1.A small-molecule anti-cancer drug for long-acting lysosomal damage.
Shulin ZHAO ; Qingjie BAI ; Guimin XUE ; Juan WANG ; Luyao HU ; Xueqian WANG ; Yan LI ; Shuai LU ; Yangang SUN ; Zhiqiang ZHANG ; Yanling MU ; Yanle ZHI ; Qixin CHEN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(11):5867-5879
Lysosomes represent a promising target for cancer therapy and reducing drug resistance. However, the short treatment time and low efficiency of lysosomal targeting have limited the application in lysosome-targeting anticancer drugs. In this study, we proposed an adhesive-bandage approach and synthesized a new lysosomal targeting drug, namely long-term lysosome-targeting anticancer drug (LLAD). It contains a SLC38A9-targeting covalently bound moiety and an alkaline component both to prolong the inhibition of SLC38A9 in lysosomes and alkalinize lysosomes. Upon short term and low-dose treatment of HeLa cells, at passage 0, with LLAD, it rapidly alkalinized lysosomes and also can be detected in lysosomes even at passage 15. LLAD induced apoptosis in HeLa cells through long-term lysosomal damage, and showed better long-term anticancer effect than cisplatin in vivo. Overall, our study paves the way for developing long-term lysosomal targeting drugs to treat cancer and overcome the drug resistance of cancer cells, and also provides a candidate drug, LLAD, for treating cancer.
2.Influence of NOD-like receptor protein 3 inflammasome on the development and progression of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and the interventional effect of traditional Chinese medicine
Jinxue ZHANG ; Junhong LIU ; Jiale CHEN ; Dan WANG ; Lining SU ; Yajie CHEN ; Xueqian LAI ; Miaolei WANG ; Yajing LI
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(11):2365-2371
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic liver disease with the main pathological features of hepatic steatosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, and interstitial fibroplasia, and it is an important risk factor for liver fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is the core of innate immunity, and the abnormal activation of NLRP3 inflammasome is closely associated with the development and progression of NASH, which involves multiple links such as inflammatory response and oxidative stress. A large number of studies have shown that the active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and TCM compound prescriptions can improve oxidative stress, regulate lipid metabolism, and alleviate liver inflammation by regulating NLRP3 inflammasome. TCM treatment applied in clinical practice has achieved a good therapeutic effect, while inflammasome is one of the key pathways or targets for TCM in improving NASH. This article reviews the mechanism of action of NLRP3 inflammasome in NASH and the research advances in TCM intervention of NLRP3 inflammasome, in order to provide ideas for the clinical TCM treatment of NASH, as well as reference targets and research directions for the research and development of new TCM drugs.
3.Effect of vitamin C on intestinal flora disorders in Cr(VI)-contaminated mice
Limin ZHANG ; Chen LIU ; Yumei LIU ; Xueqian WU ; Ming SHU ; Jian ZHOU ; Dongqun XU ; Qin WANG ; Wanwei LI ; Xiaohong LI
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2024;41(7):807-813
Background Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] exposure can cause structural disruption of intestinal flora and functional impairment. Vitamin C (VC) is one of the essential micronutrients, which plays an important role in promoting the growth of intestinal probiotics, improving the intestinal barrier, and maintaining the homeostasis of intestinal flora. However, the regulatory effect of VC on the intestinal flora disorders caused by Cr(VI) exposure remains to be investigated. Objective To investigate the effect of VC on intestinal flora disruption in mice due to Cr(VI) exposure. Methods Thirty-two SPF-grade C57BL/6 mice were acclimatized and fed for 3 d and randomly divided into control (Con), VC, potassium dichromate [K2Cr2O7, Cr(VI)], and VC+K2Cr2O7 [VC+Cr(VI)] groups. At 8:00 a.m. on day 4, the Con group (double-distilled water given by gavage and injected intraperitoneally), the VC group (VC given by gavage and double-distilled water injected intraperitoneally), the Cr(VI) group (double-distilled water given by gavage and K2Cr2O7 solution injected intraperitoneally), and the VC+Cr(VI) group (VC given by gavage and K2Cr2O7 solution injected intraperitoneally) were treated. The dose of VC was 200 mg·kg−1, and the dose of K2Cr2O7 was 1.25 mg·kg−1. The mice were treated for 45 consecutive days and then executed, the contents of the colon were sampled in sterile freezing tubes, and three replicates were collected from each group. After labeling, the samples were immediately put into liquid nitrogen for rapid freezing. After all the samples were collected, they were transferred to a -80 ℃ ultra-low temperature refrigerator for storage. Samples of colon contents were analyzed for intestinal flora structure by high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics software. Results The Cr(VI) exposure resulted in reduced body weight gain values in mice compared to the Con group. Pathological changes occurred in the ileal tissue of mice, with significant inflammatory cell infiltration in the Cr(VI) group and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in the VC+Cr(VI) group. The number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of intestinal flora was altered in the Cr(VI) group of mice. In the α diversity analysis, the mean Sobs index in the Cr(VI) group was 240.333±67.796, the Chao index was 258.173±64.813, and the Ace index was 259.481±66.891, which were significantly lower than those in the Con group (P<0.05), the PD whole tree index in the Cr(VI) group was 27.863±2.399, which was significantly higher than that in the Con group (P<0.05), and the VC intervention significantly reversed the changes of the above indexes due to Cr(VI) exposure (P<0.05). In the β diversity analysis, the principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) results showed a significant separation between the Cr(VI) group and the Con group, and after the VC intervention, there was a retraction of the separation trend and the difference was reduced. The multi-sample similarity dendrogram results showed that the control and the VC groups clustered together first, then with the VC+Cr(VI) group, and finally with the Cr(VI) group. The abundances of Bacteroidetes, Saccharibacteria, and Tenericutes in the intestine of mice in the Cr(VI) group were decreased, and the abundance of Firmicutes was increased; the abundances of Lactobacillus, Alistipes, Bacteroides, and Ruminiclostridium were also increased. Included among these, Bacteroides showed a significantly higher abundance compared to the control mice (P<0.05). Changes in the abundances of phyla and genera of the above mentioned gut microorganisms were reversed after the VC intervention. Conclusion Cr(VI) exposure can lead to intestinal damage and disorganization of the intestinal flora structure in mice, while VC intervention can ameliorate the above changes to a certain extent and normalize the intestinal flora structure.
4.Clinical study of electroacupuncture improving sleep electroencephalogram and event-related potential in patients with somatoform disorders
Zhanwen LIU ; Li ZHANG ; Minmin ZHANG ; Xueqian HU ; Xingshi CHEN ; Jie SU ; Jue HONG
Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science 2024;22(1):58-64
Objective:To observe the effects of electroacupuncture(EA)on sleep electroencephalogram(EEG)and event-related potential(ERP)in patients with somatoform disorders(SFD). Methods:Seventy-five SFD patients were recruited as an EA group to receive EA at Shenting(GV24)and Baihui(GV20)once daily,30 min each time,with 6 straight days as a treatment course,and 4 courses were conducted at 1-day intervals.Before treatment,patients underwent a survey using a physical symptom checklist on their primary symptoms.Before and after treatment,their sleep EEG was monitored using Quisi,and the ERP mismatch negativity(MMN)and P300 were detected.The Quisi sleep EEG and ERP were also examined among 40 normal volunteers as the normal group data. Results:During the trial,13 cases were removed from the EA group due to incomplete data,and 62 cases were finally included for statistical analyses.Of the 62 SFD patients,the main disturbing symptoms were cognitive impairments,sleep disorders,respiratory symptoms,digestive symptoms,five-sense organ problems,and cardiovascular symptoms in order.Before treatment,the EA group had increased MMN and P300 latencies and decreased amplitudes compared with the normal control group(P<0.01 or P<0.05);according to Quisi,the EA group also had reduced total sleep time(TST),shorter rapid eye movement sleep(REM)latency(RL)and REM time(RT),smaller number of REM period(NRP),extended sleep latency(SL),longer awaking time(AT),lower sleep efficiency(SE),larger percent of non-rapid eye movement sleep(NREM)stage 1(S1)and smaller percent of NREM stage 2(S2),and the percent of slow wave sleep(SWS),i.e.NREM stage 3(S3)plus stage 4(S4),also went down,all presenting significant differences between groups(P<0.01 or P<0.05).After 4 courses of treatment,the MMN and P300 latencies were reduced,and their amplitudes became larger in the EA group compared with the baseline(P<0.05);they had insignificant differences compared with the normal control group(P>0.05).Quisi showed that the TST and RL increased,and the SL and AT decreased in the EA group,and the predominant change in sleep architecture was reduced S1 percent,increased S2,and improved SE,all showing significant intra-group differences(P<0.01 or P<0.05);however,the intra-group difference in the NRP was statistically insignificant(P>0.05).Except the TST,RT,S1 percent,and SWS,there was no statistical significance in comparing the other Quisi parameters(including RL,NRP,SL,AT,SE,and S2 percent)between the two groups(P>0.05). Conclusion:SFD patients have a variety of clinical symptoms,and most of them show abnormal sleep EEG and ERP;EA can correct abnormal sleep EEG parameters and the MMN and P300 of ERP in SFD patients.
5.Exploration of the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome based on the theory of "yang transforming qi and yin shaping up body"
Chunyu WANG ; Jialin CHENG ; Jinhua HAN ; Haojia ZHANG ; Liyang DONG ; Xueqian WANG ; Qingguo WANG ; Fafeng CHENG
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;47(9):1217-1222
The theory of "yang transforming qi and yin shaping up body" comes from Huangdi Neijing (Inner Canon of Yellow Emperor),which describes the basic form of human metabolism dominated by "yang transforming qi":the effect of " yang transforming qi" leads the energy metabolism of human body,while the effect of "yin shaping up body" leads the material metabolism. Metabolic syndrome is a clinical syndrome with metabolic disorders of protein,fat and carbohydrate. The theory of "yang transforming qi and yin shaping up body" has a strong guiding value for the pathogenesis analysis and clinical differentiation and treatment of metabolic syndrome. Yin and yang represent the two basic trends of the change and development of things,and the functions of "transforming qi" and "shaping up body" are the main manifestations of them in metabolism. From this perspective,this paper suggests that the key pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome should be "insufficiency of yang transforming qi and impairment of yin shaping up body" based on the mutual assistance of yin and yang. On this basis we take "coordinating yin-yang and promoting the reproduction of them" as the main directions of therapy,which provides a new idea for the treatment of metabolic syndrome.
6.Analysis of risk factors for intraspinal cement leakage in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture by percutaneous vertebroplasty
Guofu ZHANG ; Guoying FENG ; Xueqian CHEN ; Ya′nan HUANG
International Journal of Surgery 2024;51(7):470-475
Objective:To investigate the risk factors of intraspinal cement leakage in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture by percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP).Methods:From January 2018 to December 2021, 156 patients with OVCF who received surgical treatment in Beijing Tongzhou Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital were enrolled in this retrospective case-control study. The postoperative CT imaging results were analyzed, and the patients were divided into two groups according to the occurrence of intraspinal cement leakage: leakage group ( n=28) and non-leakage group ( n=128). Measurement data was expressed as mean±standard deviation ( ± s), and t-test was used for comparison of visual analogue score (VAS) between groups; the count data was expressed as the number of cases and percentage (%); univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate the risk factors of postoperative intraspinal cement leakage. Results:All the patients were treated by PVP successfully, without obvious adverse reactions and serious complications occurred during and after the operation. Univariate Logistic regression analysis showed that higher bone mineral density ( P=0.005), OVCF combined with posterior vertebral wall injury ( P<0.001) and higher bone cement dosage ( P=0.013) were the risk factors leading to intraspinal cement leakage. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that higher bone mineral density ( P=0.009, 95% CI: 0.152-0.762, OR=0.340), OVCF combined with posterior vertebral wall injury ( P=0.001, 95% CI: 2.134-15.780, OR=5.803), and higher bone cement dosage ( P=0.005, 95% CI: 1.175-2.505, OR=1.715) were the independent risk factors of intraspinal cement leakage. Conclusion:Intraspinal cement leakage was common complication after PVP. Higher bone mineral density, OVCF combined with posterior vertebral wall injury, and higher bone cement dosage were the independent risk factors affecting intraspinal cement leakage.
7.Paeoniflorin ameliorates chronic colitis via the DR3 signaling pathway in group 3 innate lymphoid cells
Huang SHAOWEI ; Xie XUEQIAN ; Xu BO ; Pan ZENGFENG ; Liang JUNJIE ; Zhang MEILING ; Pan SIMIN ; Wang XIAOJING ; Zhao MENG ; Wang QING ; Chen JINYAN ; Li YANYANG ; Zhou LIAN ; Luo XIA
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2024;14(6):889-901
Inhibiting the death receptor 3(DR3)signaling pathway in group 3 innate lymphoid cells(ILC3s)pre-sents a promising approach for promoting mucosal repair in individuals with ulcerative colitis(UC).Paeoniflorin,a prominent component of Paeonia lactiflora Pall.,has demonstrated the ability to restore barrier function in UC mice,but the precise mechanism remains unclear.In this study,we aimed to delve into whether paeoniflorin may promote intestinal mucosal repair in chronic colitis by inhibiting DR3 signaling in ILC3s.C57BL/6 mice were subjected to random allocation into 7 distinct groups,namely the control group,the 2%dextran sodium sulfate(DSS)group,the paeoniflorin groups(25,50,and 100 mg/kg),the anti-tumor necrosis factor-like ligand 1A(anti-TL1A)antibody group,and the IgG group.We detected the expression of DR3 signaling pathway proteins and the proportion of ILC3s in the mouse colon using Western blot and flow cytometry,respectively.Meanwhile,DR3-overexpressing MNK-3 cells and 2% DSS-induced Rag1-/-mice were used for verification.The results showed that paeoniflorin alleviated DSS-induced chronic colitis and repaired the intestinal mucosal barrier.Simultaneously,paeoniflorin inhibited the DR3 signaling pathway in ILC3s and regulated the content of cytokines(interleukin-17A,granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor,and interleukin-22).Alternatively,paeoniflorin directly inhibited the DR3 signaling pathway in ILC3s to repair mucosal damage indepen-dently of the adaptive immune system.We additionally confirmed that paeoniflorin-conditioned me-dium(CM)restored the expression of tight junctions in Caco-2 cells via coculture.In conclusion,paeoniflorin ameliorates chronic colitis by enhancing the intestinal barrier in an ILC3-dependent manner,and its mechanism is associated with the inhibition of the DR3 signaling pathway.
8.Luteolin ameliorates ulcerative colitis in mice via reducing the depletion of NCR+ILC3 through Notch signaling pathway
Xueqian XIE ; Pengcheng LI ; Meng ZHAO ; Bo XU ; Guixing ZHANG ; Qing WANG ; Chen NI ; Xia LUO ; Lian ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2024;22(11):991-1002
The disorder of group 3 innate lymphoid cells(ILC3)subgroup,such as the predominance of NCR-ILC3 but the deple-tion of NCR+ILC3,is unfavorable to damaged intestinal barrier repair,which leads to the prolongations and obstinacy of ulcerative colitis(UC).Our previous studies had shown that luteolin promoted NCRILC3 differentitating into NCR+ILC3 to improving the de-pletion of NCR+ILC3 in UC mice,while the mechanism is unclear.This article aimed to explore the underlying mechanism of luteolin enhancing the proportion NCR+ILC3.UC mice model was established with 2%DSS and Notch signaling was blocked,then luteolin was used to intervene.The results showed that the effect of luteolin on ameliorating disease symptoms in UC mice,including inhibit-ing the weight loss,reducing the pathological damage of colon mucosa,etc.,was diminished with blocking Notch signaling pathway.In addition,luteolin increased the proportion of NCR+ILC3,NCR+MNK3 and IL-22+ILC3,decreased intestinal permeability,pro-moted mucin secretion,and promoted ZO-1 and Occludin expression,the above effect of luteolin was neutralized by Notch inhibitor LY-411575.Luteolin activated the abnormally blocked Notch signaling pathway in UC mice.And molecular docking predicted the af-finity of luteolin for RBPJ to be-7.5 kcal·mol-1 in mouse,respectively;the affinity of luteolin for Notchl and RBPJ was respectively scored to be-6.4 kcal·mol-1 and-7.7 kcal·mol-1 homo sapiens.These results proved that luteolin is positive for enhancing the propor-tion of NCR+ILC3 via Notch signaling,and it provides a basis for targeting NCR+ILC3 for restoring intestinal barrier function to alle-viating ulcerative colitis.
9.Influencing factors related to psychological distress among older people living with HIV
Xueqian LU ; Wenxiu SUN ; Yanyun PAN ; Lin ZHANG ; Meiyan SUN
Chinese Journal of Nursing 2024;59(22):2747-2753
Objective To describe the status and influencing factors of psychological distress in older people living with HIV in Shanghai.Methods Convenience sampling was used to select HIV patients with the age of 50 years old and above who attended follow-up visits at the voluntary counselling & testing clinic in Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center from December 2022 to October 2023.Data were collected using a general information questionnaire,HIV disclosure questionnaire,Distress Thermometer and Lubben Social Network Scale-6.Binary logistic regression was employed to analyze the factors influencing psychological distress.Results The prevalence of psychological distress among 332 participants was 105 cases(31.6%).The top 3 items selected by participants in Psychological Distress Problem List were insurance/financial issues,worry and sleep,relationship with children.Factors associated with a higher level of psychological distress included lower monthly income,not HIV disclosure and higher levels of social isolation.Conclusion Psychological distress among older people living with HIV remains to be further reduced,and it is affected by many factors.Health care providers should pay more attention to psychological distress among older HIV patients,and develop targeted intervention according to relevant influencing factors,aiming to reduce their psychological distress.
10.Radiation-induced carotid artery stenosis
Zhiwei HAO ; Xueqian ZHANG ; Yidian FU ; Guodong XU ; Peiyuan LYU
International Journal of Cerebrovascular Diseases 2023;31(11):852-856
Carotid artery stenosis is an important cause of ischemic stroke, and its mechanism is mainly associated with the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. Head and neck radiotherapy may accelerate plaque formation, leading to carotid artery stenosis. In addition, radiotherapy can also cause the damage to the intima and adventitia of blood vessels, exacerbating the degree of carotid artery stenosis. This carotid artery stenosis caused by radiotherapy is different from atherosclerotic carotid artery stenosis in etiology, pathogenesis, prevention and treatment. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the pathogenic mechanism is crucial for selecting appropriate prevention and treatment methods.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail