1.Impacts of andrographolide on sciatic nerve function damage in diabetic peripheral neuropathy rats by regulating HMGB1/RAGE signaling pathway
Yuexian SUN ; Jiumei WANG ; Xingang CUI ; Jin YU
China Pharmacy 2024;35(5):572-577
OBJECTIVE To investigate the impacts of andrographolide on sciatic nerve function injury in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) rats by regulating high-mobility group protein box 1 (HMGB1)/receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) signal pathway. METHODS A total of 84 rats were randomly divided into the control group (normal saline), DPN group (normal saline), low-dose andrographolide group (0.833 mg/kg), high-dose andrographolide group (3.332 mg/kg), lipoic acid group (positive control, 0.1 g/kg), recombinant rat HMGB1 protein (rHMGB1) group (8 μg/kg), and high-dose andrographolide+ rHMGB1 group, with 12 rats in each group. All rats except those in the control group were fed with high glucose and high fat diet combined with intraperitoneal injections of streptozotocin to establish the DPN rat model. After 24 hours of successful modeling, medication was administered daily for 8 weeks. The changes in fasting blood glucose, mechanical pain threshold, heat pain threshold and sciatic nerve conduction velocity were detected. Pathological changes in the sciatic nerve of rats and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the sciatic nerve of rats were also detected. Besides, the expressions of HMGB1, RAGE proteins and phosphorylation level of nuclear factor κB p65(NF-κB p65) protein in rat sciatic nerves were found. RESULTS Compared with the control group, the pathological damage of the sciatic nerve of rats in the DPN group was strengthened, the fasting blood glucose, heat pain threshold, MDA content and the 诊治。E-mail:dqiaur@163.com expressions of HMGB1, RAGE proteins and phosphorylation level of NF-κB p65 protein were increased (P<0.05), while the mechanical pain threshold, sensory nerve conduction velocity, motor nerve conduction velocity, and SOD activity were decreased/slowed down (P<0.05). Compared with the DPN group, the above indexes were significantly potentiated in the andrographolide low- and high-dose groups and lipoic acid group (P<0.05), and the corresponding trends in the rHMGB1 group were opposite to those in the above three administration groups (P<0.05). Moreover, rHMGB1 attenuated the hypoglycemic effect of high-dose andrographolide on blood glucose and the improvement of oxidative stress injury in the sciatic nerve of DPN rats (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Andrographolide may reduce blood glucose by inhibiting the HMGB1/RAGE pathway and oxidative stress, thus ameliorating sciatic nerve injury in DPN rats.
2.Single-cell analyses reveal cannabidiol rewires tumor microenvironment via inhibiting alternative activation of macrophage and synergizes with anti-PD-1 in colon cancer
Xiaofan SUN ; Lisha ZHOU ; Yi WANG ; Guoliang DENG ; Xinran CAO ; Bowen KE ; Xiaoqi WU ; Yanhong GU ; Haibo CHENG ; Qiang XU ; Qianming DU ; Hongqi CHEN ; Yang SUN
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2023;13(7):726-744
Colorectal tumors often create an immunosuppressive microenvironment that prevents them from responding to immunotherapy.Cannabidiol(CBD)is a non-psychoactive natural active ingredient from the cannabis plant that has various pharmacological effects,including neuroprotective,antiemetic,anti-inflammatory,and antineoplastic activities.This study aimed to elucidate the specific anticancer mechanism of CBD by single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)and single-cell ATAC sequencing(scATAC-seq)technologies.Here,we report that CBD inhibits colorectal cancer progression by modulating the suppressive tumor microenvironment(TME).Our single-cell transcriptome and ATAC sequencing results showed that CBD suppressed M2-like macrophages and promoted M1-like macrophages in tumors both in strength and quantity.Furthermore,CBD significantly enhanced the interaction between M1-like macrophages and tumor cells and restored the intrinsic anti-tumor properties of macrophages,thereby preventing tumor progression.Mechanistically,CBD altered the metabolic pattern of macro-phages and related anti-tumor signaling pathways.We found that CBD inhibited the alternative acti-vation of macrophages and shifted the metabolic process from oxidative phosphorylation and fatty acid oxidation to glycolysis by inhibiting the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B signaling pathway and related downstream target genes.Furthermore,CBD-mediated macrophage plasticity enhanced the response to anti-programmed cell death protein-1(PD-1)immunotherapy in xenografted mice.Taken together,we provide new insights into the anti-tumor effects of CBD.
3.Protein-based Bioinformatics Analysis of Cervical Cancer Related Genes
Lingjing CHENG ; Hetong LI ; Shengxiao ZHANG ; Hongqi LIU ; Qi YU ; Chaoyue ZHENG ; Shuang FENG ; Teng KONG ; Xiangfei SUN ; Peifeng HE ; Xiaoping LYU
Journal of Medical Informatics 2023;44(12):47-54
Purpose/Significance To explore the characteristics and clinical significance of differentially expressed genes closely re-lated to HPV E6/E7 by using bioinformatics.Method/Process The cervical tissue and clinical information of cervical cancer in TCGA and GTEx of UCSC are used as the training set.The expression profile chip GSE63514 related to cervical cancer in GEO is used as the validation set.Firstly,the limma package of R software is used to screen DEGs of tumor and normal samples,and Venn map of genes re-lated to E6/E7 protein in MigDB is made.Survival analysis is performed by survival kit and verified by ROC and protein expression lev-els.Secondly,key genes are obtained by copy number variation and methylation correlation.Finally,the specific co-expression network is constructed and enrichment analysis and immune infiltration analysis are performed.Result/Conclusion There are 101 differentially expressed genes related to HPV E6/E7 protein,and three genes are found to have significance after screening,namely E2F1,MCM4 and PCNA.At the same time,it is found that the genes in the specific coexpression network are significantly enriched in the DNA replication and chromosome organization pathways.Immune correlation analysis shows that key genes are significantly associated with CD4 T cells,B cells and neutrophils.DNA replication,chromosome organization,etc.,are the molecular mechanisms and key genes significantly related to the development of cervical squamous cell carcinoma and HPV E6/E7 encoded proteins.
4.Role of plasma neurofilament protein light chain in diagnosing and differentiating PD and multisystem atrophy-Parkinson subtypes
Ningning CHE ; Qiuhuan JIANG ; Shuai CHEN ; Zhikun SUN ; Siyuan CHEN ; Xue LI ; Jianjun MA ; Hongqi YANG
Chinese Journal of Neuromedicine 2023;22(7):700-705
Objective:To investigate the role of plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) in diagnosing and differentiating Parkinson's disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy-Parkinsonian subtype (MSA-P).Methods:Forty PD patients and 23 MSA-P patients admitted to Department of Neurology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital from June 2019 to December 2021 were recruited; 27 healthy subjects accepted physical examination during the same period were selected as controls. Ultrasensitive Simoa technology was used to measure the plasma NfL. Differences in clinical data and plasma NfL were compared among all subjects. Correlations of plasma NfL with clinical characteristics, such as disease course, Hoehn-Year (H-Y) staging, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Scale for Outcomes in Parkinson's Disease for Autonomic Symptoms (SCOPA-AUT) and levodopa equivalent daily dosage (LEDD), were analyzed with Pearson correlations. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the value of plasma NfL in diagnosing and differentiating PD and MSA-P.Results:Compared with MSA-P group, PD group had significantly longer disease course and statistically lower scores of UPDRS-II and SCOPA-AUT ( P<0.05). The plasma NfL in MSA-P group, PD group and healthy control group was decreased successively ([37.69±10.47] pg/mL, [17.85±4.23] pg/mL, [12.86±3.14] pg/mL, respectively), with statistical differences ( P<0.05). In MSA-P patients, Pearson correlations showed positive correlation between plasma NfL and age ( r=0.442, P=0.035); and Partial correlations showed positive correlations between plasma NfL and scores of UPDRS-I and UPDRS-III ( P<0.05), and plasma NfL showed no significant correlation with H-Y staging, UPDRS-III, MoCA, LEDD or SCOPA-AUT scores ( P>0.05). In PD patients, Pearson correlations showed that plasma NfL was positively correlated with age ( r=0.342, P=0.031); partial correlations showed that plasma NfL was positively correlated with H-Y staging and UPDRS-III, and negatively correlated with MoCA scores ( P<0.05); plasma NfL showed no significant correlation with disease course, scores of UPDRS-I and UPDRS-II, LEDD, and SCOPA-AUT scores ( P>0.05). ROC curve showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of plasma NfL in diagnosing PD was 0.814 (95% CI: 0.712-0.920, P<0.001); AUC of plasma NfL in differentiating and diagnosing PD and MSA-P was 0.980 (95% CI: 0.954-1.000, P<0.001); AUC of plasma NfL in diagnosing MSA-P was 0.998 (95% CI: 0.993-1.000, P<0.001). Conclusions:Plasma NfL is correlated with severity of motor symptoms in MSA-P patients; plasma NfL is correlated with cognitive function and disease course in PD patients. Besides, plasma NfL has high sensitivity and specificity in differentiating PD and MSA-P, therefore, plasma NfL could serve as a biomarker to diagnosis and differentiate PD.
5.Study of prefrontal cortex activation characteristics of patients with psychiatric disorders in verbal fluency task using functional near-infrared spectroscopy
Yulu YANG ; Yunyi SUN ; Hongqi XIAO ; Yaozong ZHENG ; Mei WANG ; Danlin SHEN ; Qing LI ; Daifa WANG ; Changjian QIU ; Yajing MENG
Sichuan Mental Health 2023;36(3):235-241
BackgroundFunctional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a new generation of imaging tool that can be used to assist the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders. However, whether the patterns of prefrontal cortex activation observed by fNIRS are specific for different psychiatric disorders remains to be explored. ObjectiveTo investigate the characteristics of prefrontal cortex activation in patients with depression, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia in verbal fluency task (VFT) using fNIRS. MethodsFrom September to December 2021, 39 patients with schizophrenia, 205 patients with depressive disorder, 212 patients with anxiety disorder and 77 patients with bipolar disorder meeting the diagnostic criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) were recruited in the outpatient and inpatient department of West China Hospital, Sichuan University. fNIRS was used to monitor the prefrontal cortex hemodynamic changes of patients under VFT, and the clinical symptoms of patients were assessed by Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) and Hypomania Checklist-32 items(HCL-32). Differences in mean oxyhemoglobin (HbO2) concentration and the initial slope from 2 to 7 second during VFT were compared among patients with different diseases, and the correlation between mean HbO2 concentration/initial slope and clinical symptoms was analyzed by partial correlation analysis. ResultsThe concentration of HbO2 in channel 4 (Z=2.828, P=0.028) and channel 6 (Z=2.912, P=0.022) in patients with depression were significantly higher than those in patients with schizophrenia. Patients with anxiety had significantly higher changes in mean HbO2 concentration in channel 4 (Z=3.154, P=0.010), channel 5 (Z=3.021, P=0.015), channel 6 (Z=2.980, P=0.017) and of all channels (Z=2.881, P=0.024) than those of schizophrenia patients. There was a statistically significant difference in the initial slope of channel 3 between patients with depressive disorder and those with bipolar disorder (Z=2.691, P=0.039). Among patients with bipolar disorder, the anger-hostility scores of SCL-90 were negatively correlated with the mean HbO2 concentration changes in channel 4 (r=-0.505, P=0.004), channel 6 (r=-0.390, P=0.004), channel 15 (r=-0.546, P=0.002), channel 16 (r=-0.550, P=0.002) and the mean HbO2 concentration changes of all channels (r=-0.491, P=0.006). ConclusionPatients with schizophrenia had lower activation in frontopolar and orbitofrontal region than patients with depression and anxiety disorder, and the initial slope of the right frontopolar, inferior frontal and orbitofrontal region in patients with depression is higher than patients with bipolar disorder. In addition, patients with bipolar disorder had less activation in the frontopolar and orbitofrontal lobe, the insular cover of Broca's area and the upper outer frontal cortex, and were more irritable and hostile. [Funded by 1·3·5 Project for Disciplines of Excellence-Clinical Research Incubation Project, West China Hospital, Sichuan University (number, ZYJC21083)]
6.Characteristics and Clinical Implication of UGT1A1 Heterozygous Mutation in Tumor.
Qian LI ; Tao SUN ; Hua ZHANG ; Wei LIU ; Yu XIAO ; Hongqi SUN ; Wencheng YIN ; Yanhong YAO ; Yangchun GU ; Yan'e LIU ; Fumei YI ; Qiqi WANG ; Jinyu YU ; Baoshan CAO ; Li LIANG
Chinese Journal of Lung Cancer 2022;25(3):137-146
BACKGROUND:
The literature recommends that reduced dosage of CPT-11 should be applied in patients with UGT1A1 homozygous mutations, but the impact of UGT1A1 heterozygous mutations on the adverse reactions of CPT-11 is still not fully clear.
METHODS:
A total of 107 patients with UGT1A1 heterozygous mutation or wild-type, who were treated with CPT-11 from January 2018 to September 2021 in Peking University Third Hospital, were retrospectively enrolled. The adverse reaction spectra of patients with UGT1A1*6 and UGT1A1*28 mutations were analyzed. Adverse reactions were evaluated according to National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE) 5.0. The efficacy was evaluated according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1. The genotypes of UGT1A1*6 and UGT1A1*28 were detected by digital fluorescence molecular hybridization.
RESULTS:
There were 43 patients with UGT1A1*6 heterozygous mutation, 26 patients with UGT1A1*28 heterozygous mutation, 8 patients with UGT1A1*6 and UGT1A1*28 double heterozygous mutations, 61 patients with heterozygous mutation at any gene locus of UGT1A1*6 and UGT1A1*28. Logistic regression analysis showed that the presence or absence of vomiting (P=0.013) and mucositis (P=0.005) was significantly correlated with heterozygous mutation of UGT1A1*28, and the severity of vomiting (P<0.001) and neutropenia (P=0.021) were significantly correlated with heterozygous mutation of UGT1A1*6. In colorectal cancer, UGT1A1*6 was significantly correlated to diarrhea (P=0.005), and the other adverse reactions spectrum was similar to that of the whole patient cohort, and efficacy and prognosis were similar between patients with different genotypes and patients treated with reduced CPT-11 dosage or not.
CONCLUSIONS
In clinical use, heterozygous mutations of UGT1A1*6 and UGT1A1*28 are related to the risk and severity of vomiting, diarrhea, neutropenia and mucositis in patients with Pan-tumor and colorectal cancer post CPT-11 therpy. In colorectal cancer, UGT1A1*6 is significantly related to diarrhea post CPT-11 use, efficacy and prognosis is not affected by various genotypes or CPT-11 dosage reduction.
Camptothecin/therapeutic use*
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Glucuronosyltransferase/genetics*
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Humans
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Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy*
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Mutation
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Polymorphism, Genetic
;
Retrospective Studies
7.Allosteric inhibition reveals SHP2-mediated tumor immunosuppression in colon cancer by single-cell transcriptomics.
Jian GAO ; Zhigui WU ; Mingxia ZHAO ; Rui ZHANG ; Manru LI ; Dongdong SUN ; Haibo CHENG ; Xianjia QI ; Yuxian SHEN ; Qiang XU ; Hongqi CHEN ; Dijun CHEN ; Yang SUN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2022;12(1):149-166
Colorectal cancer (CRC), a malignant tumor worldwide consists of microsatellite instability (MSI) and stable (MSS) phenotypes. Although SHP2 is a hopeful target for cancer therapy, its relationship with innate immunosuppression remains elusive. To address that, single-cell RNA sequencing was performed to explore the role of SHP2 in all cell types of tumor microenvironment (TME) from murine MC38 xenografts. Intratumoral cells were found to be functionally heterogeneous and responded significantly to SHP099, a SHP2 allosteric inhibitor. The malignant evolution of tumor cells was remarkably arrested by SHP099. Mechanistically, STING-TBK1-IRF3-mediated type I interferon signaling was highly activated by SHP099 in infiltrated myeloid cells. Notably, CRC patients with MSS phenotype exhibited greater macrophage infiltration and more potent SHP2 phosphorylation in CD68+ macrophages than MSI-high phenotypes, suggesting the potential role of macrophagic SHP2 in TME. Collectively, our data reveals a mechanism of innate immunosuppression mediated by SHP2, suggesting that SHP2 is a promising target for colon cancer immunotherapy.
8.Morphology and distribution characteristics of subchondral bone cysts in the talus based on CT three-dimensional reconstruction
Zhengrui FAN ; Jianxiong MA ; Xingwen ZHAO ; Hongqi ZHAN ; Lei SUN ; Hongzhen JING ; Haohao BO ; Ying WANG ; Xinlong MA
Chinese Journal of Trauma 2022;38(2):125-129
Objective:To analyze the morphology and distribution characteristics of subchondral bone cysts of the talus by CT three-dimensional reconstruction.Methods:A total of 176 patients diagnosed with subchondral bone cyst of the talus after CT scan of the ankle or foot from 2015 to 2020 were retrieved from the imaging report database of Tianjin Hospital, including 77 males and 99 females, aged 14-84 years[(56.1±14.0)years]. After three-dimensional reconstruction of the talus and cyst area by Mimics 20.0 software, an equal 2×2 grid configuration was constructed to divide the domed articular surface into four regions: anteromedial, anterolateral, posteromedial and posterolateral. For subchondral cyst of the talus, area involved under grid localization, gender, age and side of the onset were recorded. The anteroposterior diameter, transverse diameter, depth, surface area and volume of the subchondral bone cyst of the talus were measured.Results:Subchondral cyst of the talus was anteromedial in 131 patients (74.4%), anterolateral in 5(2.8%), posteromedial in 34(19.3%), and posterolateral in 6(3.4%). Subchondral cyst of the talus occurred in the older aged (≥60 years) for 78 patients (44.3%), in the middle aged (45-59 years) for 62(35.2%), in young adults for 32(18.2%), and in preadolescents for 4(2.3%). The age composition of the subchondral cyst of the talus involving the anteromedial, anterolateral, posteromedial and posterolateral regions was 59(49, 64)years, 44(39, 45)years, 61(54, 68)years and 40(22, 58) years, respectively (all P<0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in gender and side of the onset (all P>0.05). The anteroposterior diameter of the subchondral bone cysts located anteromedially, anterolaterally, posteromedially and posterolaterally was (9.7±4.4)mm, (3.5±1.1)mm, (10.3±4.4)mm and (2.1±0.8)mm, respectively; the transverse diameter was (5.4±1.7)mm, (3.9±1.8)mm, (5.9±2.2)mm and (3.4±1.1)mm, respectively; the depth was (7.1±2.4)mm, (3.2±2.2)mm, (8.2±3.0)mm and (3.9±1.9)mm, respectively; the surface area was 156.1(82.6, 198.2)mm 2, 23.0(21.4, 28.9)mm 2, 180.0(75.1, 230.4)mm 2 and 28.0(20.3, 36.7)mm 2, respectively; the volume was 77.1(37.1, 129.1)mm 3, 23.9(14.2, 37.8)mm 3, 104.6(37.7, 157.4)mm 3 and 13.0(10.4, 16.0)mm 3, respectively. When comparing the anteroposterior diameter, transverse diameter, depth, surface area and volume of the subchondral bone cysts in the anteromedial and posteromedial regions with the anterolateral and posterolateral regions, the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.01) except for the transverse diameter of the subchondral bone cysts in the anteromedial region and the anterolateral region ( P>0.05). In addition, the depth of subchondral bone cysts in the anteromedial region was significantly greater than that in the posteromedial region ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Subchondral bone cysts of the talar are commonly found in the middle- and old-aged population. Anteromedial lesions of the talar dome are the most commonly seen, with large and deeply involved cysts, followed by posteromedial lesions of the dome, while anterolateral and posterolateral lesions of the dome are less common and have smaller cyst sizes. An equal 2×2 grid configuration for talar cysts is useful in positioning and characterizing bone cysts, and can assist clinicians in accurately diagnosing and treating bone cysts.
9.CXCR6-based immunotherapy in autoimmune, cancer and inflammatory infliction.
Tingting LI ; Jie PAN ; Hongqi CHEN ; Yongliang FANG ; Yang SUN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2022;12(8):3255-3262
T cells, including both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, play a pivotal role in mediating various inflammation and immune disorders. A long-standing challenge in T cell-based immunotherapy is to precisely inactivate or delete the pathogenic T cells in inflammation and autoimmune diseases, or to selectively expand the immunocompetent T cell in tumor or other immune compromised situations, without inducing global immunosuppression or zealous immune activation respectively. To achieve this, a specific marker is needed to differentiate the pathogenic or immunocompetent T cell among the rests. Indeed, recent progress of immunology strongly suggests that CXC chemokine receptor 6 (CXCR6, CD186) is such a kind of marker. Here, we review the emerging role of CXCR6 as a novel target for immunotherapy and discuss the underlying mechanism. We propose that CXCR6-based immunotherapy will play a significant role in autoimmune, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), tumor, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and even ageing-related inflammatory infliction.
10.Combining immune checkpoint blockade with ATP-based immunogenic cell death amplifier for cancer chemo-immunotherapy.
Jiulong ZHANG ; Xiaoyan SUN ; Xiufeng ZHAO ; Chunrong YANG ; Menghao SHI ; Benzhuo ZHANG ; Haiyang HU ; Mingxi QIAO ; Dawei CHEN ; Xiuli ZHAO
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2022;12(9):3694-3709
Amplifying "eat me signal" during tumor immunogenic cell death (ICD) cascade is crucial for tumor immunotherapy. Inspired by the indispensable role of adenosine triphosphate (ATP, a necessary "eat me signal" for ICD), a versatile ICD amplifier was developed for chemotherapy-sensitized immunotherapy. Doxorubicin (DOX), ATP and ferrous ions (Fe2+) were co-assembled into nanosized amplifier (ADO-Fe) through π‒π stacking and coordination effect. Meanwhile, phenylboric acid-polyethylene glycol-phenylboric acid (PBA-PEG-PBA) was modified on the surface of ADO-Fe (denoted as PADO-Fe) by the virtue of d-ribose unit of ATP. PADO-Fe could display active targetability against tumor cells via sialic acid/PBA interaction. In acidic microenvironment, PBA-PEG-PBA would dissociate from amplifier. Moreover, high H2O2 concentration would induce hydroxyl radical (·OH) and oxygen (O2) generation through Fenton reaction by Fe2+. DOX and ATP would be released from the amplifier, which could induce ICD effect and "ICD adjuvant" to amplify this process. Together with programmed death ligands 1 (PD-L1) checkpoint blockade immunotherapy, PADO-Fe could not only activate immune response against primary tumor, but also strong abscopal effect against distant tumor. Our simple and multifunctional ICD amplifier opens a new window for enhancing ICD effect and immune checkpoint blockade therapy.

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