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.Role of Innate Trained Immunity in Diseases
Chuang CHENG ; Yue-Qing WANG ; Xiao-Qin MU ; Xi ZHENG ; Jing HE ; Jun WANG ; Chao TAN ; Xiao-Wen LIU ; Li-Li ZOU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):119-132
The innate immune system can be boosted in response to subsequent triggers by pre-exposure to microbes or microbial products, known as “trained immunity”. Compared to classical immune memory, innate trained immunity has several different features. Firstly, the molecules involved in trained immunity differ from those involved in classical immune memory. Innate trained immunity mainly involves innate immune cells (e.g., myeloid immune cells, natural killer cells, innate lymphoid cells) and their effector molecules (e.g., pattern recognition receptor (PRR), various cytokines), as well as some kinds of non-immune cells (e.g., microglial cells). Secondly, the increased responsiveness to secondary stimuli during innate trained immunity is not specific to a particular pathogen, but influences epigenetic reprogramming in the cell through signaling pathways, leading to the sustained changes in genes transcriptional process, which ultimately affects cellular physiology without permanent genetic changes (e.g., mutations or recombination). Finally, innate trained immunity relies on an altered functional state of innate immune cells that could persist for weeks to months after initial stimulus removal. An appropriate inducer could induce trained immunity in innate lymphocytes, such as exogenous stimulants (including vaccines) and endogenous stimulants, which was firstly discovered in bone marrow derived immune cells. However, mature bone marrow derived immune cells are short-lived cells, that may not be able to transmit memory phenotypes to their offspring and provide long-term protection. Therefore, trained immunity is more likely to be relied on long-lived cells, such as epithelial stem cells, mesenchymal stromal cells and non-immune cells such as fibroblasts. Epigenetic reprogramming is one of the key molecular mechanisms that induces trained immunity, including DNA modifications, non-coding RNAs, histone modifications and chromatin remodeling. In addition to epigenetic reprogramming, different cellular metabolic pathways are involved in the regulation of innate trained immunity, including aerobic glycolysis, glutamine catabolism, cholesterol metabolism and fatty acid synthesis, through a series of intracellular cascade responses triggered by the recognition of PRR specific ligands. In the view of evolutionary, trained immunity is beneficial in enhancing protection against secondary infections with an induction in the evolutionary protective process against infections. Therefore, innate trained immunity plays an important role in therapy against diseases such as tumors and infections, which has signature therapeutic effects in these diseases. In organ transplantation, trained immunity has been associated with acute rejection, which prolongs the survival of allografts. However, trained immunity is not always protective but pathological in some cases, and dysregulated trained immunity contributes to the development of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Trained immunity provides a novel form of immune memory, but when inappropriately activated, may lead to an attack on tissues, causing autoinflammation. In autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis, trained immunity may lead to enhance inflammation and tissue lesion in diseased regions. In Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, trained immunity may lead to over-activation of microglial cells, triggering neuroinflammation even nerve injury. This paper summarizes the basis and mechanisms of innate trained immunity, including the different cell types involved, the impacts on diseases and the effects as a therapeutic strategy to provide novel ideas for different diseases.
3.NAD+ Ameliorates Endothelial Dysfunction in Hypertension via Activation of SIRT3/IDH2 Signal Pathway
Yumin QIU ; Xi CHEN ; Jianning ZHANG ; Zhangchi LIU ; Qiuxia ZHU ; Meixin ZHANG ; Jun TAO ; Xing WU
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences) 2025;46(1):70-80
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide on vascular endothelial injury in hypertension and its molecular mechanism. MethodsC57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into saline group (Saline) and hypertension group (Ang Ⅱ, which were infused with Ang Ⅱ via subcutaneously implanted osmotic pumps), and supplemented daily with nicotinamide mononucleotide (300 mg/kg), a precursor of NAD+. Blood pressure, endothelial relaxation function and pulse wave velocity were measured after 4 weeks. Wound healing assay and adhesion assay were used to evaluate the function of endothelial cells in vitro. mtROS levels were detected by immunofluorescence staining. RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of mtDNA, SIRT3 and isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2). 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The protein expression levels of p-eNOS, eNOS, SIRT3 and IDH2 were detected by Western blot. ResultsNMN supplementation reduced blood pressure (P<0.001) and improved endothelial function and arterial stiffness (P<0.001) in hypertensive mice. In vitro, NMN improved endothelial function in AngII-stimulated endothelial cells (P<0.05) and attenuated mitochondrial oxidative stress levels (P<0.001). Mechanistically, NMN elevated SIRT3 activity (P<0.001), which subsequently enhanced IDH activity (P<0.001) and reduced oxidative stress levels in endothelial cells. Conversely, knockdown of IDH2 would reverse the effect of SIRT3 in improving endothelial function (P<0.001). ConclusionNAD+ lowers blood pressure and enhances vascular function in hypertension by reducing the level of oxidative stress in endothelial cells through activation of the SIRT3/IDH2 signal pathway.
4.Association between unhealthy lifestyle and risk of heart disease and diabetes in the elderly in Xi'an
Ning CUI ; Jun LIU ; Rui WANG ; Nini MA ; Man ZHANG ; Aiping SUN ; Xiaomin RAN ; Aiqing PAN
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2025;36(5):163-167
Objective To investigate the association between lifestyle and risk of heart disease and diabetes in the elderly population in Xi'an City. Methods From January 2021 to January 2024, a staged cluster sampling method was used to investigate the lifestyle and the occurrence of heart disease and diabetes in elderly population aged 60 years and above in the communities of Xi'an. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between lifestyle and the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Results A total of 413 elderly people were investigated, of which 31.96% had heart disease, 27.12% had diabetes, and 10.90% had diabetes with heart disease. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age, BMI, family history, sweet food preference, smoking, and sitting and lying for a long time were risk factors for diabetes in the elderly population (P<0.05). Age, BMI, family history, history of diabetes, preference for salted products, smoking, drinking, and sitting and lying for a long time were risk factors for heart disease in the elderly population (P<0.05). Conclusion The incidence rates of heart disease and diabetes are high in the elderly population in Xi'an City. The risk of diabetes is related to unhealthy lifestyles such as sweet food preference, smoking, and sitting and lying for a long time, while heart disease is related to unhealthy lifestyles such as preference for salted products, smoking, drinking, and sitting and lying for a long time.
5.Safety and efficacy of stomach-partitioning gastrojejunostomy with distal selective vagotomy for treating benign gastric outlet obstruction
Haiqiao ZHANG ; Zimeng WANG ; Yasheng XUE ; Xi WANG ; Zhi ZHENG ; Xiaoye LIU ; Jie YIN ; Jun ZHANG
International Journal of Surgery 2024;51(9):616-622
Objective:To explore the perioperative safety and postoperative short-and long-term efficacy of stomach-partitioning gastrojejunostomy (SPGJ) with distal selective vagotomy (DSV) for treating benign gastric outlet obstruction (GOO).Methods:The clinical data of 26 benign GOO patients treated by Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2019 to July 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 20 males (76.9%) and 6 females (23.1%), aged from 25 to 75 years, with an average age of (55.8±13.6) years, and an average body mass index (BMI) of (20.1±3.4) kg/m 2. There were 12 cases in SPGJ-DSV group and 14 cases in SPGJ group. The main outcome was the gastrointestinal quality of life index (GIQLI) 1 year after surgery in both groups. Independent sample t-test was used to test the difference between the continuous variables with normal distribution. The comparison between groups of non-normal distribution continuous variables was tested by Mann-Whitney U test. Counting data were compared using Chi-square test or Fisher exact test. Results:There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of operative time ( P=0.071), intraoperative blood loss ( P=0.422), time to pass gas ( P=0.538), time to liquid intake ( P=0.386), postoperative hospitalization ( P=0.431), complications within 30 days after surgery ( P=0.999), and postoperative GOOSS grade ( P=0.483). Among them, postoperative DGE occurred in one patient in each of the two groups, both of which were grade A. In the follow-up results, compared with the SPGJ group, SPGJ-DSV group had a significant advantage in GIQLI score, and the difference was statistically significant ( P=0.028). The incidence of gastric ulcer, reflux esophagitis, bile reflux and gastritis in SPGJ-DSV group was 8.3%, 8.3%, 8.3% and 58.3%, while that in SPGJ group was 35.7%, 21.4%, 21.4% and 57.1%, respectively, but there was no statistical significance between groups. Conclusion:In the treatment of benign GOO patients, SPGJ with DSV did not significantly increase the difficulty of laparoscopic procedures, operative time and intraoperative blood loss. Moreover, it showed a significant advantage in gastrointestinal quality of life 1 year after surgery. In addition, the incidence rates of gastric ulcers and reflux esophagitis were lower in the SPGJ-DSV group 1 year after surgery, but further confirmation is needed in large sample studies.
6.Curative effect analysis of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion in patients with cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type
Yi-Xiang AI ; Jian-Tao LIU ; Ding-Jun HAO ; Xi GONG ; Yi-Han ZHU ; Xing-Yuan LI ; Xi-Wei ZHANG ; Kao WANG ; Jia-Jun SUN ; Shu-Yuan ZHANG
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2024;37(7):670-675
Objective To investigate the clinical effect of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion(ACDF)in the treatment of cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery type(CSA).Methods The clinical data of 42 patients with CSA from January 2020 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.There were 25 males and 17 females,aged from 30 to 74 years old with an average of(53.9±11.0)years old.There were 18 cases with single-segment lesions,17 cases with two-segment lesions,and 7 cases with three-segment lesions.The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery's Hearing and Balance Committee score(CHE),the Neck Disability Index(NDI)and the cervical curvature Cobb angle were recorded before surgery and after surgery at 6 months.Results All 42 ACDF patients were followed up for 6 to 30 months with an average of(14.0±5.2)months.The operative time ranged from 95 to 220 min with an average of(160.38±36.77)min,the intraoperative blood loss ranged from 30 to 85 ml with an average of(53.60±18.98)ml.Tow patients had mild postoperative dysphagia,which improved with symptomatic treatment such as nebulized inhalation.CHE score decreased from(4.05±0.96)preoperatively to(2.40±0.70)at 6 months postoperatively(t=12.97,P<0.05).The number of improved vertigo at 6 months postoperatively was 38,with an im-provement rate of 90.5%.NDI score was reduced from(34.43±8.04)preoperatively to(20.76±3.91)at 6 months postopera-tively(t=1 1.83,P<0.05).The cervical curvature Cobb angle improved from(8.04±6.70)° preoperatively to(12.42±5.23)° at 6 months postoperatively(t=-15.96,P<0.05).Conclusion The ACDF procedure has outstanding clinical efficacy in treating CSA.The operation can rapidly relieve patients'episodic vertigo symptoms by relieving bony compression and reconstructing cervical curvature.However,it is necessary to strictly grasp the indications for surgery and clarify the causes of vertigo in pa-tients,and ACDF surgery is recommended for CSA patients for whom conservative treatment is ineffective.
7.Analysis of risk factors for postoperative delirium in elderly patients undergoing spinal surgery
Wei-Ping ZHANG ; Wen-Xi CHANG ; Wei-Yi LIU ; Zhen-Jun LI ; Jian-Wei MAO
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2024;37(7):700-705
Objective To investigate the risk factors of postoperative delirium in elderly patients undergoing spine surgery.Methods The basic case data of 566 patients who underwent spine surgery under general anesthesia from January 2021 to Jan-uary 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.There were 296 males and 270 females with an average age of(71.58±4.21)years old.There were 195 cases of cervical spine surgery,26 cases of thoracic spine surgery and 345 cases of lumbar spine surgery.According to the occurrence of postoperative delirium,the patients were divided into postoperative delirium group(41 patients)and non-delirium group(525 patients).Univariate analysis was used to analyze the possible influencing factors such as gen-der,age,weight,smoking history,drinking history,surgical site,preoperative anxiety,intraoperative hypotension times,blood loss and so on,and binary Logistic regression was used to analyze the univariate factors with P<0.05.Results A total of 41 pa-tients developed postoperative delirium.Univariate analysis showed that age(P=0.000),duration of surgery(P=0.039),preop-erative anxiety(P=0.001),blood loss(P=0.000),history of opioid use(P=0.003),history of stroke(P=0.005),C-reactive protein(P=0.000),sodium ion(P=0.000)were significantly different between delirium group and non-delirium group.These factors were included in the binary Logistic regression analysis,and the results showed that age[OR=0.729,95%CI(0.569,0.932),P=0.012],opioid use[OR=21.500,95%CI(1.334,346.508),P=0.031],blood loss[OR=0.932,95%CI(0.875,0.993),P=0.029],C-reactive protein[OR=0.657,95%CI(0.485,0.890),P=0.007],preoperative anxiety[OR=23.143,95%CI(1.859,288.090),P=0.015],and sodium[OR=1.228,95%CI(1.032,1.461),P=0.020]were independent risk factors for the development of delirium after spinal surgery in elderly patients.Conclusion Age,opioid use,blood loss,preoper-ative anxiety,elevated c-reactive protein,and hyponatremia are independent risk factors for the development of postoperative delirium in elderly patients undergoing spinal surgery.
8.Analysis of risk factors for bile leakage after laparoscopic common bile duct exploration with primary closure
Wu GUO ; Jun-Jian LIU ; Hai-Tao SHANG ; De-Lin ZHANG ; Xi-Bo ZHANG ; Zhong-Lian LI
Journal of Regional Anatomy and Operative Surgery 2024;33(10):844-848
Objective To explore the risk factors for bile leakage after laparoscopic common bile duct exploration(LCBDE)with primary closure.Methods The clinical data of 560 patients with choledocholithiasis who underwent LCBDE with primary closure in Tianjin Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine from September 2021 to September 2023 were retrospectively analyzed,and the patients were divided into the bile leak group and the non-bile leak group according to the occurrence of postoperative bile leakage.The risk factors affecting the occurrence of postoperative bile leakage were analyzed by multivariate analysis.Results A total of 64 cases(11.4% )experienced varying degrees of bile leakage,including 55 cases of grade A bile leakage,7 cases of grade B,and 2 cases of grade C.The thin common bile duct(OR=0.07,P<0.001),history of hypertension(OR=4.56,P<0.001),and high BMI(OR=1.17,P=0.002)were the risk factors for postoperative bile leakage in patients with choledocholithiasis.Conclusion Patients with thin common bile duct,hypertension and obesity are more likely to occur postoperative bile leakage.Patients with choledocholithiasis who have the above high-risk factors should be cautious in choosing LCBDE with primary closure.
9.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.
10.Pathogenic and molecular characteristics of Klebsiella pneumoniae in fecal samples from diarrhea cases in a district of Beijing in 2018-2021
Shuang ZHANG ; Juan ZHAO ; Chang LIU ; Hai-Rui WANG ; Xi YANG ; Hui-Bo WANG ; Yuan-Yuan WANG ; Hui LI ; Jian-Tao ZHANG ; Zhen-Dong ZHANG ; Nan CHEN ; Ying LI ; Mao-Jun ZHANG ; Rui TIAN
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2024;40(8):745-749,757
This study was aimed at investigating the pathogenic and molecular characteristics of Klebsiella pneumoniae(KP)in fecal samples of diarrhea cases in a district of Beijing.Fecal samples from diarrhea cases in an outpatient department in a district of Beijing from 2018 to 2021 were collected,and used for isolation and culture of KP.The KP strains isolated strains were subjected to drug resistance phenotype testing and whole-genome sequencing.Multilocus sequence typing and whole-genome phyletic evolution analysis were performed on the sequencing results.The cases'epidemiological and clinical characteristics were analyzed.From 2018 to 2021,1 103 fecal samples were collected and detected.The total detection rate of KP was 10.43%(115/1 103),and the infection rate of KP mixed with other diarrhea-causing pathogens was 42.61%(49/115).The positivity rate was slightly high(12.47%,61/489)a-mong females and was highest in young adults 16-45 years of age.Small peaks were observed in January,April to May,and August to September.The gastrointestinal symptoms in cases were mainly nausea and watery stool,and the suspicious food was unknown.Ampicillin,tetracycline,and sulfafurazole were the top three antibiotics to which these 115 KP strains showed resistance,and 29 strains were resistant to multiple antibiotics.The strains were divided into 72 sequence types,among which ST23 was dominant.According to the phylogenetic tree,the strains were divided into four main branches,among which 14 ST23 strains had a very close genetic relationship with the highly virulent NTUH-K2044 reference strain.KP infection persisted in fecal samples from diarrhea cases in the district of Beijing.Women and young adults were particularly susceptible.The drug resistance of KP strains in this region was very serious,and the ST types were diverse.Moreover,the ST23 pathogenic strains were closely related to high virulence strains.


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