1.The Role and Regulatory Mechanisms of FOXO1 in Hepatic Lipid Deposition
Meng JIA ; Fang-Hui LI ; Shi-Zhan YAN ; Ai-Ju LI ; Yi-Le WANG ; Pin-Shi NI ; Jia-Han HE ; Yin-Lu LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(4):905-919
Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is fundamentally driven by an imbalance in hepatic fatty-acid flux: the influx of fatty acids exceeds the liver’s capacity for disposal, resulting in excessive hepatic lipid accumulation, predominantly in the form of triglycerides (TGs). The occurrence and progression of MAFLD depend on disordered regulation across multiple metabolic steps, including fatty-acid uptake, de novo lipogenesis (DNL), fatty-acid oxidation (FAO), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) export. Forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) is a key transcriptional regulator within the hepatic network coordinating glucose and lipid metabolism. Under metabolic stress and insulin resistance (IR), FOXO1 expression is frequently increased, whereas its inhibitory phosphorylation is reduced. These changes enhance FOXO1 nuclear localization and transcriptional activity, thereby reprogramming the expression of genes related to metabolism in the liver. Because hepatic lipid deposition is the central pathological feature of MAFLD, the functional status of FOXO1 directly influences hepatic lipid homeostasis. Growing evidence suggests that FOXO1 can exert bidirectional, environment-dependent effects on hepatic lipid accumulation; however, the molecular basis for this functional switch remains incompletely understood. This review systematically summarizes the biological functions and regulatory mechanisms of FOXO1 and its roles in hepatic lipid metabolism, with a particular focus on its crosstalk with insulin signaling. FOXO1 expression is shaped by RNA modifications and epigenetic regulation mediated by non-coding RNAs. Its transcriptional output is precisely governed by post-translational modifications—such as phosphorylation and acetylation—as well as by coordinated nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. Notably, these regulatory patterns vary markedly across nutritional states, degrees of insulin resistance, and stages of disease. In the fed state, insulin/IGF-1 signaling activates the PI3K-AKT pathway, promoting the inhibitory phosphorylation of FOXO1 and facilitating additional modifications, including acetylation, methylation, and ubiquitination. Together, these events drive FOXO1 export from the nucleus and dampen its transcriptional activity, suppressing gluconeogenesis and constraining lipogenic programs. Conversely, during fasting or when insulin signaling is weakened, FOXO1 inhibition is relieved. FOXO1 accumulates in the nucleus, binds to DNA, and regulates the transcription of downstream target genes. Mechanistically, FOXO1 can aggravate hepatic lipid accumulation by activating genes involved in TG synthesis while repressing FAO-related pathways, thereby favoring storage over oxidation. However, under specific conditions, FOXO1 may also alleviate the hepatic lipid burden by promoting TG hydrolysis and enhancing VLDL secretion, thereby reducing the net hepatic lipid load. In addition, lipotoxic signals mediated by ceramides and diacylglycerols (Cer/DAG) activate atypical protein kinase C (aPKC), further exacerbating the disruption of the AKT-FOXO1 axis. This vicious cycle ultimately produces a metabolic paradox in which increased hepatic glucose output coexists with persistent, insulin-independent lipogenesis, accelerating MAFLD progression. Importantly, FOXO1 regulation is not uniform: during early metabolic overload, insulin-mediated suppression may remain effective, whereas in advanced insulin resistance, the loss of AKT control permits sustained FOXO1 activity. Such stage-dependent dynamics may help explain why FOXO1 can either promote steatosis or, in certain contexts, support programs that facilitate lipid turnover. Accordingly, interventions should be liver-specific and tuned to the disease stage, aiming to curb maladaptive FOXO1 signaling while preserving its capacity to promote triglyceride hydrolysis and VLDL secretion when advantageous. Overall, this review offers an important perspective on MAFLD pathogenesis, emphasizing FOXO1 as a potential therapeutic target and providing a theoretical basis for developing liver-specific, disease-course-dependent precision interventions.
2.Research on the improvement of cognitive impairment,endoplasmic reticulum stress and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease by emodin
Le YANG ; Yi ZHOU ; Keyun WANG ; Yali LAI
Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University(Medical Science) 2025;45(6):727-734
Objective·To explore the effects and potential mechanisms of emodin on Alzheimer's disease(AD).Methods·Wild-type C57BL/6J mice and 3×Tg-AD mice were divided into 6 groups:Control group(C57BL/6J mice),AD group(3×Tg-AD mice),Emodin 25 mg/kg group(3×Tg-AD mice+Emodin 25 mg/kg),Emodin 50 mg/kg group(3×Tg-AD mice+Emodin 50 mg/kg),Emodin 100 mg/kg group(3×Tg-AD mice+Emodin 100 mg/kg)and Donepezil group(3×Tg-AD mice+Donepezil 3 mg/kg).The Morris water maze test was used to evaluate the learning and memory abilities of mice.The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP),glucose-regulated protein 78kDa(GRP78),and inositol-requiring enzyme 1α(IRE1α)was detected by immunohistochemistry.The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-1β(IL-1β),and IL-6 in brain tissue were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Western blotting was used to detect the expression of NF-κB p65,p-NF-κB p65,p38,and p-p38 proteins.Results·Compared with the control group,mice in the AD group showed impaired cognition,increased GFAP expression,elevated levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6,and increased expression of GRP78 and IRE1α,along with enhanced phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 and p38.Compared with the AD group,emodin improved cognitive impairment of AD mice,inhibited astrocyte overactivation and neuroinflammation,and decreased the expression of GRP78,IRE1α,phosphorylated NF-κB p65,and phosphorylated p38 in brain tissue.Conclusion·Emodin can effectively improve cognitive impairment in AD mice,which may be related to the inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated neuroinflammation in astrocytes.
3.Effects of supernatant of BV-2 cells induced by LPS on inflammatory response and apoptosis in HT22 neurons
Li-ya WU ; Xin-ru WANG ; Yu-jie WU ; Wei-yi ZHANG ; Nan LI ; Yong-hui WANG ; Li GAO ; Le ZHAO
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(7):1324-1331
Aim To observe the effect of lipopolysac-charide(LPS)induced supernatant of BV-2 cells on the inflammatory response and apoptosis of HT22 neu-rons.Methods After the concentration and time of LPS were determined by CCK-8 method,BV-2 cells were cultured with medium without LPS and medium containing LPS,the morphological changes of BV-2 microglia were observed by inverted microscope,and the CD86/CD206 ratio of BV-2 microglia was detected by immunofluorescence.Subsequently,BV-2 cell cul-ture supernatants were isolated and added to HT22 neuronal culture to observe the effect on the inflamma-tory response of HT22 neurons.The proliferation of HT22 neurons was detected by CCK-8 method and EdU method.The structural changes of HT22 neurons were observed under the microscope and examined by urani-um-lead staining.The levels of cytokines interleukin-1β(IL-1β),interleukin-10(IL-10),nuclear factor kappa-B(NF-κB)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent as-say(Elisa).Neuronal apoptosis was detected by the TUNEL method.The protein expressions of Bax,Bcl-2 and inflammatory factors were detected by Western blot.Results After induction with 1 mg·L-1 LPS,BV-2 cells exhibited increased cell body size,thicker protrusions on both side,and some cells showed de-formed protrusions,the CD86/CD206 ratio in BV-2 cells decreased,promoting the transformation of BV-2 cells from M2 type to M1 type.After treating with the culture supernatant of BV-2 cells,HT22 neuronal cell activity and proliferation were reduced,axons short-ened,and the number of cells decreased.Neuronal cell bodies were enlarged and some cells were de-formed,with damaged cell membranes,round cell nu-clei but displaced nucleoli from the normal position,swollen mitochondria with vacuoles,reduced internal ridge structures,and increased levels of inflammatory factors NF-κB,IL-1 β,and TNF-α(P<0.05 or P<0.01),while the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 de-creased(P<0.05),protein expression of the pro-apoptotic indicator Bax increased(P<0.01),and the protein expression of the anti-apoptotic indicator Bcl-2 decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion After induction of BV-2 cell polarization by LPS,the supernatant could inhibit HT22 neuronal cell viability,upregulate inflam-matory factor expression and promote apoptosis.
4.Retrospective analysis of protein A column immunoadsorption in the treatment of refractory anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis in children
Ying WANG ; Le MA ; Zhangyan GUO ; Yanqiang DU ; Hua ZHANG ; Weikai WANG ; Yi WANG
Chinese Pediatric Emergency Medicine 2025;32(1):33-37
Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of immunoadsorption with protein A column(PA-IA) in refractory anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis in children.Methods:The clinical data of 8 children with anti-NMDAR encephalitis who failed to receive first-line treatment from January 2022 to June 2023 in PICU of Xi'an Children's Hospital were retrospectively collected.Clinical features,modified Rankin score (mRS),anti-NMDAR antibody titers in serum and cerebrospinal fluid(CSF),cells count in CSF,protein level in CSF,serum IgG,complement C3,C4 level were analyzed before and after immunoadsorption therapy. All adverse events that occurred during treatment were recorded in detail.Result:Among the 8 children,there were 5 males and 3 females,aged 5 to 12 years old,and each patient was immunized 6 to 10 times,and 75 times of PA-IA treatment were performed. The mRS score decreased in 8 children after PA-IA treatment. Blood IgG level,CSF cell number,protein level in CSF,blood complement C3 and C4 levels,and antibody titers related in blood and CSF were all lower than those before PA-IA treatment. The differences were all statistically significant ( P<0.001).During 75 times of treatment,only 1 case of membrane rupture occurred during treatment,the treatment was stopped and continued after the plasma separator was replaced,with no other adverse reactions. Conclusion:PA-IA could effectively improve the clinical symptoms and neurological function of children with refractory anti-NMDAR encephalitis with good safety,but its exact efficacy in children with anti-NMDAR encephalitis needs to be verified by prospective studies with larger samples.
5.Effectiveness of nafamostat mesylate as an adjuvant therapy for traumatic extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in children
Yi WANG ; Weikai WANG ; Hua ZHANG ; Yan'e YANG ; Le MA ; Yong ZHOU ; Zhangyan GUO ; Haitong WU
Chinese Pediatric Emergency Medicine 2025;32(6):426-430
Objective:To investigate the efficacy of nafamostat mesylate in traumatic extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy.Methods:Patients admitted to the intensive care units of Children's Hospital Affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong University and Gansu Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital for ECMO-assisted cardiopulmonary support due to trauma from January 2021 to December 2024 were selected as the study subjects. Based on different anticoagulation strategies, patients were divided into the nafamostat mesylate group( n=11) and the common heparin group( n=10). The general conditions of the two groups were compared. In addition, differences in various clinical indicators during the ECMO-assisted process were compared, including white blood cell count (WBC), platelet count (PLT), hemoglobin level (Hb), hematocrit (HCT), prothrombin time(PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time(TT), fibrinogen(FIB) and D-dimer. Furthermore,the differences in the total volume of component blood transfusions, coagulation substances, complications and prognosis between the two groups were compared. Results:No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding age, gender, weight, type of ECMO support, type of trauma, presence of active bleeding, or rate of surgical intervention. There were no statistically significant differences in WBC, PLT, Hb, HCT, PT, APTT, TT, FIB, and D-dimer between the two groups of patients prior to the initiation of ECMO support (all P>0.05). Compared with the common heparin group, children in the nafamostat mesylate group had lower PT[(21±6)s vs. (27±3)s; (20±4) vs. (28±5)], APTT[(68±8)s vs. (89±12)s; (64±15)s vs. (85±21)s], TT [(25±11)s vs. (31±13)s; (24±8)s vs. (35±6)s], and D-dimer[(5.8±1.1) μg/mL vs. (11.5±5.6) μg/mL; (4.2±1.8) μg/mL vs. (14.6±2.5) μg/mL],and higher FIB[(2.1±0.5) g/L vs. (1.6 ± 0.3) g/L; (2.4 ± 0.4) g/L vs. (1.3 ± 0.6) g/L] when ECMO assisted for 24 h and 72 h,the differences were all statistically significant(all P<0.05). Compared to the nafamostat mesylate group, the common heparin group exhibited significantly higher total cumulative infusion amounts of red blood cell suspension, plasma, platelet, FIB, hemocoagulase, and thromboplastin complex during the ECMO-assisted process, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups of children in terms of time to ECMO assistance, membrane lung failure, loop thrombosis, embolism, and successful withdrawal rate (all P>0.05). Conclusion:Nafamostat mesylate can effectively reduce the risk of bleeding and minimize the requirement for blood product and coagulation substance infusions during traumatic ECMO assistance.
6.High-altitude exposure induces lung injury in mice by altering expres-sion of genes associated with vascular function,extracellular matrix,apoptosis,and proliferation
Xingyu ZHANG ; Shiguan LE ; Yi LI ; Xiangguang SHI ; Jiucun WANG
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2025;41(9):1703-1712
AIM:To investigate the types and mechanisms of lung injury induced by high-altitude exposure in mice.METHODS:Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to a normoxia group and a hypobaric hy-poxia exposure group,with 10 mice in each group.The hypobaric hypoxia group was continuously exposed to a hypobaric hypoxia environment simulating an altitude of 6 000 m for 3 d to establish an acute lung injury model.Lung tissues were collected.Lung pathological changes were evaluated using HE and Masson staining.Transcriptome analysis was conducted using DESeq2 and ClusterProfiler to identify differentially expressed genes and pathways,and hub genes were screened us-ing the STRING database.RESULTS:Compared with the normoxia group,the hypobaric hypoxia group exhibited signifi-cant increases in alveolar septal thickness,hyaline membrane formation,and neutrophil infiltration both in the alveolar space and the interstitial space,along with elevated lung injury scores(P<0.01),with no significant fibrosis observed.The mRNA levels of Alas2,Slc4a1,Rhag,Car1,Car2,Hbb,Agtr1b,Bmp2,Bmper,Vegfc,Foxm1,Fgf18,Igf1,Cx-cl12 and Mmp14 genes were significantly elevated(P<0.01),while Notch1,Notch4 and Cxcr4 mRNA levels were signifi-cantly decreased(P<0.01).Protein levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS),cleaved caspase-3,cleaved PARP,fibronectin,elastin,tenascin C,tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1(TIMP1),WNT3a,and β-catenin were signifi-cantly increased(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Short-term high-altitude hypobaric hypoxia exposure induced acute lung in-jury in mice by significantly altering the expression of genes involved in apoptosis,vascular permeability regulation,extra-cellular matrix remodeling,and type Ⅱ alveolar epithelial cell proliferation.
7.Characteristics of cognitive empathy and affective empathy in pupils with high levels of autistic traits
Beilin LE ; Yan GAO ; Youhong XIE ; Yi WANG ; CHAN Raymond CK
Chinese Mental Health Journal 2025;39(2):164-168
Objective:To explore the characteristics of social cognition function in the cognitive and affective dimensions of empathy and theory of mind of pupils with high levels of autistic traits.Methods:One hundred and seventy-four elementary school fifth-grade pupils were recruited and divided into high(n=43)and low(n=43)levels of autistic traits groups based on their Autism Spectrum Quotient(AQ)scores(high level≥25 and low lev-el ≤18).Both two groups completed the Questionnaire of Cognitive and Affective Empathy(QCAE)and Interper-sonal Reactivity Index(IRI),as well as the Patient Health Questionnaire and also completed the Yoni and Faux Pas Tasks to examine theory of mind.Results:Compared with the low autistic traits group,the high autistic traits group exhibited significantly lower scores on both the Cognitive and Affective subscales of QCAE(Ps<0.01).However,there were no significant differences between the high and low autistic traitsgroups in cognitive and affective theory of mind as assessed with the Yoni and Faux Pas Tasks(Ps>0.05).Conclusion:Pupils with high levels of autistic traits may exhibit significant difference in both cognitive and affective empathy but not in theory of mind comparing to pupils with low levels of autistic traits.
8.Research on the improvement of cognitive impairment,endoplasmic reticulum stress and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease by emodin
Le YANG ; Yi ZHOU ; Keyun WANG ; Yali LAI
Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University(Medical Science) 2025;45(6):727-734
Objective·To explore the effects and potential mechanisms of emodin on Alzheimer's disease(AD).Methods·Wild-type C57BL/6J mice and 3×Tg-AD mice were divided into 6 groups:Control group(C57BL/6J mice),AD group(3×Tg-AD mice),Emodin 25 mg/kg group(3×Tg-AD mice+Emodin 25 mg/kg),Emodin 50 mg/kg group(3×Tg-AD mice+Emodin 50 mg/kg),Emodin 100 mg/kg group(3×Tg-AD mice+Emodin 100 mg/kg)and Donepezil group(3×Tg-AD mice+Donepezil 3 mg/kg).The Morris water maze test was used to evaluate the learning and memory abilities of mice.The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP),glucose-regulated protein 78kDa(GRP78),and inositol-requiring enzyme 1α(IRE1α)was detected by immunohistochemistry.The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-1β(IL-1β),and IL-6 in brain tissue were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Western blotting was used to detect the expression of NF-κB p65,p-NF-κB p65,p38,and p-p38 proteins.Results·Compared with the control group,mice in the AD group showed impaired cognition,increased GFAP expression,elevated levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6,and increased expression of GRP78 and IRE1α,along with enhanced phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 and p38.Compared with the AD group,emodin improved cognitive impairment of AD mice,inhibited astrocyte overactivation and neuroinflammation,and decreased the expression of GRP78,IRE1α,phosphorylated NF-κB p65,and phosphorylated p38 in brain tissue.Conclusion·Emodin can effectively improve cognitive impairment in AD mice,which may be related to the inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated neuroinflammation in astrocytes.
9.Effects of supernatant of BV-2 cells induced by LPS on inflammatory response and apoptosis in HT22 neurons
Li-ya WU ; Xin-ru WANG ; Yu-jie WU ; Wei-yi ZHANG ; Nan LI ; Yong-hui WANG ; Li GAO ; Le ZHAO
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(7):1324-1331
Aim To observe the effect of lipopolysac-charide(LPS)induced supernatant of BV-2 cells on the inflammatory response and apoptosis of HT22 neu-rons.Methods After the concentration and time of LPS were determined by CCK-8 method,BV-2 cells were cultured with medium without LPS and medium containing LPS,the morphological changes of BV-2 microglia were observed by inverted microscope,and the CD86/CD206 ratio of BV-2 microglia was detected by immunofluorescence.Subsequently,BV-2 cell cul-ture supernatants were isolated and added to HT22 neuronal culture to observe the effect on the inflamma-tory response of HT22 neurons.The proliferation of HT22 neurons was detected by CCK-8 method and EdU method.The structural changes of HT22 neurons were observed under the microscope and examined by urani-um-lead staining.The levels of cytokines interleukin-1β(IL-1β),interleukin-10(IL-10),nuclear factor kappa-B(NF-κB)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent as-say(Elisa).Neuronal apoptosis was detected by the TUNEL method.The protein expressions of Bax,Bcl-2 and inflammatory factors were detected by Western blot.Results After induction with 1 mg·L-1 LPS,BV-2 cells exhibited increased cell body size,thicker protrusions on both side,and some cells showed de-formed protrusions,the CD86/CD206 ratio in BV-2 cells decreased,promoting the transformation of BV-2 cells from M2 type to M1 type.After treating with the culture supernatant of BV-2 cells,HT22 neuronal cell activity and proliferation were reduced,axons short-ened,and the number of cells decreased.Neuronal cell bodies were enlarged and some cells were de-formed,with damaged cell membranes,round cell nu-clei but displaced nucleoli from the normal position,swollen mitochondria with vacuoles,reduced internal ridge structures,and increased levels of inflammatory factors NF-κB,IL-1 β,and TNF-α(P<0.05 or P<0.01),while the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 de-creased(P<0.05),protein expression of the pro-apoptotic indicator Bax increased(P<0.01),and the protein expression of the anti-apoptotic indicator Bcl-2 decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion After induction of BV-2 cell polarization by LPS,the supernatant could inhibit HT22 neuronal cell viability,upregulate inflam-matory factor expression and promote apoptosis.
10.Study on Non-invasive Blood Glucose Detection Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Based on Transfer Learning
Yi-fan LONG ; Le-cheng DING ; Ze-lin WANG ; Wei-ze GAO ; Yong-qian WANG
Progress in Modern Biomedicine 2025;25(13):2092-2099
Objective:Near-infrared(NIR)spectroscopy technology faces the problem of insufficient model generalization due to individual differences in non-invasive blood glucose testing,in order to solve this problem,to improve data utilization,and to build predictive models with stronger generalization ability,this study introduces a transfer learning method to study the NIR spectroscopy non-invasive glucose testing.Methods:Migration learning is a machine learning technique that aims to improve task performance in the target domain by transferring knowledge from the source domain to the target domain.In this study,we used community population data as the source domain and student population data as the target domain to improve the performance of the noninvasive glucose detection model on the target domain.In order to verify the effectiveness of migration learning,this study compares the performance of the model before and after migration learning.Results:the model's performance on the noninvasive glucose detection task is significantly improved by the migration learning strategy,and the MAPE and MAE of the migrated model decreases by 52.5460%and 6.0805%,respectively,and the RMSE and MSE decreases by 10.7215%and 12.1135%.Conclusions:This study demonstrates the promising application of transfer learning in the field of non-invasive blood glucose detection,which is expected to realize portable and continuous blood glucose monitoring in the future by migrating the features that are difficult to access in the source domain but are related to blood glucose values to the target domain,which will greatly improve the quality of life of diabetic patients.Advances in noninvasive glucose testing technology will not only reduce patients' pain,but also provide a more convenient means of glucose monitoring,which will provide strong support for diabetes management.

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