Objective: To establish anin vitromodel of ferroptosis induced by Erastin and RAS-selective lethal 3(RSL3) in hepatoma cells, and to provide theoretical basis for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for HCC. Methods: Hepatoma cells(HCCLM3, HepG2, Hep3B, Huh7 and PLC/PRF/5) in logarithmic growth phase were treated with Erastin(0-40 μmol/L) and RSL3(0-10 μmol/L) at double concentrations respectively. After 24 h, CCK-8 method was used to detect cell viability, draw growth curve, calculate IC50, and HCC cells sensitive to inducers were selected for follow-up experiments. The effect of inducer on the state of hepatoma cells was observed under light microscope, and immunoblotting and flow cytometry were used to verify whether the ferroptotic modelin vitrowas successfully constructed. Results: Huh7, Hep3B and HepG2 cells were sensitive to Erastin and RSL3, but HCCLM3 and PLC/PRF/5 were insensitive to Erastin and RSL3. When the concentration of Erastin and RSL3 reached the maximum, the survival rate was still above 65%. Huh7, Hep3B and HepG2 cells were selected for subsequent experiments. Compared with the control group, the expression of Glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4), a ferroptotic marker, was down-regulated in a concentration-dependent manner. In Huh7, Hep3B and HepG2 cells, lipid reactive oxygen species(ROS) levels significantly increased after 24 h treatment with 10 μmol/L and 20 μmol/L Erastin, respectively; in Huh7 cells, lipid ROS levels significantly increased after 24 h treatment with 0.5 μmol/L and 1 μmol/L RSL3, respectively; in Hep3B and HepG2 cells, lipid ROS levels significantly increased after 24 h treatment with 1 μmol/L and 2 μmol/L RSL3, respectively, compared with control group. Conclusion Huh7, Hep3B and HepG2 cells are highly sensitive to Erastin and RSL3. Huh7, Hep3B and HepG2 cells treated with 10 μmol/L Erastin for 24 h are good models for simulating ferroptosis induced by Erastinin vitro, Huh7 cells treated with 0.5 μmol/L RSL3 for 24 h and Hep3B and HepG2 cells treated with 1 μmol/L RSL3 for 24 h are good models for simulating ferroptosis induced by RSL3in vitro.

As activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs) play a central role in fibrogenesis, they have become key target cells for anti-fibrotic treatment. Nevertheless, the therapeutic efficiency is constrained by the exosomes they secrete, which are linked to energy metabolism and continuously stimulate the activation of neighboring quiescent hepatic stellate cells (qHSCs). Herein, an intercellular communication interference strategy is designed utilizing paeoniflorin (PF) loaded and hyaluronic acid (HA) coated copper-doped ZIF-8 (PF@HA-Cu/ZIF-8, PF@HCZ) to reduce energy-related exosome secretion from aHSCs, thus preserving neighboring qHSCs in a quiescent state. Simultaneously, the released copper and zinc ions disrupt key enzymes involved in glycolysis to reduce bioenergy synthesis in aHSCs, thereby promoting the reversion of aHSCs to a quiescent state and further decreasing exosome secretion. Therefore, PF@HCZ can effectively sustain both aHSCs and qHSCs in a metabolically dormant state to ultimately alleviate liver fibrosis. The study provides an enlightening strategy for interrupting exosome-mediated intercellular communication and remodeling the energy metabolic status of HSCs with boosted antifibrogenic activity.

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and highly heterogeneous psychiatric disorder. Current antipsychotic medications show limited effectiveness in treating negative symptoms and cognitive deficits. Accumulating evidence suggests that dysfunction of inhibitory γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurons, leading to inhibitory circuit dysregulation, plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of the disorder. Recent advances in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and brain organoid technologies have provided more accurate human-based models of schizophrenia, offering new avenues to investigate the complex neurodevelopmental mechanism of schizophrenia and to explore cell replacement therapies. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that transplantation of specific types of GABAergic interneuron precursors into the brain can selectively improve negative symptoms and cognitive deficits in animal models, highlighting considerable translational potential. However, the transition from bench to bedside still faces multiple technical and ethical challenges, enhancing cell differentiation efficiency, ensuring long-term safety of transplanted cells, achieving precise control and functional integration of neuronal subtypes, understanding circuit-specific contributions to different symptom domains, and establishing rigorous ethical and regulatory frameworks. In summary, inhibitory GABAergic interneuron-based cell therapy provides a novel theoretical and perspective foundation for improving negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. Despite significant challenges ahead, its prospects remain highly promising.

Objective: To investigate the inhibitory effect of Elesclomol (ES) + Cu2 + on the proliferation of human hepatoma cell lines PLC/PRF/5 and Huh-7 and its potential to induce Cuproptosis. Methods: Human hepatoma cell lines PLC/PRF/5 and Huh_7 cells were Cultured in vitro. ES solution , Cu2 + solution and copper chelating agent ammonium tetrathiomolybdate VI (ATTM) solution was treated separately or in combination. The effect of ES + Cu2 + on the survival rate of human hepatoma cell lines PLC/PRF/5 and Huh_7 cells and the effect of ES + Cu2 + on the survival rate after pretreatment with copper chelating agent ATTM were evaluated using CCK_8 kit. The cell death induced by ES + Cu2 + was detected by flow cytometry and the changes of ES + Cu2 + after pretreatment with copper chelating agent ATTM. The expression of Cuproptosis related proteins ATPase copper transporting beta (ATP7B) ,ferredoxin 1 (FDX1) , dihydrolipoamide s_acetyltransferase(DLAT) and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) were detected by Western blot. The effect of ES + Cu2 + on cell proliferation and the reverse effect after ATTM pretreatment was detected by cell scratch assay. Results: The toxicity of ES + Cu2 + to human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines PLC/PRF/5 and Huh_7 was significantly dose_dependent (P < 0. 05) . Compared with the control group , the combined application of ES and Cu2 + had a more significant inhibitory effect on hepatocellular carcinoma cells than ES or Cu2 + alone (P < 0. 05) , and copper chelating agent ATTM could reverse the inhibitory effect of ES + Cu2 + on hepatocellular carcinoma cells (P < 0. 05) . Flow cytometry results showed that compared with the control group , the proportion of cell death in PLC/PRF/5 and Huh_7 cells treated with ES + Cu2 + increased , while the proportion of cell death decreased after ATTM intervention (P < 0. 05) . The results of cell scratch test showed that the migration ability of PLC/PRF/5 and Huh_7 cells was decreased after ES + Cu2 + treatment , however, the addition of ATTM reversed the inhibitory effect of ES + Cu2 + on cell migration (P < 0. 05) . Compared with the control group , the expression levels of copper death related proteins ATP7B , FDX1 , DLAT and SOD1 decreased after ES + Cu2 + treatment , but the addition of ATTM reversed the expression trend of these proteins (P < 0. 05) . Conclusion The combination of ES and Cu2 + can effectively inhibit the proliferation and migration of PLC/PRF/5 and Huh_7 of hepatocellular carcinoma cells , and induce Cuproptosis , which provides a new strategy for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective:To evaluate the prognostic value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose(FDG)positron emission tomography(PET)/com-puted tomography(CT)(18F-FDG PET/CT)metabolic parameters combined with clinical characteristics in treated patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC).Methods:The clinical data of 75 patients(65 males and 10 females,age of 63.41±7.75 years)with pathologically confirmed ESCC in * Hospital from January 2015 to November 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.All pa-tients underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT examination after treatment.The relevant parameters of 18F-FDG PET/CT were determined:whole body SUVmax(SUVmaxwb);SUVmean and metabolic tumor volume(MTV)were measured with 40％SUVmax as the critical value,and whole body MTV(MTVwb)and whole body total lesion glycolysis(TLGwb)were calculated.Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazards model were used to evaluate the relationship between PET parameters and overall survival(OS).Results:Fifty-two(69.3％)patients died.PET-positive patients exhibited a 6.029-fold increased risk of death compared with PET-negative patients(P<0.001),with the median survival time of 22.3 months and 43.2 months,respectively.PET-positive patients were catego-rized based on median parameters of PET:SUVmaxwb=11.09,MTVwb=27.07 cm3,and TLGwb=162.34 g.Kaplan-Meier survival curves and log-rank tests revealed the correlations of pathological classification,M stage,post-PET anti-tumor treatment,MTVwb,and TLGwb with OS.M stage emerged as an independent predictor for OS(hazard ratio=5.698,95％CI=1.791-18.123,P=0.003).Patients positive for both PET imaging and serology had a 6.112-fold higher death risk compared with those negative for PET imaging(P<0.001).Conclusion:18F-FDG PET/CT volume metabolism parameters are significant prognostic predictors for treated patients with ESCC,and patients positive for PET imaging and tumor markers are associated with a poor prognosis.

Aim To investigate the effect of adenovirus(ADV)-mediated Profurin(PF)expression on the plaque stability of ApoE-/-mice.Methods ApoE-/-mice were fed with high-fat diet for 8 weeks,and then treated with ADV-mediated PF intervention,followed by high-fat diet for 4 weeks.Aortic roots were isolated for atherosclerotic plaque area analysis and immunohistochemical analysis.Plasma phospholipid transfer protein(PLTP)activity was detec-ted by fluorescence donor essay,plasma total cholesterol(TC)and triglyceride(TG)were measured by enzyme assay kits,and fast protein liquid chromatography was used for lipoprotein profile analysis.Results Compared with the con-trol group,the plasma TC and TG levels,PLTP activity and circulating tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-6(IL-6)levels in ADV-PF group were significantly decreased(P＜0.01).In the ADV-PF group,there was no significant change in atherosclerotic lesions on the inner surface of the full-length aorta,but the plaque area and lipid area in the aortic root were reduced(P＜0.01),the content of macrophages was significantly decreased(P＜0.01),and the smooth muscle cells and collagen area were not significantly different.The content of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in plaque was signifi-cantly decreased(P＜0.05).Conclusion Overexpression of PF can alleviate atherosclerosis and reduce the levels of circulating inflammatory factors to a certain extent,and effectively improve the plaque stability of ApoE-/-mice.

Aim To investigate the effect and mechanism of angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ)on ferroptosis in white adi-pocytes.Methods The 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were differentiated into white adipocytes by inducer stimulation.The experiment was divided into control group,Ang Ⅱ group,Ang Ⅱ+Fer-1(ferroptosis inhibitor)group and Ang Ⅱ+PFT-α(p53 inhibitor)group.Ang Ⅱ was used to treat cells.RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression levels of ferroptosis factors and adipokines.JC-1 kit was used to detect mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP)level.Iron ion kit was used to detect intracellular iron content.Glutathione(GSH)kit was used to detect GSH content.Fer-1 and Ang Ⅱ were added to treat cells to detect the the changes of ferroptosis level.The expression of p53 and spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase 1(SAT1)protein was detected.Subsequently,PFT-α and Ang Ⅱ were added to co-treat cells to detect the changes of p53 and SAT1 protein expression,and to observe the effect of inhibiting p53 expression on the expression levels of ferroptosis factors and adipokines.Results 3T3-L1 cells were successfully differentiated into white adipocytes by stimulator-induced differentiation.Ang Ⅱ induced ferroptosis in white adipocytes.RT-qPCR results showed that compared with control group,the mRNA expression of anti-ferroptosis factor glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4),solute carrier family 7 member 11(SLC7A11)and iron regulatory protein 1(IRP-1)was down-regulated in Ang Ⅱ group,and the mRNA expression of pro-ferroptosis factor acyl-CoA synthetase of long-chain family member 4(ACSL4)was up-regulated.Western blot results showed that compared with control group,the protein expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4 was down-regulated in Ang Ⅱ group,and the protein expression of ACSL4 was up-regulated.Ang Ⅱ treatment increased the content of intracellular iron ions and decreased the levels of GSH and MMP.Compared with Ang Ⅱ group,the mRNA expression of IRP-1 and SLC7A11 was up-regulated in Ang Ⅱ+Fer-1 group.Ang Ⅱ induced changes in the expression profile of adipokines in white adipocytes.Western blot results showed that compared with control group,the protein ex-pression of pro-inflammatory adipokine leptin(LEP),resistin(RETN),interleukin-6(IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)was up-regulated in Ang Ⅱ group,and the protein expression of anti-inflammatory adipokine adiponectin(AD-PN)and omentin 1(ITLN1)was down-regulated.In addition,Ang Ⅱ increased the protein expression of p53 and SAT1.Inhibition of p53 expression can improve the level of ferroptosis and adipokine expression in white adipocytes trea-ted with Ang Ⅱ.Western blot results showed that compared with Ang Ⅱ group,the protein expression of p53 and SAT1 was down-regulated in Ang Ⅱ+PFT-α group,the protein expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4 was up-regulated,and the protein expression of ACSL4 was down-regulated.The protein expression of ADPN was up-regulated in Ang Ⅱ+PFT-αgroup,and the protein expression of TNF-α,LEP and RETN was down-regulated.Conclusion Ang Ⅱ induces fer-roptosis in white adipocytes through activating the p53/SAT1 signaling pathway.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between thoracic aortic calcification (TAC) and autonomic nervous system (ANS) function in patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).Methods:It was a cross-sectional study. The CAPD patients with dialysis duration >6 months between January and December 2022 were retrospectively enrolled. The baseline clinical data, heart rate variability (HRV) data such as standard deviation of all normal to normal intervals (SDNN), root mean square of successive differences between adjacent normal-to-normal intervals (RMSSD), high frequency (HF), very low frequency (VLF), low frequency (LF), LF/HF, acceleration capacity (AC) and deceleration capacity (DC), and skin sympathetic nerve activity (SKNA) were collected. TAC was defined as TAC score (TACS) >100 AU. The patients were divided into TACS >100 AU group and TACS≤100 AU group based on whether the thoracic aorta was calcified. The differences of those data between the two groups were compared. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the related factors of TAC. Spearman correlation analysis method was used to analyze the correlation between peripheral blood neuropeptide Y, ANS parameters, average amplitude SKNA (aSKNA) and TACS.　Cox regression model was used to analyze the risk factors of all-cause mortality in patients with CAPD.Results:The study included 106 CAPD patients with 50 males (47.2%), age of (46.04±11.10) years and dialysis duration of (41.55±30.52) months. TACS>100 AU group exhibited significantly lower heart rate ( t=2.015, P=0.046), DC ( t=2.131, P=0.035), LF/HF ( Z=3.332, P<0.001) and ln(LF/HF) ( t=3.326, P=0.001), and higher AC ( t=-2.392, P=0.019) than TACS≤100 AU group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis results showed that after adjusting for age and eosinophil count, lnVLF ( OR=0.66, 95% CI 0.45-0.98, P=0.038), lnLF ( OR=0.69, 95% CI 0.49-0.97, P=0.032), DC ( OR=0.79, 95% CI 0.64-0.99, P=0.039) and AC ( OR=1.32, 95% CI 1.04-1.68, P=0.021) were independently correlated with the risk of TAC. Spearman correlation analysis showed that neuropeptide Y level in peripheral blood was correlated with aSKNA ( r=0.23, P=0.017), lnSDNN ( r=-0.20, P=0.036) and TACS ( r=0.19, P=0.048). During the follow-up period of (25.8±4.2) months, 5 patients (4.72%) died, including 1 patient in the TACS≤100 AU group and 4 patients in the TACS>100 AU group. Compared with the survival group, the death group had higher TACS ( Z=-2.262, P=0.024) and lower LF/HF ( Z=-2.750, P=0.006). Cox regression analysis results showed that increased ln(LF/HF) was an independent influencing factor for all-cause mortality in CAPD patients ( HR=0.22, 95% CI 0.05-0.83, P=0.026). Conclusions:HRV parameters (lnVLF, lnLF, AC and DC) of CAPD patients are independently associated with TAC. The dysfunction of ANS in CAPD patients (especially the decreased vagus nerve activity) may promote TAC.

OBJECTIVE To develop a highly sensitive and specific quantitative real-time poly-merase chain reaction(qPCR)method for detecting the VGM-R02b(a gene therapy drug for glutaric acidemia type Ⅰ)gene in cynomolgus monkeys and analyze the biological distribution of VGM-R02b.METHODS A standard curve was constructed using the VGM-R02b standard plasmid[an adeno-associ-ated virus serotype 9(AAV9)capsid]on a qPCR platform.The detection method was optimized and validated for key parameters,including the quantitative range,accuracy,precision,dilution linearity,selectivity,specificity,stability,and parallelism.The established method was used to determine the target gene of VGM-R02b in the blood,brain,stomach,heart,liver,spleen,lung,kidney,thymus,and duodenum of cynomolgus monkeys on day 29(D29)and D92 after a single,unilateral intraventricular injection of VGM-R02b.The biodistribution of VGM-R02b in cynomolgus monkeys was analyzed.RESULTS A qPCR method for quantifying the VGM-R02b target gene in cynomolgus monkeys was established and validated.The standard curve demonstrated a quantitative range of 5.00×109 to 5.00×10^1 copies·μg-1 DNA,with excellent precision,accuracy,dilution linearity,selectivity,and specificity.The target gene in tissues remained stable after being stored at room temperature for 4 h,-15 to-25℃ for 9 d,-60 to-80℃ for 90 d and after five freeze-thaw cycles.Similarly,the target gene in whole blood remained stable after being stored at room temperature for 4 h,-15 to-25℃ for 93 d,-60 to-80℃ for 93 d and after five freeze-thaw cycles.Extracted nucleic acid samples also showed stability after being stored at room temperature for 4.25 h,2-8℃ for 24.16 h,-60 to-80℃ for 109 d and after five freeze-thaw cycles.The method was also applied to evaluate the biological distribution of the target gene in cynomolgus monkeys.In the control group,the target gene was undetectable on D29 and D92 post-administration,but in the drug administration group,the target gene was distributed across the tissues,with higher concen-trations observed in the brain,liver,spleen,and spinal cord,and there were no significant differences in the target gene content across the tissues between D29 and D92.CONCLUSION The established qPCR method is robust,reliable and suitable for determination of VGM-R02b target gene in cynomolgus monkeys.