1.Aerobic Exercise and MOTS-c Ameliorate Hepatic Oxidative Stress and Metabolic Disorder in Type 2 Diabetes via The NRF2/PPARγ Axis
Fei-Long CHEN ; Zhi-Yu LI ; Tu-Tu WANG ; Yu FU ; Lei LÜ ; Cheng-Yuan XING ; Shun-Chang LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(8):2071-2090
ObjectiveType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) often causes severe hepatic metabolic complications, dominated by metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Persistent hepatic steatosis and oxidative stress further trigger steatohepatitis and progressive liver damage, increasing the mortality risk of diabetic patients. Aerobic exercise effectively improves hepatic lipid metabolism and antioxidant capacity, but poor patient adherence restricts its long-term clinical application. Mitochondrial-derived mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA type-c (MOTS-c) is a key peptide regulating insulin sensitivity and hepatic redox homeostasis. This study aimed to explore the protective mechanism of MOTS-c against T2DM-related liver injury and its combined beneficial effect with aerobic exercise via the NRF2/PPARγ signaling axis. This study aimed to investigate whether MOTS-c cooperates with aerobic exercise to alleviate T2DM-associated hepatic oxidative stress and metabolic dysfunction by activating the NRF2/PPARγ axis, and to clarify the molecular and transcriptomic characteristics of their combined intervention. MethodsStable MOTS-c overexpression and knockdown HepG2 cell lines were constructed using lentiviral transfection. An oleic acid-induced cellular lipid accumulation model and NRF2-knockout cell model were applied to verify the NRF2-dependent mechanism ofMOTS-c. Intracellular lipid deposition, triglyceride levels, antioxidant enzyme activities, and the expression of NRF2/PPARγ pathway-related genes and proteins were detected. In vivo, a T2DM rat model with obvious hepatic steatosis was established via a high-fat and high-sucrose diet combined with streptozotocin injection. Model rats received aerobic exercise, MOTS-c intraperitoneal injection, or combined intervention. We detected systemic glycolipid metabolic indicators, hepatic histopathological changes, and the expression of core proteins in the hepatic NRF2/PPARγ axis. Hepatic transcriptomic sequencing was performed to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and enrich key pathways co-regulated by MOTS-c and aerobic exercise. ResultsCellular results showed that MOTS-c overexpression significantly reduced oleic acid-induced lipid deposition, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, and upregulated NRF2 and PPARγ expression. Conversely, MOTS-c knockdown aggravated hepatic lipid accumulation and oxidative damage and inhibited NRF2/PPARγ pathway activation. NRF2 knockout completely eliminated the protective effects of MOTS-c on lipid metabolism and redox balance, confirming its NRF2-dependent regulatory mechanism. In T2DM rats, both MOTS-c supplementation and aerobic exercise effectively improved insulin resistance, corrected glycolipid metabolic disorders, and alleviated hepatic steatosis, while consistently activating the hepatic NRF2/PPARγ axis. Compared with single intervention, the combined treatment showed a better improvement trend in hepatic metabolic and oxidative injury, without definitive synergistic effects. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the co-regulated DEGs of MOTS-c and aerobic exercise were primarily enriched in lipid metabolism and PPAR signaling pathways, with multiple antioxidant and lipid-regulating genes significantly modulated by combined intervention. ConclusionMOTS-c exhibits obvious exercise-mimetic hepatoprotective effects in T2DM. It activates the hepatic NRF2/PPARγ axis to strengthen antioxidant defense, stabilize lipid metabolism, and relieve T2DM-associated hepatic steatosis and oxidative damage. Furthermore, MOTS-c produces additive beneficial effects with aerobic exercise, showing a superior intervention trend on diabetic liver dysfunction. This study identifies the NRF2/PPARγ axis as the core mechanism of MOTS-c-regulated hepatic protection, elucidates the transcriptomic basis of combined intervention, and provides a reliable theoretical basis and potential therapeutic target for clinical intervention in T2DM-complicated MAFLD.
2.Research on Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity Mechanism and Its Forensic Ap-plication
Shuai ZHANG ; Hong-Fei XU ; Zhi-Xiang ZHANG ; Ying WANG ; Shao-Hua ZHU
Journal of Forensic Medicine 2025;41(2):120-126
Doxorubicin is a commonly used antitumor drug for the treatment of various cancers.How-ever,its clinical application is greatly restricted by its severe cardiotoxicity.At present,doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity is categorized into acute and chronic forms,depending on the dosage and dura-tion of exposure,which may eventually lead to the occurrence of heart failure.The pathogenesis of doxorubicin cardiotoxicity is associated with oxidative stress,mitochondrial damage,calcium overload,dysregulation of autophagy,and apoptosis.In forensic medical practice,cases of poisoning or even car-diac death caused by doxorubicin showed no obvious changes in cardiac morphology through routine forensic pathological examinations.The paper aims to summarize the research on the mechanisms of action of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in recent years,analyze and discuss the possible pathways of cardiomyocyte injury caused by doxorubicin,and provide references for research on the mechanisms of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and forensic application.
3.Clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of atopic dermatitis with integrative traditional Chinese and Western medicine.
Xin-Ran DU ; Meng-Yi WU ; Mao-Can TAO ; Ying LIN ; Chao-Ying GU ; Min-Feng WU ; Yi CAO ; Da-Can CHEN ; Wei LI ; Hong-Wei WANG ; Ying WANG ; Yi WANG ; Han-Zhi LU ; Xin LIU ; Xiang-Fei SU ; Fu-Lun LI
Journal of Integrative Medicine 2025;23(6):641-653
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a well-accepted therapy for atopic dermatitis (AD). However, there are currently no evidence-based guidelines integrating TCM and Western medicine for the treatment of AD, limiting the clinical application of such combined approaches. Therefore, the China Association of Chinese Medicine initiated the development of the current guideline, focusing on key issues related to the use of TCM in the treatment of AD. This guideline was developed in accordance with the principles of the guideline formulation manual published by the World Health Organization. A comprehensive review of the literature on the combined use of TCM and Western medicine to treat AD was conducted. The findings were extensively discussed by experts in dermatology and pharmacy with expertise in both TCM and Western medicine. This guideline comprises 23 recommendations across seven major areas, including TCM syndrome differentiation and classification of AD, principles and application scenarios of TCM combined with Western medicine for treating AD, outcome indicators for evaluating clinical efficacy of AD treatment, integration of TCM pattern classification and Western medicine across disease stages, daily management of AD, the use of internal TCM therapies and proprietary Chinese medicines, and TCM external treatments. Please cite this article as: Du XR, Wu MY, Tao MC, Lin Y, Gu CY, Wu MF, Cao Y, Chen DC, Li W, Wang HW, Wang Y, Wang Y, Lu HZ, Liu X, Su XF, Li FL. Clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of atopic dermatitis with integrative traditional Chinese and Western medicine. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(6):641-653.
Dermatitis, Atopic/drug therapy*
;
Humans
;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods*
;
Integrative Medicine
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
;
Practice Guidelines as Topic
4.miR-34c-3p Inhibits Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Development via Inhibiting M2 Polarization of Macrophages.
Yu Zi JI ; Yu Jie WANG ; Ji Qing MA ; Zhi Hua YIN ; Fei LIU ; Yan Zi ZANG ; Guang Ke WANG ; Yong TAI
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(2):219-229
OBJECTIVE:
miR-34c-3p is down-regulated in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The biological role of miR-34c-3p in NPC and its underlying mechanisms are unknown and were explored in this study.
METHODS:
Flow cytometry and immunohistochemical staining were employed to detect cluster of differentiation 86 (CD86) and cluster of differentiation 206 (CD206) expression; quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting were employed to examine mRNA expression and protein levels; cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) and transwell assays were employed to assess cell proliferation, migration, and invasion; and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was employed to assess pathological changes in tumor tissues.
RESULTS:
Our results revealed that the miR-34c-3p mimic markedly inhibited M2 polarization of macrophages by targeting SLC7A11, and M2 macrophages transfected with the miR-34c-3p mimic inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of NPC cells. The in vivo experiments further confirmed that miR-34c-3p mimics blocked tumor growth and reduced inflammatory infiltration in tumor tissues.
CONCLUSION
This study provides novel insights into the pathogenesis of NPC and a new treatment strategy.
MicroRNAs/metabolism*
;
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma/genetics*
;
Humans
;
Animals
;
Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/genetics*
;
Macrophages/physiology*
;
Cell Line, Tumor
;
Mice
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Cell Proliferation
;
Mice, Inbred BALB C
;
Cell Movement
;
Male
;
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
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Mice, Nude
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Female
5.Associations of Genetic Risk and Physical Activity with Incident Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Large Prospective Cohort Study.
Jin YANG ; Xiao Lin WANG ; Wen Fang ZHONG ; Jian GAO ; Huan CHEN ; Pei Liang CHEN ; Qing Mei HUANG ; Yi Xin ZHANG ; Fang Fei YOU ; Chuan LI ; Wei Qi SONG ; Dong SHEN ; Jiao Jiao REN ; Dan LIU ; Zhi Hao LI ; Chen MAO
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(10):1194-1204
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the relationship between physical activity and genetic risk and their combined effects on the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
METHODS:
This prospective cohort study included 318,085 biobank participants from the UK. Physical activity was assessed using the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The participants were stratified into low-, intermediate-, and high-genetic-risk groups based on their polygenic risk scores. Multivariate Cox regression models and multiplicative interaction analyses were used.
RESULTS:
During a median follow-up period of 13 years, 9,209 participants were diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. For low genetic risk, compared to low physical activity, the hazard ratios ( HRs) for moderate and high physical activity were 0.853 (95% confidence interval [ CI]: 0.748-0.972) and 0.831 (95% CI: 0.727-0.950), respectively. For intermediate genetic risk, the HRs were 0.829 (95% CI: 0.758-0.905) and 0.835 (95% CI: 0.764-0.914), respectively. For participants with high genetic risk, the HRs were 0.809 (95% CI: 0.746-0.877) and 0.818 (95% CI: 0.754-0.888), respectively. A significant interaction was observed between genetic risk and physical activity.
CONCLUSION
Moderate or high levels of physical activity were associated with a lower risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease across all genetic risk groups, highlighting the need to tailor activity interventions for genetically susceptible individuals.
Humans
;
Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/epidemiology*
;
Exercise
;
Male
;
Female
;
Middle Aged
;
Prospective Studies
;
Aged
;
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
;
Risk Factors
;
United Kingdom/epidemiology*
;
Incidence
;
Adult
6.Advacnes in right ventricular function in pulmonary hypertension:focus on the 7th World Symposium on Pulmonary Hypertension
Shao-fei LIU ; Rui-qi WANG ; Zhi-fu GUO ; Ni ZHU
Chinese Journal of Interventional Cardiology 2025;33(10):574-580
Since 1973,the World Symposium on Pulmonary Hypertension(WSPH)has served as a pivotal platform for the advancing research in pulmonary hypertension(PH).At the 6th WSPH in 2018,the WSPH expert group refined the definitions related to cardiopulmonary physiology and right ventricular(RV)failure,thereby underscoring the critical role of RV dysfunction in the progression of PH.With ongoing advances in the field,RV failure associated with PH has received increasing attention and is now recognized as an important determinant of the prognosis of PH.The 7th WSPH,held in Barcelona,Spain,in 2024,presented the latest perspectives on the RV pathophysiology and its interaction with the pulmonary vasculature.The symposium emphasized new insights into the pathology of RV failure,RV phenotypes across different PH subgroups,and progress in therapeutic approaches targeting RV dysfunction.Additionally,the WSPH expert group delineated prospective research directions and identified unresolved issues.This article will review the RV function-related updates from the 7th WSPH and summarize recent findings,providing a systematic review of the evolution and breakthroughs in RV function research within the context of PH.
7.Impact of high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities on the efficacy of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with post-transplantation Cyclophosphamide in pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia
Fei LONG ; Zhi CHEN ; Li YANG ; Zhuo WANG ; Yan CHEN ; Yu DU ; Wenjie LU ; Ming SUN ; Shanshan QI ; Hao XIONG
Chinese Journal of Applied Clinical Pediatrics 2025;40(12):939-945
Objective:To explore the influence of initial high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities on the outcomes of children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) after post-transplant Cyclophosphamide (PTCy)-based allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).Methods:A retrospective cohort study.AML children who underwent PTCy-based allo-HSCT after the first complete remission at Wuhan Children′s Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology between April 2017 and April 2024 were enrolled.Patients were divided into intermediate-risk and high-risk groups based on their initial cytogenetic features.These patients were further divided into complex karyotype, 11q23 rearrangement, and other karyotype groups.Clinical characteristics and survival outcomes were compared among these groups.Measurement and count data were analyzed using Wilcoxon rank-sum/Kruskal-Wallis and χ2 tests, respectively.Survival and risk factor analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards methods, respectively. Results:A total of 51 AML children who underwent allo-HSCT were included in this study.The median age at transplantation was 3.2 years and the median follow-up time was 4.6 years.There were 26 cases in the intermediate-risk group and 25 cases in the high-risk group; 8 cases in the complex karyotype group, 14 cases in the 11q23 rearrangement group, and 29 cases in the other karyotype groups.By the end of the follow-up on November 30, 2024, 11 patients relapsed, 8 patients died, and 13 patients developed grades Ⅱ-Ⅳ acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).The 3-year overall survival (OS), relapse-free survival (RFS), and grades Ⅱ-Ⅳ acute GVHD-free and relapse-free survival (GRFS) were 84.0% (95% CI: 74.4%-94.8%), 74.5% (95% CI: 63.4%-87.5%), and 58.8% (95% CI: 46.7%-74.0%), respectively.The 3-year OS of the high-risk group was significantly lower than that of the intermediate-risk group (71.8% vs.96.2%, P=0.022), while differences in 3-year RFS and GRFS between the 2 groups were not statistically significant (68.0% vs.80.8%, P=0.400; 52.0% vs.65.4%, P=0.420).The 3-year OS, RFS and GRFS of the complex karyotype group were significantly lower than those of 11q23 rearrangement and other karyotype groups (50.0% vs.85.7%, 93.1%, P=0.009; 37.5% vs.85.7%, 79.3%, P=0.022; 25.0% vs.64.3%, 65.5%, P=0.049).Multivariate analysis showed that a complex karyotype was an independent prognostic factor affecting 3-year OS and GRFS [OS: HR=6.79 (95% CI: 1.13-43.80), P=0.044; GRFS: HR=3.72(95% CI: 1.13-12.20), P=0.030]. Conclusions:High-risk cytogenetic features are significant predictors of survival outcomes in pediatric AML patients undergoing PTCy-based allo-HSCT.
8.Integrating Single-cell RNA Sequencing and Mendelian Randomization Reveals the Pathogenic Mechanism of Eomes in Renal Cell Carcinoma
Xin-cen WANG ; Hai-xia HUANG ; Xin-hao WANG ; Zhi-fei CHE ; Pei-yu LIANG
Progress in Modern Biomedicine 2025;25(15):2421-2430
Objective:This study employs a combination of single-cell sequencing and Mendelian randomization to explore the genetic associations and molecular mechanisms of Eomes in RCC.Methods:In this study,single-cell transcriptomic data from RCC tissues and adjacent normal tissues were extracted from the GEO database.The data were analyzed using R language and various packages such as Seurat,limma,and CellChat for cell cluster annotation,intercellular communication analysis,and differential expression analysis.Additionally,eQTL data related to differentially expressed genes were retrieved from the GWAS database as exposure variables,with RCC used as the outcome variable in Mendelian randomization analysis to identify the role of Eomes in RCC.Finally,GO functional enrichment and KEGG pathway analyses were conducted to explore the potential molecular mechanisms of Eomes.Results:Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that B cells play a significant role in the heterogeneity of RCC.Mendelian randomization analysis indicated that Eomes is an important risk factor for RCC(P<0.05).Furthermore,seven highly correlated specific SNPs were identified,including rs 17021298,rs2247056,rs2617170,rs3806624,rs55908509,rs6590334,and rs9420589.GO and KEGG enrichment analyses suggest that Eomes may be involved in early cell fate determination in renal cell carcinoma and participate in the regulation of Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation,HPV infection,and the Notch signaling pathway.Conclusions:This study is the first to combine single-cell sequencing and Mendelian randomization analysis in RCC,confirming a strong positive causal relationship between Eomes and RCC(OR>1).Our findings offer new insights into the pathogenesis of RCC,suggesting that Eomes could serve as a novel target for early diagnosis and personalized treatment of RCC.
9.Progress in role and mechanism of exercise in reconstruction of muscle atrophy
Huan QIN ; Jincao ZHI ; Shujin WANG ; Fei PEI ; Yan WANG
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2025;41(9):1814-1822
Skeletal muscle is the basis of body movement,and it is an important support to maintain daily life activities.In recent years,the incidence of skeletal muscle atrophy has been increasing year by year,which has seriously affected the lives of individuals and brought a certain burden to the family and society,how to prevent and control skeletal muscle atrophy has attracted extensive attention from various disciplines.Exercise as a safe,easy-to-operate,and inexpen-sive treatment has been widely used in the treatment of many chronic diseases.To explore the role of exercise training in the treatment of muscular dystrophy-like diseases,we review the key role of exercise in the reconstruction process of skele-tal muscle atrophy from the molecular mechanism of skeletal muscle atrophy and regeneration,thus providing new ideas and insights for the clinical treatment of muscle atrophy.
10.Clinical Efficacy of Tianma Xiongling Zhixuan Tablets in Treating Patients with Hypertension of the Type of Hyperactivity of Liver Yang or Combined with Phlegm and Blood Stasis,and Analysis of Plasma Metabolomics
Zhi-xiang CHEN ; Jun-liu HU ; Man WANG ; Fei-ying WANG ; Yao-wu CHEN ; Mao-wen WANG ; Meng-li JI ; Hui-hui LIU ; Jian-min FAN ; Wen ZHANG
Progress in Modern Biomedicine 2025;25(13):2138-2153
Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Tianma Xionglin Zhixuan Tablets in treating hypertension patients with liver yang hyperactivity or comorbid phlegm-stasis syndrome and explore its therapeutic mechanisms through plasma metabolomics.Methods:Thirty-six hypertension patients(4 dropouts)diagnosed with liver yang hyperactivity or phlegm-stasis syndrome were enrolled as the treatment group from June 2022 to September 2023 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine,while 30 healthy volunteers with balanced constitutions were recruited as the blank group.Plasma samples were collected from patients pre-and post-treatment and from healthy volunteers.Clinical outcomes,including syndrome scores,office blood pressure(BP),and 24-hour ambulatory BP,were recorded.Plasma metabolomic profiling was performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS).Results:Compared with baseline,Tianma Xionglin Zhixuan Tablets significantly reduced traditional Chinese medicine syndrome scores(P<0.01),office systolic/diastolic BP(P<0.01),and 24-hour ambulatory BP parameters(24-hour mean BP,daytime/nighttime mean BP;all P<0.01).Metabolomic analysis identified 45 differential metabolites between the blank group and pretreatment patients,and 64 metabolites altered post-treatment(VIP>1,P<0.05).Enrichment analysis of 16 overlapping endogenous metabolites revealed that Tianma Xionglin Zhixuan Tablets primarily modulated arachidonic acid metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism pathways.Conclusion:Tianma Xionglin Zhixuan Tablets demonstrates significant clinical efficacy in hypertension patients with liver yang hyperactivity or phlegm-stasis syndrome,potentially mediated through regulation of arachidonic acid and sphingolipid metabolism.

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