1.Mechanism of imperatorin in ameliorating doxorubicin resistance of breast cancer based on transcriptomics
Yiting LI ; Wei DONG ; Xinli LIANG ; Hu WANG ; Yumei QIU ; Xiaoyun DING ; Hao ZHANG ; Huiyun BAO ; Xianxi LI ; Xilan TANG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(5):529-534
OBJECTIVE To investigate the ameliorative effect and potential mechanism of imperatorin (IMP) on doxorubicin (DOX) resistance in breast cancer. METHODS The effects of maximum non-toxic concentration (100 μg/mL) of IMP combined with different concentrations of DOX (12.5, 25, 50, 75, 100 μg/mL) on the proliferation of MCF-7/DOX cells were determined by MTT method. MCF-7/DOX cells were divided into blank control group (1‰ dimethyl sulfoxide), DOX group (50 μg/mL), IMP+DOX group (100 μg/mL IMP+50 μg/mL DOX) and IMP group (100 μg/mL). mRNA and protein expressions of multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1) and multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 in each group were measured. The relevant pathways and targets involved in the improvement of DOX resistance in breast cancer cells by IMP were screened and validated by using transcriptome sequencing technology, along with gene ontology (GO) enrichment analyses and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. RESULTS Compared with DOX alone, the combination of IMP and DOX reduced the half inhibitory concentration of DOX on MCF-7/DOX cells from 81.965 μg/mL to 43.170 μg/mL, the reverse fold was 1.90, and the mRNA expression of MDR1 was significantly down-regulated (P<0.05). The results of GO enrichment analyses and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses indicated that the reversal of DOX resistance in breast cancer by IMP was mainly associated with the regulation of biological processes such as detoxification, multiple biological processes, and cell killing. The main pathway involved was the p53 signaling pathway, and the key targets mainly included constitutively photomorphogenic protein 1 (COP1), cyclin E1 (CCNE1), growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible protein 45A E-mail:tangxilan1983@163.com (GADD45A) and GADD45B. The results of the verification experiments showed that compared with DOX group, there was a trend of up-regulation of COP1 mRNA, and significant down- regulation of CCNE1, GADD45A, and GADD45B mRNA expression in IMP+DOX group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The effect of IMP in ameliorating DOX resistance in breast cancer is related to its regulation of COP1, CCNE1, GADD45A and GADD45B targets in the p53 signaling pathway.
2.Research Pogress on Action Mechanism of NLRP3 Inflammasome and Pyroptosis in Diabetic Nephropathy
Zhenyun LEI ; Guozhong XUE ; Zhenhua LIU ; Xinli ZHANG
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(3):722-729
Diabetic nephropathy (DN), as one of the most common complications of diabetes, is a primary cause of end-stage renal disease. The pathogenesis of DN encompasses processes such as chronic inflammation, recruitment and activation of immune cells, tubular and glomerular injury, and renal fibrosis. These processes are highly correlated with the activation of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and the resulting pyroptosis it mediates. Previous studies have shown that the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, leakage of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), recruitment and activation of immune cells can be reduced by regulating the NLRP3 inflammasome and its mediated pyroptosis, thereby slowing the diffusion of inflammatory responses in adjacentcells, fibrosis, and tissue remodeling processes. Ultimately, these process can improve renal injury and dysfunction caused by diabetic nephropathy. This article summarizes the molecular regulatory mechanisms of the NLRP3 inflammasome and its mediated pyroptosis at different pathological stages of DN, proposes potential targets for regulating their activation, aiming to provide a new direction for personalized treatment of DN.
3.Longitudinal cross lagged analysis of body mass index and weight stigma with depressive symptom in adolescents
DONG Ziqi, SONG Xinli, YUAN Wen, LI Jing, YANG Tian, ZHANG Xiuhong, SONG Yi, DONG Yanhui
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(9):1242-1245
Objective:
To explore the bidirectional associations among body mass index Z scores (BMI Z scores) and weight stigma with depressive symptoms in adolescents, thereby providing evidence for targeted intervention strategies.
Methods:
A stratified cluster random sampling method was employed to select 18 301 adolescents aged 12-18 years from all 12 prefectures (103 counties) in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and two waves of longitudinal surveys were conducted in September 2023 (T1) and September 2024 (T2) among the adolescents. Weight stigma was assessed by using a self developed questionnaire, depressive symptom was measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and BMI Z scores were calculated according to the World Health Organization standards. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine associations among variables, and cross lagged panel models were constructed to investigate the dynamic bidirectional relationships among the three variables.
Results:
Adolescents BMI Z scores and weight stigma with depressive symptoms all exhibited autoregressive stability across the two time points (autoregressive paths, all P <0.01). Cross lagged model comparisons indicated that the bidirectional path model achieved the best fit ( χ 2=12.65, RMSEA =0.017, CFI =1.000; △ χ 2=193.39, P <0.01), supporting dynamic bidirectional associations among the three variables. After adjusting for gender, age, subjective social status and only child status, T1 BMI Z scores among adolescents positively predicted T2 weight stigma ( β =0.061), and T1 weight stigma positively predicted T2 depressive symptoms ( β =0.608); in the reverse direction, T1 depressive symptoms predicted T2 weight stigma ( β =0.003), and T1 weight stigma predicted T2 BMI Z scores ( β =0.081) (all P <0.01).
Conclusions
There is a bidirectional cross lagged relationship among adolescents BMI Z scores and weight stigma with depressive symptoms, suggesting that weight stigma may serve as a key psychological variable linking obesity and depressive symptoms. Greater attention should be paid to the potential threat of weight stigma to adolescents mental health, with intervention strategies expanded from a solely physiological focus to encompass psychosocial dimensions.
4.Spherical measurement-based analysis of gradient nonlinearity in magnetic resonance imaging.
Xiaoli YANG ; Zhaolian WANG ; Qian WANG ; Yiting ZHANG ; Zixuan SONG ; Yuchang ZHANG ; Yafei QI ; Xiaopeng MA
Journal of Biomedical Engineering 2025;42(1):174-180
The gradient field, one of the core magnetic fields in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems, is generated by gradient coils and plays a critical role in spatial encoding and the generation of echo signals. The uniformity or linearity of the gradient field directly impacts the quality and distortion level of MRI images. However, traditional point measurement methods lack accuracy in assessing the linearity of gradient fields, making it difficult to provide effective parameters for image distortion correction. This paper introduced a spherical measurement-based method that involved measuring the magnetic field distribution on a sphere, followed by detailed magnetic field calculations and linearity analysis. This study, applied to assess the nonlinearity of asymmetric head gradient coils, demonstrated more comprehensive and precise results compared to point measurement methods. This advancement not only strengthens the scientific basis for the design of gradient coils but also provides more reliable parameters and methods for the accurate correction of MRI image distortions.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging/instrumentation*
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Humans
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Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods*
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Nonlinear Dynamics
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Magnetic Fields
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Algorithms
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Phantoms, Imaging
5.Brain and Meningeal Metastases of Lung Cancer Manifested as Brain Calcifications: A Case Report and Literature Review.
Deng ZHANG ; Yiru KONG ; Xiaohua LIANG ; Xinli ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer 2025;28(3):237-244
Lung cancer is still one of the most common malignant tumors in the world. With the increase of its incidence and the development of medical technology, the overall survival of lung cancer patients has significantly extended compared to before. The incidence of brain and meningeal metastases from lung cancer has also been rising year by year, but patients with brain and meningeal metastases from lung cancer have a poor prognosis and a very high mortality rate, and the diagnosis is mainly based on computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other imaging examinations. However, the imaging features are diverse and the specificity is low, which makes it easy to be misdiagnosed and missed. Therefore, accurately identifying brain and meningeal metastases and timely targeted treatment is crucial for improving patient prognosis. This paper analyzed the diagnosis and treatment of a case of lung cancer with no obvious recurrence and metastasis in nearly 7-year long-term follow-up after radical lung cancer surgery, but the patient with abnormal behavior, impaired consciousness and epilepsy in the past 5 months, and multiple punctate calcifications in the brain found by head CT and MRI. This paper consider that the patient's mental and behavioral symptoms were caused by brain and meningeal metastasis of lung cancer after excluding infectious disease and ineffective treatment of autoimmune encephalitis, and further pathological biopsy and genetic detection confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic lung adenocarcinoma with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) L858R gene mutation, and the patient's symptoms were significantly improved after targeted therapy by Osimertinib. This paper also searched the relevant literatures of brain calcifications in databases such as China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, UpToDate, PubMed, etc., and found that intracerebral calcifications exist in a variety of diseases, including infectious, genetic and neurodegenerative diseases, vascular diseases, metabolic diseases and tumors. However, brain calcification in brain and meningeal metastases are often underestimated, and the consequent risk is misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. Therefore, brain and meningeal metastases manifested as brain calcification should not be ignored in patients with a history of previous tumors.
.
Humans
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Lung Neoplasms/pathology*
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Brain Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging*
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Meningeal Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging*
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Calcinosis/diagnostic imaging*
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging
6.Overexpression of multimerin-2 promotes cutaneous melanoma cell invasion and migration and is associated with poor prognosis.
Jinlong PANG ; Xinli ZHAO ; Zhen ZHANG ; Haojie WANG ; Xingqi ZHOU ; Yumei YANG ; Shanshan LI ; Xiaoqiang CHANG ; Feng LI ; Xian LI
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(7):1479-1489
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the inhibitory effect of multimerin-2 (MMRN2) overexpression on growth and metastasis of cutaneous melanoma cells.
METHODS:
Clinical data of patients with cutaneous melanoma were obtained from the GEO database to compare MMRN2 expressions between normal and tumor tissues. A protein-protein interaction network was constructed using the STRING database, and the intersecting genes from GEPIA2.0 were subjected to GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. The prognostic relevance of MMRN2 expression level was assessed using Cox regression and "timeROC". The correlations of MMRN2 expression level with immune infiltration and angiogenesis-related genes were analyzed using GSCA database and the ssGSEA algorithm. Colony-forming assay, Transwell assay, and wound healing assay were used to examine the changes in proliferation and migration of cultured cutaneous melanoma cells following MMRN2 knockdown. In a mouse model bearing cutaneous melanoma xenograft, the effect of MMRN2 knockdown on vital organ pathologies, survival of the mice and GM-CSF, CXCL9, and TGF‑β1 protein expressions were analyzed.
RESULTS:
MMRN2 was significantly upregulated in metastatic cutaneous melanoma (P<0.001). Protein interaction network analysis identified 15 intersecting genes, which were enriched in endothelium development and cell-cell junctions. In patients with cutaneous melanoma, a high MMRN2 expression was correlated with a poor prognosis, an advanced T stage, a greater Breslow depth, and ulceration (P<0.05). MMRN2 expression level was strongly correlated with 24 immune cell types (P<0.001), fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and expressions of the pro-angiogenic genes (KCNJ8, SLCO2A1, NRP1, and COL3A1; P<0.001). In cultured B16F10 cells, MMRN2 knockdown significantly suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion and caused remo-deling of the immunosuppressive microenvironment.
CONCLUSIONS
MMRN2 overexpression drives progression of cutaneous melanoma by enhancing tumor metastasis, angiogenesis and immune evasion, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for melanomas.
Humans
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Melanoma/metabolism*
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Animals
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Cell Movement
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Prognosis
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Skin Neoplasms/metabolism*
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Mice
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Cell Proliferation
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Neoplasm Invasiveness
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Cell Line, Tumor
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Protein Interaction Maps
7.In vitro quality evaluation of leucocyte-reduced pooled platelet concentrates prepared from whole blood stored at 4℃
Huijuan AN ; Hong SHAN ; Zheng LIU ; Jiaojiao ZHANG ; Jiaojie WANG ; Lili BIE ; Jianbin LI ; Xinli JIN
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2024;37(7):820-826
Objective To investigate the feasibility of leucocyte-reduced pooled platelet concentrates from whole blood stored at 4℃,and provide theoretical basis for the components preparation.Methods The collected 400 mL ACD-B antico-agulant whole blood was randomly divided into two groups,stored at 4℃and room temperature.The buffy coat was prepared within 6 hours and store at 22℃until next day to prepare leucocyte-reduced pooled platelet concentrates.Platelet samples on day 1,3,5 and 7 were taken for the blood cell count and related parameter detection.The pH,glucose and lactic acid con-tent were determined to reflect the metabolic status,and the thromboelastography,platelet aggregation rate and PAC-1 and CD62P expression were determined to reflect the function and activation of platelets.The difference in platelets between two groups were analyzed.Results With the extension of storage time,the count of leucocyte-reduced pooled platelet concen-trates decreased gradually,but the platelets distribution width(PDW),mean platelet volume(MPV)and platelet-larger cell ratio(P-LCR)increased gradually in two groups,with no statistical significance(P>0.05).The pH and glucose con-tents in two groups gradually decreased,but the lactic acid content gradually increased,with no significant difference(P>0.05).The thrombelastogram showed MA value that reflecting platelet function has no significant change during the storage,and there was no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05).The aggregation rates decreased while the expres-sion of PAC-1 and CD62P increased gradually with the prolongation of preservation time,with no significant difference be-tween the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion There is no significant difference in platelet count,function and activation between whole blood stored at 4℃and at room temperature within 6 hours.Whole blood stored at 4℃within 6 hours can be considered as the raw material for leucocyte-reduced pooled platelet concentrates.
8.Effect of small-incision lenticule extraction with different corneal cap thicknesses on postoperative astigmatism and short-term visual quality of patients with myopic astigmatism
Xinli ZHANG ; Yang LIU ; Jian FU ; Xiangling LIU
International Eye Science 2024;24(11):1811-1815
AIM: To compare the effect of small-incision lenticule extraction(SMILE)with different corneal cap thicknesses on postoperative astigmatism and short-term visual quality of patients with myopic astigmatism.METHODS: A total of 54 patients(108 eyes)with myopic astigmatism who underwent SMILE from June 2020 to June 2022 in our hospital were selected for the prospective controlled study, and patients were randomly assigned into two groups, with 27 cases(54 eyes)each. The corneal cap thickness design was 110 μm for the group A and 120 μm for the group B, while other operation parameters were consistent. Additionally, the uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA), spherical equivalent(SE), stiffness parameter A1(SP-A1), visual quality and vector parameters at baseline, 1 d,1 wk and 1 mo after surgery were compared between two groups.RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference in UCVA, SE, and SP-A1 between the two groups at various time points before and after surgery(all P<0.05), and UCVA in the group A was better than that in the group B at 1 d after surgery(P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the results of astigmatism vector analysis between the two groups of patients(both P>0.05). The objective scattering index(OSI)of the group A was lower than that of the group B, while Strehl ratio(SR)of the group A was higher than that of the group B at 1 d after surgery(both P<0.05). There was no significant difference in modulation transfer function cutoff frequency(MTF cut off), contrast vision, visual symptoms and overall satisfaction, postoperative complications between the two groups(all P>0.05).CONCLUSION: SMILE procedures with both 110 μm and 120 μm corneal cap thicknesses are safe and effective in correcting myopic astigmatism without affecting postoperative SE, astigmatism, SP-A1 or contrast visual acuity. Whereas 110 μm corneal cap thickness results in faster early postoperative visual recovery and better early visual quality than 120 μm.
9.Efficacy of trastuzumab deruxtecan in treatment of metastatic breast cancer with overexpression or low expression of HER2 and the influencing factors of prognosis
Junmei ZHANG ; Hongjuan DU ; Jin YANG ; Ting YANG ; Xinli WANG ; Yan XUE
Cancer Research and Clinic 2024;36(3):167-171
Objective:To investigate the effect of trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients with different expression levels of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and the influencing factors of prognosis.Methods:The retrospective case series analysis and cohort study were conducted. Clinical data of 20 MBC patients with different expression levels of HER2 treated with T-DXd at Xi'an International Medical Center Hospital from August 2021 to August 2023 were retrospectively collected to analyze the efficacy and safety of T-DXd. The Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariate analysis of prognostic factors.Results:All 20 patients were female, with a median age [ M ( Q1, Q3)] of 49 years old (40 years old, 58 years old). Of the 20 cases, 12 had low expression of HER2 [immunohistochemistry HER2+, or immunohistochemistry ++ and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)-negative], and 8 had overexpression of HER2 (immunohistochemistry HER2+++, or immunohistochemistry ++ and FISH-positive); median number of lines of treatment with T-DXd was 6 lines (3 lines, 7 lines); 14 patients had partial remission, 3 patients had stable disease, and 3 patients had disease progression, with an objective remission rate (ORR) of 70% (14/20) and a disease control rate of 85% (17/20). Eight patients with overexpression of HER2 had objective remission in 6 cases, and 12 patients with low expression of HER2 had objective remission in 8 cases, and the ORR difference between the two groups was not statistically significant ( P = 1.000). The main adverse reactions of the patients were nausea (14 cases), vomiting (12 cases), leukopenia (10 cases), elevated aspartate aminotransferase (10 cases), elevated alanine aminotransferase (9 cases), anemia (8 cases), fatigue (8 cases), alopecia (8 cases), neutropenia (6 cases), and thrombocytopenia (5 cases); ≥ grade 3 adverse reactions were bone marrow suppression and gastrointestinal reactions, all with an incidence of ≤10%. The median follow-up time was 7.1 months (1.9 months, 11.5 months). The median progression-free survival (PFS) time was 6.5 months (95% CI: 3.9-9.1 months), and the median PFS time of patients with overexpression of HER2 was longer than that of patients with low expression of HER2 [7.0 months (95% CI: 6.4- 7.6 months) vs. 4.0 months (95% CI: 1.7-6.3 months)], and the difference in PFS between the two groups was statistically significant ( P = 0.025). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that overexpression of HER2 was an independent protective factor for PFS in MBC patients treated with T-DXd ( HR = 0.265, 95% CI: 0.075-0.945, P = 0.041). Conclusions:MBC patients with overexpression or low expression of HER2 have a good therapeutic effect and safety profile when treated with T-DXd. The overexpression of HER2 may predict good PFS in MBC patients treated with T-DXd, and may serve as a biomarker for predicting PFS in such patients, but it may not affect the ORR.
10.Mechanism of Yes-Associated Protein 1 Ameliorating Aristolochic Acid 1-Induced Liver Injury in Mice Based on Untargeted Metabolomics Techniques
Yu XUE ; Caige LI ; Yiwei LIU ; Jiali YANG ; Zhiqin ZHANG ; Jingmin JI ; Kun YU ; Xinli SHI
Traditional Chinese Drug Research & Clinical Pharmacology 2024;35(1):46-55
Objective To investigate the mechanism of Yes-associated protein 1(YAP1)ameliorating aristolochic acid 1(AAI)-induced liver injury in mice based on untargeted metabolomics techniques.Methods There were 83-week-old male hepatocyte-specific Yap1 gene knockout mice(genotyped as Yap1Flox/Flox,Albumin-Cre,aka.Yap1LKO)were randomly selected as the Yap1LKO+AAI group,and 8 Yap1Flox control mice as the Yap1Flox+AAI group.Both groups were injected intraperitoneally with AAI at a dose of 2.5 mg·kg-1·d-1 for 14 consecutive days.Genotypes were identified by tail PCR;serum alanine transaminase(ALT)and aspartate transaminase(AST)activities were determined by microplate assay;histopathological changes of liver tissue were observed by HE staining;and the protein expression of YAP1 in liver tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry.The untargeted metabolomics approach was used to analyze the liver tissue differential metabolites,and the samples were analyzed by ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-electrostatic field orbit trap high-resolution mass spectrometry,and the differential metabolites were screened by principal component analysis(PCA),Partial least square-discriminant analysis(PLS-DA),and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA);using HMDB database and METLIN database to identify metabolites,and the pathway enrichment of differential metabolites was analyzed by KEGG database.Results(1)After 14 days of AAI induction,the increase of body mass in Yap1LKO mice was lower than that in Yap1Flox mice,but there was no statistical significance(P>0.05).On day 14,compared with the Yap1Flox+AAI group,the serum ALT and AST enzyme activities in the Yap1LKO+AAI group of mice were significantly increased(P<0.05),and the histopathological damage of the liver was significantly aggravated.The livers of the Yap1Flox mice had a positive protein expression of YAP1,whereas the Yap1LKO mice did not have a positive protein expression of YAP1.(2)A total of 139 differential metabolites with significant changes(VIP>1 and P<0.05)were screened by metabonomic analysis;compared with Yap1LKO+ AAI group,62 liver metabolites in Yap1Flox+AAI group were up-regulated,including choline,taurine,hypotaurine,α-linolenic acid,eleostearic acid,chenodeoxycholic acid and so on.Seventy-seven metabolites were down-regulated including glycerophosphocholine,L-phosphatidylcholine,L-glutamine,L-serine,L-glutathione,5-methionine,phenylalanine,glucose 6-phosphate,lactic acid,uric acid glycosides,etc..KEGG-enriched pathways were mainly choline metabolism,glycerophospholipid metabolism,insulin resistance,glutathione metabolism,etc..Conclusion Hepatocyte-specific Yap1 gene knockout exacerbated AAI-induced liver injury in mice,and YAP1 was involved in the regulation of choline metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism through the up-regulation of unsaturated fatty acids,such as choline and taurine,which ameliorated AAI-induced liver injury in mice.


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