that connects environmental chemical signals—such as food-derived odorants—to specific physiological responses. This discovery has significantly deepened our understanding of how dietary flavors and compounds influence intestinal physiology at the molecular level. This review systematically summarizes the expression profiles, ligand classification, and biological functions of ORs within the gastrointestinal tract. Studies indicate that intestinal ORs exhibit distinct spatial distribution patterns across different gut segments and display cell-type specificity, particularly within enterocytes and enteroendocrine cells. These receptors function as versatile sensors capable of recognizing a wide variety of ligands, including exogenous dietary components, gut microbiota metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, and endogenous small molecules like azelaic acid. Upon activation by specific ligands, intestinal ORs trigger intracellular signaling cascades, primarily involving the AC-cAMP-PKA pathway or calcium influx channels. A major focus of this review is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which these receptors regulate the secretion of gut hormones. Activation of specific ORs in enteroendocrine cells has been shown to stimulate the release of hormones such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), peptide YY (PYY), and serotonin (5-HT), thereby modulating systemic energy metabolism, glucose homeostasis, and gastrointestinal motility. Furthermore, the review addresses the critical roles of ORs in immune regulation and pathology. Evidence suggests that specific ORs contribute to the maintenance of intestinal immune homeostasis and may offer protection against inflammation. Beyond their involvement in inflammatory responses, ORs such as Olfr78 have been shown to regulate the differentiation and function of intestinal endocrine cells. Similarly, Olfr544 has been demonstrated to alleviate intestinal inflammation by remodeling the gut microbiome and metabolome. These findings collectively suggest that specific ORs hold promise as therapeutic targets for mitigating intestinal inflammation and maintaining gut homeostasis. Additionally, the review explores the emerging role of ORs in cancer. Although OR expression is often downregulated in tumor tissues compared to normal mucosa, activation of specific ORs by certain ligands can inhibit tumor cell proliferation and migration and induce apoptosis via pathways such as MEK/ERK and p38 MAPK. Conversely, other receptors, such as OR7C1, may serve as biomarkers for cancer-initiating cells. In conclusion, intestinal ORs represent a vital component of the gut’s sensory network. The review also discusses the translational potential of these findings. By elucidating the precise pairing relationships between dietary components and specific ORs, novel therapeutic strategies could be developed. Intestinal ORs may thus emerge as promising targets for nutritional and pharmacological interventions in metabolic diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, and malignancies.
2.Thyroid Hormone Network Regulation in MASLD: Mechanisms and Targeted Therapies
Wen-Ping XIAO ; Yang MA ; Heng GUAN ; Sha WAN ; Wen HAN ; Bing-Bing LUO ; Wu-Feng WANG ; Fang LIU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(3):643-661
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has become the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide, affecting approximately 32%-38% of the adult population and posing a growing public health burden. MASLD represents a continuous disease spectrum ranging from simple steatosis to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), progressive hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, and ultimately hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The pathological core of MASLD lies in disruption of hepatic lipid metabolic homeostasis, characterized by an imbalance among de novo lipogenesis, fatty acid β-oxidation, and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-mediated lipid export. This metabolic disequilibrium subsequently drives inflammatory injury and fibrotic progression. Among the multiple regulatory pathways involved, thyroid hormone (TH) signaling has emerged as a central regulator of hepatic metabolic homeostasis. The liver is a major peripheral target organ of TH action, where TH predominantly exerts its metabolic effects through thyroid hormone receptor β (TRβ). Large-scale epidemiological studies and meta-analyses have demonstrated that hypothyroidism is significantly associated with increased MASLD prevalence, more severe histological injury, and advanced hepatic fibrosis, suggesting that dysregulation of TH signaling may participate throughout the entire MASLD disease spectrum. At the molecular level, TH regulates hepatic lipid metabolism by coordinating suppression of lipogenesis, enhancement of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, and promotion of VLDL assembly and secretion through integrated genomic actions of the T3-TRβ axis and non-genomic signaling pathways. Across different stages of MASLD, TH signaling exerts stage-dependent protective effects. In the steatosis stage, TH improves metabolic flexibility by modulating insulin sensitivity, glucose metabolism, and lipid droplet clearance, thereby alleviating early lipotoxic stress. During progression to MASH, TH attenuates inflammatory amplification by improving mitochondrial homeostasis, suppressing activation of the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, and modulating the gut-liver axis microenvironment. In advanced stages, TH signaling influences hepatic stellate cell activation and extracellular matrix deposition, partly through interaction with the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/SMAD pathway, while alterations in intrahepatic TH availability, mediated by dynamic changes in iodothyronine deiodinase 1 (DIO1), contribute to fibrosis progression and hepatocellular dedifferentiation. In hepatocellular carcinoma, coordinated downregulation of TRβ and DIO1 establishes a tumor-associated hypothyroid state that promotes metabolic reprogramming and tumor progression. The clinical relevance of TH signaling in MASLD has been underscored by the recent approval of Resmetirom, a liver-targeted TRβ‑selective agonist, for the treatment of non-cirrhotic MASH with moderate-to-severe fibrosis (F2-F3). This approval represents a landmark transition from mechanistic understanding to metabolism-centered precision therapy in MASLD. Clinical trials have demonstrated that Resmetirom not only improves key histological endpoints, including MASH resolution and fibrosis regression, but also favorably modulates atherogenic lipid profiles, highlighting the therapeutic potential of selectively targeting hepatic TH pathways. This review systematically summarizes the multidimensional regulatory roles of TH across the MASLD disease spectrum and discusses emerging diagnostic and therapeutic implications of TH-based interventions, aiming to inform future mechanistic research and optimize clinical management strategies.
3.Role of myeloid cell transcription factor EB in alcohol-induced liver injury in mice
Sha Neisha Williams ; Kafayat Yusuf ; Xiaojuan Chao ; Hong-Min Ni ; Wen-Xing Ding
Liver Research 2026;10(1):71-81
Background and aims
Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is a leading cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality worldwide, with no currently effective treatment. ALD is caused by excessive lipid buildup, which eventually triggers inflammation and fibrosis in the liver. Activation of hepatic Kupffer cells (KCs) and macrophages drives liver inflammation, which can worsen alcohol-induced liver injury. The autophagy-lysosome system is crucial for macrophages to support their innate immune functions. Transcription factor EB (TFEB) is a key regulator of autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis, but the role of macrophage TFEB in ALD development is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Gao-binge alcohol consumption on myeloid cell TFEB and elucidate the role of myeloid TFEB in ALD.
Methods
Two-to-three-month-old male and female LysM Cre− (WT) and LysM Cre+ Tfeb Flox/Flox (f/f) (myeloid-Tfeb KO) mice were subjected to chronic alcohol feeding plus an acute binge following the Gao-binge model. Serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, triglycerides, and cholesterol content were determined using biochemical assays. Total hepatic protein content and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of autophagy-related proteins and inflammatory markers were determined using immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Isolated hepatic infiltrating macrophages and KCs from mice given intragastric ethanol infusions were analyzed by Western blot for TFEB and autophagy-related protein content. Raw 264.7 macrophages were treated with ethanol, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and LPS plus ethanol to examine nuclear TFEB translocation using immunofluorescence.
Results
We found that TFEB levels were higher in macrophage/KC cells than in hepatocytes and cholangiocytes. While ethanol feeding increased serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels, as well as hepatic triglyceride levels, no significant differences were observed between WT and myeloid-Tfeb KO mice. The number of F4/80-positive KCs/macrophages was similar in all four experimental groups, but hepatic neutrophil infiltration increased in alcohol-fed myeloid-Tfeb KO mice. LPS or ethanol alone induced nuclear TFEB translocation only moderately in Raw 264.7 macrophages.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that myeloid TFEB is dispensable for alcohol-induced liver injury in mice.
4.An exploratory study on the effect of ultrasonic waves against Aedes albopictus larvae
Shuqing JIN ; Xinyi CAI ; Heyi WEN ; Jian FAN ; Hui CAO ; Tianyu SHA ; Hongxia LIU ; Yuan FANG ; Qiang GAO
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2026;38(7):550-555
ObjectiveTo evaluate the larvicidal effect of ultrasonic waves against Aedes albopictus larvae at various exposure parameters (distance and time), and to preliminarily investigate the effects of different containers (water volume and depth) and ultrasonic devices on the larvicidal efficacy, so as to provide experimental evidence for the application of ultrasound-based mosquito control technology. MethodsUnder controlled laboratory conditions, two commercially available ultrasonic devices [40 kHz/300 W and (50±5) kHz/70 W] were used to systematically examine the effects of exposure distance (20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 cm), exposure duration (1, 3, 6, 15 and 60 min), larval instar(Ⅰ‒Ⅱ and Ⅲ‒Ⅳ), and container type on the immediate mortality of Aedes albopictus larvae collected from urban areas of Shanghai. Statistical analysis of the mortality rates of larvae among different experimental groups was performed using the chi-square test. ResultsUltrasonic exposure exerted a detectable larvicidal effect against Aedes albopictus larvae of all instars. For early-instar larvae, exposure time significantly affected mortality at all tested distances (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 cm), with χ² values ranging from 25.57 to 32.74 ( all P<0.001). No significant distance effect was observed in the first and second instar larvae after short-term exposure (1 and 3 min; P>0.05). However, a distance-dependent effect emerged from 6 min onward (P<0.05). During short-term exposure (1 min and 3 min) at close range (20 cm and 40 cm), the immediate mortality of the third and fourth instar larvae was higher than that of the first and second instar larvae. Conversely, during prolonged exposure (15 min and 60 min), the first and second instar larvae exhibited significantly higher mortality than that of the third and fourth instar larvae. These results indicated that larval mortality was jointly influenced by exposure duration and distance. Preliminary experiments indicated that larvicidal efficacy in shallow water was lower than that in deep water. No significant difference in larvicidal effect was observed between the two ultrasonic devices with different frequencies and power outputs. ConclusionUnder laboratory conditions, ultrasound can effectively kill Aedes albopictus larvae, and the larvicidal effect is jointly influenced by larval instar, exposure distance, and aquatic environment. Compact ultrasonic devices show potential for field application in biological mosquito control.
5.Phenylpropanoids from roots of Berberis polyantha.
Dong-Mei SHA ; Shuai-Cong NI ; Li-Niu SHA-MA ; Hai-Xiao-Lin-Mo MA ; Xiao-Yong HE ; Bin HE ; Shao-Shan ZHANG ; Ying LI ; Jing WEN ; Yuan LIU ; Xin-Jia YAN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(6):1564-1568
The chemical constituents were systematically separated from the roots of Berberis polyantha by various chromatographic methods, including silica gel column chromatography, HP20 column chromatography, polyamide column chromatography, reversed-phase C_(18) column chromatography, and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. The structures of the compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectroscopic techniques(1D NMR, 2D NMR, UV, MS, and CD). Four phenylpropanoids were isolated from the methanol extract of the roots of B. polyantha, and they were identified as(2R)-1-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-propanone-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(1), methyl 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzoate(2),(+)-syringaresinol(3), and syringaresinol-4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(4). Compound 1 was a new compound, and other compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time. The anti-inflammatory activity of these compounds was evaluated based on the release of nitric oxide(NO) in the culture of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. At a concentration of 10 μmol·L~(-1), all the four compounds inhibited the LPS-induced release of NO in RAW264.7 cells, demonstrating potential anti-inflammatory properties.
Plant Roots/chemistry*
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Animals
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Mice
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Berberis/chemistry*
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RAW 264.7 Cells
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Macrophages/immunology*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification*
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Nitric Oxide/metabolism*
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Molecular Structure
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents/isolation & purification*
6.Role of Brg1 in regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in a bronchopulmonary dysplasia model.
Ling GUAN ; Mao-Zhu XU ; Yao-Zheng LING ; Li-Li YANG ; Ling-Huan ZHANG ; Sha LIU ; Wen-Jing ZOU ; Zhou FU
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(6):731-739
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the role and mechanism of Brahma-related gene 1 (Brg1) in regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in a bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) model.
METHODS:
Wild-type C57BL/6 and Brg1f1/f1 mice were randomly divided into four groups: wild-type control, wild-type BPD, Brg1f1/f1 control, and Brg1f1/f1 BPD (n=5 each). Immortalized mouse pulmonary alveolar type 2 cells (imPAC2) were cultured, and Brg1 gene was knocked down using lentivirus transfection technology. Cells were divided into three groups: control, empty vector, and Brg1 knockdown. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunofluorescence were used to detect pathological changes in mouse lung tissue. Western blot and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR were used to measure Brg1 protein and mRNA expression levels in mouse lung tissue. Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression of homeodomain-containing protein homeobox (HOPX), surfactant protein C (SPC), and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway proteins in mouse lung tissue and imPAC2 cells. The CCK8 assay was used to assess the proliferation of imPAC2 cells, and co-immunoprecipitation was performed to verify the interaction between Brg1 and β-catenin proteins in imPAC2 cells.
RESULTS:
Compared to the Brg1f1/f1 control group and wild-type BPD group, the Brg1f1/f1 BPD group showed increased alveolar diameter and SPC protein expression, and decreased relative density of pulmonary vasculature and HOPX protein expression (P<0.05). Compared to the control group, the Brg1 knockdown group showed increased cell proliferation ability, protein expression levels of SPC, Wnt5a and β-catenin, and β-catenin protein fluorescence intensity, along with decreased HOPX protein expression (P<0.05). An interaction between Brg1 and β-catenin proteins was confirmed.
CONCLUSIONS
The Brg1 gene may promote the proliferation of alveolar type 2 epithelial cells by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, thus influencing the occurrence and development of BPD.
Animals
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DNA Helicases/genetics*
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Transcription Factors/genetics*
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Wnt Signaling Pathway/physiology*
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Nuclear Proteins/genetics*
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Mice
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Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/etiology*
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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beta Catenin/physiology*
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Disease Models, Animal
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Cell Proliferation
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Lung/pathology*
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Male
7.Prognostic Value of CDKN2A Copy Number Deletion in Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.
Wei-Yuan MA ; Le-Tian SHAO ; Wen-Xin TIAN ; Sha LIU ; Yan LI
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(2):379-386
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the relationship between CDKN2A copy number deletion and clinical features of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and its prognostic value.
METHODS:
155 newly diagnosed DLBCL patients with complete clinical data in the Department of Hematology of People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from March 2009 to March 2022 were included, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissues were obtained and DNA was extracted from them, and next-generation sequencing technology was applied to target sequencing including 475 lymphoma-related genes, the relationship between CDKN2A copy number deletion and clinical features, high-frequency mutated genes and overall survival (OS) of DLBCL patients were analyzed.
RESULTS:
CDKN2A copy number deletion was present in 12.9% (20/155) of 155 DLBCL patients, grouped according to the presence or absence of copy number deletion of CDKN2A, and a higher proportion of patients with IPI≥3 were found in the CDKN2A copy number deletion group compared to the group with no CDKN2A copy number deletion (80% vs 51.5%, P =0.015) and were more likely to have bulky disease (20% vs 5.2%, P =0.037). Survival analysis showed that the 5-year OS of patients in the CDKN2A copy number deletion group was significantly lower than that of the non-deletion group (51.3% vs 69.2%, P =0.047). Multivariate Cox analysis showed that IPI score≥3 (P =0.007), TP53 mutation (P =0.009), and CDKN2A copy number deletion (P =0.04) were independent risk factors affecting the OS of DLBCL patients.
CONCLUSION
CDKN2A copy number deletion is an independent risk factor for OS in DLBCL, and accurate identification of CDKN2A copy number deletion can predict the prognosis of DLBCL patients.
Humans
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Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/genetics*
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Prognosis
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Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16/genetics*
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DNA Copy Number Variations
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Female
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Gene Deletion
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Adult
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Aged
8.Preparation of Monoclonal Antibody to Vasorin in Tree Shrew and Exploration of Its Application
Meizhen OU ; Yongfeng LI ; Sha WEN ; Zhouxiang LIAO ; Xuejing HUANG ; Lichao YANG ; Min HE
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2025;45(5):611-622
Objective To obtain tree shrew Vasorin(VASN)recombinant protein through prokaryotic expression and purification,prepare monoclonal antibody against tree shrew VASN by immunizing mice with this protein,and preliminarily evaluate its application value.Methods Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)was used to amplify the full-length sequence of tree shrew VASN gene in vitro.The tree shrew VASN gene fragment was inserted into pET-30a vector to construct pET-30a-VASN recombinant plasmid.The recombinant plasmid was subjected to double digestion with BamH Ⅰ and Sal Ⅰfor identification,and its correctness was further verified by sequencing.The recombinant plasmid with correct sequencing was transformed into BL21(DE3)competent cells,and isopropyl β-D-thiogalactoside(IPTG)was used to induce expression of VASN recombinant protein.Proteins were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS-PAGE),and the VASN recombinant protein was purified by KCI.Purified recombinant protein was used to immunize BALB/c mice for four times,and serum antibody titer was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Splenocytes from mice with serum antibody titer above 1:10 000 were used for cell fusion with myeloma cells.Hypoxanthine-aminopterin-thymidine(HAT)culture medium was first used to screen hybridoma cells.ELISA was used to screen positive hybridoma cell lines that could secrete specific antibodies,and monoclonal hybridoma cell lines were obtained by limiting dilution method.VASN monoclonal antibodies were prepared in large quantities by ascites induction method,purified using rProtein G,and the affinity and in vitro reaction specificity of the monoclonal antibodies were detected by ELISA and Western blotting.Results The full-length sequence of the tree shrew VASN gene was successfully amplified and the recombinant plasmid vector of tree shrew pET-30a-VASN was constructed.The sequence obtained by sequencing of the recombinant plasmid vector was identical to the tree shrew VASN target gene sequence.Recombinant protein VASN mainly existed in the form of inclusion bodies,and the purity after purification reached 90%,meeting the requirements of subsequent immunization experiments.After four immunizations with recombinant protein VASN,mouse serum antibody titer reached 1:729 000.Monoclonal positive hybridoma cell lines were obtained through ascites induction and purification,and the constant affinity value of monoclonal antibodies measured by ELISA reached 2.59x107 L/mol.Western blotting results showed that the tree shrew VASN monoclonal antibody could bind to tree shrew VASN recombinant protein,but it showed no binding reaction with porcine retinol-binding protein 4 recombinant protein,human VASN-leucine rich repeat recombinant protein,or bovine serum albumin.Anti-tree shrew VASN monoclonal antibody could specifically recognize VASN protein in tree shrew heart,liver,spleen,lung,kidney and muscle,with clear bands and clean background.Immunohistochemical detection results showed that this monoclonal antibody could recognize VASN protein in tree shrew spleen,lung,and tree shrew immortalized fibroblasts with high VASN mRNA expression levels,and the detection results were positive.Conclusion Monoclonal antibody against tree shrew VASN is successfully prepared.This antibody can be used for immunohistochemical detection of tree shrew immortalized fibroblasts,spleen tissue,and lung tissue,providing an important tool for further research on the function of VASN in tree shrew models.
9.Preparation of Monoclonal Antibody to Vasorin in Tree Shrew and Exploration of Its Application
Meizhen OU ; Yongfeng LI ; Sha WEN ; Zhouxiang LIAO ; Xuejing HUANG ; Lichao YANG ; Min HE
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2025;45(5):611-622
Objective To obtain tree shrew Vasorin(VASN)recombinant protein through prokaryotic expression and purification,prepare monoclonal antibody against tree shrew VASN by immunizing mice with this protein,and preliminarily evaluate its application value.Methods Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)was used to amplify the full-length sequence of tree shrew VASN gene in vitro.The tree shrew VASN gene fragment was inserted into pET-30a vector to construct pET-30a-VASN recombinant plasmid.The recombinant plasmid was subjected to double digestion with BamH Ⅰ and Sal Ⅰfor identification,and its correctness was further verified by sequencing.The recombinant plasmid with correct sequencing was transformed into BL21(DE3)competent cells,and isopropyl β-D-thiogalactoside(IPTG)was used to induce expression of VASN recombinant protein.Proteins were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS-PAGE),and the VASN recombinant protein was purified by KCI.Purified recombinant protein was used to immunize BALB/c mice for four times,and serum antibody titer was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Splenocytes from mice with serum antibody titer above 1:10 000 were used for cell fusion with myeloma cells.Hypoxanthine-aminopterin-thymidine(HAT)culture medium was first used to screen hybridoma cells.ELISA was used to screen positive hybridoma cell lines that could secrete specific antibodies,and monoclonal hybridoma cell lines were obtained by limiting dilution method.VASN monoclonal antibodies were prepared in large quantities by ascites induction method,purified using rProtein G,and the affinity and in vitro reaction specificity of the monoclonal antibodies were detected by ELISA and Western blotting.Results The full-length sequence of the tree shrew VASN gene was successfully amplified and the recombinant plasmid vector of tree shrew pET-30a-VASN was constructed.The sequence obtained by sequencing of the recombinant plasmid vector was identical to the tree shrew VASN target gene sequence.Recombinant protein VASN mainly existed in the form of inclusion bodies,and the purity after purification reached 90%,meeting the requirements of subsequent immunization experiments.After four immunizations with recombinant protein VASN,mouse serum antibody titer reached 1:729 000.Monoclonal positive hybridoma cell lines were obtained through ascites induction and purification,and the constant affinity value of monoclonal antibodies measured by ELISA reached 2.59x107 L/mol.Western blotting results showed that the tree shrew VASN monoclonal antibody could bind to tree shrew VASN recombinant protein,but it showed no binding reaction with porcine retinol-binding protein 4 recombinant protein,human VASN-leucine rich repeat recombinant protein,or bovine serum albumin.Anti-tree shrew VASN monoclonal antibody could specifically recognize VASN protein in tree shrew heart,liver,spleen,lung,kidney and muscle,with clear bands and clean background.Immunohistochemical detection results showed that this monoclonal antibody could recognize VASN protein in tree shrew spleen,lung,and tree shrew immortalized fibroblasts with high VASN mRNA expression levels,and the detection results were positive.Conclusion Monoclonal antibody against tree shrew VASN is successfully prepared.This antibody can be used for immunohistochemical detection of tree shrew immortalized fibroblasts,spleen tissue,and lung tissue,providing an important tool for further research on the function of VASN in tree shrew models.
10.Identification of shared key genes and pathways in osteoarthritis and sarcopenia patients based on bioinformatics analysis.
Yuyan SUN ; Ziyu LUO ; Huixian LING ; Sha WU ; Hongwei SHEN ; Yuanyuan FU ; Thainamanh NGO ; Wen WANG ; Ying KONG
Journal of Central South University(Medical Sciences) 2025;50(3):430-446
OBJECTIVES:
Osteoarthritis (OA) and sarcopenia are significant health concerns in the elderly, substantially impacting their daily activities and quality of life. However, the relationship between them remains poorly understood. This study aims to uncover common biomarkers and pathways associated with both OA and sarcopenia.
METHODS:
Gene expression profiles related to OA and sarcopenia were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between disease and control groups were identified using R software. Common DEGs were extracted via Venn diagram analysis. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were conducted to identify biological processes and pathways associated with shared DEGs. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed, and candidate hub genes were ranked using the maximal clique centrality (MCC) algorithm. Further validation of hub gene expression was performed using 2 independent datasets. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the predictive value of key genes for OA and sarcopenia. Mouse models of OA and sarcopenia were established. Hematoxylin-eosin and Safranin O/Fast Green staining were used to validate the OA model. The sarcopenia model was validated via rotarod testing and quadriceps muscle mass measurement. Real-time reverse transcription PCR (real-time RT-PCR) was employed to assess the mRNA expression levels of candidate key genes in both models. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was conducted to identify pathways associated with the selected shared key genes in both diseases.
RESULTS:
A total of 89 common DEGs were identified in the gene expression profiles of OA and sarcopenia, including 76 upregulated and 13 downregulated genes. These 89 DEGs were significantly enriched in protein digestion and absorption, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and extracellular matrix-receptor interaction. PPI network analysis and MCC algorithm analysis of the 89 common DEGs identified the top 17 candidate hub genes. Based on the differential expression analysis of these 17 candidate hub genes in the validation datasets, AEBP1 and COL8A2 were ultimately selected as the common key genes for both diseases, both of which showed a significant upregulation trend in the disease groups (all P<0.05). The value of area under the curve (AUC) for AEBP1 and COL8A2 in the OA and sarcopenia datasets were all greater than 0.7, indicating that both genes have potential value in predicting OA and sarcopenia. Real-time RT-PCR results showed that the mRNA expression levels of AEBP1 and COL8A2 were significantly upregulated in the disease groups (all P<0.05), consistent with the results observed in the bioinformatics analysis. GSEA revealed that AEBP1 and COL8A2 were closely related to extracellular matrix-receptor interaction, ribosome, and oxidative phosphorylation in OA and sarcopenia.
CONCLUSIONS
AEBP1 and COL8A2 have the potential to serve as common biomarkers for OA and sarcopenia. The extracellular matrix-receptor interaction pathway may represent a potential target for the prevention and treatment of both OA and sarcopenia.
Sarcopenia/genetics*
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Osteoarthritis/genetics*
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Computational Biology/methods*
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Humans
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Protein Interaction Maps/genetics*
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Animals
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Mice
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Gene Expression Profiling
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Gene Ontology
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Transcriptome
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Male
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Signal Transduction/genetics*
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Gene Regulatory Networks


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