1.Effect of Epimedium brevicornu Ethanol Extract on Aging of Castrated Rats by Intervening in Mesenchymal Adipose-derived Stem Cells
Zuyu MENG ; Haiquan LIU ; Shaozi LIN ; Mei WANG ; Yiyao ZHANG ; Fang LIU ; Menghan LI ; Hongling CHEN ; Jiajia QIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(1):174-181
ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism by which the ethanol extract of Epimedium brevicornu (EEBM) intervenes in mesenchymal adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) to delay aging in castrated rats. MethodsForty-five 3-month-old SPF female SD rats were ovariectomized and randomly divided into model group, ADSCs treatment group, and ADSCs groups treated with low, medium, and high concentrations of EEBM (1, 50, 100 μg·L-1), referred to as the AE low, medium, and high concentration groups, with 9 rats in each group. After tail vein injection of 200 μL of the corresponding stem cell suspension, aging-related indicators including cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (p21), tumor suppressor gene (p53), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), cysteine-aspartic acid protease-3 (Caspase-3), and lipofuscin were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot. ResultsCompared with the model group, the IL-6 content in the AE low, medium, and high concentration groups was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Lipofuscin, MDA, and IL-8 levels in the ADSCs treatment group and AE low, medium, and high concentration groups were significantly reduced (P<0.01), while SOD content was significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the ADSCs treatment group, lipofuscin and IL-8 levels in the AE low, medium, and high concentration groups were significantly reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01). The MDA content was significantly decreased in the AE medium concentration group (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, protein levels of p21, p53, Bax, and Caspase-3 in the ADSCs treatment group and AE low, medium, and high concentration groups were significantly reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01), while the Bcl-2 protein level was significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with the ADSCs treatment group, protein levels of p21, p53, Bax, and Caspase-3 in the AE low, medium, and high concentration groups were significantly reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the Bcl-2 protein level in the AE low concentration group was significantly increased (P<0.01). ConclusionThe results of this experiment show that EEBM-treated ADSCs or ADSCs may delay aging in castrated rats by inhibiting cell apoptosis, reducing cell cycle inhibitors and pro-inflammatory factors, enhancing antioxidant capacity, and reducing oxidative reactions. Moreover, EEBM-treated ADSCs demonstrate stronger anti-aging effects than ADSCs alone. This study provides experimental evidence supporting the clinical use of EEBM to intervene in ADSCs and delay aging.
2.Regulation of Renal Interstitial Fibrosis-related Pathways by Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Review
Dandan WEI ; Shanshan LI ; Yongjie WANG ; Hongling WANG ; Zongyao WU ; Qingbo WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(16):254-265
Renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) is a common pathological change process from the development of various chronic nephropathies to the end stage, and it is an important histological manifestation of renal function decline. At present, no effective anti-fibrosis drugs have been found in clinical practice. In recent years, with the continuous development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pharmacology, molecular biology, system biology, and network pharmacology, the research on regulating RIF with TCM monomer, single TCM, TCM compound, Chinese patent medicine, and TCM injection is deepening. Among them, Jianpi Yishen recipe, Shendi Bushen capsules, Jianzhong Bushen Xiaozheng decoction, Liuwei Dihuangtang, and Lycium barbarum polysaccharides can regulate transforming growth factor-β/small mother against decapentaplegic (TGF-β1/Smads), Wnt/β-catenin, and neurogenic locus notch homolog protein (Notch) signaling pathways. Wulingsan, Zhenwutang, pachymic acid ZA, pachymic acid ZC, and pachymic acid ZD, which mainly induce diuresis, can regulate the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Hirudin, curcumin, and Fuzheng Huayu recipe, which mainly promote blood circulation, can inhibit inflammation-related pathways such as p-nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB), Toll-like receptor 4/p-nuclear transcription factor-κB (TLR4/NF-κB), and Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK/STAT), so as to achieve anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidation effects and alleviate the progression of RIF. Shenshuai Xiezhuo decoction, Shenkang injection, and Shenshuai recipe, which are mainly used for invigorating Qi, removing blood stasis, and removing turbidity, can inhibit transdifferentiation of pericytes-myofibroblasts through vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) signaling pathway. At present, there are many studies on the regulation of the RIF signaling pathway by TCM, but there is a lack of a systematic summary. In this study, by combing the signaling pathway of TCM in the treatment of RIF, the effective target of TCM treatment is screened, and its possible mechanism is found, which provides new ideas for clinical treatment and new drug research and development.
3.The role of CYP2E1 in trichloroethylene-induced skin sensitization and liver damage in guinea pigs
Lijuan WU ; Xiangrong SONG ; Fengrong LU ; Hongling LI ; Jiaheng HE ; Xiao ZHANG ; Hailan WANG
China Occupational Medicine 2025;52(3):249-256
Objective To investigate the role of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) in trichloroethylene (TCE)-induced skin sensitization and liver damage in guinea pigs, using diallyl sulfide (DAS), a CYP2E1 inhibitor, as an intervention. Methods Specific pathogen-free female guinea pigs were randomly divided into blank control group, solvent control group, positive control (2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene) group, TCE-exposure group, and DAS-intervention group. Skin sensitization experiments were conducted using the guinea pig TCE maximal dose-skin sensitization test. Urinary trichloroacetic acid levels were determined following TCE induction and challenge. At 48 hours after the final challenge, serum liver function markers and inflammatory cytokines levels were detected. Histopathological examination on skin and liver tissues was performed, and hepatic CYP2E1 protein expression and oxidative stress indicators were assessed. Results The sensitization rates of guinea pigs were 100.0%, 75.0%, and 33.3% in the positive control, TCE-exposure, and DAS-intervention groups, respectively, while the blank control and solvent control groups were both 0.0%. Compared with the guinea pigs in TCE-exposure group, those in the DAS-intervention group had lower urinary trichloroacetic acid levels at intradermal induction, local induction, first challenge, and 24 hours after the final challenge time point (all P<0.05). Histopathology of guinea pigs showed dermal inflammatory infiltration and basal keratinocyte necrosis in the TCE-exposure group, whereas only mild dermal inflammation was observed in the DAS-intervention group. The guinea pigs in TCE-exposure group exhibited diffuse hepatocellular necrosis, while hepatic damage in the DAS-intervention group was alleviated, characterized by only mild hepatocellular steatosis and hepatocyte swelling around the central vein. The skin sensitization rate of guinea pigs in the TCE-exposure group increased (all P<0.01), the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT )activity, the levels of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-17, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF- α) increased (all P<0.05), the relative expression of CYP2E1 protein, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the level of malondialdehyde in liver tissue increased (all P<0.05), while the activity of catalase decreased (P<0.05), compared with the blank control and solvent control groups. The serum ALT activity and the levels of IL-2, IL-17, and TNF-α of guinea pigs in DAS-intervention group reduced (all P<0.05), as well as CYP2E1 protein expression, SOD activity, and malondialdehyde level in liver tissue reduced (all P<0.05), compared with the TCE-exposure group. Conclusion TCE can induce hepatic CYP2E1 expression, thereby promoting oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, which contributes to skin sensitization and liver damage. DAS alleviates TCE-induced toxic effects on skin and liver by inhibiting CYP2E1 expression.
4.Intervention effect and mechanism of breviscapine on hepatic fibrosis in rats
Dandan WEI ; Shanshan LI ; Minghao ZHANG ; Yurun WEI ; Hongling WANG ; Shuangshuang CHAI ; Jingjing YIN ; Min ZHANG ; Han ZHAO ; Zongyao WU ; Kuicheng ZHU ; Qingbo WANG
China Pharmacy 2024;35(6):671-677
OBJECTIVE To investigate the intervention effect and potential mechanism of breviscapine on hepatic fibrosis (HF) in rats based on the transforming growth factor-β(1 TGF-β1)/Smad2/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1(ERK1) and Kelch-like epichlorohydrin-associated protein 1(Keap1)/nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) pathways. METHODS Totally 60 rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model group, breviscapine low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose groups (5.4, 10.8, 21.6 mg/kg), and colchicine group (positive control, 0.45 mg/kg), with 10 rats in each group, half male and half female. Except for the normal control group, HF model of the other groups was induced by carbon tetrachloride. Subsequently, each drug group was given corresponding medicine by gavage once a day for 28 days. The liver appearance of rats in each group was observed and their liver coefficients were calculated. The levels of alanineaminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)in serum, those of ALT, AST, superoxide dismutase (SOD),malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH- Px) in liver tissue were detected. The liver tissue inflammatory and fibrotic changes were observed. The protein and mRNA expressions of TGF-β1, Smad2, ERK1, Nrf2, Keap1 and HO-in liver tissue were detected. RESULTS Compared with the normal control group, the model group showed large areas of white nodular lesions in the liver, obvious inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen fiber deposition. The body weight, the levels of SOD and GSH-Px in liver tissue, the protein and mRNA expressions of Nrf2 and HO-1 were significantly lowered in the model group (P<0.05); the liver coefficient, the percentage of Masson staining positive area, ALT and AST levels of serum and liver tissue, MDA level of liver tissue, the protein and mRNA expressions of TGF-β1, Smad2, ERK1 and Keap1 were significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the liver lesions of rats in each drug group were improved, and the above quantitative indexes were generally reversed (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Breviscapine has a good intervention effect on HF rats, which may be related to inhibiting TGF-β1/Smad2/ERK1 pathway for anti-fibrosis and regulating Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway to inhibit oxidative stress.
5.Predictive Modeling of Chronic Kidney Disease with Hypertension or Diabetes Based on Machine Learning Algorithms
Huijuan ZENG ; Bo TIAN ; Hongling YUAN ; Jie HE ; Guanxi LI ; Guojia RU ; Min XU ; Dong ZHAN
Journal of Kunming Medical University 2024;45(3):99-105
Objective To build the early predictive model for chronic kidney disease(CKD)in hypertension and diabetes patients in the community.Methods The CKD patients were recruited from 4 health care centers in 4 urban areas in Kunming.The control group was residents without hypertension and diabetes(n = 1267).The disease group was residents with hypertension and/or diabetes(n = 566).The questionnaire survey,physical examination,laboratory testing,and 5 SNPs gene types in the PVT1 gene.The risk factors,which were filtered with logistics regression,were used to build predictive models.Four machine learning algorithms were built:support vector machine(SVM),random forest(RF),Na?ve Bayes(NB),and artificial neural network(ANN)models.Results Thirteen indicators included in the final diagnostic model:age,disease type,ethnicity,blood urea nitrogen,creatinine,eGFR from MDRD,ACR,eGFR from EPI2009,PAM13 score,sleep quality survey,staying-up late,PVT1 SNP rs11993333 and rs2720659.The accuracy,specificity,Kappa value,AUC of ROC,and PRC of ANN are greater than those of the other 3 models.The sensitivity of RF is the highest among 4 types of machine learning.Conclusions The ANN predictive model has a good ability of efficiency and classification to predict CKD with hypertension and/or diabetes patients in the community.
6.Diagnostic value analysis of Xpert MTB/RIF combined with high-throughput metagenomic sequencing
Hongling LI ; Sijie YU ; Yuanyuan YU
China Modern Doctor 2024;62(12):32-36
Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of Xpert MTB/RIF combined with metagenic high-throughput sequencing in bacterial negative tuberculosis.Methods Retrospective analysis of 70 patients diagnosed with bacterial negative pulmonary tuberculosis from December 2019 to May 2022 enrolled in the study.Xpert MTB/RIF testing,high-throughput metagenomic sequencing,and a combination of the two were performed,respectively.Solid culture and proportional methods were used to diagnose biochemical pathogens and analyze diagnostic efficacy.The receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn with the predicted value.Results The positive rate of Xpert MTB/RIF diagnosis was 75.57%,and the negative rate was 21.43%.The positive rate of high-throughput sequencing for metagenomics was 78.57%,while the negative rate was 21.43%;The positive rate of combined diagnosis was 88.57%,and the negative rate was 11.43%.The detection sensitivity of Xpert MTB/RIF was 77.55%,the specificity was 59.86%,and the area under the curve(AUC)was 0.827.The sensitivity of high-throughput sequencing for metagenomes was 77.47%,the specificity was 61.02%,and the AUC was 0.808.The sensitivity of the combined detection was 89.75%,the specificity was 89.57%,and the AUC was 0.925.The results showed that the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of Xpert MTB/RIF combined with high-throughput metagenomic sequencing in bacterial negative pulmonary tuberculosis were higher than those of single detection(P<0.05).Conclusion Xpert MTB/RIF combined with metagenic high-throughput sequencing has good application value in the diagnosis of bacterial negative pulmonary tuberculosis,and is worthy of clinical application.
7.Quantity detection of substantia nigra hyperechogenicity based on digital analysis for diagnosing Parkinson′s disease
Hongling GAO ; Jiangting LI ; Qingmei YANG ; Cong ZHOU ; Tailong ZHU ; Xiao ZHOU ; Anyu TAO ; Zheng XUE
Chinese Journal of Neurology 2024;57(2):149-156
Objective:To apply digital analysis to quantify hyperechogenicity of substantia nigra, and explore its clinical value for diagnosis of Parkinson′s disease (PD).Methods:The cross-sectional study included 652 PD patients (PD group) and 99 healthy controls (healthy control group) from November 2017 to October 2020 in Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. All subjects underwent transcranial sonography. The diagnostic accuracy of substantia nigra hyperechogenicity using digital analysis was compared with that in a manual measurement in PD. Furthermore, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was applied to explore its diagnosis value in PD.Results:There were 482 subjects including 400 in the PD group and 82 in the healthy control group, whose quantified results of substantia nigra hyperechogenicity could be used for analysis. The ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve of the quantified larger substantia nigra hyperechoic region detection for diagnosing PD was 0.858 (95% CI 0.805-0.910), the sensitivity was 87.8%, and the specificity was 73.2%, consistent with that of doctors (area under the curve: 0.884). Further more, among these PD patients, there was no correlation between larger substantia nigra hyperechogenicity and age, age of onset, course of disease, non-motor symptoms, and motor symptoms (all P>0.05). Conclusions:Digital analysis was used to quantify the changes in substantia nigra hyperechogenicity in this seudy. The results showed that diagnostic accuracy for PD based on digital analysis was consistent with that of experienced clinicians.
8.Chinese Medicine Regulates Signaling Pathways Related to Esophageal Cancer: A Review
Shanshan LI ; Dandan WEI ; Junwen PEI ; Hongling WANG ; Shiqing JIANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(3):226-238
Esophageal cancer is a common malignant tumor of the digestive tract. At present, the pathogenesis of esophageal cancer has not been fully clarified. Although surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy have achieved good clinical results in the treatment of esophageal cancer, there are still many complications and severe adverse reactions. As an important part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), in recent years, many basic experiments and clinical studies have proved that Chinese medicine has a good effect in treating esophageal cancer. At the same time, the multi-component and multi-target characteristics of Chinese medicine and unclear pathogenesis of esophageal cancer determine that there are some problems such as unclear mechanisms of Chinese medicine in preventing and treating esophageal cancer. It is necessary to start with modern medicine and reveal the mechanism of Chinese medicine in preventing and treating diseases from the aspects of molecular biology and network pharmacology. It is believed in TCM that the occurrence of esophageal cancer is mostly attributed to stagnation of liver Qi, phlegm stasis and Qi stagnation, fluid consumption and heat accumulation, the decline of healthy Qi, and the cementation of cancer toxicity. According to the literature review, Chinese medicinal compounds mainly include tonic formulae (such as Liu Junzitang), drying and moistening formulas (such as Qigesan), and heat-clearing formulas (such as Fufang Kushen injection). Chinese medicinal monomers mainly include drugs potent in attacking poison and killing insects, clearing heat, activating blood and resolving stasis, and regulating Qi, which is consistent with the etiology and pathogenesis of esophageal cancer in TCM. It is also found that Chinese medicine can promote cell apoptosis and autophagy, block cell cycle, and reverse cell resistance by regulating phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), neurogenic locus notch homolog protein (Notch), Wnt/β-catenin, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK2/STAT3), and other related signaling pathways, but there is no systematic summary. This study systematically summarized the relevant signaling pathways of Chinese medicine in regulating esophageal cancer, which is helpful to clarify the relevant mechanisms of Chinese medicine in the process of esophageal cancer occurrence, development, invasion, and metastasis, so as to provide new targets and new perspectives for the treatment of esophageal cancer and promote the modernization of TCM.
9.Analysis of bone marrow morphological characteristics in acute myeloid leukemia with positive RUNX1-RUNX1T1 fusion gene
Mengna LIU ; Hongling WANG ; Huanjin LIAO ; Li LI ; Ping BAI
International Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2024;45(17):2081-2086
Objective To investigate the morphological characteristics of bone marrow in RUNX1-RUNX1T1 fusion gene-positive AML.Methods From January 2017 to January 2023,20 cases of RUNX1-RUNX1T1 fusion gene-positive AML patients newly diagnosed in this hospital were selected as group A,20 cases of AML patients without fusion gene were selected as group B,and 24 cases of PML-RARA fusion gene-positive AML patients were selected as group C.Results of bone marrow morphology,immunology,cytogenet-ics and molecular biology were analyzed retrospectively.The morphological characteristics in similar cases combined with domestic and foreign literature were summarized.Results The number of promyelocytes in group A increased in different degrees,the difference was statistically significant compared with group B(P<0.05),and the difference was also statistically significant compared with group C(P<0.001).In group A,some promyelocytes had abnormal morphology,and the mRNA level of fusion gene was positively correlated with the number of promyelocytes(r=0.478,P=0.039).Patients with expressions of CD56,CD19 and c-Kit mutation in group A was much more than that in group B(P<0.05).No significant difference was detected in remission rate after the first course of chemotherapy between group A and group B(P>0.05).Besides,the simultaneous expression of CD56 and CD19 in group A was easy to accompany the loss of sex chromosome.Conclusion AML with positive RUNX1-RUNX1T1 fusion gene could be identified with bone marrow mor-phology,immunology,cytogenetics and molecular biology.Granulocyte in the bone marrow is prone to differ-ent degrees of pathological hematopoiesis with great variability.The increased number and abnormal morphol-ogy of promyelocytes in bone marrow may be one of the morphologic features of AML with positive RUNX1-RUNX1T1 fusion gene.
10.Characterization of Metabolic Reprogramming in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Application Prospects for Targeted Therapy
Ruilin WANG ; Yuxiu MA ; Xuelin LIU ; Qi ZHANG ; Guoyin WANG ; Hongling LI
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2024;51(12):1046-1050
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the seventh most common malignant tumor in the world, with a 5-year survival rate of only about 50%. Thus, discovering more effective diagnostic and therapeutic approaches is an urgent need. The metabolic reprogramming of tumor cells is a key feature in the development of HNSCC, which widely exhibits alterations in glycolytic metabolism, lipid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism compared with normal cells. Metabolic reprogramming affects the energy supply and biosynthesis of tumor cells. It also participates in the regulation of the tumor microenvironment and promotes key biological processes such as proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of HNSCC. With the progressive understanding of the complexity of tumor biology, targeted-therapy strategies against metabolic reprogramming in HNSCC are emerging as a promising therapeutic approach. These metabolically targeted therapies have performed well in preclinical studies, but their clinical application requires further validation. In the future, we need to deeply explore the more complex features of metabolic reprogramming and its biological significance in HNSCC, with the aim of discovering more effective diagnostic and therapeutic targets, as well as providing new strategies to improve the prognosis of HNSCC patients.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail