1.SR9009 combined with indolepropionic acid alleviates inflammation in C2C12 myoblasts through the nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathway
Huihui JI ; Xu JIANG ; Zhimin ZHANG ; Yunhong XING ; Liangliang WANG ; Na LI ; Yuting SONG ; Xuguang LUO ; Huilin CUI ; Ximei CAO
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(6):1220-1229
BACKGROUND:Rev-erbα is involved in the regulation of inflammation,but pharmacological activation of Rev-erbα increases the risk for cardiovascular diseases.To reduce the relevant risk,an exploration on SR9009,a Rev-erbα agonist,combined with other drugs to relieve inflammation in skeletal myoblasts was conducted,laying the theoretical foundation for the treatment of inflammation-associated skeletal muscle atrophy. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the relationship of SR9009,indolepropionic acid and nuclear factor-κB signaling pathways in lipopolysaccharide-induced C2C12 myoblasts. METHODS:(1)C2C12 myoblasts were induced to differentiate in the presence of lipopolysaccharide(1 μg/mL).RNA-seq and KEGG pathway analysis were used to study signaling pathways.(2)C2C12 myoblast viability was assessed using the cell counting kit-8 assay to determine optimal concentrations of indolepropionic acid.Subsequently,cells were categorized into control group,lipopolysaccharide(1 μg/mL)group,SR9009(10 μmol/L)+lipopolysaccharide group,indolepropionic acid(80μmol/L)+lipopolysaccharide group,and SR9009+indolepropionic acid+lipopolysaccharide group.ELISA was employed to measure protein expression levels of interleukin-6 in the cultured supernatant.Real-time quantitative PCR were employed to measure mRNA expression levels of interleukin-6,tumor necrosis factor α,TLR4 and CD14.Western blot assay were employed to measure protein expression levels of NF-κB p65 and p-NF-κB p65.(3)After Rev-erbα was knocked down by siRNA,knockdown efficiency was assessed by RT-qPCR.And mRNA levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor α were also measured. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the blank control group,lipopolysaccharide time-dependently inhibited myofibroblast fusion to form myotubes,the mRNA expression levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor α were elevated,and the level of interleukin-6 in the cell supernatant was significantly increased.The results of KEGG pathway showed that the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway was activated by lipopolysaccharide.Indolepropionic acid exhibited significant suppression of C2C12 myoblasts viability when its concentration exceeded 80 μmol/L.Indolepropionic acid and SR9009 inhibited the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway,thereby played an anti-inflammatory role,and suppressed the mRNA expression levels of interleukin-6,tumor necrosis factor α,TLR4 and CD14.Compared with the lipopolysaccharide group,the ratio of p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 protein expression were downregulated.SR9009 combined with indolepropionic acid notably reduced lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation,further downregulated the mRNA expression levels of interleukin-6,tumor necrosis factor α,TLR4 and CD14.The ratio of p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65 protein expression was significantly lower than that in the SR9009+lipopolysaccharide group or indolepropionic acid+lipopolysaccharide group.Rev-erbα increases time-dependently with lipopolysaccharide induction.The knockdown efficiency of Rev-erbα by siRNA reached over 58%,and lipopolysaccharide was added after Rev-erbα was successfully knocked down.Compared with the lipopolysaccharide group,the mRNA expression levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor α were significantly up-regulated.These results conclude that Rev-erbα may act as a promising pharmacological target to reduce inflammation.SR9009 targeted activation of Rev-erbα combined with indolepropionic acid significantly inhibits the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway and attenuates the inflammatory response of C2C12 myofibroblasts.Moreover,the combined anti-inflammatory effect is superior to that of the intervention alone.
2.Effects and mechanism of limonin on renal lesion,glucose metabolism,inflammation and oxidative stress in gestational diabetic rats
Na QU ; Kai ZHANG ; Lisha NA ; Ying CUI
China Pharmacy 2025;36(9):1082-1086
OBJECTIVE To explore the effects of limonin on renal lesions, glucose metabolism, inflammation, and oxidative stress in gestational diabetic rats and its possible mechanisms. METHODS The model of gestational diabetic rats was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The diabetic rats were divided into the model group (intragastrical administration and tail vein injection of equal volume of normal saline), limonin low-, medium-, and high-dose groups (intragastrical administration of limonin, at doses of 12.5, 25.0 and 50.0 mg/kg, and equal volume of normal saline into the tail vein), and combination group [intragastrical administration of limonin 50.0 mg/kg + tail vein injection of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activator Anisomycin 2 mg/kg ], with 12 rats in each group. In addition, 12 pregnant rats were selected as the control group (intragastrical administration and tail vein injection of equal volume of normal saline). They were given relevant medicine, once a day, for 14 consecutive days. After the last administration, fasting blood glucose (FBG), the levels of fasting insulin (FINS), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the serum were detected; the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (Cr) in the renal tissue were detected; the pathological changes of renal tissue were observed; the expressions of proteins related to the JNK/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway in the renal tissue were detected. RESULTS Compared with control group, in model group, the rats showed pathological injuries in the kidney tissue, such as glomerular atrophy, edema of renal tubular epithelial cells; the levels of FBG, FINS, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, MDA, BUN and Cr, HOMA-IR, as well as the phosphorylation levels of JNK and NF-κB 0453-6602005。E-mail:mcvi45@163.com p65 proteins were increased significantly (P<0.05), while the levels of SOD and GSH-Px were decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with model group, in each dose group of limonin, the degree of renal tissue lesions in rats was alleviated, and the above-mentioned indicators were significantly improved (P<0.05), showing an obvious dose-effect relationship (P<0.05). Compared with high-dose limonin group, in the combination group, the degree of renal tissue lesions in rats was relatively aggravated, and the changes in the above-mentioned indicators were significantly reversed (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Limonin has a certain improvement effect on renal lesions, glucose metabolism, inflammation, and oxidative stress in pregnant rats with gestational diabetes. Its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the JNK/NF-κB signaling pathway.
3.Antibiotic resistance and molecular typing of Campylobacter spp. from diarrheal patients in Baoshan District of Shanghai, 2019‒2022
Na NIU ; Shiyong CUI ; Junqing SHEN ; Xu ZHANG ; Min JIN ; Xiaode TANG
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2025;37(6):490-495
ObjectiveTo analyze the drug resistance and the molecular typing characteristics through pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of Campylobacter spp. isolated from patients with infectious diarrhea in Baoshan District of Shanghai, and to provide a basis for Campylobacter spp. prevention and control and clinical medication. MethodsCampylobacter spp. was isolated, cultured and identified from stool samples of diarrheal patients collected from medical institutions at two monitoring sites in Baoshan District from 2019 to 2022. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing for 12 antibiotics was conducted on the isolated Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) and Campylobacter. Coli (C. coli), and molecular typing was performed using PFGE. ResultsA total of 179 strains of Campylobacter spp. were isolated from 1 786 samples of diarrheal patients, with a positive rate of 10.02%. The highest resistance rate of C. jejuni was to ciprofloxacin (98.63%), followed by tetracycline (97.26%) and nalidixic acid (89.73%). C. coli was completely resistant to ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid (100.00%), followed by tetracycline (90.91%). The multidrug resistance rates of C. jejuni and C. coli were 89.73% and 100.00%, respectively. 142 strains of C. jejuni produced 122 PFGE bands, while 33 strains of C. coli produced 33 PFGE bands, and the distribution of the bands was relatively dispersed. ConclusionFrom 2019 to 2022, the detection rate of Campylobacter in diarrheal patients was relatively high in Baoshan District of Shanghai, the multidrug resistance rate of Campylobacter isolates from diarrheal patients was relatively serious, in addition, the drug resistance pattern was complex, and the PFGE band pattern displayed a polymorphic distribution.
4.Efficacy of ursodeoxycholic acid in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 in patients with chronic hepatitis B
Xinyu CUI ; Yanyan LI ; Na ZHU ; Yingying LIN ; Xin LI
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2024;40(3):489-495
ObjectiveTo investigate the potential effect of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 in patients with chronic hepatitis B. MethodsClinical data were collected from 324 patients with chronic hepatitis B who were treated in Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, from January to December 2022, and according to whether UDCA was administered, they were divided into UDCA group and control group. The propensity score matching (PSM) method was used to balance the confounding factors such as age, sex, and chronic complications, and the two groups were compared in terms of SARS-CoV-2 infection rate, symptoms, and recovery time after COVID-19. The two groups were also compared in terms of related laboratory markers (white blood cell count [WBC], hemoglobin [Hb], platelet count [PLT], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], aspartate aminotransferase [AST], albumin [Alb], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], total bilirubin [TBil], triglyceride [TG], and total cholesterol [TC]), vaccination, and the incidence rate of liver disease symptoms after COVID-19. The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of data with skewed distribution between the two groups; the chi-square test and the continuously corrected chi-square test were used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. The binary Logistic regression model was used for univariate and multivariate analyses to investigate the influencing factors for COVID-19 after matching. ResultsThere were 87 patients in the UDCA group and 237 patients in the control group, and after PSM, there were 78 patients in the UDCA group and 137 patients in the control group, with good balance between the two groups. There was a significant difference in SARS-CoV-2 infection rate between the UDCA group and the control group [82.1% (64/78) vs 95.6% (131/137), χ2=10.847, P=0.001]. After COVID-19, compared with the control group, the UDCA group had a significantly lower proportion of the patients with chill (10.9% vs 38.9%, χ2=16.124, P<0.001) and cough (56.3% vs 74.8%, χ2=6.889, P=0.009). There was a significant difference between the UDCA group and the control group in the proportion of the patients with a recovery time of ≤7 days after COVID-19 (79.7% vs 61.1%, χ2=6.760, P=0.009). Both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that UDCA was an independent influencing factor for COVID-19 (odds ratio=0.21 and 0.17, both P<0.05). ConclusionUDCA is an protective factor against COVID-19 in patients with chronic hepatitis B and can alleviate related symptoms to some extent and shorten the recovery time, and therefore, it has an important value in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.
5.Influencing factors for the prognosis of patients with drug-induced liver injury and establishment of a nomogram model
Shimei WANG ; Shuai JIN ; Junru LI ; Na WANG ; Yan CHEN ; Ying CUI ; Mingming MA ; Xiaoli HU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2024;40(3):562-567
ObjectiveTo investigate the influencing factors for the clinical outcome of patients with drug-induced liver injury (DILI), and to establish a nomogram prediction model for validation. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed for the general information and laboratory data of 188 patients with DILI who were admitted to Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Harbin Institute of Technology from January 2017 to December 2022, and according to their clinical outcome, they were divided into good outcome group with 146 patients and poor outcome group with 42 patients. The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups; the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the independent influencing factors for the clinical outcome of DILI patients. R Studio 4.1.2 software was used to establish a nomogram model, and calibration curve, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to perform internal validation. ResultsThe univariate Logistic regression analysis showed that liver biopsy for the diagnosis of DILI, platelet count, cholinesterase, albumin, prothrombin time activity, IgM, and IgG were associated with adverse outcomes in patients with DILI. The multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that liver biopsy for the diagnosis of DILI (odds ratio [OR]=0.072, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.022 — 0.213, P<0.001), clinical classification (OR=0.463, 95%CI: 0.213 — 0.926, P=0.039), alanine aminotransferase (OR=0.999, 95%CI: 0.998 — 1.000, P=0.025), prothrombin time activity (OR=0.973, 95%CI: 0.952 — 0.993, P=0.011), and IgM (OR=1.456, 95%CI: 1.082 — 2.021, P=0.015) were independent influencing factors for clinical outcome in patients with DILI. The nomogram prediction model was established, and after validation, the calibration curve was close to the reference curve. The area under the ROC curve was 0.829, and the DCA curve showed that the model had good net clinical benefit. ConclusionThe nomogram prediction model established in this study has good clinical calibration, discriminative ability, and application value in evaluating the clinical outcome of patients with DILI.
6.Cu0 Modification and Cu2+ Self-intercalation of Ti3C2Tx Two-dimensional Material for Electrocatalytic Reduction of CO2
Chu-Cun LIU ; Ya-Li WANG ; Hui-Na CUI ; Yao YAO
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2024;52(2):240-247,中插14-中插15
The conversion of carbon dioxide into high value-added energy has become a research hotspot.In this study,by using Ti3AlC2 and CuCl2·2H2O as precursors,accordion-like two-dimensional Cu0/Cu2+-Ti3C2Tx catalysts modified with Cu0 nanoparticles and Cu2+ self-intercalation were successfully prepared for electrocatalytic reduction of CO2.The performance of the material was tested,and the results showed that in a CO2-saturated 0.5 mol/L KHCO3 electrolyte solution,compared with the original Ti3AlC2,the initial potential of the electrocatalytic conversion of CO2 to C2H4 over Cu0/Cu2+-Ti3C2Tx catalyst decreased from ?0.65 V(vs RHE)to?0.01 V(vs RHE).The maximum current density increased from 0.19 mA/cm2 to 2.5 mA/cm2,the double layer capacitance(Cdl)value increased from 2.61 mF/cm2 to 55.06 mF/cm2.The material showed higher catalytic activity and faster electron transfer rate(Charge transfer resistance(Rct)value was only 16.9 Ω).Moreover,the material showed high electrochemical active area and excellent stability.This research provided a promising method for designing and preparing elcetrocatalytic reduction(ECR)catalysts in the future.
7.Value of curvature value of liver surface nodularity based on MRI in liver function evaluation of liver cirrhosis
Nan WANG ; Jisui HUANG ; Yuhui LIU ; Yingchao CUI ; Qihao XU ; Qingwei SONG ; Na LEI ; Ailian LIU
Journal of Practical Radiology 2024;40(4):581-585
Objective To explore the value of curvature value of liver surface nodularity(LSN)based on MRI in evaluating liver function in patients with liver cirrhosis.Methods A retrospective analysis was made on the patients who underwent upper abdomen MR examination at 3.0T.The normal liver function patients and cirrhosis patients were enrolled in the study and then the Child-Pugh score of the patients were calculated.The patients were divided into three groups:normal liver group,compensated cirrhosis group and decompensated cirrhosis group.The water phase imaging of 3D modified Dixon fast field echo(mDixon-FFE)sequence was copied in DICOM format.ITK software was used to manually draw the full-thickness liver edge by two observers.The curvature value of LSN was obtained by using matlab self compiled code for follow up analysis.Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to compare the curvature value between the groups.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn and the area under the curve(AUC)was obtained.Spearman test was used for the correlation analysis.Results The curvature values of LSN among the normal liver,compensated cirrhosis and decompensated cirrhosis groups gradually increased(P<0.05).Comparing normal liver with compensated cirrhosis,the AUC of diagnosing compensated cirrhosis was 0.84,with the sensitivity of 72.7%and the specificity of 89.3%.Comparing compensated cirrhosis with decompensated cirrhosis,the AUC of diagnosing decompensated cirrhosis was 0.91,with the sensitivity of 80%and the specificity of 90.9%.There was a moderate positive correlation between the curvature value of LSN and liver function score in patients with cirrhosis(r=0.63,P=0.002).Conclusion The curvature value of LSN based on MRI can be used for preliminary evaluation of liver function of liver cirrhosis,with the AUC more than 0.80 and higher sensitivity and specificity.
8.Correlation analysis of glucose and lipid metabolism indicators combined with antiphospholipid antibodies on prognosis of patients with atherosclerosis
Jia CUI ; Mingming ZHANG ; Na WANG ; Wei GAO ; Fei LI
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2024;40(3):326-329
Objective To explore the correlation of glucose and lipid metabolism indicators combined with antiphospholipid antibodies with the prognosis of patients with atherosclerosis.Methods A total of 128 patients with atherosclerosis treated in our hospital from April 2021 to March 2023 were selected as study group,and 48 healthy individuals as control group.Glycolipid metabolism indexes and antiphospholipid antibody level of the two groups were compared,and the predictive value of glycolipid metabolism indexes,antiphospholipid antibodies and combined detection for the prognosis of patients with atherosclerosis were analyzed by ROC.Results TC,TG,ACL,and anti-β2-GP1 in the study group was higher than that in the control group(P<0.05).The study group was divided into two sub-groups according to the prognosis.The expression level of TC,TG,ACL,and anti-β 2-GP1 in poor prognosis group was higher than that in good prognosis group(P<0.05).TC,TG,ACL,and anti-β 2-GP1 was positively correlated with the poor prognosis of patients with atherosclerosis(P<0.05).ROC curve showed that the predictive value of six combined tests for the prognosis of patients with atherosclerosis was higher than that of single test of TC,TG,ACL,and anti-β2-GP1(P<0.05).Conclusion The combined detection of TC,TG,ACL,and anti-β2-GP1 has high predictive value for the prognosis of patients with atherosclerosis.
9. Effects of sodium pyruvate on the morphology, structure and function of erythrocytes stored in vitro in type 2 diabetes rats
Yu BAI ; Na YAO ; Xiaoyi XIE ; Mandi WU ; Yinghui CUI ; Jianrong GUO ; Yongbin CHI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2024;29(2):139-145
AIM: To observe the effect of RBC preservation solution with sodium pyruvate on the morphology, structure and function of RBC stored in vitro in type 2 diabetes rats. METHODS: Thirty SPF male SD rats, were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=10): non-T2DM conventional RBC preservation solution (group A), T2DM conventional RBC preservation solution (group B) and T2DM sodium pyruvate RBC preservation solution (group C). The leukoreduced RBC from the tail vein and stored for 0 d (T0), 7 d (T1), 14 d (T2), 21 d (T3) and 28 d (T4) to detect the morphology, structure and the contents of 2, 3-DPG, reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and lactic acid (LA) of RBC in group A, B and C. The RBC stored for 14 days in vitro were labeled with PKH26, and its survival rate were tested in vivo at 1, 4, 10 and 16 hours after intravenous infusion. RESULTS: At T0, the RBC morphology of group A was intact, which was better than that of group B and group C. With the extension of storage time, the morphology of RBC in each group gradually transformed into a spindle-spherical shape. Compared with group A, the incidence of acanthocytes in group B and group C was higher, and the incidence of acanthocytes in group C was lower than that in group B. Compared with group A, the content of 2, 3-DPG in group B and group C decreased, while ROS and MDA increased at different time points (P<0.05). The content of 2,3-DPG in group C was higher than that in group B (P<0.05), and the contents of ROS and MDA were lower than those in group B (P<0.05). LA content in group B was higher than that in group A and group C (P<0.05). At T2-T4, the LA content in group C was lower than that in group A (P<0.05). The survival rate of RBC in group A was higher than that in group B and C, and the survival rate of RBC in group B was lower than that in group C (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Sodium pyruvate added RBC preservation solution has a certain protective effect on RBC stored in vitro in type 2 diabetic rats, and its mechanism may be related to its antioxidant effect.
10.Development and Synthesis of Activity-based and Affinity-based Ubiquitin Probes
Ling XU ; Cui-Na WEI ; Xian-Fu LU ; Yi-Ming LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(3):598-623
Ubiquitination, a diverse post-translational modification, is carried out by enzymes including E1-activating enzymes, E2-conjugating enzymes, E3 ligases, and deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs). Ubiquitin itself possesses 7 lysine residues and N-terminal methionine, allowing for the formation of polyubiquitin chains with different lengths and linkages. These chains exhibit various topologies that can be recognized by proteins containing ubiquitin-binding domain, thereby transmitting distinct cellular signals. To unravel the physiological mechanisms associated with ubiquitin, numerous ubiquitin probes have been developed. This review provides an overview of recent advancements in the field of ubiquitin probes, focusing on activity-based and affinity-based probes. Activity-based probes are designed to covalently bind to DUBs, E1s, or E3s, enabling the identification and characterization of these enzymes. Affinity-based probes, on the other hand, selectively bind to ubiquitin-binding domains, facilitating the identification of proteins that interact with ubiquitin. Moreover, this review comprehensively discusses the synthetic methodologies employed for the acquisition of ubiquitin probes. These includes meticulous discussions on the synthesis of individual monomeric modules, the establishment of isopeptide linkages, as well as the incorporation of reactive functional groups. Additionally, the review explores the emerging area of cell-penetrating ubiquitin probes and highlights their latest applications in living cells. These probes incorporate cell-penetrating peptides to enable their internalization into cells, allowing for direct visualization and manipulation of ubiquitin-modified proteins within their native environment. Overall, this review offers insights into the design, synthesis, and applications of ubiquitin probes, highlighting their significance in elucidating ubiquitin-mediated cellular processes.

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