1.PCBP1-mediated regulation of iron homeostasis suppresses ferroptosis against cadmium-induced neurotoxicity in mouse neuroblastoma cells
Sheng JIE ; Rui TIAN ; Yuchen QU ; Li TIAN ; Jia XIE ; Mengyan CHEN ; Mindi HE ; Zhengping YU ; Huifeng PI ; Ping DENG
Journal of Army Medical University 2025;47(19):2315-2326
Objective To investigate the role of poly(rC)-binding protein 1(PCBP1)in cadmium(Cd)-induced ferroptosis in mouse neuroblastoma Neuro-2a(N2A)cells.Methods N2A cells were exposed to a concentration gradient of CdCl?(0,1,2,4 μmol/L)for 72 h.Cell viability was assessed by trypan blue staining.Western blotting was employed to detect the expression of ferroptosis-related proteins(GPX4,HMOX1,ACSL4)and PCBP1.Intracellular Fe2? level and lipid peroxidation were detected using FerroOrange and BODIPY581/591 C11 probes,respectively.Ferrostatin-1(Fer-1),a ferroptosis inhibitor,was applied to confirm the critical role of ferroptosis in Cd-induced cytotoxicity.Molecular docking was performed to elucidate the interaction between PCBP1 and ferritin,as well as the binding sites of Cd2?.PCBP1 overexpression plasmid was further constructed for functional validation.Results Cd exposure suppressed cell viability in N2A cells in a dose-dependent manner(P<0.01),significantly down-regulated GPX4 expression(P<0.05),up-regulated HMOX1 expression(P<0.01),and induced Fe2? overload and lipid peroxidation(P<0.01).Molecular docking revealed that Cd2? directly bound to the KH2 domain of PCBP1 and then co-localized on the outer surface of ferritin heavy chain.Overexpression of PCBP1 markedly reversed Cd-induced Fe2? accumulation,GPX4 down-regulation,lipid peroxidation,and cell death.Conclusion Cd exposure disrupts PCBP1-mediated iron homeostasis via transcriptional suppression and competitive displacement of metal ions,and then synergistically drives Fe2? overload-triggered ferroptosis cascades,ultimately leading to neurotoxicity.Targeting PCBP1-mediated iron homeostasis can effectively mitigate Cd-induced neurotoxicity,and may serve as a novel therapeutic strategy.
2.Impact of Mild-to-Moderate Frailty on the Long-term Prognosis of Hospitalized Elderly Patients with T2DM: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Wenyu PENG ; Yuchen ZHOU ; Lina ZHOU ; Xuan QU ; Ning ZHANG ; Lin KANG
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;17(1):148-155
To investigate the impact of mild-to-moderate frailty on the long-term prognosis of hospitalized elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM). A retrospective cohort study was designed, which contains T2DM patients aged ≥65 years and hospitalized in the Department of Geriatrics at Peking Union Medical College Hospital(PUMCH) from 2014 to 2022. Frailty status of those T2DM patients was assessed using the Clinical Frailty Scale(CFS), and the data of comorbidities, functional status, nutritional indices, and geriatric syndromes were collected. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality, with secondary endpoints including rehospitalization rate and severe disability. Cox proportional hazards regression models were employed to analyze the association between mild-to-moderate frailty and outcomes. A total of 367 elderly T2DM patients were enrolled, comprising 164 males(44.7%) and 203 females(55.3%), with an age ranging from 65 to 93 years(median age 74 years). According to the CFS assessment, 115 patients(31.3%) were identified as mild-to-moderate frailty(including 56 with mild frailty and 59 with moderate frailty). During a follow-up period of 2.3-10.3 years(median 5.6 years), the frail group exhibited significantly higher rates of severe disability, unscheduled rehospitalization, and all-cause mortality compared to the non-frail group. Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that mild-to-moderate frailty was an independent risk factor for severe disability( The presence of mild-to-moderate frailty significantly increases the risk of long-term adverse outcomes. Clinical practice is recommended to strengthen frailty screening and comprehensive intervention for elderly T2DM patients to improve their quality of life and clinical outcomes.
3.Analysis of Oral Absorption and Dietary Effects of Rosuvastatin Based on Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Model
Yewen SUN ; Yuchen QU ; Jie PAN ; Yunli YU
Chinese Journal of Modern Applied Pharmacy 2024;41(8):1021-1026
OBJECTIVE
To construct physiologically based pharmacokinetic model(PBPK) model of rosuvastatin in fasting state to predict its absorption in postprandial state and explore its possible food effect mechanism. At the same time, reasonable dietary suggestions were put forward for hyperlipidemia patients taking statins to improve the absorption of BCS Ⅲ statins.
METHODS
According to the literature and existing research, the physicochemical parameters, biopharmaceutical parameters and pharmacokinetic parameters of rosuvastatin modeling were obtained. The PBPK prediction model of rosuvastatin postprandial administration was established by GastroPlusTM software, and the model was verified by the measured blood concentration data to determine whether the drug absorption results of rosuvastatin postprandial can be accurately predicted, and the parameter sensitivity analysis was carried out.
RESULTS
The PBPK model of rosuvastatin was constructed to predict its postprandial absorption. The average folding error and absolute average folding error of the model prediction data and the measured data were calculated to be less than 2, and the fitting correlation coefficient combined with model verification showed that the fitting was good. At the same time, parameter sensitivity analysis showed that high-calorie diet, drug LogD and permeability had a greater impact on the absorption of rosuvastatin.
CONCLUSION
The established model can better predict the absorption of rosuvastatin after meals. Based on the results of parameter sensitivity analysis, reasonable dietary recommendations are proposed for hyperlipidemia patients taking BCSⅢ statins, including appropriately increasing the proportion of protein in the diet, reducing the proportion of fat and water-soluble dietary fiber, etc., to improve the intestinal absorption of BCSⅢ statins.
4.Study on environmental residues detection and cleaning method of 15 cytotoxic antineoplastic drugs in PIVAS of our hospital
Zhou GENG ; Yang WANG ; Yuchen QU ; Hao CHEN ; Wenxiu LIU ; Wen FEI ; Jie PAN
China Pharmacy 2023;34(2):217-222
OBJECTIVE To provide a method to reduce environmental residues for pharmacy intravenous admixture service (PIVAS), and ensure the occupational health of medical staff. METHODS The residues of 15 cytotoxic antineoplastic drugs such as gemcitabine were detected by UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-HRMS. The cleaning process was optimized with the residual quantity as the index. Nitrogen blowing method was used for alcohol volatilization experiment. CCK-8 assay was used to detect the effect of chlorine-containing disinfectant on the toxicity of cytotoxic antitumor drugs. RESULTS The linear range of 15 cytotoxic antineoplastic drugs such as gemcitabine were 0.5-1 000 ng/mL. RSDs of intra-day and intra-day precision were no higher than 20.00%. Six drugs including gemcitabine, isocyclophosphamide and cyclophosphamide were detected in the PIVAS environment of our hospital, and the residue of cyclophosphamide was relatively high. The optimal cleaning procedure was cleaning once with water + cleaning once with 1 000 mg/L chlorine-containing disinfectant + cleaning once with 75% alcohol, wiping with dry gauze method. The results of alcohol volatilization test showed that there was no significant difference in drug residues between control group and 75% alcohol group (P>0.05). The results of CCK-8 test showed that compared with control group, the survival rates of the cells treated with 15 cytotoxic antineoplastic drugs were decreased significantly (P<0.01); the survival rates of the cells treated with 15 cytotoxic antineoplastic drugs+chlorine-containing disinfectant were significantly higher than those treated with 15 cytotoxic antineoplastic drugs (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS A method for the simultaneous determination for residues of 15 cytotoxic antineoplastic drugs such as gemcitabine in PIVAS is successfully established; the optimal cleaning procedure can significantly reduce the residues of drugs, the use of chlorine- containing disinfectant can significantly reduce the toxicity of drug, and the residual drugs will not cause secondary contamination of the operating area with alcohol volatilization.
5.Study on population pharmacokinetics of dabigatran in elderly patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation
Qinhong ZHAO ; Yuchen QU ; Yezhou YANG ; Zhu SHEN ; Hong TAO ; Zhu ZHU
China Pharmacy 2023;34(14):1734-1738
OBJECTIVE To analyze influential factors for dabigatran exposure in elderly patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. METHODS The clinical information of 75 elderly patients diagnosed with non-valvular atrial fibrillation was collected from our hospital in Jan. 2019-Jun. 2020. One or two steady-state blood drug concentration samples were collected from each patient. NONMEM 7.2.0 software was used to establish a population pharmacokinetics model of dabigatran; the effects of different covariates on the apparent clearance of dabigatran were investigated, and the final model was verified by goodness of fit and Bootstrap method; NONMEM 7.2.0 software was used to analyze the drug exposure of ordinary elderly patients and elderly patients after taking dabigatran ester in different disease states. RESULTS Totally 122 blood concentration samples of dabigatran were collected. Advanced age, creatinine clearance and history of chronic heart failure were screened out as three significant covariates that influenced the clearance of dabigatran in elderly patients. The exposure of population with advanced age increased by about 50% compared with the general elderly, the exposure of population with history of chronic heart failure increased by nearly 30% compared with population without, and the exposure of population with moderate and severe renal injury increased by about 30% and 80% compared with mild. CONCLUSIONS Advanced age, renal injury and history of chronic heart failure are influential factors for elevated systemic exposure of dabigatran.
6.Discussion on Quality Standards of Traditional Chinese Medicine Preparations Containing Moschus or Bovis Calculus in 2020 Edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia
Linyue PENG-HU ; Yuchen XU ; Xueling HU ; Dongge YIN ; Xiaoxu DONG ; Xingbin YIN ; Changhai QU ; Jian NI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2022;28(23):205-213
As precious Chinese medicinal materials, Moschus and Bovis Calculus are often used in the treatment of acute and severe patients. However, due to their scarce sources and high prices, wild animal resources are in urgent need of protection, natural Moschus and Bovis Calculus can no longer meet the needs of preparation production. The use of substitutes such as Moschus Artifactus, Bovis Calculus Artifactus and Bovis Calculus Sativus has alleviated the shortage of original medicinal materials to some extent, and has been widely used in the production and use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparations. According to statistics, the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia contains 75 TCM preparations containing Moschus and 95 preparations containing Bovis Calculus, but in the quality standards of these 134 TCM preparations, the difference between natural medicinal materials and their substitutes is not very obvious, and some quality control projects are relatively simple. Based on this, the author intends to sort out the quality standards of TCM preparations containing Moschus or Bovis Calculus in the 2020 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia (volume Ⅰ), including the type, drug form, prescription dosage, maximum daily (time) dosage and the quality control items of Moschus and Bovis Calculus in the preparation, in order to explore the rationality of the quality standard of TCM preparations containing Moschus or Bovis Calculus, and to give some suggestions on standardizing the use types of Moschus and Bovis Calculus, improving the quality control items of Moschus and Bovis Calculus in TCM preparations combining modern research achievements and advanced technology.
7.Genome-wide CRISPR screen identifies synthetic lethality between DOCK1 inhibition and metformin in liver cancer.
Junru FENG ; Hui LU ; Wenhao MA ; Wenjing TIAN ; Zhuan LU ; Hongying YANG ; Yongping CAI ; Pengfei CAI ; Yuchen SUN ; Zilong ZHOU ; Jiaqian FENG ; Jiazhong DENG ; Ying SHU ; Kun QU ; Weidong JIA ; Ping GAO ; Huafeng ZHANG
Protein & Cell 2022;13(11):825-841
Metformin is currently a strong candidate anti-tumor agent in multiple cancers. However, its anti-tumor effectiveness varies among different cancers or subpopulations, potentially due to tumor heterogeneity. It thus remains unclear which hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patient subpopulation(s) can benefit from metformin treatment. Here, through a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9-based knockout screen, we find that DOCK1 levels determine the anti-tumor effects of metformin and that DOCK1 is a synthetic lethal target of metformin in HCC. Mechanistically, metformin promotes DOCK1 phosphorylation, which activates RAC1 to facilitate cell survival, leading to metformin resistance. The DOCK1-selective inhibitor, TBOPP, potentiates anti-tumor activity by metformin in vitro in liver cancer cell lines and patient-derived HCC organoids, and in vivo in xenografted liver cancer cells and immunocompetent mouse liver cancer models. Notably, metformin improves overall survival of HCC patients with low DOCK1 levels but not among patients with high DOCK1 expression. This study shows that metformin effectiveness depends on DOCK1 levels and that combining metformin with DOCK1 inhibition may provide a promising personalized therapeutic strategy for metformin-resistant HCC patients.
Animals
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Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use*
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Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism*
;
Cell Line, Tumor
;
Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats
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Genome
;
Humans
;
Liver Neoplasms/metabolism*
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Metformin/therapeutic use*
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Mice
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Phosphorylation
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Synthetic Lethal Mutations
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Transcription Factors/metabolism*
;
rac GTP-Binding Proteins/metabolism*
8.Research advances on the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis
Zhi ZHENG ; Yuanxu QU ; Yixuan DING ; Wentong MEI ; Yuchen JIA ; Yulin GUO ; Feng CAO ; Fei LI
Chinese Journal of Hepatobiliary Surgery 2021;27(2):152-155
Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disease of the pancreas. Its pathogenesis is not only related to abnormal activation of trypsinogen, but also related to calcium overload, mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum stress. However, the mechanism has not been fully elucidated and needs to be further studied. Currently, there is no effective treatment for AP. It is difficult to prevent the loss of pancreatic function. An in-depth understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of AP may help to identify the potential therapeutic targets. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to review recent advances in the mechanism of AP in order to provide more research direction for treatment.
9.Effects of stachyine on apoptosis in an Aβ-induced PC12 cell model of Alzheimer's disease.
Liangchao QU ; Jiajia HUANG ; Mingda FAN ; Yuchen HAO ; Jinxiu YAN
Journal of Zhejiang University. Medical sciences 2020;40(7):1023-1028
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the effects of stachydrine (STA) on apoptosis of Aβ-induced PC12 cells mimicking Alzheimer's disease and explore the mechanisms.
METHODS:
The differential genes of STA were analyzed based on GSE85871 data, and the target genes of STA were identified using STITCH database. PC12 cells were treated with Aβ to establish a cell model of Alzheimer's disease, and the changes in cell viability and cell cycle in response to STA treatment were assessed using MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the relevant gene or protein expressions in the treated cells.
RESULTS:
GSE85871 data showed 37 up-regulated genes and 48 down-regulated genes in cells following treatment with STA. Analysis of the data from the STITCH database indicated that RPS8 and EED were the target genes of STA. Treatment of PC12 cells with Aβ significantly lowered the cell viability ( < 0.05) and the expressions of RPS8 and EED at both the mRNA and protein levels ( < 0.05), and obviously inhibited the expression of apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2 and p53 ( < 0.05). STA treatment of the cells significantly reversed the effect of Aβ and induced cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase, causing also significantly increases in the expression levels of RPS8, EED, Bcl-2 and p53 ( < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
STA plays an important role in inhibiting the apoptosis of PC12 cells induced by Aβ possibly by regulating RPS8 and EED expression to promote the expressions of Bcl-2 and p53.
Alzheimer Disease
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Animals
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Apoptosis
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drug effects
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Cell Survival
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drug effects
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Gene Expression Regulation
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drug effects
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Models, Biological
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PC12 Cells
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Proline
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analogs & derivatives
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pharmacology
;
Rats
10.Effects of stachyine on apoptosis in an Aβ-induced PC12 cell model of Alzheimer's disease.
Liangchao QU ; Jiajia HUANG ; Mingda FAN ; Yuchen HAO ; Jinxiu YAN
Journal of Southern Medical University 2020;40(7):1023-1028
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the effects of stachydrine (STA) on apoptosis of Aβ-induced PC12 cells mimicking Alzheimer's disease and explore the mechanisms.
METHODS:
The differential genes of STA were analyzed based on GSE85871 data, and the target genes of STA were identified using STITCH database. PC12 cells were treated with Aβ to establish a cell model of Alzheimer's disease, and the changes in cell viability and cell cycle in response to STA treatment were assessed using MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the relevant gene or protein expressions in the treated cells.
RESULTS:
GSE85871 data showed 37 up-regulated genes and 48 down-regulated genes in cells following treatment with STA. Analysis of the data from the STITCH database indicated that RPS8 and EED were the target genes of STA. Treatment of PC12 cells with Aβ significantly lowered the cell viability ( < 0.05) and the expressions of RPS8 and EED at both the mRNA and protein levels ( < 0.05), and obviously inhibited the expression of apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2 and p53 ( < 0.05). STA treatment of the cells significantly reversed the effect of Aβ and induced cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase, causing also significantly increases in the expression levels of RPS8, EED, Bcl-2 and p53 ( < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
STA plays an important role in inhibiting the apoptosis of PC12 cells induced by Aβ possibly by regulating RPS8 and EED expression to promote the expressions of Bcl-2 and p53.
Alzheimer Disease
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Amyloid beta-Peptides
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Animals
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Apoptosis
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Cell Survival
;
PC12 Cells
;
Peptide Fragments
;
Rats


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