Stem cells play a crucial role in maintaining tissue regenerative capacity and homeostasis. However, mechanisms associated with stem cell senescence require further investigation. In this study, we conducted a proteomic analysis of human dental pulp stem cells (HDPSCs) obtained from individuals of various ages. Our findings showed that the expression of NUP62 was decreased in aged HDPSCs. We discovered that NUP62 alleviated senescence-associated phenotypes and enhanced differentiation potential both in vitro and in vivo. Conversely, the knocking down of NUP62 expression aggravated the senescence-associated phenotypes and impaired the proliferation and migration capacity of HDPSCs. Through RNA-sequence and decoding the epigenomic landscapes remodeled induced by NUP62 overexpression, we found that NUP62 helps alleviate senescence in HDPSCs by enhancing the nuclear transport of the transcription factor E2F1. This, in turn, stimulates the transcription of the epigenetic enzyme NSD2. Finally, the overexpression of NUP62 influences the H3K36me2 and H3K36me3 modifications of anti-aging genes (HMGA1, HMGA2, and SIRT6). Our results demonstrated that NUP62 regulates the fate of HDPSCs via NSD2-dependent epigenetic reprogramming.
Humans ; Dental Pulp/cytology* ; Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins/genetics* ; Cellular Senescence/genetics* ; Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Differentiation ; Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase/metabolism* ; Cells, Cultured ; Cellular Reprogramming ; Cell Movement ; Proteomics

The original version of this article (Yang et al., 2023) unfortunately contained a mistake. In Acknowledgments, the funding information for the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (No. LBY21H160001) was wrong. The correct funding should be the Zhejiang Health Science and Technology Project (No. 2022KY682), China.

Objective To identify the risk factors and investigate etiological spectrum of pulmonary fungal infections(PFIs)in patients with end-stage liver disease(ESLD).Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 211 ESLD patients.Based on pulmonary imaging,clinical manifestations,and microbiological test results,patients were categorized into three groups,including the PFI group(or the case group),the non-fungal pneumonia group(or the control group 1),and the group without pneumonia(or the control group 2).The clinical characteristics of patients in the the case group were then compared with those of patients in the two control groups.Taking patients without pneumonia as the control,univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors for PFI,and a nomogram prediction model was constructed based on these risk factors.Results Among the 211 patients,76(36.1%)had PFIs,46(21.8%)had non-fungal pneumonia,and 89(42.2%)did not have pneumonia.According to findings from the multivariate logistic regression,elevated white blood cell count upon admission(OR=1.211;95%CI,1.011-1.460),higher Model for End-Stage Liver Disease-Sodium(MELD-Na)score(OR=1.140;95%CI,1.021-1.282),concomitant hepatorenal syndrome(OR=4.150;95%CI,1.050-17.300),cumulative glucocorticoid use for more than seven days(OR=26.832;95%CI,6.361-113.221),and the administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics at the time of hospital admission(OR=6.601;95%CI,1.951-22.362)were identified as independent risk factors for PFI.A predictive nomogram model named TJLFPFI was constructed based on these risk factors.The area under the receiver operating characteristic(AUC)curve of the model was 0.899(95%CI,0.853-0.945).Etiologic analysis of the 76 PFI cases revealed that 36(47.4%)had positive results for culture,while 40(52.6%)had negative results for sputum culture but tested positive by the 1,3-β-D-glucan test and/or galactomannan test.Aspergillus was the most frequently identified pathogen,detected in 25 of the 36 cases(59.5%).Conclusion PFI in ESLD patients is closely associated with disease severity at admission,early use of broad-spectrum antibiotics,and prolonged glucocorticoid therapy.Aspergillus is the predominant pathogen.The TJLFPFI model shows potential value in identifying high-risk patients,but prospective validation is still warranted.

ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect of Qingjie Huagong decoction （QJHGD） on a mouse model of severe acute pancreatitis （SAP） and the mechanism of action of QJHGD against inflammatory response. MethodsA total of 36 male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into blank group， model group， Western medicine group （ulinastatin）， and low-， middle-， and high-dose QJHGD groups， with 6 mice in each group. All mice except those in the blank group were given 5% sodium taurocholate by retrograde pancreaticobiliary injection to establish a model of SAP. After modeling， the mice in the low-， middle-， and high-dose groups were given QJHGD （1， 2， and 4 g/kg， respectively） by gavage， and those in the Western medicine group were given intraperitoneal injection of ulinastatin （5×10⁴ U/kg）， for 7 days in total. HE staining was used to observe the histopathological changes of the pancreas； ELISA was used to measure the levels of α-amylase， lipase， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， interleukin-8 （IL-8）， interleukin-18 （IL-18）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in mice； RT-qPCR was used to measure the mRNA expression levels of NOD-like receptor protein3 （NLRP3）， Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）， and nuclear factor-kappa B （NF-κB） in pancreatic tissue； immunohistochemistry was used to measure the positive expression rates of NLRP3， TLR4， and NF-κB in pancreatic tissue； Western blot was used to measure the protein expression levels of NLRP3， TLR4， NF-κB， IL-1β， and IL-6. An analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups， and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsCompared with the blank group， the model group had diffuse destruction of pancreatic tissue structure， focal dilatation of pancreatic lobular septum， pancreatic acinar atrophy， and massive inflammatory cell infiltration， as well as significant increases in the content of α-amylase， lipase， IL-1β， IL-6， IL-8， IL-18， and TNF-α （all P<0.05）， the mRNA expression levels and positive expression rates of NLRP3， TLR4， and NF-κB （all P<0.05）， and the protein expression levels of NLRP3， TLR4， NF-κB， IL-1β， and IL-6 （all P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the low-， middle-， and high-dose QJHGD groups and the Western medicine group had slightly tighter and more intact structure of pancreatic tissue， ordered arrangement of pancreatic acinar cells， a small amount of inflammatory cell infiltration， and hemorrhagic foci of pancreatic lobules， as well as significant reductions in the content of α-amylase， lipase， IL-1β， IL-6， IL-8， IL-18， and TNF-α （all P<0.05）， the mRNA expression levels and positive expression rates of NLRP3， TLR4， and NF-κB （all P<0.05）， and the protein expression levels of NLRP3， TLR4， NF-κB， IL-1β， and IL-6 （all P<0.05）. ConclusionQJHGD may exert a protective effect on the pancreatic tissue of SAP mice by inhibiting the activation of NLRP3/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway-related proteins， reducing the release of inflammatory mediators， and preventing the enhancement of inflammatory cascade response.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of 5-hydroxy-6,7-dimethoxyflavone(5-HDF),a compound extracted from Elsholtzia blanda Benth.,against lung injury induced by H1N1 influenza virus and explore its possible mechanism of action.Methods 5-HDF was extracted from Elsholtzia blanda Benth.using ethanol reflux extraction and silica gel chromatography and characterized using NMR and MS analyses.In an A549 cell model of H1N1 influenza virus infection(MOI=0.1),the cytotoxicity of 5-HDF was assessed using MTT assay,and its effect on TRAIL and IL-8 expressions was examined using flow cytometry;Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of inflammatory,apoptosis,and ferroptosis-related proteins.In a mouse model of H1N1 influenza virus infection established by nasal instillation of 50 μL H1N1 virus at the median lethal dose,the effects of 30 and 60 mg/kg 5-HDF by gavage on body weight,lung index,gross lung anatomy and lung histopathology were observed.Results 5-HDF exhibited no significant cytotoxicity in A549 cells within the concentration range of 0-200 μg/mL.In H1N1-infected A549 cells,treatment with 5-HDF effectively inhibited the activation of phospho-p38 MAPK and phospho-NF-κB p65,lowered the expressions of IL-8,enhanced the expression of anti-ferroptosis proteins(SLC7A11 and GPX4),and inhibited the expressions of apoptosis markers PARP and caspase-3 and the apoptotic factor TRAIL.In H1N1-infected mice,treatment with 5-HDF for 7 days significantly suppressed body weight loss and increment of lung index and obviously alleviated lung tissue pathologies.Conclusion 5-HDF offers protection against H1N1 influenza virus infection in mice possibly by suppressing H1N1-induced ferroptosis,inflammatory responses,and apoptosis via upregulating SLC7A11 and GPX4,inhibiting the activation of phospho-NF-κB p65 and phospho-p38 MAPK,and decreasing the expression of cleaved caspase3 and cleaved PARP.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of 5-hydroxy-6,7-dimethoxyflavone(5-HDF),a compound extracted from Elsholtzia blanda Benth.,against lung injury induced by H1N1 influenza virus and explore its possible mechanism of action.Methods 5-HDF was extracted from Elsholtzia blanda Benth.using ethanol reflux extraction and silica gel chromatography and characterized using NMR and MS analyses.In an A549 cell model of H1N1 influenza virus infection(MOI=0.1),the cytotoxicity of 5-HDF was assessed using MTT assay,and its effect on TRAIL and IL-8 expressions was examined using flow cytometry;Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of inflammatory,apoptosis,and ferroptosis-related proteins.In a mouse model of H1N1 influenza virus infection established by nasal instillation of 50 μL H1N1 virus at the median lethal dose,the effects of 30 and 60 mg/kg 5-HDF by gavage on body weight,lung index,gross lung anatomy and lung histopathology were observed.Results 5-HDF exhibited no significant cytotoxicity in A549 cells within the concentration range of 0-200 μg/mL.In H1N1-infected A549 cells,treatment with 5-HDF effectively inhibited the activation of phospho-p38 MAPK and phospho-NF-κB p65,lowered the expressions of IL-8,enhanced the expression of anti-ferroptosis proteins(SLC7A11 and GPX4),and inhibited the expressions of apoptosis markers PARP and caspase-3 and the apoptotic factor TRAIL.In H1N1-infected mice,treatment with 5-HDF for 7 days significantly suppressed body weight loss and increment of lung index and obviously alleviated lung tissue pathologies.Conclusion 5-HDF offers protection against H1N1 influenza virus infection in mice possibly by suppressing H1N1-induced ferroptosis,inflammatory responses,and apoptosis via upregulating SLC7A11 and GPX4,inhibiting the activation of phospho-NF-κB p65 and phospho-p38 MAPK,and decreasing the expression of cleaved caspase3 and cleaved PARP.

【Objective】 To explore the epidemiological features and relational factors of accidental death among children under 5 years of age in rural area of Shaanxi Province. 【Methods】 A case-control study was conducted in the research, and children under 5 years old in nine National surveillance counties of Shaanxi were collected. The questionnaire of national survey of accidental injuries among children under 5 years of age was used to investigate the basic information of children, socio-demographic characteristics, child care status, injury occurrence condition. The mean, standard deviation and percentage were used to describe the basic situation and main characteristics of accidental death. The Chi-square test and Logistic regression methods were performed to explore the relational factors of accidental death of children. 【Results】 Of the 25 cases of accidental death of children under the age of five years old, 5 were traffic accidents (20.0%), 9 cases were falling (36.0%), and 11 were suffocation (44.0%). Age distribution showed that children of accidental suffocation were younger, with 90.9% (10 cases) of them under the age of 1 years old. Gender distribution showed that traffic accident deaths occurred to boys. Area distribution showed that falling and suffocation death mainly happened in Hanzhong, while traffic accidents death mainly in Weinan. When the accident happened, 8 caregivers were not on the scene. What was worse, among 17 caregivers who were on the scene of accident, only 4 kept an eye on children. Compared with 25 children in control group, 16 in case group had received health examination, and the difference showed statistical significance (χ²=8.672, P=0.003). Meanwhile, 9 main caregivers were mothers in the case group, compared with 14 in the control group. The Logistic regression analysis showed that compared with fathers, mothers as the children’ main caregivers could positively reduce accidental death of children (OR=0.016, 95% CI: 0.000 3-0.997, P=0.049). 【Conclusion】 To decrease the incidence rate and mortality of accidental death of children under the age of five years old, parenting behavior guidance, health examination, and targeted health education should be taken in Maternal and Child Health Care System as a routine work.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Banxia Xiexintang containing intestinal absorption solution （BXCIAS） on migration and invasion of polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells （PMN-MDSCs） in gastric cancer microenvironment. MethodThe complex solution （containing 0.63 g·mL^-1 crude drug） was prepared. Gastric cancer cells were subjected to non-contact co-culture with PMN-MDSCs in Transwell chamber to create gastric cancer microenvironment. Cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay was used to screen the optimal intervention concentration and time of BXCIAS on PMN-MDSCs for subsequent experiment. The blank group， model group， FAK inhibitor group， and BXCIAS groups （26%， 18%， and 10%） were designed. Scratch assay and Transwell assay were employed to detect the migration and invasion ability of PMN-MDSCs， and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） to measure the expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor （VEGF） and matrix metalloproteinase-9 （MMP-9） in tumor microenvironment. The expression levels of PMN-MDSCs pathway-related proteins FAK， phosphorylated （p）-FAK， protein tyrosine kinase （Src）， and p-Src were detected by Western blot. ResultThe inhibition rates of PMN-MDSCs by 5%， 50%， 75%， and 100% BXCIAS at 48 h were higher than those at 24 h （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The inhibition rate of PMN-MDSCs by 50% BXCIAS at 72 h was lower than that at 48 h （P<0.01）， and the inhibition rates by 5% and 100% BXCIAS at 72 h were higher than those at 48 h （P<0.05， P<0.01）. There was no significant difference in the inhibition rate by other concentration levels at 48 h. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration （IC₅₀） at 48 h was 18.09%， indicating that 18% BXCIAS and 48 h were the optimal concentration and time， respectively. The migration distance of PMN-MDSCs was large （P<0.01）， and the number of migrating and invading cells increased （P<0.01） in the mode group compared with those in the blank group. Compared with model group， FAK inhibitor and BXCIAS at different concentration decreased the migration distance of PMN-MDSCs （P<0.01）， and the number of migrating and invading cells （P<0.01）， especially the 26% BXCIAS （P<0.01）. The expression of PMN-MDSCs pathway-related proteins FAK， p-FAK， Src and p-Src （P<0.01） and the expression of VEGF and MMP-9 （P<0.01） were higher in the model group than in the blank group. Compared with model group， FAK inhibitor and BXCIAS （26%， 18%， 10%） decreased the expression of FAK， p-FAK， and Src （P<0.01）， and FAK inhibitor and 18% BXCIAS reduced the expression of p-Src （P<0.01）， and the expression of VEGF and MMP-9 （P<0.01）. ConclusionBXCIAS can inhibit the migration and invasion of PMN-MDSCs by down-regulating the expression of FAK， p-FAK， Src， and p-Src proteins in the FAK signaling pathway of PMN-MDSCs in gastric cancer microenvironment.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Banxia Xiexintang （BXT）-containing intestinal absorption solution on the apoptosis of polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells （PMN-MDSCs） in gastric cancer microenvironment. MethodBXT-containing intestinal absorption solution was prepared， and gastric cancer cells and PMN-MDSCs were non-contact co-cultured in Transwell chamber to establish gastric cancer microenvironment. Cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay was used to screen the optimal intervention concentration and time of 0-100% BXT-containing intestinal absorption solution prepared by 0.63 g·mL^-1 reconstitution solution. Cells were classified into blank group， model group， oxaliplatin group （10 mg·L^-1）， and BXT （26%， 18%， 10% BXT-containing intestinal absorption solution） group， and the apoptosis of PMN-MDSCs was detected by flow cytometry. The expression of apoptosis-related B-cell lymphoma 2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）， and cysteine-aspartic acid protease-3 （Caspase-3） in PMN-MDSCs was detected by Western blot. ResultAfter treatment for 24 h and 48 h， the PMN-MDSCs-inhibiting rate was increased by 5%， 50%， 75%， and 100% BXT-containing intestinal absorption solution compared with that in the blank group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. At 72 h， the PMN-MDSCs-inhibiting rate by 50% BXT-containing intestinal absorption solution was lower than that at 48 h （P<0.01）， and the PMN-MDSCs-inhibiting rate by 5%， 75%， and 100% BXT-containing intestinal absorption solution showed no significant difference from that at 48 h. Moreover， the half-maximal inhibitory concentration （IC₅₀） at 48 h was 18.40%. Thus， 18% BXT-containing intestinal absorption solution and 48 h were the optimal intervention concentration and time. The survival rate of PMN-MDSCs in model group was higher than that in the blank group （P<0.05）， and the apoptosis rate was lower than that in the blank group （P<0.05）. Compared with model group， BXT containing intestinal absorption solution lowered the survival rate and raised apoptosis rate of PMN-MDSCs （P<0.05）， particularly the 26% BXT-containing intestinal absorption solution （P<0.05）. The expression of Bax and Caspase-3 in PMN-MDSCs was lower in the model group than in the blank group （P<0.05）， and the expression of Bcl-2 was higher in the model group than in the blank group （P<0.05）. The expression of Caspase-3 in PMN-MDSCs increased （P<0.05） and the expression of Bcl-2 decreased （P<0.05） in oxaliplatin group and BXT group compared with those in the model group. The expression of Bax rose in oxaliplatin group and BXT group （10% BXT-containing intestinal absorption solution） （P<0.05）. ConclusionBXT can induce the apoptosis of PMN-MDSCs by regulating the expression of apoptosis-related proteins Bax， Caspase-3， and Bcl-2 in gastric cancer microenvironment.

Objective:To explore the medication rules of Professor Wang Pei in the treatment of colon cancer.Methods:The medical records of Professor Wang Pei's outpatient treatment for colon cancer were collected, entered into the Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Computing Platform V3.0, and the laws of the prescription's nature, flavor, meridian, drug frequency, drug combination, association rules, and cluster analysis were explored.Results:A total of 65 prescriptions were collected, including 150 Chinese materia medica. The medicinal properties of these Chinese materia medica are mainly warm, cold and flat, the tastes were mainly sweet, bitter and pungent, and the meridians were mainly liver, spleen and kidney meridians. Dampness category and blood circulation promoting and blood stasis category were mainly used, and the most frequently used drugs include Poria, Polyporus, Scutellariae Barbatae Herba, Astragali Radix, Curcumae Rhizoma, and the pairs of Polyporus- Poria, Astragali Radix- Astragali Radix Praeparata cum Melle, Scutellariae Barbatae Herba- Curcumae Rhizoma. Twenty nine high-related drug pairs were obtained from association rules, including Polyporus- Astragali Radix Praeparata cum Melle- Astragali Radix, Poria- Scutellariae Barbatae Herba- Polyporus, Scutellariae Barbatae Herba- Curcumae Rhizoma- Polyporus. The cluster analysis showed the combination of 6 types of medicines mainly focuses on strengthening the spleen and removing dampness, nourishing qi and promoting blood, clearing heat and detoxifying, and astringing the intestines to stop bleeding. Conclusion:Professor Wang Pei mostly discusses the treatment of colon cancer from "spleen dampness, rectification deficiency, heat toxin, blood stasis, bleeding", and the treatment is "invigorating the spleen and removing dampness, invigorating Qi and strengthening the body, clearing away heat and detoxifying, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, and astringent intestines to stop bleeding", which is in line with the thought of Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment of tumors, strengthening the righteousness and eliminating pathogenic factors, and and can be used for clinical reference.