1.Tetrandrine enhances the host antiviral response through cGAMP-mediated cGAS-STING signaling pathway
Zhiwen WANG ; Yaming ZHANG ; Zhihui XIE
Chinese Journal of Microbiology and Immunology 2024;44(1):17-26
Objective:To investigate whether tetrandrine could be used as an agonist of cGAMP to enhance the activation of cGAS-STING signaling pathway and analyze the antiviral function of tetrandrine.Methods:THP1-Lucia-ISRE and RAW-Lucia-ISRE cells were incubated with different doses of tetrandrine in combination with cGAMP, respectively. IRF3 reporter activity was analyzed by luciferase reporter assay. Western blot was used to detect the activation of cGAS-STING signaling pathway. The expression of IFN-β, CXCL10 and CCL5 at mRNA level was quantified by real-time quantitative PCR. The expression of IFN-β at protein level was assessed by ELISA. HeLa cells stably expressing STING-GFP gene (HeLa-STNG-GFP cells) were constructed and stimulated with tetrandrine and cGAMP, then puncta-like structures were imaged by ZEISS LSM780. THP1-Lucia-ISRE cells were infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in the presence or absence of tetrandrine or cGAMP. The antiviral function of tetrandrine was analyzed by Western blot and fluorescence intensity assay.Results:Tetrandrine enhanced cGAMP-mediated IRF3 responses and activated cGAS-STING signaling pathway in combination with cGAMP. Tetrandrine combined with cGAMP triggered STING translocation and the formation of puncta-like structures in HeLa-STNG-GFP cells. The titer of HSV-1, the expression of HSV-glycoprotein D/UL30 and the fluorescence intensity of HSV-GFP were all decline after treating HSV-1-infected THP1-Lucia-ISRE cells with tetrandrine and cGAMP.Conclusions:Tetrandrine combined with cGAMP activates cGAS-STING signaling pathway, thus enhancing the host antiviral response.
2.Role of NF-κB Signaling Pathway in "Reflux Esophagitis-esophageal Cancer" and Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention:A Review
Mingyao XU ; Liqun LI ; Xin LIU ; Zhiwen SHEN ; Xiaoning ZHANG ; Jing HUANG ; Jiaqi YIN ; Zhu LIU ; Sheng XIE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(2):221-233
Reflux esophagitis is an inflammatory disease of esophageal mucosa damage caused by the reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus. Its incidence is on the rise, and it has become an important precancerous disease of esophageal cancer. Studies have shown that the continuous inflammatory response stimulates the esophageal mucosa, causing abnormal proliferation of esophageal epithelial cells and damage to esophageal mucosal tissue, which eventually leads to the occurrence of heterogeneous hyperplasia and even carcinogenesis. The nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway is one of the most classical inflammatory and cancer signaling pathways. It has been found that abnormal activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway is crucial to the development and prognosis of reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer. It is widely involved in the proliferation, autophagy, apoptosis, and inflammatory response of esophageal epithelial cells and tumor cells, accelerating the transformation of reflux esophagitis to esophageal cancer and making it a potential target for the treatment of reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer. Currently, there is no specific treatment for reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer, and large side effects often appear. Therefore, finding a promising and safe drug remains a top priority. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine scholars have conducted a lot of research on NF-κB signaling pathway, and the results indicate that NF-κB signaling pathway is an important potential target for traditional Chinese medicine to prevent and treat reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer, but there is a lack of comprehensive and systematic elaboration. Therefore, this paper summarized the relevant studies in recent years, analyzed the relationship among NF-κB signaling pathway, reflux esophagitis, esophageal cancer, and transformation from inflammation to cancer, and reviewed the research literature on the regulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway in traditional Chinese medicine to prevent and treat reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer, so as to provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer.
3.Evaluation of asymptomatic ocular surface disorders in hospitalized patients with primary pterygium before surgery
Chengfang ZHU ; Zhirong LIN ; Xie FANG ; Xianwen XIAO ; Zhiwen XIE ; Shunrong LUO ; Bin LIU ; Xumin SHANG ; Nuo DONG ; Huping WU
International Eye Science 2024;24(1):131-135
AIM: To investigate the preoperative ocular symptoms and the characteristics of asymptomatic ocular surface abnormalities in hospitalized patients with primary pterygium.METHODS: Cross-sectional study. Hospitalized patients diagnosed with primary pterygium and scheduled to receive pterygium excision surgery at the Xiamen Eye Center of Xiamen University from August 2022 to October 2022 were enrolled. Ocular surface disease index questionnaire(OSDI), six examinations including non-invasive tear film break-up time, Schirmer I test, tear meniscus height, lid margin abnormality, meibomian gland dropout and tear film lipid layer thickness, and anterior segment optical coherence tomography(AS-OCT)were performed and statistically analyzed.RESULTS: A total of 178 cases(178 eyes), with a mean age of 54.39±10.75 years old, were recruited, including 75 males(42.1%)and 103 females(57.9%). The average values of ocular surface parameters in these patients included OSDI: 11.47±9.69, tear film break-up time: 7.10±3.86 s; tear meniscus height: 0.16±0.07 mm, Schirmer I test values: 14.39±7.29 mm/5 min, and pterygium thickness: 504.74±175.87 μm. Totally 161 eyes(90.4%)presented with abnormal lid margin, 44 eyes(24.7%)presented with meibomian gland dropout score ≥4, 52 eyes(29.2%)presented with low lipid layer thickness. In the 6 objective examinations, abnormalities in at least 4 of these tests were found in 85.4% of eyes. Pterygium morphology was classified into four grades: 10 eyes(5.6%)of grade Ⅰ, 93 eyes(52.2%)of grade Ⅱ, 60 eyes(33.7%)of grade Ⅲ, and 15 eyes(8.4%)of grade Ⅳ. In patients with a higher grade of pterygium, the tear film break-up time was lower, and the proportion of abnormal lid margin was also significantly higher(P<0.05). The patients were further divided into two subgroups, including 121 eyes(68.0%)with normal OSDI <13 in the normal group and 57 eyes(32.0%)with OSDI ≥13 in the abnormal group. No significant difference was found in the proportion of meibomian gland dysfunction between the two groups of patients(71.9% vs. 71.9%, P=0.872). In addition, there were differences in the number of abnormal objective examinations(4.11±0.85 vs. 4.91±0.99, P<0.001).CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic ocular surface abnormalities were present preoperatively in patients hospitalized for primary pterygium. A comparable high incidence of structural or functional meibomian gland dysfunction existed in pterygium patients with or without apparent ocular discomfort. More attention should be paid to the ocular surface abnormalities in those asymptomatic patients before primary pterygium surgery.
4.Research progress on the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine intervening in esophageal cancer by microRNA regulation
Zhiwen SHEN ; Liqun LI ; Mingyao XU ; Xin LIU ; Jing HUANG ; Xiaoning ZHANG ; Jiaqi YIN ; Sheng XIE
China Pharmacy 2024;35(8):1016-1022
Esophageal cancer (EC) is a common malignant tumor of the digestive system with an extremely poor prognosis. MicroRNA (miRNA) is an important regulator in tumor occurrence and development, and can participate in malignant biological behaviors such as tumor cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis and apoptosis. Traditional Chinese medicine has the characteristics of accurate curative effects, wide range of effects, and few side effects. The review uses miRNA as the entry point to systematically elaborate on the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine-mediated miRNA intervening in EC. The results showed that active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine (including curcumin, Tussilago farfara polysaccharides, Atractylodes macrocephala polysaccharides and ophiopogonin B) and Dougen guanshitong oral liquid could up-regulate the expressions of miRNAs such as miRNA-532-3p (miR-532-3p), miR-551b-3p, miR-99a, miR-34a, miR-199a-3p and miR-377; and the active ingredients/parts of traditional Chinese medicine (including chrysin and Actinidia arguta extract), and Chinese herbal formulas (including Chaihu shugan san combined with Xuanfu daizhe decoction and Modified jupi zhuru decoction) could down-regulate the expressions of miRNAs such as miR-199a-3p, miR-451 and miR-21, which could regulate the expressions of signaling pathways (phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B, etc.) or their downstream protein(zinc-finger and homeobox protein 1, etc.) or enzymes(thymidine kinase-1, etc.), inhibit the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of EC cells and induce apoptosis, thereby ultimately achieving the purpose of preventing the disease from aggravating.
5.The evolution of robotics:research and application progress of dental implant robotic systems
Liu CHEN ; Liu YUCHEN ; Xie RUI ; Li ZHIWEN ; Bai SHIZHU ; Zhao YIMIN
International Journal of Oral Science 2024;16(2):173-185
The use of robots to augment human capabilities and assist in work has long been an aspiration.Robotics has been developing since the 1960s when the first industrial robot was introduced.As technology has advanced,robotic-assisted surgery has shown numerous advantages,including more precision,efficiency,minimal invasiveness,and safety than is possible with conventional techniques,which are research hotspots and cutting-edge trends.This article reviewed the history of medical robot development and seminal research papers about current research progress.Taking the autonomous dental implant robotic system as an example,the advantages and prospects of medical robotic systems would be discussed which would provide a reference for future research.
6.Quality evaluation of Siraitiae fructus standard decoction based on UPLC fingerprint and multi-index determination
Fangping ZHANG ; Cuijie WEI ; Xiaoxia LIU ; Wenkai XIE ; Yuanyuan CHEN ; Zhiwen DUAN ; Yongwei FENG ; Minyou HE ; Roushan CHEN ; Dongmei SUN ; Lin ZHOU ; Zhenyu LI
China Pharmacist 2024;28(11):397-405
Objective To establish an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography(UPLC)fingerprint and multi-index content determination method of Siraitiae fructus standard decoction.Methods 15 batches of Siraitiae fructus from different producing areas were collected,Siraitiae fructus standard decoction was prepared according to Technical Requirements for Quality Control and Standardization of Traditional Chinese Medicine Formula Granules,and the extract rate was calculated.UPLC was used to establish the fingerprint of 15 batches of Siraitiae fructus standard decoction and determine the contents of 11-O-mogroside V,kaempferitrin and mogroside V,which were the main effective components.The chemometrics analysis was used to evaluate the quality of Siraitiae fructus standard decoction and find possible quality markers.Results The extraction rate of 15 batches Siraitiae fructus standard decoction ranged from 24.79%to 34.95%.There were 16 common peaks in the fingerprint,and 4 components were identified.The Siraitiae fructus standard decoction was divided into 2 categories by chemometrics analysis,among which samples from Liuzhou,Guangxi were in one category and samples from Guilin,Guangxi were in another category.Seven differential markers were screened out under the condition of variable importance projection value,and the order was as follows:peak 8>peak 7>peak 5>peak 12(kaempferitrin)>peak 1>peak 13>peak 4.The contents of kaempferitrin,11-O-mogroside V and mogroside V in samples from Guilin,Guangxi were slightly higher than those in samples from Liuzhou,Guangxi.Conclusion The UPLC fingerprint and content determination method established in this study are feasible,which can provide a basis for the quality evaluation of Siraitiae fructus.The results of principal component analysis show that kaempferol is likely to become a quality marker of Siraitiae fructus.
7.Chloroplast genomic characterization and phylogenetic analysis of Castanopsis hystrix.
Guangyu XUE ; Zhiwen DENG ; Xueping ZHU ; Junduo WU ; Shitao DONG ; Xianjin XIE ; Ji ZENG
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2023;39(2):670-684
The structure and size of the chloroplast genome of Castanopsis hystrix was determined by Illumina HiSeq 2500 sequencing platform to understand the difference between C. hystrix and the chloroplast genome of the same genus, and the evolutionary position of C. hystrix in the genus, so as to facilitate species identification, genetic diversity analysis and resource conservation of the genus. Bioinformatics analysis was used to perform sequence assembly, annotation and characteristic analysis. R, Python, MISA, CodonW and MEGA 6 bioinformatics software were used to analyze the genome structure and number, codon bias, sequence repeats, simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci and phylogeny. The genome size of C. hystrix chloroplast was 153 754 bp, showing tetrad structure. A total of 130 genes were identified, including 85 coding genes, 37 tRNA genes and 8 rRNA genes. According to codon bias analysis, the average number of effective codons was 55.5, indicating that the codons were highly random and low in bias. Forty-five repeats and 111 SSR loci were detected by SSR and long repeat fragment analysis. Compared with the related species, chloroplast genome sequences were highly conserved, especially the protein coding sequences. Phylogenetic analysis showed that C. hystrix is closely related to the Hainanese cone. In summary, we obtained the basic information and phylogenetic position of the chloroplast genome of red cone, which will provide a preliminary basis for species identification, genetic diversity of natural populations and functional genomics research of C. hystrix.
Phylogeny
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Genome, Chloroplast
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Codon/genetics*
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Genomics
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Chloroplasts/genetics*
8.Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention in Colorectal Cancer Based on NF-κB Signaling Pathway: A Review
Mingyao XU ; Liqun LI ; Xin LIU ; Zhiwen SHEN ; Xiaoning ZHANG ; Jing HUANG ; Jiaqi YIN ; Zhu LIU ; Sheng XIE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(19):243-256
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with increasing incidence and mortality rates. The disease often develops covertly and lacks specific symptoms in its early stages, leading to late-stage diagnoses in most patients. It has become a prominent research topic in the field of digestive system tumors. The exact mechanisms underlying CRC are not yet clear and involve factors such as genetics, gene mutations, inflammatory responses, and aberrant activation of tumor-related signaling pathways. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) is a crucial transcription factor that participates in various biological processes, including inflammatory responses, immune responses, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Research suggests that NF-κB, serving as a molecular link between inflammation and cancer, is highly expressed in CRC. It promotes the occurrence and development of CRC by regulating the activity of target genes such as cell pro-inflammatory factors, chemokines, angiogenic factors, metastasis factors, and anti-apoptotic proteins. Currently, common treatments for CRC include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy drugs like 5-fluorouracil. However, these treatments have limitations such as significant adverse reactions, high metastasis rates, and the development of drug resistance. Therefore, the search for effective, low-adverse-reaction drugs to replace or supplement current treatments is essential. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has shown some effectiveness in preventing and treating CRC. TCM has been found to inhibit the growth of CRC cells by modulating the NF-κB signaling pathway, playing a positive role in the occurrence and progression of CRC. Based on the asthenia in origin and sthenia in superficiality and deficiency-excess in complexity in CRC, this article summarized and analyzed the mechanisms and effects of TCM interventions targeting the NF-κB signaling pathway in CRC, and reviewed advances of 10 Chinese medicinal compound formulas and 37 Chinese medicinal monomer components of different types, including flavonoids, phenols, alkaloids, glycosides, and terpenoids with the effects of dispelling pathogenic factors, reinforcing healthy qi, and removing toxins in the prevention and treatment of CRC by targeting the NF-κB pathway. It is found that Chinese medicine can inhibit CRC cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, and inflammation by modulating the NF-κB signaling pathway, induce cell apoptosis, restore drug and radiation sensitivity, and counteract CRC. This article is expected to provide insights and references for the in-depth exploration and treatment of CRC mechanisms.
9.Study progress on traditional Chinese medicine monomer intervening in pancreatic cancer by regulating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway
Mingyao XU ; Jing HUANG ; Zhiwen SHEN ; Xiaoning ZHANG ; Xin LIU ; Jiaqi YIN ; Zhu LIU ; Liqun LI ; Sheng XIE
China Pharmacy 2023;34(19):2427-2432
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most destructive malignant tumors; the pathogenesis of this disease is complex and is closely related to genetic susceptibility, chronic pancreatitis, and gene mutations in signaling pathways. The phosphoinositide 3- kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway is a classical cancer signaling pathway that is aberrantly activated in pancreatic cancer cells. In recent years, it has been found that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) monomers show special activity in the treatment of pancreatic cancer and can be potential drug for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Based on PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, this paper summarizes the mechanism of TCM monomer intervening in pancreatic cancer and finds that TCM monomer of alkaloids (sinomenine, dictamnine, dauricine, etc.), terpenoids (saikosaponin A, linderalactone, isoalantolactone, etc.), phenols (6-gingerol, curcumin, pterostilbene, etc.), flavonoids (fisetin, kaempferol, quercetin, etc.) and quinones (β-hydroxyisovaleryl shikonin, rhein, lucidone, etc.) can inhibit the proliferation, invasion and migration of pancreatic cancer cells, regulate autophagy and apoptosis, and then inhibit the pathological process of pancreatic cancer by inhibiting PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
10.Review of research on anti-gastric cancer mechanism of TCM compounds
Simiao LIU ; Jingri XIE ; Xianjun RAO ; Guangye LIANG ; Zhiwen SUN ; Xi GAO
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2023;45(7):916-920
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) shows unique advantages in the field of adjuvant treatment of gastric cancer. The main mechanism of TCM in improving gastric cancer includes regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis, reversing cell resistance, reducing the ability of invasion and metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation, regulating immune function, inhibiting neovascularization, regulating autophagy exosome, and ferroptosis.

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