1.KDM5A/cGAS-STING–mediated microglial activation contributes to prenatal fine particulate matter induced cerebral cortical injury in offspring mice
Wenke NIE ; Li ZHOU ; Siqi WANG ; Chao SONG ; Hang YU ; Wanwei LI ; Mengxiao LUAN ; Lu SUN ; Li YU
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2026;43(3):270-277
Background Prenatal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is closely associated with cortical damage and neuroinflammation in offspring. The cyclic guanosine monophosphate–adenosine monophosphate synthase (cGAS)–stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway is a key regulator of inflammation and may be subject to epigenetic regulation. Objective To investigate the role of cGAS-STING pathway activation in PM2.5-induced cortical damage in offspring mice during pregnancy and the underlying epigenetic regulatory mechanisms. Methods Open field tests were used to assess depressive-like behavior in offspring mice. Morphological analysis was conducted to evaluate cortical damage and microglial activation in offspring brains. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blot (WB) were performed to detect changes in the expression of key molecules in the cGAS-STING pathway in cortical tissue. A PM2.5-induced microglial cell injury model was established in BV2 cells. Microglial activation was observed, cell viability was measured using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), and the expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and key molecules in the cGAS-STING pathway were detected by RT-qPCR and WB. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to explore the epigenetic regulatory association between the STING signaling pathway and lysine-specific demethylase 5A (KDM5A). Changes in KDM5A mRNA and protein expression, as well as the protein level of histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3), were detected in an in vitro PM2.5 injury model. Using small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology, the KDM5A gene was silenced in BV2 cells exposed to PM2.5. The protein expression of H3K4me3 was detected to evaluate improvements in microglial activation, changes in inflammatory markers such as iNOS and mannose receptor (CD206), and alterations in the cGAS-STING pathway. Results Compared with the control group, the total distance of offspring mice in the PM2.5 group was significantly reduced, and both the distance traveled and the time spent in the central area of the open field were significantly decreased (P<0.01, P<0.001), indicating depressive-like behavior in the offspring mice. Compared with the control group, the offspring mice in the PM2.5 group exhibited disorganized cortical structure and significantly activated microglia (P<0.01), with significantly increased mRNA and protein levels of cGAS and STING (P<0.05, P<0.01, or P<0.001). The in vitro experiments demonstrated that the PM2.5 treatment induced BV2 cells to polarize toward the M1 phenotype, exhibiting a distinct amoeboid morphology, with upregulated expression of the pro-inflammatory factor iNOS (P<0.05, P<0.01, or P<0.001) and activation of the cGAS-STING pathway (P<0.05, P<0.01). The analysis of RNA-seq data from KDM5A knockout cells revealed significantly downregulated STING expression, suggesting that KDM5A may activate the STING signaling pathway. The in vitro experiments further confirmed that the PM2.5-treated BV2 cells exhibited significantly elevated mRNA and protein levels of KDM5A (P<0.01), while the H3K4me3 protein levels were markedly reduced (P<0.05). After silencing KDM5A in BV2 cells exposed to PM2.5, compared with the PM2.5+siNC group, the PM2.5+siKDM5A group showed no obvious microglial activation and polarized toward the M2 phenotype, with significantly decreased expression levels of iNOS, cluster of differentiation 16 (CD16), and interleukin-1β (P<0.05, P<0.01), and significantly increased expression levels of anti-inflammatory factors CD206, YM1, and interleukin-10 (P<0.01, P<0.001). Meanwhile, the expression levels of cGAS and STING were also reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion KDM5A activates microglia through the cGAS-STING pathway, thereby contributing to PM2.5-induced cortical damage in offspring mice during pregnancy.
2.Indications and clinical controversies of preoperative biliary drainage at different anatomical sites in malignant obstructive jaundice
Xuean ZHAO ; Wenke QIN ; Xin LI ; Wence ZHOU
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2025;34(8):1758-1765
Malignant obstructive jaundice is a severe pathophysiological disorder characterized primarily by hyperbilirubinemia secondary to biliary obstruction.To mitigate the adverse effects of hyperbilirubinemia and reduce postoperative complications,preoperative biliary drainage(PBD)has long been employed as a perioperative management strategy.Nevertheless,whether PBD confers definitive clinical benefits remains a subject of considerable debate.This review systematically summarizes the current literature,with particular emphasis on the indications,approaches,and clinical value of PBD in relation to obstruction at different anatomical sites,aiming to provide evidence-based guidance for surgical decision-making in patients with malignant obstructive jaundice.
3.Ring Finger 13 Alleviates Neuronal Ferroptosis in Cerebral Ischemia Reperfusion Injury by Stabilizing Ferritin Heavy Chain 1
Shuang LI ; Qiangping WANG ; Wenke ZHOU
Acta Medicinae Universitatis Scientiae et Technologiae Huazhong 2025;54(4):459-464
Objective To investigate the function of Ring finger protein 13(RNF13)in cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury(CIRI),and its mechanism.Methods The mouse middle cerebral artery embolization and primary neuron oxygen-glucose depri-vation and reoxygenation were used as disease models.The CRISPR/Cas9 gene knockout technique,immunohistochemical stai-ning,immunofluorescence staining,Western blot and lipid peroxidation detection were used to evaluate the regulatory effect and molecular mechanism of RNF13 on ferroptosis in CIRI.Student's t test was used for the comparison of two samples,and one-way analysis of variance was used for the comparison of multiple samples.Results The expression levels of RNF13 protein in mice and primary neurons were upregulated during CIRI.After knockout of RNF13,ferritin heavy chain 1(Fth1)and ferritin light chain(Ftl)were downregulated,and the content of free ferrous ions and the accumulation of lipid peroxides in mice brain tissues were promoted,leading to ferroptosis aggravation and neurological impairments.Overexpression of RNF13 protected a-gainst ferroptosis by reducing the production of free ferrous and lipid peroxides in neurons.Conclusion RNF13 alleviates fer-roptosis in neurons after CIRI,and the effect is induced by Fth1.
4.Indications and clinical controversies of preoperative biliary drainage at different anatomical sites in malignant obstructive jaundice
Xuean ZHAO ; Wenke QIN ; Xin LI ; Wence ZHOU
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2025;34(8):1758-1765
Malignant obstructive jaundice is a severe pathophysiological disorder characterized primarily by hyperbilirubinemia secondary to biliary obstruction.To mitigate the adverse effects of hyperbilirubinemia and reduce postoperative complications,preoperative biliary drainage(PBD)has long been employed as a perioperative management strategy.Nevertheless,whether PBD confers definitive clinical benefits remains a subject of considerable debate.This review systematically summarizes the current literature,with particular emphasis on the indications,approaches,and clinical value of PBD in relation to obstruction at different anatomical sites,aiming to provide evidence-based guidance for surgical decision-making in patients with malignant obstructive jaundice.
5.Ring Finger 13 Alleviates Neuronal Ferroptosis in Cerebral Ischemia Reperfusion Injury by Stabilizing Ferritin Heavy Chain 1
Shuang LI ; Qiangping WANG ; Wenke ZHOU
Acta Medicinae Universitatis Scientiae et Technologiae Huazhong 2025;54(4):459-464
Objective To investigate the function of Ring finger protein 13(RNF13)in cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury(CIRI),and its mechanism.Methods The mouse middle cerebral artery embolization and primary neuron oxygen-glucose depri-vation and reoxygenation were used as disease models.The CRISPR/Cas9 gene knockout technique,immunohistochemical stai-ning,immunofluorescence staining,Western blot and lipid peroxidation detection were used to evaluate the regulatory effect and molecular mechanism of RNF13 on ferroptosis in CIRI.Student's t test was used for the comparison of two samples,and one-way analysis of variance was used for the comparison of multiple samples.Results The expression levels of RNF13 protein in mice and primary neurons were upregulated during CIRI.After knockout of RNF13,ferritin heavy chain 1(Fth1)and ferritin light chain(Ftl)were downregulated,and the content of free ferrous ions and the accumulation of lipid peroxides in mice brain tissues were promoted,leading to ferroptosis aggravation and neurological impairments.Overexpression of RNF13 protected a-gainst ferroptosis by reducing the production of free ferrous and lipid peroxides in neurons.Conclusion RNF13 alleviates fer-roptosis in neurons after CIRI,and the effect is induced by Fth1.
6.Protocol for the Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines for Children with Upper Airway cough Syndrome
Lingyun ZHANG ; Xiyou WANG ; Daxin LIU ; Qiang HE ; Xuefeng WANG ; Xun LI ; Yutong FEI ; Yi XIAO ; Xiaoxue LAN ; Yuanwen LIANG ; Xiaoxuan LIN ; Rong ZHOU ; Sirui GU ; Ying ZHANG ; Yue WANG ; Xingzhu YE ; Wenke LIU ; Hong CHEN ; Changhe YU
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;46(8):961-966
In order to standardize the clinical diagnosis and treatment of upper airway cough syndrome (UACS) for children in China, Dongzhimen Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine initiated the development of this Traditional Chinese Medicine Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines for Children with Upper Airway cough Syndrome based on evidence-based medical evidence. This guideline will process registration, write a plan, and develop relevant processes and writing norms, develop and publish official documents. This plan mainly introduces the scope of the guidelines, the purpose and significance, the composition of the guidelines working group, the management of conflicts of interest, the collection, selection and determination of clinical problems, the retrieval, screening and rating of evidence, and the consensus of recommendations. Registration information: This study has been registered in the international practice guidelines registry platform with the registration code of PREPARE-2023CN087.
7.Long non-coding RNA and diseases
Wenchao LI ; Xiangsheng LI ; Fuguang LI ; Zhiyong ZHANG ; Lei HUI ; Wenke ZHOU
Basic & Clinical Medicine 2024;44(10):1465-1469
Long non-coding RNA(lncRNA)is a class of endogenous non-coding RNA with a length of more than 200 nt.Due to lack of open reading frame(ORF),they lack the ability to directly encode proteins,but they play a crucial role in gene regulation.They are widely involved in epigenetics,transcription,translation,modification and degradation,thereby affecting the life activities of the body,and their expression imbalance is closely related to the occurrence and development of diseases.Therefore,analyzing the inherent characteristics of lncRNA and revealing its intrinsic role can not only deepen our understanding of human physiological and pathological processes,but also provide new ideas and potential solutions for the diagnosis,prevention and treatment of diseases.So as to provide references for the related research of lncRNAs.
8.Research on the access strategy research of medical consumables in public medical institutions from the perspective of healthcare security
Yi YAN ; Wudong GUO ; Meng ZHOU ; Chi ZHANG ; Wenke XU ; Zhujun WANG
China Medical Equipment 2024;21(5):118-122
Objective:To explore the access mechanism of medical consumables in public medical institutions and to improve the top-level designs of medical consumables access based on the perspective of healthcare security management.Methods:From five dimensions of healthcare security supervision,implementation of coding standards(referred to as standard implementation),centralized procurement,medical service items and prices,and evaluation technologies,the access process of medical consumables was designed and targeted exploration strategies were proposed.Results:The access process for medical consumables is designed from five dimensions:strengthening the supervision of medical consumables and medical insurance,implementing the healthcare security standards for medical consumables,promoting the implementation of medical consumables healthcare security centralized procurement,promoting the development of healthcare security medical service projects and medical service price projects,and actively carrying out health technology assessment.The targeted strategies for the access of medical consumables were proposed of strengthening the learning and training of healthcare security business,building a multidisciplinary collaborative management system for medical consumables access in hospitals,exploring the establishment of health technology evaluation methods suitable for medical institutions in China and promoting the integration of medical consumables access information.Conclusion:Based on the perspective of healthcare security management,the core position of medical insurance in the access of medical consumables in public medical institutions was theoretically emphasized,which provides new ideas for the research of medical consumables access,and enriches the dimension of medical consumables access management.
9.Role of KDM5A regulating Notch signaling pathway in injury of off-spring mouse cerebral cortex caused by PM2.5 exposure during pregnancy
Yingjie SHE ; Chao SONG ; Li ZHOU ; Wenke NIE ; Lishan JIANG ; Mingxia SHAO ; Li YU
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2024;40(12):2245-2253
AIM:To investigate the role and mechanism of histone demethylase lysine-specific demethylase 5A(KDM5A)in regulating the Notch signaling pathway in particulate matter 2.5(PM2.5)-induced cortical damage in off-spring mice.METHODS:A pregnancy PM2.5 exposure model was established using intratracheal nebulization.Pregnant mice were randomly divided into PBS control group and PM2.5 exposure group.The cortices of offspring mice were isolated 14 d after birth.Golgi staining,electron microscopy and other methods were used to detect damage to neurons and chroma-tin in the cortex.Western blot,RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence staining were used to detect the mRNA and protein ex-pression of KDM5A in the cortex,and the distribution of KDM5A co-localized with neural cells.A PM2.5-treated PC12 cell injury model was established to detect changes in cell viability and the expression of proteins related to cell proliferation and apoptosis.Further,Western blot,RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence staining were used to detect the mRNA and pro-tein expression of KDM5A,the distribution of KDM5A co-localized with neurons,and changes in the protein level of his-tone H3K4me3.Bioinformatics methods were used to predict the interaction between KDM5A and Notch1,which was fur-ther validated by transfection experiments.In both in vivo and in vitro PM2.5 exposure models,changes in key molecules of the Notch signaling pathway and the co-expression of Notch1 with neural cells in the cortices of 14-day-old offspring mice and PC12 cells were detected.RESULTS:Prenatal PM2.5 exposure during pregnant led to a reduction in the number of neurons and decreased dentritic complexity in the cerebral cortex of offspring at 14 d after birth.It also caused abnormal chromatin condensation within neuronal nuclei,decreased mRNA and protein expression of KDM5A protein in the cortex,increased H3K4me3 protein levels(P<0.05),and a significant reduction in KDM5A/NeuN double-positive cells.Expo-sure to PM2.5 also resulted in decreased viability and proliferation,and increased apoptosis of PC12 cells,with reduced ex-pression of KDM5A mRNA and protein,increased H3K4me3 protein expression(P<0.05),and a reduction in the num-ber of KDM5A/MAP-2 double-positive cells.Bioinformatics analysis and transfection experiments in PC12 cells revealed that Notch1 is a downstream target gene of KDM5A.Further in vivo and in vitro experiments found that PM2.5 exposure lead to decreased mRNA and protein expression of key Notch signaling molecules Notch1,Jagged1 and Hes1,and reduced numbers of Notch1/NeuN and Notch1/MAP-2 double-positive cells.CONCLUSION:Exposure to PM2.5 can lead to abnor-mal expression of KDM5A in the offspring's cerebral cortex,which may cause neuronal damage by down-regulating the Notch signaling pathway,a downstream target.This could be one of the significant factors contributing to the neurodevelop-mental disorders in offspring exposed to PM2.5 during pregnancy.
10.Impairment of Autophagic Flux After Hypobaric Hypoxia Potentiates Oxidative Stress and Cognitive Function Disturbances in Mice.
Shuhui DAI ; Yuan FENG ; Chuanhao LU ; Hongchen ZHANG ; Wenke MA ; Wenyu XIE ; Xiuquan WU ; Peng LUO ; Lei ZHANG ; Fei FEI ; Zhou FEI ; Xia LI
Neuroscience Bulletin 2024;40(1):35-49
Acute hypobaric hypoxic brain damage is a potentially fatal high-altitude sickness. Autophagy plays a critical role in ischemic brain injury, but its role in hypobaric hypoxia (HH) remains unknown. Here we used an HH chamber to demonstrate that acute HH exposure impairs autophagic activity in both the early and late stages of the mouse brain, and is partially responsible for HH-induced oxidative stress, neuronal loss, and brain damage. The autophagic agonist rapamycin only promotes the initiation of autophagy. By proteome analysis, a screen showed that protein dynamin2 (DNM2) potentially regulates autophagic flux. Overexpression of DNM2 significantly increased the formation of autolysosomes, thus maintaining autophagic flux in combination with rapamycin. Furthermore, the enhancement of autophagic activity attenuated oxidative stress and neurological deficits after HH exposure. These results contribute to evidence supporting the conclusion that DNM2-mediated autophagic flux represents a new therapeutic target in HH-induced brain damage.
Mice
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Animals
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Hypoxia
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Oxidative Stress
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Autophagy
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Cognition
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Sirolimus/therapeutic use*

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