1.Discussion on the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis from the Theory of"Deficient Qi Stagnation"Based on Mitophagy
Zifeng YE ; Gaoyan KUANG ; Yiwei YUAN ; Liguo QIU ; Xiaotong XU ; Zhi WEN ; Min LU
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(8):14-18
Mitophagy,a critical regulator of knee joint homeostasis,its dysfunction can lead to pathological changes such as reactive oxygen species overproduction,calcium ion overload,and extracellular matrix degradation,inducing cartilage degeneration and serving as a key pathological mechanism of knee osteoarthritis(KOA)."Deficient qi stagnation"represents the core pathogenesis of KOA.Mitochondria,analogous in function to qi and serving as its microscopic manifestation,exhibit a high degree of congruence between mitophagy and the defensive functions of qi.Based on the pathogenic characteristics of"deficient qi stagnation"of KOA,and integrating modern medical explanations of mitophagy,this article believed that the deficiency of liver,spleen and kidney qi is the fundamental reason for the imbalance of mitochondrial autophagy in KOA,and the retention of pathogenic toxins is the key factor in the imbalance of mitochondrial autophagy.The basic treatment method of tonifying qi and strengthening the body,promoting blood circulation and promoting stagnation can provide clinical formula ideas for the TCM prevention and treatment of KOA.
2.Mediating effect of sleep quality between somatic symptoms and severity of depression in patients with depression
Xiaotong LI ; Zexin ZHAO ; Ye LIU ; Haibin LI ; Xiao HUANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2025;32(3):465-471
Objective To explore the mediating effect of sleep quality between somatic symptoms and severity of depression in patients with depression. Methods A total of 384 drug-naive patients diagnosed with depression were recruited from the Department of Psychological Medicine of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, during the period from February to August 2024. The severity of depression, somatic symptoms, and sleep quality were assessed using Patient Health Qusetionaire (PHQ)-9, PHQ-15, and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), respectively. Based on the PHQ-15 scores, all participants were stratified into two groups: a mild somatic symptoms group(<10 points, n=136)and a moderate-to-severe somatic symptoms group(≥10 points, n=248). Comparisons of sleep quality between the two groups were conducted, and partial correlation analysis was performed to examine the correlation between sleep quality and somatic symptoms. Additionally, linear regression and mediation analyses were conducted to investigate the mediating effect of sleep quality between somatic symptoms and severity of depression. Results The PSQI scores in moderate-to-severe somatic symptoms group were significantly higher than those in mild somatic symptoms group (P<0.001). Partial correlation analysis indicated that, after controlling for depression severity, the positive correlation between PSQI and PHQ-15 scores remained significant in both groups (P<0.01). Regression analysis identified both sleep quality and somatic symptoms as predictors of severity of depression (P<0.001). Additionally, mediation analysis demonstrated that sleep quality partially mediated the relationship between somatic symptoms and severity of depression, accounting for 26.63% (0.090/0.338) of the total effect. Conclusions In patients with depression, sleep quality is associated with somatic symptoms, and both contribute to an increased risk of the severity of depression. Moreover, sleep quality plays a partial mediating effect between somatic symptoms and severity of depression, highlighting the importance of addressing sleep-related issues in the management of depression.
3.Curcumin ameliorates the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy by regulating intestinal mucosal immunity through inhibition of Toll-like receptor 9/myeloid differentiation factor 88/nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway
Ziyang YE ; Qi DUAN ; Feng WU ; Xiaotong LI ; Sijie ZHANG ; Yafeng LI
Chinese Journal of Nephrology 2025;41(5):358-371
Objective:To explore the role of curcumin (Cur) in improving IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and its related mechanisms.Methods:Fifty 7-month-old miR-23b knockout (miR-23b -/-) mice weighing (25±5) g were used to establish an IgAN disease model, and were randomly divided into IgAN group, IgAN+Cur (150 mg/kg) group and IgAN+Cur (300 mg/kg) group using simple randomisation. Sixteen healthy 7-month-old weighing (25±3) g C57BL/6J wild-type mice served as the normal control group. IgAN+Cur (150 mg/kg) and IgAN+Cur (300 mg/kg) groups were respectively gavaged continuously with 150 mg/kg Cur and 300 mg/kg Cur for 8 weeks, and the normal control and IgAN groups were gavaged continuously with an equal dose of 0.9% sodium chloride solution for 8 weeks. The samples of urine, serum, intestinal fluid, intestinal tissues, kidney tissues and liver tissues were collected from each group. In vitro experiments, human cloned colon adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells were divided into blank control (Ctrl), Ctrl+Cur (10 μmol/L), Ctrl+ Cur (60 μmol/L), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), TNF-α+Cur (10 μmol/L) and TNF-α+Cur (60 μmol/L) groups. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect serum alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, secretory IgA (sIgA), creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, 24 h urine microalbumin, as well as sIgA, TNF-α, interleukin(IL)-6 and IL-1β in the intestinal fluids. HE staining was used to observe the effect of Cur on liver tissues, the hyperplasia of glomerular mesangial zone in kidney tissues and the morphological and structural changes of intestinal epithelial barrier, and the histopathological damage scores were performed respectively. PAS staining was used to observe the changes of glomerular basement membrane and mesangial matrix. Immunofluorescence was used to observe the deposition of immune complexes in the glomerular mesangial zone. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of B-cell activating factor ( BAFF) and a proliferation inducing ligand ( APRIL). Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression levels of tight junction proteins zonula occluden-1 (ZO-1) and occludin in the mouse intestinal tissues. The potential targets of Cur in IgAN were predicted. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression levels of tight junction proteins, as well as Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9), myeloid differentiation primary response protein (MyD88), nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65) and p-NF-κB p65. Results:Genetic identification results revealed that all IgAN model mice exhibited the miR-23b -/- genotype, confirming successful model establishment. Seven-month-old mice were subsequently selected for Cur treatment. Histopathological analysis demonstrated no significant differences in hepatic tissue morphology across groups, with comparable liver histopathological injury scores and unaltered liver function parameters, thereby validating the safety of Cur administration. Compared with the normal control group, IgAN mice displayed elevated levels of serum sIgA, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and 24 h urine microalbumin (all P<0.05). Renal pathological results revealed severe mesangial hypercellularity in glomeruli, higher glomerular injury scores, and notable glomerular mesangial deposits of IgA, IgG and complement C3 in IgAN mice (all P<0.05). Additionally, intestinal pathological alterations were observed, including structural changes in intestinal epithelium and Peyer's patches, accompanied by significantly higher intestinal histopathological injury scores in IgAN mice ( P<0.05). Intestinal epithelial expression levels of ZO-1 and occludin were significantly reduced, while sIgA, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in intestinal fluid were elevated (all P<0.05). Serum FITC fluorescence intensity was markedly increased, and intestinal tissue exhibited upregulated mRNA expression of BAFF and APRIL (all P<0.05). Following Cur treatment, serum sIgA level and renal function indices in mice showed partial recovery (all P<0.05). Renal pathological improvements included alleviated mesangial hypercellularity, reduced glomerular injury scores, and diminished glomerular immune complex deposition (all P<0.05). Intestinal pathologies, including epithelial and Peyer's patch lesions, were mitigated, with decreased intestinal histopathological injury scores ( P<0.05). Additionally, intestinal tight junction protein expression levels were upregulated, intestinal fluid sIgA level was reduced, inflammatory markers were attenuated, serum FITC fluorescence intensity was declined, and intestinal BAFF and APRIL mRNA expression levels were downregulated (all P<0.05). In vitro experiments demonstrated that TNF-α exposure reduced tight junction protein expression in Caco-2 cells, whereas Cur treatment reversed the effect (all P<0.05). Target prediction analysis revealed that Cur effectively bound to TLR9 structural domain in IgAN. Experimental validation confirmed that Cur treatment suppressed the upregulated protein expression levels of TLR9, MyD88, NF-κB p65 and p-NF-κB p65 in intestinal tissues of IgAN mice (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Cur has a significant effect in the treatment of IgAN and can regulate intestinal mucosal immunity by inhibiting the TLR9/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby reducing renal injury and protecting the kidneys.
4.Discussion on the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis from the Theory of"Deficient Qi Stagnation"Based on Mitophagy
Zifeng YE ; Gaoyan KUANG ; Yiwei YUAN ; Liguo QIU ; Xiaotong XU ; Zhi WEN ; Min LU
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(8):14-18
Mitophagy,a critical regulator of knee joint homeostasis,its dysfunction can lead to pathological changes such as reactive oxygen species overproduction,calcium ion overload,and extracellular matrix degradation,inducing cartilage degeneration and serving as a key pathological mechanism of knee osteoarthritis(KOA)."Deficient qi stagnation"represents the core pathogenesis of KOA.Mitochondria,analogous in function to qi and serving as its microscopic manifestation,exhibit a high degree of congruence between mitophagy and the defensive functions of qi.Based on the pathogenic characteristics of"deficient qi stagnation"of KOA,and integrating modern medical explanations of mitophagy,this article believed that the deficiency of liver,spleen and kidney qi is the fundamental reason for the imbalance of mitochondrial autophagy in KOA,and the retention of pathogenic toxins is the key factor in the imbalance of mitochondrial autophagy.The basic treatment method of tonifying qi and strengthening the body,promoting blood circulation and promoting stagnation can provide clinical formula ideas for the TCM prevention and treatment of KOA.
5.Curcumin ameliorates the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy by regulating intestinal mucosal immunity through inhibition of Toll-like receptor 9/myeloid differentiation factor 88/nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway
Ziyang YE ; Qi DUAN ; Feng WU ; Xiaotong LI ; Sijie ZHANG ; Yafeng LI
Chinese Journal of Nephrology 2025;41(5):358-371
Objective:To explore the role of curcumin (Cur) in improving IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and its related mechanisms.Methods:Fifty 7-month-old miR-23b knockout (miR-23b -/-) mice weighing (25±5) g were used to establish an IgAN disease model, and were randomly divided into IgAN group, IgAN+Cur (150 mg/kg) group and IgAN+Cur (300 mg/kg) group using simple randomisation. Sixteen healthy 7-month-old weighing (25±3) g C57BL/6J wild-type mice served as the normal control group. IgAN+Cur (150 mg/kg) and IgAN+Cur (300 mg/kg) groups were respectively gavaged continuously with 150 mg/kg Cur and 300 mg/kg Cur for 8 weeks, and the normal control and IgAN groups were gavaged continuously with an equal dose of 0.9% sodium chloride solution for 8 weeks. The samples of urine, serum, intestinal fluid, intestinal tissues, kidney tissues and liver tissues were collected from each group. In vitro experiments, human cloned colon adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells were divided into blank control (Ctrl), Ctrl+Cur (10 μmol/L), Ctrl+ Cur (60 μmol/L), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), TNF-α+Cur (10 μmol/L) and TNF-α+Cur (60 μmol/L) groups. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect serum alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, secretory IgA (sIgA), creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, 24 h urine microalbumin, as well as sIgA, TNF-α, interleukin(IL)-6 and IL-1β in the intestinal fluids. HE staining was used to observe the effect of Cur on liver tissues, the hyperplasia of glomerular mesangial zone in kidney tissues and the morphological and structural changes of intestinal epithelial barrier, and the histopathological damage scores were performed respectively. PAS staining was used to observe the changes of glomerular basement membrane and mesangial matrix. Immunofluorescence was used to observe the deposition of immune complexes in the glomerular mesangial zone. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of B-cell activating factor ( BAFF) and a proliferation inducing ligand ( APRIL). Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression levels of tight junction proteins zonula occluden-1 (ZO-1) and occludin in the mouse intestinal tissues. The potential targets of Cur in IgAN were predicted. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression levels of tight junction proteins, as well as Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9), myeloid differentiation primary response protein (MyD88), nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65) and p-NF-κB p65. Results:Genetic identification results revealed that all IgAN model mice exhibited the miR-23b -/- genotype, confirming successful model establishment. Seven-month-old mice were subsequently selected for Cur treatment. Histopathological analysis demonstrated no significant differences in hepatic tissue morphology across groups, with comparable liver histopathological injury scores and unaltered liver function parameters, thereby validating the safety of Cur administration. Compared with the normal control group, IgAN mice displayed elevated levels of serum sIgA, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and 24 h urine microalbumin (all P<0.05). Renal pathological results revealed severe mesangial hypercellularity in glomeruli, higher glomerular injury scores, and notable glomerular mesangial deposits of IgA, IgG and complement C3 in IgAN mice (all P<0.05). Additionally, intestinal pathological alterations were observed, including structural changes in intestinal epithelium and Peyer's patches, accompanied by significantly higher intestinal histopathological injury scores in IgAN mice ( P<0.05). Intestinal epithelial expression levels of ZO-1 and occludin were significantly reduced, while sIgA, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in intestinal fluid were elevated (all P<0.05). Serum FITC fluorescence intensity was markedly increased, and intestinal tissue exhibited upregulated mRNA expression of BAFF and APRIL (all P<0.05). Following Cur treatment, serum sIgA level and renal function indices in mice showed partial recovery (all P<0.05). Renal pathological improvements included alleviated mesangial hypercellularity, reduced glomerular injury scores, and diminished glomerular immune complex deposition (all P<0.05). Intestinal pathologies, including epithelial and Peyer's patch lesions, were mitigated, with decreased intestinal histopathological injury scores ( P<0.05). Additionally, intestinal tight junction protein expression levels were upregulated, intestinal fluid sIgA level was reduced, inflammatory markers were attenuated, serum FITC fluorescence intensity was declined, and intestinal BAFF and APRIL mRNA expression levels were downregulated (all P<0.05). In vitro experiments demonstrated that TNF-α exposure reduced tight junction protein expression in Caco-2 cells, whereas Cur treatment reversed the effect (all P<0.05). Target prediction analysis revealed that Cur effectively bound to TLR9 structural domain in IgAN. Experimental validation confirmed that Cur treatment suppressed the upregulated protein expression levels of TLR9, MyD88, NF-κB p65 and p-NF-κB p65 in intestinal tissues of IgAN mice (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Cur has a significant effect in the treatment of IgAN and can regulate intestinal mucosal immunity by inhibiting the TLR9/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby reducing renal injury and protecting the kidneys.
6.A preliminary in vivo and in vitro study of endothelial cell pyroptosis in the periodontal inflammatory environment
Rui LI ; Xiaoyu WANG ; Qingyuan YE ; Yazheng WANG ; Xige ZHANG ; Xiaotong GE ; Qintao WANG
Chinese Journal of Stomatology 2024;59(5):486-495
Objective:To observe whether endothelial cells undergo pyroptosis in the inflammatory periodontal environment by using a model in vivo and in vitro, providing an experimental basis for indepth understanding of the underlying pathogenesis of periodontitis. Methods:According to the classification of periodontal diseases of 2018, gingival tissues were collected from periodontally healthy subjects and patients with stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ, grade C periodontitis, who presented Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Department of Periodontology, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University from April to May 2022. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the expression level and distribution of gasdermin D (GSDMD), a hallmark protein of cell pyroptosis, in gingival tissues. Periodontitis models were established in each group by ligating the maxillary second molar teeth of three mice for 2 weeks (ligation group). The alveolar bone resorption was determined by micro-CT (mice without ligation treatment were used as the control group), and the colocalization of GSDMD and CD31 were quantitatively analyzed by immunofluorescence staining in gingival tissues of healthy and inflammatory mice. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured in vitro and treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) combined with adenosine triphosphate (ATP) at various concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 mg/L, respectively, and the 0 mg/L group was set as the control group at the same time. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the morphology of HUVECs. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of gasdermin D-N terminal domains (GSDMD-N) protein and immunofluorescence cell staining was used to detect the expression and distribution of GSDMD. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to detect the proliferative ability of HUVECs, and propidium iodide (PI) staining was used to detect the integrity of cell membrane of HUVECs. Results:Immunohistochemistry showed that GSDMD in gingival tissues of periodontitis was mainly distributed around blood vessels and its expression level was higher than that in healthy tissues. Micro-CT showed that alveolar bone resorption around the maxillary second molar significantly increased in ligation group mice compared with control subjects ( t=8.88, P<0.001). Immunofluorescence staining showed significant colocalization of GSDMD with CD31 in the gingival vascular endothelial cells in mice of ligation group. The results of scanning electron microscopy showed that there were pores of different sizes, the typical morphology of pyroptosis, on HUVECs cell membranes in the inflammatory environment simulated by ATP combined with different concentrations of LPS, and 2.5 mg/L group showed the most dilated and fused pores on cell membranes, with the cells tended to lyse and die. Western blotting showed that the expression of GSDMD-N, the hallmark protein of cell pyroptosis, was significantly higher in 2.5 and 5.0 mg/L groups than that in the control group ( F=3.86, P<0.01). Immunofluorescence cell staining showed that the average fluorescence intensity of GSDMD in 2.5 mg/L group elevated the most significantly in comparison with that in the control group ( F=35.25, P<0.001). The CCK-8 proliferation assay showed that compared to the control group (1.00±0.02), 0.5 mg/L (0.52±0.07), 1.0 mg/L (0.57±0.10), 2.5 mg/L (0.58±0.04), 5.0 mg/L (0.55±0.04), 10.0 mg/L (0.61±0.03) groups inhibited cell proliferation ( F=39.95, P<0.001). PI staining showed that the proportion of positive stained cells was highest [(56.07±3.22)%] in 2.5 mg/L group ( F=88.24, P<0.001). Conclusions:Endothelial cells undergo significant pyroptosis in both in vivo and in vitro periodontal inflammatory environments, suggesting that endothelial cell pyroptosis may be an important pathogenic factor contributing to the pathogenesis of periodontitis.
7.Sodium butyrate activates HMGCS2 to promote ketone body production through SIRT5-mediated desuccinylation.
Yanhong XU ; Xiaotong YE ; Yang ZHOU ; Xinyu CAO ; Shiqiao PENG ; Yue PENG ; Xiaoying ZHANG ; Yili SUN ; Haowen JIANG ; Wenying HUANG ; Hongkai LIAN ; Jiajun YANG ; Jia LI ; Jianping YE
Frontiers of Medicine 2023;17(2):339-351
Ketone bodies have beneficial metabolic activities, and the induction of plasma ketone bodies is a health promotion strategy. Dietary supplementation of sodium butyrate (SB) is an effective approach in the induction of plasma ketone bodies. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms are unknown. In this study, SB was found to enhance the catalytic activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase 2 (HMGCS2), a rate-limiting enzyme in ketogenesis, to promote ketone body production in hepatocytes. SB administrated by gavage or intraperitoneal injection significantly induced blood ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) in mice. BHB production was induced in the primary hepatocytes by SB. Protein succinylation was altered by SB in the liver tissues with down-regulation in 58 proteins and up-regulation in 26 proteins in the proteomics analysis. However, the alteration was mostly observed in mitochondrial proteins with 41% down- and 65% up-regulation, respectively. Succinylation status of HMGCS2 protein was altered by a reduction at two sites (K221 and K358) without a change in the protein level. The SB effect was significantly reduced by a SIRT5 inhibitor and in Sirt5-KO mice. The data suggests that SB activated HMGCS2 through SIRT5-mediated desuccinylation for ketone body production by the liver. The effect was not associated with an elevation in NAD+/NADH ratio according to our metabolomics analysis. The data provide a novel molecular mechanism for SB activity in the induction of ketone body production.
Mice
;
Animals
;
Butyric Acid/metabolism*
;
Ketone Bodies/metabolism*
;
Liver/metabolism*
;
Hydroxybutyrates/metabolism*
;
Down-Regulation
;
Sirtuins/metabolism*
;
Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Synthase/metabolism*
8.Effects of different debridement methods on titanium surfaces in vitro
GE Xiaotong ; YE Qingyuan ; WANG Jinjin ; ZHANG Xige ; WANG Yazheng ; WANG Xiaoyu ; JI Jiyun ; WANG Qintao
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2023;31(7):465-472
Objective :
To investigate the effect of different decontamination methods, including photodynamic therapy, sandblasting and titanium curette, on titanium surface morphology and bacterial adhesion for the treatment of peri-implant disease.
Methods:
Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) were inoculated on the surface of polished titanium specimens, and titanium specimen surfaces were treated with different decontamination methods after incubation. The titanium specimens were divided into a no-treatment control group, photodynamic group, sandblasting group and titanium curette group according to different decontamination methods. The changes in titanium surface roughness were observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM), and the remaining bacteria on the titanium surface were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and live/dead bacteria staining tests. After reinoculation of Pg and Fn, bacterial readhesion was observed on the surface of decontaminated titanium specimens.
Results :
The AFM results showed that the surface roughness of the titanium curette group was significantly higher than that of the no-treatment control group, photodynamic group and sandblasting group (P<0.05), and there was no statistically significant difference between the no-treatment control group, photodynamic group and sandblasting group (P>0.05). The results of contact angle measurement showed that the surface contact angle of each treatment group was smaller than that of the no-treatment control group (P<0.05). The SEM results obtained after the titanium specimen surface was decontaminated showed that the number of bacteria on the no-treatment control group surface was higher and the bacteria were relatively concentrated. The bacteria on the surface of the photodynamic group, sandblasting group and titanium curette group were scattered and distributed in small numbers, and most bacteria on the surface of the photodynamic group were ruptured. The results of the live/dead bacteria staining experiment showed that the percentage of dead bacteria on the surface of the photodynamic group was significantly higher than that of the no-treatment control group, sandblasting group and titanium curette group (P<0.05). The remaining bacteria on the surface of the sandblasting group and titanium curette groups were mainly live bacteria. The remaining bacterial adhesion on the surface was significantly reduced for the sandblasting group compared to the no-treatment control group and the photodynamic and titanium curette groups (P<0.05). SEM and live/dead bacteria staining results of bacterial readhesion on the surface of titanium specimens showed that there was an aggregation of Pg on the surface of the titanium curette group, and its surface bacterial adhesion was significantly higher than that of the no-treatment control group, photodynamic group and sandblasting group.
Conclusion
In mechanical decontamination, sandblasting machines are a better option than photodynamic therapy and titanium curettes; however, sandblasting does not remove all bacterial contamination. For sterilization, photodynamic therapy is more effective than sandblasting and titanium curettes. A combination of sandblasting and photodynamic therapy methods for the treatment of peri-implant disease may be considered in clinical practice.
9.Wedelolactone Promotes the Chondrogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Suppressing EZH2
Wei QIN ; Lin YANG ; Xiaotong CHEN ; Shanyu YE ; Aijun LIU ; Dongfeng CHEN ; Kunhua HU
International Journal of Stem Cells 2023;16(3):326-341
Background and Objectives:
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease that leads to the progressive destruction ofarticular cartilage. Current clinical therapeutic strategies are moderately effective at relieving OA-associated pain but cannot induce chondrocyte differentiation or achieve cartilage regeneration. We investigated the ability of wedelolactone, a biologically active natural product that occurs in Eclipta alba (false daisy), to promote chondrogenic differentiation.
Methods:
and Results: Real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemical staining, and immunofluorescence staining assays were used to evaluate the effects of wedelolactone on the chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). RNA sequencing, microRNA (miRNA) sequencing, and isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation analyses were performed to explore the mechanism by which wedelolactone promotes the chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs. We found that wedelolactone facilitates the chondrogenic differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived MSCs and rat bone-marrow MSCs. Moreover, the forkhead box O (FOXO) signaling pathway was upregulated by wedelolactone during chondrogenic differentiation, and a FOXO1 inhibitor attenuated the effect of wedelolactone on chondrocyte differentiation. We determined that wedelolactone reduces enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2)-mediated histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation of the promoter region of FOXO1 to upregulate its transcription. Additionally, we found that wedelolactone represses miR-1271-5p expression, and that miR-1271-5p post-transcriptionally suppresses the expression of FOXO1 that is dependent on the binding of miR-1271-5p to the FOXO1 3’-untranscribed region.
Conclusions
These results indicate that wedelolactone suppresses the activity of EZH2 to facilitate the chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs by activating the FOXO1 signaling pathway. Wedelolactone may therefore improve cartilage regeneration in diseases characterized by inflammatory tissue destruction, such as OA.
10.BGB-A445, a novel non-ligand-blocking agonistic anti-OX40 antibody, exhibits superior immune activation and antitumor effects in preclinical models.
Beibei JIANG ; Tong ZHANG ; Minjuan DENG ; Wei JIN ; Yuan HONG ; Xiaotong CHEN ; Xin CHEN ; Jing WANG ; Hongjia HOU ; Yajuan GAO ; Wenfeng GONG ; Xing WANG ; Haiying LI ; Xiaosui ZHOU ; Yingcai FENG ; Bo ZHANG ; Bin JIANG ; Xueping LU ; Lijie ZHANG ; Yang LI ; Weiwei SONG ; Hanzi SUN ; Zuobai WANG ; Xiaomin SONG ; Zhirong SHEN ; Xuesong LIU ; Kang LI ; Lai WANG ; Ye LIU
Frontiers of Medicine 2023;17(6):1170-1185
OX40 is a costimulatory receptor that is expressed primarily on activated CD4+, CD8+, and regulatory T cells. The ligation of OX40 to its sole ligand OX40L potentiates T cell expansion, differentiation, and activation and also promotes dendritic cells to mature to enhance their cytokine production. Therefore, the use of agonistic anti-OX40 antibodies for cancer immunotherapy has gained great interest. However, most of the agonistic anti-OX40 antibodies in the clinic are OX40L-competitive and show limited efficacy. Here, we discovered that BGB-A445, a non-ligand-competitive agonistic anti-OX40 antibody currently under clinical investigation, induced optimal T cell activation without impairing dendritic cell function. In addition, BGB-A445 dose-dependently and significantly depleted regulatory T cells in vitro and in vivo via antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. In the MC38 syngeneic model established in humanized OX40 knock-in mice, BGB-A445 demonstrated robust and dose-dependent antitumor efficacy, whereas the ligand-competitive anti-OX40 antibody showed antitumor efficacy characterized by a hook effect. Furthermore, BGB-A445 demonstrated a strong combination antitumor effect with an anti-PD-1 antibody. Taken together, our findings show that BGB-A445, which does not block OX40-OX40L interaction in contrast to clinical-stage anti-OX40 antibodies, shows superior immune-stimulating effects and antitumor efficacy and thus warrants further clinical investigation.
Mice
;
Animals
;
Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor/physiology*
;
Receptors, OX40
;
Membrane Glycoproteins
;
Ligands
;
Antibodies, Monoclonal/pharmacology*
;
Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology*


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail