1.P4HA1 mediates YAP hydroxylation and accelerates collagen synthesis in temozolomide-resistant glioblastoma.
Xueru LI ; Gangfeng YU ; Xiao ZHONG ; Jiacheng ZHONG ; Xiangyu CHEN ; Qinglong CHEN ; Jinjiang XUE ; Xi YANG ; Xinchun ZHANG ; Yao LING ; Yun XIU ; Yaqi DENG ; Hongda LI ; Wei MO ; Yong ZHU ; Ting ZHANG ; Liangjun QIAO ; Song CHEN ; Fanghui LU
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(16):1991-2005
BACKGROUND:
Temozolomide (TMZ) resistance is a significant challenge in treating glioblastoma (GBM). Collagen remodeling has been shown to be a critical factor for therapy resistance in other cancers. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of TMZ chemoresistance by GBM cells reprogramming collagens.
METHODS:
Key extracellular matrix components, including collagens, were examined in paired primary and recurrent GBM samples as well as in TMZ-treated spontaneous and grafted GBM murine models. Human GBM cell lines (U251, TS667) and mouse primary GBM cells were used for in vitro studies. RNA-sequencing analysis, chromatin immunoprecipitation, immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry, and co-immunoprecipitation assays were conducted to explore the mechanisms involved in collagen accumulation. A series of in vitro and in vivo experiments were designed to assess the role of the collagen regulators prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit alpha 1 (P4HA1) and yes-associated protein (YAP) in sensitizing GBM cells to TMZ.
RESULTS:
This study revealed that TMZ exposure significantly elevated collagen type I (COL I) expression in both GBM patients and murine models. Collagen accumulation sustained GBM cell survival under TMZ-induced stress, contributing to enhanced TMZ resistance. Mechanistically, P4HA1 directly binded to and hydroxylated YAP, preventing ubiquitination-mediated YAP degradation. Stabilized YAP robustly drove collagen type I alpha 1 ( COL1A1) transcription, leading to increased collagen deposition. Disruption of the P4HA1-YAP axis effectively reduced COL I deposition, sensitized GBM cells to TMZ, and significantly improved mouse survival.
CONCLUSION
P4HA1 maintained YAP-mediated COL1A1 transcription, leading to collagen accumulation and promoting chemoresistance in GBM.
Temozolomide
;
Humans
;
Glioblastoma/drug therapy*
;
Animals
;
Mice
;
Cell Line, Tumor
;
Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics*
;
YAP-Signaling Proteins
;
Hydroxylation
;
Dacarbazine/pharmacology*
;
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism*
;
Transcription Factors/metabolism*
;
Collagen/biosynthesis*
;
Collagen Type I/metabolism*
;
Prolyl Hydroxylases/metabolism*
;
Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating/therapeutic use*
2.A phenome-wide spectrum of morbidity and mortality risks related to the number of offspring among 0.5 million Chinese men and women: A prospective cohort study.
Meng XIAO ; Aolin LI ; Canqing YU ; Yuanjie PANG ; Pei PEI ; Ling YANG ; Yiping CHEN ; Huaidong DU ; Yujie HUA ; Junshi CHEN ; Zhengming CHEN ; Jun LYU ; Liming LI ; Dianjianyi SUN
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(22):2925-2937
BACKGROUND:
Prospective evidence on how offspring number influences morbidity and mortality remains limited. This study investigated the associations between number of offspring and morbidity and mortality risks among 0.5 million Chinese adults.
METHODS:
By using data from the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB; n = 512,723, an approximately 12-year follow-up), sex-stratified phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) analyses were conducted to investigate associations between offspring number (without vs . with offspring; more than one vs . one offspring) and risks of ICD10-coded morbidity and mortality. Sex-specific adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by Cox proportional-hazards models.
RESULTS:
Among 210,129 men and 302,284 women aged 30-79 years, 1,338,837 incident events were recorded. PheWAS results revealed that offspring number was associated with disease risks across multiple systems. Cox models showed that childless men ( vs . one offspring) had higher risks for nine of 36 diseases, while childless women for five of 37. Each additional offspring was associated with reduced risks of mental and behavioral disorders in men (aHR [95% CI] = 0.93 [0.87-0.98]) and both mental and behavioral disorders (aHR [95% CI] = 0.93 [0.89-0.97]) and breast cancer (aHR [95% CI] = 0.82 [0.78-0.86]) in women. However, each additional offspring was associated with a 4% increase in the risk of cholelithiasis and cholecystitis in women (aHR [95% CI] = 1.04 [1.02-1.07]). Among 282,630 patients, 44,533 deaths were documented. Childless patients had higher mortality risk in both men (aHR [95% CI] = 1.37 [1.28-1.47]) and women (aHR [95% CI] = 1.27 [1.15-1.41]). For men, each additional offspring reduced mortality by 4% (aHR [95% CI] = 0.96 [0.95-0.98]), while for women, the lowest risk was observed among those with three to four offspring ( Pnonlinear <0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS
Offspring number is closely linked to morbidity and mortality risks. Further research is warranted to verify our findings and clarify the underlying mechanisms involved.
Adult
;
Aged
;
Female
;
Humans
;
Male
;
Middle Aged
;
China/epidemiology*
;
Morbidity
;
Proportional Hazards Models
;
Prospective Studies
;
Risk Factors
;
Family Characteristics
;
Mortality
;
East Asian People
3.Differential Analysis on Chemical Composition and Pharmacodynamic Effect Between Combined Decoction and Single Decoction of Famous Classical Formula Huaganjian
Yang WANG ; Gaoju ZHANG ; Ling LI ; Liping CHEN ; Li ZHANG ; Xiao LIU ; Yuyu ZHANG ; Yuan CUI ; Minglong LI ; Chaomei FU ; Xin YAN ; Yuxin HE ; Qin DONG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(16):199-207
ObjectiveThrough qualitatively and quantitatively analysis of the differences in chemical composition between the combined decoction and single decoction of Huaganjian and comparison of their core efficacy, to explore the rationality of the flexible clinical application of Huaganjian compound preparations and single-flavored dispensing granules. MethodsUltra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-electrostatic field orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS) was used to qualitatively analyze the combined decoction and single decoction samples of Huaganjian, and meanwhile, the contents of four index components(geniposide, paeoniflorin, hesperidin and paeonol) were quantitatively analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) rat model induced by high-fat diet was applied to compare the efficacy of combined decoction and single decoction of Huaganjian. A total of 30 male SD rats were randomly divided into the control group, model group, lovastatin group(1.8 mg·kg-1), combined decoction group(1.26 g·kg-1) and single decoction group(1.18 g·kg-1). After successful modeling, lovastatin group, combined decoction group and single decoction group were given corresponding doses of drugs by intragastric administration every day, and the control group and model group were given equal amounts of normal saline by intragastric administration, after 4 weeks of administration, the serum and liver tissues were collected, and the contents of alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) in serum of rats were detected, and the liver pathological examination was carried out by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and oil red O staining, so as to compare differences of their efficacy. ResultsSeventy chemical components were initially identified and attributed from the lyophilized powder of the combined decoction and single decoction samples of Huaganjian, and there was no obvious difference in composition between the two. Further quantitative analysis showed that the contents of geniposide, paeoniflorin, hesperidin and paeonol in the combined decoction samples were significantly increased when compared with those of the single decoction samples(P<0.01). The pharmacodynamic results showed that compared with the model group, both the combined and single decoction groups of Huaganjian could improve the liver index of NAFLD rats, reduce the serum levels of AST, ALT, TC, TG and LDL-C, increase the serum level of HDL-C, and ameliorate the pathological changes of liver cell steatosis and fat accumulation. However, there was no significant difference in pharmacodynamic effects between the combined decoction group and the single decoction group. ConclusionThere is no significant difference between the combined decoction and single decoction of Huaganjian in terms of chemical composition, but the contents of the four index components show significantly difference. Both of them can significantly improve the fat accumulation and liver function in NAFLD rats. This study provides a reference basis for the rational clinical application and evaluation of famous classical formula compound preparations and single-flavored dispensing granules.
4.Effects of total extract of Anthriscus sylvestris on immune inflammation and thrombosis in rats with pulmonary arterial hypertension based on TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway.
Ya-Juan ZHENG ; Pei-Pei YUAN ; Zhen-Kai ZHANG ; Yan-Ling LIU ; Sai-Fei LI ; Yuan RUAN ; Yi CHEN ; Yang FU ; Wei-Sheng FENG ; Xiao-Ke ZHENG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(9):2472-2483
This study aimed to explore the effects and mechanisms of total extracts from Anthriscus sylvestris on pulmonary hypertension in rats. Sixty male SD rats were divided into normal(NC) group, model(M) group, positive drug sildenafil(Y) group, low-dose A. sylvestris(ES-L) group, medium-dose A. sylvestris(ES-M) group, and high-dose A. sylvestris(ES-H) group. On day 1, rats were intraperitoneally injected with monocrotaline(60 mg·kg~(-1)) to induce pulmonary hypertension, and the rat model was established on day 28. From days 15 to 28, intragastric administration of the respective treatments was performed. After modeling and treatment, small animal echocardiography was used to detect the right heart function of the rats. Arterial blood gas was measured using a blood gas analyzer. Hematoxylin and eosin(HE) staining and Masson staining were performed to observe cardiopulmonary pathological damage. Flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis in the lung and myocardial tissues and reactive oxygen species(ROS) levels. Western blot was applied to detect the expression levels of transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1), phosphorylated mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3(p-Smad3), Smad3, tissue plasminogen activator(t-PA), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1(PAI-1) in lung tissue. A blood routine analyzer was used to measure inflammatory immune cell levels in the blood. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the expression levels of P-selectin and thromboxane A2(TXA2) in plasma. The results showed that, compared with the NC group, right heart hypertrophy index, right ventricular free wall thickness, right heart internal diameter, partial carbon dioxide pressure(PaCO_2), apoptosis in cardiopulmonary tissue, and ROS levels were significantly increased in the M group. In contrast, the ratio of pulmonary blood flow acceleration time(PAT)/ejection time(PET), right cardiac output, change rate of right ventricular systolic area, systolic displacement of the tricuspid ring, oxygen partial pressure(PaO_2), and blood oxygen saturation(SaO_2) were significantly decreased in the M group. After administration of the total extract of A. sylvestris, right heart function and blood gas levels were significantly improved, while apoptosis in cardiopulmonary tissue and ROS levels significantly decreased. Further testing revealed that the total extract of A. sylvestris significantly decreased the levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β), interleukin-6(IL-6), and PAI-1 proteins in lung tissue, while increasing the expression of t-PA. Additionally, the extract reduced the levels of inflammatory cells such as leukocytes, lymphocytes, granulocytes, and monocytes in the blood, as well as the levels of P-selectin and TXA2 in plasma. Metabolomics results showed that the total extract of A. sylvestris significantly affected metabolic pathways, including arginine biosynthesis, tyrosine metabolism, and taurine and hypotaurine metabolism. In conclusion, the total extract of A. sylvestris may exert an anti-pulmonary hypertension effect by inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling pathway, thereby alleviating immune-inflammatory responses and thrombosis.
Animals
;
Male
;
Smad3 Protein/metabolism*
;
Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism*
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Rats
;
Signal Transduction/drug effects*
;
Hypertension, Pulmonary/genetics*
;
Thrombosis/immunology*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
;
Humans
;
Apoptosis/drug effects*
5.Research progress on pentacyclic triterpenoids in medicinal Ilex species and their pharmacological activities.
Yu-Ling LIU ; Yi-Ran WU ; Bao-Lin WANG ; Xiao-Wei SU ; Qiu-Juan CHEN ; Yi RAO ; Shi-Lin YANG ; Li-Ni HUO ; Hong-Wei GAO
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(12):3252-3266
Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) capable of clearing heat and removing toxin is most commonly used in clinical practice and has the effect of removing fire-heat and toxin. Studies have shown that most of the Ilex plants have the effect of clearing heat and removing toxin, among which the varieties of I. cornuta, I. pubescens, I. rotunda, I. latifolia, and I. chinensis are most widely used. These plants generally contain triterpenoids and their glycosides, alkaloids, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, and other chemical components, especially pentacyclic triterpenoids. According to their skeletons, pentacyclic triterpenoids can be divided into the oleanane type, the ursane type, the lupinane type, etc. Among them, ursane-type components are the most abundant, and 136 species have been found so far. These components have been proved to have pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, hypolipidemic, anti-thrombosis, cardiomyocyte-protective, antibacterial, and hepatoprotective effects. Therefore, this paper systematically reviews the domestic and foreign literature on Ilex plants with a focus on the research progress on pentacyclic triterpenoids and their pharmacological activities, aiming to provide reference for the development of TCM resources with the effect of clearing heat and removing toxin.
Ilex/chemistry*
;
Plants, Medicinal/chemistry*
;
Pentacyclic Triterpenes/pharmacology*
;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
;
Humans
;
Animals
6.Research progress on interactions between medicinal plants and microorganisms.
Er-Jun WANG ; Ya-Long ZHANG ; Xiao-Hui MA ; Hua-Qian GONG ; Shao-Yang XI ; Gao-Sen ZHANG ; Ling JIN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(12):3267-3280
The interactions between microorganisms and medicinal plants are crucial to the quality improvement of medicinal plants. Medicinal plants attract microorganisms to colonize by secreting specific compounds and provide niche and nutrient support for these microorganisms, with a symbiotic network formed. These microorganisms grow in the rhizosphere, phyllosphere, and endophytic tissues of plants and significantly improve the growth performance and medicinal component accumulation of medicinal plants by promoting nutrient uptake, enhancing disease resistance, and regulating the synthesis of secondary metabolites. Microorganisms are also widely used in the ecological planting of medicinal plants, and the growth conditions of medicinal plants are optimized by simulating the microbial effects in the natural environment. The interactions between microorganisms and medicinal plants not only significantly improve the yield and quality of medicinal plants but also enhance their geoherbalism, which is in line with the concept of green agriculture and eco-friendly development. This study reviewed the research results on the interactions between medicinal plants and microorganisms in recent years and focused on the analysis of the great potential of microorganisms in optimizing the growth environment of medicinal plants, regulating the accumulation of secondary metabolites, inducing systemic resistance, and promoting the ecological planting of medicinal plants. It provides a scientific basis for the research on the interactions between medicinal plants and microorganisms, the research and development of microbial agents, and the application of microorganisms in the ecological planting of medicinal plants and is of great significance for the quality improvement of medicinal plants and the green and sustainable development of TCM resources.
Plants, Medicinal/metabolism*
;
Bacteria/genetics*
;
Symbiosis
7.Expert consensus on evaluation index system construction for new traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) from TCM clinical practice in medical institutions.
Li LIU ; Lei ZHANG ; Wei-An YUAN ; Zhong-Qi YANG ; Jun-Hua ZHANG ; Bao-He WANG ; Si-Yuan HU ; Zu-Guang YE ; Ling HAN ; Yue-Hua ZHOU ; Zi-Feng YANG ; Rui GAO ; Ming YANG ; Ting WANG ; Jie-Lai XIA ; Shi-Shan YU ; Xiao-Hui FAN ; Hua HUA ; Jia HE ; Yin LU ; Zhong WANG ; Jin-Hui DOU ; Geng LI ; Yu DONG ; Hao YU ; Li-Ping QU ; Jian-Yuan TANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(12):3474-3482
Medical institutions, with their clinical practice foundation and abundant human use experience data, have become important carriers for the inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and the "cradles" of the preparation of new TCM. To effectively promote the transformation of new TCM originating from the TCM clinical practice in medical institutions and establish an effective evaluation index system for the transformation of new TCM conforming to the characteristics of TCM, consensus experts adopted the literature research, questionnaire survey, Delphi method, etc. By focusing on the policy and technical evaluation of new TCM originating from the TCM clinical practice in medical institutions, a comprehensive evaluation from the dimensions of drug safety, efficacy, feasibility, and characteristic advantages was conducted, thus forming a comprehensive evaluation system with four primary indicators and 37 secondary indicators. The expert consensus reached aims to encourage medical institutions at all levels to continuously improve the high-quality research and development and transformation of new TCM originating from the TCM clinical practice in medical institutions and targeted at clinical needs, so as to provide a decision-making basis for the preparation, selection, cultivation, and transformation of new TCM for medical institutions, improve the development efficiency of new TCM, and precisely respond to the public medication needs.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/standards*
;
Humans
;
Consensus
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
;
Surveys and Questionnaires
8.Retrospective study on intervention of traditional Chinese medicine in osteoporosis and related pain diseases.
Yi-Run LI ; Li LI ; Yin-Qiu GAO ; Cui-Ling DONG ; Xing-Jiang XIONG ; Xiao-Chen YANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(11):3180-3188
Osteoporosis(OP) is a metabolic bone disorder characterized by reduced bone mass and degenerative bone tissue. Osteoporotic pain(OPP) is its most common clinical symptom, significantly affecting the quality of life of patients. With the limitations of modern medical treatments and the intensification of aging, it is imperative to explore more cost-effective interventions for OPP. This paper, based on databases such as China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI), VIP, Wanfang, BioMed, and Web of Science, uncovered the connection between the pathogenesis of OPP in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and modern medical mechanisms and retrospectively summarized the basic and clinical research methods and evidence of TCM prescriptions in the treatment of OP and related pain diseases. Studies have shown that TCM prescriptions, focusing on treatments such as nourishing the kidney, strengthening the spleen, and activating blood circulation to remove blood stasis, can significantly improve pain symptoms, increase bone mineral density(BMD), and adjust bone metabolic indicators such as C-terminal telopeptide of type Ⅰ collagen(CTX), serum bone Gla-protein(S-BGP), and alkaline phosphatase(ALP). The mechanisms of action of TCM prescriptions in treating OP and improving OPP symptoms were related to signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin, nuclear factor kappa-B(NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(Akt), and the osteoprotegerin(OPG)/receptor activator of NF-κB(RANK)/receptor activator of NF-κB ligand(RANKL) axis. Further strengthening the accumulation and analysis of clinical data, rigorously designing and conducting randomized controlled trials of TCM treatments for OPP with large sample sizes, standardizing outcome measures in basic and clinical research by using methods such as the core outcome set(COS), and incorporating mass spectrometry and omics approaches to uncover more potential active components and mechanisms may contribute to a deeper exploration of the advantages and essence of TCM prescriptions in the treatment of OPP.
Humans
;
Osteoporosis/genetics*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Bone Density/drug effects*
;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional
;
Pain/metabolism*
;
Animals
9.Inheritance, excavation, and modern research overview of processing methods of traditional Chinese medicine decoctions.
Xiao-Xia LIU ; Ping LUO ; Ling-Yun ZHONG ; Fang WANG ; Ming YANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(13):3596-3631
"Prescriptions being modified according to the syndrome and processing following prescription" is one of the characteristics of clinical medication in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), and it is also an important sign that distinguishes TCM from other traditional medicine. The processing methods of TCM decoctions originate from the ingenious combination of medicinal materials, the mutual restraint of seven emotions, the harmony of four properties, and the pairing and combining of medicinal materials in prescriptions. They are the concrete embodiment of the essence and characteristics of "prescriptions being modified according to the syndrome and processing following prescription". However, due to insufficient inheritance and innovation, many characteristic varieties and pharmaceutical experience have been lost or forgotten. There is an urgent need to systematically explore and organize the processing theory and characteristic varieties of TCM decoctions, delve into the scientific connotation of the processing principles, and optimize the processing technology. Therefore, this article systematically organizes and summarizes the historical evolution and modern research progress of TCM decoction processing, conducts in-depth reflection on the current problems, and puts forward reasonable suggestions, with the aim of further inheriting, enriching, and developing the processing theory of TCM decoctions and providing support for ensuring the clinical efficacy of prescriptions.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification*
;
Humans
;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods*
10.Domestication progress of endangered Chinese medicinal material Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus.
Ting XIAO ; Ming-Hao YANG ; Qiu-Ling WANG ; Qiang LYU ; Yu-Qing ZHENG ; Lian-Cheng XU ; Ma YU ; Jian-He WEI
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(16):4483-4489
Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus is the dried bulb of perennial herbaceous plants in the Fritillaria genus(Liliaceae family) and is a representative traditional Chinese medicinal material with distinctive regional characteristics. Clinically, it is widely used in the treatment of dry cough, bronchial asthma, and other respiratory diseases, possessing significant medicinal and economic value and being highly esteemed in TCM. Currently, Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus primarily relies on wild harvesting. However, due to excessive collection, its wild resources have drastically declined, and all source species have been classified as category Ⅱ in the List of National Key Protected Wild Plants, exacerbating the supply-demand imbalance in the market. To mitigate this issue, large-scale cultivation through the domestication of wild Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus has become an inevitable trend. However, its strict environmental requirements, low propagation efficiency, high seedling mortality, and immature cultivation techniques have severely hindered industrialization. This study investigates the domestication process of Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus, focusing on seed propagation, seedling cultivation, and medicinal material production. It also reviews the species and distribution of wild resources, their endangered status, market supply-demand dynamics, and the historical and current development of domestication. The findings indicate that enhancing propagation efficiency, optimizing cultivation models, and distinguishing between seed propagation and medicinal material production are key measures to accelerate the industrialization of domesticated Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus. This research aims to promote the industrialization of Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus domestication and provide a reference model for the conservation and sustainable utilization of rare and endangered medicinal plant resources.
Fritillaria/chemistry*
;
Endangered Species
;
Plants, Medicinal/growth & development*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/economics*
;
China

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