1.PANoptosis: a New Target for Cardiovascular Diseases
Xin-Nong CHEN ; Ying-Xi YANG ; Xiao-Chen GUO ; Jun-Ping ZHANG ; Na-Wen LIU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(5):1113-1125
The innate immune system detects cellular stressors and microbial infections, activating programmed cell death (PCD) pathways to eliminate intracellular pathogens and maintain homeostasis. Among these pathways, pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis represent the most characteristic forms of PCD. Although initially regarded as mechanistically distinct, emerging research has revealed significant crosstalk among their signaling cascades. Consequently, the concept of PANoptosis has been proposed—an inflammatory cell death pathway driven by caspases and receptor-interacting protein kinases (RIPKs), and regulated by the PANoptosome, which integrates key features of pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis. The core mechanism of PANoptosis involves the assembly and activation of the PANoptosome, a macromolecular complex composed of three structural components: sensor proteins, adaptor proteins, and effector proteins. Sensors detect upstream stimuli and transmit signals downstream, recruiting critical molecules via adaptors to form a molecular scaffold. This scaffold activates effectors, triggering intracellular signaling cascades that culminate in PANoptosis. The PANoptosome is regulated by upstream molecules such as interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1), transforming growth factor beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), and adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1), which function as molecular switches to control PANoptosis. Targeting these switches represents a promising therapeutic strategy. Furthermore, PANoptosis is influenced by organelle functions, including those of the mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and lysosomes, highlighting organelle-targeted interventions as effective regulatory approaches. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the leading global cause of morbidity and mortality, are profoundly impacted by PCD. Extensive crosstalk among multiple cell death pathways in CVDs suggests a complex regulatory network. As a novel cell death modality bridging pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis, PANoptosis offers fresh insights into the complexity of cell death and provides innovative strategies for CVD treatment. This review summarizes current evidence linking PANoptosis to various CVDs, including myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, myocardial infarction, heart failure, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy, cardiotoxic injury, atherosclerosis, abdominal aortic aneurysm, thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection, and vascular toxic injury, thereby providing critical clinical insights into CVD pathophysiology. However, the current understanding of PANoptosis in CVDs remains incomplete. First, while PANoptosis in cardiomyocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells has been implicated in CVD pathogenesis, its role in other cell types—such as vascular endothelial cells and immune cells (e.g., macrophages)—warrants further investigation. Second, although pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) are known to activate the PANoptosome in infectious diseases, the stimuli driving PANoptosis in CVDs remain poorly defined. Additionally, methodological challenges persist in identifying PANoptosome assembly in CVDs and in establishing reliable PANoptosis models. Beyond the diseases discussed, PANoptosis may also play a role in viral myocarditis and diabetic cardiomyopathy, necessitating further exploration. In conclusion, elucidating the role of PANoptosis in CVDs opens new avenues for drug development. Targeting this pathway could yield transformative therapies, addressing unmet clinical needs in cardiovascular medicine.
2.Mechanisms of Zhuyuwan in Treating both Intrahepatic Cholestasis and Ulcerative Colitis Based on Homotherapy for Heteropathy
Jun HAN ; Yueqiang WEN ; Zongying XU ; Dan LUO ; Li ZHOU ; Xueyi LI ; Yufan DAI ; Lele YANG ; Tao SHEN ; Han YU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(13):46-53
ObjectiveThe theory of homotherapy for heteropathy is one of the classical rules in traditional Chinese medicine. Taking this theory as a breakthrough point, this study employed gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to elucidate the mechanism underlying the therapeutic effects of Zhuyuwan on both intrahepatic cholestasis (IC) and ulcerative colitis (UC) from the viewpoint of serum metabolic homeostasis. MethodsThe rat models of α-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT)-induced cholestasis and 2,4,6-trinitro-benzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced UC were treated with low (0.6 g·kg-1) and high (1.2 g·kg-1) doses of Zhuyuwan by gavage. In the experiment regarding IC, 24 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned into four groups: normal, ANIT model, low-dose Zhuyuwan, and high-dose Zhuyuwan. In the experiment regarding UC, 24 SD rats were randomly allocated into four groups: normal, TNBS model, low-dose Zhuyuwan, and high-dose Zhuyuwan. Firstly, the two disease models and the intervention effects of Zhuyuwan on the two diseases were evaluated based on serum levels of biochemical indicators [alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (γ-GT), and total bile acid (TBA)], colon damage score, colon weight index, disease activity index, and histopathological changes in rats. Secondly, the rat serum samples were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to screen the common core pathways of the two disease models, and the expression of core genes in the pathways was determined by Real-time PCR, on the basis of which the biological mechanism of the treatment of the two disease models by Zhuyuwan was ultimately elucidated. ResultsThe results of the experiment regarding IC showed that the ANIT model group had higher ALT, AST, γ-GT, and TBA levels than the normal group (P<0.01). Compared with the ANIT model group, the low-dose Zhuyuwan group showed declined ALT and TBA levels (P<0.01) and the high-dose Zhuyuwan group showed lowered ALT, TBA, AST, and γ-GT levels (P<0.01). The results of the experiment regarding UC showed that compared with the normal group, the TNBS model group presented increases in the colonic damage score, colon weight index, and disease activity index (P<0.01). Compared with the TNBS model group, the low-dose Zhuyuwan group showcased declines in colon weight index (P<0.01) and disease activity index (P<0.05), and the high-dose Zhuyuwan group showed reductions in the colon damage score, colon weight index, and disease activity index (P<0.01). GC-MS metabolomics analysis combined with qRT-PCR demonstrated that Zhuyuwan had a similar inverse regulatory effect on arginine metabolism disruption in the above two disease models. ConclusionZhuyuwan exhibited definite therapeutic effects on both IC and UC, and the regulation of arginine biosynthesis pathway is the core mechanism for the treatment of both diseases by Zhuyuwan.
3.Mechanisms of Zhuyuwan in Treating both Intrahepatic Cholestasis and Ulcerative Colitis Based on Homotherapy for Heteropathy
Jun HAN ; Yueqiang WEN ; Zongying XU ; Dan LUO ; Li ZHOU ; Xueyi LI ; Yufan DAI ; Lele YANG ; Tao SHEN ; Han YU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(13):46-53
ObjectiveThe theory of homotherapy for heteropathy is one of the classical rules in traditional Chinese medicine. Taking this theory as a breakthrough point, this study employed gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to elucidate the mechanism underlying the therapeutic effects of Zhuyuwan on both intrahepatic cholestasis (IC) and ulcerative colitis (UC) from the viewpoint of serum metabolic homeostasis. MethodsThe rat models of α-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT)-induced cholestasis and 2,4,6-trinitro-benzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced UC were treated with low (0.6 g·kg-1) and high (1.2 g·kg-1) doses of Zhuyuwan by gavage. In the experiment regarding IC, 24 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned into four groups: normal, ANIT model, low-dose Zhuyuwan, and high-dose Zhuyuwan. In the experiment regarding UC, 24 SD rats were randomly allocated into four groups: normal, TNBS model, low-dose Zhuyuwan, and high-dose Zhuyuwan. Firstly, the two disease models and the intervention effects of Zhuyuwan on the two diseases were evaluated based on serum levels of biochemical indicators [alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (γ-GT), and total bile acid (TBA)], colon damage score, colon weight index, disease activity index, and histopathological changes in rats. Secondly, the rat serum samples were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to screen the common core pathways of the two disease models, and the expression of core genes in the pathways was determined by Real-time PCR, on the basis of which the biological mechanism of the treatment of the two disease models by Zhuyuwan was ultimately elucidated. ResultsThe results of the experiment regarding IC showed that the ANIT model group had higher ALT, AST, γ-GT, and TBA levels than the normal group (P<0.01). Compared with the ANIT model group, the low-dose Zhuyuwan group showed declined ALT and TBA levels (P<0.01) and the high-dose Zhuyuwan group showed lowered ALT, TBA, AST, and γ-GT levels (P<0.01). The results of the experiment regarding UC showed that compared with the normal group, the TNBS model group presented increases in the colonic damage score, colon weight index, and disease activity index (P<0.01). Compared with the TNBS model group, the low-dose Zhuyuwan group showcased declines in colon weight index (P<0.01) and disease activity index (P<0.05), and the high-dose Zhuyuwan group showed reductions in the colon damage score, colon weight index, and disease activity index (P<0.01). GC-MS metabolomics analysis combined with qRT-PCR demonstrated that Zhuyuwan had a similar inverse regulatory effect on arginine metabolism disruption in the above two disease models. ConclusionZhuyuwan exhibited definite therapeutic effects on both IC and UC, and the regulation of arginine biosynthesis pathway is the core mechanism for the treatment of both diseases by Zhuyuwan.
4.Analysis of The Characteristics of Brain Functional Activity in Gross Motor Tasks in Children With Autism Based on Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy Technology
Wen-Hao ZONG ; Qi LIANG ; Shi-Yu YANG ; Feng-Jiao WANG ; Meng-Zhao WEI ; Hong LEI ; Gui-Jun DONG ; Ke-Feng LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(8):2146-2162
ObjectiveBased on functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), we investigated the brain activity characteristics of gross motor tasks in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and motor dysfunctions (MDs) to provide a theoretical basis for further understanding the mechanism of MDs in children with ASD and designing targeted intervention programs from a central perspective. MethodsAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 48 children with ASD accompanied by MDs were recruited into the ASD group and 40 children with typically developing (TD) into the TD group. The fNIRS device was used to collect the information of blood oxygen changes in the cortical motor-related brain regions during single-handed bag throwing and tiptoe walking, and the differences in brain activation and functional connectivity between the two groups of children were analyzed from the perspective of brain activation and functional connectivity. ResultsCompared to the TD group, in the object manipulative motor task (one-handed bag throwing), the ASD group showed significantly reduced activation in both left sensorimotor cortex (SMC) and right secondary visual cortex (V2) (P<0.05), whereas the right pre-motor and supplementary motor cortex (PMC&SMA) had significantly higher activation (P<0.01) and showed bilateral brain region activity; in terms of brain functional integration, there was a significant decrease in the strength of brain functional connectivity (P<0.05) and was mainly associated with dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and V2. In the body stability motor task (tiptoe walking), the ASD group had significantly higher activation in motor-related brain regions such as the DLPFC, SMC, and PMC&SMA (P<0.05) and showed bilateral brain region activity; in terms of brain functional integration, the ASD group had lower strength of brain functional connectivity (P<0.05) and was mainly associated with PMC&SMA and V2. ConclusionChildren with ASD exhibit abnormal brain functional activity characteristics specific to different gross motor tasks in object manipulative and body stability, reflecting insufficient or excessive compensatory activation of local brain regions and impaired cross-regions integration, which may be a potential reason for the poorer gross motor performance of children with ASD, and meanwhile provides data support for further unraveling the mechanisms underlying the occurrence of MDs in the context of ASD and designing targeted intervention programs from a central perspective.
5.Research progress of mitochondrial quality control in methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity
Qian-Yun NIE ; Wen-Juan DONG ; Gen-Meng YANG ; Li-Xiang QIN ; Chun-Hui SONG ; Li-Hua LI ; Shi-Jun HONG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(7):1201-1205
Methamphetamine abuse is a major public health problem in the world,and in recent years,methamphetamine is also the most abused synthetic drug in China.The neurotoxic or addiction mechanism of methamphetamine has not been fully clarified,and there is still a lack of specific withdrawal methods and drugs for methamphetamine abuse.Mitochondria are not on-ly the organelles to which methamphetamine directly produces toxic effects,but also participate in regulating the neurotoxic damage process of methamphetamine.Mitochondrial quality is the regulatory basis for maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis and is regulated by three main mechanisms,which are mitochon-drial biogenesis,mitochondrial dynamic,and mitophagy.This review summarizes the research progress of mitochondrial quality control in methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity,which may provide theoretical support for further research on the mechanism of methamphetamine neurotoxicity and development the mito-chondria-targeting drugs.
6.Dynamic characterization of neuronal injury in cortex and hippocampus of mice after acute cerebral ischemia/reperfusion
Tong LI ; Jia-Ming BAI ; Yi-Jun SHI ; Cai-Ming WEN ; Lin CUI ; Jing-Xian YANG ; Hong-He XIAO
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(9):1708-1718
Aim To dynamically characterize neuronal damage in the cortex and hippocampus of mice follow-ing acute cerebral ischemia/reperfusion(I/R).Meth-ods Male C57BL/6J mice weighing 25-28 g under-went middle cerebral artery occlusion using the fila-ment method,followed by 1 hour of reperfusion to es-tablish the acute cerebral I/R injury mouse model.The experiment comprised a sham surgery group,I/R-6 h group,I/R-24 h group,and I/R-72 h group.Longa neurological function score was used to assess the neu-rological function.Triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC)staining was conducted to detect cerebral in-farct volume.Hematoxylin and eosin(HE)staining was utilized to observe brain tissue pathological dam-age.Nissl staining was performed to evaluate neuronal damage.Immunofluorescence histochemistry staining was employed to assess the activation of astrocytes and microglia,as well as neuronal loss.Transmission elec-tron microscopy was used to examine mitochondrial damage in hippocampal neurons.Western blot analysis was conducted to detect the expression levels of mito-chondrial fission-fusion-related proteins p-Drp1/Drp1,Mff,Fis1,and OPA1.Results With prolonged cere-bral I/R time,neurological functional impairment,cerebral infarct volume,neuronal damage in the cortex and hippocampus,glial cell activation,neuronal loss,and mitochondrial damage gradually worsened in mice.The expression of mitochondrial fission-related proteins increased gradually,while the expression of mitochon-drial fusion-related proteins decreased gradually.Con-clusions Neuronal pathological damage,such as glial cell activation,neuronal loss,and mitochondrial dam-age,is gradually aggravated with prolonged cerebral I/R time,which may be associated with mitochondrial dynamics imbalance.
7.Research progress of NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors
Chen-Guang LI ; Feng-Yi MAI ; Jing-Rong LIANG ; Wen-Tao YANG ; Jie GUO ; Jun-Xiang SHU ; Li-Zu XIAO
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(10):1801-1808
NLRP3 can recruit proteins such as ASC and pro-caspase1 to form NLRP3 inflammasomes after being stimulated by pathogen and danger signals in vivo,and then induce pyropto-sis and promote the inflammatory reactions to maintain the home-ostasis.However,the overactivation of NLRP3 inflammasomes is closely related to many inflammatory and autoimmune diseases in humans.Targeted inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasomes can sig-nificantly inhibit inflammation and alleviate the relative symp-toms.Therefore,it is an important research direction for treating diseases of NLRP3 inflammasome that searching for effective in-hibitors targeting NLRP3 inflammasome activation and achieving clinical transformation.This review summarizes the latest re-search progress based on the sources of NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors.
8.Study on inhibitory effect of alisol B on non-small cell lung cancer based on network pharmacology and its mechanism
Liu-Yan XIANG ; Wen-Xuan WANG ; Si-Meng GU ; Xiao-Qian ZHANG ; Lu-Yao LI ; Yu-Qian LI ; Yuan-Ru WANG ; Qi-Qi LEI ; Xue YANG ; Ya-Jun CAO ; Xue-Jun LI
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(12):2375-2384
Aim To explore the potential genes and mechanism of alisol B in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods The proliferation and migration of NSCLC cells were detected by CCK-8 and Transwell.Genes of NSCLC and alisol B were col-lected through TCGA and compound gene prediction database,and their intersection genes were obtained.The network of protein-protein interaction(PPI)was constructed by using String database,and the top 20 key nodes were screened out,and the prognosis-related proteins related to the prognosis of NSCLC were screened out by using R language,and the intersection of them was obtained.The potential mechanism of ali-sol B on NSCLC was explored by KEGG and GO en-richment analysis and the relationship between related genes and immune cells,which was verified by cell-lev-el experiments.Results Alisol B inhibited the cell activity and migration ability of NSCLC cells.Five im-portant genes were identified by network pharmacologi-cal analysis:CCNE1,CDK1,COL1A1,COL1A2 and COL3A1.The results of cell experiment showed that al-isol B down-regulated the expression of Cyclin E1,CDK1 and COL1A2 in NSCLC cells.In addition,alisol B could inhibit the expression of COL1A2 and M2 macrophage marker CD206 in macrophages.Conclu-sions Alisol B may inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells by down-regulating CDK1 and Cyclin E1,and may affect the function of macrophages by inhibiting COL1A2,thus regulating the tumor immune microenvi-ronment and inhibiting NSCLC.
9.Application of high hip center technique in total hip arthroplasty in patients with Crowe type Ⅱ and Ⅲ developmental dysplasia of hip and severe hip osteoarthritis
Hao HU ; Jun-Zhong YANG ; Liang LI ; Chuan-Wen HUANG ; Ling-Lin WANG ; Li-Yan YI
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2024;37(2):166-172
Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of high hip center technique total hip arthroplasty(THA)for CroweⅡ and Ⅲ developmental dysplasia of hip(DDH)and severe hip osteoarthritis(HOA).Methods From January 2018 to Jan-uary 2020,74 patients with Crowe type Ⅱ and Ⅲ DDH and severe HOA were admitted,and 37 cases of anatomical hip center reconstruction were taken as control group,including 7 males and 30 females,aged from 42 to 65 years old with an average of(58.40±4.98)years old,body mass index(BMI)ranged from 18 to 29 kg·m-2 with an average of(23.02±2.21)kg·m-2.Thirty-seven routine high hip center technical reconstruction were performed as study group,including 5 males and 32 females,aged from 41 to 65 years old with an average of(57.31±5.42)years old,BMI ranged from 18 to 29 kg·m-2 with an average of(23.14±2.07)kg·m-2.The patients presented with hip pain,limited function and range of motion,and gait instability before surgery.All patients underwent THA,the control group underwent intraoperative anatomical hip center reconstruction,and the study group underwent intraoperative high hip joint reconstruction.The perioperative indicators of the two groups were com-pared.The hip joint function,balance function and gait of the patients were evaluated before surgery,3 months,6 months,and 12 months after surgery.The length difference of both lower limbs,horizontal distance of rotation center,vertical distance of ro-tation center and femoral eccentricity were measured before operation and 1 year after operation.The incidence of complica-tions in the two groups during the operation and postoperative follow-up was counted.Results The operation time of the study group was shorter than that of the control group,and the intraoperative blood loss was less than that of the control group(P<0.05).After 12-months follow-up,1 was lost to followvup in study group and 2 were lost to follow-up in control group.The Har-ris scores and Berg balance scale(BBS),pace,stride frequency and single step length in the study group were higher than those in the control group at 3 months and 6 months after operation(P<0.05);there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the indexes 12 months after operation(P>0.05).The vertical distance of the center of rotation of the study group was greater than that of the control group 12 months after operation(P<0.05),and there was no significant difference in the length difference of the lower limbs,the horizontal distance of the center of rotation,and the femoral eccentricity between two groups(P>0.05).There were no complications in either group.Conclusion The long-term effects of TH A in patients with DDH and severe HO A were similar between the two central hip reconstruction methods,and the safety was good,and the high hip central reconstruction technique could shorten the operation time and reduce the amount of intraoperative blood loss.At the same time,it has certain advantages in early recovery of hip joint function,balance function and walking function of patients.
10.Porcine SIRT5 promotes replication of foot and mouth disease virus type O in PK-15 cells
Guo-Hui CHEN ; Xi-Juan SHI ; Xin-Tian BIE ; Xing YANG ; Si-Yue ZHAO ; Da-Jun ZHANG ; Deng-Shuai ZHAO ; Wen-Qian YAN ; Ling-Ling CHEN ; Mei-Yu ZHAO ; Lu HE ; Hai-Xue ZHENG ; Xia LIU ; Ke-Shan ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2024;40(5):421-429
The effect of porcine SIRT5 on replication of foot and mouth disease virus type O(FMDV-O)and the underlying regulatory mechanism were investigated.Western blot and RT-qPCR analyses were employed to monitor expression of endoge-nous SIRT5 in PK-15 cells infected with FMDV-O.Three pairs of SIRT5-specific siRNAs were synthesized.Changes to SIRT5 and FMDV-O protein and transcript levels,in addition to virus copy numbers,were measured by western blot and RT-qPCR analyses.PK-15 cells were transfected with a eukaryotic SIRT5 expression plasmid.Western blot and RT-qPCR analyses were used to explore the impact of SIRT5 overexpression on FMDV-O replication.Meanwhile,RT-qPCR analysis was used to detect the effect of SIRT5 overexpression on the mRNA expression levels of type I interferon-stimulated genes induced by SeV and FMDV-O.The results showed that expression of SIRT5 was up-regulated in PK-15 cells infected with FMDV-O and siRNA interfered with SIRT5 to inhibit FMDV-O replication.SIRT5 overexpression promoted FMDV-O replication.SIRT5 over-expression decreased mRNA expression levels of interferon-stimulated genes induced by SeV and FMDV-O.These results suggest that FMDV-O infection stimulated expression of SIRT5 in PK-15 cells,while SIRT5 promoted FMDV-O rep-lication by inhibiting production of type I interferon-stimula-ted genes.These findings provide a reference to further ex-plore the mechanism underlying the ability of porcine SIRT5 to promote FMDV-O replication.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail