1.tRF Prospect: tRNA-derived Fragment Target Prediction Based on Neural Network Learning
Dai-Xi REN ; Jian-Yong YI ; Yong-Zhen MO ; Mei YANG ; Wei XIONG ; Zhao-Yang ZENG ; Lei SHI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(9):2428-2438
ObjectiveTransfer RNA-derived fragments (tRFs) are a recently characterized and rapidly expanding class of small non-coding RNAs, typically ranging from 13 to 50 nucleotides in length. They are derived from mature or precursor tRNA molecules through specific cleavage events and have been implicated in a wide range of cellular processes. Increasing evidence indicates that tRFs play important regulatory roles in gene expression, primarily by interacting with target messenger RNAs (mRNAs) to induce transcript degradation, in a manner partially analogous to microRNAs (miRNAs). However, despite their emerging biological relevance and potential roles in disease mechanisms, there remains a significant lack of computational tools capable of systematically predicting the interaction landscape between tRFs and their target mRNAs. Existing databases often rely on limited interaction features and lack the flexibility to accommodate novel or user-defined tRF sequences. The primary goal of this study was to develop a machine learning based prediction algorithm that enables high-throughput, accurate identification of tRF:mRNA binding events, thereby facilitating the functional analysis of tRF regulatory networks. MethodsWe began by assembling a manually curated dataset of 38 687 experimentally verified tRF:mRNA interaction pairs and extracting seven biologically informed features for each pair: (1) AU content of the binding site, (2) site pairing status, (3) binding region location, (4) number of binding sites per mRNA, (5) length of the longest consecutive complementary stretch, (6) total binding region length, and (7) seed sequence complementarity. Using this dataset and feature set, we trained 4 distinct machine learning classifiers—logistic regression, random forest, decision tree, and a multilayer perceptron (MLP)—to compare their ability to discriminate true interactions from non-interactions. Each model’s performance was evaluated using overall accuracy, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and the corresponding area under the ROC curve (AUC). The MLP consistently achieved the highest AUC among the four, and was therefore selected as the backbone of our prediction framework, which we named tRF Prospect. For biological validation, we retrieved 3 high-throughput RNA-seq datasets from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) in which individual tRFs were overexpressed: AS-tDR-007333 (GSE184690), tRF-3004b (GSE197091), and tRF-20-S998LO9D (GSE208381). Differential expression analysis of each dataset identified genes downregulated upon tRF overexpression, which we designated as putative targets. We then compared the predictions generated by tRF Prospect against those from three established tools—tRFTar, tRForest, and tRFTarget—by quantifying the number of predicted targets for each tRF and assessing concordance with the experimentally derived gene sets. ResultsThe proposed algorithm achieved high predictive accuracy, with an AUC of 0.934. Functional validation was conducted using transcriptome-wide RNA-seq datasets from cells overexpressing specific tRFs, confirming the model’s ability to accurately predict biologically relevant downregulation of mRNA targets. When benchmarked against established tools such as tRFTar, tRForest, and tRFTarget, tRF Prospect consistently demonstrated superior performance, both in terms of predictive precision and sensitivity, as well as in identifying a higher number of true-positive interactions. Moreover, unlike static databases that are limited to precomputed results, tRF Prospect supports real-time prediction for any user-defined tRF sequence, enhancing its applicability in exploratory and hypothesis-driven research. ConclusionThis study introduces tRF Prospect as a powerful and flexible computational tool for investigating tRF:mRNA interactions. By leveraging the predictive strength of deep learning and incorporating a broad spectrum of interaction-relevant features, it addresses key limitations of existing platforms. Specifically, tRF Prospect: (1) expands the range of detectable tRF and target types; (2) improves prediction accuracy through multilayer perceptron model; and (3) allows for dynamic, user-driven analysis beyond database constraints. Although the current version emphasizes miRNA-like repression mechanisms and faces challenges in accurately capturing 5'UTR-associated binding events, it nonetheless provides a critical foundation for future studies aiming to unravel the complex roles of tRFs in gene regulation, cellular function, and disease pathogenesis.
2. Effect of NMDA receptor blocker in relieving HIV-1/gp120 induced learning and memory disorder in rats and its mechanism
Mei LIANG ; Jia-Jia YU ; Xi-Yong XIANG ; Si-Yu XIA ; Shan LI ; Yi-Rong ZENG ; Li-Xuan WANG ; Yi-Un ZHOU ; Yan ZHOU ; Shan LI ; Yan ZHOU
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2023;39(6):1149-1156
Aim: To investigate the alleviating effect of NMDA receptor blocking on learning and memory impairment induced by gp120 in rats and its mechanism. Methods: (1 ) Thirty-two SD rats were randomly divided into control group, sham operation group, gpl20 group, and gp120 + Memantine group. Except for the control group, the other groups underwent a bilateral hippocampal injection to establish the model of learning and memory impairment in rats. Memantine (10 mg • kg
3.Yigong Powder regulates CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling to reduce glutamate release and prevent cognitive decline in mouse model of aging.
Jiang-Ping WEI ; Zi-Xuan ZHAO ; Jing ZENG ; Fang-Hong SHANG ; Lei HUA ; Yong YANG ; Xiao-Mei ZHANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(23):6483-6491
This study aims to explore the effect of preventive administration of Yigong Powder on the learning and memory abilities of the mouse model of aging induced by D-galactose and decipher the underlying mechanism, so as to provide a basis for the application of Yigong Powder in the prevention and treatment of cognitive decline. Forty KM mice were randomized into control, model, donepezil(1.5 mg·kg~(-1)), and high-dose(7.5 g·kg~(-1)) and low-dose(3.75 g·kg~(-1)) Yigong Powder groups. The mice in other groups except the control group were injected with D-galactose(200 g·kg~(-1)) at the back of the neck for the modeling of aging. At the same time, the mice were administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage for one month. Morris water maze was used to examine the learning and memory abilities of the mice. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was employed to observe the pathological and morphological changes of the hippocampus. The immunofluorescence assay was employed to detect the expression of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1(IBA1), glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP), chemokine C-X-C-motif ligand 12(CXCL12), chemokine C-X-C-motif receptor 4(CXCR4) in the hippocampus and observe the positional relationship between IBA1, GFAP, and CXCR4. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of extracellular regulated kinase(ERK), p-ERK, and tumor necrosis factor receptor 1(TNFR1). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure the levels of glutamate and tumor necrosis factor(TNF-α) in the brain tissue and the level of TNF-α in the serum and spleen. Yigong Powder significantly shortened the escape latency, increased the times crossing platforms, and prolonged the cumulative time in quadrants of the aging mice. It alleviated the nerve cell disarrangement, increased intercellular space, and cell degeneration or death in the hippocampus and reduced the pathology score of the damaged nerve. Moreover, Yigong Powder reduced the positive area of IBA1 and GFAP, reduced the levels of TNF-α in the brain tissue, serum, and spleen, and decreased spleen index. Furthermore, Yigong Powder decreased the average fluorescence intensity of CXCL12 and CXCR4, reduced CXCR4-positive astrocytes and microglia, down-regulated the protein levels of p-ERK/ERK and TNFR1, and lowered the level of glutamate in the brain tissue. This study showed that the preventive administration of Yigong Powder can ameliorate the learning and memory decline of the D-galactose-induced aging mice by regulating the immune function of the spleen and the CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling in the brain to reduce glutamate release. However, the mechanism of Yigong San in preventing and treating dementia via regulating spleen and stomach function remains to be studied.
Mice
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Animals
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Powders
;
Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I
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Glutamic Acid
;
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*
;
Galactose/adverse effects*
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Disease Models, Animal
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Cognitive Dysfunction/prevention & control*
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Chemokines
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal
4.Phenotypes and ATP7B gene variants in 316 children with Wilson disease.
Zhi Kun LU ; Jing CHENG ; Si Min LI ; Yun Ting LIN ; Wen ZHANG ; Xiu Zhen LI ; Hui Ying SHENG ; Xiao Jian MAO ; Hui Fen MEI ; Rui Dan ZHENG ; Cui Li LIANG ; Min Yan JIANG ; Yong Lan HUANG ; Li LIU ; Chun Hua ZENG
Chinese Journal of Pediatrics 2022;60(4):317-322
Objectives: To summarize the clinical phenotypes and the variation spectrum of ATP7B gene in Chinese children with Wilson's disease (WD) and to investigate their significance for early diagnosis. Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 316 children diagnosed as WD in Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center during the period from January 2010 to June 2021. The general situations, clinical manifestations, lab test results, imaging examinations, and ATP7B gene variant characteristics were collected. The patients were divided into asymptomatic WD group and symptomatic WD group based on the presence or absence of clinical symptoms at the time that WD diagnosis was made. The χ2 test, t test or Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare the differences between groups. Results: Among the 316 children with WD, 199 were males and 117 were females, with the age of 5.4 (4.0, 7.6) years at diagnosis; 261 cases (82.6%) were asymptomatic with the age of 4.9 (3.9, 6.4) years; whereas 55 cases (17.4%) were symptomatic with the age of 9.6 (7.3, 12.0) years. The main symptoms invloved liver, kidney, nervous system, or skin damage. Of all the patients, 95.9% (303/316) had abnormal liver function at diagnosis; 98.1% (310/316) had the serum ceruloplasmin lever lower than 200 mg/L; 97.7% (302/309) had 24-hour urine copper content exceeding 40 μg; only 7.4% (23/310) had positive corneal K-F rings, 8.2% (23/281) had abnormal MRI signals in the lenticular nucleus, and all of them had symptoms of damage in liver, kidney or nervous system. Compared with the group of symptomatic WD, asymptomatic group had higher levels of serum alanine aminotransferase and lower levels ceruloplasmin and 24-hour urine copper [(208±137) vs. (72±78) U/L, (55±47) vs. (69±48) mg/L, 103 (72, 153) vs. 492 (230, 1 432) μg; t=9.98, -1.98, Z=-4.89, all P<0.001]. Among the 314 patients completing genetic sequencing, a total of 107 mutations in ATP7B gene were detected, of which 10 are novel variants, and 3 cases (1.0%) had large heterozygous deletion (exons 10 to exon 11) in ATP7B gene. The percentage of missense mutation in asymptomatic WD children was significantly higher than that in symptomatic WD (81.5% (422/518) vs. 69.1% (76/110), χ²=8.47, P<0.05). WD patients carrying homozygous variant of c.2 333G>T had significantly low levels of ceruloplasmin than those not carrying this variant ((23±5) vs. (61±48) mg/L, t=-2.34, P<0.001). Conclusions: The elevation of serum ALT is an important clue for early diagnosis of WD in children, while serum ceruloplasmin and 24-hour urine copper content are specific markers for early diagnosis of WD. In order to confirm the diagnosis of WD, it is necessary to combine the Sanger sequencing with multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification or other testing technologies.
Ceruloplasmin/metabolism*
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Child
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Child, Preschool
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Copper/metabolism*
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Copper-Transporting ATPases/genetics*
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Female
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Hepatolenticular Degeneration/genetics*
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Humans
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Male
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Mutation
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Phenotype
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Retrospective Studies
5.Research advancements of two-dimensional black phosphorus in dentistry.
Tong XU ; Yong Mei HUA ; De Liang ZENG ; Chong Shan LIAO
Chinese Journal of Stomatology 2022;57(2):202-207
Two-dimensional black phosphorus (BP) has unique layered structure, excellent photothermal properties, good biocompatibility and high biodegradability. In recent years, it has been found that BP has stable drug loading and light controlled sustained-release drug functions, excellent antibacterial properties and the ability to promote vascular and nerve regeneration in the medicine field, which has a broad application prospect in dentistry. This review elaborates the biological properties of two-dimensional BP and its application progress in dentistry, so as to provide new ideas for the further research and application of two-dimensional BP.
Anti-Bacterial Agents
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Dentistry
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Phosphorus
6.Effect of Sishen Pills and its split prescriptions on Tfr/Tfh9/Tfh17 cells in colitis mice.
Zeng-Ping KANG ; Jing JIN ; Qing-Qing JIANG ; Hai-Mei ZHAO ; Shao-Min CHENG ; You-Bao ZHONG ; Duan-Yong LIU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2022;47(5):1300-1306
This study aims to investigate the regulatory effect of Sishen Pills(SSP) and its split prescriptions Ershen Pills(EP) and Wuweizi Powder(WP) on T follicular helper(Tfh) cell subset in the dextran sodium sulfate(DSS)-induced colitis mice and the mechanism. A total of 60 male SPF BALB/c mice were used, 10 of which were randomly selected as the normal group. The rest 50 were induced with 3% DSS solution for colitis modeling. After modeling, they were randomized into 5 groups: model group, SSP group, EP group, WP group, and mesalazine group. Body mass, colon mass, colon mass index, colon length, and unit colon mass index in each group were observed. After hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, the pathological injury of colon tissue was scored. The expression levels of molecules related to the STAT/SOCS signaling pathway in colon tissues were analyzed by Western blot. Differentiation levels of Tfh cells such as CD4~+CXCR5~+IL-9~+(Tfh9), CD4~+CXCR5~+IL-17~+(Tfh17), and CD4~+CXCR5~+Foxp3~+(Tfr) in peripheral blood of mice were detected by flow cytometry. The results showed each treatment group demonstrated significant increase in body mass and colon length, decrease in colon mass, colon mass index, unit colon mass index, and histopathological score(P<0.05, P<0.01), reduction of the expression of p-STAT3, STAT3, p-STAT6, and STAT6(P<0.05, P<0.01), rise of the expression of SOCS1 and SOCS3(P<0.05, P<0.01), decrease of Tfh9 and Tfh17 cells, and increase of Tfr cells(P<0.05, P<0.01) compared with the model group. These results indicated that SSP and the split EP and WP may alleviate ulcerative colitis by inhibiting the activation of STAT/SOCS signaling pathway and regulating the balance of Tfr/Tfh9/Tfh17 cells.
Animals
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Colitis/genetics*
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Colitis, Ulcerative/metabolism*
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Male
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred BALB C
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Prescriptions
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T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory
7.Effects of curcumin on memory follicular T cells in obese mice with colitis
Zeng-ping KANG ; Hai-mei ZHAO ; Meng-xue WANG ; Jia-qi HUANG ; You-bao ZHONG ; Duan-yong LIU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2022;57(7):2068-2076
This study evaluated the regulatory effect of curcumin on memory follicular T cells (mTf) in obese mice with ulcerative colitis on the basis of determining its effective treatment of ulcerative colitis in obese mice. Forty male leptin mutant (
8.Research Progress on Dysemenorrhea of Essential Oils of Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Review
Qing DU ; Ming-fang YE ; Yong-mei GUAN ; Xiao-ying HUANG ; Pan XU ; Guang-peng WU ; Shuo ZENG ; Ming YANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2022;28(6):254-261
Dysmenorrhea is a common gynecological disease in clinic, with primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea. Primary dysmenorrhea is usually not accompanied by organic lesions in genital organs, which is mainly related to the increase of prostaglandin content in endometrium during menstruation. Secondary dysmenorrhea is accompanied by organic lesions of reproductive organs, often associated with local lesions of reproductive organs, but also with patients' mental factors and neuroendocrine factors.The incidence of dysmenorrhea is as high as 73.8%, and there is no radical cure method, which has a great impact on the life, work and learning of patients. Chinese medicine essential oil widely exists in aromatic Chinese medicine, with antibacterial, antioxidant and anticancer activities. It can regulate neuroendocrine function, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, and improve mood by regulating the levels of prostaglandins, oxytocin and other hormones in the body and regulating the emotions of patients, there by alleviating dysmenorrhea to a certain extent. In recent years, many scholars have made more in-depth research on Chinese medicine essential oil in alleviating dysmenorrhea, but there is a lack of comprehensive collation of such studies. In this regard, the author has systematically sorted out the generation and classification of dysmenorrhea, the mechanism of action of essential oil of traditional Chinese medicine to alleviate dysmenorrhea and the application of essential oil of traditional Chinese medicine in the field of dysmenorrhea by consulting relevant literature in Chinese and foreign languages in recent years, so as to provide reference for the treatment of dysmenorrhea.
9.Management strategy and practice for SARS-CoV-2 infection in children's hospital.
Ying GU ; Gong Bao LIU ; Ying Wen WANG ; Chuan Qing WANG ; Mei ZENG ; Guo Ping LU ; Zhong Lin WANG ; Ai Mei XIA ; Jin Hao TAO ; Xiao Wen ZHAI ; Wen Hao ZHOU ; Guo Ying HUANG ; Hong XU ; Yong Hao GUI ; Xiao Bo ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Pediatrics 2022;60(11):1107-1110
10.Exploring the miRNA-mRNA regulatory network in schizophrenia based on GEO database
Mei HE ; Xu YOU ; Yunbin YANG ; Yanping LI ; Lifen ZHANG ; Zixiang LU ; Yunqiao ZHANG ; Qing LONG ; Xiao MA ; Yong ZENG
Sichuan Mental Health 2022;35(2):120-125
ObjectiveTo provide a new idea for exploring the molecular genetic approach to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia via construction of microRNA-messenger RNA (miRNA-mRNA) regulatory network in schizophrenia. MethodsThe microarray datasets of GSE54578 miRNA expression profiles in peripheral blood and GSE145554 mRNA expression in the anterior cingulate in postmortem brain of schizophrenic subjects were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database since July 2021. The GEO2R was used to identify the differentially expressed miRNAs and mRNAs, screen the miRNA with target differentially expressed mRNA, and predict their potential upstream transcription factors. The overlapping genes from the mRNA targeted by the differentially expressed miRNA and the mRNA differentially expressed in GSE145554 dataset were collected. Then the biological features of hub genes were analyzed via Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and miRNA-mRNA regulatory network of hub genes were constructed. ResultsA total of 8 up-regulated differentially expressed miRNAs with targeted mRNA were screened out in GSE54578 datasets regarding schizophrenia, which involved in the regulation of 10 transcription factors, 247 down-regulated differentially expressed mRNAs were screened out in GSE145554 datasets, and 17 overlapping mRNAs were obtained. GO analysis showed that the target mRNAs were mainly involved in astrocyte differentiation and development. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that the target mRNAs were mainly involved in Rap1 and Ras signaling pathways. PPI network analysis showed that the mRNAs (KRAS and CD28) might be key genes in schizophrenia. ConclusionThe integrated bioinformatics analysis based on GEO database can identify potential susceptibility genes in schizophrenia, and it also contributes to the construction of miRNA-mRNA regulatory network in schizophrenia.

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