1.Integrating Transcriptomics and 3D Organoids to Investigate Mechanism of Periplaneta americana Extract Against Lung Adenocarcinoma
Qiong MA ; Chunxia HUANG ; Jiawei HE ; Yuting BAI ; Xingyue LIU ; Yuxuan XIONG ; Yang ZHONG ; Hengzhou LAI ; Yuling JIANG ; Xueke LI ; Qian WANG ; Yifeng REN ; Xi FU ; Funeng GENG ; Taoqing WU ; Ping XIAO ; Fengming YOU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(11):124-132
ObjectiveTo evaluate the antitumor activity of Periplaneta americana extract(PAE) against human-derived lung adenocarcinoma organoids(LUAD-PDOs) and to elucidate its potential mechanism based on transcriptomics. MethodsFresh tumor and adjacent normal tissues from patients with LUAD were collected to construct LUAD-PDOs and normal lung organoid(Nor-PDOs) models using 3D organoid culture technology. The effective intervention concentration of PAE was determined using the cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) assay. Experimental groups included the model group(LUAD-PDOs), normal group, model administration group(LUAD-PDOs+PAE), and normal administration group(Nor-PDOs+PAE). Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe the pathological structures of PDOs, immunohistochemistry(IHC) was performed to detect the expressions of the proliferation marker Ki-67 and lung adenocarcinoma differentiation markers cytokeratin-7(CK-7) and Napsin A, TUNEL staining was applied to detect cell apoptosis. RNA sequencing(RNA-Seq) was conducted to identify differentially expressed genes(DEGs), followed by Gene Ontology(GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG), and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis(GSEA), alongside protein-protein interaction(PPI) network analysis to screen core mechanisms. Finally, key targets were validated by integrating external database analysis with immunofluorescence(IF). ResultsNor-PDOs and LUAD-PDOs that highly recapitulated the pathological characteristics of the primary tissues were successfully established. The CCK-8 assay determined that the effective intervention concentration of PAE was 16 g·L-1. Morphological observation showed that Nor-PDOs exhibited lumen-forming structures, whereas LUAD-PDOs displayed dense, solid structures. CCK-8 and TUNEL assays revealed that, compared with the model group, PAE intervention inhibited the proliferation of LUAD-PDOs and promoted apoptosis in LUAD cells, while showing no significant effect on the viability of Nor-PDOs. Transcriptomic analysis identified 719 DEGs that were significantly reversed after PAE intervention(347 up-regulated and 372 down-regulated)(P<0.05). GO enrichment analysis indicated that DEGs in the model administration group were significantly enriched in biological processes related to cell cycle regulation compared to the model group. KEGG pathway analysis revealed that PAE affected pathways related to proliferation and metabolism, including pathways in cancer and the p53 signaling pathway. GSEA further confirmed that PAE significantly enhanced the activity of the p53 signaling pathway(P<0.05). PPI network analysis indicated that breast cancer type 1 susceptibility protein(BRCA1) and checkpoint kinase 1(CHEK1) were the core down-regulated targets in the p53 pathway. IF verified the high expression of BRCA1 and CHEK1 in LUAD-PDOs and their significant downregulation after PAE intervention(P<0.05). Furthermore, survival analysis based on The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA) database indicated that low expression of BRCA1 and CHEK1 was significantly associated with prolonged overall survival in patients with LUAD(P<0.05). ConclusionPAE effectively inhibits proliferation of LUAD-PDOs and promotes their apoptosis, its anti-tumor mechanism is potentially associated with the activation of the p53 signaling pathway, with BRCA1 and CHEK1 genes likely serving as key downstream targets for the effects of PAE.
2.Protective effect of the active component DMDD from Averrhoa carambola root on myocardial injury in diabetic mice and its correlation with the NCOA4/FTH1/ATG8 axis
Yongxin CHEN ; Yuxuan LI ; Kailei GU ; Jiajun YOU ; Xiaohan SUN ; Jing MA ; Yanping ZHOU ; Xiaojie WEI
China Pharmacy 2026;37(9):1141-1147
OBJECTIVE To investigate the protective effect of 2-dodecyl-6-methoxy-2,5-diene-1,4-cyclohexanedione (DMDD), an active component from Averrhoa carambola root, on myocardial injury in diabetic mice based on the nuclear receptor coactivator 4/ferritin heavy chain 1/autophagy-related protein 8 (NCOA4/FTH1/ATG8) axis. METHODS The successfully modeled diabetic mice were randomly divided into model group and DMDD low-, medium-, and high-dose (12.5, 25, 50 mg/kg) groups, while an additional non-modeled control group was established, with 6 mice in each group. Each group received the corresponding drug solution or an equal volume of normal saline intragastically once daily for 21 consecutive days. After the administration, the levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CK-MB) were measured. Myocardial pathological changes, degree of fibrosis, and myocardial cell ultrastructure were observed. Myocardial cell death index and NCOA4 protein positive index were detected. The protein expression levels of NCOA4, FTH1, ATG8, solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) in cardiac tissue were measured. RESULTS Compared with model group, each DMDD group showed significant alleviation of cardiac pathological injury and varying degrees of improvement in the myocardial cell ultrastructure. The FBG and serum LDH and CK-MB levels, the myocardial cell death index and NCOA4 protein positive index,the protein expression levels of NCOA4, FTH1, and ATG8 in cardiac tissue were significantly decreased ( P <0.001), while the protein expression levels of SLC7A11 and GPX4 were significantly increased ( P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS DMDD can reduce blood glucose levels, alleviate myocardial histopathological injury, and inhibit cell death in diabetic mice. The mechanism is associated with inhibiting excessive activation of the NCOA4/FTH1/ATG8 axis and reducing ferritinophagy.
3.A qualitative study on the management dilemma of coexisting chronic diseases among elderly patients in the communities
Xiaohong LIU ; Yuxuan LU ; Yun CHEN ; Guoxin HUANG ; Chao GAO ; Lu ZHANG ; Pengli MA
Chinese Journal of Nursing 2025;60(14):1764-1769
Objective To understand the challenges faced by elderly patients with multiple chronic conditions in community settings during the process of disease management,and to provide a basis for developing intervention strategies for managing comorbidities in the elderly.Methods A phenomenological research approach was adopted,using purposive sampling.From July to October 2024,16 elderly patients with multiple chronic conditions from 5 community service centers in Shenzhen were selected as study participants.Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted,and the interview data were analyzed using Colaizzi's seven-step method.Results Totally 4 themes and 8 sub-themes were extracted,including the disorder of multi-source health information structure and environment(insufficient systematic integration of health guidance,uneven quality of knowledge under multiple information channels),the exhaustion of self-management efficacy among chronic disease patients(the coexistence of multiple diseases aggravates the burden of physical and mental symptoms;negative emotions weaken the efficacy of active management),the absence of an integrated management mechanism for multiple diseases(repeated medical visits lead to poor treatment experience;multiple medications pose potential health risks),and the lack of in-depth and dynamic social support practices(formal operation of community support systems,family support facing the dilemma of filial piety and control).Conclusion Elderly patients with multiple chronic conditions in community settings face numerous challenges in disease management.Current chronic disease management in China primarily focuses on single diseases.It is recommended that healthcare professionals shift their perspective,improve the identification,assessment,nursing,and treatment of comorbidities in the elderly,and provide integrated chronic disease management approaches.This would enable a"one-stop"solution to the management challenges of multimorbidity in elderly patients,thereby enhancing their quality of life.
4.Study of the optimal concentration of anlotinib for ovarian clear cell carcinoma cells
Tianyu ZHU ; Shuxuan LI ; Yuxuan MA ; Yi TANG ; Yongjing ZHOU
China Modern Doctor 2025;63(21):37-40,123
Objective To investigate the mechanism and optimal concentration of anrotinib on ovarian clear cell carcinoma.Methods Ovarian clear cell carcinoma cells were cultured in vitro,by using renal clear cell carcinoma cells and renal papillary cell carcinoma cells as control cancer cells,and the effects of different concentrations of anlotinib(5,10,15,20μmol/L)on the proliferation,migration,and invasion capabilities of three cancer cell lines were investigated.Compared with the experimental results of renal clear cell carcinoma cells and renal papillary cell carcinoma cells,the advantages of anlotinib on ovarian clear cell carcinoma cells were investigated and advanced its position in clinical practice.Results Anlotinib at the concentrations of 5,10,15,and 20μmol/L can effectively inhibit the proliferation,migration,and invasion ability of ovarian clear cell carcinoma cells,renal clear cell carcinoma cells,and renal papillary cell carcinoma cells.Among them,the optimal action concentration of anlotinib on all three cancer cells fell in the range of 5-10 μmol/L.However,in the three cancer cells,anlotinib was more potent in ovarian clear cell carcinoma cells.Conclusion The effect of anlotinib on ovarian clear cell carcinoma cells has obvious advantages over renal clear cell carcinoma cells and renal papillary cell carcinoma cells,with the optimal concentration of 5-10 μmol/L.
5.Effects of Fear of Movement on Lower Limb Muscle Activation in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis
Bixuan DUAN ; Yuxuan ZHANG ; Pei MA ; Wei LI
Journal of Medical Biomechanics 2025;40(3):606-614
Objective To analyze muscle activation intensity in patients with knee osteoarthritis(KOA)during physical activity by applying surface electromyography(sEMG),and investigate the impact of fear of movement on lower limb muscle function in patients with KOA.Methods A total of 30 patients with KOA were selected and categorized into a high-fear group(n=16)and a low-fear group(n=14)based on the TSK-17 scale(Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia)scores,with 14 healthy individuals serving as the control group.A wireless sEMG system was used to record sEMG signals of different muscles.Test activities included walking at normal speed,stair ascent,and stair descent.Muscle activation was normalized to maximum voluntary contraction(MVC)by calculating the root mean square(RMS)of the EMG signals to compare muscle activation under different conditions.Correlation analyses were conducted to evaluate the relationship between muscle activation and TSK-17 scores.Results During normal walking,the healthy limb side of the high-fear group showed significantly greater activation in the rectus femoris(P<0.05),vastus medialis(P<0.01),and vastus lateralis(P<0.01)compared to the affected limb side.Muscle activation of the healthy limb side was also elevated during stair ascent and stair descent in the high-fear group,with significant differences in the rectus femoris(P<0.01),vastus medialis(P<0.01),and vastus lateralis(P<0.01).In the high-fear group,the affected/undominant and healthy/dominant limb side exhibited significantly increased activation in the rectus femoris(P<0.05)during normal walking compared with the low-fear group and control group.The affected/undominant and healthy/dominant side also exhibited increased activation in the rectus femoris(P<0.05)during stair ascent compared to the low-fear group and control group.There was a significant positive association between TSK-17 scores and rectus femoris activation on the healthy limb side during stair descent(r=0.95,P<0.01).Conclusions Fear of movement has a significant impact on muscle activation patterns in patients with,particularly during stair descent,which places a greater functional demand on the lower limbs.Therefore,great attention should be paid to the intervention of psychological factors in KOA treatment,so as to comprehensively improve both motor function and life quality of the patients.
6.Mechanism of ethionine-induced neural tube defects in mice through methionine adenosyltransferase 2A/β-catenin/zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1/epithelial-mesenchymal transition pathway
Li ZHANG ; Yuxuan ZHANG ; Kaixin WEI ; Yurong LIU ; Xiaona ZHANG ; Yuqing SUN ; Huijing MA ; Rui CAO ; Ronghua ZHENG ; Xiuwei WANG ; Baofeng YU
Chinese Journal of Perinatal Medicine 2025;28(3):233-240
Objective:To explore the molecular mechanism by which the methionine adenosyltransferase 2A (MAT2A)/β-catenin/zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1)/epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway regulates neural tube defect (NTD) through intracellular S-adenosylmethionine (SAM).Methods:A mouse NTD model was induced using the SAM metabolic disorder inhibitor ethionine. Eighty specific pathogen-free C57BL/6 mice were divided into three groups: a normal group (36 mice), an ethionine group (46 mice), and an ethionine+SAM group (44 mice). Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), ethionine, and ethionine+SAM were respectively injected intraperitoneally on embryonic day 7.5 (E7.5), and the mice were sacrificed on E10.5. Embryonic tissues were collected, and the morphology of embryos in each group was observed under a stereomicroscope. The interaction between ethionine and MAT2A was analyzed using Autodock software. The expression levels of MAT2A, β-catenin, ZEB1, and EMT-related proteins in the brain tissues of embryos from the three groups were measured using immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Variance analysis was used for intergroup comparisons.Results:(1) Autodock analysis results showed that MAT2A binds to ethionine through covalent bonds, exhibiting a complementary effect, thereby accelerating the expression of MAT2A. (2) After successful construction of the NTD model, normal embryos were plump with well-developed brains. NTD embryos showed delayed development, obvious anencephaly, unclosed neural tubes, and asymmetry. (3) The levels of SAM and SAH in the embryonic tissues of the ethionine group were significantly lower than those in the normal group (1 737.56±95.64 vs. 872.33±205.11, and 89.17±9.50 vs. 51.25±9.48, respectively). The SAM and SAH levels in the ethionine+SAM group was 1 197.00±222.27 and 66.61±12.25, significantly higher than those in the ethionine group ( P<0.017). Compared with the normal group and the ethionine+SAM group, the expression of MAT2A mRNA in the embryonic brain tissue of the ethionine group was significantly upregulated (1.00±0.00, 1.59±0.52, and 2.42±0.53, respectively, F=49.64, P<0.001; pairwise comparisons between groups P<0.017). (4) Compared with the normal group, the expression of Ctnnb1 in the ethionine group was reduced, and the expression of Ctnnb1 in the ethionine+SAM group was higher than that in the ethionine group (1.00±0.00, 0.38±0.16, and 0.76±0.10, respectively, F=149.03, P<0.001; pairwise comparisons between groups P<0.017). (5) The expression of ZEB1 in the ethionine group was higher than that in the normal group and the ethionine+SAM group (2.91±0.55, 1.00±0.00, and 1.61±0.20, respectively, F=150.01, P<0.001; pairwise comparisons between groups P<0.017). (6) The expression levels of E-cadherin and Vimentin in the ethionine group were lower than those in the normal group. In contrast, the expression of N-cadherin was higher than that in the normal group. After SAM supplementation, the expression levels of E-cadherin and Vimentin were upregulated, and the expression level of N-cadherin was downregulated (0.54±0.12, 1.00±0.00, and 0.72±0.14, respectively, F=87.44; 0.53±0.17, 1.00±0.00, and 0.76±0.09, F=87.44; 3.11±0.53, 1.00±0.00, and 2.13±0.56, F=95.54; all P<0.001; pairwise comparisons within the same index group P<0.017]). Conclusions:Ethionine promotes the expression of MAT2A, leading to reduced SAM production. Ethionine regulates the level of ZEB1 by increasing MAT2A and inhibits the EMT process to interfere with methionine cycle metabolism, ultimately resulting in NTD.
7.Research progress on the application of knee braces in knee osteoarthritis
Han WANG ; Cheng GUO ; Yuxuan LIU ; Tian MA ; Yuchen LIU ; Fei LIU
International Journal of Surgery 2025;52(7):498-504
Knee osteoarthritis exhibits a high prevalence and significantly impacts patients′ quality of life. Although surgical interventions demonstrate definitive efficacy, their acceptance rate remains generally low among patients. While knee braces have been widely adopted internationally, domestic research in this field is still limited. International studies suggest that knee braces can be recommended as an early-stage intervention strategy for knee osteoarthritis. Knee braces encompass diverse designs, each with distinct advantages and limitations. Many researchers are actively refining existing brace technologies, while others are innovating novel biomechanical approaches to develop next-generation knee brace systems. Currently, no standardized treatment protocol exists for the use of knee braces in early-stage knee osteoarthritis. This study summarizes and analyzes the research on the application of knee braces in knee osteoarthritis.
8.Enhanced radiotheranostic targeting of integrin α5β1 with PEGylation-enabled peptide multidisplay platform (PEGibody): A strategy for prolonged tumor retention with fast blood clearance.
Siqi ZHANG ; Xiaohui MA ; Jiang WU ; Jieting SHEN ; Yuntao SHI ; Xingkai WANG ; Lin XIE ; Xiaona SUN ; Yuxuan WU ; Hao TIAN ; Xin GAO ; Xueyao CHEN ; Hongyi HUANG ; Lu CHEN ; Xuekai SONG ; Qichen HU ; Hailong ZHANG ; Feng WANG ; Zhao-Hui JIN ; Ming-Rong ZHANG ; Rui WANG ; Kuan HU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(2):692-706
Peptide-based radiopharmaceuticals targeting integrin α5β1 show promise for precise tumor diagnosis and treatment. However, current peptide-based radioligands that target α5β1 demonstrate inadequate in vivo performance owing to limited tumor retention. The use of PEGylation to enhance the tumor retention of radiopharmaceuticals by prolonging blood circulation time poses a risk of increased blood toxicity. Therefore, a PEGylation strategy that boosts tumor retention while minimizing blood circulation time is urgently needed. Here, we developed a PEGylation-enabled peptide multidisplay platform (PEGibody) for PR_b, an α5β1 targeting peptide. PEGibody generation involved PEGylation and self-assembly. [64Cu]QM-2303 PEGibodies displayed spherical nanoparticles ranging from 100 to 200 nm in diameter. Compared with non-PEGylated radioligands, [64Cu]QM-2303 demonstrated enhanced tumor retention time due to increased binding affinity and stability. Importantly, the biodistribution analysis confirmed rapid clearance of [64Cu]QM-2303 from the bloodstream. Administration of a single dose of [177Lu]QM-2303 led to robust antitumor efficacy. Furthermore, [64Cu]/[177Lu]QM-2303 exhibited low hematological and organ toxicity in both healthy and tumor-bearing mice. Therefore, this study presents a PEGibody-based radiotheranostic approach that enhances tumor retention time and provides long-lasting antitumor effects without prolonging blood circulation lifetime. The PEGibody-based radiopharmaceutical [64Cu]/[177Lu]QM-2303 shows great potential for positron emission tomography imaging-guided targeted radionuclide therapy for α5β1-overexpressing tumors.
9.Effect of regional crosstalk between sympathetic nerves and sensory nerves on temporomandibular joint osteoarthritic pain.
Zhangyu MA ; Qianqian WAN ; Wenpin QIN ; Wen QIN ; Janfei YAN ; Yina ZHU ; Yuzhu WANG ; Yuxuan MA ; Meichen WAN ; Xiaoxiao HAN ; Haoyan ZHAO ; Yuxuan HOU ; Franklin R TAY ; Lina NIU ; Kai JIAO
International Journal of Oral Science 2025;17(1):3-3
Temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ-OA) is a common disease often accompanied by pain, seriously affecting physical and mental health of patients. Abnormal innervation at the osteochondral junction has been considered as a predominant origin of arthralgia, while the specific mechanism mediating pain remains unclear. To investigate the underlying mechanism of TMJ-OA pain, an abnormal joint loading model was used to induce TMJ-OA pain. We found that during the development of TMJ-OA, the increased innervation of sympathetic nerve of subchondral bone precedes that of sensory nerves. Furthermore, these two types of nerves are spatially closely associated. Additionally, it was discovered that activation of sympathetic neural signals promotes osteoarthritic pain in mice, whereas blocking these signals effectively alleviates pain. In vitro experiments also confirmed that norepinephrine released by sympathetic neurons promotes the activation and axonal growth of sensory neurons. Moreover, we also discovered that through releasing norepinephrine, regional sympathetic nerves of subchondral bone were found to regulate growth and activation of local sensory nerves synergistically with other pain regulators. This study identified the role of regional sympathetic nerves in mediating pain in TMJ-OA. It sheds light on a new mechanism of abnormal innervation at the osteochondral junction and the regional crosstalk between peripheral nerves, providing a potential target for treating TMJ-OA pain.
Animals
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Osteoarthritis/physiopathology*
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Mice
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Sympathetic Nervous System/physiopathology*
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Temporomandibular Joint Disorders/physiopathology*
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Arthralgia
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Sensory Receptor Cells
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Disease Models, Animal
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Norepinephrine
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Male
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Temporomandibular Joint/physiopathology*
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Pain Measurement
10.Structural insights into the distinct ligand recognition and signaling of the chemerin receptors CMKLR1 and GPR1.
Xiaowen LIN ; Lechen ZHAO ; Heng CAI ; Xiaohua CHANG ; Yuxuan TANG ; Tianyu LUO ; Mengdan WU ; Cuiying YI ; Limin MA ; Xiaojing CHU ; Shuo HAN ; Qiang ZHAO ; Beili WU ; Maozhou HE ; Ya ZHU
Protein & Cell 2025;16(5):381-385

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