1.Effect Analysis of Different Interventions to Improve Neuroinflammation in The Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
Jiang-Hui SHAN ; Chao-Yang CHU ; Shi-Yu CHEN ; Zhi-Cheng LIN ; Yu-Yu ZHOU ; Tian-Yuan FANG ; Chu-Xia ZHANG ; Biao XIAO ; Kai XIE ; Qing-Juan WANG ; Zhi-Tao LIU ; Li-Ping LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):310-333
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a central neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive decline and memory impairment in clinical. Currently, there are no effective treatments for AD. In recent years, a variety of therapeutic approaches from different perspectives have been explored to treat AD. Although the drug therapies targeted at the clearance of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) had made a breakthrough in clinical trials, there were associated with adverse events. Neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the onset and progression of AD. Continuous neuroinflammatory was considered to be the third major pathological feature of AD, which could promote the formation of extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. At the same time, these toxic substances could accelerate the development of neuroinflammation, form a vicious cycle, and exacerbate disease progression. Reducing neuroinflammation could break the feedback loop pattern between neuroinflammation, Aβ plaque deposition and Tau tangles, which might be an effective therapeutic strategy for treating AD. Traditional Chinese herbs such as Polygonum multiflorum and Curcuma were utilized in the treatment of AD due to their ability to mitigate neuroinflammation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and indomethacin had been shown to reduce the level of inflammasomes in the body, and taking these drugs was associated with a low incidence of AD. Biosynthetic nanomaterials loaded with oxytocin were demonstrated to have the capability to anti-inflammatory and penetrate the blood-brain barrier effectively, and they played an anti-inflammatory role via sustained-releasing oxytocin in the brain. Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells could reduce neuroinflammation and inhibit the activation of microglia. The secretion of mesenchymal stem cells could not only improve neuroinflammation, but also exert a multi-target comprehensive therapeutic effect, making it potentially more suitable for the treatment of AD. Enhancing the level of TREM2 in microglial cells using gene editing technologies, or application of TREM2 antibodies such as Ab-T1, hT2AB could improve microglial cell function and reduce the level of neuroinflammation, which might be a potential treatment for AD. Probiotic therapy, fecal flora transplantation, antibiotic therapy, and dietary intervention could reshape the composition of the gut microbiota and alleviate neuroinflammation through the gut-brain axis. However, the drugs of sodium oligomannose remain controversial. Both exercise intervention and electromagnetic intervention had the potential to attenuate neuroinflammation, thereby delaying AD process. This article focuses on the role of drug therapy, gene therapy, stem cell therapy, gut microbiota therapy, exercise intervention, and brain stimulation in improving neuroinflammation in recent years, aiming to provide a novel insight for the treatment of AD by intervening neuroinflammation in the future.
2.Identification of chemical components and determination of vitexin in the raw powder of Tongluo Shenggu capsule
Gelin WU ; Ruixin FAN ; Chuling LIANG ; Leng XING ; Yongjian XIE ; Ping GONG ; Peng ZHOU ; BO LI
Journal of China Pharmaceutical University 2025;56(2):166-175
The present study employed UPLC-MS/MS to analyze and identify compounds in the raw powder of Tongluo Shenggu capsules. An HPLC method for the determination of vitexin content was established. The analysis of this drug was performed on a 30 ℃ thermostatic Acquity UPLC® BEH C18 (2.1 mm×100 mm,1.7 μm) column, with the mobile phase comprising 0.2% formic acid-methanol flowing at 0.3 mL /min in a gradient elution manner. Mass spectrometry was detected by ESI sources in both positive and negative ion modes for qualitative identification of chemical constituents. 12 flavonoid and 3 stilbenes compounds in the raw powder of Tongluo Shenggu capsules were successfully identified. Additionally, an HPLC method for the determination of vitexin content was established using a XBridge C18 column (4.6 mm × 250 mm, 5 µm) with a mobile phase of 0.05% glacial acetic acid in methanol for gradient elution, at a column temperature of 30 °C, a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, and an injection volume of 20 μL. The method demonstrated good linearity in the concentration range of 10 µg/mL to 40 µg/mL (R=1.000) with an average recovery rate of 96.7%. The establishment of these methods provides a scientific basis for the quality control and development of the raw powder of Tongluo Shenggu capsules.
3.Effects and mechanism of Tianma xiongling zhixuan tablet on autophagy of vascular endothelial cells
Sunan YONG ; Chi FANG ; Yuanxiong LONG ; Ping LI ; Xiaobing XIE
China Pharmacy 2025;36(14):1737-1742
OBJECTIVE To explore the effects of Tianma xiongling zhixuan tablet on autophagy in vascular endothelial cells of rats and its potential mechanism. METHODS The rat aortic endothelial cells (RAECs) were divided into normal group, model group, blank serum group, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) medicated serum group, autophagy blocker group, autophagy agonist group, and TCM combined with autophagy agonist group. Except for normal group, other groups were given 10 μg/mL lipopolysaccharide for 24 hours to induce RAECs inflammation injury model. Blank serum group was treated with 10% blank serum; TCM medicated serum group received 10% medicated serum derived from Tianma xiongling zhixuan tablet; autophagy blocker group was treated with 20 μmol/L of PD98059; autophagy agonist group was administered 50 μmol/L Honokiol. Lastly, the TCM combined with autophagy agonist group was given both 10% medicated serum derived from Tianma xiongling zhixuan tablet and 50 μmol/L Honokiol. The morphological characteristics of RAECs in each group were observed. The cell viability of each group, the contents of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO), mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial membrane potential, and the expression levels of PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1), Parkin, ubiquitin-binding protein (p62), and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) were detected. RESULTS Compared with model group, the levels of ET-1, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, and the relative expressions of PINK1, Parkin, and LC3 proteins in the autophagy blocker group and TCM medicated serum group were decreased or down-regulated significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01); the cell viability rate (only autophagy blocker group), NO level, mitochondrial membrane potential, and the E-mail:46164660@qq.com relative expression level of p62 protein were increased or up-regulated significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01); the pathological damage of RAECs was significantly improved, the number of cells increased significantly, and the typical paving stone-like characteristics were restored. The levels of ET-1, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, and the relative expression levels of Parkin and LC3 proteins in the autophagy agonist group were increased or up-regulated significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while cell viability rate was decreased significantly (P<0.05), the damage of RAECs was aggravated. Compared with the autophagy agonist group, the cell viability rate and the relative expression level of p62 protein in TCM combined autophagy agonist group were increased or up-regulated significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01), while the levels of ET-1, the relative expression levels of PINK1, Parkin, and LC3 proteins were down-regulated significantly (P< 0.01), the damage of RAECs was reversed to a certain extent. CONCLUSIONS Tianma xiongling zhixuan tablet protects vascular endothelial function by regulating mitochondrial autophagy, the mechanism of which may be associated with the regulation of PINK1/Parkin signaling pathway and the inhibition of mitochondrial autophagy.
4.Chaihu and Longgu Mulitang Regulates ERK/CREB Signaling Pathway to Ameliorate Hippocampal Nerve Injury in Mouse Model of Depression
Shiyu JI ; Li WANG ; Zhuo ZHANG ; Yingzhe GAO ; Zefeng ZHANG ; Siyu CHEN ; Guangjing XIE ; Ping WANG ; Panpan HUANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(22):1-9
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Chaihu and Longgu Mulitang (CLMT) on hippocampal neural damage in the mouse model of depression via the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK)/cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) signaling pathway. MethodsSeventy-eight male C57BL/6 mice were randomly allocated into normal control, model, low/medium/high-dose (2.89, 5.78, and 11.56 g·kg-1, respectively) CLMT, and paroxetine (10 mg·kg-1) groups. A depression model was established by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) combined with social isolation. Behavioral tests were carried out to evaluate depressive-like behaviors. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and Nissl staining were performed to assess hippocampal morphology and neuronal damage. Immunofluorescence was employed to detect glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1). Real-time PCR was employed to measure the mRNA levels of ERK and CREB. Western blot was employed to determine the expression of ERK/CREB pathway proteins and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampal tissue. Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) software was used for molecular docking to evaluate the interactions between CLMT components and target proteins. ResultsCompared with the normal control group, the model group showed decreased sucrose preference (P0.01), increased tail-suspension immobility time (P0.01), decreased activity in the central region of the open field test (P0.01), and decreased activity in the middle and open-arm region of the elevated plus maze test (P0.01). The hippocampal area in the model group showed wrinkled cells and a reduction in the number of cells, neurons with reduced sizes and Nissl bodies, enhanced fluorescence intensity of GFAP and Iba1 (P0.01), and down-regulated expression of phosphorylated (p)-ERK, p-CREB, and BDNF (P0.05, P0.01) and mRNA levels of ERK and CREB (P0.01). Compared with the model group, the CLMT group showed increased body weight (P0.05, P0.01), restored cell morphology, with only a small number of ruptured cells, normal neuronal structure and morphology with obvious nuclei and abundant Nissl bodies, weakened fluorescence intensity of GFAP and Iba1 (P0.05, P0.01), up-regulated mRNA levels of ERK and CREB (P0.05, P0.01) and protein levels of phosphorylated (p)-ERK, p-CREB, and BDNF in the hippocampal tissue (P0.05, P0.01). The results of molecular docking indicated that nine active ingredients in CLMT had good binding affinity with ERK and CREB. ConclusionCLMT may ameliorate the hippocampal nerve injury in the mouse model of depression by regulating the ERK/CREB pathway.
5.Elemene Antitumor Drugs Development Based on "Molecular Compatibility Theory" and Clinical Application: A Retrospective and Prospective Outlook.
Xiao-Ying JIANG ; Li-Ping SHI ; Jun-Long ZHU ; Ren-Ren BAI ; Tian XIE
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2024;30(1):62-74
Elemene, derived from Curcuma wenyujin, one of the "8 famous genuine medicinal materials of Zhejiang province," exhibits remarkable antitumor activity. It has gained wide recognition in clinical practice for effectiveness on tumors. Dr. XIE Tian, introduced the innovative concept of "molecular compatibility theory" by combining Chinese medicine principles, specifically the "monarch, minister, assistant, and envoy" theory, with modern biomedical technology. This groundbreaking approach, along with a systematic analysis of Chinese medicine and modern biomedical knowledge, led to the development of elemene nanoliposome formulations. These novel formulations offer numerous advantages, including low toxicity, well-defined composition, synergistic effects on multiple targets, and excellent biocompatibility. Following the principles of the "molecular compatibility theory", further exploration of cancer treatment strategies and methods based on elemene was undertaken. This comprehensive review consolidates the current understanding of elemene's potential antitumor mechanisms, recent clinical investigations, advancements in drug delivery systems, and structural modifications. The ultimate goal of this review is to establish a solid theoretical foundation for researchers, empowering them to develop more effective antitumor drugs based on the principles of "molecular compatibility theory".
Humans
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Retrospective Studies
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Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use*
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Neoplasms/drug therapy*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
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Sesquiterpenes/therapeutic use*
6.Research Progress on the Novel Mechanosensitive Ion Channel Piezo1 in Cardiac Fibrosis
Yanling LI ; Gang WANG ; Wenting YAN ; Yuan HUANG ; Ping XIE
Journal of Medical Biomechanics 2024;39(1):178-184
During the occurrence and development of various heart diseases,continuous deterioration of myocardial fibrosis leads to remodeling and dysfunction of the cardiac structure.As a newly discovered mechanically sensitive ion channel,Piezo1 has opened up a new field of research on cellular mechanical transduction.Piezo1 combines a fine force transducer with Ca2+ influx and participates in the regulation of cellular mechanical transduction,thereby regulating cellular biological functions.Recent studies have shown that the biomechanical changes induced by myocardial injury regulate the expression of Piezo1 in cardiomyocytes and cause an imbalance in calcium homeostasis,which plays an important role in the positive feedback loop of myocardial fibrosis.This review summarizes the theoretical basis and related studies of Piezo1 in regulating cardiac fibrosis and suggests that the Piezo1 channel may become a new target for the treatment of cardiac fibrosis,thereby providing a new research horizon for the prevention and treatment of cardiac fibrosis.
7.Application Study of Enzyme Inhibitors and Their Conformational Optimization in The Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
Chao-Yang CHU ; Biao XIAO ; Jiang-Hui SHAN ; Shi-Yu CHEN ; Chu-Xia ZHANG ; Yu-Yu ZHOU ; Tian-Yuan FANG ; Zhi-Cheng LIN ; Kai XIE ; Shu-Jun XU ; Li-Ping LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(7):1510-1529
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a central neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive dysfunction and behavioral impairment, and there is a lack of effective drugs to treat AD clinically. Existing medications for the treatment of AD, such as Tacrine, Donepezil, Rivastigmine, and Aducanumab, only serve to delay symptoms and but not cure disease. To add insult to injury, these medications are associated with very serious adverse effects. Therefore, it is urgent to explore effective therapeutic drugs for AD. Recently, studies have shown that a variety of enzyme inhibitors, such as cholinesterase inhibitors, monoamine oxidase (MAO)inhibitors, secretase inhibitors, can ameliorate cholinergic system dysfunction, Aβ production and deposition, Tau protein hyperphosphorylation, oxidative stress damage, and the decline of synaptic plasticity, thereby improving AD symptoms and cognitive function. Some plant extracts from natural sources, such as Umbelliferone, Aaptamine, Medha Plus, have the ability to inhibit cholinesterase activity and act to improve learning and cognition. Isochromanone derivatives incorporating the donepezil pharmacophore bind to the catalytic active site (CAS) and peripheral anionic site (PAS) sites of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which can inhibit AChE activity and ameliorate cholinergic system disorders. A compound called Rosmarinic acid which is found in the Lamiaceae can inhibit monoamine oxidase, increase monoamine levels in the brain, and reduce Aβ deposition. Compounds obtained by hybridization of coumarin derivatives and hydroxypyridinones can inhibit MAO-B activity and attenuate oxidative stress damage. Quinoline derivatives which inhibit the activation of AChE and MAO-B can reduce Aβ burden and promote learning and memory of mice. The compound derived from the combination of propargyl and tacrine retains the inhibitory capacity of tacrine towards cholinesterase, and also inhibits the activity of MAO by binding to the FAD cofactor of monoamine oxidase. A series of hybrids, obtained by an amide linker of chromone in combine with the benzylpiperidine moieties of donepezil, have a favorable safety profile of both cholinesterase and monoamine oxidase inhibitory activity. Single domain antibodies (such as AAV-VHH) targeted the inhibition of BACE1 can reduce Aβ production and deposition as well as the levels of inflammatory cells, which ultimately improve synaptic plasticity. 3-O-trans-p-coumaroyl maslinic acid from the extract of Ligustrum lucidum can specifically inhibit the activity of γ-secretase, thereby rescuing the long-term potentiation and enhancing synaptic plasticity in APP/PS1 mice. Inhibiting γ-secretase activity which leads to the decline of inflammatory factors (such as IFN-γ, IL-8) not only directly improves the pathology of AD, but also reduces Aβ production. Melatonin reduces the transcriptional expression of GSK-3β mRNA, thereby decreasing the levels of GSK-3β and reducing the phosphorylation induced by GSK-3β. Hydrogen sulfide can inhibitGSK-3β activity via sulfhydration of the Cys218 site of GSK-3β, resulting in the suppression of Tau protein hyperphosphorylation, which ameliorate the motor deficits and cognitive impairment in mice with AD. This article reviews enzyme inhibitors and conformational optimization of enzyme inhibitors targeting the regulation of cholinesterase, monoamine oxidase, secretase, and GSK-3β. We are hoping to provide a comprehensive overview of drug development in the enzyme inhibitors, which may be useful in treating AD.
8.The effect of cuproptosis related gene methylation on the prognosis of cervical cancer
Yu DING ; Jiaqi PENG ; Jinhui CHEN ; Zhiwei ZHOU ; Qian WU ; Ping LI ; Yuli LIU ; Ping TAN ; Yan HU ; Xiaobing XIE ; Dingsheng WEN
Chinese Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2024;47(4):407-412
To investigate the differences in methylation levels of cuproptosis related genes in cervical cancer and their effects on clinical prognosis.Methods:The methylation data of 310 cervical tissue specimens were acquired from public databases. The UALCAN database was used to analyze the methylation level differences of 12 cuproptosis-related genes and study their level in different stages or grades of cervical cancer. Genes with statistically significant differences were selected for prognosis analysis using the EWAS datahub. Finally, gene-enrichment analysis, pathway analysis, immune infiltration analysis, the mutation rate and tumor mutation burden (TMB) of the genes in cervical cancer were analyzed using the cBioportal database. Two independent samples rank-sum test was used for differences in methylation levels and immune cell infiltration; comparative analyses of overall survival were performed using KM survival curves and Log-rank two-sided tests. TMB analyses were performed using the Wilcoxon Test for statistical analyses; Pearson correlation analysis was used for assessment in GSEA and pathway analyses.Results:The methylationβvalue of Cyclin Dependent Kinase Inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A gene) in the cervical cancer tissues of patients was 0.075 which was significantly higher than the methylationβvalue of 0.049 in normal human tissues ( P=0.008). Dihydrolipoamide S-Acetyltransferase (DLAT gene) methylation with a β value of 0.102 was significantly higher than normal human tissue methylation with a β value of 0.08 ( P=0.002), and the methylation level β value of Lipoyltransferase 1 (LIPT1 gene) in cervical cancer tissues was 0.06,which was significantly lower than normal human tissue methylation value of 0.092 ( P=0.009). Patients with CDKN2A gene methylation levels≥0.199 had an overall survival of 14.75 years, which was lower than that of patients with methylation levels<0.199 (17.56 years) ( P=0.034).The results of gene enrichment analysis indicated that it mainly involves biological processes such as the response to type I interferon and DNA replication. The expression of CDKN2A gene is positively correlated with the number of neutrophils and dendritic cells in the tumor microenvironment( P<0.05), and negatively correlated with the number ofmacrophages( P<0.05). TMB was higher in the group of variants of the CDKN2A gene than in the group of non-variants ( P=0.019). Conclusion:CDKN2A methylation is a potential biomarker for predicting the prognosis of cervical cancer.
9.Feasibility Evaluation of using PAX1/JAM3 methylation markers as cervical cancer screening for female self-collected samples
Furong YU ; Jiezhi MA ; Xi ZHOU ; Genlin LI ; Jiaqi PENG ; Ping LI ; Fei ZENG ; Xiaobing XIE ; Weilei DONG
Chinese Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2024;47(4):419-427
Objective:To explore the application value of PAX1/JAM3 methylation detection by cervical self-collected specimen in cervical cancer screening and the management of premenopausal and postmenopausal women.Method:This study is a single center cross-sectional study. From January 2023 to November 2023, cervical self-collected and physician-collected specimens at the colposcopy clinic were detected the PAX1/JAM3 methylation (PAX1 m/JAM3 m) testing. The consistency between self-collected and physician-collected specimens for PAX1 m/JAM3 m detection were compared based on histopathology. In addition, the clinical efficacy of methylation detection with high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV), liquid-based cytology (LBC), and their combination for cervical cancer screening were compared in the study. Results:A total of 301 women were recruited to undergo referral colposcopy examination, and statistical analysis was conducted on 272 women with pathological and diagnostic information. Among them, 102 cases (37.5%) were diagnosed as normal cervical tissue or chronic cervicitis, 72 cases (26.4%) were cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1 (CIN1), 43 cases (15.8%) were CIN2, 29 cases (10.7%) were CIN3, and 26 cases (9.6%) were cervical cancer. According to the minimum quantity formula, they were divided into a consistency cohort of 81 participants and a validation cohort of 191 participants. The consistency between cervical self-collected and physician-collected specimens for detecting PAX1 m/JAM3 m. Results from spearman correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the self-collected and physician-collected results of PAX1 m/JAM3 m detection, and the correlation coefficient R values are 0.858 ( P<0.001) and 0.828 ( P<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of PAX1 m/JAM3 m detection for diagnosing CIN2 or more severe lesions (CIN2+) were 77.6% [95% confidence interval ( CI) 65.3%-86.4%] and 87.2% (95% CI 80.5%-91.9%), respectively. In clinical performance comparison, the sensitivity of PAX1 m/JAM3 m combined with HPV16/18 detection, 89.7% (95% CI 79.2%-95.2%), was the same as that of hrHPV detection in CIN2+and 96.0% (95% CI 80.4%-99.3%) in CIN3+, which is higher than 92.0% (95% CI 75.0%-97.8%) of hrHPV and 82.6% (95% CI 62.9%-93.0%) of LBC or the combination of sPAX1 m/JAM3 m and LBC low-grade and higher squamous intraepithelial lesion testing [87.0% (95% CI 67.9%-95.5%)]. Conclusions:Self-collected specimens by women for detection of PAX1 and JAM3 methylation as a promising screening tool for cervical cancer has operational and clinical feasibility. The methylation test can optimize the current cervical cancer screening plan, reduce the number of referral women with false positive diagnosis to colposcopy, and is of great significance for reducing fertility protection and preventing missed diagnosis in women of childbearing age.
10.Hepatic lipidomics study in chronic cadmium-exposed mice
Rong-Rong HAO ; Ling LI ; Li TIAN ; Jia XIE ; Meng-Yan CHEN ; Zheng-Ping YU ; Hui-Feng PI
Journal of Regional Anatomy and Operative Surgery 2024;33(3):194-200
Objective To study the change of lipidomics in chronic cadmium-exposed mice,thereby screening out lipid subclasses,lipid molecules and enriched metabolic pathways with significant differences.Methods Twelve SPF male C57BL/6J mice(8 weeks old)were randomly divided into the control group(normal water feeding)and the experimental group[cadmium water(0.6 mg/L of CdCl2)feeding],with 6 mice in each group.Mice were sacrificed after 6 months of cadmium exposure,and fresh liver tissues were collected immediately.Lipid oil red O staining and lipidomics analysis were performed on liver tissue.Results Compared with the control group,the liver tissue of mice in the experimental group did not appear red after lipid oil red O staining.Seventeen lipid subclasses with significant differences and 144 lipid molecules with significant differences were screened out by lipidomics.These lipid molecules with significant differences were enriched in glycerophospholipid metabolism,linoleic acid metabolism,alpha-linolenic acid metabolism,glycosylphosphati-dylinositol biosynthesis,glycerolipid metabolism and arachidonic acid metabolism by KEGG.Conclusion This study reveals that chronic cadmium exposure can induce the disorder of lipid subclasses and lipid metabolites in the liver of mice,which provides a basis for understanding the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease caused by chronic cadmium exposure.

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