1.The Mechanisms of Quercetin in Improving Alzheimer’s Disease
Yu-Meng ZHANG ; Yu-Shan TIAN ; Jie LI ; Wen-Jun MU ; Chang-Feng YIN ; Huan CHEN ; Hong-Wei HOU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):334-347
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative condition characterized by progressive cognitive decline and memory loss. As the incidence of AD continues to rise annually, researchers have shown keen interest in the active components found in natural plants and their neuroprotective effects against AD. Quercetin, a flavonol widely present in fruits and vegetables, has multiple biological effects including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant. Oxidative stress plays a central role in the pathogenesis of AD, and the antioxidant properties of quercetin are essential for its neuroprotective function. Quercetin can modulate multiple signaling pathways related to AD, such as Nrf2-ARE, JNK, p38 MAPK, PON2, PI3K/Akt, and PKC, all of which are closely related to oxidative stress. Furthermore, quercetin is capable of inhibiting the aggregation of β‑amyloid protein (Aβ) and the phosphorylation of tau protein, as well as the activity of β‑secretase 1 and acetylcholinesterase, thus slowing down the progression of the disease.The review also provides insights into the pharmacokinetic properties of quercetin, including its absorption, metabolism, and excretion, as well as its bioavailability challenges and clinical applications. To improve the bioavailability and enhance the targeting of quercetin, the potential of quercetin nanomedicine delivery systems in the treatment of AD is also discussed. In summary, the multifaceted mechanisms of quercetin against AD provide a new perspective for drug development. However, translating these findings into clinical practice requires overcoming current limitations and ongoing research. In this way, its therapeutic potential in the treatment of AD can be fully utilized.
2.Correlation between estrogen metabolism of intestinal flora and liver fibrosis based on fecal microbiota transplantation
Na PAN ; Xue-ping QI ; Hui-jie SHENG ; Xiao-yu LYU ; Lu-yao GAO ; Hao-yang CHEN ; Yan-yan YIN ; Jia-jia WANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(8):1508-1516
Aim To study the correlation between es-trogen metabolism function of intestinal flora and liver fibrosis disease phenotype and differential intestinal bacteria by fecal microbiota transplantation(FMT).Methods C57BL/6J male mice were divided into normal group(Control-M),liver fibrosis Model group(Model),FMT-1 group(normal mice fecal microbiota transplantation from liver fibrosis mice),and FMT-2 group(liver fibrosis mice fecal microbiota transplanta-tion from female mice).The model group was induced by high fat and high glucose combined with low dose of CCl4 for 16 weeks.In the FMT group,the bacteria were destroyed by mixed antibacterial solution and then the corresponding fecal microbiota solution was given.The model group was established in the FMT-2 group and the model group at the same time.Liver function(ALT,AST)was detected by biochemical methods;liver inflammation(IL-1α,IL-6)was detected by ELISA;liver pathology was detected by HE and Mas-son methods;the expressions of α-SMA,collagen Ⅰ,estrogen receptor ERα,ERβ and GPER were detected by Western blot;estrogen metabolic enzymes β-glucu-ronidase and β-glucosidase in intestinal flora were de-tected by double antibody sandwich assay;gut microbi-ota was detected by 16S rDNA method;the correlation between estrogen metabolic enzymes,estrogen receptors and disease phenotypes and disease-related differential bacteria was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis.Results Liver function,inflammation and fibrosis in-dices were significantly higher in the model group than those in the control-M group and significantly lower in the FMT-2 group than in the model group;estrogen metabolic enzymes of the intestinal flora significantly increased in the model group compared to the control-M group and significantly decreased in the FMT-2 group compared to the model group;the model group showed a significant increase in ERβ and GPER and a significant decrease in ERα compared to the control-M group,while the FMT-2 group showed a significant de-crease in ERβ and GPER and a significant increase in ERα compared to the model group;the FMT-2 group increased the enterobacterial abundance and diversity reduced by modelling;estrogen metabolic enzymes,es-trogen receptor ERβ and GPER were all positively cor-related with the disease phenotype,while the opposite was true for ERα;estrogen metabolic enzymes were positively correlated with Allobaculum,Ruminococcus and Alistipes,and negatively correlated with Akkerman-sia,Lactobacillus and Prevotella.Conclusions Fecal microbiota transplantation in female mice can alleviate liver fibrosis in male mice,which is related to the im-provement of estrogen metabolism of intestinal flora.
3.Construction of a postoperative home exercise rehabilitation program for patients undergoing liver cancer surgery
Kaitao YU ; Junqiao WANG ; Baobing YIN ; Jie JIA
Chinese Journal of Practical Nursing 2025;41(12):925-933
Objective:To construct a management program for postoperative home exercise rehabilitation in patients undergoing liver cancer surgery, and to provide guidance for improving home exercise capacity after liver cancer surgery.Methods:A mixed study design was used to summarize the best evidence for a postoperative home exercise rehabilitation program for patients with liver cancer based on a literature review from January to June 2022, and the first draft of a postoperative home exercise rehabilitation program for liver cancer patients was formed after discussion in the research team, and discussed in an expert validation meeting, and the first draft of the program was revised and improved according to the expert′s opinion in combination with clinical practice.Results:This study included 14 articles, including 4 clinical guidelines, 3 systematic evaluations, 2 randomized controlled studies, 3 class experimental research and 2 expert consensuses. And 22 pieces of evidence were included in the summary of evidence, including the principle of exercise, supervision of exercise, type of exercise, time and frequency of exercise, and intensity of exercise. A total of 10 experts participated in the expert validation meeting, with 6 males and 4 females, aged (53.31 ± 10.23) years, with an expert authority coefficient of 0.944, and the final home exercise rehabilitation program for postoperative patients with liver cancer was formed to include six aspects, including pre-exercise assessment, warm-up exercise, whole-body exercise, stretching exercise, organizing exercise, and exercise detection and follow-up.Conclusions:The home exercise rehabilitation program for postoperative liver cancer surgery patients is scientific, practical and feasible, and it is a systematic, standardized and safe exercise management model, which can be used for home guidance of postoperative exercise rehabilitation for liver cancer patients.
4.Expert consensus on evaluation index system construction for new traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) from TCM clinical practice in medical institutions.
Li LIU ; Lei ZHANG ; Wei-An YUAN ; Zhong-Qi YANG ; Jun-Hua ZHANG ; Bao-He WANG ; Si-Yuan HU ; Zu-Guang YE ; Ling HAN ; Yue-Hua ZHOU ; Zi-Feng YANG ; Rui GAO ; Ming YANG ; Ting WANG ; Jie-Lai XIA ; Shi-Shan YU ; Xiao-Hui FAN ; Hua HUA ; Jia HE ; Yin LU ; Zhong WANG ; Jin-Hui DOU ; Geng LI ; Yu DONG ; Hao YU ; Li-Ping QU ; Jian-Yuan TANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(12):3474-3482
Medical institutions, with their clinical practice foundation and abundant human use experience data, have become important carriers for the inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) and the "cradles" of the preparation of new TCM. To effectively promote the transformation of new TCM originating from the TCM clinical practice in medical institutions and establish an effective evaluation index system for the transformation of new TCM conforming to the characteristics of TCM, consensus experts adopted the literature research, questionnaire survey, Delphi method, etc. By focusing on the policy and technical evaluation of new TCM originating from the TCM clinical practice in medical institutions, a comprehensive evaluation from the dimensions of drug safety, efficacy, feasibility, and characteristic advantages was conducted, thus forming a comprehensive evaluation system with four primary indicators and 37 secondary indicators. The expert consensus reached aims to encourage medical institutions at all levels to continuously improve the high-quality research and development and transformation of new TCM originating from the TCM clinical practice in medical institutions and targeted at clinical needs, so as to provide a decision-making basis for the preparation, selection, cultivation, and transformation of new TCM for medical institutions, improve the development efficiency of new TCM, and precisely respond to the public medication needs.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/standards*
;
Humans
;
Consensus
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
;
Surveys and Questionnaires
5.CFAP300 loss-of-function variant causes primary ciliary dyskinesia and male infertility via disrupting sperm flagellar assembly and acrosome formation.
Hua-Yan YIN ; Yu-Qi ZHOU ; Qun-Shan SHEN ; Zi-Wen CHEN ; Jie-Ru LI ; Huan WU ; Yun-Xia CAO ; Rui GUO ; Bing SONG
Asian Journal of Andrology 2025;27(6):743-750
Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetically heterogeneous disorder characterized by impaired motility of cilia and flagella. Mutations in cilia- and flagella-associated protein 300 ( CFAP300 ) are associated with human PCD and male infertility; however, the underlying pathogenic mechanisms remain poorly understood. In a consanguineous Chinese family, we identified a homozygous CFAP300 loss-of-function variant (c.304delC) in a proband presenting with classical PCD symptoms and severe sperm abnormalities, including dynein arm deficiency and acrosomal malformation, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Histological analysis revealed multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella in CFAP300 -mutant individual, whereas immunofluorescence demonstrated markedly reduced CFAP300 expression in the spermatozoa of the proband. Furthermore, tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomics showed that the CFAP300 mutation reduced key spermatogenesis proteins (e.g., sperm flagellar 2 [SPEF2], solute carrier family 25 member 31 [SLC25A31], and A-kinase anchoring protein 3 [AKAP3]) and mitochondrial ATP synthesis factors (e.g., SLC25A31, cation channel sperm-associated 3 [CATSPER3]). It also triggered abnormal increases in autophagy-related proteins and signaling mediator phosphorylation. These molecular alterations are likely to contribute to progressive deterioration of sperm ultrastructure and function. Notably, successful pregnancy was achieved via intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using the proband's sperm. Overall, this study expands the known CFAP300 mutational spectrum and offers novel mechanistic insights into its role in spermatogenesis.
Humans
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Male
;
Infertility, Male/pathology*
;
Acrosome/pathology*
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Sperm Tail/pathology*
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Pedigree
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Spermatozoa
;
Adult
;
Loss of Function Mutation
;
Ciliary Motility Disorders/genetics*
;
Spermatogenesis/genetics*
;
Female
6.Genetic screening and follow-up results in 3 001 newborns in the Yunnan region.
Ao-Yu LI ; Bao-Sheng ZHU ; Jin-Man ZHANG ; Ying CHAN ; Jun-Yue LIN ; Jie ZHANG ; Xiao-Yan ZHOU ; Hong CHEN ; Su-Yun LI ; Na FENG ; Yin-Hong ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(6):654-660
OBJECTIVES:
To evaluate the application value of genetic newborn screening (gNBS) in the Yunnan region.
METHODS:
A prospective study was conducted with a random selection of 3 001 newborns born in the Yunnan region from February to December 2021. Traditional newborn screening (tNBS) was used to test biochemical indicators, and targeted next-generation sequencing was employed to screen 159 genes related to 156 diseases. Positive-screened newborns underwent validation and confirmation tests, and confirmed cases received standardized treatment and long-term follow-up.
RESULTS:
Among the 3 001 newborns, 166 (5.53%) were initially positive for genetic screening, and 1 435 (47.82%) were genetic carriers. The top ten genes with the highest variation frequency were GJB2 (21.29%), DUOX2 (7.27%), HBA (6.14%), GALC (3.63%), SLC12A3 (3.33%), HBB (3.03%), G6PD (2.94%), SLC25A13 (2.90%), PAH (2.73%), and UNC13D (2.68%). Among the initially positive newborns from tNBS and gNBS, 33 (1.10%) and 47 (1.57%) cases were confirmed, respectively. A total of 48 (1.60%) cases were confirmed using gNBS+tNBS. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that the areas under the curve for tNBS, gNBS, and gNBS+tNBS in diagnosing diseases were 0.866, 0.982, and 0.968, respectively (P<0.05). DeLong's test showed that the area under the curve for gNBS and gNBS+tNBS was higher than that for tNBS (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
gNBS can expand the range of disease detection, and its combined use with tNBS can significantly shorten diagnosis time, enabling early intervention and treatment.
Humans
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Infant, Newborn
;
Neonatal Screening
;
Genetic Testing
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Female
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Male
;
Follow-Up Studies
;
Prospective Studies
;
China
7.Preparation and Evaluation of Clinical-Grade Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells with High Expression of Hematopoietic Supporting Factors.
Jie TANG ; Pei-Lin LI ; Xiao-Yu ZHANG ; Xiao-Tong LI ; Fu-Hao YU ; Jia-Yi TIAN ; Run-Xiang XU ; Bo-Feng YIN ; Li DING ; Heng ZHU
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(3):892-898
OBJECTIVE:
To prepare clinical-grade human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSC) with high expression of hematopoietic supporting factors and evaluate their stem cell characteristics.
METHODS:
Fetal umbilical cord tissues were collected from healthy postpartum women during full-term cesarean section. Wharton's jelly was mechanically separated and hUC-MSCs were obtained by explant culture method and enzyme digestion method in an animal serum-free culture system with addition of human platelet lysate. The phenotypic characteristics of hUC-MSCs obtained by two methods were detected by flow cytometry. The differences in proliferation ability between the two groups of hUC-MSCs were identified through CCK-8 assay and colony forming unit-fibroblast (CFU-F) assay. The differences in multilineage differentiation potential between the two groups of hUC-MSCs were identified through induction of adipogenic, osteogenic, and chondrogenic differentiation. The mRNA expression levels of hematopoietic supporting factors such as SCF, IL-3, CXCL12, VCAM1 and ANGPT1 in the two groups of hUC-MSCs were identified by real-time fluorescence quantiative PCR(RT-qPCR).
RESULTS:
The results of flow cytometry showed that hUC-MSCs obtained by the two methods both expressed high levels of CD73, CD90 and CD105, while lowly expressed CD31, CD45 and HLA-DR. The results of CCK-8 and CFU-F assay showed that the proliferation ability of hUC-MSCs obtained by explant culture method was better than those obtained by enzyme digestion method. The results of the triple lineage differentiation experiment showed that there was no significant difference in multilineage differentiation potential between the two grous of hUC-MSCs. The results of RT-qPCR showed that the mRNA expression levels of hematopoietic supporting factors SCF, IL-3, CXCL12, VCAM1 and ANGPT1 in hUC-MSCs obtained by explant cultrue method were higher than those obtained by enzyme digestion method.
CONCLUSION
Clinical-grade hUC-MSCs with high expression levels of hematopoietic supporting factors were successfully cultured in an animal serum-free culture system.
Humans
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Mesenchymal Stem Cells/metabolism*
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Umbilical Cord/cytology*
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Cell Differentiation
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Female
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Cell Proliferation
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Cells, Cultured
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Chemokine CXCL12/metabolism*
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Angiopoietin-1/metabolism*
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Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1/metabolism*
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Stem Cell Factor/metabolism*
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Flow Cytometry
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Pregnancy
8.Performance assessment of computed tomographic angiography fractional flow reserve using deep learning: SMART trial summary.
Wei ZHANG ; You-Bing YIN ; Zhi-Qiang WANG ; Ying-Xin ZHAO ; Dong-Mei SHI ; Yong-He GUO ; Zhi-Ming ZHOU ; Zhi-Jian WANG ; Shi-Wei YANG ; De-An JIA ; Li-Xia YANG ; Yu-Jie ZHOU
Journal of Geriatric Cardiology 2025;22(9):793-801
BACKGROUND:
Non-invasive computed tomography angiography (CTA)-based fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) could become a gatekeeper to invasive coronary angiography. Deep learning (DL)-based CT-FFR has shown promise when compared to invasive FFR. To evaluate the performance of a DL-based CT-FFR technique, DeepVessel FFR (DVFFR).
METHODS:
This retrospective study was designed for iScheMia Assessment based on a Retrospective, single-center Trial of CT-FFR (SMART). Patients suspected of stable coronary artery disease (CAD) and undergoing both CTA and invasive FFR examinations were consecutively selected from the Beijing Anzhen Hospital between January 1, 2016 to December 30, 2018. FFR obtained during invasive coronary angiography was used as the reference standard. DVFFR was calculated blindly using a DL-based CT-FFR approach that utilized the complete tree structure of the coronary arteries.
RESULTS:
Three hundred and thirty nine patients (60.5 ±10.0 years and 209 men) and 414 vessels with direct invasive FFR were included in the analysis. At per-vessel level, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of DVFFR were 94.7%, 88.6%, 90.8%, 82.7%, and 96.7%, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) was 0.95 for DVFFR and 0.56 for CTA-based assessment with a significant difference (P < 0.0001). At patient level, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV and NPV of DVFFR were 93.8%, 88.0%, 90.3%, 83.0%, and 95.8%, respectively. The computation for DVFFR was fast with the average time of 22.5 ± 1.9 s.
CONCLUSIONS
The results demonstrate that DVFFR was able to evaluate lesion hemodynamic significance accurately and effectively with improved diagnostic performance over CTA alone. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a critical disease in which coronary artery luminal narrowing may result in myocardial ischemia. Early and effective assessment of myocardial ischemia is essential for optimal treatment planning so as to improve the quality of life and reduce medical costs.
9.Tongmai Hypoglycemic Capsule Attenuates Myocardial Oxidative Stress and Fibrosis in the Development of Diabetic Cardiomyopathy in Rats.
Jie-Qiong ZENG ; Hui-Fen ZHOU ; Hai-Xia DU ; Yu-Jia WU ; Qian-Ping MAO ; Jun-Jun YIN ; Hai-Tong WAN ; Jie-Hong YANG
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(3):251-260
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the effect of Tongmai Hypoglycemic Capsule (THC) on myocardium injury in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) rats.
METHODS:
A total of 24 Sprague Dawley rats were fed for 4 weeks with high-fat and high-sugar food and then injected with streptozotocin intraperitoneally for the establishment of the DCM model. In addition, 6 rats with normal diets were used as the control group. After modeling, 24 DCM rats were randomly divided into the model, L-THC, M-THC, and H-THC groups by computer generated random numbers, and 0, 0.16, 0.32, 0.64 g/kg of THC were adopted respectively by gavage, with 6 rats in each group. After 12 weeks of THC administration, echocardiography, histopathological staining, biochemical analysis, and Western blot were used to detect the changes in myocardial structure, oxidative stress (OS), biochemical indexes, protein expressions of myocardial fibrosis, and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related faactor 2 (Nrf2) element, respectively.
RESULTS:
Treatment with THC significantly decreased cardiac markers such as creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase-MB, etc., (P<0.01); enhanced cardiac function indicators including heart rate, ejection fraction, cardiac output, interventricular septal thickness at diastole, and others (P<0.05 or P<0.01); decreased levels of biochemical indicators such as fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, aspartate transaminase, (P<0.05 or P<0.01); and decreased the levels of myocardial fibrosis markers α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and collagen I (Col-1) protein (P<0.01), improved myocardial morphology and the status of myocardial interstitial fibrosis. THC significantly reduced malondialdehyde levels in model rats (P<0.01), increased levels of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione (P<0.01), and significantly increased the expression of Nrf2, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1, heme oxygenase-1, and superoxide dismutase 2 proteins in the left ventricle of rats (P<0.01).
CONCLUSION
THC activates the Nrf2 signaling pathway and plays a protective role in reducing OS injury and cardiac fibrosis in DCM rats.
Animals
;
Diabetic Cardiomyopathies/physiopathology*
;
Oxidative Stress/drug effects*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Myocardium/metabolism*
;
Fibrosis
;
Male
;
Capsules
;
Hypoglycemic Agents/therapeutic use*
;
NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism*
;
Rats
;
Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/drug therapy*
10.Correlation between estrogen metabolism of intestinal flora and liver fibrosis based on fecal microbiota transplantation
Na PAN ; Xue-ping QI ; Hui-jie SHENG ; Xiao-yu LYU ; Lu-yao GAO ; Hao-yang CHEN ; Yan-yan YIN ; Jia-jia WANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(8):1508-1516
Aim To study the correlation between es-trogen metabolism function of intestinal flora and liver fibrosis disease phenotype and differential intestinal bacteria by fecal microbiota transplantation(FMT).Methods C57BL/6J male mice were divided into normal group(Control-M),liver fibrosis Model group(Model),FMT-1 group(normal mice fecal microbiota transplantation from liver fibrosis mice),and FMT-2 group(liver fibrosis mice fecal microbiota transplanta-tion from female mice).The model group was induced by high fat and high glucose combined with low dose of CCl4 for 16 weeks.In the FMT group,the bacteria were destroyed by mixed antibacterial solution and then the corresponding fecal microbiota solution was given.The model group was established in the FMT-2 group and the model group at the same time.Liver function(ALT,AST)was detected by biochemical methods;liver inflammation(IL-1α,IL-6)was detected by ELISA;liver pathology was detected by HE and Mas-son methods;the expressions of α-SMA,collagen Ⅰ,estrogen receptor ERα,ERβ and GPER were detected by Western blot;estrogen metabolic enzymes β-glucu-ronidase and β-glucosidase in intestinal flora were de-tected by double antibody sandwich assay;gut microbi-ota was detected by 16S rDNA method;the correlation between estrogen metabolic enzymes,estrogen receptors and disease phenotypes and disease-related differential bacteria was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis.Results Liver function,inflammation and fibrosis in-dices were significantly higher in the model group than those in the control-M group and significantly lower in the FMT-2 group than in the model group;estrogen metabolic enzymes of the intestinal flora significantly increased in the model group compared to the control-M group and significantly decreased in the FMT-2 group compared to the model group;the model group showed a significant increase in ERβ and GPER and a significant decrease in ERα compared to the control-M group,while the FMT-2 group showed a significant de-crease in ERβ and GPER and a significant increase in ERα compared to the model group;the FMT-2 group increased the enterobacterial abundance and diversity reduced by modelling;estrogen metabolic enzymes,es-trogen receptor ERβ and GPER were all positively cor-related with the disease phenotype,while the opposite was true for ERα;estrogen metabolic enzymes were positively correlated with Allobaculum,Ruminococcus and Alistipes,and negatively correlated with Akkerman-sia,Lactobacillus and Prevotella.Conclusions Fecal microbiota transplantation in female mice can alleviate liver fibrosis in male mice,which is related to the im-provement of estrogen metabolism of intestinal flora.

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