1.Traditional Chinese Medicine Treats Sepsis by Regulating PI3K/Akt Pathway: A Review
Zhu LIU ; Jiawei WANG ; Jing YAN ; Jinchan PENG ; Mingyao XU ; Liqun LI ; Sheng XIE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(2):314-322
Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome caused by the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria. In addition to the manifestations of systemic inflammatory response syndrome and primary infection lesions, critical cases often have manifestations of organ hypoperfusion. The morbidity and mortality of sepsis have remained high in recent years, which seriously affect the quality of life of the patients. The pathogenesis of sepsis is complicated, in which uncontrollable inflammation is a key mechanism. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway plays a key role in mediating inflammation in sepsis. The available therapies of sepsis mainly include resuscitation, anti-infection, vasoactive drugs, intensive insulin therapy, and organ support, which show limited effects of reducing the mortality. Therefore, finding new therapeutic drugs is a key problem to be solved in the clinical treatment of sepsis. In recent years, studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can regulate the PI3K/Akt pathway via multiple pathways, multiple effects, and multiple targets to inhibit inflammation and curb the occurrence and development of sepsis, which has gradually become a hot spot in the prevention and treatment of sepsis. Moreover, studies have suggested that TCM has unique advantages in the treatment of sepsis. TCM can regulate the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to inhibit inflammation, reduce oxidative stress, and control apoptosis in the prevention and treatment of sepsis. Despite the research progress, a systematic review remains to be performed regarding the TCM treatment of sepsis by regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. After reviewing relevant papers published in recent years, this study systematically summarizes the relationship between PI3K/Akt pathway and sepsis and the role of TCM in the treatment of sepsis, aiming to provide new ideas for the potential treatment of sepsis and the development of new drugs.
2.Research progress on the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine intervening in esophageal cancer by microRNA regulation
Zhiwen SHEN ; Liqun LI ; Mingyao XU ; Xin LIU ; Jing HUANG ; Xiaoning ZHANG ; Jiaqi YIN ; Sheng XIE
China Pharmacy 2024;35(8):1016-1022
Esophageal cancer (EC) is a common malignant tumor of the digestive system with an extremely poor prognosis. MicroRNA (miRNA) is an important regulator in tumor occurrence and development, and can participate in malignant biological behaviors such as tumor cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis and apoptosis. Traditional Chinese medicine has the characteristics of accurate curative effects, wide range of effects, and few side effects. The review uses miRNA as the entry point to systematically elaborate on the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine-mediated miRNA intervening in EC. The results showed that active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine (including curcumin, Tussilago farfara polysaccharides, Atractylodes macrocephala polysaccharides and ophiopogonin B) and Dougen guanshitong oral liquid could up-regulate the expressions of miRNAs such as miRNA-532-3p (miR-532-3p), miR-551b-3p, miR-99a, miR-34a, miR-199a-3p and miR-377; and the active ingredients/parts of traditional Chinese medicine (including chrysin and Actinidia arguta extract), and Chinese herbal formulas (including Chaihu shugan san combined with Xuanfu daizhe decoction and Modified jupi zhuru decoction) could down-regulate the expressions of miRNAs such as miR-199a-3p, miR-451 and miR-21, which could regulate the expressions of signaling pathways (phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B, etc.) or their downstream protein(zinc-finger and homeobox protein 1, etc.) or enzymes(thymidine kinase-1, etc.), inhibit the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of EC cells and induce apoptosis, thereby ultimately achieving the purpose of preventing the disease from aggravating.
3.Role of NF-κB Signaling Pathway in "Reflux Esophagitis-esophageal Cancer" and Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention:A Review
Mingyao XU ; Liqun LI ; Xin LIU ; Zhiwen SHEN ; Xiaoning ZHANG ; Jing HUANG ; Jiaqi YIN ; Zhu LIU ; Sheng XIE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(2):221-233
Reflux esophagitis is an inflammatory disease of esophageal mucosa damage caused by the reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus. Its incidence is on the rise, and it has become an important precancerous disease of esophageal cancer. Studies have shown that the continuous inflammatory response stimulates the esophageal mucosa, causing abnormal proliferation of esophageal epithelial cells and damage to esophageal mucosal tissue, which eventually leads to the occurrence of heterogeneous hyperplasia and even carcinogenesis. The nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway is one of the most classical inflammatory and cancer signaling pathways. It has been found that abnormal activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway is crucial to the development and prognosis of reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer. It is widely involved in the proliferation, autophagy, apoptosis, and inflammatory response of esophageal epithelial cells and tumor cells, accelerating the transformation of reflux esophagitis to esophageal cancer and making it a potential target for the treatment of reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer. Currently, there is no specific treatment for reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer, and large side effects often appear. Therefore, finding a promising and safe drug remains a top priority. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine scholars have conducted a lot of research on NF-κB signaling pathway, and the results indicate that NF-κB signaling pathway is an important potential target for traditional Chinese medicine to prevent and treat reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer, but there is a lack of comprehensive and systematic elaboration. Therefore, this paper summarized the relevant studies in recent years, analyzed the relationship among NF-κB signaling pathway, reflux esophagitis, esophageal cancer, and transformation from inflammation to cancer, and reviewed the research literature on the regulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway in traditional Chinese medicine to prevent and treat reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer, so as to provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of reflux esophagitis and esophageal cancer.
4.Discussion on the pathogenesis and treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in postmenopausal women based on the theory of "deficient qi and stagnation"
Mingyao XU ; Wenyuan SU ; Jing WU ; Jiawen HE ; Haowei ZHANG ; Jinjuan LI ; Jia YUE ; Yan ZHANG
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;47(12):1745-1752
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a common chronic liver disease in clinical practice. In recent years, with increasing social attention to the health of women and the elderly, the prevention and treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease after menopause has increasingly become a research hotspot in metabolic diseases. This study explores the pathogenesis and treatment method of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in postmenopausal women based on the theory of "deficient qi and stagnation" and combined with the physiological and pathological characteristics of postmenopausal women and the Western medicine understanding of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We believe that the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in postmenopausal women is rooted in the "deficient qi" caused by depletion of liver and kidney essence and blood. The imbalance between the physical and functional aspects of the liver due to this "deficient qi" is the primary factor, while the "stagnation" of phlegm and blood stasis is the manifestation. Furthermore, the "deficient qi" and "stagnation" reinforce each other, with the deficiency leading to stagnation and stagnation exacerbating the deficiency, thus accelerating the progression of the disease. The treatment approach should be one that combines nourishing deficiency and resolving stagnation, addressing both root cause and maifestations. Given the female characteristic of "the liver as the innate organ" and the post-menopausal physiological state of "gradual decline of kidney essence", it is important to focus on nourishing the liver and kidneys, nurturing the liver′s physical body while maintaining its function, and also promoting the circulation of qi, resolving phlegm, and invigorating blood circulation to remove blood stasis. This approach aims to reduce the accumulation of lipids in the liver, offering a new perspective and approach for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in post-menopausal women with traditional Chinese medicine.
5.Early prediction of growth patterns after pediatric kidney transplantation based on height-related single-nucleotide polymorphisms
Yi FENG ; Yonghua FENG ; Mingyao HU ; Hongen XU ; Zhigang WANG ; Shicheng XU ; Yongchuang YAN ; Chenghao FENG ; Zhou LI ; Guiwen FENG ; Wenjun SHANG
Chinese Medical Journal 2024;137(10):1199-1206
Background::Growth retardation is a common complication of chronic kidney disease in children, which can be partially relieved after renal transplantation. This study aimed to develop and validate a predictive model for growth patterns of children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) after kidney transplantation using machine learning algorithms based on genomic and clinical variables.Methods::A retrospective cohort of 110 children who received kidney transplants between May 2013 and September 2021 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were recruited for whole-exome sequencing (WES), and another 39 children who underwent transplant from October 2021 to March 2022 were enrolled for external validation. Based on previous studies, we comprehensively collected 729 height-related single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in exon regions. Seven machine learning algorithms and 10-fold cross-validation analysis were employed for model construction.Results::The 110 children were divided into two groups according to change in height-for-age Z-score. After univariate analysis, age and 19 SNPs were incorporated into the model and validated. The random forest model showed the best prediction efficacy with an accuracy of 0.8125 and an area under curve (AUC) of 0.924, and also performed well in the external validation cohort (accuracy, 0.7949; AUC, 0.796). Conclusions::A model with good performance for predicting post-transplant growth patterns in children based on SNPs and clinical variables was constructed and validated using machine learning algorithms. The model is expected to guide clinicians in the management of children after renal transplantation, including the use of growth hormone, glucocorticoid withdrawal, and nutritional supplementation, to alleviate growth retardation in children with ESRD.
6.Study progress on traditional Chinese medicine monomer intervening in pancreatic cancer by regulating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway
Mingyao XU ; Jing HUANG ; Zhiwen SHEN ; Xiaoning ZHANG ; Xin LIU ; Jiaqi YIN ; Zhu LIU ; Liqun LI ; Sheng XIE
China Pharmacy 2023;34(19):2427-2432
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most destructive malignant tumors; the pathogenesis of this disease is complex and is closely related to genetic susceptibility, chronic pancreatitis, and gene mutations in signaling pathways. The phosphoinositide 3- kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway is a classical cancer signaling pathway that is aberrantly activated in pancreatic cancer cells. In recent years, it has been found that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) monomers show special activity in the treatment of pancreatic cancer and can be potential drug for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Based on PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, this paper summarizes the mechanism of TCM monomer intervening in pancreatic cancer and finds that TCM monomer of alkaloids (sinomenine, dictamnine, dauricine, etc.), terpenoids (saikosaponin A, linderalactone, isoalantolactone, etc.), phenols (6-gingerol, curcumin, pterostilbene, etc.), flavonoids (fisetin, kaempferol, quercetin, etc.) and quinones (β-hydroxyisovaleryl shikonin, rhein, lucidone, etc.) can inhibit the proliferation, invasion and migration of pancreatic cancer cells, regulate autophagy and apoptosis, and then inhibit the pathological process of pancreatic cancer by inhibiting PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
7.Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention in Ulcerative Colitis Based on TLR4 Signaling Pathway: A Review
Mingyao XU ; Sheng XIE ; Liqun LI ; Xiaoyan HUANG ; Xin LIU ; Jinxin WANG ; Chengning YANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(21):228-237
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a disease that affects the mucosal and submucosal layers of the colon and is characterized by inflammation of the intestinal mucosa. The incidence of UC is increasing year by year, and it is complex and refractory, severely impacting the physical and mental health of patients. The pathological mechanism of this disease is complex, with immune responses and uncontrollable inflammatory reactions in the intestine being important physiopathologic mechanisms. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), as a transmembrane signaling receptor, plays a key role in mediating immune responses and inflammatory reactions in the development of UC. Currently, the treatment of UC mainly relies on salicylic acids, glucocorticoids, and other agents to reduce intestinal inflammation. While these drugs can partially inhibit the progression of the disease, they often come with significant adverse effects and the potential for relapse upon discontinuation. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers multiple pathways, effects, and targets for regulating the TLR4 pathway, suppressing inflammatory responses, and effectively intervening in the progression of UC. This approach has become a hot topic in the prevention and treatment of UC. Numerous studies have shown that TCM treatment of UC has unique advantages. TCM can enhance immune defenses, suppress inflammatory responses, promote intestinal mucosal healing, and maintain the balance of the intestinal microbiota by regulating the TLR4 signaling pathway, thereby effectively treating UC, with substantial progress achieved. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive reviews on the role of TCM in regulating the TLR4 signaling pathway for the treatment of UC. Therefore, this article systematically summarized the relationship between the TLR4 signaling pathway and UC, as well as the role of TCM in this context, by reviewing relevant literature from recent years, aiming to provide new insights into the potential treatment and new drug development for UC.
8.Role of Autophagy-apoptosis Balance in Colorectal Cancer and Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention: A Review
Mingyao XU ; Sheng XIE ; Liqun LI ; Xin LIU ; Xiaoning ZHANG ; Zhiwen SHEN ; Chengning YANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2023;29(23):207-217
Colorectal cancer (CRC), a malignant tumor of the digestive system, originates from the colorectal mucosa epithelium and is usually asymptomatic until it progresses to an advanced stage. With high incidence around the globe and the increasingly younger patients, this disease poses a serious threat to the health and lives of the patients. Although the pathogenesis of this disease is not fully understood, it is generally believed that it is associated with autophagy, apoptosis, and inflammation. Autophagy and apoptosis as two types of programmed cell death are subject to complex interactive regulation, and the imbalance between them is closely related to the occurrence, development, and prognosis of a variety of diseases. Studies have shown that autophagy-apoptosis balance plays a key role in CRC. On the one hand, autophagy and apoptosis coordinate with each other to inhibit CRC cell growth. On the other hand, autophagy can antagonize apoptosis to promote CRC cell growth. In clinical practice, surgery is often combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy to treat CRC, which can control the progression of CRC to a certain extent but has serious adverse effects and poor long-term results. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been proved to be effective in the treatment of CRC. Studies have shown that numerous herbal active components can promote CRC cell death by regulating the autophagy-apoptosis balance, thereby blocking the progression of this disease. The process of autophagy-apoptosis balance in regulating cell activities has similar theoretical connotations with the Yin and Yang theory of TCM. Applying TCM in regulating autophagy-apoptosis balance at various stages of CRC has become a frontier, while the comprehensive elaboration remains to be conducted. By reviewing the relevant studies in recent years, this paper introduces the correlation between the Yin and Yang theory and the autophagy-apoptosis balance, the role of autophagy-apoptosis balance in CRC, and the research progress in the application of 27 Chinese herbal active components such as flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides, and phenols capable of regulating autophagy-apoptosis balance in the treatment of CRC. The active components in Chinese medicines can recover the autophagy-apoptosis balance in CRC by acting on microtuble-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3), Beclin-1, and B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2)to regulate multiple signaling pathways such as protein kinase B(Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)and reavtive oxygen species(ROS)/ c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK), thus balancing Yin and Yang. This review aims to provide a reference for the treatment of CRC and the development of new drugs.
9.Current situation and reflections on art therapy guidelines
Mingyao SUN ; Honghao LAI ; Zhigang ZHANG ; Jinhui TIAN ; Zheng XU ; Long GE
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2023;32(2):177-181
Art therapy plays an important role in enhancing the emotional expression of patients, treating mental and psychological diseases, and promoting the recovery of cancer patients.Due to its extensive meaning and various intervention measures, strengthening the guidance and monitoring of art therapy are important in improving the medical quality of related fields.Clinical practice guidelines are important tools to guide and standardize medical behavior, and also are important guarantees for the implementation effect of medical behavior.Therefore, this article will summarize the current situation of art therapy guidelines, and on this basis, reflect on the formulation and implementation of relevant guidelines and recommendations.
10.GPRC5B protects osteoarthritis by regulation of autophagy signaling.
Liang HE ; Ziwei XU ; Xin NIU ; Rong LI ; Fanhua WANG ; Yu YOU ; Jingduo GAO ; Lei ZHAO ; Karan M SHAH ; Jian FAN ; Mingyao LIU ; Jian LUO
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2023;13(7):2976-2989
Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. However, current treatment modalities mainly relieve pain and inhibit cartilage degradation, but do not promote cartilage regeneration. In this study, we show that G protein-coupled receptor class C group 5 member B (GPRC5B), an orphan G-protein-couple receptor, not only inhibits cartilage degradation, but also increases cartilage regeneration and thereby is protective against OA. We observed that Gprc5b deficient chondrocytes had an upregulation of cartilage catabolic gene expression, along with downregulation of anabolic genes in vitro. Furthermore, mice deficient in Gprc5b displayed a more severe OA phenotype in the destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) induced OA mouse model, with upregulation of cartilage catabolic factors and downregulation of anabolic factors, consistent with our in vitro findings. Overexpression of Gprc5b by lentiviral vectors alleviated the cartilage degeneration in DMM-induced OA mouse model by inhibiting cartilage degradation and promoting regeneration. We also assessed the molecular mechanisms downstream of Gprc5b that may mediate these observed effects and identify the role of protein kinase B (AKT)-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-autophagy signaling pathway. Thus, we demonstrate an integral role of GPRC5B in OA pathogenesis, and activation of GPRC5B has the potential in preventing the progression of OA.


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail