1.Danggui Shaoyaosan Inhibits cGAS-STING/IRF7/STAT3 Signaling Pathway to Ameliorate Neuroinflammation in Vascular Dementia
Chuyao HUANG ; Zhenwen WEI ; Ningxiang ZHENG ; Wei ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(17):1-10
ObjectiveTo investigate the anti-inflammatory effect and mechanism of Danggui Shaoyaosan (DSS) in ameliorating vascular dementia (VaD). MethodsSeventy 8-week-old C57BL/6J male mice were randomized into 7 groups: control, model, sham, positive control (donepezil, 10 mg·kg-1), and low-, medium-, and high-dose (12, 24, 36 g·kg-1, respectively) DSS groups (n=10). After drug administration, behavioral tests and cerebral blood flow detection were carried out. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to assess the levels of interferon (IFN)-α, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and CXC motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) in the brain tissue. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was employed to observe the changes in hippocampal morphology. Transcriptomics was used to predict the potential signaling mechanisms of DSS in ameliorating neuroinflammation, and Western blot and Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) were conducted to verify the expression changes of related genes. ResultsCompared with the control group and the sham group, the model group showed deceases in recognition index in the new object recognition test, movement distance and time in the target quadrant, and number of crossings in the Morris water maze test (P<0.01). In addition, the model group showed slow cerebral blood flow and down-regulated protein levels of postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) and occludin (P<0.05, P<0.01), and there was no significant difference between the control group and the sham group. Compared with the model group, the DSS at each dose increased the new object recognition index, the distance and time in the target quadrant, the number of crossings, and cerebral blood flow (P<0.05, P<0.01). In terms of brain tissue injury-related protein expression and inflammatory factor content, the medium-dose DSS group had the best effect, with higher protein levels of PSD95 and occludin (P<0.05) and lower levels of IFN-α, TNF-α, and IL-6 (P<0.01) than the model group. The hippocampus of model mice showed pathological manifestations such as cell loss and disarrangement, which were alleviated after administration of DSS at each dose. Transcriptomic results indicated that interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and bone marrow stromal cell antigen 2 (BST2) were differentially expressed genes (down-regulated) in control group and medium-dose DSS group compared with the model group. The KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that RIG-Ⅰ-like receptor signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, cytosolic DNA-sensing pathway, and downstream stimulator of interferon genes (STING) were both upstream signaling pathways affecting IFN expression. Real-time PCR results indicated that the mRNA levels of cyclic good manufacturing practice(GMP)-adenosine monophosphate(AMP) synthase (cGAS), STING, IRF7, STAT3, and BST2 in the model group were higher than those in the sham group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The mRNA levels of all the genes in the medium-dose DSS group were down-regulated compared with those in the model group after administration (P<0.05, P<0.01). Western blot results indicated that the relative expression levels of cGAS, STING, p-IRF7, p-STAT3, and BST2 in the model group were higher than those in the sham group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The protein levels of cGAS, STING, p-IRF7, p-STAT3, and BST2 in the medium-dose DSS group were decreased compared with those in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionDSS ameliorates cognitive impairment in the VaD model mice by inhibiting the cGAS-STING/IRF7/STAT3-mediated neuroinflammation.
2.Danggui Shaoyaosan Inhibits cGAS-STING/IRF7/STAT3 Signaling Pathway to Ameliorate Neuroinflammation in Vascular Dementia
Chuyao HUANG ; Zhenwen WEI ; Ningxiang ZHENG ; Wei ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(17):1-10
ObjectiveTo investigate the anti-inflammatory effect and mechanism of Danggui Shaoyaosan (DSS) in ameliorating vascular dementia (VaD). MethodsSeventy 8-week-old C57BL/6J male mice were randomized into 7 groups: control, model, sham, positive control (donepezil, 10 mg·kg-1), and low-, medium-, and high-dose (12, 24, 36 g·kg-1, respectively) DSS groups (n=10). After drug administration, behavioral tests and cerebral blood flow detection were carried out. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to assess the levels of interferon (IFN)-α, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and CXC motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) in the brain tissue. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was employed to observe the changes in hippocampal morphology. Transcriptomics was used to predict the potential signaling mechanisms of DSS in ameliorating neuroinflammation, and Western blot and Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) were conducted to verify the expression changes of related genes. ResultsCompared with the control group and the sham group, the model group showed deceases in recognition index in the new object recognition test, movement distance and time in the target quadrant, and number of crossings in the Morris water maze test (P<0.01). In addition, the model group showed slow cerebral blood flow and down-regulated protein levels of postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) and occludin (P<0.05, P<0.01), and there was no significant difference between the control group and the sham group. Compared with the model group, the DSS at each dose increased the new object recognition index, the distance and time in the target quadrant, the number of crossings, and cerebral blood flow (P<0.05, P<0.01). In terms of brain tissue injury-related protein expression and inflammatory factor content, the medium-dose DSS group had the best effect, with higher protein levels of PSD95 and occludin (P<0.05) and lower levels of IFN-α, TNF-α, and IL-6 (P<0.01) than the model group. The hippocampus of model mice showed pathological manifestations such as cell loss and disarrangement, which were alleviated after administration of DSS at each dose. Transcriptomic results indicated that interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and bone marrow stromal cell antigen 2 (BST2) were differentially expressed genes (down-regulated) in control group and medium-dose DSS group compared with the model group. The KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that RIG-Ⅰ-like receptor signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, cytosolic DNA-sensing pathway, and downstream stimulator of interferon genes (STING) were both upstream signaling pathways affecting IFN expression. Real-time PCR results indicated that the mRNA levels of cyclic good manufacturing practice(GMP)-adenosine monophosphate(AMP) synthase (cGAS), STING, IRF7, STAT3, and BST2 in the model group were higher than those in the sham group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The mRNA levels of all the genes in the medium-dose DSS group were down-regulated compared with those in the model group after administration (P<0.05, P<0.01). Western blot results indicated that the relative expression levels of cGAS, STING, p-IRF7, p-STAT3, and BST2 in the model group were higher than those in the sham group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The protein levels of cGAS, STING, p-IRF7, p-STAT3, and BST2 in the medium-dose DSS group were decreased compared with those in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionDSS ameliorates cognitive impairment in the VaD model mice by inhibiting the cGAS-STING/IRF7/STAT3-mediated neuroinflammation.
3.Biomechanical Analysis on Young and Middle-Aged Femoral Neck Fractures Fixed by Intramedullary Fibular Allograft Combined with Cannulated Screw
Chi ZHOU ; Guoming CHEN ; Chuyao HUANG ; Tengyu CHEN ; Yunyun LIU ; Ruilan HUANG ; Wei HE ; Huiye LV
Journal of Medical Biomechanics 2019;34(6):E601-E607
Objective To compare differences in mechanical stability of intramedullary fibular allograft with cannulated screw (modified method) and cannulated screw alone (conventional method) for fixing young and middle-aged Pauwels Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ femoral neck fractures. Methods Models of Pauwels Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ femoral neck fracture fixed by conventional method and modified method were constructed. Stress distributions on weight-bearing area of the femoral cortical bone shell and the end of femoral neck fracture, as well as shear stress distributions on cortical bone shell of the femoral head and femoral neck fracture surface were analyzed, the maximum principal strain cloud maps of the femur in coronal position were drawn according to the predicted data, and the displacements of femoral neck fracture end between two groups were compared. Results The shear stress distributions on cortical bone shell of the femoral head in two directions (S12, S13) showed that femoral neck fractures fixed by modified method was superior or close to that by conventional method. Besides, the shear stress distributions on fracture surface of the femoral neck in two directions (S12, S23) showed that modified internal fixation was superior to conventional internal fixation. The displacements of femoral neck fracture end in Pauwels Ⅱ and Ⅲ fracture fixed by conventional method were greater than those by modified method and the displacements of Pauwels Ⅱ fracture fixed by conventional method were obviously larger than those of Pauwels Ⅱ fracture fixed by modified method. But Pauwels Ⅰ fracture fixed by modified method showed a larger displacement than that fixed by conventional method. Conclusions Modified method is more suitable for fixing femoral neck fracture with large angles (Pauwels Ⅱ and Ⅲ fracture), and conventional method is more suitable for fixing neck fracture with small angles (Pauwels Ⅰ fracture).
4.Study on the Mechanism of Artemisia capillaries Based on Systems Pharmacology
Guoming CHEN ; Shunli TANG ; Zijun KUANG ; Yan HUANG ; Jinlong ZHAO ; Jingwen YU ; Ziyin CHEN ; Hongrong LIN ; Chuyao HUANG ; Hua XU
China Pharmacy 2018;29(10):1312-1319
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the possible mechanism of Artemisia capillaries,and to provide reference for further development and utilization of it. METHODS:The effective components and related target protein of A. capillaries were screened by Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) analysis platform database. The effective compound-target protein visual network of A. capillaries was established by using Cytoscape 3.5.1 software,topology analysis was also performed. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed and analyzed by STRING database. KEGG pathway enrichment of target protein coding gene was analyzed by DAVID bioinformatics resource database. RESULTS:A total of 13 kinds of effective compounds,189 target proteins and 34 enrichment pathways were selected. Quercetin,β-glutamol,isorhamnetin and artepillin C were main effective compounds. Prostaglandin G/H sythase 2(PTGS 2),heat shock protein 90(HSP 90),dipeptidyl peptidase Ⅳ, protein kinase A catalytic subunit Cα were main target proteins. Transcription factor AP-1 and cell tumor antigen p53 played a key role in PPI network. The target protein coding gene was rich in TNF-α signaling pathway,HIF-1 signaling pathway,Toll-like receptor signaling pathway,PI3K/Akt signaling pathway,T cell receptor signaling pathway,thyroid hormone signaling pathway, apoptotic signaling pathway,etc. CONCLUSIONS:Quercetin,β-glutamol and isorhamnetin of A. capillaries play an effect on PTGS2,HSP90,transcription factor AP-1 and other target proteins through TNF-α signaling pathway,HIF-1 signaling pathway and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway,so as to play anti-inflammatory and antitumor effect.

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