1.The Regulatory Role of Glucose Transporter 1 on the Function of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells Under Ischemia-hypoxic Conditions
Meiling LI ; Siqi GAO ; Zhefu LIU ; Huanyan LIAO ; Fanmao LIU ; Wenhao XIA ; Jun GUO ; Yan LI
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences) 2025;46(3):444-455
Abstract: ObjectiveThe study aims to explore the effects and regulatory roles of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) on the proliferation, migration, adhesion, and angiogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) under ischemia-hypoxic conditions. MethodsIn vitro experiments were conducted to subject HUVECs to an ischemia-hypoxic-mimicking environment (1% O2, 5% CO2, 94% N2). The biological characteristics of HUVECs under normoxic and ischemia-hypoxic conditions were compared by assessing cell viability, proliferation capacity, and examining the expression changes of GLUT1, HIF-1α, and VEGFA proteins under ischemia-hypoxia using Western blot technology. Further, GLUT1 was overexpressed using plasmid transfection and the proliferation, migration, adhesion, and angiogenic capabilities of HUVECs were evaluated through scratch assays, cell adhesion assays, and tube formation assays. Mitochondrial morphological changes were observed by transmission electron microscopy,and oxygen consumption rate (OCR) was detected by Seahorse metabolic analyzer to evaluate mitochondrial function. ResultsCompared with normoxic conditions, the ischemia-hypoxic environment significantly inhibited the proliferation, cell viability, migration, and adhesion capabilities of HUVECs and impaired their angiogenic potential. The expression levels of GLUT1, HIF-1α and VEGFA proteins were also markedly reduced. However, when GLUT1 expression was upregulated, the migration, adhesion, and angiogenic capabilities of HUVECs were significantly improved, and the protein expression levels of HIF-1α, VEGFA and VEGFR were increased. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that ischemic-hypoxia leads to mitochondrial swelling and matrix damage, while GLUT1 overexpression significantly alleviates mitochondrial morphology abnormalities. OCR results suggest that GLUT1 overexpression may enhance oxidative phosphorylation of endothelial cells in ischemic-hypoxic environments to improve energy metabolism. These results suggest that GLUT1 may influence the function and angiogenic potential of HUVECs by regulating glucose metabolism and energy supply. ConclusionsThis study reveals the significant regulatory role of GLUT1 in the function of HUVECs under ischemia-hypoxic conditions, potentially through modulating cellular energy metabolism and signal transduction pathways, thereby affecting cell proliferation, migration, adhesion, and angiogenesis. These findings provide a new perspective on the role of GLUT1 in cardiovascular diseases and may offer potential targets for the development of new therapeutic strategies.
2.Shenxiao Tongluo Prescription Alleviates Kidney Injury in Diabetic Rats via PGC-1α/SIRT3/HIF-1α Pathway
Cangcang XU ; Xianbing GUO ; Guang LI ; Wenhao JIAO ; Yang ZHAO ; Yingjun DING
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(17):108-116
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanisms of mitochondrial dynamics and metabolic reprogramming in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy (DN) by Shenxiao Tongluo prescription via the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α)/sirtuin-3 (SIRT3)/hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) signaling pathway. MethodsSixty-five SD rats were randomized into a sham group (10 rats) and a modeling group (55 rats), and the modeling rats underwent left nephrectomy and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (35 mg·kg-1) to prepare a DN model. After successful modeling, the rats were randomized into model, empagliflozin (10 mg·kg-1), and low-, medium-, and high-dose (7.656, 15.312, 30.624 g·kg-1, respectively) Shenxiao Tongluo prescription groups. The urine microalbumin (UmAlb), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine (SCr) levels of rats in each group were assessed after continuous gavage for 8 weeks. The corresponding kits were used to measure the levels of lactate, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the kidney tissue. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson staining, and periodic acid-Schiff staining were performed to observe the pathological changes in the kidney tissue. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to observe mitochondrial morphology. Immunohistochemistry was employed to determine the expression levels of dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1) and pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) in the kidney tissue. Western blot was adopted to assess the protein levels of PGC-1α, SIRT3, HIF-1α, dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), optic atrophy 1 (OPA1), hexokinase 2 (HK2), and pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) in the kidney tissue. ResultsCompared with the sham group, the model group showed elevated levels of UmAlb, BUN, SCr, lactate, and MDA, decreased SOD level (P<0.05), glomerular hypertrophy, thickening of the mesangial basement membrane, vacuolar degeneration of renal tubular epithelial cells, and infiltration of renal interstitial inflammatory cells, oval mitochondria with disordered, blurred or disappearing cristae, down-regulated protein levels of PGC-1α, SIRT3, and OPA1, and up-regulated protein levels of HIF-1α, DRP1, HK2, and PKM2 (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the treatment in all the groups increased the body weight, lowered the levels of GLU, UmAlb, BUN, and MDA, raised the level of SOD, alleviated the pathological damage in the kidney tissue and mitochondrial damage, up-regulated the expression of PGC-1α, SIRT3, and OPA1, and down-regulated the expression of HIF-1α, DRP1, and PKM2 (P<0.05). Empagliflozin and Shenxiao Tongluo prescription at medium and high doses lowered the levels of SCr and lactate and down-regulated the expression of HK2 (P<0.05), which had no statistical significance in the low-dose Shenxiao Tongluo prescription group. ConclusionShenxiao Tongluo prescription may regulate mitochondrial dynamics and metabolic reprogramming by activating the PGC-1α/SIRT3/HIF-1α pathway, thereby alleviating oxidative damage in the kidney tissue and delaying the progression of DN.
3.Shenxiao Tongluo Prescription Alleviates Kidney Injury in Diabetic Rats via PGC-1α/SIRT3/HIF-1α Pathway
Cangcang XU ; Xianbing GUO ; Guang LI ; Wenhao JIAO ; Yang ZHAO ; Yingjun DING
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(17):108-116
ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanisms of mitochondrial dynamics and metabolic reprogramming in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy (DN) by Shenxiao Tongluo prescription via the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α)/sirtuin-3 (SIRT3)/hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) signaling pathway. MethodsSixty-five SD rats were randomized into a sham group (10 rats) and a modeling group (55 rats), and the modeling rats underwent left nephrectomy and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (35 mg·kg-1) to prepare a DN model. After successful modeling, the rats were randomized into model, empagliflozin (10 mg·kg-1), and low-, medium-, and high-dose (7.656, 15.312, 30.624 g·kg-1, respectively) Shenxiao Tongluo prescription groups. The urine microalbumin (UmAlb), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine (SCr) levels of rats in each group were assessed after continuous gavage for 8 weeks. The corresponding kits were used to measure the levels of lactate, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the kidney tissue. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson staining, and periodic acid-Schiff staining were performed to observe the pathological changes in the kidney tissue. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to observe mitochondrial morphology. Immunohistochemistry was employed to determine the expression levels of dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1) and pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) in the kidney tissue. Western blot was adopted to assess the protein levels of PGC-1α, SIRT3, HIF-1α, dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), optic atrophy 1 (OPA1), hexokinase 2 (HK2), and pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) in the kidney tissue. ResultsCompared with the sham group, the model group showed elevated levels of UmAlb, BUN, SCr, lactate, and MDA, decreased SOD level (P<0.05), glomerular hypertrophy, thickening of the mesangial basement membrane, vacuolar degeneration of renal tubular epithelial cells, and infiltration of renal interstitial inflammatory cells, oval mitochondria with disordered, blurred or disappearing cristae, down-regulated protein levels of PGC-1α, SIRT3, and OPA1, and up-regulated protein levels of HIF-1α, DRP1, HK2, and PKM2 (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the treatment in all the groups increased the body weight, lowered the levels of GLU, UmAlb, BUN, and MDA, raised the level of SOD, alleviated the pathological damage in the kidney tissue and mitochondrial damage, up-regulated the expression of PGC-1α, SIRT3, and OPA1, and down-regulated the expression of HIF-1α, DRP1, and PKM2 (P<0.05). Empagliflozin and Shenxiao Tongluo prescription at medium and high doses lowered the levels of SCr and lactate and down-regulated the expression of HK2 (P<0.05), which had no statistical significance in the low-dose Shenxiao Tongluo prescription group. ConclusionShenxiao Tongluo prescription may regulate mitochondrial dynamics and metabolic reprogramming by activating the PGC-1α/SIRT3/HIF-1α pathway, thereby alleviating oxidative damage in the kidney tissue and delaying the progression of DN.
4.Zebrafish as a vertebrate model for high-throughput drug toxicity screening: Mechanisms, novel techniques, and future perspectives.
Wenhao WANG ; Xuan GAO ; Lin LIU ; Sheng GUO ; Jin-Ao DUAN ; Ping XIAO
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(9):101195-101195
Drug toxicity is closely related to both clinical drug safety and new drug development. Therefore, it is vital to understand the mechanisms of drug toxicity fully and to use appropriate research models with advanced technologies. Zebrafish has become an important vertebrate animal model for high-throughput drug screening and toxicity assessment. At the same time, zebrafish has an intact biological complexity, reflecting the whole organism's toxicity, which gives it an advantage over other high-throughput models in toxicity studies. Despite the gradual increase in toxicity studies utilizing zebrafish, a comprehensive and systematic review of the underlying mechanisms and new techniques is still lacking. This review aims to analyze common toxicity mechanisms in zebrafish models, such as oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, and macroscopic changes in biological processes like lipid metabolism disorders and neurotransmitter expression abnormalities. It also introduces new technologies applied in toxicity assessment, such as gene editing, novel fluorescence imaging technology, 3D imaging technology, and novel automated technology for high-throughput screening, such as fish capsules. In addition, it also summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of the model. By doing so, it will provide new suggestions for the development and improvement of the model, make it better serve the toxicity study of clinical drugs and provide a more comprehensive perspective for drug toxicity study, thus promoting the development of the field of drug toxicity study.
5.The Correlation between Tooth Brushing Frequency and Blood Indicators in Adolescents: A Cross-sectional Observational Study
Xu ZHANG ; Hanze DU ; Wenhao ZHAI ; Shuaihua SONG ; Xiaoyuan GUO ; Linlin WEN ; Lei HUANG ; Shi CHEN ; Daowei LI ; Hui PAN
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2024;15(4):960-967
To analyze the effects of tooth brushing frequency on blood indicators among adolescents and to preliminarily explore the effects of tooth brushing frequency on general health. Using convenience sampling method, the study included the students of class 2021 of Jining No. 7 Middle School and student athletes from the Jining Sports Training Center. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were used to investigate the correlation between tooth brushing frequency and blood indicators such as eosinophil percentage (EOS%), eosinophil count (EOS#), basophil percentage (BAS%), basophil count (BAS#), superoxide dismutase (SOD), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and uric acid (UA). A total of 305 students were included (167 from Jining No. 7 Middle School, 138 from Jining Sports Training Centre), with 192 (62.95%) males and 113 (37.05%) females. They were divided into three groups based on daily teeth brushing frequency: ≤1 time (40.33%, 123/305), 2 times (53.77%, 164/305), and ≥3 times (5.90%, 18/305).Univariate linear regression analysis showed that brushing twice daily was negatively correlated with EOS%, EOS#, BAS%, and BAS#(all The adolescent tooth brushing frequency correlates with several blood indicators affecting general health, suggesting that there may be a potential association between oral health and general health.
6.A multicenter study on respiratory pathogen detection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children
Xiaoyan DONG ; Yingxue ZOU ; Fangfang LYU ; Wenhao YANG ; Hailin ZHANG ; Yanhua NIU ; Haojie WANG ; Run GUO ; Xu WANG ; Li LI ; Zihao LIN ; Li LUO ; Danli LU ; Quan LU ; Hanmin LIU ; Lina CHEN
Chinese Journal of Pediatrics 2024;62(4):310-316
Objective:To analyze the status of respiratory pathogen detection and the clinical features in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP). Methods:A prospective, multicenter study was conducted to collect clinical data, including medical history, laboratory examinations and multiplex PCR tests of children diagnosed with MPP from 4 hospitals in China between November 15 th and December 20 th, 2023. The multiplex PCR results and clinical characteristics of MPP children in different regions were analyzed. The children were divided into severe and mild groups according to the severity of the disease. Patients in the severe group were further divided into Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) alone and Multi-pathogen co-detection groups based on whether other pathogens were detected besides MP, to analyze the influence of respiratory pathogen co-detection rate on the severity of the disease. Mann-Whitney rank sum test and Chi-square test were used to compare data between independent groups. Results:A total of 298 children, 136 males and 162 females, were enrolled in this study, including 204 children in the severe group with an onset age of 7.0 (6.0, 8.0) years, and 94 children in the mild group with an onset age of 6.5 (4.0, 7.8) years. The level of C-reactive protein, D-dimer, lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) were significantly higher (10.0 (5.0, 18.0) vs. 5.0 (5.0, 7.5) mg/L, 0.6 (0.4, 1.1) vs. 0.5 (0.3, 0.6) mg/L, 337 (286, 431) vs. 314 (271, 393) U/L, Z=2.02, 2.50, 3.05, all P<0.05), and the length of hospitalization was significantly longer in the severe group compared with those in mild group (6.0 (6.0, 7.0) vs. 5.0 (4.0, 6.0) d, Z=4.37, P<0.05). The time from onset to admission in severe MPP children was significantly shorter than that in mild MPP children (6.0 (5.0, 9.5) vs. 9.0 (7.0, 13.0) d, Z=2.23, P=0.026). All patients completed the multiplex PCR test, with 142 cases (47.7%) MPP children detected with 21 pathogens including adenovirus 25 cases (8.4%), human coronavirus 23 cases (7.7%), rhinovirus 21 cases (7.0%), Streptococcus pneumoniae 21 cases (7.0%), influenza A virus 18 cases (6.0%). The pathogens with the highest detection rates in Tianjin, Shanghai, Wenzhou and Chengdu were Staphylococcus aureus at 10.7% (8/75), adenovirus at 13.0% (10/77), adenovirus at 15.3% (9/59), and both rhinovirus and Haemophilus influenzae at 11.5% (10/87) each. The multi-pathogen co-detection rate in severe MPP children was significantly higher than that in mild MPP group (52.9% (108/204) vs. 36.2% (34/94), χ2=10.62, P=0.005). Among severe MPP children, there are 89 cases in the multi-pathogen co-detection group and 73 cases in the simple MPP group. The levels of LDH, D-dimer and neutrophil counts in the multi-pathogen co-detection group were significantly higher than those in the simple MPP group (348 (284, 422) vs. 307 (270, 358) U/L, 0.8 (0.5, 1.5) vs. 0.6 (0.4, 1.0) mg/L, 4.99 (3.66, 6.89)×10 9vs. 4.06 (2.91, 5.65)×10 9/L, Z=5.17, 4.99, 6.11, all P<0.05). Conclusions:The co-detection rate of respiratory pathogens, LDH and D-dimer in children with severe MPP were higher than those with mild MPP. Among severe MPP children the stress response of children in co-detection group was more serious than that of children with simple MPP.
7.Professor LU Yonghui 's clinical experience in treatment of female stress urinary incontinence with acupuncture at the acupoints of conception vessel and bladder meridian.
Ruijun ZHANG ; Yonghui LU ; Teng ZHANG ; Ran LIU ; Pu LV ; Wenhao GUO
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion 2024;44(11):1294-1298
The paper introduces professor LU Yonghui's clinical experience in treatment of female stress urinary incontinence. Regarding the pathogenesis of this disease, qi and blood deficiency, and malnutrition of moyuan (sites where the pathogens are hidden, and the membranes outside zangfu organs) are ben (the primary, root cause), while, the dysfunction of qi movement of the triple energizer and dysfunction of bladder in controlling urination are biao (the secondary, symptoms). In treatment, under the guidance of computed tomography, Zhongji (CV 3), the front-mu point of the bladder, is punctured deeply to regulate the functions of zang organ. Qihai (CV 6) and Guanyuan (CV 4) are punctured to tonify the organs and control urine, and back-shu points of the bladder meridian are stimulated to adjust qi movement of the triple energizer. All of the acupoints co-act on nourishing moyuan, activating qi movement of the triple energizer and the bladder to control urination.
Humans
;
Female
;
Acupuncture Points
;
Urinary Bladder/physiopathology*
;
Acupuncture Therapy
;
Urinary Incontinence, Stress/physiopathology*
;
Meridians
;
Middle Aged
;
Adult
8.Hotspots and trends in acupuncture-assisted tumor chemotherapy: a bibliometric analysis based on CiteSpace and VOSviewer.
Wenhao LIU ; Wenting LIU ; Letian HUANG ; Zining GUO ; Ying LIANG ; Haibo ZHANG ; Nenggui XU ; Yihan HE
Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion 2024;44(12):1453-1462
OBJECTIVE:
To review the current research status and hotspots of acupuncture-assisted tumor chemotherapy and provide references for clinical and basic research in this field.
METHODS:
The relevant literature on acupuncture-assisted tumor chemotherapy from the inception of the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Web of Science (WoS) databases to December 10, 2023, was retrieved. CiteSpace6.2.R4 and VOSviewer1.6.20 software was used to analyze publication volume, authors, institutions, source journals, and keywords, etc. and to create visualized mapping.
RESULTS:
A total of 2 116 articles were included (1 829 from CNKI and 287 from WoS), showing an overall upward trend in publication volume. The scope of acupuncture-assisted tumor chemotherapy has expanded, with a growing variety of research types. In CNKI, the most prolific authors and institutions were from Henan University of CM, forming core research teams. In WoS, the most prolific author was Bao T, and the leading institution was Kyung Hee University in South Korea, although author and institution distribution was more scattered, with close inter-regional collaboration. There were 602 keyword nodes in CNKI and 383 in WoS, with high-frequency keywords in both databases mainly focusing on treatment protocols, cancer types, and chemotherapy-related adverse reactions. CNKI publications highlighted frequent use of acupoints, with more diverse acupoint protocol options, while WoS focused more on different research methods. Recent CNKI studies have focused on improving immune function and quality of life, while "systematic review" emerged as a key term in WoS.
CONCLUSION
Research on acupuncture-assisted tumor chemotherapy should further strengthen collaboration and communication, focus on improving clinical evidence, and promote wider application of acupuncture in integrative oncology research.
Humans
;
Acupuncture Therapy
;
Bibliometrics
;
Neoplasms/drug therapy*
;
Antineoplastic Agents
;
China
9.Rapid visual detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus by combining LAMP-CRISPR/Cas12b with heat-labile uracil-DNA glycosylase to eliminate carry-over contamination.
Fang WU ; Chen LU ; Wenhao HU ; Xin GUO ; Jiayue CHEN ; Zhidan LUO
Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B 2023;24(8):749-754
Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a major pathogen frequently found in seafood. Rapid and accurate detection of this pathogen is important for the control of bacterial foodborne diseases and to ensure food safety. In this study, we established a one-pot system that combines uracil-DNA glycosylase (UDG), loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 12b (Cas12b) for detecting V. parahaemolyticus in seafood. This detection system can effectively perform identification using a single tube and avoid the risk of carry-over contamination.
Vibrio parahaemolyticus/genetics*
;
Uracil-DNA Glycosidase/genetics*
;
Hot Temperature
;
CRISPR-Cas Systems
;
Food Safety
10.Research progress of the screening and generation of lead compounds based on artificial intelligence model
Zhihao GU ; Wenhao GUO ; Hequan YAO ; Xuanyi LI ; Kejiang LIN
Journal of China Pharmaceutical University 2023;54(3):294-304
Excellent lead compounds have a profound influence on drug development and can improve the success rate of product launch. It is expensive and time-consuming to discover lead compounds by traditional methods, yet artificial intelligence (AI) can discover good lead compounds efficiently.This article systematically summarizes the research progress of obtaining lead compounds through the screening and generation models of AI, classifies different models according to the type of information input, focuses on drug repurposing by screening model and multi-objective drug design by generation model, and discusses the development prospect of AI in the research field of lead compounds, aiming to provide new research ideas for the application of AI in lead compounds.

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