1.Mechanism of Action of Chinese Medicinal Herbs in the Treatment of Primary Myelofibrosis based on Bioinformatics and Molecular Dynamics
Jiayuan GUO ; Jile XIN ; Man ZHANG ; Mingxin LIU ; Jingwen LIU ; Yajing SU ; Huihui SHI ; Jue GUO ; Wenqing LIU ; Kailu WEI ; Yalin SONG ; Qiuling MA
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(21):2250-2258
ObjectiveTo explore the molecular mechanism implicated in the treatment of primary myelofibrosis (PMF) using Chinese medicinal herbs (CMH) by bioinformatics and molecular dynamics. MethodsData mining was performed to find the high-frequency CMH in treating PMF between the year of 1985 and 2024 by searching CNKI, Chinese Science and Technology Journal Database (CCD), and China Academic Journal Database (CSPD). TCMSP, SwissTargetPrediction and related reports were used to collect the main active ingredients of high-frequency CMH and their targets. The PMF datasets GSE44426 and GSE124281 were downloaded from GEO database, and R software was used for data normalization and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) screening. Key module hub genes were obtained by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) analysis. The common intersection genes of active ingredient targets, DEGs and key module hub genes of CMH were selected, and the target network was generated using Cytoscape 3.9.2 software. The core target network was generated by topological analysis, while key pathways were selected by GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, and protein interaction relationships were obtained from the String database, so as to construct drug-ingredient-target network and protein interaction network (PPI) relationship diagrams. Discovery Studio 2020 software was used to perform molecular docking, and the GROMACS program was used to perform molecular dynamics simulation. ResultsA total of 21 prescriptions were collected involving 121 herbs. There were 9 herbs with a frequency ≥10 times, which were Danshen (Radix et Rhizoma Salviae Miltiorrhizae), Huangqi (Radix Astragali), Baizhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae), Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), Dangshen (Radix Codonopsis), Gancao (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae), Baishao (Radix Paeoniae Alba), Fuling (Poria) and Shudihuang (Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata) from high- to low-frequency. A total of 98 active ingredients and 1125 potential targets were obtained from 9 high-frequency CMH. GSE44426 and GSE124281 data sets screened out 24 gene samples, including 14 of the healthy control group and 10 of the PMF group, and identified 319 DEGs between the two groups, including 122 up-regulated genes and 197 down-regulated genes. WGCNA screened out 24 co-expression module genes and found that the five modules closely related to the onset of PMF were MEpink, MEdarkred, MEblack, MEgrey, and MEturquoise, involving 7112 key module hub genes. The GO and KEGG enrichment analyses indicated that lipids and the atherosclerosis pathways were mainly involved in the mechanism of above high-frequency CMH in treating PMF, which included six hub protein targets: HSP90AA1, HSP90AB1, SRC, MAPK1, IL1B and IL10. From the drug-ingredient-target network, seven active ingredients of CMH targeting at these six hub targets were found, including verbascoside, verbascos isoflavone, kaempferol, luteolin, naringenin, quercetin and pachymic acid. The molecular docking and molecular dynamics analyses showed that the key CMH were Shudihuang, Huangqi, Baishao, Danshen, Gancao and Fuling, and among the seven active ingredients, calycosin had the highest binding affinity with HSP90AB1. ConclusionThe main CMH for the treatment of PMF may be Shudihuang, Huangqi, Baishao, Danshen, Gancao and Fuling, and the active ingredients include verbascoside, verbascos isoflavones, kaempferol, luteolin, naringenin, quercetin and pachymic acid. The relevant targets are HSP90AA1, HSP90AB1, SRC, MAPK1, IL-10, and IL-1β, and the most critical pathways are lipid and atherosclerosis pathways.
2.Application of immune combination therapy in MSS/pMMR-type colorectal cancer: current status and future perspectives
Xiaoling ZHANG ; Wenxuan FAN ; Yunyi DU ; Yan ZHANG ; Fei SU ; Wenqing HU ; Jun ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Oncology 2024;46(8):725-736
In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been widely used in malignant solid tumors with remarkable efficacy. However, in colorectal cancer (CRC), ICIs have shown significant therapeutic effects only in patients with highly microsatellite unstable/mismatch repair-deficient metastatic CRC and these patients are only a minority of all CRC patients. In contrast, the majority of patients, those with microsatellite stable (MSS)/mismatch repair-complete (pMMR)-type metastatic CRC, could hardly benefit from ICI monotherapies, and immune combination therapies have become the key to solveing this clinical challenge. This article introduces the common patterns and possible mechanisms of immune-combination therapies for MSS/pMMR-type CRC, the exploration and progress made in the application of immune-combination therapies, as well as the possible predictive markers of efficacy of immune therapies. The prospects and directions of ICIs in the treatment of MSS/pMMR-type CRC are also discussed.
3.Application of immune combination therapy in MSS/pMMR-type colorectal cancer: current status and future perspectives
Xiaoling ZHANG ; Wenxuan FAN ; Yunyi DU ; Yan ZHANG ; Fei SU ; Wenqing HU ; Jun ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Oncology 2024;46(8):725-736
In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been widely used in malignant solid tumors with remarkable efficacy. However, in colorectal cancer (CRC), ICIs have shown significant therapeutic effects only in patients with highly microsatellite unstable/mismatch repair-deficient metastatic CRC and these patients are only a minority of all CRC patients. In contrast, the majority of patients, those with microsatellite stable (MSS)/mismatch repair-complete (pMMR)-type metastatic CRC, could hardly benefit from ICI monotherapies, and immune combination therapies have become the key to solveing this clinical challenge. This article introduces the common patterns and possible mechanisms of immune-combination therapies for MSS/pMMR-type CRC, the exploration and progress made in the application of immune-combination therapies, as well as the possible predictive markers of efficacy of immune therapies. The prospects and directions of ICIs in the treatment of MSS/pMMR-type CRC are also discussed.
4.Application and development of multi-modal data fusion technology in nursing decision support system
Wenqing CAI ; Chen ZHANG ; Yuyang ZHANG ; Yajing SU ; Wanjun CHEN ; Yang CHEN ; Yumeng ZHANG ; Qingyin LI
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2024;30(28):3805-3809
With the continuous improvement of medical information and intelligence, multi-modal data fusion technology is increasingly widely used in the medical field. Multi-modal data not only has a large quantity, but also has rich information content, which can provide strong support for clinical nursing decision-making. However, due to the uneven level of informatization and intelligence development among medical institutions, the development and application of nursing decision support system is still in a fragmented state. Based on this, this study explores in depth the current application status and challenges faced by multi-modal data fusion in nursing decision support systems, with the aim of providing reference for the design and improvement of nursing decision support system at all levels of medical institutions in the future.
5.Maackiain inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by inhibiting the MAPK/Ras signaling pathway.
Xing JIANG ; Xiaonan YANG ; Yanxia SHI ; Yan LONG ; Wenqing SU ; Wendong HE ; Kunhua WEI ; Jianhua MIAO
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2023;21(3):185-196
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is the third most common malignancy with a high recurrence and metastasis rate in South China. Natural compounds extracted from traditional Chinese herbal medicines have been developed and utilized for the treatment of a variety of cancers with modest properties and slight side effects. Maackiain (MA) is a type of flavonoid that was first isolated from leguminous plants, and it has been reported to relieve various nervous system disorders and exert anti-allergic as well as anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we demonstrated that MA inhibited proliferation, arrested cell cycle and induced apoptosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE1 and CNE2 cells in vitro and in vivo. The expression of the related proteins associated with these processes were consistent with the above effects. Moreover, transcriptome sequencing and subsequent Western blot experiments revealed that inhibition of the MAPK/Ras pathway may be responsible to the anti-tumor effect of MA on NPC cells. Therefore, the effects of MA and an activator of this pathway, tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), alone or combination, were investigated. The results showed TBHQ neutralized the inhibitory effects of MA. These data suggest that MA exerts its anti-tumor effect by inhibiting the MAPK/Ras signaling pathway and it has the potential to become a treatment for patients with NPC.
Humans
;
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma/pathology*
;
Cell Line, Tumor
;
Cell Proliferation
;
Apoptosis
;
Signal Transduction
;
Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/pathology*
6.The safety and short-term efficacy of laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy for proximal gastric cancer and adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction: a multicenter study
Jun YOU ; Zhaojian NIU ; Lin FAN ; Kuan WANG ; Yongliang ZHAO ; Quan WANG ; Su YAN ; Li YANG ; Changqing JING ; Jiang YU ; Wu SONG ; Lu ZANG ; Jiadi XING ; Wenqing HU ; Fenglin LIU
Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery 2023;22(3):355-362
Objective:To investigate the safety and short-term efficacy of laparoscopic pro-ximal gastrectomy (LPG) for proximal gastric cancer and adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction.Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 385 patients with proximal gastric cancer and adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction who underwent LPG in the 15 medical centers, including the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University et al, from January 2014 to March 2022 were collected. There were 304 males and 81 females, aged (63±9)years. Of the 385 patients, 335 cases undergoing LPG were divided into the laparoscopic group and 50 cases undergoing open proximal gastrectomy were divided into the open group. Observation indicators: (1) intraoperative and postoperative situations; (2) follow-up; (3) stratified analysis. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M(range), and comparison between groups was conducted using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Count data were described as absolute numbers, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Repeated measurement data were analyzed using the repeated ANOVA. Results:(1) Intraoperative and postoperative situations. The operation time, cases with reconstruction of digestive tract as esophagogastric anastomosis and esophageal-jejunal anastomosis, cases with postoperative pathological staging as stage 0?Ⅰ and stage Ⅱ?Ⅲ, duration of postoperative hospital stay, cases with postoperative early complications were (212±96)minutes, 270, 65, 177, 107, 10(range, 8?14)days, 40 in patients of the laparoscopic group, with 51 cases missing the data of postoperative pathological staging. The above indicators were (174±90)minutes, 39, 11, 22, 28, 10(range, 8?18)days, 10 in patients of the open group. There were significant differences in the opera-tion time and postoperative pathological staging between the two groups ( t=2.62, χ2=5.93, P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the reconstruction of digestive tract, duration of post-operative hospital stay, postoperative early complications between the two groups ( χ2=0.19, Z=0.40, χ2=2.50, P>0.05). (2) Follow-up. Of the 385 patients,202 cases were followed up during the post-operative 12 months, including 187 cases in the laparoscopic group and 15 cases in the open group. Cases with reflux esophagitis, cases with esophageal anastomotic stenosis were 48, 11 in patients of the laparoscopic group, versus 5, 2 in patients of the open group, showing no significant difference in the above indicators between the two groups ( P>0.05). The body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin (Hb), albumin (Alb) at postoperative 6 months and 12 months were (21±3)kg/m 2, (130±15)g/L, (40±4)g/L and (21±3)kg/m 2, (132±14)g/L, (41±4)g/L in patients of the laparoscopic group, versus (21±3)kg/m 2, (121±19)g/L, (37±5)g/L and (21±3)kg/m 2, (125±21)g/L, (43±6)g/L in patients of the open group. There were significant differences in postoperative Hb between the two groups ( Fgroup=5.88, Ftime=5.49, Finteraction=19.95, P<0.05) and there were significant differences in time effect of postopera-tive BMI and Alb between the two groups ( Ftime=9.53, 49.88, P<0.05). (3) Stratified analysis. ① Incidence of postoperative of reflux esophagitis and esophageal anastomotic stenosis in patients with different reconstruction of digestive tract. Of the 202 patients, cases with reconstruction of digestive tract as esophagogastric anastomosis and esophageal-jejunal anastomosis were 168 and 34, respectively. The incidence rates of postoperative of reflux esophagitis were 26.79%(45/168)and 23.53%(8/34)in cases with reconstruction of digestive tract as esophagogastric anastomosis and esophageal-jejunal anastomosis, showing no significant difference between them ( χ2=0.16, P>0.05). Cases undergoing esophageal anastomotic stenosis were 13 in patients with reconstruction of diges-tive tract as esophagogastric anastomosis. ② The BMI, Hb, Alb in patients with different reconstruc-tion of digestive tract. The BMI, Hb, Alb were (24±3)kg/m 2, (135±20)g/L, (41±5)g/L in the 168 patients with reconstruction of digestive tract as esophagogastric anastomosis before the operation, versus (23±3)kg/m 2, (130±19)g/L, (40±4)g/L in the 34 patients with reconstruction of digestive tract as esophageal-jejunal anastomosis before the operation, showing no significant difference between them ( t=1.44, 1.77, 1.33, P>0.05). The BMI, Hb, Alb at postoperative 6 months and 12 months were (21±3)kg/m 2, (128±16)g/L, (39±4)g/L and (21±3)kg/m 2, (131±16)g/L, (41±4)g/L in the 168 patients with reconstruction of digestive tract as esophagogastric anastomosis, versus (20±4)kg/m 2, (133±13)g/L, (43±3)g/L and (21±3)kg/m 2, (135±12)g/L, (44±3)g/L in the 34 patients with reconstruction of digestive tract as esophageal-jejunal anastomosis. There were significant differences in the group effect and time effect of postoperative Alb between patients with different reconstruction of diges-tive tract ( Fgroup=15.82, Ftime=5.43, P<0.05), and there was also a significant difference in the time effect of postoperative BMI between them ( Ftime=4.22 , P<0.05). Conclusion:LPG can be used to the treatment of proximal gastric cancer and adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction, with a good safety and short-term efficacy.
7.Functional characterization of piggyBac-like elements from Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae).
Jun LYU ; Qin SU ; Jinhui LIU ; Lin CHEN ; Jiawei SUN ; Wenqing ZHANG
Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B 2022;23(6):515-527
PiggyBac is a transposable DNA element originally discovered in the cabbage looper moth (Trichoplusia ni). The T. ni piggyBac transposon can introduce exogenous fragments into a genome, constructing a transgenic organism. Nevertheless, the comprehensive analysis of endogenous piggyBac-like elements (PLEs) is important before using piggyBac, because they may influence the genetic stability of transgenic lines. Herein, we conducted a genome-wide analysis of PLEs in the brown planthopper (BPH) Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), and identified a total of 28 PLE sequences. All N. lugens piggyBac-like elements (NlPLEs) were present as multiple copies in the genome of BPH. Among the identified NlPLEs, NlPLE25 had the highest copy number and it was distributed on five chromosomes. The full length of NlPLE25 consisted of terminal inverted repeats and sub-terminal inverted repeats at both terminals, as well as a single open reading frame transposase encoding 546 amino acids. Furthermore, NlPLE25 transposase caused precise excision and transposition in cultured insect cells and also restored the original TTAA target sequence after excision. A cross-recognition between the NlPLE25 transposon and the piggyBac transposon was also revealed in this study. These findings provide useful information for the construction of transgenic insect lines.
Amino Acid Sequence
;
Animals
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Animals, Genetically Modified
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DNA Transposable Elements/genetics*
;
Hemiptera/genetics*
;
Transposases/genetics*
8.SOX12 Promotes Thyroid Cancer Cell Proliferation and Invasion by Regulating the Expression of POU2F1 and POU3F1
Zhenxi SU ; Wenqing BAO ; Guanghua YANG ; Jianping LIU ; Bin ZHAO
Yonsei Medical Journal 2022;63(6):591-600
Purpose:
SOX12 is overexpressed in many cancers, and we aimed to explore the biological function and mechanism of SOX12 in thyroid cancer.
Materials and Methods:
We first analyzed the expression of SOX12 in thyroid cancer using data in The Cancer Genome Atlas. Immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR were performed to identify SOX12 expression in thyroid cancer tissue and cells. Thyroid cancer cells were transfected with small interfering RNA targeting SOX12, and cellular functional experiments, including CCK8, wound healing, and Transwell assays, were performed. Protein expression was examined by Western blot analysis. A xenograft model was developed to evaluate the effect of SOX12 on tumor growth in vivo.
Results:
SOX12 expression was increased in thyroid cancer tissue and cells. SOX12 promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and accelerated tumor growth in vivo. The expression of PCNA, Cyclin D1, E-cadherin, Snail, MMP-2, and MMP-9 was affected by SOX12 knockdown. Bioinformatic analysis showed that SOX12 could interact with the POU family. SOX12 knockdown inhibited the expression of POU2F1, POU2F2, POU3F1 and POU3F2, and SOX12 expression showed a positive correlation with POU2F1, POU3F1, and POU3F2 expression in clinical data. POU2F1 and POU3F1 were able to reverse the effect of SOX12 knockdown on thyroid cancer cells.
Conclusion
SOX12 affects the progression of thyroid cancer by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition and interacting with POU2F1 and POU3F1, which may be novel targets for thyroid cancer molecular therapy.
9.Inhibitory Effect and Target Prediction of Genistein on the Growth of Human Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma CNE 1 Cells
Wendong HE ; Wenqing SU ; Kunhua WEI ; Ling KUI ; Shuo WANG ; Xiaomei GONG ; Xiaonan YANG ; Jianhua MIAO
China Pharmacy 2021;32(10):1196-1204
OBJECTIVE:To study the inhibi tory effects of genistein on the growth of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma. CNE 1 cells and predict its potential target. METHODS :CCK-8 method was used to test the effects of 0(blank control ),12.5,25,50, 100,150 µmol/L genistein on the proliferation of CNE 1 cells after treated for 24,48,72 h. Flow cytometry was carried out to detect the effects of 0(blank control ),15,30,60 µmol/L genistein on the cell cycle and ap optosis of CNE 1 cells after treated for 24 h. Scratch test was used to investigate the effects of 0(blank control ), 10, 20, 30 µmol/L genistein on themigration ability of CNE 1 cells after treated for 24 h. High (No.18210156) throughput sequencing was conducted to discover the differential genes in CNE 1 cells after treated with 0(blankcontrol),30 µmol/L genistein for 24 h. RT-qPCR assay was adopted to verify the mRNA expression of related differential genes in above trials. RESULTS : Compared with blank control,12.5,25,50,100,150 µmol/L genistein sho wed significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation of CNE 1 cells(P< 0.01),in a concentration- time-effect manner ;15,30 µmol/L genistein could arrest CNE 1 cell cycle at G 0/G1 stage(P<0.05 or P< 0.01);30,60 µmol/L could arrest CNE 1 cell cycle at G 2/M stage and promoted cell apoptosis (P<0.05 or P<0.01). 10,20,30 µmol/L genistein could significantly inhibit the migration ability of CNE 1 cells(padj<0.01). High throughput sequencing revealed a total of 2 271 differentialgenes(P<0.05),1 154 of which were up-regulated while 1 117 of which were down-regulated ;8 potential target genes ,including p53,p21,STC2,FGF2,CDK6,CYCLIN D ,PI3K,AKT,were screened by cell experiment. After validated by RT-qPCR assay ,mRNA expression of p53,p21,STC2,FGF2,CDK6,CYCLIN D and AKT were significantly down-regulated(P<0.05),which consistent with the sequencing results. CONCLUSIONS :Genistein can effectively inhibit the growth of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE 1 cells,the mechanism of which may associated with inhibiting the expression of mutant gene p53,restoring the function of wild-type P 53 protein and inhibiting the activity of PI 3K/Akt pathway.
10.A human circulating immune cell landscape in aging and COVID-19.
Yingfeng ZHENG ; Xiuxing LIU ; Wenqing LE ; Lihui XIE ; He LI ; Wen WEN ; Si WANG ; Shuai MA ; Zhaohao HUANG ; Jinguo YE ; Wen SHI ; Yanxia YE ; Zunpeng LIU ; Moshi SONG ; Weiqi ZHANG ; Jing-Dong J HAN ; Juan Carlos Izpisua BELMONTE ; Chuanle XIAO ; Jing QU ; Hongyang WANG ; Guang-Hui LIU ; Wenru SU
Protein & Cell 2020;11(10):740-770
Age-associated changes in immune cells have been linked to an increased risk for infection. However, a global and detailed characterization of the changes that human circulating immune cells undergo with age is lacking. Here, we combined scRNA-seq, mass cytometry and scATAC-seq to compare immune cell types in peripheral blood collected from young and old subjects and patients with COVID-19. We found that the immune cell landscape was reprogrammed with age and was characterized by T cell polarization from naive and memory cells to effector, cytotoxic, exhausted and regulatory cells, along with increased late natural killer cells, age-associated B cells, inflammatory monocytes and age-associated dendritic cells. In addition, the expression of genes, which were implicated in coronavirus susceptibility, was upregulated in a cell subtype-specific manner with age. Notably, COVID-19 promoted age-induced immune cell polarization and gene expression related to inflammation and cellular senescence. Therefore, these findings suggest that a dysregulated immune system and increased gene expression associated with SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility may at least partially account for COVID-19 vulnerability in the elderly.
Adult
;
Aged
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Aged, 80 and over
;
Aging
;
genetics
;
immunology
;
Betacoronavirus
;
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes
;
metabolism
;
Cell Lineage
;
Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly
;
Coronavirus Infections
;
immunology
;
Cytokine Release Syndrome
;
etiology
;
immunology
;
Cytokines
;
biosynthesis
;
genetics
;
Disease Susceptibility
;
Flow Cytometry
;
methods
;
Gene Expression Profiling
;
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
;
Gene Rearrangement
;
Humans
;
Immune System
;
cytology
;
growth & development
;
immunology
;
Immunocompetence
;
genetics
;
Inflammation
;
genetics
;
immunology
;
Mass Spectrometry
;
methods
;
Middle Aged
;
Pandemics
;
Pneumonia, Viral
;
immunology
;
Sequence Analysis, RNA
;
Single-Cell Analysis
;
Transcriptome
;
Young Adult

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