1.Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine Regulating JAK/STAT Signaling Pathway to Intervene in Lung Cancer: A Review
Jiarui CAO ; Bo FENG ; Chunzheng MA ; Weixia CHEN ; Jiangfan YU ; Shasha CAO ; Zhenyu ZHANG ; Wenhui OUYANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(9):265-276
Lung cancer is the malignant tumor with the highest incidence and mortality rates globally. Current treatment methods for lung cancer primarily include surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. However, the main limitations of these treatments are their side effects, the drug resistance, and the economic burden they impose. As a critical cancer pathway, the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway regulates tumor occurrence and development through multiple mechanisms by influencing various downstream targets. Consequently, the JAK/STAT signaling pathway offers a promising avenue for lung cancer treatment research. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the JAK/STAT signaling pathway plays a key role in the proliferation and growth of lung cancer cells, angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), metabolic alterations, remodeling of the immune microenvironment, and the development of treatment resistance. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has garnered increasing attention due to its minimal side effects, low economic burden, and its potential to enhance efficacy and reduce toxicity when used in conjunction with Western medicine. In addition to traditional Chinese medicine compounds, a growing number of Chinese medicine monomers have come into the spotlight because of their more targeted effects. Numerous studies investigating the regulation of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway by TCM in the treatment of lung cancer have demonstrated that TCM can inhibit the proliferation and invasion of lung cancer cells, tumor angiogenesis, and EMT, improve the inflammatory and immunosuppressive microenvironments, and enhance treatment sensitivity by intervening in the JAK/STAT signaling pathway, thereby impeding the progression of lung cancer. In recent years, the research on the regulation of this pathway by TCM in the treatment of lung cancer has been updated rapidly. However, the summary of these studies has not been updated in time. This review summarizes and reflects on the recent research findings regarding the regulation of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway by TCM to intervene in lung cancer from three aspects, introducing the JAK/STAT pathway, elaborating the mechanism of this pathway in lung cancer, and exploring the intervention of TCM in the treatment of lung cancer through this pathway, to provide more reference for the treatment of lung cancer in the future.
2.Research progress of acetylation in the pathogenesis of MASLD
Li YAN ; Fengyu JU ; Xin SHEN ; Ye YU ; Wenhui WANG
Journal of China Pharmaceutical University 2025;56(1):31-39
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most prevalent cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, and its intricate pathogenesis presents challenges in the development of new drugs. As a common way of post-translational modification, acetylation regulates protein stability, enzyme activity, and subcellular localization, occurring extensively in MASLD-associated processes such as lipid metabolism, inflammatory response, and oxidative stress. In this paper, we comprehensively review the mechanism of acetylation in MASLD, analyze the expression levels of acetylases in liver tissues of MASLD patients from the gene expression omnibus (GEO), discuss the changes in relevant enzyme expression and mechanisms in animal models, and further explore the feasibility of targeting acetylation for MASLD treatment, in the hope of offering a new perspective for advancing drug discovery in the field of MASLD.
3.Inhibition of WAC alleviates the chondrocyte proinflammatory secretory phenotype and cartilage degradation via H2BK120ub1 and H3K27me3 coregulation.
Peitao XU ; Guiwen YE ; Xiaojun XU ; Zhidong LIU ; Wenhui YU ; Guan ZHENG ; Zepeng SU ; Jiajie LIN ; Yunshu CHE ; Yipeng ZENG ; Zhikun LI ; Pei FENG ; Qian CAO ; Zhongyu XIE ; Yanfeng WU ; Huiyong SHEN ; Jinteng LI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(8):4064-4077
Several types of arthritis share the common feature that the generation of inflammatory mediators leads to joint cartilage degradation. However, the shared mechanism is largely unknown. H2BK120ub1 was reportedly involved in various inflammatory diseases but its role in the shared mechanism in inflammatory joint conditions remains elusive. The present study demonstrated that levels of cartilage degradation, H2BK120ub1, and its regulator WW domain-containing adapter protein with coiled-coil (WAC) were increased in cartilage in human rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) patients as well as in experimental RA and OA mice. By regulating H2BK120ub1 and H3K27me3, WAC regulated the secretion of inflammatory and cartilage-degrading factors. WAC influenced the level of H3K27me3 by regulating nuclear entry of the H3K27 demethylase KDM6B, and acted as a key factor of the crosstalk between H2BK120ub1 and H3K27me3. The cartilage-specific knockout of WAC demonstrated the ability to alleviate cartilage degradation in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and collagenase-induced osteoarthritis (CIOA) mice. Through molecular docking and dynamic simulation, doxercalciferol was found to inhibit WAC and the development of cartilage degradation in the CIA and CIOA models. Our study demonstrated that WAC is a key factor of cartilage degradation in arthritis, and targeting WAC by doxercalciferol could be a viable therapeutic strategy for treating cartilage destruction in several types of arthritis.
4.Autophagy in Oligodendrocyte Lineage Cells Controls Oligodendrocyte Numbers and Myelin Integrity in an Age-dependent Manner.
Hong CHEN ; Gang YANG ; De-En XU ; Yu-Tong DU ; Chao ZHU ; Hua HU ; Li LUO ; Lei FENG ; Wenhui HUANG ; Yan-Yun SUN ; Quan-Hong MA
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(3):374-390
Oligodendrocyte lineage cells, including oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) and oligodendrocytes (OLs), are essential in establishing and maintaining brain circuits. Autophagy is a conserved process that keeps the quality of organelles and proteostasis. The role of autophagy in oligodendrocyte lineage cells remains unclear. The present study shows that autophagy is required to maintain the number of OPCs/OLs and myelin integrity during brain aging. Inactivation of autophagy in oligodendrocyte lineage cells increases the number of OPCs/OLs in the developing brain while exaggerating the loss of OPCs/OLs with brain aging. Inactivation of autophagy in oligodendrocyte lineage cells impairs the turnover of myelin basic protein (MBP). It causes MBP to accumulate in the cytoplasm as multimeric aggregates and fails to be incorporated into integral myelin, which is associated with attenuated endocytic recycling. Inactivation of autophagy in oligodendrocyte lineage cells impairs myelin integrity and causes demyelination. Thus, this study shows autophagy is required to maintain myelin quality during aging by controlling the turnover of myelin components.
Animals
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Autophagy/physiology*
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Oligodendroglia/metabolism*
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Myelin Sheath/physiology*
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Aging/pathology*
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Myelin Basic Protein/metabolism*
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Cell Lineage/physiology*
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Mice
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Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Brain/cytology*
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Cells, Cultured
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Cell Count
5.Correction to: Autophagy in Oligodendrocyte Lineage Cells Controls Oligodendrocyte Numbers and Myelin Integrity in an Age-dependent Manner.
Hong CHEN ; Gang YANG ; De-En XU ; Yu-Tong DU ; Chao ZHU ; Hua HU ; Li LUO ; Lei FENG ; Wenhui HUANG ; Yan-Yun SUN ; Quan-Hong MA
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(3):547-548
6.Prioritization of potential drug targets for diabetic kidney disease using integrative omics data mining and causal inference.
Junyu ZHANG ; Jie PENG ; Chaolun YU ; Yu NING ; Wenhui LIN ; Mingxing NI ; Qiang XIE ; Chuan YANG ; Huiying LIANG ; Miao LIN
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(8):101265-101265
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) with increasing global prevalence lacks effective therapeutic targets to halt or reverse its progression. Therapeutic targets supported by causal genetic evidence are more likely to succeed in randomized clinical trials. In this study, we integrated large-scale plasma proteomics, genetic-driven causal inference, and experimental validation to identify prioritized targets for DKD using the UK Biobank (UKB) and FinnGen cohorts. Among 2844 diabetic patients (528 with DKD), we identified 37 targets significantly associated with incident DKD, supported by both observational and causal evidence. Of these, 22% (8/37) of the potential targets are currently under investigation for DKD or other diseases. Our prospective study confirmed that higher levels of three prioritized targets-insulin-like growth factor binding protein 4 (IGFBP4), family with sequence similarity 3 member C (FAM3C), and prostaglandin D2 synthase (PTGDS)-were associated with a 4.35, 3.51, and 3.57-fold increased likelihood of developing DKD, respectively. In addition, population-level protein-altering variants (PAVs) analysis and in vitro experiments cross-validated FAM3C and IGFBP4 as potential new target candidates for DKD, through the classic NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3)-caspase-1-gasdermin D (GSDMD) apoptotic axis. Our results demonstrate that integrating omics data mining with causal inference may be a promising strategy for prioritizing therapeutic targets.
7.Novel araucarene diterpenes from Agathis dammara exert hypoglycemic activity by promoting pancreatic β cell regeneration and glucose uptake.
Zhewei YU ; Yi ZHANG ; Wenhui WANG ; XinYi WU ; Shunzhi LIU ; Yanlin BIN ; Hongsheng LI ; Bangping CAI ; Zheng WANG ; Meijuan FANG ; Rong QI ; Mingyu LI ; Yingkun QIU
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(4):492-503
In this study, araucarene diterpenes, characterized by a pimarene skeleton with a variably oxidized side chain at C-13, were investigated. A total of 16 araucarene diterpenoids and their derivatives were isolated from the woods of Agathis dammara, including 11 previously unreported compounds: dammaradione (1), dammarones D-G (2, 5, 14, 15), dammaric acids B-F (8-12), and dammarol (16). The structures of these new compounds were elucidated using high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (HR-ESI-MS) and one-dimensional/two-dimensional (1D/2D) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), while their absolute configurations were determined through the electronic circular dichroism (ECD) exciton chirality method and Snatzke's method. The hypoglycemic activity of all isolated compounds was evaluated using a transgenic zebrafish model, and a structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis was conducted. Araucarone (3) and dammaric acid C (9), serving as representative compounds, demonstrated significant hypoglycemic effects on zebrafish. The primary mechanism involves the promotion of pancreatic β cell regeneration and glucose uptake. Specifically, these compounds enhance the differentiation of pancreatic endocrine precursor cells (PEP cells) into β cells in zebrafish.
Zebrafish
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Animals
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Diterpenes/isolation & purification*
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Insulin-Secreting Cells/cytology*
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Glucose/metabolism*
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Hypoglycemic Agents/isolation & purification*
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Molecular Structure
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Structure-Activity Relationship
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Plant Extracts/pharmacology*
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Regeneration/drug effects*
8.Differential Analysis of Erythrocyte Flexibility of PbK173 Artemisinin-sensitive Strains
Hongying ZHOU ; Wenhui XU ; Miyi YANG ; Hang SHI ; Lanfang LI ; Guihua YU ; Canghai LI ; Huajing WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(7):95-103
ObjectiveTo detect the flexibility differences of Plasmodium berghei K173 (PbK173)-infected red blood cells with varying degrees of sensitivity to artemisinin-based drugs and to preliminarily explore the underlying mechanisms of the differences. MethodA total of 102 specific-pathogen-free (SPF) male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups, with 30 mice each in the control group and PbK173-resistant (PbK173-R) group, and 42 mice in the PbK173-sensitive (PbK173-S) group. Except for the control group, the rest groups were vaccinated with 1×107 PbK173-S/PbK173-R infected red blood cells to establish a mouse malaria model. During the administration and recovery periods (control group, PbK173-R/PbK173-S), dihydroartemisinin (DHA, 40 mg·kg-1) and malaridine (MD, 6 mg·kg-1) were administered continuously for four days. Peripheral blood was taken from the PbK173-S/PbK173-R groups with an infection rate equal to or greater than 20%. Peripheral blood and each organ were taken on the first day at the end of administration (dosing period) and on the fifth day at the end of administration (recovery period), and blood parameters and organ indices of each group were examined. The osmotic fragility of peripheral blood red blood cells in each group was detected using the red blood cell osmotic fragility test. Western blot was applied to determine the levels of Piezo1 and Band3 proteins in the red blood cell membrane. ResultDuring the administration and recovery periods, there were no significant differences between the PbK173-S MD group and the DHA group. During the administration period, there were no significant differences in hematological parameters between PbK173-S and PbK173-R in the MD group. However, during the recovery period, the red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit of the PbK173-R group were significantly higher than those of the PbK173-S group (P<0.05) in the MD group. Compared with that of the control group, the osmotic fragility of the PbK173-S/PbK173-R groups was significantly enhanced (P<0.01), and the osmotic fragility of the PbK173-S group was significantly stronger than that of the PbK173-R group (P<0.01). The osmotic fragility of red blood cells in the PbK173-S group during the administration period was significantly stronger than that in the control group and PbK173-R group during the administration period (P<0.01). The osmotic fragility of red blood cells in the PbK173-R group during the recovery period was significantly higher than that in the control group during the administration period and the PbK173-S group during the recovery period (P<0.05). Compared with those in the control group, the Piezo1 protein and Band3 protein in the red blood cell membrane of the PbK173-S group were significantly reduced (P<0.01). Compared with those in the PbK173-R group, the Piezo1 protein and Band 3 protein in the red blood cell membrane of the PbK173-S group were significantly reduced. ConclusionThe flexibility of PbK173-infected red blood cells with different sensitivities to artemisinins differed. Plasmodium-infected red blood cells significantly reduced the levels of Piezo1 and Band3 proteins in the red blood cell membrane, and the erythrocyte flexibility exhibited a decreasing trend in the following order: normal group, PbK173-R group, and PbK173-S group.
9.Construction and Validation of A Prediction Model for Pulmonary Nodule Nature Based on Clinicopathological Features,Imaging and Serum Biomarkers
Rui YUAN ; Taoli WANG ; Wenhui YU ; Shunan ZHANG ; Shenghua LUO ; Yunlei LI ; Xiangrong WANG ; Jiachuan WANG ; Haitao GUO
Journal of Modern Laboratory Medicine 2024;39(1):146-151,157
Objective The study aimed to construct and validate a predictive model for pulmonary nodules(PN)nature based on clinicopa-thological features,imaging,and serum biomarkers,so as to provide scientificdecision-making for early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.Methods A retrospective was performed on 816 PN patients with definited pathological diagnosis who received surgical resection analysisor lung biopsy in the Department of Thoracic Surgery and Oncology of Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from January 2019 to February 2023.Among them,113 cases that did not meet the inclusion criteria were excluded,and the remaining 703 cases were included in the study.The study based on the clinicopathologic features(age,gender,smoking history,smoking cessation history and family history of cancer),chest imaging(maximum diameter of nodule,location of lesion,clear border,Lobulation,spiculation,vascular convergence sign,vacuole,calcification,air bronchial sign,emphysema,nodule type and pleural indentation,nodule number)and serum carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),cytokeratin 19 fragment(CYFRA21-1),squamous cell carcinoma antigen(SCCA)in patients with PN.These cases were randomly divided into a modeling group(n=552,237 benign,315 malignant)and a validation group(n=151,85 benign,66 malignant).First,univariate analysis was performed to screen for statistically significant predictors of nodules nature.Then,multivariate regression analysis was performed to screen for independent predictors of nodules nature.Finally,the prediction model of PN nature was constructed by logistic regression analysis.Subsequently,the validation group data were entered into the proposed model and Mayo clinic(Mayo)model,veterans affairs(VA)model,Brock University(Brock)model,Peking University(PKU)model and Guangzhou Medical University(GZMU)model,respectively.PN malignancy probability was calculated.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were plotted.The diagnostic efficiency of each model was compared according to the area under the curve(AUC).Results There were statistically significant variables including age,family history of cancer,maximum nodule diameter,nodule type,upper lobe of lung,calcification,vascular convergence sign,lobulation,clear border,spiculation,and serum CEA,SCCA,CYFRA21-1 using univariate analysis.Multiple regression analysis showed that age,CEA,clear border,CYFRA21-1,SCCA,upper lobe of lung,maximum nodule diameter,family history of cancer,spiculation and nodule type were independent predictors of PN nature.The prediction model equation constructed in this study is as follows:f(x)= ex/(1+ex),X=(-6.318 8+0.020 8×Age+0.527 4×CEA-0.928 4×clear border+0.294 6×Cyfra21-1+0.294×maximum nodule diameter+1.220 1×family history of cancer +0.573 2×upper lobe of lung +0.064 8×SCCA +1.461 5×Spiculation +1.497 6×nodule type).The AUC(0.799 vs 0.659,0.650)of the proposed model was significantly higher compared with Mayo model and VA model,and there were statistically significant differences(Z=3.029,2.638,P=0.003,0.008).However,compared with Brock model,PKU model and GZMU model,the differences of AUC(0.799 vs 0.762,0.773,0.769)were not statistically significant(Z=1.063,0.686,0.757,P=0.288,0.493,0.449).Conclusion The prediction model for PN nature established in this study is accurate and reliable,which can help clinics with early diagnosis and early intervention,and this prediction model deserves to be popularized.
10.NLRP3 is involved in interaction between myofibroblasts and M1-type macropha-ges in dairy cows
Yunjie BAI ; Jiamin ZHAO ; Zhiguo GONG ; Wenhui BAO ; Zhuoya YU ; Chao WANG ; Wei MAO ; Shuangyi ZHANG ; Bo LIU
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science 2024;44(7):1507-1513,1520
During the process of dairy farming,various factors such as physical injury and bacterial infection act upon body tissues or organs,leading to the disruption of skin or mucous tissue integ-rity and subsequent tissue injury and trauma.The healing of these injuries is a complex process that necessitates the coordinated efforts of different cells and involvement of diverse cytokines.A-mong them,the interaction between macrophages and myofibroblasts is indispensable for efficient tissue repair.Nod-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3),a pattern recognition receptor in the innate im-mune system,may play a regulatory role in modulating this intricate process.In this study,cow myofibroblasts and M1 type bone marrow-derived macrophages were cultured in vitro,followed by collection of cell culture supernatant for co-culture analysis.Both cytokine secretion levels in M1 type bone marrow-derived macrophages as well as expression patterns levels of myofibroblast growth factor protein and mRNA were detected.The regulatory mechanism underlying NLRP3 in-volvement in mediating interactions between these two cell types was investigated using NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950.The results showed that an effective method for culturing cow muscle fibroblasts in vitro was successfully established and myofibroblast conditioned medium(MFbCM)could regulate M1 macrophage secretion profiles.Moreover,M1 macrophage conditioned medium(M1?CM)was found to influence myofibroblast growth factor expression levels.Our findings sug-gest that NLRP3 plays a significant regulatory role during crosstalk between myofibroblasts and M1-type pro-inflammatory macrophages.

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