1.Effect of Liuwei Dihuangwan on EMT and Expression of CSC Properties in 4T1 Cells by Regulating Myeloid-derived Suppressor Cells
Lixiang ZHENG ; Ling HUANG ; Huiwen GUO ; Biyao GONG ; Xiaoying REN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(12):1-10
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Liuwei Dihuangwan drug-containing serum (LDP) on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the expression of cancer stem cell (CSC) properties in 4T1 cells from triple-negative breast cancer by intervening myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). MethodsSPF-grade female SD rats were randomly divided into three groups, which were given 0.39, 1.94, 3.89 g·kg-1·d-1 suspension of Liuwei Dihuangwan for 7 days, respectively, to prepare low-, medium-, and high-dose LDPs. 4T1 cells were inoculated subcutaneously into the mammary glands of SPF-grade female Balb/c mice to construct a transplantation tumor model. Bone marrow cells were extracted from the tibia and femur and induced into MDSCs in vitro. The cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to detect the viability of 4T1 cells and MDSCs. The number of MDSCs and the expressions of CSC surface markers CD44 and CD24 in 4T1 cells were detected by flow cytometry (FC). The migration, invasion, and proliferation of 4T1 cells were detected by cell scratch assay, Transwell invasion assay, and plate colony-forming assay, respectively. Western blot (WB) was used to detect the protein expression of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CXCL2), E-cadherin, and N-cadherin. The expression of EMT-related proteins E-cadherin and N-cadherin were detected by immunofluorescence (IF). ResultsCompared with the normal group, LDP showed no significant inhibitory effect on the cell viability of 4T1 cells, but it significantly reduced the viability and number of MDSCs and reduced the number of MDSCs, as well as the expression of TGF-β (P<0.05, P<0.01). The migration, invasion, and proliferation of 4T1 cells were increased after co-culture with MDSCs (P<0.05, P<0.01). The expressions of NF-κB, CXCL2, and N-cadherin and the proportion of CSC (CD44+CD24-) were elevated (P<0.05, P<0.01), while the expression of E-cadherin was decreased (P<0.05). After the intervention of MDSCs with LDP, followed by co-culture with 4T1 cells, the migration, invasion, and proliferation of 4T1 cells were obviously reduced (P<0.01). The expressions of NF-κB, CXCL2, and N-cadherin were decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the expression of E-cadherin was increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). There was no statistical difference in the proportion of CSC (CD44+CD24-) in 4T1 cells. However, the proportion of CSC (CD44+CD24-) was decreased in the co-culture system of 4T1 cells and MDSCs with LDP intervention (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionLDP can reduce the viability and number of MDSCs and the expression of TGF-β, NF-κB, and CXCL2, reverse EMT, and reduce the characteristic expression of CSC to inhibit the migration, invasion, and proliferation of 4T1 cells.
2.Effect of Liuwei Dihuangwan on EMT and Expression of CSC Properties in 4T1 Cells by Regulating Myeloid-derived Suppressor Cells
Lixiang ZHENG ; Ling HUANG ; Huiwen GUO ; Biyao GONG ; Xiaoying REN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(12):1-10
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Liuwei Dihuangwan drug-containing serum (LDP) on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the expression of cancer stem cell (CSC) properties in 4T1 cells from triple-negative breast cancer by intervening myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). MethodsSPF-grade female SD rats were randomly divided into three groups, which were given 0.39, 1.94, 3.89 g·kg-1·d-1 suspension of Liuwei Dihuangwan for 7 days, respectively, to prepare low-, medium-, and high-dose LDPs. 4T1 cells were inoculated subcutaneously into the mammary glands of SPF-grade female Balb/c mice to construct a transplantation tumor model. Bone marrow cells were extracted from the tibia and femur and induced into MDSCs in vitro. The cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to detect the viability of 4T1 cells and MDSCs. The number of MDSCs and the expressions of CSC surface markers CD44 and CD24 in 4T1 cells were detected by flow cytometry (FC). The migration, invasion, and proliferation of 4T1 cells were detected by cell scratch assay, Transwell invasion assay, and plate colony-forming assay, respectively. Western blot (WB) was used to detect the protein expression of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CXCL2), E-cadherin, and N-cadherin. The expression of EMT-related proteins E-cadherin and N-cadherin were detected by immunofluorescence (IF). ResultsCompared with the normal group, LDP showed no significant inhibitory effect on the cell viability of 4T1 cells, but it significantly reduced the viability and number of MDSCs and reduced the number of MDSCs, as well as the expression of TGF-β (P<0.05, P<0.01). The migration, invasion, and proliferation of 4T1 cells were increased after co-culture with MDSCs (P<0.05, P<0.01). The expressions of NF-κB, CXCL2, and N-cadherin and the proportion of CSC (CD44+CD24-) were elevated (P<0.05, P<0.01), while the expression of E-cadherin was decreased (P<0.05). After the intervention of MDSCs with LDP, followed by co-culture with 4T1 cells, the migration, invasion, and proliferation of 4T1 cells were obviously reduced (P<0.01). The expressions of NF-κB, CXCL2, and N-cadherin were decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the expression of E-cadherin was increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). There was no statistical difference in the proportion of CSC (CD44+CD24-) in 4T1 cells. However, the proportion of CSC (CD44+CD24-) was decreased in the co-culture system of 4T1 cells and MDSCs with LDP intervention (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionLDP can reduce the viability and number of MDSCs and the expression of TGF-β, NF-κB, and CXCL2, reverse EMT, and reduce the characteristic expression of CSC to inhibit the migration, invasion, and proliferation of 4T1 cells.
3.Current situation of preservatives and sweeteners usage in beverages sold near schools in Anshun City
LIU Yujie, XU Lin,GONG Ling,WEI Gang, ZHAO Lianwei, QU Guangsheng, CAI Guixiang
Chinese Journal of School Health 2025;46(7):1051-1054
Objective:
To analyze the characteristics and safety risks of preservatives and sweeteners in beverages sold near schools in Anshun City, so as to provide a evidence for formulating targeted regulatory strategies in campus.
Methods:
From December 2023 to July 2024, 834 beverage samples were collected from sales points near primary and secondary schools in Xixiu District and four surrounding townships of Anshun City by a stratified random sampling method. High performance liquid chromatography was used to detect three preservatives (sorbic acid, benzoic acid and dehydroacetic acid) and four sweeteners (sodium saccharin, acesulfame-K, aspartame, and neotame). Differences were analyzed using the Chi-square test.
Results:
The overall exceedance rate of preservative was 8.6% (72 samples), with dehydroacetic acid showing the highest exceedance rate (7.0%, 58 samples), significantly higher than sorbic acid (0.6%, 5 samples) and benzoic acid (0.4%, 3 samples) ( χ 2=90.85, P <0.01). The overall exceedance rate of sweetener was 10.4% (87 samples), with sodium saccharin having the highest exceedance rate ( 6.2 %, 52 samples),significantly higher than neotame (2.8%, 23 samples), acesulfame-K (0) and aspartame (0) ( χ 2=262.04, P <0.01). Potential risks were identified due to the co occurrence of multiple additive exceedances, including 0.7% (6 samples) for mixed preservatives and 1.6% (13 samples) for mixed sweetener. No statistically significant differences were found in preservative (7.2%, 26 samples) or sweetener (12.3%, 44 samples) exceedance rates between micro enterprises and large, medium and small enterprises ( χ 2=2.67, 5.16, both P >0.05).
Conclusion
Systemic misuse risk of food additives in beverages sold near school necessitates a risk traceability based regulatory framework, with emphasis on standardizing enterprise production practices and strengthening oversight of sales outlets near campuses.
4.Management of Cutaneous Immune-Related Adverse Events of Malignant Tumors Induced by Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Based on Theory of "Fire and Original Qi are Restricted"
Shiliang SHAO ; Lijing JIAO ; Yichao WANG ; Decai WANG ; Qishan HUA ; Yabin GONG ; Ling XU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(16):1656-1661
Guided by the theory of "fire and original qi are restricted", it is believed that original qi depletion is the root of the cutaneous immune-related adverse events (cirAEs) related to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), and the yin fire exuberance is the branch. Among them, original qi depletion is the internal foundation of the disease, while the drug toxicity of ICIs harming original qi is the initiating factor, and exuberant yin fire is the key pathogenesis. In clinical practice, the general treatment principle advocates banking up original qi to consolidate the root and draining fire to raise yang. Buzhong Yiqi Decoction (补中益气汤) can be used to activate transportation of middle jiao (焦) and promote ascent and dispersion of clear yang, thereby restoring the balance of qi and fire, and medicinals such as Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae), Huanglian (Rhizoma Coptidis) and Huangbai (Cortex Phellodendri Chinensis) can be supplementetd to clear and drain yin fire. At the same time, considering the accompanying symptoms such as dampness-stasis and fluids depletion, the methods of removing dampness and dispelling stasis, supplementing blood and nourishing yin should be added flexibly. This approach can provide a new perspective and treatment strategy for reducing ICIs-related cirAEs in malignant tumors.
5.Combination of AAV-delivered tumor suppressor PTEN with anti-PD-1 loaded depot gel for enhanced antitumor immunity.
Yongshun ZHANG ; Lan YANG ; Yangsen OU ; Rui HU ; Guangsheng DU ; Shuang LUO ; Fuhua WU ; Hairui WANG ; Zhiqiang XIE ; Yu ZHANG ; Chunting HE ; Cheng MA ; Tao GONG ; Ling ZHANG ; Zhirong ZHANG ; Xun SUN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2024;14(1):350-364
Recent clinical studies have shown that mutation of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) gene in cancer cells may be associated with immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and poor response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. Therefore, efficiently restoring PTEN gene expression in cancer cells is critical to improving the responding rate to ICB therapy. Here, we screened an adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsid for efficient PTEN gene delivery into B16F10 tumor cells. We demonstrated that intratumorally injected AAV6-PTEN successfully restored the tumor cell PTEN gene expression and effectively inhibited tumor progression by inducing tumor cell immunogenic cell death (ICD) and increasing immune cell infiltration. Moreover, we developed an anti-PD-1 loaded phospholipid-based phase separation gel (PPSG), which formed an in situ depot and sustainably release anti-PD-1 drugs within 42 days in vivo. In order to effectively inhibit the recurrence of melanoma, we further applied a triple therapy based on AAV6-PTEN, PPSG@anti-PD-1 and CpG, and showed that this triple therapy strategy enhanced the synergistic antitumor immune effect and also induced robust immune memory, which completely rejected tumor recurrence. We anticipate that this triple therapy could be used as a new tumor combination therapy with stronger immune activation capacity and tumor inhibition efficacy.
6.Analysis of dosimetric parameters of acute radiation enteritis in cervical cancer patients treated with con-current chemoradiotherapy
Jing HU ; Xu WANG ; Xiaoqin GONG ; Rui LING ; Tao YOU ; Chunhua DAI ; Ye TIAN ; Fei CHEN
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2024;40(5):672-676
Objective To explore the correlation between intestinal dose and acute radiation enteritis(ARE)in patients with cervical cancer received concurrent chemoradiotherapy,and optimize the dose limit of intestinal tissue.Methods 158 cervical cancer patients received concurrent chemoradiotherapy from 2014 to 2019 were selected in this study.According to CTCAE 5.0,patients with ARE≥grade 2 were classified as ARE≥grade 2 group,otherwise classified as ARE
7.Exploration of the Disease Mechanism and Treatment of Colorectal Cancer Based on the "One Qi Circulation"
Zhiying WANG ; Ling XU ; Jialin YAO ; Jiajun SONG ; Yun LI ; Shujuan FU ; Yabin GONG ; Yi ZHONG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(10):1068-1071
Based on the theory of "one qi circulation" founded by HUANG Yuanyu, the core disease mechanism of colorectal cancer is the innate spleen deficiency and stomach qi failing to bear downward, which leads to the turbidity assemble in large intestine, forming the carcinoma toxin, and ultimately transforms into colorectal cancer. The treatment should base on recovering the circulation of qi, Huangya Decoction (黄芽汤) as the basic formula, the circulation of qi ascending and descending as the base, adjusting ascending and descending together with Xiaqi Decoction (下气汤), and differentiating the syndrome on yin-yang excess-deficiency; for spleen-kidney yang deficiency syndrome, treated with Tianhun Decoction (天魂汤) to supplement liver, kidney and assist yang; for liver-kidney yin deficiency syndrome, treated wtih Dipo Decoction (地魄汤) to supplement lung, kidney, and assist yang. They jointly prompt one qi circulation to provide the thoughts for the treatment of colorectal cancer by traditional Chinese medicine.
8.Cell softness reveals tumorigenic potential via ITGB8/AKT/glycolysis signaling in a mice model of orthotopic bladder cancer
Shi QIU ; Yaqi QIU ; Linghui DENG ; Ling NIE ; Liming GE ; Xiaonan ZHENG ; Di JIN ; Kun JIN ; Xianghong ZHOU ; Xingyang SU ; Boyu CAI ; Jiakun LI ; Xiang TU ; Lina GONG ; Liangren LIU ; Zhenhua LIU ; Yige BAO ; Jianzhong AI ; Tianhai LIN ; Lu YANG ; Qiang WEI
Chinese Medical Journal 2024;137(2):209-221
Background::Bladder cancer, characterized by a high potential of tumor recurrence, has high lifelong monitoring and treatment costs. To date, tumor cells with intrinsic softness have been identified to function as cancer stem cells in several cancer types. Nonetheless, the existence of soft tumor cells in bladder tumors remains elusive. Thus, our study aimed to develop a microbarrier microfluidic chip to efficiently isolate deformable tumor cells from distinct types of bladder cancer cells.Methods::The stiffness of bladder cancer cells was determined by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The modified microfluidic chip was utilized to separate soft cells, and the 3D Matrigel culture system was to maintain the softness of tumor cells. Expression patterns of integrin β8 (ITGB8), protein kinase B (AKT), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) were determined by Western blotting. Double immunostaining was conducted to examine the interaction between F-actin and tripartite motif containing 59 (TRIM59). The stem-cell-like characteristics of soft cells were explored by colony formation assay and in vivo studies upon xenografted tumor models. Results::Using our newly designed microfluidic approach, we identified a small fraction of soft tumor cells in bladder cancer cells. More importantly, the existence of soft tumor cells was confirmed in clinical human bladder cancer specimens, in which the number of soft tumor cells was associated with tumor relapse. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the biomechanical stimuli arising from 3D Matrigel activated the F-actin/ITGB8/TRIM59/AKT/mTOR/glycolysis pathways to enhance the softness and tumorigenic capacity of tumor cells. Simultaneously, we detected a remarkable up-regulation in ITGB8, TRIM59, and phospho-AKT in clinical bladder recurrent tumors compared with their non-recurrent counterparts.Conclusions::The ITGB8/TRIM59/AKT/mTOR/glycolysis axis plays a crucial role in modulating tumor softness and stemness. Meanwhile, the soft tumor cells become more sensitive to chemotherapy after stiffening, that offers new insights for hampering tumor progression and recurrence.
9.The expression mechanism of programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 and its role in immunomodulatory ability of mesenchymal stem cells
Zhuo CHEN ; Meng-Wei YAO ; Xiang AO ; Qing-Jia GONG ; Yi YANG ; Jin-Xia LIU ; Qi-Zhou LIAN ; Xiang XU ; Ling-Jing ZUO
Chinese Journal of Traumatology 2024;27(1):1-10
Programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) is an important immunosuppressive molecule, which inhibits the function of T cells and other immune cells by binding to the receptor programmed cell death-1. The PD-L1 expression disorder plays an important role in the occurrence, development, and treatment of sepsis or other inflammatory diseases, and has become an important target for the treatment of these diseases. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a kind of pluripotent stem cells with multiple differentiation potential. In recent years, MSCs have been found to have a strong immunosuppressive ability and are used to treat various inflammatory insults caused by hyperimmune diseases. Moreover, PD-L1 is deeply involved in the immunosuppressive events of MSCs and plays an important role in the treatment of various diseases. In this review, we will summarize the main regulatory mechanism of PD-L1 expression, and discuss various biological functions of PD-L1 in the immune regulation of MSCs.
10.Deep neural networks analysis of 18F-FDG PET imaging in postoperative patients with temporal lobe epilepsy
Huanhua WU ; Shaobo CHEN ; Jingjie SHANG ; Hailing ZHOU ; Biao WU ; Jian GONG ; Xueying LING ; Qiang GUO ; Hao XU
Chinese Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2024;44(4):220-224
Objective:To predict the short-term postoperative recurrence status of patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) by analyzing preoperative 18F-FDG PET images and patients′ clinical characteristics based on deep residual neural network (ResNet). Methods:Retrospective analysis was conducted on preoperative 18F-FDG PET images and clinical data of 220 patients with refractory TLE (132 males and 88 females, age 23.0(20.0, 30.2) years)) in the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University between January 2014 and June 2020. ResNet was used to perform high-throughput feature extraction on preprocessed PET images and clinical features, and to perform a postoperative recurrence prediction task for differentiating patients with TLE. The predictive performance of ResNet model was evaluated by ROC curve analysis, and the AUC was compared with that of classical Cox proportional risk model using Delong test. Results:Based on PET images combined with clinical feature training, AUCs of the ResNet in predicting 12-, 24-, and 36-month postoperative recurrence were 0.895±0.073, 0.861±0.058 and 0.754±0.111, respectively, which were 0.717±0.093, 0.697±0.081 and 0.645±0.087 for Cox proportional hazards model respectively ( z values: -3.00, -2.98, -1.09, P values: 0.011, 0.018, 0.310). The ResNet showed best predictive effect for recurrence events within 12 months after surgery. Conclusion:The ResNet model is expected to be used in clinical practice for postoperative follow-up of patients with TLE, helping for risk stratification and individualized management of postoperative patients.


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