1.Molecular Crosstalk Mechanisms of Shoutai Wan and Juyuan Jian on Maternal-fetal Interface Subcellular Clusters in CBA/J×DBA/2 Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Model
Jingxin GAO ; Qiuping CHEN ; Xiaoyan ZHENG ; Pengfei ZENG ; Rui ZHOU ; Yancai TANG ; Qian ZENG ; Wenli GUO ; Jinzhu HUANG ; Weijun DING ; Linwen DENG ; Hang ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(2):70-87
ObjectiveTo systematically compare the differential regulation of the maternal-fetal interface cell lineages and communication networks in the CBA/J×DBA/2 mouse model of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) by the two classic therapeutic methods-tonifying the kidney to stabilize the fetus and invigorating the spleen to stabilize the fetus (Shoutai Wan, Juyuan Jian)-of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) at the single-cell resolution and clarify their modern scientific connotations. MethodsFemale non-pregnant CBA/J mice were caged with male BALB/c (blank group) and DBA/2 (modeling group) mice separately. Pregnant mice in the modeling group were randomly grouped as follows: high/low-dose Shoutai Wan, high/low-dose Juyuan Jian, model (RPL), and positive control (dydrogesterone), with 10 mice in each group. Starting from the day after the detection of the vaginal plug, mice were administrated with drugs or an equal volume of normal saline by gavage for 10 consecutive days. After the intervention, the following indicators were measured. ① Macroscopic evaluation: general conditions, uterine wet weight, embryo loss rate, four coagulation parameters [prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen (FIB), and thrombin time (TT)], and peripheral blood estradiol (E2) and progesterone (Pg) levels. The decidua with embryos was stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiotensin Ⅱ (AngⅡ), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), CXC chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12), and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 homolog (LC3)Ⅰ/Ⅱ was quantified by Western blot. ② Mechanism analysis at the single-cell level: The decidua with embryos from the blank, model, high-dose Shoutai Wan, and high-dose Juyuan Jian groups (6 mice per group, with 3 single-cell samples per group, totaling 24 mice) were analyzed by the BD Rhapsody™ platform, and the whole-cell atlas was drawn by uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP) dimensionality reduction clustering combined with the single-cell mouse cell atlas (scMCA). The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and cell interaction networks were analyzed via Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and CellChat, and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) map of subtype cells was constructed. The CytoTRACE pseudo-temporal analysis was performed to explore the developmental trajectories of core immune cells (natural killer cells, NK cells) from maternal and fetal sources. Results① Pathological and Western blot results indicated that compared with the blank group, the RPL group showed an increase in the embryo loss rate (P<0.01), down-regulated expression of Bcl-2, LIF, MMP-2, and Vegf in the decidua with embryos (P<0.05), up-regulated protein levels of CXCL-12, AngⅡ, and IL-6 (P<0.05), blocked angiogenesis, apoptosis-inflammation imbalance, and coagulation dysfunction. Both prescriptions dose-dependently reduced the abortion rate and restored the angiogenesis-inflammation balance, and Shoutai pill showed superior performance in restoring the E2 level to the Pg level (P<0.05). ② Single-cell transcriptome analysis indicated that compared with the blank group, the RPL group showed differences in multiple key cell populations such as decidual cells, trophoblast cells, endothelial cells, erythroblasts, NK cells, and macrophages at the maternal-fetal interface. Immunity and angiogenesis were the key links in RPL. Compared with the RPL group, high-dose Shoutai Wan reversed the changes of NK cells in the embryonic layer (upregulating the mRNA levels of 17 genes and downregulating the mRNA levels of 29 genes) and macrophages (upregulating the mRNA levels of 117 genes and downregulating the mRNA levels of 53 genes) through the regulation of gene expression. High-dose Shoutai pill regulated the immune cells to affect unfolded proteins, cell adhesion, and programmed cell death, thereby promoting decidualization and angiogenesis and modulating embryo-membrane development. High-dose Juyuan Jian regulated the key subgroups of NK cells (up-regulating the mRNA levels of 9 genes and down-regulating the mRNA levels of 17 genes) and macrophages (up-regulating the mRNA levels of 110 genes and down-regulating the mRNA levels of 81 genes), which affected decidual inflammation and apoptosis and intervened in glycolysis. ③ The pseudo-temporal analysis and communication network indicated that the communication frequency of the RPL group decreased. High-dose Shoutai Wan restored maternal-fetal tolerance through pathways such as NKG2D, CDH5, GDF, and FASLG. High-dose Juyuan Jian enhanced the IL-6/LIFR/JAK/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and desmosome/SEMA6/tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) signaling to improve endometrial receptivity. The RPL group showed an increased proportion of toxic dNK7, a decreased proportion of reparative dNK4, and blocked embryo fNK1. High-dose Shoutai Wan down-regulated dNK7 and up-regulated dNK4. High-dose Juyuan Jian inhibited the terminal differentiation of dNK7 and up-regulated LILRB1, thus restoring the balance of cytotoxicity and repair. ConclusionBoth the kidney-tonifying and spleen-invigorating methods are effective in treating RPL. NK and macrophages are the key immune cells in the interaction between the embryo and the membrane. The kidney-tonifying method (Shoutai Wan) has an advantage in regulating the phenotypes of unfolded protein, cell adhesion, and programmed cell death, and shows expression characteristics closer to the physiological state in the regulation of NKG2D and CDH5 signals. The spleen-invigorating method (Juyuan Jian) has an advantage in regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), angiogenesis, and glycolysis and shows higher communication intensity in the IL-6 and LIFR pathways.
2.Culture of rat retinal ganglion cells.
Zhirong, XU ; Fagang, JIANG ; Yancai, ZENG ; Hamed, TM ALKHODARI ; Fei, CHEN
Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Medical Sciences) 2011;31(3):400-3
This study aimed to modify the mixed and purified culture of rat retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in vitro. The retinae of 1-3 day old Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were separated bluntly into two layers: inner layer and outer layer, under a surgical microscope. Retinal cells isolated from different layers (inner layer, outer layer and whole retinal tissue) by using enzyme dissociation method were cultured in F12/DMEM medium containing 15% FBS. After 3-day culture, the RGCs in the retinal cells obtained from mixed culture of inner, outer, and whole retinal tissue were identified by immunocytochemical staining of Thy-1.1, and the rate of RGCs to retinal cells (RGCs%) was calculated. Two monoclonal antibodies, anti-macrophages/granulocytes (OX-41) against rat macrophage and antibody against rat Thy-1.1 (OX-7), were used to purify RGCs by either a conventional or modified two-stepped immunopanning procedure (purification in situ). Purified RGCs were seeded at different cell density and cultured in F12/DMEM medium containing 15% FBS. Immunocytochemical staining for Thy-1.1, MTT, and PI-Hoechst33342 fluorescence imaging were used to identify the purity and the viability of RGCs in purified culture of RGCs. The results showed: (1) Immunocytochemistry of different retinal tissue layers culture revealed that the RGCs% was (19.9±1.2)%, (0.5±0.2)%, and (6.2±1.7)% respectively in the mixed culture of inner, outer, and whole retinal tissue, with differences being significant (P<0.05); (2) fluorescent double staining of Hoechst33342 and PI indicated that with the same RGCs%, RGCs obtained from purification in situ grew well with more neurite outgrowth than those by the conventional two-stepped immunopanning method; (3) the viability of purified RGCs seeded at high density was increased and the cells developed complex intercellular networks. The viability of RGCs was declined with the decreasing seeding density, and most cells presented round or oval in shape with thin neurites. It was concluded that: (1) RGCs% in the inner layer retina was higher than that in the outer layer retina; (2) RGCs obtained by in situ purification had more neurite outgrowth and lower mortality than those by conventional two-stepped immunopanning procedure; (3) the viability of purified RGCs could be increased by increasing cell seeding density to some extent.
3.Culture of Rat Retinal Ganglion Cells
XU ZHIRONG ; JIANG FAGANG ; ZENG YANCAI ; Alkhodari TM HAMED ; CHEN FEI
Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Medical Sciences) 2011;31(3):400-403
This study aimed to modify the mixed and purified culture of rat retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in vitro.The retinae of 1-3 day old Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were separated bluntly into two layers:inner layer and outer layer,under a surgical microscope.Retinal cells isolated from different layers (inner layer,outer layer and whole retinal tissue) by using enzyme dissociation method were cultured in F12/DMEM medium containing 15% FBS.After 3-day culture,the RGCs in the retinal cells obtained from mixed culture of inner,outer,and whole retinal tissue were identified by immunocytochemical staining of Thy-1.1,and the rate of RGCs to retinal cells (RGCs%) was calculated.Two monoclonal antibodies,anti-macrophages/granulocytes (OX-41) against rat macrophage and antibody against rat Thy-1.1 (OX-7),were used to purify RGCs by either a conventional or modified two-stepped immunopanning procedure (purification in situ).Purified RGCs were seeded at different cell density and cultured in F12/DMEM medium containing 15% FBS.Immunocytochemical staining for Thy-1.1,MTT,and PI-Hoechst33342 fluorescence imaging were used to identify the purity and the viability of RGCs in purified culture of RGCs.The results showed:(1) Immunocytochemistry of different retinal tissue layers culture revealed that the RGCs% was (19.9±1.2)%,(0.5±0.2)%,and (6.2±1.7)% respectively in the mixed culture of inner,outer,and whole retinal tissue,with differences being significant (P<0.05); (2)fluorescent double staining of Hoechst33342 and PI indicated that with the same RGCs%,RGCs obtained from purification in situ grew well with more neurite outgrowth than those by the conventional two-stepped immunopanning method; (3) the viability of purified RGCs seeded at high density was increased and the cells developed complex intercellular networks.The viability of RGCs was declined with the decreasing seeding density,and most cells presented round or oval in shape with thin neurites.It was concluded that:(1) RGCs% in the inner layer retina was higher than that in the outer layer retina;(2) RGCs obtained by in situ purification had more neurite outgrowth and lower mortality than those by conventional two-stepped immunopanning procedure; (3) the viability of purified RGCs could be increased by increasing cell seeding density to some extent.
4.Experimental and clinical research on the effect of keyouling on condyloma acuminatum and adjustment of cellular immunity function.
Yi JIANG ; Kaicheng WAN ; Caiming WANG ; Ping WANG ; Yancai CHEN ; Xiangwen ZENG ; Shuwu ZHANG
National Journal of Andrology 2004;10(1):67-70
OBJECTIVETo discuss the mechanism of the traditional Chinese medicine Keyouling oral liquid in the treatment of condyloma acuminatum(CA) and the adjustment of cellular immunity function.
METHODSThe IL-18 and TNF-alpha levels of peripheral serum and wart tissue of patterned rats and CA patients exposed to Keyouling were determined by means of double-antibody sandwich ELISA, and the NK cellular activity of the spleen of the patterned rats and that of the peripheral blood of the CA patients exposed to Keyouling were determined by means of 3H-TdR isotype release.
RESULTSThe IL-18 and TNF-alpha levels, the NK cellular activity of the high-dosage group showed significant difference from those of the pattern group and low-dosage group in animal experiment(P < 0.05); the IL-18 and TNF-alpha levels of peripheral serum and wart tissues, and the NK cellular activity of the peripheral blood of the treatment group showed significant difference from those of the control group after treatment(P < 0.01, P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONSKeyouling oral liquid has significant positive adjusting effect, which can markedly ameliorate the cellular immunadeficiency of the patterned animals and reinforce the cellular immunocompetence of CA patients.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Condylomata Acuminata ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-18 ; blood ; Killer Cells, Natural ; drug effects ; immunology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; analysis
5.Analysis of the output of literature on hospital administration from 1980 to 1998
Yancai ZENG ; Zhengdong HUANG ; Yue GAO
Chinese Journal of Hospital Administration 2001;0(08):-
To explore the state of domestic academic research on hospital administration, the authors, using the descriptive statistical method, investigated the literature on hospital administration included by CBMdisc from 1980 to 1998. The results are as follows. In the past 19 years, the output of literature on hospital administration has been growing steadily. The distribution of such literature has been rather dispersed. There lacks a specialized and ampre- hensive database of such literature. Chinese Journal of Hospital Administration and Chinese Hospital Administration are two major professional periodicals devoted to literature on hospital administration, publishing one fifth of the literature in this aspect. And Chinese Journal of Hospital Administration, the chief and most important key periodical devoted to literature on hospital administration, has become a professional periodical which is indispensable and of first choice to hospital administration personnel. [


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