1.Ketamine Upregulates the Glutamatergic Synaptic Pathway and Induces Zebrafish Addiction
Song QIAN ; Si-Qi ZHU ; Jin-Zhong XU ; Cheng-Yu FANG ; Yin-Ze CHAI ; Yang LUO ; Kai WANG ; Yi-Zhou LIU
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2024;40(8):1153-1160
Ketamine,an antagonist of the glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate(NMDA)receptor,is cur-rently one of the most widely abused psychoactive substances.Prolonged abuse can result in damages to various systems in the body,making it crucial to investigate the regulatory mechanism of ketamine addic-tion and screening related biomarkers.In this study,zebrafish embryos/larvae were initially exposed a-cutely to ketamine.Then,a ketamine addiction model was established in 6-month-old zebrafish through conditioned place preference(CPP)experiments.The zebrafish brain transcriptome was analyzed using RNA-seq,while qPCR and Western blotting were employed to detect the expression of key genes.Results revealed significant reductions in the spontaneous tail coiling,embryo hatching rate,and survival rate of zebrafish embryos in the ketamine-treated group compared to the control group.The distance moved also decreased significantly,from 1904.2 mm in the control group to 319.0 mm in the high dose of ketamine group(300 μmol/L).Conditional positional preference experiments demonstrated that the control ze-brafish did not exhibit significant changes in activity in the CPP tank.In contrast,the ketamine-treated group increased their activity time in the light zone of the tank from 385.2 s before training to 706.4 s af-ter training,representing a 26.8%increase(***P<0.001).This suggests a preference for ketamine stimulation in zebrafish.KEGG analysis indicated enrichment of differentially expressed genes in the neu-roactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway in the ketamine-treated samples.GSEA analysis further re-veals a significant upregulation of the glutamatergic synapse pathway(NES=1.5).In addition,compared with the control group,the mRNA levels of Grin2b and Gria2 in the ketamine group increased by 4.6 and 1.4 times,respectively,while the protein levels increased by 2.0 and 1.4 times,respectively.These findings suggest that ketamine can induce addiction in zebrafish,potentially through upregulation of the glutamatergic synaptic pathway.
2.The Value of REG3α,sST2,and TNFR1 in Risk Stratification and Prognostic Evaluation of Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Children
Yu-Jie CHAI ; Na-Dan LU ; Ping LI ; Shu-Fang SU ; Hui-Xia WEI ; Yan XU ; Dao WANG
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2024;32(5):1566-1570
Objective:To explore the value of REG3α,sST2 and TNFR1 in peripheral blood for risk stratification and prognostic evaluation of acute graft-versus-host disease(aGVHD)after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT)in children.Methods:From January 2020 to March 2022,70 children with aGVHD after allo-HSCT in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were selected as the research objects,of which 50 cases were mild aGVHD(grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ)and 20 cases were severe aGVHD(grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ).30 healthy children who underwent physical examinations in our hospital during the same period were selected as the control group.Luminex platform was used to detect the protein expression levels of REG3α,sST2 and TNFR1 during aGVHD occurrence,and the differences between the three groups were analyzed by one-way ANOVA.According to the outcome of aGVHD treatment within 28 days,the patients were divided into a good prognosis group of 58 cases and a poor prognosis group of 12 cases.The ROC curve was used to analyze the value of REG3α,sST2 and TNFR1 in predicting the prognosis of children with aGVHD.Results:The peripheral blood levels of REG3α,sST2 and TNFR1 in the mild aGVHD and severe aGVHD groups were significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05),and those in the severe aGVHD group were significantly higher than those in the mild aGVHD group(P<0.05).Compared with the good prognosis group,the peripheral blood levels of REG3α,sST2 and TNFR1 in the poor prognosis group were significantly higher(t=9.27,3.33,2.97;P<0.01).ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC),sensitivity and specificity of the combined detection of REG3α,sST2 and TNFR1 in predicting the prognosis of children with aGVHD were higher than those of the above indicators detected alone or in pairs.Conclusion:The expression levels of REG3α,sST2 and TNFR1 were related to the severity of aGVHD.The combination of REG3α,sST2 and TNFR1 has a high clinical value in predicting the prognosis of children with aGVHD,which is expected to provide a reliable reference for clinical evaluation of the prognosis of children with aGVHD.
3.Mechanism of dorsal root ganglion SERT in electroacupuncture regulation of P2X3 receptor-mediated visceral hypersensitivity in IBS rats
Rong HUANG ; Jing CHAI ; Yun ZHOU ; Yu QIAO ; Zhijun WENG ; Huangan WU ; Huirong LIU ; Lu ZHU ; Jindan MA ; Yi ZHU ; Fang ZHANG ; Yanping YANG
Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science 2024;22(6):435-446
Objective:To investigate the role of serotonin reuptake transporter(SERT)and P2X3 receptor of dorsal root ganglion(DRG)in regulating visceral hypersensitivity of rats with irritable bowel syndrome(IBS)by electroacupuncture(EA). Methods:Male Sprague-Dawley and SERT-/-rats were subjected to preparing IBS visceral hypersensitivity models with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid(TNBS)enema.Three weeks post-modeling,interventions including EA,intrathecal injection,and EA plus intrathecal injection were applied,respectively.Hematoxylin-eosin staining and abdominal withdrawal reflex(AWR)score were used to confirm the successful establishment of the IBS model.AWR score,whole-cell patch clamp technique,and Western blotting assay were used to evaluate the changes in visceral pain sensitivity,electrophysiological properties of DRG neurons,and the expression of DRG P2X3 receptor and SERT in IBS rats. Results:Compared to the model group,the AWR score in the EA group decreased significantly(P<0.05),the resting membrane potential(P<0.05)and the number of action potentials(P<0.05)of DRG neurons reduced,and the baseline intensity increased(P<0.05);additionally,the expression of P2X3 receptor in DRG decreased(P<0.01),and the SERT expression increased(P<0.05).Compared to the P2X3 receptor agonist group,the SERT protein expression in DRG was higher in the EA group.In SERT-/-rats,the P2X3 receptor expression in DRG increased in the EA group compared to the model group(P<0.01). Conclusion:EA modulates the electrophysiological characteristics of intestinal primary sensory neurons by regulating the expression of SERT and P2X3 receptor in DRG of IBS rats.This modulation may contribute to the mechanism by which EA alleviates peripheral sensitization of visceral pain in IBS rats.
4.Non-muscle myosin heavy chain 9 gene-related disorders with thrombocytopenia: report of two pedigrees and literature review.
Shu Ting MAO ; Bai LI ; Dao WANG ; Shan Shan LIU ; Shu Fang SU ; Lin Lin WEI ; Fang Yuan CHAI ; Ying LIU ; Yu Feng LIU
Chinese Journal of Pediatrics 2023;61(9):833-838
Objective: To summarize the clinical characteristics and gene variants of 2 pedigrees of non-muscle myosin heavy chain 9 related diseases (MYH9-RD) in children. Methods: The basic information, clinical features, gene variants and laboratory tests of MYH9-RD patients from 2 pedigrees confirmed in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in November 2021 and July 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. "Non-muscle myosin heavy chain 9 related disease" "MYH9" and "children" were used as key words to search at Pubmed database, CNKI and Wanfang database up to February 2023. The MYH9-RD gene variant spectrum and clinical data were analyzed and summarized. Results: Proband 1 (male, 11 years old) sought medical attention due to epistaxis, the eldest sister and second sister of proband 1 only showed excessive menstrual bleeding, the skin and mucous membrane of the their mother were prone to ecchymosis after bumping, the uncle of proband 1 had kidney damage, and the maternal grandmother and maternal great-grandmother of proband 1 had a history of cataracts. There were 7 cases of phenotypic abnormalities in this pedigree. High-throughput sequencing showed that the proband 1 MYH9 gene had c.279C>G (p.N93K) missense variant, and family verification analysis showed that the variant was inherited from the mother. A total of 4 patients including proband 1 and family members were diagnosed with MYH9-RD. The proband 2 (female, 1 year old) sought medical attention duo to fever and cough, and the father's physical examination revealed thrombocytopenia. There were 2 cases of phenotypic abnormalities in this pedigree. High-throughput sequencing showed that there was a c.4270G>A (p.D1424N) missense variant in the proband 2 MYH9 gene, and family verification analysis showed that the variant was inherited from the father. A total of 2 patients including proband 2 and his father were diagnosed with MYH9-RD. A total of 99 articles were retrieved, including 32 domestic literatures and 67 foreign literatures. The MYH9-RD cases totaled 149 pedigrees and 197 sporadic patients, including 2 pedigrees in our study. There were 101 cases with complete clinical data, including 62 sporadic cases and 39 pedigrees. There were 56 males and 45 females, with an average age of 6.9 years old. The main clinical manifestations were thrombocytopenia, skin ecchymosis, and epistaxis. Most patients didn't receive special treatment after diagnosis. Six English literatures related to MYH9-RD caused by c.279C>G mutation in MYH9 gene were retrieved. Italy reported the highest number of cases (3 cases). Twelve literatures related to MYH9-RD caused by c.4270G>A mutation in MYH9 gene were retrieved. China reported the highest number of cases (9 cases). Conclusions: The clinical manifestations of patients in the MYH9-RD pedigrees varied greatly. MYH9 gene c.279C>G and c.4270G>A mutations are the cause of MYH9-RD.
Infant
;
Humans
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Female
;
Male
;
Child
;
Myosin Heavy Chains/genetics*
;
Ecchymosis
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Epistaxis
;
Pedigree
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Muscular Diseases
;
Thrombocytopenia
;
Cytoskeletal Proteins
5.Quality Evaluation and Reporting Specification for Real-World Studies of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Qian-Yun CHAI ; Yu-Tong FEI ; Rui GAO ; Ru-Yu XIA ; Fang LU ; Ming-Jie ZI ; Ming-Yue SUN ; Zhong-Qi YANG ; Da-Fang CHEN ; Jian-Ping LIU
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2022;28(12):1059-1062
In recent years, the real-world studies (RWS) have attracted extensive attention, and the real-world evidence (RWE) has been accepted to support the drug development in China and abroad. However, there is still a lack of standards for the evaluation of the quality of RWE. It is necessary to formulate a quality evaluation and reporting specification for RWE especially in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). To this end, under the guidance of China Association of Chinese Medicine, the Quality Evaluation and Reporting Specification for Real-World Evidence of Traditional Chinese Medicine (QUERST) Group, including 24 experts (clinical epidemiologists, clinicians, pharmacologists, ethical reviewer and statisticians), was established to develop the specification. This specification contains the listing of classification of RWS design and RWE, the general principles and methods of RWE quality evaluation (26 tools or scales), 25 types of bias in RWS, the special considerations in evaluating the quality of RWE of TCM, and the 19 reporting standards of RWE. This specification aims to propose the quality evaluation principles and key points of RWE, and provide guidance for the proper use of RWE in the development of TCM new drugs.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional
;
China
6.Research progress and trend analysis of medical insurance governance in China based on CNKI database
Yu QIAN ; Xiaohe WANG ; Jie CHEN ; Xin FANG ; Huihong CHAI ; Junfeng LYU
Chinese Journal of Hospital Administration 2022;38(9):637-642
Objective:To analyze the research hot topics, knowledge evolution context, potential frontier trends and future breakthrough directions in the field of medical security governance in China.Methods:Subject term retrieval was used to study the literatures related to medical security governance published by CNKI from January 2009 to December 2021. CiteSpace V software was used to draw the keyword co-occurrence network, time zone map, cluster map, and emergent word graph, and to visually analyze and predict the frontier hotspots and evolution trends in the field of medical security governance.Results:A total of 793 literatures were retrieved. The cooperation network among medical security governance research institutions in China needed to be strengthened; the mainstream of research focused on basic research on medical insurance system design, research on medical security governance paths and methods, and empirical research combined with the era background or policy hotspots.Conclusions:There are some problems in the current rerearch on medical security governance, such as imperfect theoretical construction, research content to be expanded, insufficient communication and cooperation, etc. Future research hotspots tend to be innovation of the goal, structure and path of medical security governance, application of big data in the field of medical security governance, and research on crisis response and challenges of medical security governance under public health emergencies. Future research should strengthen multi-cooperation to jointly tackle key problems, pay attention to the cross-integration of disciplines, develop localized medical security governance innovation systems and mechanisms, and enrich problem-oriented empirical research.
7.Role of Puerariae Lobatae Radix in Gegen Decoction for treatment of primary dysmenorrhea.
Gui-Yan HE ; Ying-Dan DUAN ; Fang HONG ; Bo-Yang YU ; Cheng-Zhi CHAI
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2021;46(15):3926-3933
This study aimed to explore the characteristic role of Puerariae Lobatae Radix(PLR) in Gegen Decoction for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea(PD). Estrogen(E_2) was combined with oxytocin to establish a mouse model of PD. The mice were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a Gegen Decoction group, a PLR-free Gegen Decoction group, a PLR group, and a positive drug group(ibuprofen). Writhing response times and writhing incubation of mice in each group were tested by behavio-ral assessment, and the serum levels of prostaglandin F_(2α)(PGF_(2α)), prostaglandin E_2(PGE_2), E_2, and progesterone(PROG) were detected by ELISA kits. Western blot method was adopted to detect cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) and estrogen receptor alpha(ER_α) expression levels in uterine tissues. Doppler ultrasound was employed to detect changes in uterine artery blood flow in mice, including peak systolic blood flow velocity(maximum velocity), end-diastolic velocity(minimum velocity), peak systolic blood flow velocity/end-diastolic velocity(S/D), pulsatility index(PI), and resistive index(RI). Histopathological changes in the uterus were detected by HE staining. Based on the oxytocin-induced isolated uterine contraction model, the effects of Gegen Decoction, PLR-free Gegen Decoction, and PLR on the amplitude, frequency, and activity of isolated uterine contraction were compared to investigate the role of PLR in Gegen Decoction for the treatment of PD. The results showed that compared with the Gegen Decoction group, the PLR-free Gegen Decoction improved the indicators of PD except for E_2 content, ER_α expression, and uterine artery blood flow. PLR could significantly down-regulate the serum content of E_2 and the protein expression of uterine ER_α, and improve the uterine artery blood flow. The data suggested that PLR, as the sovereign drug of Gegen Decoction, might function in Gegen Decoction for the treatment of PD by mediating E_(2 )and improving the uterine artery blood flow.
Animals
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal
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Dysmenorrhea/drug therapy*
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Humans
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Mice
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Plant Roots
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Pueraria
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Uterus
8. TRIM21 Promotes Differentiation of Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Through Improving Protein Stability by Ubiquitination of Cytoskeleton
Yan-Fang NIU ; Tao YANG ; Fang-Yu CHAI ; Wen-Hui PANG ; Ji-Sheng ZHANG ; Ji-Sheng ZHANG ; Yan-Fang NIU ; Tao YANG
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2021;37(6):790-797
E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM21(tripartite motif containing 21) plays an important role in regulating cell biological functions and clinical prognosis as oncogene or tumor suppressor in different types of tumors. However,the biological functions and molecular mechanism of TRIM21 in hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC) are still unclear.Our results showed that TRIM21 is highly expressed in moderately and well differentiated HPSCC, suggesting the role of TRIM21 in tumor differentiation. Overexpression and knockdown of TRIM21 inhibited or promoted cell proliferation and migration. Meanwhile, the expression of differentiation markers including KRT10 (keratin 10), IVL (involucrin) and TGM1 (transglutaminase 1) were increased and decreased upon TRIM21 overexpression or knockdown, respectively. The bioinformatics analysis of TRIM21 interacting protein identified by co-immunoprecipitation combined with mass spectrometry suggested that TRIM21 may be closely related to the regulation of cytoskeleton protein. We further demonstrated that TRIM21 interacted with KRT10. The inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide led to upregulation of KRT10 in TRIM21 overexpressing FaDu cells, and ectopic expression of TRIM21 enhanced the ubiquitination level of KRT10. In summary, our results suggest that TRIM21 may promote the HPSCC differentiation by mediating ubiquitination of cytoskeleton proteins to improve the protein stability.
9.Advancements in stabilization technologies for membrane protein and its application in drug screening
Jia-hao FANG ; Yu-hong CAO ; Yu-zhen HE ; Zhan-ying HONG ; Yi-feng CHAI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2021;56(9):2325-2334
Membrane proteins are the main undertakers of biofilm function, and also the most important target group for innovative drug discovery and research. About 60% of drugs targets are membrane proteins. Due to the obvious aggregation and denaturation tendency of membrane proteins in aqueous solution, it is difficult to simulate the membrane like environment to maintain the correct conformation of membrane proteins
10.Research progress on the traditional Chinese medicine-pharmaceutical drug interaction mediated by the ABC transporter family
Yu-zhen HE ; Hui WANG ; Jia-hao FANG ; Yu-hong CAO ; Zhan-ying HONG ; Yi-feng CHAI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2021;56(7):1778-1788
ABC transporters on the intestinal barrier, blood-brain barrier and on tumor cells will affect drug bioavailability, transport across the blood-brain barrier and multidrug resistance. The active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicines can affect the function and expression of ABC transporters. When combined with pharmaceuticals the potential interaction between the two can change the efficacy of the medicines. We review the ABC transporter superfamily and their distribution with regard to their relationship and interactions with traditional Chinese medicine on the intestinal barrier and the blood-brain barrier, as well as their role in tumor multidrug resistance mediated by ABC transporters. We summarize the research progress over the past five years.

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