1.The specific immune response of dendritic cell vaccine pulsed with ALDH1A1 mRNA on nasopharyngeal carcinoma stem cells in vitro
XIE Yunqing ; XU Yangmei ; CHEN Shanshan ; LIN Xiaowei ; LIU Qinying
Chinese Journal of Cancer Biotherapy 2026;33(5):486-493
[摘 要] 目的:探讨乙醛脱氢酶1A1(ALDH1A1)mRNA负载树突状细胞(DC)疫苗体外诱导抗鼻咽癌干细胞免疫反应的能力。方法:体外转录ALDH1A1 mRNA并电转染至人外周血DC,构建ALDH1A1-DC疫苗,转染EGFP mRNA为对照。流式细胞术检测DC表型、淋巴细胞亚群、细胞毒性T 淋巴细胞(CTL)增殖和细胞因子分泌。分选ALDH+和ALDH- C666-1细胞,检测干细胞标志物(CD24、CD133)和干性基因(OCT4、SOX2、Nanog)的表达水平,采用CCK-8法评估ALDH1A1-DC疫苗诱导的特异性免疫杀伤能力。结果:EGFP-DC荧光表达率显著高于未转染DC(P < 0.000 1),ALDH1A1-DC抗原提呈分子HLA-ABC、共刺激分子CD86、CD40和CCR7表达与未转染DC相比显著增强(P = 0.001 3、P = 0.005 9、P = 0.000 4及P = 0.001 9)。与单独淋巴细胞组(T)及空载DC诱导的淋巴细胞组(DC-T)相比,ALDH1A1-DC诱导的CTL比例最高(均P < 0.000 1),分裂指数最高(P = 0.000 2、P = 0.000 3),且CD8+CD69+(P = 0.000 5、P < 0.000 1)和CD8+ IFN-γ+(P = 0.012 6、P = 0.001 9)细胞亚群比例均显著提高。ALDH1A1-DC-T细胞对ALDH+C666-1悬浮细胞球的杀伤效果显著优于ALDH-细胞球(P = 0.001 0),且与其他各组淋巴细胞相比表现出较强的抗ALDH+C666-1悬浮细胞球的免疫效应(P = 0.001 0,P < 0.000 1)。然而,HLA-ABC阻断后其对ALDH+C666-1细胞的特异性杀伤效应显著降低(P < 0.000 1)。结论:mRNA转染DC后可翻译蛋白并促进DC成熟,增强其诱导特异性CTL免疫反应的能力。
2.Effect of C1q tumor necrosis factor-related protein 3 on reprogramming of cardiac fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocyte-like cells by Sendai virus vector overexpressing Gata4,Mef2c,and Tbx5
Yanbin SONG ; Yunqing ZHANG ; Huiyu LIU ; Junming CHEN
Chinese Journal of Comparative Medicine 2025;35(8):14-28
Objective To investigate the efficiency and mechanism of C1q tumor necrosis factor-related protein 3(CTRP3)on reprogramming of cardiac fibroblasts(CFs)into induced cardiomyocyte-like cells(iCMs)by Sendai virus(SeV)vector overexpressing Gata4,Mef2c and Tbx5(SeVGMT).Methods CFs were divided into Control,NC-Lv,CTRP3-Lv,NC-sh,and CTRP3-sh groups.NC-Lv,CTRP3-Lv,NC-sh,and CTRP3-sh were transfected into CFs using Lipofectamine 3000 reagent for 48 hours.Lipofectamine 3000 reagent was then mixed with SeVGMT and incubated at room temperature for 48 hours,the culture medium was then replaced,and cells were cultured for 21 days.Cell morphology was observed under a microscope at 0,3,7,14,and 21 days.Expression levels of the myocardial-specific proteins α-myosin heavy chain(α-MHC),α-actin,cardiac troponin T(cTnT),connexin 43(Cx43),cardiac muscle α-actin(Actc1),and myosin heavy chain 6(Myh6)were detected at different time points by immunofluorescence,quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction,and Western blot,and the proportions of beating cells at different time points were calculated.Results The relative fluorescence intensity and mRNA and protein levels of α-MHC,α-actin,cTnT,Cx43,Actc1,and Myh6 in CFs in each group increased with increasing culture time(P<0.05),with significantly higher expression levels of myocardial-specific proteins at 14 days of culture than at 7 days(P<0.05).The relative fluorescence intensities and mRNA and protein levels of α-MHC,α-actin,cTnT,Cx43,Actc1,and Myh6 in CFs at 3,7,14,and 21 days of culture were significantly increased in the CTRP3-Lv group compared with the NC-Lv group(P<0.05),but were significantly decreased in CFs in the CTRP3-sh group compared with the NC-sh group(P<0.05).Beating cells appeared in CFs in each group at 7 days of culture.The proportion of beating cells in each group increased with increasing culture time(P<0.05),and the proportion was significantly higher at 14 days than at 7 days(P<0.05).The proportion of beating cells among CFs was increased in the CTRP3-Lv group at 7,14,and 21 days of culture compared with the NC-Lv group(P<0.05),while the proportion of beating cells in the CTRP3-sh group was decreased compared with the NC-sh group(P<0.05).Conclusions CTRP3 can enhance SeVGMT reprogramming of CFs into iCMs.
3.Insular cortex sends excitatory projections to GABAergic neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarii in rats
Yingbiao CHEN ; Zhen SHI ; Junbin YIN ; Yang BAI ; Qitong FAN ; Yunqing LI
Chinese Journal of Neuroanatomy 2025;41(4):411-421
Objective:To anatomically and phenotypically characterize the insular cortex(IC)-nucleus tractus soli-tarii(NTS)neural pathway.Methods:Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three experimental cohorts for neural circuit tracing.Anterograde labeling was achieved by injecting anterograde self-complementary adeno-associated viruses(scAAVs)into the IC.Retrograde tracing involved NTS injections of either retrograde scAAVs or FluoroGold(FG),combined with immunofluorescence histochemical staining to identify IC-originating projection neurons.For postsynaptic neurochemical phenotype characterization,IC was injected with AAV2/1-CaMKII-Cre,while a mixture of AAV2/9-Syn-DIO-mCherry and AAV2/9-VGAT1-EGFP was injected into the NTS.The rats were allowed to survive for one week following scAAVs or FG injection or four weeks after recombinase-dependent systems injection.Then the rats were sacrificed,and serial brain sections were prepared for immunofluorescence histochemical staining(brain section containing FG)and subsequent fluorescence/confocal microscopic analysis.Results:(1)Anterograde viral tracing re-vealed dense axonal terminals from the IC projecting to the medial subnucleus of the NTS,while retrograde tracing re-vealed that IC neurons projecting to the NTS were predominantly localized within the dysgranular layer;(2)IC-NTS projection neurons were exclusive glutamatergic(100%,n=3);(3)NTS neurons receiving IC inputs were mainly lo-calized in the medial subnucleus,and were predominantly GABAergic(79.8±3.2%,n=3).Conclusion:The pres-ent results indicate that a descending pathway from excitatory neurons of the IC terminates onto inhibitory neurons of the NTS,which might represent a potential neuromodulatory target for visceral pain disorders.
4.Effect of C1q tumor necrosis factor-related protein 3 on reprogramming of cardiac fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocyte-like cells by Sendai virus vector overexpressing Gata4,Mef2c,and Tbx5
Yanbin SONG ; Yunqing ZHANG ; Huiyu LIU ; Junming CHEN
Chinese Journal of Comparative Medicine 2025;35(8):14-28
Objective To investigate the efficiency and mechanism of C1q tumor necrosis factor-related protein 3(CTRP3)on reprogramming of cardiac fibroblasts(CFs)into induced cardiomyocyte-like cells(iCMs)by Sendai virus(SeV)vector overexpressing Gata4,Mef2c and Tbx5(SeVGMT).Methods CFs were divided into Control,NC-Lv,CTRP3-Lv,NC-sh,and CTRP3-sh groups.NC-Lv,CTRP3-Lv,NC-sh,and CTRP3-sh were transfected into CFs using Lipofectamine 3000 reagent for 48 hours.Lipofectamine 3000 reagent was then mixed with SeVGMT and incubated at room temperature for 48 hours,the culture medium was then replaced,and cells were cultured for 21 days.Cell morphology was observed under a microscope at 0,3,7,14,and 21 days.Expression levels of the myocardial-specific proteins α-myosin heavy chain(α-MHC),α-actin,cardiac troponin T(cTnT),connexin 43(Cx43),cardiac muscle α-actin(Actc1),and myosin heavy chain 6(Myh6)were detected at different time points by immunofluorescence,quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction,and Western blot,and the proportions of beating cells at different time points were calculated.Results The relative fluorescence intensity and mRNA and protein levels of α-MHC,α-actin,cTnT,Cx43,Actc1,and Myh6 in CFs in each group increased with increasing culture time(P<0.05),with significantly higher expression levels of myocardial-specific proteins at 14 days of culture than at 7 days(P<0.05).The relative fluorescence intensities and mRNA and protein levels of α-MHC,α-actin,cTnT,Cx43,Actc1,and Myh6 in CFs at 3,7,14,and 21 days of culture were significantly increased in the CTRP3-Lv group compared with the NC-Lv group(P<0.05),but were significantly decreased in CFs in the CTRP3-sh group compared with the NC-sh group(P<0.05).Beating cells appeared in CFs in each group at 7 days of culture.The proportion of beating cells in each group increased with increasing culture time(P<0.05),and the proportion was significantly higher at 14 days than at 7 days(P<0.05).The proportion of beating cells among CFs was increased in the CTRP3-Lv group at 7,14,and 21 days of culture compared with the NC-Lv group(P<0.05),while the proportion of beating cells in the CTRP3-sh group was decreased compared with the NC-sh group(P<0.05).Conclusions CTRP3 can enhance SeVGMT reprogramming of CFs into iCMs.
5.Effects of electroacupuncture for muscle regeneration and the secretion of exosomes around acupoints in a model of erector spinae muscle injury
Xiaolin XU ; Ying CHEN ; Zongze LYU ; Zhibin HUANG ; Dilin WANG ; Wenmin LI ; Miao XIE ; Yunqing GU ; Hui WANG ; Tong LIU
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(7):1000-1010
Objective To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture for the restoration of muscle regeneration and the secretion of exosomes around acupoints in a model of erector spinae muscle injury.Methods Forty SPF-grade male SD rats were randomly divided into blank group,model group,electroacupuncture group,and electroacupuncture+exosome inhibitor group,with 10 rats per group.Except for the blank group,the erector spinae muscle injury models were established in other groups by intramuscular injection of 0.5%bupivacaine.The blank control group received no treatment,whereas the rats in the electroacupuncture and electroacupuncture+exosome inhibitor groups were treated with electroacupuncture at"Weizhong"(BL40)and"Shenshu"(BL23)acupoints,respectively,stimulation was applied daily for 7 consecutive days,with each session lasting 20 minutes.The parameters used were a sparse-dense wave waveform,a frequency of 2/10 Hz,and a current intensity of 1 mA.The exosome inhibitor GW4869(3 g/L,50 μL per acupoint)was injected 1 h before each electroacupuncture in the electroacupuncture+exosome inhibitor group.After intervention,the erector spinae muscles were collected and observed by HE and Masson staining for morphological changes.The expression of paired box gene 7(Pax7)and recombinant myogenic differentiation(MyoD)was detected by immunohistochemistry,while the expression of myogenin(MyoG)and myosin heavy chain(MyHC)proteins was detected by western blotting.The serum exosomes of rats in each group were extracted and identified by transmission electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis,and the expression of Alix,differentiation cluster 63(CD63),and tumor susceptibility gene 101(TSG101)proteins were detected by Western blotting.Results Compared with the blank group,the model group,the electroacupuncture group,and the electroacupuncture+exosome inhibitor group exhibited spinae muscle fiber fragmentation,degeneration,necrosis,and inflammatory cell infiltration in HE staining.The result of Masson staining showed that collagen fiber hyperplasia was increased.The model group showed increased expression of MyoD,Pax7,MyoG,MyHC,and CD63,while TSG101 expression was downregulated(P<0.05).In the electroacupuncture group,the expression of MyoD,Pax7,Alix,and TSG101 was elevated(P<0.05),and the expression of MyHC and CD63 was decreased(P<0.05).The electroacupuncture+exosome inhibitor group displayed increased expression of MyHC,Alix,and TSG101(P<0.05),and the expression of CD63 was decreased(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the electroacupuncture group and the electroacupuncture+exosome inhibitor group showed reduced muscle fiber degeneration,necrotic areas,and inflammatory cell infiltration as observed in HE staining,along with decreased collagen fiber hyperplasia in Masson staining.Specifically,the electroacupuncture group demonstrated increased expression of MyoD,Pax7,MyoG,Alix,and TSG101(P<0.05),and the expression of CD63 was decreased(P<0.05).The electroacupuncture+exosome inhibitor group displayed downregulated expression of Pax7,MyoG,MyHC,and CD63(P<0.05),and the expression of Alix and TSG101 was regulated(P<0.05).Compared with the electroacupuncture+exosome inhibitor group,the electroacupuncture group exhibited less muscle fiber degeneration and necrosis,reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in HE staining,and decreased stained collagen fibers in Masson staining.The electroacupuncture group showed increased expression of MyoD,Pax7,MyoG,MyHC,Alix,and CD63(P<0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture can up-regulate the expression of Pax7 and MyoD,and promote the regeneration of erector spinae muscles,which may be related to stimulating the secretion of exosomes around the acupoint.Exosomes may be an important mediator for the efficacy of acupuncture.
6.Age-period-cohort analysis on disease burden of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in women aged 15-49 years in China, 1990-2021
Yunqing YANG ; Xingdong YE ; Quan LUO ; Wanping HE ; Chen MAO
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2025;46(7):1168-1174
Objective:To analyze the incidence rate and disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rate of Chlamydia trachomatis ( C. trachomatis) infection in women aged 15-49 years in China from 1990 to 2021, identify the vulnerable populations, and provide evidence for the prevention and control of C. trachomatis infection. Methods:The data from Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 were used to analyze the incidence rate and DALY rate of C. trachomatis infection in women aged 15-49 years in China from 1990 to 2021 by using Joinpoint regression model. The age-period-cohort analysis method was used to decompose the age effect, period effect and cohort effect of incidence rate and DALY rate of C. trachomatis infection. Results:From 1990 to 2021, the incidence rate of C. trachomatis infection increased from 5 892.02/100 000 in 1990 to 7 402.23/100 000 in 2021 in women aged 15-49 years in China. The DALY rate increased from 1.92/100 000 person-years in 1990 to 2.00/100 000 person-years in 2021. Joinpoint regression showed that, from 1990 to 2021, the annual incidence of C. trachomatis infection in Chinese women age aged 15-49 years increased by 0.74% [average annual percent change (AAPC) =0.74%, 95% CI: 0.67%-0.81%, t=21.94, P<0.001] and the annual average DALY rate increased by 0.11% (AAPC=0.11%, 95% CI: -0.09%-0.30%, t=1.06, P=0.287). Age-period-cohort model analyses showed that women aged 30-34 years were at high risk to be infected with C. trachomatis and women aged 40-44 years were at high risk to have high DALY. The period effect showed that the risk for C. trachomatis infection began to increase in 1990, peaked during 2000-2004, then gradually decreased. During 2015-2019, the infection risk increased again, while the risk for high DALY showed a decreasing trend. The cohort effect showed that the risks for C. trachomatis infection and DALY were lower in later birth cohorts. Conclusions:From 1990 to 2021, the incidence rate and DALY rate of C. trachomatis infection showed fluctuations in women aged 15-49 years in China. It is necessary to pay close attention to the prevention and control of C. trachomatis infection in women aged 30-34 years.
7.Correction to: A Virtual Reality Platform for Context-Dependent Cognitive Research in Rodents.
Xue-Tong QU ; Jin-Ni WU ; Yunqing WEN ; Long CHEN ; Shi-Lei LV ; Li LIU ; Li-Jie ZHAN ; Tian-Yi LIU ; Hua HE ; Yu LIU ; Chun XU
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(5):932-932
8.Effects of electroacupuncture for muscle regeneration and the secretion of exosomes around acupoints in a model of erector spinae muscle injury
Xiaolin XU ; Ying CHEN ; Zongze LYU ; Zhibin HUANG ; Dilin WANG ; Wenmin LI ; Miao XIE ; Yunqing GU ; Hui WANG ; Tong LIU
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(7):1000-1010
Objective To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture for the restoration of muscle regeneration and the secretion of exosomes around acupoints in a model of erector spinae muscle injury.Methods Forty SPF-grade male SD rats were randomly divided into blank group,model group,electroacupuncture group,and electroacupuncture+exosome inhibitor group,with 10 rats per group.Except for the blank group,the erector spinae muscle injury models were established in other groups by intramuscular injection of 0.5%bupivacaine.The blank control group received no treatment,whereas the rats in the electroacupuncture and electroacupuncture+exosome inhibitor groups were treated with electroacupuncture at"Weizhong"(BL40)and"Shenshu"(BL23)acupoints,respectively,stimulation was applied daily for 7 consecutive days,with each session lasting 20 minutes.The parameters used were a sparse-dense wave waveform,a frequency of 2/10 Hz,and a current intensity of 1 mA.The exosome inhibitor GW4869(3 g/L,50 μL per acupoint)was injected 1 h before each electroacupuncture in the electroacupuncture+exosome inhibitor group.After intervention,the erector spinae muscles were collected and observed by HE and Masson staining for morphological changes.The expression of paired box gene 7(Pax7)and recombinant myogenic differentiation(MyoD)was detected by immunohistochemistry,while the expression of myogenin(MyoG)and myosin heavy chain(MyHC)proteins was detected by western blotting.The serum exosomes of rats in each group were extracted and identified by transmission electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis,and the expression of Alix,differentiation cluster 63(CD63),and tumor susceptibility gene 101(TSG101)proteins were detected by Western blotting.Results Compared with the blank group,the model group,the electroacupuncture group,and the electroacupuncture+exosome inhibitor group exhibited spinae muscle fiber fragmentation,degeneration,necrosis,and inflammatory cell infiltration in HE staining.The result of Masson staining showed that collagen fiber hyperplasia was increased.The model group showed increased expression of MyoD,Pax7,MyoG,MyHC,and CD63,while TSG101 expression was downregulated(P<0.05).In the electroacupuncture group,the expression of MyoD,Pax7,Alix,and TSG101 was elevated(P<0.05),and the expression of MyHC and CD63 was decreased(P<0.05).The electroacupuncture+exosome inhibitor group displayed increased expression of MyHC,Alix,and TSG101(P<0.05),and the expression of CD63 was decreased(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the electroacupuncture group and the electroacupuncture+exosome inhibitor group showed reduced muscle fiber degeneration,necrotic areas,and inflammatory cell infiltration as observed in HE staining,along with decreased collagen fiber hyperplasia in Masson staining.Specifically,the electroacupuncture group demonstrated increased expression of MyoD,Pax7,MyoG,Alix,and TSG101(P<0.05),and the expression of CD63 was decreased(P<0.05).The electroacupuncture+exosome inhibitor group displayed downregulated expression of Pax7,MyoG,MyHC,and CD63(P<0.05),and the expression of Alix and TSG101 was regulated(P<0.05).Compared with the electroacupuncture+exosome inhibitor group,the electroacupuncture group exhibited less muscle fiber degeneration and necrosis,reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in HE staining,and decreased stained collagen fibers in Masson staining.The electroacupuncture group showed increased expression of MyoD,Pax7,MyoG,MyHC,Alix,and CD63(P<0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture can up-regulate the expression of Pax7 and MyoD,and promote the regeneration of erector spinae muscles,which may be related to stimulating the secretion of exosomes around the acupoint.Exosomes may be an important mediator for the efficacy of acupuncture.
9.Age-period-cohort analysis on disease burden of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in women aged 15-49 years in China, 1990-2021
Yunqing YANG ; Xingdong YE ; Quan LUO ; Wanping HE ; Chen MAO
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2025;46(7):1168-1174
Objective:To analyze the incidence rate and disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rate of Chlamydia trachomatis ( C. trachomatis) infection in women aged 15-49 years in China from 1990 to 2021, identify the vulnerable populations, and provide evidence for the prevention and control of C. trachomatis infection. Methods:The data from Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 were used to analyze the incidence rate and DALY rate of C. trachomatis infection in women aged 15-49 years in China from 1990 to 2021 by using Joinpoint regression model. The age-period-cohort analysis method was used to decompose the age effect, period effect and cohort effect of incidence rate and DALY rate of C. trachomatis infection. Results:From 1990 to 2021, the incidence rate of C. trachomatis infection increased from 5 892.02/100 000 in 1990 to 7 402.23/100 000 in 2021 in women aged 15-49 years in China. The DALY rate increased from 1.92/100 000 person-years in 1990 to 2.00/100 000 person-years in 2021. Joinpoint regression showed that, from 1990 to 2021, the annual incidence of C. trachomatis infection in Chinese women age aged 15-49 years increased by 0.74% [average annual percent change (AAPC) =0.74%, 95% CI: 0.67%-0.81%, t=21.94, P<0.001] and the annual average DALY rate increased by 0.11% (AAPC=0.11%, 95% CI: -0.09%-0.30%, t=1.06, P=0.287). Age-period-cohort model analyses showed that women aged 30-34 years were at high risk to be infected with C. trachomatis and women aged 40-44 years were at high risk to have high DALY. The period effect showed that the risk for C. trachomatis infection began to increase in 1990, peaked during 2000-2004, then gradually decreased. During 2015-2019, the infection risk increased again, while the risk for high DALY showed a decreasing trend. The cohort effect showed that the risks for C. trachomatis infection and DALY were lower in later birth cohorts. Conclusions:From 1990 to 2021, the incidence rate and DALY rate of C. trachomatis infection showed fluctuations in women aged 15-49 years in China. It is necessary to pay close attention to the prevention and control of C. trachomatis infection in women aged 30-34 years.
10.BRD4 regulates m6A of ESPL1 mRNA via interaction with ALKBH5 to modulate breast cancer progression.
Haisheng ZHANG ; Linlin LU ; Cheng YI ; Tao JIANG ; Yunqing LU ; Xianyuan YANG ; Ke ZHONG ; Jiawang ZHOU ; Jiexin LI ; Guoyou XIE ; Zhuojia CHEN ; Zongpei JIANG ; Gholamreza ASADIKARAM ; Yanxi PENG ; Dan ZHOU ; Hongsheng WANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(3):1552-1570
The interaction between m6A-methylated RNA and chromatin modification remains largely unknown. We found that targeted inhibition of bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) by siRNA or its inhibitor (JQ1) significantly decreases mRNA m6A levels and suppresses the malignancy of breast cancer (BC) cells via increased expression of demethylase AlkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5). Mechanistically, inhibition of BRD4 increases the mRNA stability of ALKBH5 via enhanced binding between its 3' untranslated regions (3'UTRs) with RNA-binding protein RALY. Further, BRD4 serves as a scaffold for ubiquitin enzymes tripartite motif containing-21 (TRIM21) and ALKBH5, resulting in the ubiquitination and degradation of ALKBH5 protein. JQ1-increased ALKBH5 then demethylates mRNA of extra spindle pole bodies like 1 (ESPL1) and reduces binding between ESPL1 mRNA and m6A reader insulin like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 3 (IGF2BP3), leading to decay of ESPL1 mRNA. Animal and clinical studies confirm a critical role of BRD4/ALKBH5/ESPL1 pathway in BC progression. Further, our study sheds light on the crosstalks between histone modification and RNA methylation.

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