1.Effect of Hei Xiaoyaosan on Neuroinflammation and NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD Signaling Pathway in APP/PS1 Mice
Jun ZHOU ; Mingcheng LI ; Yujie LYU ; Zhipeng MENG ; Yunyun HU ; Huping WANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(9):124-133
ObjectiveTo observe the effects of Hei Xiaoyaosan on the learning and memory abilities of Alzheimer's disease model mice (APP/PS1 mice), and to explore its mechanism through the inflammatory cascade mediated by nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3)/cysteine aspartate-specific protease (Caspase-1)/gasdermin D (GSDMD) signaling pathway. MethodsSPF-grade 4-month-old APP/PS1 mice were randomly divided into the model group, MCC950 group, and Hei Xiaoyaosan high-, medium-, and low-dose groups. C57BL/6J mice were used as the blank group. After 7 days of adaptive feeding, mice in each group were intervened. The Hei Xiaoyaosan high-, medium-, and low-dose groups were given corresponding doses by gavage (25.79, 12.90, 6.45 g·kg-1·d-1), the MCC950 group was intraperitoneally injected with 10 mg·kg-1·2 d-1, and the blank group received the same volume of physiological saline by gavage. After 90 days of intervention, the learning and memory abilities were assessed using the Y maze and Morris water maze tests. The structural changes of hippocampal neurons were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The expression of amyloid precursor protein (APP) in the hippocampal CA3 region was detected by immunohistochemistry. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the levels of interleukin (IL)-10, IL-18, and IL-1β in the hippocampus. Western blot was applied to detect the protein expression of NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD, and GSDMD-N in the hippocampus. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the co-localization of GSDMD-N and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule-1 (Iba-1) in the hippocampus. Results① In the Y maze test, compared with the blank group, the spontaneous alternation rate of the model group was significantly reduced (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the spontaneous alternation rate in the Hei Xiaoyaosan high- and low-dose groups was significantly increased (P<0.01). ② In the Morris water maze test, during the 1-4 days of the location navigation test, the escape latency time of mice decreased with the extension of training time. On day 4, compared with the blank group, the model group showed a significantly increased escape latency (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the MCC950 group and the Hei Xiaoyaosan low-dose group showed significantly reduced escape latency (P<0.05). In the spatial exploration experiment, compared with the blank group, the number of platform crossings in the model group was significantly reduced (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the Hei Xiaoyaosan low-dose group showed significantly increased platform crossings (P<0.05). ③ HE staining showed that, compared with the blank group, the hippocampal CA3 cells of the model group were damaged, arranged loosely and irregularly, swollen, with unclear boundaries, and the nuclei were pyknotic and deeply stained. MCC950 and all doses of Hei Xiaoyaosan improved the hippocampal CA3 cell damage in APP/PS1 mice to varying degrees. ④ Immunohistochemical results indicated that, compared with the blank group, the expression of APP in the hippocampal CA3 region was significantly increased in the model group (P<0.01). MCC950 and all doses of Hei Xiaoyaosan could reduce the expression of APP in the hippocampal CA3 region of APP/PS1 mice (P<0.01). ⑤ ELISA results showed that the levels of IL-18 and IL-1β in the hippocampus of mice in the model group were significantly increased, and IL-10 levels were significantly reduced (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the IL-18 levels in the MCC950 group and the Hei Xiaoyaosan medium- and low-dose groups were significantly reduced (P<0.01). IL-1β levels in the hippocampus of the MCC950 group and Hei Xiaoyaosan high-, medium-, and low-dose groups were significantly decreased (P<0.01). The IL-10 levels in the hippocampus of the MCC950 group and the Hei Xiaoyaosan medium- and low-dose groups were increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). ⑥ Western blot results showed that compared with the blank group, the protein levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDMD, and GSDMD-N in the hippocampus of the model group were significantly elevated (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the content of NLRP3 and Caspase-1 in the hippocampus of the treated groups was decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01). The content of GSDMD in the hippocampus of the Hei Xiaoyaosan high-, medium-, and low-dose groups was reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the content of GSDMD-N in the hippocampus of the Hei Xiaoyaosan medium- and low-dose groups was decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01). ⑦ Immunofluorescence results showed that, compared with the blank group, the co-expression of GSDMD-N and Iba-1 in the hippocampus of the model group was significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the co-expression of GSDMD-N and Iba-1 in the treated groups was significantly reduced (P<0.01). ConclusionHei Xiaoyaosan may regulate the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD signaling pathway to affect the release of inflammatory factors, alleviate neuroinflammation,improve hippocampal histopathological changes,and improve learning and memory deficits,thus providing potential therapeutic benefits for Alzheimer's disease.
2.Development and Evaluation of DNA Authenticity Identification Kit for Genuine Medicinal Materials Gastrodia Elata
Qiuhe MA ; Yuhe MA ; Yue LIU ; Tao LI ; Lijun GAO ; Wei XIA ; Mingcheng LI ; Yongmei QU
Chinese Journal of Modern Applied Pharmacy 2024;41(9):1198-1203
OBJECTIVE
To develop a DNA authenticity identification kit of Gastrodia elata that combined DNA extraction technology with PCR technology, and to evaluate the performance of the kit methodologically.
METHODS
The ITS2 sequences of Gastrodia elata and its common forgeries, such as amabilis root, dahlia tuber and potato, were found by the National Center for Biotechnology Information(NCBI). DNAMAN was used for multi-sequence alignment, and NCBI-primer-blast was used to design specific primers of Gastrodia elata. Improved DNA extraction method to ensure efficient extraction of authentic Gastrodia elata and its common forgeries genomic DNA, UV spectrophotometry was used to measure the concentration and purity. The PCR reaction system was optimized, the composition and reaction conditions of the kit were determined, and the commercially available gastrodia elata samples were randomly sampled.
RESULTS
The DNA purity OD260/OD280 values of the samples extracted by the developed kit were (1.87±0.13). The minimum detection limit was 10 ng·μL−1, and the result of repeated detection was the same for 3 times. Repeated freezing and thawing for 5, 10, 15, 20 times had no effect on the detection effect, and it could be stored at −20℃ for 1 year, among 10 commercially available gastrodia elata samples tested, 7 were authentic and 3 were counterfeit.
CONCLUSION
The DNA authenticity test kit is highly specific, sensitive, reproducible and stable, and the test results are accurate, it is suitable for the rapid identification of asparagus and its common forgeries.
3.Mechanism study on inhibition of ulcerative colitis by Sirt1 signaling axis mediated by oridonin
Maonan WANG ; Bo XU ; Linyue LI ; Shurong LI ; Mingcheng LI
Chinese Journal of Immunology 2024;40(7):1461-1466
Objective:To build mice ulcerative colitis(UC)model by dextran sodium sulfate salt(DSS),and to explore effect and molecular mechanism of oridonin(Ori)on alleviating UC by mediating Sirt1 signaling pathway,as well as to find new drugs for UC treatment.Methods:Sixty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into normal group(NC),model group(DSS),DSS+mesalazine sustained-release granule group(AC),DSS+low-dose Ori group(Ori-L),DSS+medium-dose Ori group(Ori-M)and DSS+high-dose Ori group(Ori-H),with 10 mice in each group.Except NC group,mice in other groups were given 3%DSS aqueous solution free for 7 days.After successful modeling,Ori-L group,Ori-M group and Ori-H group were intragastric with 50,100 and 150 mg/kg Ori suspension,respectively.NC group and DSS group drank distilled water free,AC group was intragastric with mesalazine sustained-release granules 100 mg/kg,lasted for 10 days.Weight changes of mice were recorded and disease active index(DAI)score was performed.After treatment,serum levels of IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)were detected by ELISA.Whole colon tissues were extracted,length was measured,and HE staining was performed.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot were used to detect expressions of Sirt1,NF-κB and p53 in colon tissues of each group.Results:After successful modeling,compared with NC group,the other 5 groups of mice showed weight loss,DAI score increased and colon length shortened,Sirt1 expression was signi-ficantly inhibited,while expressions of NF-κB and p53 were significantly increased,accompanied by obvious inflammatory pathologi-cal features.Compared with DSS group,Ori-L,Ori-M,and Ori-H groups and AC group had less weight loss during experiment,and DAI scores showed lower disease activity and relatively less colon length shortening,Sirt1 expression was less inhibited,expressions of NF-κB and p53 were also relatively small.Results of AC group could prove that Ori has therapeutic effect on UC.Conclusion:Ori can improve UC in mice,whose effect may be related to regulation of Sirt1 signal.
4.Characteristics of avian leukosis virus infection and polymorphism analysis of re-ceptor gene sequence in Qingyuan Ma chickens
Xiaoxue ZHENG ; Xueli SHU ; Hongmei WANG ; Mingchao GAO ; Mingcheng YU ; Yibin LI ; Ming LIAO ; Weisheng CAO
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science 2024;44(7):1380-1386,1393
In order to understand the characteristics of avian leukosis virus(ALV)infection and the polymorphisms of receptor genes Tva,Tvb and NHE1 sequences in different Qingyuan Ma chick-en breeding farms,the isolation and identification of exogenous ALV virus,receptor gene amplifi-cation and sequencing analysis were carried out in five Qingyuan Ma chicken breeding farms.The results of virus isolation and subtype identification showed that the positive rate of exogenous ALV virus isolation in farms A,B and C was less than 5%,among which there was ALV-J infection alone in farm A,mixed infection with ALV-J and ALV-K in farm B,ALV-K infection a-lone in farm C,and no exogenous ALV infection was detected in farm D and E.Polymorphism anal-ysis of recipient genes showed that there were different frequencies of Tvar3,Tvar4 and Tvbr3 re-sistance alleles in A-E farms,and the distribution frequency of Tvar3 was 0.2-0.6,the distribution frequency of Tvar4 was 0.3-0.7,and the distribution frequency of Tvbr3 was 0.1-0.7.In addition,there were Tvar5 resistance alleles in both B and D farms,with a distribution frequency of 0.2.A to-tal of 18 SNP mutations occurred in the NHE1 receptor gene sequence,and further analysis showed that positions 1 279,1 361,1 369,1 406,1 442,and 1 912 were non-synonymous mutations,which could cause changes in amino acids.The study suggested that there were differences in the exogenous ALV and its subtypes among the five Qingyuan Ma chicken breeders,and each farm should have a more targeted and unique purification strategy.The distribution of Tva and Tvb re-sistance alleles at different frequencies,along with the occurrence of 6 non-synonymous mutations in the NHE1 gene,indicate that Qingyuan Ma chicken have the potential of genetic resistance breeding.
5.Comparison in Dosage of General Anesthetics in Patients from Different Regions of Xinjiang
Zhao ZHANG ; Mingcheng LI ; Qiuyun WANG
Acta Medicinae Universitatis Scientiae et Technologiae Huazhong 2023;52(6):855-857
Objective To compare the difference in dose of general anesthesia between pastoral patients and urban pa-tients.Methods The patients who performed abdominal surgery under general anesthesia in Peoples hospital of Bortala Mongo-lian Autonomous Prefecture from January 1st to April 30th 2022 were included and divided into pastoral patient group and ur-ban patient group according to the residential place of patients.Anesthesia and surgery were carried out according to hospital regulations.The general characteristics of all patients were recorded and the dosages of general anesthesia drugs were compared between the two groups.Results There was no significant difference between the two groups in general and intraoperative con-ditions.Patients'performances were stable,and no severe adveres reaction was observed.The dosages of Propofol,Remifen and Rocuronium in pastoral patients were higher than that in urban patients(all P<0.05).Conclusion The dosage of general anes-thesia for patients in pastoral areas is higher,which ensures the stability of anesthesia depth and vital signs of patients,creates good conditions for surgery and promotes rapid recovery of patients.
6.Effect of Danzhi Xiaoyaosan on Phosphorylation of Tau Protein in Rats with Alzheimer's Disease Based on PP2A and GSK-3β
Huping WANG ; Jun ZHOU ; Mingcheng LI ; Yujie LYU ; Zhipeng MENG ; Yunyun HU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(6):63-70
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Danzhi Xiaoyaosan on the phosphorylation of tau protein and different sites of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and phosphoseryl/suanyl phosphate protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) in the hippocampus of rats with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and its mechanism. MethodThe rat model of AD was established by injecting okadaic acid into the bilateral hippocampus of 90 male Wistar rats in SPF grades. The rats with successful modeling were selected and randomly divided into model group, aricept group (0.5 mg·kg-1), and Danzhi Xiaoyaosan high, medium, and low groups (17.55, 8.77, and 4.38 g·kg-1), and then gavaged for 42 d, once a day. Morris water maze was used to detect the learning and memory ability of rats, Nissl's staining was used to observe the morphological structure of neurons in the hippocampus, and Real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of tau protein, GSK-3β, and PP2A. Western blot was used to determine the protein expression levels of tau protein, GSK-3β, and PP2A. ResultAs compared with the control group, the learning and memory abilities of the rats in the model group were significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the hippocampal CA3 region cells had abnormal structure, disorderly arrangement, and decreased number. The expression levels of GSK-3β mRNA, GSK-3β, p-GSK-3β-Tyr216, p-PP2A, and p-tau were increased in the model group as compared with the control group (P<0.01), and those of p-GSK-3β-Ser9 and PP2A decreased significantly (P<0.01). As compared with the model group, the learning and memory ability of the Aricept group and the Danzhi Xiaoyaosan groups were improved (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the cell morphology and the number of hippocampal CA3 regions were better. The mRNA expression levels of PP2A and tau in the Aricept group were significantly up-regulated (P<0.05), the mRNA expression level of GSK-3β was significantly down-regulated (P<0.01), and the protein expression levels of GSK-3β, p-GSK-3β-Tyr216, and p-PP2A were down-regulated (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the protein expression level of PP2A was significantly up-regulated (P<0.01). As compared with the model group, the mRNA expression level of PP2A in the high-dose Danzhi Xiaoyaosan group was significantly up-regulated (P<0.01), and that of GSK-3β was significantly down-regulated (P<0.01), whereas the protein expression levels of p-PP2A, p-GSK-3β-Tyr216, and p-tau were down-regulated (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the protein expression level of PP2A was significantly up-regulated (P<0.01). As compared with the model group, the mRNA expression level of GSK-3β was significantly down-regulated in the medium-dose Danzhi Xiaoyaosan group (P<0.01), the protein expression levels of GSK-3β, p-GSK-3β-Tyr216, and p-tau were down-regulated (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the protein expression level of PP2A was significantly up-regulated (P<0.01). As compared with the model group, the mRNA expression level of PP2A was significantly up-regulated in the low-dose Danzhi Xiaoyaosan group (P<0.01), and that of GSK-3β was significantly down-regulated (P<0.01), whereas the protein expression levels of GSK-3β and p-GSK-3β-Tyr216 were down-regulated (P<0.05, P<0.01), and those of p-GSK-3β-Ser9 and PP2A were significantly up-regulated (P<0.01). ConclusionDanzhi Xiaoyaosan can improve the learning and memory ability of rats with AD, and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of the activities of GSK-3β and PP2A protein-related sites and the phosphorylation of tau protein.
7.Relationship between abuse experience with suicidal ideation and behavior of junior middle school students in Chongqing
WEI Min, TANG Yonglong, LI Shiying, FU Mingcheng, GAN Nina, XIE Fanglu, LUO Ya
Chinese Journal of School Health 2021;42(11):1679-1682
Objective:
To explore the relationship between abuse experience with suicidal ideation and suicide attempts of junior middle school students, and to provide a reference for suicide prevention of junior middle school students.
Methods:
Cluster sampling method were used to selct 10 289 junior middle school students from 25 districts and counties of Chongqing were included in the analysis of this study from July to September in 2020. And Questionnaire on Abuse in Childhood and Mental Health Scale for Middle School Students were applied to collect the data about demographic information, suicide ideation and behavior.
Results:
The prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among junior middle school students were 20.93% and 10.83%, respectively. Multivariate Logistic regression model found that after controlling for demographic variables and mental health, emotional abuse ( OR =2.07) and emotional neglect ( OR =2.03) showed higher correlations with suicidal ideation than the other three types of childhood abuse( OR physical neglect =1.19, OR physical abuse =1.60, OR sexual abuse =1.37, P <0.05); and sexual abuse ( OR =2.29) and physical neglect ( OR =1.87) showed higher associations with suicide attempt than the other three types of abuse( OR emotional abuse =1.63, OR emotional neglect =1.59, OR physical abuse =1.50, P <0.01).
Conclusion
All five types of child abuse were independent risk factors for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, and emotional neglect and emotional abuse had a greater effect on suicidal ideation, sexual abuse and physical neglect had a greater effect on suicide attempts.
8.Study on Identification Methods of Bullwhip by PCR Technology Based on Cyt b Gene
Yan XU ; Siqi DUAN ; Yingnan ZHAI ; Mingcheng LI ; Lijun GAO ; Liyuan SUN
China Pharmacy 2019;30(24):3408-3412
OBJECTIVE: To establish the method for PCR identification of bullwhip, and to identify the authenticity of bullwhip at the molecular level. METHODS: DNA samples of bullwhip and its counterfeits (donkey whip, pig whip, sheep whip) were extracted and their integrity, purity and concentration were detected. Using GenBank related information, using mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cyt b) gene of bullwhip as target gene, Primer-BLAST online software was used to design specific primer. PCR amplification was performed for whips of different species, and electrophoretic analysis was conducted for the product. PCR products of bullwhip samples were cloned and confirmed by DNA sequencing. The specificity and repeatability of the established PCR method were verified. RESULTS: DNA purity of the bullwhip and its counterfeits was high, and there was no protein or RNA pollution. 1.5% agarose gel electrophoresis showed that there were obvious target gene bands of bullwhip samples at 200-300 bp, while no corresponding bands appeared in other counterfeit products. The results of DNA sequencing showed that the nucleotide sequence of the gene fragment of bullwhip was 100% similar to that of the bullwhip in GeneBank. Results of methodological validation showed that established method was specific and reproducible. CONCLUSIONS: The established PCR identification method based on Cyt b gene in the study is simple, rapid, accurate, specific and reproducible, and can meet the requirements of analysis and identification of bullwhip and its counterfeits.
9.The Research Progress of Metformin in Type Ⅱ Diabetes Mellitus with Liver Cancer
Mingcheng LI ; Huawei SU ; Zhanli PENG ; Zhen MA ; Yuwei REN
Progress in Modern Biomedicine 2017;17(27):5392-5395
As a safe,cheap and effective diabetes drug,metformin has been used for many years.Diabetes increases the risk of liver cancer and affects its prognosis.In recent years,it is found that metformin reduces the pancreatic cancer risk in the treatment of diabetic patients,a large of experiments also prove that it has anti-cancer and synergistic anticancer effect.This paper focused on the effects of metformin on treatment of Ⅱ type diabetes,discussed the curative effect on liver cancer,suggested the molecular biology mechanism of inhibiting tumor,listed the latest experiment researches,analyzed the existed clinical data,proposed the further study of anticancer mechanism and clinical treatment.Metformin for a future role in prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with type Ⅱ diabetes are briefly summarized and future prospects,which in type Ⅱ diabetic patients with liver cancer in a prospective study of the effect of treatment.Mefformin for application in other cancer prevention also raises possibilities.
10.Screening and Assessing 11 Mycobacterium tuberculosis Proteins as Potential Serodiagnostical Markers for Discriminating TB Patients from BCG Vaccinees
Zhang GUOQIANG ; Zhang LINGXIA ; Zhang MINGCHENG ; Pan LINLIN ; Wang FENGYU ; Huang JUN ; Li GUOLI ; Yu JUN ; Hu SONGNIAN
Genomics, Proteomics & Bioinformatics 2009;7(3):107-115
Purified protein derivative(PPD)skin tests often yield poor specificity, so that to develop new serological antigens for distinguishing between Mycobacterium tu-berculosis infection and Bacille Calmette-Guerin(BCG)vaccination is a priority, especially for developing countries like China. We predicted the antigenicity for selected open reading frames(ORFs)based on the genome sequences of M. tu-berculosis H37Rv and M. bovis BCG, as well as their functions and differences of expression under different stimulus. The candidate ORFs were cloned from H37Rv sequences and expressed as recombinant proteins in Escherichia coll. We studied the serodiagnostic potential of 11 purified recombinants by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)and involving a cohort composed of 58 TB patients (34 males and 24 females), 8 healthy volunteers and 50 PPD-negative individuals before and after BCG vaccination. For all the 11 antigens, the median OD val-ues for the sera from TB patients were statistically significantly higher than those for PPD-negative individuals before or after BCG vaccination(P<0.01). They had at least 92% specificity in healthy controls and six seroantigens(Rv0251c, Rv1973, Rv2376c, Rv2537c, Rv2785c and Rv3873A)were never reported with seroantigenicities previously. Thus the approach combining comparative genomies, bioinformatics and ELISA techniques can be employed to identify new seroantigens distinguishing M. tuberculosis infection from BCG vaccination.


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail