1.Therapeutic Study on The Inhibition of Neuroinflammation in Ischemic Stroke by Induced Regulatory T Cells
Tian-Fang KANG ; Ai-Qing MA ; Li-Qi CHEN ; Han GONG ; Jia-Cheng OUYANG ; Fan PAN ; Hong PAN ; Lin-Tao CAI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(4):946-956
ObjectiveNeuroinflammation plays a crucial role in both the onset and progression of ischemic stroke, exerting a significant impact on the recovery of the central nervous system. Excessive neuroinflammation can lead to secondary neuronal damage, further exacerbating brain injury and impairing functional recovery. As a result, effectively modulating and reducing neuroinflammation in the brain has become a key therapeutic strategy for improving outcomes in ischemic stroke patients. Among various approaches, targeting immune regulation to control inflammation has gained increasing attention. This study aims to investigate the role of in vitro induced regulatory T cells (Treg cells) in suppressing neuroinflammation after ischemic stroke, as well as their potential therapeutic effects. By exploring the mechanisms through which Tregs exert their immunomodulatory functions, this research is expected to provide new insights into stroke treatment strategies. MethodsNaive CD4+ T cells were isolated from mouse spleens using a negative selection method to ensure high purity, and then they were induced in vitro to differentiate into Treg cells by adding specific cytokines. The anti-inflammatory effects and therapeutic potential of Treg cells transplantation in a mouse model of ischemic stroke was evaluated. In the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model, after Treg cells transplantation, their ability to successfully migrate to the infarcted brain region and their impact on neuroinflammation levels were examined. To further investigate the role of Treg cells in stroke recovery, the changes in cytokine expression and their effects on immune cell interactions was analyzed. Additionally, infarct size and behavioral scores were measured to assess the neuroprotective effects of Treg cells. By integrating multiple indicators, the comprehensive evaluation of potential benefits of Treg cells in the treatment of ischemic stroke was performed. ResultsTreg cells significantly regulated the expression levels of both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in vitro and in vivo, effectively balancing the immune response and suppressing excessive inflammation. Additionally, Treg cells inhibited the activation and activity of inflammatory cells, thereby reducing neuroinflammation. In the MCAO mouse model, Treg cells were observed to accumulate in the infarcted brain region, where they significantly reduced the infarct size, demonstrating their neuroprotective effects. Furthermore, Treg cell therapy notably improved behavioral scores, suggesting its role in promoting functional recovery, and increased the survival rate of ischemic stroke mice, highlighting its potential as a promising therapeutic strategy for stroke treatment. ConclusionIn vitro induced Treg cells can effectively suppress neuroinflammation caused by ischemic stroke, demonstrating promising clinical application potential. By regulating the balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, Treg cells can inhibit immune responses in the nervous system, thereby reducing neuronal damage. Additionally, they can modulate the immune microenvironment, suppress the activation of inflammatory cells, and promote tissue repair. The therapeutic effects of Treg cells also include enhancing post-stroke recovery, improving behavioral outcomes, and increasing the survival rate of ischemic stroke mice. With their ability to suppress neuroinflammation, Treg cell therapy provides a novel and effective strategy for the treatment of ischemic stroke, offering broad application prospects in clinical immunotherapy and regenerative medicine.
2.Remyelination Regulated by microRNAs in Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Review
Manjing LI ; Qi LI ; Qingsen RAN ; Kunni CHEN ; Xinke DU ; Lina YANG ; Chunxia NIE ; Qing YANG ; Yujie LI ; Ying CHEN ; Yajie WANG ; Xiaogang WENG ; Weiyan CAI ; Xiaoxin ZHU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(1):223-231
Demyelination of the central nervous system often occurs in neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). The myelin sheath, a layer of myelin membrane wrapping the axon, plays a role in the rapid conduction and metabolic coupling of impulses for neurons. The exposure of the axon will lead to axonal degeneratio, and further neuronal degeneration, which is the main cause of dysfunction and even disability in patients with demyelinating neurodegenerative diseases. In addition to the demyelination of mature myelin sheath, remyelination disorder is also one of the major reasons leading to the development of the diseases. The myelin sheath is composed of oligodendrocytes (OLs) derived from oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) which are differentiated from neural stem cells (NSCs). The process of myelin regeneration, i.e., remyelination, is the differentiation of NSCs into OLs. Recent studies have shown that this process is regulated by a variety of genes. MicroRNAs, as important regulators of neurodegenerative diseases, form a complex regulatory network in the process of myelin regeneration. This review summarizes the main molecular pathways of myelin regeneration and microRNAs involved in this process and classifies the mechanisms and targets. This review is expected to provide a theoretical reference for the future research on the treatment of demyelinating diseases by targeting the regulation of microRNAs.
3.Effects of Jiaohong Pills and Its Prescription on Scopolamine-induced Alzheimer's Disease Mice
Lijinchan DONG ; Weiyan CAI ; Li FENG ; Qing YANG ; Mengting LI ; Yanli WANG ; Hong ZHANG ; Qi LI ; Xiaogang WENG ; Yajie WANG ; Xiaoxin ZHU ; Xiaoru HU ; Ying CHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(2):37-45
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Jiaohong pills (JHP) and its prescription, Pericarpium Zanthoxyli (PZ) and Rehmanniae Radix (RR) cognitive dysfunction in scopolamine-induced Alzheimer's disease (AD) mice and its mechanism through pharmacodynamic and metabolomics study. MethodThe animal model of AD induced by scopolamine was established and treated with PZ, RG and JHP, respectively. The effects of JHP and its formulations were investigated by open field test, water maze test, object recognition test, avoidance test, cholinergic system and oxidative stress related biochemical test. Untargeted metabolomics analysis of cerebral cortex was performed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-Quadrupole/Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS). ResultThe behavioral data showed that, compared with the model group, the discrimination indexes of the high dose of JHP, PZ and RR groups was significantly increased (P<0.05). The staging rate of Morris water maze test in the PZ, RR, high and low dose groups of JHP was significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01), the crossing numbers in the PZ, JHP high and low dose groups were significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01); the number of errors in the avoidance test were significantly reduced in the PZ and high-dose JHP groups (P<0.01), and the error latencies were significantly increased in the JHP and its prescription drug groups (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the activities of acetylcholinesterase in the cerebral cortex of the two doses of JHP group and the PZ group were significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the activity of acetylcholinesterase in the high-dose JHP group was significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the level of acetylcholine was significantly increased (P<0.01). At the same time, the contents of malondialdehyde in the serum of the two dose groups of JHP decreased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01). The results of metabolomics study of cerebral cortex showed that 149 differential metabolites were identified between the JHP group and the model group, which were involved in neurotransmitter metabolism, energy metabolism, oxidative stress and amino acid metabolism. ConclusionJHP and its prescription can antagonize scopolamine-induced cognitive dysfunction, regulate cholinergic system, and reduce oxidative stress damage. The mechanism of its therapeutic effect on AD is related to the regulation of neurotransmitter, energy, amino acid metabolism, and improvement of oxidative stress.
4.Mechanism of Qizhu Kang'ai Prescription for Inhibiting Proliferation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Regulating Tumor Metabolic Reprogramming via PCK1/Akt/p21 Signal Axis
Xin ZHONG ; Rui HU ; Jing LI ; Lanfen PENG ; Xingning LIU ; Qi HUANG ; Jialing SUN ; Xinfeng SUN ; Jianping CHEN ; Benqiang CAI ; Xiaozhou ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(3):26-36
ObjectiveTo study the effect of Qizhu Kang'ai prescription (QZAP) on the gluconeogenesis enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (PCK1) in the liver of mouse model of liver cancer induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) combined with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and Huh7 cells of human liver cancer, so as to explore the mechanism on regulating metabolic reprogramming and inhibiting cell proliferation of liver cancer cells. MethodDEN combined with CCl4 was used to construct a mouse model of liver cancer via intraperitoneal injection. A normal group, a model group, and a QZAP group were set up, in which QZAP (3.51 g·kg-1) or an equal volume of normal saline was administered daily by gavage, respectively. Serum and liver samples were collected after eight weeks of intervention. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), γ-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT), and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in mice were detected to evaluate liver function changes of mice in each group. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Sirius red staining were used to observe pathological changes in liver tissue. In the cell experiment, Huh7 cells were divided into blank group, QZAP low, medium, and high dose groups and/or PCK1 inhibitor (SKF-34288 hydrochloride) group, and Sorafenib group. The corresponding drug-containing serum and drug treatment were given, respectively. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method, colony formation experiment, Edu fluorescent labeling detection, intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content detection, and cell cycle flow cytometry detection were used to evaluate the proliferation ability, energy metabolism changes, and change in the cell cycle of Huh7 cells in each group. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of PCK1, serine/threonine kinase (Akt), phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt), and cell cycle-dependent protein kinase inhibitor 1A (p21). ResultCompared with the model group, the pathological changes such as cell atypia, necrosis, and collagen fiber deposition in liver cancer tissue of mice in the QZAP group were alleviated, and the number of liver tumors was reduced (P<0.01). The serum ALT, AST, γ-GT, and AFP levels were reduced (P<0.01). At the cell level, compared with the blank group, low, medium, and high-dose groups of QZAP-containing serum and the Sorafenib group could significantly reduce the survival rate of Huh7 cells (P<0.01) and the number of positive cells with Edu labeling (P<0.01) and inhibit clonal proliferation ability (P<0.01). The QZAP groups could also reduce the intracellular ATP content (P<0.05) and increase the distribution ratio of the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle (P<0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. Compared with the model group and blank group, PCK1 and p21 protein levels of mouse liver cancer tissue and Huh7 cells in the QZAP groups were significantly reduced (P<0.05,P<0.01), and the p-Akt protein level was significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with the blank group, the ATP content and cell survival rate of Huh7 cells in the SKF-34288 hydrochloride group were significantly increased (P<0.05), but there was no statistical difference in the ratio of Edu-positive cells and the proportion of G0/G1 phase distribution. Compared with the SKF-34288 hydrochloride group, the QZAP combined with the SKF-34288 hydrochloride group significantly reduced the ATP content, cell survival rate, and Edu-positive cell ratio of Huh7 cells (P<0.05) and significantly increased the G0/G1 phase distribution proportion (P<0.05). ConclusionQZAP may induce the metabolic reprogramming of liver cancer cells by activating PCK1 to promote Akt/p21-mediated tumor suppression, thereby exerting an anti-hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation mechanism.
5.The value of vesical imaging reporting and data system combined with tumor-wall contact length in diagnosing muscle invasive bladder cancer
Cai QIN ; Qi TIAN ; Hui ZHOU ; Qiaoling CHEN ; Manman LI ; Tianjiao E ; Yueyue LI ; Xiaolin WANG ; Feng FENG
Journal of Practical Radiology 2024;40(1):64-68
Objective To explore the value of vesical imaging reporting and data system(VI-RADS)combined with absolute tumor-wall contact length(ABTCL)and actual tumor-wall contact length(ACTCL)in diagnosing muscle invasive bladder cancer(MIBC).Methods The MRI data of 113 patients with pathologically confirmed bladder cancer(BCa)were analyzed retrospectively.All patients underwent conventional MRI,diffusion weighted imaging(DWI)and dynamic contrast enhanced(DCE)MRI before sur-gery.Two radiologists independently evaluated MRI images based on VI-RADS score,and measured quantitative parameters,inclu-ding ABTCL and ACTCL.The Chi-square test was used to compare the difference of VI-RADS scores between MIBC and non-mus-cle invasive bladder cancer(NMIBC).Quantitative parameters between MIBC and NMIBC were compared by Mann-Whitney U test.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of VI-RADS,quantitative parameters and VI-RADS combined with quantitative parameters in the diagnosis of MIBC.Results VI-RADS,ABTCL and ACTCL had significant differences between MIBC and NMIBC(P<0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)for VI-RADS,ABTCL and ACTCL in diagno-sing MIBC were 0.89,0.76 and 0.77,respectively.There was no significant difference between the AUC for ABTCL and ACTCL(P>0.05).The AUC for VI-RADS combined with ABTCL or ACTCL in diagnosing MIBC was 0.93,higher than that of only VI-RADS(P<0.05).Conclusion The combination of VI-RADS with either ABTCL or ACTCL can effectively improve the diagnostic performance of MIBC.ABTCL obtainedby linear measurement is easier to implement in clinical practice than ACTCL obtained by curved measurement.
6.Efficacy of reconstruction with half of peroneous longus tendon autograft for the treatment of chronic Achilles tendon rupture combined with tendon defects
Tingwei ZHAO ; Jian LI ; Wufeng CAI ; Kunhao CHEN ; Qi LI
Chinese Journal of Trauma 2024;40(2):162-167
Objective:To evaluate the outcomes of reconstruction with half of peroneous longus tendon autograft for the treatment of chronic Achilles tendon rupture combined with tendon defects.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted on the clinical data of 14 patients with chronic tendon rupture combined with defects admitted to Orthopedic Sports Medicine Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University from November 2017 to August 2020, including 11 males and 3 females, aged 26-62 years [(42.8±10.7)years]. All the patients underwent Achilles tendon reconstruction with half of peroneus longus tendon autograft. American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, Achilles tendon total rupture score (ATRS) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were compared before surgery, at 12 months after surgery and at the last follow-up. At the last follow-up, MRI of the injured ankle was prescribed to evaluate tendon healing; Thomspon test was performed and the patients were asked to do single-leg heel raise; the patients were asked about their conditions in returning to daily life activities and sports. Postoperative complications were observed.Results:All the patients were followed up for 24-47 months [(35±9)months]. AOFAS score, ATRS and VAS at 12 months after surgery were (87.9±6.6)points, (80.9±2.4)points and (2.0±0.3)points respectively, superior to those before surgery [(52.7±16.9)points, (42.0±4.4)points and (4.1±0.4)points respectively] ( P<0.05). The afore-mentioned results at the last follow-up were (95.2±7.2)points, (85.9±2.5)points and (0.8±0.3)points respectively, superior to those at 12 months after surgery ( P<0.05). MRI images of the affected ankle joints showed satisfactory healing of the reconstructed Achilles tendon at the last follow-up. All the patients, being negative in Thompson test at the last follow-up, were able to complete the heel lift on the affected side. All the patients resumed activities of daily living at the last follow-up, among whom 5 resumed to moderate- to high-intensity sports activities, such as basketball sport, and moderate-to high-intensity physical training, 5 resumed light-intensity sports activities such as jogging and swimming, and the other 4 did not resume sports due to fear of re-injury or aging. One patient had delayed wound healing, which was considered gout-related. One patient complained about mild pain at the Achilles tendon in cold weather or after long walks. No re-rupture of the Achilles tendon occurred. No patient complained about discomfort at the graft harvest site, calcaneal valgus or restricted ankle plantar flexion. Conclusions:For patients with chronic Achilles tendon rupture combined with tendon defects, reconstruction with half of peroneous longus tendon autograft facilitates postoperative spinal function recovery and pain alleviation, achieves satisfaction with the returning to daily activity and sports, and has few complications.
7.Construction and validation of prediction model for diabetic retinopathy
Xingyue CHEN ; Weiqin CAI ; Suzhen WANG ; Hongqing AN ; Leitao QI
International Eye Science 2024;24(8):1297-1302
AIM: To analyze and screen influencing factors of diabetic patients complicated with retinopathy, and establish and validate prediction model of nomogram.METHODS: A total of 1 252 patients from the Diabetes Complications Early Warning Dataset of the National Population Health Data Archive(PHDA)between January 2013 to January 2021 were selected and randomly divided into a modeling group(n=941)and a validation group(n=311). Univariate analysis, LASSO regression and Logistic regression analysis were used to screen out the influencing factors of diabetic retinopathy, and a nomogram prediction model was established. The receiver operating characteristic curve, Hosmer-Lemeshow test and calibration curve were used to evaluate the model. The clinical benefit was evaluated by the decision curve analysis(DCA).RESULTS: Age, hypertension, nephropathy, systolic blood pressure(SBP), glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C), and blood urea(BU)were the influencing factors of diabetic retinopathy. The area under the curve(AUC)of the modeling group was 0.792(95%CI: 0.763-0.821), and the AUC of the validation group was 0.769(95%CI: 0.716-0.822). The Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test and calibration curve suggested that the theoretical value of the model was in good agreement(modeling group: χ2=14.520, P=0.069; validation group: χ2=14.400, P=0.072). The DCA results showed that the threshold probabilities range was 0.09-0.89 for modeling group and 0.07-0.84 for the validation group, which suggested the clinical net benefit was higher.CONCLUSION: This study constructed a risk prediction model including age, hypertension, nephropathy, SBP, HbA1c, HDL-C, and BU. The model has a high discrimination and consistency, and can be used to predict the risk of diabetic retinopathy in patients with diabetes.
8.Behavioral Assessment and Drug Treatment of Apathy in Dementia in Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Review
Lijinchuan DONG ; Qing YANG ; Xiaoxin ZHU ; Qi LI ; Bo PENG ; Hongmei LI ; Weiyan CAI ; Ying CHEN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(23):308-317
Dementia in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) mainly presents amnesia and dullness. Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia belong to the category of dementia in TCM. These progressive neurological diseases have a complex etiology and a long course, and the drugs that can reverse the disease course remain to be developed. Therefore, early intervention plays a vital role in delaying the disease progression. Apathy refers to a lack of motivation that leads to the attenuation or disappearance of goal-directed behaviors, cognitive functions, and emotional responses. Clinical studies have suggested that apathy exists in the early stage of a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, being one of the key symptoms to the early diagnosis of dementia. The severity of apathy is related to the severity of dementia. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment of apathy are of great significance to the prevention and treatment of dementia. The preclinical research on apathy in dementia is still in its infancy, and the systematic evaluation method has not been prescribed. The clinical diagnosis and treatment are also in the exploratory stage, and the complex pathophysiological mechanisms of apathy and dementia development have not been fully elucidated. This article reviews the research progress of apathy in dementia, the apathetic behaviors of dementia animal models, the behaviors of patients with apathy, and the treatment methods in recent years and summarizes the research status of apathy in dementia. This review aims to provide a theoretical basis for exploring the behavior of apathy in dementia and conducting preclinical research and evaluation of the pathogenesis and to lay a foundation for the treatment of apathy in dementia.
9.A Review of Theoretical Research on Interpretation of Scientific Connotation of Compatibility of Traditional Chinese Medicine Compounds
Shiyun GUO ; Zhihao DENG ; Yan LI ; Yuxuan GUO ; Xiaoxin ZHU ; Yujie LI ; Ying CHEN ; Qing YANG ; Yi SUN ; Yajie WANG ; Qi LI ; Weiyan CAI ; Xiaogang WENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(23):338-344
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history of application in China and has consistently played a vital role in treating diseases and saving lives. TCM prescriptions (compounds) constitute the primary form of clinical TCM treatment and significantly differ from western medicine (chemicals) due to the diverse composition and chemical constituents of TCM (compounds). Nevertheless, the potential multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway action characteristics of TCM prescriptions also demonstrate their possible (complementary) therapeutic advantages when compared with single-component chemical drugs. Therefore, driven by the development of modern science and technology and the demands of the modernization and internationalization of TCM, modern theories regarding the complexity of TCM prescription effects have been continuously proposed: Different from the abstract language of traditional prescription theory, the modern TCM prescription theory is more inclined to illustrate the connotation of prescription compatibility concretely and vividly from an experimental and scientific perspective. In this paper, new theories on the complexity of TCM prescriptions proposed in recent years are summarized to provide research references and ideas for the greater role of TCM prescriptions and a better scientific understanding.
10.Correlation analysis between CCL 2 and POSTN levels and lung function in serum and alveolar lavage fluid of patients with respiratory virus infection during acute exacerbation of COPD
Gang TIAN ; Xiangxiao LIN ; Li CHEN ; Yifen HU ; Qin CUI ; Jingjing CAI ; Min SONG ; Jie QI
Chinese Journal of Experimental and Clinical Virology 2024;38(3):258-262
Objective:To investigate the correlation between the levels of CC chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) and periostin (POSTN) in serum and alveolar lavage fluid of patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) complicated with respiratory virus infection and lung function.Methods:From March 2020 to March 2023, 96 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD admitted to our hospital were collected. Among them, 34 patients with concurrent respiratory virus infection were included in the infected group, and 62 patients without respiratory virus infection were included in the uninfected group. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to detect the expression levels of CCL2 and POSTN in serum and alveolar lavage fluid. Pearson method was applied to analyze the correlation between CCL2 and POSTN levels in serum and alveolar lavage fluid of infected patients and lung function indicators.Results:The levels of CCL 2 ( t=12.633, 9.253 2, 2) and POSTN ( t=12.370, 7.383) were significantly increased in the infected group compared with the uninfected group ( P<0.05). Compared with the uninfected group, the 6-minute walking test (6 MWT), peak expiratory flow rate (peak expiratory flow, PEF), forced expiratory volume at the first second (forced expiratory volume in one second, FEV 1), and the forced lung capacity (forced vital capacity, FVC), FEV 1/FVC, and maximum middle breath mean flow rate (maximal mid-expiratory flow curve, MMEF) were significantly lower ( t=14.141, 24.165, 22.421, 21.223, 5.278, 29.456, P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that the levels of CCL2 and POSTN in the serum and alveolar lavage fluid of the infected group were negatively correlated with the levels of 6MWT, PEF, FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, and MMEF ( P<0.05). Conclusions:CCL2 and POSTN levels were highly expressed in serum and alveolar lavage fluid of patients with respiratory virus infection during acute exacerbation of COPD, which were closely related to lung function.

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