1.Mechanism of Zuoguiwan in Inhibiting Osteoclast Activation Induced by Breast Cancer via Regulating p38 MAPK/ERK Signaling Pathway
Jianjiang FU ; Yinlong MEI ; Junchao MA ; Xiaocui ZHU ; Wei WANG ; Hong LYU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(1):1-9
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Zuoguiwan on osteoclast activation induced by breast cancer and its mechanism. MethodsTo simulate breast cancer-induced osteoclastic bone metastasis, RAW264.7 cells were cultured in conditioned medium containing 50% supernatant of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. The dosages of Zuoguiwan used in the experiment were sera containing 5% and 10% Zuoguiwan. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining was used to detect osteoclast activation. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure Cathepsin K secretion from RAW264.7 cells. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of osteocalcin (OCN) and bone sialoprotein (BSP). Immunoprecipitation was employed to detect the interaction between Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) and core binding factor β subunit (CBF-β). Western blot was used to assess the protein expression of Runx2, phosphorylated Runx2 (p-Runx2), extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2), p-ERK1/2, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), p-p38 MAPK, and CBF-β. ResultsCompared with the blank group, the MDA-MB-231 cell supernatant group showed a significant increase in TRAP-positive cell counts and Cathepsin K secretion. Meanwhile, the expression levels of p-Runx2, Runx2-CBF-β interaction, BSP and OCN mRNA, p-p38 MAPK, and p-ERK1/2 proteins were significantly decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the MDA-MB-231 cell supernatant group, Zuoguiwan-containing sera significantly reduced TRAP-positive cell counts and Cathepsin K secretion (P<0.01), significantly increased p-Runx2, BSP and OCN mRNA expression, as well as p-p38 MAPK and p-ERK1/2 protein levels, and promoted the interaction between Runx2 and CBF-β (P<0.01). No significant change in Runx2 expression was observed. Compared to the blank group, the BVD-523 group showed significantly lower expression of p-p38 MAPK and p-ERK1/2 proteins (P<0.01). Compared with the BVD-523 group, both low and high concentration Zuoguiwan-containing sera groups showed significantly higher p-p38 MAPK expression (P<0.01), and the high concentration Zuoguiwan group also exhibited a significant increase in p-ERK1/2 expression (P<0.01), while no statistical difference was found in the low-dose group. ConclusionZuoguiwan inhibits osteoclast activation by inducing phosphorylation of the key transcriptional regulator Runx2 in intra-osteoclast bone formation, and this process is closely associated with the activation of the p38 MAPK/ERK signaling pathway.
2.Role of SWI/SNF Chromatin Remodeling Complex in Tumor Drug Resistance
Gui-Zhen ZHU ; Qiao YE ; Yuan LUO ; Jie PENG ; Lu WANG ; Zhao-Ting YANG ; Feng-Sen DUAN ; Bing-Qian GUO ; Zhu-Song MEI ; Guang-Yun WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):20-31
Tumor drug resistance is an important problem in the failure of chemotherapy and targeted drug therapy, which is a complex process involving chromatin remodeling. SWI/SNF is one of the most studied ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes in tumorigenesis, which plays an important role in the coordination of chromatin structural stability, gene expression, and post-translation modification. However, its mechanism in tumor drug resistance has not been systematically combed. SWI/SNF can be divided into 3 types according to its subunit composition: BAF, PBAF, and ncBAF. These 3 subtypes all contain two mutually exclusive ATPase catalytic subunits (SMARCA2 or SMARCA4), core subunits (SMARCC1 and SMARCD1), and regulatory subunits (ARID1A, PBRM1, and ACTB, etc.), which can control gene expression by regulating chromatin structure. The change of SWI/SNF complex subunits is one of the important factors of tumor drug resistance and progress. SMARCA4 and ARID1A are the most widely studied subunits in tumor drug resistance. Low expression of SMARCA4 can lead to the deletion of the transcription inhibitor of the BCL2L1 gene in mantle cell lymphoma, which will result in transcription up-regulation and significant resistance to the combination therapy of ibrutinib and venetoclax. Low expression of SMARCA4 and high expression of SMARCA2 can activate the FGFR1-pERK1/2 signaling pathway in ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma cells, which induces the overexpression of anti-apoptosis gene BCL2 and results in carboplatin resistance. SMARCA4 deletion can up-regulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by activating YAP1 gene expression in triple-negative breast cancer. It can also reduce the expression of Ca2+ channel IP3R3 in ovarian and lung cancer, resulting in the transfer of Ca2+ needed to induce apoptosis from endoplasmic reticulum to mitochondria damage. Thus, these two tumors are resistant to cisplatin. It has been found that verteporfin can overcome the drug resistance induced by SMARCA4 deletion. However, this inhibitor has not been applied in clinical practice. Therefore, it is a promising research direction to develop SWI/SNF ATPase targeted drugs with high oral bioavailability to treat patients with tumor resistance induced by low expression or deletion of SMARCA4. ARID1A deletion can activate the expression of ANXA1 protein in HER2+ breast cancer cells or down-regulate the expression of progesterone receptor B protein in endometrial cancer cells. The drug resistance of these two tumor cells to trastuzumab or progesterone is induced by activating AKT pathway. ARID1A deletion in ovarian cancer can increase the expression of MRP2 protein and make it resistant to carboplatin and paclitaxel. ARID1A deletion also can up-regulate the phosphorylation levels of EGFR, ErbB2, and RAF1 oncogene proteins.The ErbB and VEGF pathway are activated and EMT is increased. As a result, lung adenocarcinoma is resistant to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs). Although great progress has been made in the research on the mechanism of SWI/SNF complex inducing tumor drug resistance, most of the research is still at the protein level. It is necessary to comprehensively and deeply explore the detailed mechanism of drug resistance from gene, transcription, protein, and metabolite levels by using multi-omics techniques, which can provide sufficient theoretical basis for the diagnosis and treatment of poor tumor prognosis caused by mutation or abnormal expression of SWI/SNF subunits in clinical practice.
3.Comparative Efficacy of Amiodarone and Lidocaine in Patients with Cardiac Arrest: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Zhimao LI ; Dandi WANG ; Ting ZHANG ; Qimin MEI ; Yecheng LIU ; Huadong ZHU
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(2):406-415
To investigate the efficacy of amiodarone and lidocaine in cardiac arrest patients. We searched the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases through to January 1, 2024. All studies comparing lidocaine, amiodarone, and placebo for cardiac arrest were included. Meta-analysis was performed, and the primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge. Secondary outcomes was survival to 24 h or hospital admission. Three RCTs and seven non-randomized intervention studies were included. Compared with placebo, amiodarone can improve the likelihood of survival to 24 h/hospital admission ( Limited RCTs directly compared amiodarone and lidocaine. No significant difference was found between amiodarone and lidocaine in improving 24 h/admission survival rate in RCTs. While compared to amiodarone and placebo, lidocaine can improve 24 h/admission survival rate and discharge survival rate in non-randomized intervention studies.
4.Role and mechanism of T helper 17 cells/regulatory T cells immune balance regulated by the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway mediated in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
Qian WANG ; Kaiyang LI ; Mei YANG ; Hang ZHANG ; Shengjin ZHU ; Qi ZHAO ; Jing HUANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(5):942-947
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by hepatocyte fatty degeneration and ballooning degeneration, and it plays an important role in the progression of hepatic steatosis. Recent studies have shown that immune homeostasis imbalance between T helper 17 (Th17) and regulatory T (Treg) cells are closely associated with the pathological process of NASH. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is a key cytokine for regulating the differentiation and proliferation of Th17/Treg cells, and TGF-β1 binds to its receptor and activates the Smad signaling pathway, thereby regulating the immune balance of Th17/Treg cells and the expression of inflammatory factors and participating in the repair of liver inflammation. This article systematically reviews the molecular mechanism of the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway in affecting NASH by regulating the immune balance of Th17/Treg cells, in order to provide a theoretical basis for the research on the pathogenesis of NASH and related treatment strategies.
5.Two new sesquiterpenoids from Wenyujin Rhizoma Concisum.
Yu LI ; Min CHEN ; Cheng ZHU ; Ci-Mei WU ; Chao-Jie WANG ; Jian-Yong DONG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(10):2704-2710
This study explored the active ingredients for anti-angiogenesis in Wenyujin Rhizoma Concisum. Ten sesquiterpenoids were isolated from Wenyujin Rhizoma Concisum by silica gel column chromatography, thin layer chromatography, and high performance liquid chromatography. According to the results of multiple spectroscopic methods and circular dichroism, they were identified as wenyujinlactam A(1),(4S,7S)11-hydroxycurdione(2), 8,9-seco-4β-hydroxy-1α,5βH-7(11)-guaen-8,10-olide(3), curcumadione(4), phaeocaulisin E(5), procurcumadiol(6), zedouronediol(7), epiprocurcumenol(8), gajutsulactone A(9), and(7Z)-1β,4α-dihydroxy-5α,8β(H)-eudesm-7(11)-en-8,12-olide(10). Compounds 1 and 2 were new sesquiterpenoids. Compounds 1, 6, 8, and 10 can inhibit human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVEC) proliferation with IC_(50) values of 38.83, 45.19, 32.12, and 37.80 μmol·L~(-1), respectively. Compounds 1 and 10 can inhibit HUVEC migration with IC_(50) values of 29.70 and 36.48 μmol·L~(-1), respectively.
Sesquiterpenes/isolation & purification*
;
Humans
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/isolation & purification*
;
Rhizome/chemistry*
;
Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/drug effects*
;
Molecular Structure
;
Cell Proliferation/drug effects*
6.Research progress in pharmacological effects of puerarin.
Xiao-Wei MENG ; Feng-Mei GUO ; Qian-Qian WANG ; Jia-Rong LI ; Ni ZHANG ; Fei QU ; Rong-Hua LIU ; Wei-Feng ZHU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(11):2954-2968
Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), a treasure of the Chinese nation, contains abundant chemical components and demonstrates unique pharmacological activities, showing important values in clinical applications. With profound connotations and broad application prospects, TCM urgently needs us to further explore and conduct systematic research. Puerarin is a small-molecule natural isoflavonoid carbon glycoside extracted from plants of Pueraria. It is also the main active ingredient of Puerariae Lobata Radix, a Chinese herbal medicine with both medicinal and edible values. Puerarin has a variety of pharmacological effects such as blood pressure-lowering, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-ischemia-reperfusion injury, antithrombotic, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, liver-protecting, nerve cell-protecting, and intestinal microbiota-regulating effects. It is also an active ingredient that has been widely studied. This article comprehensively reviews the research progress in the pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms of puerarin over the years, aiming to provide references and theoretical support for the in-depth research and development as well as clinical application of puerarin.
Isoflavones/chemistry*
;
Humans
;
Animals
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*
;
Pueraria/chemistry*
7.Identification and expression analysis of B3 gene family in Panax ginseng.
Yu-Long WANG ; Ai-Min WANG ; Jing-Hui YU ; Si-Zhang LIU ; Ge JIN ; Kang-Yu WANG ; Ming-Zhu ZHAO ; Yi WANG ; Mei-Ping ZHANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(16):4593-4609
Panax ginseng as a perennial herb of Araliaceae, exhibits pharmacological effects such as central nervous system stimulation, anti-tumor properties, and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular protection. The B3 gene family plays a crucial role in growth and development, antioxidant activity, stress resistance, and secondary metabolism regulation of plants and has been extensively studied in various plants. However, the identification and analysis of the B3 gene family in P. ginseng have not been reported. In this study, a total of 145 B3 genes(PgB3s) with complete open reading frames(ORF) were identified from P. ginseng and classified into five subfamilies based on domain types. Through correlation analysis with ginsenoside content, SNP/InDels analysis, and interaction analysis with key enzyme genes, 15 PgB3 transcripts were found to be significantly correlated with ginsenoside content and exhibited a close interaction network with key enzyme genes involved in ginsenoside biosynthesis, which indicated that these genes may participate in the regulation of ginsenoside biosynthesis. Additionally, this study found that PgB3 genes exhibited induced expression in response to methyl jasmonate(MeJA) stress, which aligned with the presence of abundant stress response elements in their promoters, confirming the important role of the B3 gene family in P. ginseng in stress resistance. The results of this study revealed the potential functions of PgB3 genes in ginsenoside biosynthesis and stress response, providing a significant theoretical basis for further research on the functions of PgB3 genes and their regulatory mechanisms.
Panax/metabolism*
;
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
;
Plant Proteins/metabolism*
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Ginsenosides/biosynthesis*
;
Multigene Family
;
Phylogeny
8.Clinical characteristics and prognosis of acute erythroleukemia in children.
Ping ZHU ; Wen-Jing QI ; Ye-Qing TAO ; Ding-Ding CUI ; Guang-Yao SHENG ; Chun-Mei WANG
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(1):88-93
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of acute erythroleukemia (AEL) in children.
METHODS:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data, treatment, and prognosis of 8 children with AEL treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2013 to December 2023.
RESULTS:
Among the 7 patients with complete bone marrow morphological analysis, 4 exhibited trilineage dysplasia, with a 100% incidence of erythroid dysplasia (7/7), a 71% incidence of myeloid dysplasia (5/7), and a 57% incidence of megakaryocytic dysplasia (4/7). Immunophenotyping revealed that myeloid antigens were primarily expressed as CD13, CD33, CD117, CD38, and CD123, with 4 cases expressing erythroid antigens CD71 and 2 cases expressing CD235a. Chromosomal analysis indicated that 2 cases presented with abnormal karyotypes, including +8 in one case and +4 accompanied by +6 in another; no complex karyotypes were observed. Genetic abnormalities were detected in 4 cases, with fusion genes including one case each of dup MLL positive and EVI1 positive, as well as mutations involving KRAS, NRAS, WT1, and UBTF. Seven patients received chemotherapy, with 6 achieving remission after one course of treatment; 2 underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and all had disease-free survival. Follow-up (median follow-up time of 6 months) showed that only 3 patients survived (2 cases after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and 1 case during treatment).
CONCLUSIONS
Children with AEL have unique clinical and biological characteristics, exhibit poor treatment response, and have a poor prognosis; however, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation may improve overall survival rates.
Humans
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Male
;
Female
;
Prognosis
;
Child, Preschool
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Child
;
Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute/diagnosis*
;
Infant
;
Adolescent
9.Application value of thromboelastography in assessing coagulation function in children with severe hemophilia A after emicizumab therapy: a single-center study.
Dong PENG ; Ying WANG ; Gui-Chi ZHOU ; Qian LI ; Mei-Zhu LUO ; Li-Ping LUO ; Ya-Xian KUANG ; Xiao-Ying FU
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(3):293-299
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the application value of thromboelastography (TEG) in assessing coagulation function in children with severe hemophilia A (HA) after emicizumab (EMI) therapy.
METHODS:
A retrospective analysis was performed on the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and TEG testing results of 17 children with severe HA before and after EMI treatment at Shenzhen Children's Hospital from January 2023 to July 2024. Correlation analysis was conducted between coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) equivalent activity and reaction time (R value) measured by TEG.
RESULTS:
After EMI treatment, the mean bleeding rate for children with severe HA was 1.6 events per year, with 15 children (88%) without spontaneous bleeding or joint bleeding. The children with severe HA showed a significant reduction in APTT after EMI treatment (P<0.05), with a significantly shorter APTT than the normal control group (P<0.05). There was no correlation between APTT and FVIII equivalent activity after treatment (P>0.05). After EMI treatment, TEG parameters, including R value, kinetic time, alpha angle (α), maximum amplitude, clot strength, and coagulation index, shifted from a hypocoagulable state before treatment to a nearly normal state after treatment (P<0.05). The R value demonstrated a strong negative correlation with FVIII equivalent activity (r=-0.758, P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
The bleeding condition of children with severe HA can be effectively controlled after EMI treatment. Routine APTT testing cannot reflect true coagulation function, whereas TEG testing is clinically valuable in assessing the coagulation function of children with severe HA undergoing EMI treatment.
Humans
;
Thrombelastography
;
Hemophilia A/physiopathology*
;
Male
;
Child
;
Antibodies, Bispecific/therapeutic use*
;
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/therapeutic use*
;
Blood Coagulation/drug effects*
;
Child, Preschool
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Female
;
Partial Thromboplastin Time
;
Adolescent
;
Infant
10.Genetic and clinical characteristics of children with RAS-mutated juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia.
Yun-Long CHEN ; Xing-Chen WANG ; Chen-Meng LIU ; Tian-Yuan HU ; Jing-Liao ZHANG ; Fang LIU ; Li ZHANG ; Xiao-Juan CHEN ; Ye GUO ; Yao ZOU ; Yu-Mei CHEN ; Ying-Chi ZHANG ; Xiao-Fan ZHU ; Wen-Yu YANG
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(5):548-554
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the genomic characteristics and prognostic factors of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) with RAS mutations.
METHODS:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of JMML children with RAS mutations treated at the Hematology Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, from January 2008 to November 2022.
RESULTS:
A total of 34 children were included, with 17 cases (50%) having isolated NRAS mutations, 9 cases (27%) having isolated KRAS mutations, and 8 cases (24%) having compound mutations. Compared to children with isolated NRAS mutations, those with NRAS compound mutations showed statistically significant differences in age at onset, platelet count, and fetal hemoglobin proportion (P<0.05). Cox proportional hazards regression model analysis revealed that hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and hepatomegaly (≥2 cm below the costal margin) were factors affecting the survival rate of JMML children with RAS mutations (P<0.05); hepatomegaly was a factor affecting survival in the non-HSCT group (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Children with NRAS compound mutations have a later onset age compared to those with isolated NRAS mutations. At initial diagnosis, children with NRAS compound mutations have poorer peripheral platelet and fetal hemoglobin levels than those with isolated NRAS mutations. Liver size at initial diagnosis is related to the prognosis of JMML children with RAS mutations. HSCT can improve the prognosis of JMML children with RAS mutations.
Humans
;
Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Juvenile/therapy*
;
Mutation
;
Male
;
Female
;
Child, Preschool
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Child
;
Infant
;
GTP Phosphohydrolases/genetics*
;
Membrane Proteins/genetics*
;
Adolescent
;
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
;
Proportional Hazards Models
;
Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)/genetics*
;
Prognosis

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