1.Mechanism of Shenqi guben formula in improving cancer-related fatigue by regulating IL-17 signaling pathway
Xin LI ; Chongkai FANG ; Yue HUANG ; Yaoxuan LI ; Haifu HUANG ; Xianlin WU ; Zhesheng CHEN ; Meng LI
China Pharmacy 2025;36(14):1722-1729
OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism of Shenqi guben formula (SQGB) in improving cancer-related fatigue (CRF) based on network pharmacology and cellular experiments. METHODS Active components of SQGB and CRF-related targets were identified on the basis of databases such as the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology platform. An in vitro CRF cell model was established by inducing A549 cells with interleukin-17 (IL-17). Cells were treated with low (1.0 mg/mL) or high (1.5 mg/mL) concentrations of SQGB. The effects on cell viability, migration, apoptosis, inflammatory factors, mRNA expression, apoptosis-related proteins and key proteins 011) of IL-17 signaling pathway were evaluated using scratch assay, flow cytometry, ELISA, real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis. RESULTS SQGB contained 84 active components acting on 209 potential CRF targets. Among E-these, quercetin, kaempferol, and luteolin were identified as the core components of the compound. Core targets included tumor protein p53, AKT serine/threonine kinase 1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). IL-17, TNF and phosphatidylinositol-3- kinase-serine/threonine protein kinase (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathways were identified as crucial pathways. Compared with IL-17 intervention group, the cell migration rate, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) protein expression, the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in the supernatant, mRNA expression of IL-17 receptor A (IL-17RA), TNF-α, and IL-6, as well as the protein expression of IL-17RA and nuclear factor kappa-B p65 subunit (p65), and phosphorylated (p)-p65/p65 ratio in IL-17+SQGB low- and high- quality concentration groups were all significantly decreased or down-regulation (P<0.05); the apoptosis rate, expression levels of Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) and cleaved caspase-3 protein, the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, the expression level of p-p38 protein, and the p- p38/p38 ratio were all significantly increased or up-regulated (P<0.05). Moreover, the improvement effects of these indicators were mostly better in the high-quality concentration groups compared to the low-quality concentration groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS SQGB ameliorates CRF by regulating the IL-17 signaling pathway, inhibiting the expression of inflammatory factors, and activating p38 MAPK-dependent apoptosis pathway.
2.Application and mechanism of induced pluripotent stem cells in inherited heart disease models
Yangguang MA ; Yayong ZHANG ; Mingyao MENG ; Zhihao JIN ; Yingming LI ; Yaoxuan HUANG ; Shen HAN ; Yaxiong LI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(25):4072-4078
BACKGROUND:Inherited heart disease has a high prevalence and mortality rate,but its pathogenesis has not yet been clarified.Although relevant animal models have been established to provide a foundation for the pathogenesis research of inherited heart disease,the value of these research results has been significantly reduced due to differences among species.Therefore,a new model is needed to explore its occurrence and development. OBJECTIVE:To review the current role of induced pluripotent stem cells in disease modeling and potential application prospects in various inherited heart diseases. METHODS:The first author searched the relevant articles published nearly 13 years in PubMed from January to March 2023.The search terms were"induced pluripotent stem cell,inherited heart disease,congenital heart disease".Finally,76 articles were included for analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Since 2007,when induced pluripotent stem cells were induced from human somatic cells,many studies have been reported on disease-specific induced pluripotent stem cells.Due to the ability of disease-specific induced pluripotent stem cells to reproduce disease phenotypes,they are expected to become a new research tool for in vitro disease modeling,used to analyze pathogenesis and develop auxiliary drugs.In the research of cardiovascular genetic diseases,cardiomyocytes derived from patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells contain gene mutations that are involved in cardiac dysplasia.Therefore,it can be used as a new tool to study the potential mechanisms of inherited heart disease.Up to now,induced pluripotent stem cells-derived cardiomyocytes have been widely used to study the molecular mechanisms of various genetic heart diseases,such as cardiac electrophysiological diseases,cardiomyopathy,and some syndromic inherited heart diseases.
3.Analysis of sperm phenotype, pathogenic genes and assisted reproductive therapy outcomes in patients with total globozoospermia
Yaoxuan LI ; Xiaohui ZHANG ; Dawen LI ; Yueyue HUANG ; Shikai WANG ; Jie QIN ; Xianbao MAO ; Zhengda LI ; Pinpin WEI ; Liangshi CHEN ; Wen SHI ; Lintao XUE
Chinese Journal of Reproduction and Contraception 2024;44(1):67-72
Objective:To analyze the clinical phenotype, sperm morphological characteristics and assisted reproductive therapy efficiency in patients with total globozoospermia.Methods:Four male patients with total globozoospermia were collected during November 2019 to May 2022 from Reproductive Medical and Genetic Center, the People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Peripheral blood samples were collected for genetic detection and the whole exome sequencing to explore the pathogenic genes. Semen characteristics, sperm morphology and ultrastructure were analyzed. Four patients were treated with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) combined with artificial oocyte activation (AOA). Conventional ICSI cycles ( n=9) were selected as control group, and the development dynamic parameters were monitored by Time-lapse. The fertilization and embryo development parameters, developmental dynamic parameters and clinical outcomes were analyzed between the two groups. Results:Four patients were complicated with low sperm motility and increased sperm DNA fragmentation. Sperm morphology analysis and acrosome fluorescence staining represented that all the spermatozoas were with a small round head lacked of acrosome. By the transmission electron microscope, it was observed that round-headed spermatozoas were lacked of acrosome completely, loose chromatin structure, vacuolation and other abnormal changes in the head, mitochondrial sheath in neck were reduced arranged in disorder, and the structure of "9+2" of the flagellar axial filament was incomplete. Of the 4 patients, 1 was homozygous deletion of DPY19L2 gene and 1 was homozygous frameshift mutation of DPY19L2 gene. There were no significance differences in fertilization rate, two pronuclei fertilization rate, day 3 high-quality embryo rate, day 6 blastocyst formation rate and day 6 high-quality blastocyst formation rate between total globozoospermia group and control group (all P>0.05). The developmental dynamic parameters as the time at which the second polar body is extruded, the time when both (or the last) PN disappear, two to six discrete cells in the total globozoospermia group were significantly earlier than those in control group, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the embryo cleavage patterns between the two groups ( P>0.05). Among the 4 patients with total globozoospermia, 2 live births with signal healthy male baby were achieved by fresh embryo transfer, and 2 live births with one signal healthy male baby and one healthy female baby were achieved by frozen-thawed embryo transfer respectively. Conclusion:Abnormal morphology characteristics of spermatozoas from patients with total globozoospermia are obvious, patients with total globozoospermia could have favorable clinical outcomes following ICSI combined with AOA.
4.Analysis of sperm phenotype, pathogenic genes and assisted reproductive therapy outcomes in patients with total globozoospermia
Yaoxuan LI ; Xiaohui ZHANG ; Dawen LI ; Yueyue HUANG ; Shikai WANG ; Jie QIN ; Xianbao MAO ; Zhengda LI ; Pinpin WEI ; Liangshi CHEN ; Wen SHI ; Lintao XUE
Chinese Journal of Reproduction and Contraception 2024;44(1):67-72
Objective:To analyze the clinical phenotype, sperm morphological characteristics and assisted reproductive therapy efficiency in patients with total globozoospermia.Methods:Four male patients with total globozoospermia were collected during November 2019 to May 2022 from Reproductive Medical and Genetic Center, the People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Peripheral blood samples were collected for genetic detection and the whole exome sequencing to explore the pathogenic genes. Semen characteristics, sperm morphology and ultrastructure were analyzed. Four patients were treated with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) combined with artificial oocyte activation (AOA). Conventional ICSI cycles ( n=9) were selected as control group, and the development dynamic parameters were monitored by Time-lapse. The fertilization and embryo development parameters, developmental dynamic parameters and clinical outcomes were analyzed between the two groups. Results:Four patients were complicated with low sperm motility and increased sperm DNA fragmentation. Sperm morphology analysis and acrosome fluorescence staining represented that all the spermatozoas were with a small round head lacked of acrosome. By the transmission electron microscope, it was observed that round-headed spermatozoas were lacked of acrosome completely, loose chromatin structure, vacuolation and other abnormal changes in the head, mitochondrial sheath in neck were reduced arranged in disorder, and the structure of "9+2" of the flagellar axial filament was incomplete. Of the 4 patients, 1 was homozygous deletion of DPY19L2 gene and 1 was homozygous frameshift mutation of DPY19L2 gene. There were no significance differences in fertilization rate, two pronuclei fertilization rate, day 3 high-quality embryo rate, day 6 blastocyst formation rate and day 6 high-quality blastocyst formation rate between total globozoospermia group and control group (all P>0.05). The developmental dynamic parameters as the time at which the second polar body is extruded, the time when both (or the last) PN disappear, two to six discrete cells in the total globozoospermia group were significantly earlier than those in control group, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the embryo cleavage patterns between the two groups ( P>0.05). Among the 4 patients with total globozoospermia, 2 live births with signal healthy male baby were achieved by fresh embryo transfer, and 2 live births with one signal healthy male baby and one healthy female baby were achieved by frozen-thawed embryo transfer respectively. Conclusion:Abnormal morphology characteristics of spermatozoas from patients with total globozoospermia are obvious, patients with total globozoospermia could have favorable clinical outcomes following ICSI combined with AOA.

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