1.Study on the apoptosis-inducing effect of esculetin on acute myeloid leukemia HL-60 cells via regulating the AKT/SKP2/MTH1 pathway
Weihua SONG ; Fuying CHU ; Wei XIE ; Jinliang CHEN ; Ping ZHAO ; Hong QIU ; Jian TAO ; Xiang CHEN
China Pharmacy 2026;37(1):36-41
OBJECTIVE To investigate the apoptosis-inducing effect of esculetin (Esc) on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) HL-60 cells by regulating the protein kinase B (AKT)/S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (SKP2)/MutT homolog 1 (MTH1) pathway. METHODS AML HL-60 cells were randomly divided into control group (routine culture), Esc low-concentration group (L-Esc group, 25 μmol/L Esc), Esc medium-concentration group (M-Esc group, 50 μmol/L Esc), Esc high-concentration group (H-Esc group, 100 μmol/L Esc), and high-concentration of Esc+ SC79 (AKT agonist) group (100 μmol/L Esc+5 μmol/L SC79). Cell proliferation in each group was detected by MTT assay and colony formation assay. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells was measured by using the CM-H2DCFDA fluorescent probe. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. Western blot assay was performed to detect the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins [B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), cleaved caspase-3], AKT/SKP2/MTH1 pathway-related proteins (p-AKT, AKT, SKP2, MTH1), along with the upstream and downstream proteins of AKT phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1 (P21) and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B (P27). RESULTS Compared with control group, the cell viability, colony number, and the phosphorylation levels of AKT and PI3K proteins as well as protein expressions of SKP2, MTH1 and Bcl-2 were significantly decreased (P<0.05), while ROS level, apoptosis rate, and the expression levels of Bax, cleaved caspase-3, P21 and P27 proteins were significantly increased (P<0.05). Moreover, the effects of Esc exhibited concentration-dependence (P<0.05). Compared with H-Esc group, above indexes of high-concentration of Esc+ SC79 group were reversed significantly (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Esc may promote massive ROS production and induce activation of apoptosis in HL-60 cells by inhibiting the AKT/SKP2/MTH1 pathway, thus inhibiting the proliferation of HL-60 cells.
2.Mechanisms and Molecular Networks of Hypoxia-regulated Tumor Cell Dormancy
Mao ZHAO ; Jin-Qiu FENG ; Ze-Qi GAO ; Ping WANG ; Jia FU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(9):2267-2279
Dormant tumor cells constitute a population of cancer cells that reside in a non-proliferative or low-proliferative state, typically arrested in the G0/G1 phase and exhibiting minimal mitotic activity. These cells are commonly observed across multiple cancer types, including breast, lung, and ovarian cancers, and represent a central cellular component of minimal residual disease (MRD) following surgical resection of the primary tumor. Dormant cells are closely associated with long-term clinical latency and late-stage relapse. Due to their quiescent nature, dormant cells are intrinsically resistant to conventional therapies—such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy—that preferentially target rapidly dividing cells. In addition, they display enhanced anti-apoptotic capacity and immune evasion, rendering them particularly difficult to eradicate. More critically, in response to microenvironmental changes or activation of specific signaling pathways, dormant cells can re-enter the cell cycle and initiate metastatic outgrowth or tumor recurrence. This ability to escape dormancy underscores their clinical threat and positions their effective detection and elimination as a major challenge in contemporary cancer treatment. Hypoxia, a hallmark of the solid tumor microenvironment, has been widely recognized as a potent inducer of tumor cell dormancy. However, the molecular mechanisms by which tumor cells sense and respond to hypoxic stress—initiating the transition into dormancy—remain poorly defined. In particular, the lack of a systems-level understanding of the dynamic and multifactorial regulatory landscape has impeded the identification of actionable targets and constrained the development of effective therapeutic strategies. Accumulating evidence indicates that hypoxia-induced dormancy tumor cells are accompanied by a suite of adaptive phenotypes, including cell cycle arrest, global suppression of protein synthesis, metabolic reprogramming, autophagy activation, resistance to apoptosis, immune evasion, and therapy tolerance. These changes are orchestrated by multiple converging signaling pathways—such as PI3K-AKT-mTOR, Ras-Raf-MEK-ERK, and AMPK—that together constitute a highly dynamic and interconnected regulatory network. While individual pathways have been studied in depth, most investigations remain reductionist and fail to capture the temporal progression and network-level coordination underlying dormancy transitions. Systems biology offers a powerful framework to address this complexity. By integrating high-throughput multi-omics data—such as transcriptomics and proteomics—researchers can reconstruct global regulatory networks encompassing the key signaling axes involved in dormancy regulation. These networks facilitate the identification of core regulatory modules and elucidate functional interactions among key effectors. When combined with dynamic modeling approaches—such as ordinary differential equations—these frameworks enable the simulation of temporal behaviors of critical signaling nodes, including phosphorylated AMPK (p-AMPK), phosphorylated S6 (p-S6), and the p38/ERK activity ratio, providing insights into how their dynamic changes govern transitions between proliferation and dormancy. Beyond mapping trajectories from proliferation to dormancy and from shallow to deep dormancy, such dynamic regulatory models support topological analyses to identify central hubs and molecular switches. Key factors—such as NR2F1, mTORC1, ULK1, HIF-1α, and DYRK1A—have emerged as pivotal nodes within these networks and represent promising therapeutic targets. Constructing an integrative, systems-level regulatory framework—anchored in multi-pathway coordination, omics-layer integration, and dynamic modeling—is thus essential for decoding the architecture and progression of tumor dormancy. Such a framework not only advances mechanistic understanding but also lays the foundation for precision therapies targeting dormant tumor cells during the MRD phase, addressing a critical unmet need in cancer management.
3.Cost-effectiveness and mortality risk impact on elderly health management of essential public health services:A case study in Henan Province
Zhi-ping GUO ; Rong-mei LIU ; Neng-guang DAI ; Yi LI ; Tong JIN ; Qiu-ping ZHAO ; Hao SHI ; Chun-rong BAO ; Yan-qing MIAO
Chinese Journal of Health Policy 2025;18(11):17-24
Objective:To evaluate the cost-effectiveness and impact on mortality of health management services for the elderly aged 65 years and older in national essential public health service project.Methods:Based on the data of county-level medical institutions in Henan Province from 2019 to 2024,the Random Forest Method was used to construct a counterfactual framework to predict the hospitalization expenses under the unmanaged scenario,and then the cost-benefit ratio(BCR)and net income were calculated.Time-dependent Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the effect of health management on all-cause mortality and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease mortality in the elderly.Results:A total of 962 955 elderly patients were included,451 119(46.85%)were included in the management group.The average hospitalization cost of the management group was significantly lower than that of the non-management group(P<0.05).Except for 2020-2021,BCRS in 2019 and 2022-2024 were 6.34,2.05,4.45 and 6.60,respectively.The risk of all-cause death was reduced by 76.96%,and the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular death was reduced by 75.57%in the elderly patients included in the management group compared with those not included in the management group.Suggestions:It is necessary to establish a health outcomes-based evaluation system and promote the transformation and upgrading of the service model from single chronic disease management to"integrated health services with multi-disease management".
4.Simultaneous content determination of twenty-one constituents in Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction by HPLC-MS/MS
Qiu-gu CHEN ; Jin-ru WU ; Chang-hui LI ; Shang-bin ZHANG ; Yuan ZHAO ; Jian-ping CHEN
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2025;47(2):365-371
AIM To establish an HPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous content determination of gallic acid,protocatechuic acid,oxypaeoniflorin,catechin,epicatechin,albiflorin,paeoniflorin,rutin,calycosin-7-glucoside,syringaldehyde,ferulic acid,coumarin,ononin,calycosin,cinnamic alcohol,cinnamic acid,benzoylpaeoniflorin,cinnamaldehyde,astragaloside,astragaloside Ⅲ,6-gingerol in Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction.METHODS The analysis was performed on a 30 ℃ thermostatic Thermo Scientific Hypersil GOLD column(150 mmx4.6 mm,3 μm),with the mobile phase comprising of 0.015%formic acid-acetonitrile flowing at 0.4 mL/min in a gradient elution manner,and electrospray ionization source was adopted in positive and negative ion modes with multiple reaction monitoring.RESULTS Twenty-one constituents showed good linear relationships within their own ranges(r>0.990 5),whose average recoveries were 93.99%-108.52%with the RSDs of 1.04%-5.97%.CONCLUSION This simple,feasible,stable and reliable method can be used for the quality control of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction.
5.Simultaneous content determination of twenty-one constituents in Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction by HPLC-MS/MS
Qiu-gu CHEN ; Jin-ru WU ; Chang-hui LI ; Shang-bin ZHANG ; Yuan ZHAO ; Jian-ping CHEN
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2025;47(2):365-371
AIM To establish an HPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous content determination of gallic acid,protocatechuic acid,oxypaeoniflorin,catechin,epicatechin,albiflorin,paeoniflorin,rutin,calycosin-7-glucoside,syringaldehyde,ferulic acid,coumarin,ononin,calycosin,cinnamic alcohol,cinnamic acid,benzoylpaeoniflorin,cinnamaldehyde,astragaloside,astragaloside Ⅲ,6-gingerol in Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction.METHODS The analysis was performed on a 30 ℃ thermostatic Thermo Scientific Hypersil GOLD column(150 mmx4.6 mm,3 μm),with the mobile phase comprising of 0.015%formic acid-acetonitrile flowing at 0.4 mL/min in a gradient elution manner,and electrospray ionization source was adopted in positive and negative ion modes with multiple reaction monitoring.RESULTS Twenty-one constituents showed good linear relationships within their own ranges(r>0.990 5),whose average recoveries were 93.99%-108.52%with the RSDs of 1.04%-5.97%.CONCLUSION This simple,feasible,stable and reliable method can be used for the quality control of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction.
6.Cost-effectiveness and mortality risk impact on elderly health management of essential public health services:A case study in Henan Province
Zhi-ping GUO ; Rong-mei LIU ; Neng-guang DAI ; Yi LI ; Tong JIN ; Qiu-ping ZHAO ; Hao SHI ; Chun-rong BAO ; Yan-qing MIAO
Chinese Journal of Health Policy 2025;18(11):17-24
Objective:To evaluate the cost-effectiveness and impact on mortality of health management services for the elderly aged 65 years and older in national essential public health service project.Methods:Based on the data of county-level medical institutions in Henan Province from 2019 to 2024,the Random Forest Method was used to construct a counterfactual framework to predict the hospitalization expenses under the unmanaged scenario,and then the cost-benefit ratio(BCR)and net income were calculated.Time-dependent Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the effect of health management on all-cause mortality and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease mortality in the elderly.Results:A total of 962 955 elderly patients were included,451 119(46.85%)were included in the management group.The average hospitalization cost of the management group was significantly lower than that of the non-management group(P<0.05).Except for 2020-2021,BCRS in 2019 and 2022-2024 were 6.34,2.05,4.45 and 6.60,respectively.The risk of all-cause death was reduced by 76.96%,and the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular death was reduced by 75.57%in the elderly patients included in the management group compared with those not included in the management group.Suggestions:It is necessary to establish a health outcomes-based evaluation system and promote the transformation and upgrading of the service model from single chronic disease management to"integrated health services with multi-disease management".
7.Efficacy and safety of Shugan Jieyu capsule combined with mosapride in the treatment of functional dyspepsia: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Ping XU ; Biyu WU ; Bin ZHAO ; Weiwu SHI ; Xuefeng ZHANG ; Shujun LIU ; Lina MENG ; Caihua WANG ; Rongyuan QIU ; Jie WU ; Xuanping XIA ; Xiujuan YAN ; Shengliang CHEN
Chinese Journal of Digestion 2024;44(10):671-678
Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of mosapride citrate dispersible tablet (MP) combined with Shugan Jieyu capsule (SGJY) in the treatment of functional dyspepsia (FD).Methods:From April 2018 to January 2019, FD patients from 10 hospitals including Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Luohe Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Handan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Nanshi Hospital of Nanyang were selected for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7) were used to assess depression and anxiety in FD patients, respectively. According to the random number table method, 200 FD patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into SGJY+ MP group and placebo+ MP group, with 100 patients in each group, and all the patients were given oral MP. The patients of the SGJY+ MP group and the placebo+ MP group were given oral SGJY or placebo on the basis of MP, respectively. The patients of both groups were treated continuously for 6 weeks. Total FD symptom scores, PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores, as well as efficiency and safety were evaluated after treatment. Independent samples t-test and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Results:A total of 193 patients were included into the full analysis set with 94 cases in the SGJY+ MP group and 99 cases in the placebo+ MP group. A total of 183 patients completed the 6-week trial, including 89 cases in the SGJY+ MP group and 94 cases in the placebo+ MP group. A total of 198 patients were included in the safety analysis set, including 99 cases in the SGJY+ MP group and 99 cases in the placebo+ MP group.After treatment, the total FD symptom scores of the SGJY+ MP group and the placebo+ MP group were both lower than those of baseline before treatment (3.71±3.06 vs. 11.79±5.18 and 4.17±3.69 vs. 11.19±5.05), and the differences were both statistically significant ( t=-24.87 and -23.27, both P<0.001). The efficacy of the SGJY+ MP group was higher than that of the placebo+ MP group (86.5%, 77/89 vs. 74.5%, 70/94), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=4.69, P=0.030). The efficacy of patients with moderate-to-severe anxiety and depression in the SGJY+ MP group was both higher than that of patients in the placebo+ MP group (10/10 vs. 3/7, 85.0%, 17/20 vs. 8/14), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=5.66 and 5.33, P=0.017 and 0.010). The efficacy of patients with postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) subtype in the SGJY+ MP group was higher than that of patients in the placebo+ MP group (93.0%, 53/57 vs. 76.5%, 39/51), and the difference was statistically significant (χ 2=5.82, P=0.016). The PHQ-9 scores of patients with depression in both SGJY+ MP and placebo+ MP groups were lower than those at baseline before treatment (3.63±2.76 vs. 7.87±2.24 and 3.35±2.51 vs. 7.63±2.25), and the differences were statistically significant ( t=-14.88 and -15.87, both P<0.001). There was no significant difference in proportion of depressed patients with a ≥50% reduction in PHQ-9 scores from baseline value between the SGJY+ MP group and the placebo+ MP group (60.2%, 50/83 vs. 62.8%, 54/86; χ2=0.05, P=0.825). The GAD-7 scores of anxious patients both the SGJY+ MP group and the placebo+ MP group were lower than the baseline value before treatment (3.27±2.57 vs. 7.09±2.08 and 3.86±2.49 vs. 6.84±1.66), and the differences were statistically significant ( t=-13.30 and -11.47, both P<0.001). The proportion of anxious patients with a ≥50% reduction in GAD-7 scores from baseline in the SGJY+ MP group was higher than that of the placebo+ MP group (54.4%, 43/79 vs. 36.5%, 27/74), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=4.53, P=0.033). There were no serious adverse events in both the SGJY+ MP group and the placebo+ MP group during the treatment. There were no significant differences in the incidence of adverse events and adverse reactions during the treatment between the SGJY+ MP group and the placebo+ MP group (7.1%, 7/99 vs. 5.1%, 5/99, and 3.0%, 3/99 vs. 3.0%, 3/99, respectively; both P>0.05). Conclusion:SGTY can safely and effectively improve the efficacy of the prokinetic drugs in the treatment of FD symptoms, especially in FD patients with PDS subtype or with moderate-to-severe anxiety and with depression.
8.Supplementation of Clostridium butyricum Alleviates Vascular Inflammation in Diabetic Mice
Tian ZHOU ; Shuo QIU ; Liang ZHANG ; Yangni LI ; Jing ZHANG ; Donghua SHEN ; Ping ZHAO ; Lijun YUAN ; Lianbi ZHAO ; Yunyou DUAN ; Changyang XING
Diabetes & Metabolism Journal 2024;48(3):390-404
Background:
Gut microbiota is closely related to the occurrence and development of diabetes and affects the prognosis of diabetic complications, and the underlying mechanisms are only partially understood. We aimed to explore the possible link between the gut microbiota and vascular inflammation of diabetic mice.
Methods:
The db/db diabetic and wild-type (WT) mice were used in this study. We profiled gut microbiota and examined the and vascular function in both db/db group and WT group. Gut microbiota was analyzed by 16s rRNA sequencing. Vascular function was examined by ultrasonographic hemodynamics and histological staining. Clostridium butyricum (CB) was orally administered to diabetic mice by intragastric gavage every 2 days for 2 consecutive months. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and expression of nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were detected by fluorescence microscopy. The mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines was tested by quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
Results:
Compared with WT mice, CB abundance was significantly decreased in the gut of db/db mice, together with compromised vascular function and activated inflammation in the arterial tissue. Meanwhile, ROS in the vascular tissue of db/db mice was also significantly increased. Oral administration of CB restored the protective microbiota, and protected the vascular function in the db/db mice via activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.
Conclusion
This study identified the potential link between decreased CB abundance in gut microbiota and vascular inflammation in diabetes. Therapeutic delivery of CB by gut transplantation alleviates the vascular lesions of diabetes mellitus by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.
9.Recommendations for the timing, dosage, and usage of corticosteroids during cytokine release syndrome (CRS) caused by chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy for hematologic malignancies.
Sanfang TU ; Xiu LUO ; Heng MEI ; Yongxian HU ; Yang LIU ; Ping LI ; Dehui ZOU ; Ting NIU ; Kailin XU ; Xi ZHANG ; Lugui QIU ; Lei GAO ; Guangxun GAO ; Li ZHANG ; Yimei FENG ; Ying WANG ; Mingfeng ZHAO ; Jianqing MI ; Ming HOU ; Jianmin YANG ; He HUANG ; Jianxiang WANG ; Yu HU ; Weili ZHAO ; Depei WU ; Jun MA ; Yuhua LI ; Wenbin QIAN ; Xiaojun HUANG ; Weidong HAN ; Aibin LIANG
Chinese Medical Journal 2024;137(22):2681-2683
10.Norepinephrine triggers glutamatergic long-term potentiation in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus magnocellular neuroendocrine cells through postsynaptic ββ1-AR/PKA signaling pathway in vitro in rats
Jing-Ri JIN ; Zhao-Yi ZHANG ; Chun-Ping CHU ; Yu-Zi LI ; De-Lai QIU
The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology 2024;28(6):569-576
Norepinephrine (NE) modulates synaptic transmission and long-term plasticity through distinct subtype adrenergic receptor (AR)-mediated-intracellular signaling cascades. However, the role of NE modulates glutamatergic long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) magnocellular neuroendocrine cells (MNCs) is unclear. We here investigate the effect of NE on high frequency stimulation (HFS)-induced glutamatergic LTP in rat hypothalamic PVN MNCs in vitro, by whole-cell patch-clamp recording, biocytin staining and pharmacological methods. Delivery of HFS induced glutamatergic LTP with a decrease in N2/N1 ratio in the PVN MNCs, which was enhanced by application of NE (100 nM).HFS-induced LTP was abolished by the blockade of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) with D-APV, but it was rescued by the application of NE. NE failed to rescue HFS-induced LTP of MNCs in the presence of a selective β1-AR antagonist, CGP 20712. However, application of β1-AR agonist, dobutamine HCl rescued HFS-induced LTP of MNCs in the absence of NMDAR activity. In the absence of NMDAR activity, NE failed to rescue HFS-induced MNC LTP when protein kinase A (PKA) was inhibited by extracellular applying KT5720 or intracellular administration of PKI. These results indicate that NE activates β1-AR and triggers HFS to induce a novel glutamatergic LTP of hypothalamic PVN NMCs via the postsynaptic PKA signaling pathway in vitro in rats.

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