1.Influenza A virus infection activates TLR3-mediated necroptosis
Weijie LI ; Congying HUANG ; Ziling ZENG ; Xiang LI ; Jia XU ; Tian GONG ; Hao ZHANG ; Xinyan ZHANG ; Ping WANG ; Yuanjia HU ; Haiyu XU ; Lijuan SONG
Science of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2026;4(1):40-49
Background: Influenza A virus (IAV) is a negative-sense RNA virus of the Orthomyxoviridae family and is the etiological agent of a highly contagious acute respiratory disease that can lead to acute lung injury. Objective: To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of IAV infection, an integrative research approach combining gene expression profiling, multinetwork analysis, and in vivo experimental validations was employed. Methods: First, a series of network-based analyses were performed, including protein-protein interaction network construction, weighted gene co-expression network analysis, and subsequent gene set enrichment analysis, to identify the major underlying mechanisms of IAV infection. Following gene expression analysis, core targets, both direct and indirect regulators, were screened. An IAV (H1N1) strain A/PR/8/34-induced acute lung injury mouse model was constructed for in vivo validations. Batch one included two groups to evaluate findings from the multi-network analysis: Mock (n = 10; 5 males and 5 females) and IAV (n = 10; 5 males and 5 females). Batch two included three groups to assess the role of toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) in IAV infection: Mock (n = 6; 3 males and 3 females), IAV (n = 6; 3 males and 3 females), and TLR3 inhibitor (n = 6; 3 males and 3 females). Body weight was measured on days 0, 3, and 5 after infection. On day 5, lung tissues were collected to assess viral load and histopathological changes. Key targets were examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining, both in sera and lung tissues. Results: IAV infection was significantly associated with dysregulation of the immune-inflammation system, such as the LTR, nucle-otide-binding oligomerization domain-(NOD) like receptor, retinoic acid-inducible gene I-like receptor, and nuclear factor kappa-B signaling pathways. Gene set enrichment analysis further indicated that the TLR and necroptosis signaling pathways played crucial roles in the progression of IAV infection (TLR signaling pathway normalized enrichment score = 2.3941, P = 1.00 × 10 −10; necroptosis normalized enrichment score = 1.9421, P = 6.21 × 10 −7). Among the core targets, TLR3 and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) may regulate gene expression at the transcriptional level (all P < 0.05). In vivo validation using an IAV (PR8) infected acute lung injury mouse model demonstrated increased viral load and lung index, alveolar structural damage, and inflammatory cell infiltration. Immunofluorescence staining exhibited large gaps in Lamin B1 staining and breaches in Emerin signals following IAV-PR8 infection. Expression levels of TLR3, p-receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 3 (RIPK3)/RIPK3, and p-mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL)/MLKL proteins in lung tissues, as well as proinflammatory factors and mediators in sera, were significantly elevated after IAV infection. Moreover, enhanced neutrophil infiltration (myeloperoxidase) and citrullinated histone H3 (a neutrophil extracellular trap-specific marker), both established indicators of neutrophil extracellular trap formation, were observed. Notably, treatment with a TLR3 inhibitor significantly ameliorated IAV-induced acute lung injury by regulating necroptosis-related targets. Conclusion: Our study provides network-based in vivo evidence that TLR3-receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 3-MLKL-mediated necroptosis may underlie IAV-induced acute lung injury and could serve as a potential therapeutic target in severe influenza cases.
2.Study on Compatibility and Efficacy of Blood-activating Herb Pairs Based on Graph Convolution Network
Jingai WANG ; Qikai NIU ; Wenjing ZONG ; Ziling ZENG ; Siwei TIAN ; Siqi ZHANG ; Yuwen ZHAO ; Huamin ZHANG ; Bingjie HUO ; Bing LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(8):228-234
ObjectiveThis study aims to develop a prediction model for the compatibility of Chinese medicinal pairs based on Graph Convolutional Networks (GCN), named HC-GCN. The model integrates the properties of herbs with modern pharmacological mechanisms to predict pairs with specific therapeutic effects. It serves as a demonstration by applying the model to predict and validate the efficacy of blood-activating herb pairs. MethodsThe training dataset for herb pair prediction was constructed by systematically collecting commonly used herb pairs along with their characteristic data, including Qi, flavor, meridian tropism, and target genes. Integrating traditional characteristics of herb with modern bioinformatics, we developed an efficacy-oriented herb pair compatibility prediction model (HC-GCN) using graph convolutional networks (GCN). This model leverages machine learning to capture the complex relationships in herb pair compatibility, weighted by efficacy features. The performance of the HC-GCN model was evaluated using accuracy (ACC), recall, precision, F1 score (F1), and area under the ROC curve (AUC). Its predictive effectiveness was then compared to five other machine learning models: eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), logistic regression (LR), Naive Bayes, K-nearest neighbor (KNN), and support vector machine (SVM). ResultsUsing herb pairs with blood-activating effects as a demonstration, a prediction model was constructed based on a foundational dataset of 46 blood-activating herb pairs, incorporating their Qi, flavor, meridian tropism, and target gene characteristics. The HC-GCN model outperforms other commonly used machine learning models in key performance metrics, including ACC, recall, precision, F1 score, and AUC. Through the predictive analysis of the HC-GCN model, 60 herb pairs with blood-activating effects were successfully identified. Among of these potential herb pairs, 44 include at least one herb with blood-activating effects. ConclusionIn this study, we established an efficacy-oriented compatibility prediction model for herb pairs based on GCN by integrating the unique characteristics of traditional herbs with modern pharmacological mechanisms. This model demonstrated high predictive performance, offering a novel approach for the intelligent screening and optimization of traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions, as well as their clinical applications.
3.Expression of lymphocyte subsets in the bone marrow of patients with acute myeloid leukemia and its influence on prognosis
Jinhong NIE ; Jiebing XIAO ; Yingchun SHAO ; Chenghui LI ; Lu GAO ; Xiao MA ; Xiaojin WU ; Ziling ZHU
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(7):902-908
Objective: To explore the correlation between the composition of bone marrow lymphocyte subsets and the clinical attributes observed in de novo AML patients, as well as their influence on prognosis. Methods: A detailed study was carried out on a cohort of 191 de novo acute myeloid leukemia patients who were admitted to our medical center between October 2022 and September 2024. In addition, a group of 24 patients with iron deficiency anemia individuals was carefully chosen as the control cohort. The proportions of lymphocyte subsets within the bone marrow of de novo AML patients were analyzed. Furthermore, an in-depth analysis was performed to investigate the association between the expression levels of these subsets in de novo AML patients and their clinical attributes, as well as their prognostic implications. Results: The proportion of CD19
and CD56
lymphocytes within the bone marrow of de novo AML patients significantly diminished compared to the control cohort (8.5% vs 13.2% P<0.05, and 15.5% vs 18.0%, P<0.05). Conversely, no significant discrepancies were observed in the CD3
, CD3
CD4
, and CD3
CD8
lymphocyte percentages between the AML patients and control group (71.7% vs 72.1%, 32.5% vs 33.7% and 32.8% vs 35.7%, P>0.05). When analyzing the relationships between lymphocyte subsets within the bone marrow of de novo patients and their respective clinical characteristics, patients aged 60 years and above exhibited diminished percentages of CD3
CD8
lymphocytes in the bone marrow compared to their younger counterparts (31.6% vs 34.1%, P<0.05), while the CD56
lymphocyte subsets demonstrated an increased prevalence (17.2% vs 14.4%, P<0.05). Furthermore, patients with leukocytosis (WBC≥100×10
/L) presented lower levels of CD3
and CD3
CD4
lymphocytes in the bone marrow compared with those without it (65.3% vs 72.9% P<0.05, and 28.9% vs 33.2%, P<0.05), respectively. The AML1-ETO fusion gene-positive cohort exhibited a higher prevalence of CD3
CD8
lymphocytes in the bone marrow than in the negative group (38.2% vs 32.3%, P<0.05), whereas the FLT3-ITD mutation-positive group presented a decreased prevalence of CD56
lymphocytes compared with the negative group (12.4% vs 16.8%, P<0.05). In addition, the NPM1 mutation-positive group demonstrated lower levels of CD3
CD8
lymphocytes in the bone marrow than in the negative group (29.1% vs 33.3%, P<0.05). Variables such as tumor protein p53(TP53) mutation positive, the absence of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and CD3
CD4
lymphocyte proportions below 25% were identified as independent adverse prognostic indicators for AML patients (P<0.05). Conclusion: The pathogenesis of AML is closely associated with an imbalance in bone marrow lymphocyte subsets. The FLT3-ITD mutation potentially contributes to the dysregulation of CD56
lymphocyte subset expression. The AML1-ETO fusion gene and NPM1 mutation are implicated in the abnormal expression of CD3
CD8
lymphocytes within the bone marrow. Moreover, the percentage of CD3
CD4
lymphocytes in the bone marrow serves as a prognostic factor for de novo AML patients.
4.Professional self-concept of nurses: the influence of work stressors and related factors
Ji CHEN ; Ziling LUO ; Yue SUN ; Lin MA ; Ji LI ; Xiufang LI ; Xiaorong DENG
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(2):178-183
BackgroundThe professional self-concept of nurses is a crucial indicator for their personal growth, development and career planning. Previous studies have shown that work stressors during the internship period may lead to a decrease in the level of professional self-concept among nursing students. Given the existing differences in social roles between nursing students and clinical nurses, the influencing factors of professional self-concept in clinical nurses and its relationship with work stressors require further research. ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between work stressors and professional self-concept among nurses, so as to provide references for improving the level of professional self-concept of clinical nurses. MethodsFrom December 2022 to February 2023, a stratified random sampling method was employed to select 260 in-service nurses from Mianyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine as the study subjects. Chinese Nurses Stressor Scale (CNSS) and Professional Self-concept of Nurses Instrument (PSCNI) were used for assessment. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to examine the correlation between CNSS scores and PSCNI scores of nurses. Multiple linear regression analysis was utilized to explore the factors influencing the professional self-concept of nurses. ResultsA total of 238 nurses (91.54%) completed valid questionnaires. PSCNI total score yielded a statistical difference among nurses with different marital statuses (F=8.947, P<0.05). PSCNI total scores were significantly higher in nurses with emergency medical service experience than those without such experience (t=2.208, P<0.05), and were significantly lower in nurses with abnormal physical examination findings in the past year than those without abnormal findings (t=-2.584, P<0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that CNSS total score and subscale scores were negatively correlated with PSCNI total score (r=-0.275~-0.169, P<0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that work expectation-related stressors, marital status and emergency medical service experience might be influencing factors of their professional self-concept (β=-0.350, 0.345, 0.183, P<0.01). ConclusionNurses' work stressors are closely correlated with their professional self-concept, and high levels of stressors related to nurses' expectations may lead to a decrease in their professional self-concept levels. [Funded by 2021 Research Project of Mianyang Municipal Health Commission (number, 202154)]
5.Application of machine learning models in predicting renal function decline following robot-assisted partial nephrectomy
Jing LI ; Linfeng WANG ; Gaojie ZHANG ; Yong HUANG ; Yingying GAO ; Rui SUN ; Yang CAO ; Qiuchen LI ; Hao HE ; Ziling WEI ; Jiayu LIU
Journal of Chongqing Medical University 2025;50(4):457-462
Objective:To compare the efficacy of various machine learning models in predicting renal function decline after robot-assisted partial nephrectomy(RAPN),and to provide evidence for clinical risk stratification.Methods:This study retrospectively in-cluded the clinical data of 733 patients with renal cell carcinoma undergoing RAPN at the Urology Department of The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 2019 to December 2023.Demographic characteristics,laboratory indicators,and perioperative parameters were integrated to construct seven machine learning models.Key predictors were interpreted using Shap-ley additive explanations(SHAP).Model performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC).Results:The random forest model demonstrated the best predictive performance(AUC=0.84).SHAP analysis identified neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio,tumor diameter,the international normalized ratio of prothrombin time,white blood cell count,and in-traoperative blood loss as significant factors influencing postoperative renal function decline.Conclusion:This study provides a poten-tial predictive tool for clinical practice,aiding in identifying high-risk patients and optimizing postoperative management strategies.
6.House dust mite-induced autophagy affects airway epithelial barrier function through β-catenin-Snail signaling pathway
Ziling ZENG ; Xing WANG ; Hongmei TANG ; Zhibin WANG ; Ning MA ; Yuejiao LI ; Xiaoyun WANG ; Xiefang YUAN ; Guofeng XU ; Qiaoqiao WANG ; Wen ZHANG ; Jiayao DUAN ; Yun ZHANG
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2025;41(9):1309-1318
Objective To investigate the mechanism of autophagy induced by House dust mites(HDM)on airway epithelial tight junction through β-catenin-Snail signaling pathway.Methods Human bronchial epithelial cells(16HBE)were stimulated with HDM at different time points(0,3,6,12,24,48 h)and different concen-trations(0,40,100,200 μg/mL)to screen the appropriate stimulation concentration and stimulation time.16HBE cells were treated with oxidative stress inhibitor N-acetylcysteine(NAC),autophagy inhibitor 3-methylad-enine(3-MA),HDM,and their combinations.Cells were transfected with mCherry-EGFP-LC3B,Beclin-1-siRNA,and ATG14-siRNA lentivirus and then stimulated with NAC and HDM.Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression levels of autophagy-related protein LC3B,tight junction-related proteins Occludin,and ZO-1 in airway epithelial cells.The level of reactive oxygen species(ROS)was detected by using DCFH-DA in each group.The protein expression levels of Occludin,ZO-1,LC3B,Beclin-1,ATG5,ATG14,P62,Snail,β-catenin and p-β-catenin were detected by Western blot method.Results Immunofluorescence results showed that compared with the control group,200 μg/mL HDM stimulation induced cellular autophagy,increased the expression level of LC3B protein,and promoted the level of ROS,all with statistical significances(all P<0.05).Compared with the HDM group,the HDM+3-MA,HDM+ATG14-si,and HDM+Beclin-1-si groupsall showed significantincreases in the expression levels of tight junction-related proteins Occludin and ZO-1(P<0.05).The HDM+NAC group demonstrated significant decreases both in the level of ROS andin the expression level of LC3B protein.Western blot results revealed that compared with HDM,3-MA and autophagy protein low-expression beads(Beclin-1-si,ATG14-si)attenuated HDM-induced cellular autophagy(P<0.05),inhibited HDM-induced upregulation of Snail and p-β-catenin expression,and improved HDM-induced decreases in Occludin and ZO-1(P<0.05).Moreover,compared with the HDM group,the NAC+HDM group exhibited significant decreases both in the conversion of LC3BⅠ to LC3BⅡ(P<0.001)in the protein levels of Snail,p-β-catenin,Beclin-1 and ATG14(P<0.01),but significant increases in the protein levels of Occludin and ZO-1(P<0.05).Conclusion HDM affects the tight connections between airway epithelial cells by inducing autophagy,which may be attributed to the β-catenin-Snail signaling pathway.
7.Study on the Medication Law of Amenorrhea in Southwest China Based on Hypergraph
Siwei TIAN ; Wei ZHANG ; Bing LI ; Weijie LI ; Jing'ai WANG ; Jialun WANG ; Huamin ZHANG ; Ziling ZENG
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(5):55-61
Objective To explore the compatibility law of amenorrhea and commonly used local herbs in southwest China using hypergraph;To provide drug choice for the clinical treatment of modern TCM amenorrhea and promote the development and utilization of local Chinese materia medica resources.Methods In this study,the data of prescriptions for the treatment of amenorrhea in Southwest China were used as the data source.By constructing formulas related to amenorrhea-hypergraph(AFR-HG),the topological structure of AFR-HG was analyzed,and the core subnet was extracted according to the node weighted hypercentrality.Based on the sub-network AFR-HG-p1 extracted from the top 20 kinds of Chinese materia medica in AFR-HG,the Kumar algorithm was used to divide the efficacy community network.Results A total of 123 amenorrhea prescriptions were included in this study.Angelicae Sinensis Radix,Carthami Flos,Cyperi Rhizoma,Chuanxiong Rhizoma and other drugs with the efficacy of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis,soothing liver and regulating qi,and warming and tonifying were the main drugs with high frequency.Three layers of core subnets were extracted layer by layer through weighted hyper-centrality sorting.The first layer contained Angelicae Sinensis Radix,Chuanxiong Rhizoma,Hyperici Sampsonii Herba,etc.;the second layer of drugs were mainly Lycopi Herba,Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma,Bombycis Feculae,etc.;the third layer of drugs were mainly Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma Rubra,Moutan Cortex,Sargentodoxae Caulis and other drugs;based on the top 20 node overdose drugs,community drugs were obtained through community detection:the first community subnet was Armeniacae Semen Amarum,Draconis Sanguis,Corydalis Rhizoma,etc.,the second community subnet was Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma,Rosae Chinensis Flos,Hyperici Sampsonii Herba,etc.,and the third community subnet was Akebiae Caulis,Homalomenae Rhizoma,Bombycis Feculae,etc.Conclusion In prescriptions of amenorrhea in Southwest China,the treatment principles are basically consistent with modern clinical practice.In addition to commonly used drugs,local herbal medicines and similar medicines are also common.It is of great value to explore the rules of prescriptions for the development and utilization of Chinese materia medica resources.
8.Expression of lymphocyte subsets in the bone marrow of patients with acute myeloid leukemia and its influence on prognosis
Jinhong NIE ; Jiebing XIAO ; Yingchun SHAO ; Chenghui LI ; Lu GAO ; Xiao MA ; Xiaojin WU ; Ziling ZHU
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(7):902-908
Objective: To explore the correlation between the composition of bone marrow lymphocyte subsets and the clinical attributes observed in de novo AML patients, as well as their influence on prognosis. Methods: A detailed study was carried out on a cohort of 191 de novo acute myeloid leukemia patients who were admitted to our medical center between October 2022 and September 2024. In addition, a group of 24 patients with iron deficiency anemia individuals was carefully chosen as the control cohort. The proportions of lymphocyte subsets within the bone marrow of de novo AML patients were analyzed. Furthermore, an in-depth analysis was performed to investigate the association between the expression levels of these subsets in de novo AML patients and their clinical attributes, as well as their prognostic implications. Results: The proportion of CD19
and CD56
lymphocytes within the bone marrow of de novo AML patients significantly diminished compared to the control cohort (8.5% vs 13.2% P<0.05, and 15.5% vs 18.0%, P<0.05). Conversely, no significant discrepancies were observed in the CD3
, CD3
CD4
, and CD3
CD8
lymphocyte percentages between the AML patients and control group (71.7% vs 72.1%, 32.5% vs 33.7% and 32.8% vs 35.7%, P>0.05). When analyzing the relationships between lymphocyte subsets within the bone marrow of de novo patients and their respective clinical characteristics, patients aged 60 years and above exhibited diminished percentages of CD3
CD8
lymphocytes in the bone marrow compared to their younger counterparts (31.6% vs 34.1%, P<0.05), while the CD56
lymphocyte subsets demonstrated an increased prevalence (17.2% vs 14.4%, P<0.05). Furthermore, patients with leukocytosis (WBC≥100×10
/L) presented lower levels of CD3
and CD3
CD4
lymphocytes in the bone marrow compared with those without it (65.3% vs 72.9% P<0.05, and 28.9% vs 33.2%, P<0.05), respectively. The AML1-ETO fusion gene-positive cohort exhibited a higher prevalence of CD3
CD8
lymphocytes in the bone marrow than in the negative group (38.2% vs 32.3%, P<0.05), whereas the FLT3-ITD mutation-positive group presented a decreased prevalence of CD56
lymphocytes compared with the negative group (12.4% vs 16.8%, P<0.05). In addition, the NPM1 mutation-positive group demonstrated lower levels of CD3
CD8
lymphocytes in the bone marrow than in the negative group (29.1% vs 33.3%, P<0.05). Variables such as tumor protein p53(TP53) mutation positive, the absence of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and CD3
CD4
lymphocyte proportions below 25% were identified as independent adverse prognostic indicators for AML patients (P<0.05). Conclusion: The pathogenesis of AML is closely associated with an imbalance in bone marrow lymphocyte subsets. The FLT3-ITD mutation potentially contributes to the dysregulation of CD56
lymphocyte subset expression. The AML1-ETO fusion gene and NPM1 mutation are implicated in the abnormal expression of CD3
CD8
lymphocytes within the bone marrow. Moreover, the percentage of CD3
CD4
lymphocytes in the bone marrow serves as a prognostic factor for de novo AML patients.
9.Study on the Medication Law of Amenorrhea in Southwest China Based on Hypergraph
Siwei TIAN ; Wei ZHANG ; Bing LI ; Weijie LI ; Jing'ai WANG ; Jialun WANG ; Huamin ZHANG ; Ziling ZENG
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(5):55-61
Objective To explore the compatibility law of amenorrhea and commonly used local herbs in southwest China using hypergraph;To provide drug choice for the clinical treatment of modern TCM amenorrhea and promote the development and utilization of local Chinese materia medica resources.Methods In this study,the data of prescriptions for the treatment of amenorrhea in Southwest China were used as the data source.By constructing formulas related to amenorrhea-hypergraph(AFR-HG),the topological structure of AFR-HG was analyzed,and the core subnet was extracted according to the node weighted hypercentrality.Based on the sub-network AFR-HG-p1 extracted from the top 20 kinds of Chinese materia medica in AFR-HG,the Kumar algorithm was used to divide the efficacy community network.Results A total of 123 amenorrhea prescriptions were included in this study.Angelicae Sinensis Radix,Carthami Flos,Cyperi Rhizoma,Chuanxiong Rhizoma and other drugs with the efficacy of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis,soothing liver and regulating qi,and warming and tonifying were the main drugs with high frequency.Three layers of core subnets were extracted layer by layer through weighted hyper-centrality sorting.The first layer contained Angelicae Sinensis Radix,Chuanxiong Rhizoma,Hyperici Sampsonii Herba,etc.;the second layer of drugs were mainly Lycopi Herba,Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma,Bombycis Feculae,etc.;the third layer of drugs were mainly Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma Rubra,Moutan Cortex,Sargentodoxae Caulis and other drugs;based on the top 20 node overdose drugs,community drugs were obtained through community detection:the first community subnet was Armeniacae Semen Amarum,Draconis Sanguis,Corydalis Rhizoma,etc.,the second community subnet was Rubiae Radix et Rhizoma,Rosae Chinensis Flos,Hyperici Sampsonii Herba,etc.,and the third community subnet was Akebiae Caulis,Homalomenae Rhizoma,Bombycis Feculae,etc.Conclusion In prescriptions of amenorrhea in Southwest China,the treatment principles are basically consistent with modern clinical practice.In addition to commonly used drugs,local herbal medicines and similar medicines are also common.It is of great value to explore the rules of prescriptions for the development and utilization of Chinese materia medica resources.
10.House dust mite-induced autophagy affects airway epithelial barrier function through β-catenin-Snail signaling pathway
Ziling ZENG ; Xing WANG ; Hongmei TANG ; Zhibin WANG ; Ning MA ; Yuejiao LI ; Xiaoyun WANG ; Xiefang YUAN ; Guofeng XU ; Qiaoqiao WANG ; Wen ZHANG ; Jiayao DUAN ; Yun ZHANG
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2025;41(9):1309-1318
Objective To investigate the mechanism of autophagy induced by House dust mites(HDM)on airway epithelial tight junction through β-catenin-Snail signaling pathway.Methods Human bronchial epithelial cells(16HBE)were stimulated with HDM at different time points(0,3,6,12,24,48 h)and different concen-trations(0,40,100,200 μg/mL)to screen the appropriate stimulation concentration and stimulation time.16HBE cells were treated with oxidative stress inhibitor N-acetylcysteine(NAC),autophagy inhibitor 3-methylad-enine(3-MA),HDM,and their combinations.Cells were transfected with mCherry-EGFP-LC3B,Beclin-1-siRNA,and ATG14-siRNA lentivirus and then stimulated with NAC and HDM.Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression levels of autophagy-related protein LC3B,tight junction-related proteins Occludin,and ZO-1 in airway epithelial cells.The level of reactive oxygen species(ROS)was detected by using DCFH-DA in each group.The protein expression levels of Occludin,ZO-1,LC3B,Beclin-1,ATG5,ATG14,P62,Snail,β-catenin and p-β-catenin were detected by Western blot method.Results Immunofluorescence results showed that compared with the control group,200 μg/mL HDM stimulation induced cellular autophagy,increased the expression level of LC3B protein,and promoted the level of ROS,all with statistical significances(all P<0.05).Compared with the HDM group,the HDM+3-MA,HDM+ATG14-si,and HDM+Beclin-1-si groupsall showed significantincreases in the expression levels of tight junction-related proteins Occludin and ZO-1(P<0.05).The HDM+NAC group demonstrated significant decreases both in the level of ROS andin the expression level of LC3B protein.Western blot results revealed that compared with HDM,3-MA and autophagy protein low-expression beads(Beclin-1-si,ATG14-si)attenuated HDM-induced cellular autophagy(P<0.05),inhibited HDM-induced upregulation of Snail and p-β-catenin expression,and improved HDM-induced decreases in Occludin and ZO-1(P<0.05).Moreover,compared with the HDM group,the NAC+HDM group exhibited significant decreases both in the conversion of LC3BⅠ to LC3BⅡ(P<0.001)in the protein levels of Snail,p-β-catenin,Beclin-1 and ATG14(P<0.01),but significant increases in the protein levels of Occludin and ZO-1(P<0.05).Conclusion HDM affects the tight connections between airway epithelial cells by inducing autophagy,which may be attributed to the β-catenin-Snail signaling pathway.

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