1.Changes in hepatic bile acid profile in a mouse model of metabolic-associated steatohepatitis induced by a high-fat, high-sugar, and high-cholesterol diet combined with carbon tetrachloride
Jingjing WANG ; Jinghua PENG ; Yu LIU ; Feipeng XU ; Wei LIU ; Hailin YANG ; Ping LIU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(4):661-669
ObjectiveTo compare the hepatic bile acid profile between a mouse model of metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) induced by a high-fat, high-sugar, and high-cholesterol diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of 10% carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and MASH cases in clinical practice, and to investigate the feasibility of this model in studying drug interventions on bile acid profile in MASH. MethodsA total of 30 male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control group and model group, with 15 mice in each group. The mice in the control group were given normal diet and drinking water and weekly injections of olive oil, and those in the model group were given a high-fat, high-sugar, and high-cholesterol diet, high-sugar drinking water, and weekly injections of CCl4+olive oil. At the end of weeks 8, 12, and 16, 5 mice were selected from each group to collect samples. Behavioral assessments were performed, and body weight and liver wet weight were measured; liver pathology and lipid deposition were evaluated by HE staining, SAF scoring, oil Red O staining, the semi-quantitative analysis of stained area, the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and liver triglyceride (TG) content; Sirius Red staining was performed for liver tissue to assess liver fibrosis; ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and targeted metabolomics were used to measure the hepatic bile acid profile, including cholic acid (CA), glycocholic acid (GCA), chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA), ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), hyodeoxycholic acid (HDCA), and glycodeoxycholic acid (GDCA). The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups, and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups. ResultsCompared with the control group at the same time point, the model group had disheveled and dull fur, reduced activity, and relatively slow reactions at weeks 8, 12, and 16, as well as significant increases in liver wet weight (P<0.05), the serum level of ALT (P<0.05), the content of TG in the liver (P<0.05), and SAF score (P<0.05). As for the differentially expressed bile acids in liver tissue, compared with the control group at week 8, the model group had significantly higher levels of CA and CDCA and significantly lower levels of UDCA, TUDCA, HDCA, and GDCA (all P<0.05); compared with the control group at week 12, the model group had significantly higher levels of CA, GCA, CDCA, and GCDCA and significantly lower levels of UDCA and HDCA (all P<0.05); compared with the control group at week 16, the model group had significantly higher levels of CA, GCA, CDCA, GCDCA, and TUDCA and significantly lower levels of UDCA, HDCA, and GDCA (all P<0.05). As for the differentially expressed bile acids in the bile acid pool of liver tissue, compared with the control group at week 8, the model group had significantly higher levels of CA and CDCA and significantly lower levels of UDCA, TUDCA, GDCA, and HDCA (all P<0.05); compared with the control group at weeks 12 and 16, the model group had significantly higher levels of GCA and GCDCA and significantly lower levels of UDCA, GDCA, and HDCA (all P<0.05). ConclusionThere are significant changes in the hepatic bile acid profile in a mouse model of MASH induced by a high-fat, high-sugar, and high-cholesterol diet combined with CCl4, which are similar to the changes in bile acids in MASH cases in clinical practice, suggesting that this model can be used to explore the interventional effect of drugs on the bile acid profile in MASH.
5.Fast Object Perception in The Subcortical Pathway: a Commentary on Wang et al.’s Paper in Human Brain Mapping (2023)
Hao-Yun MA ; Yu-Yin WEI ; Li-Ping HU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(7):1904-1908
The subcortical visual pathway is generally thought to be involved in dangerous information processing, such as fear processing and defensive behavior. A recent study, published in Human Brain Mapping, shows a new function of the subcortical pathway involved in the fast processing of non-emotional object perception. Rapid object processing is a critical function of visual system. Topological perception theory proposes that the initial perception of objects begins with the extraction of topological property (TP). However, the mechanism of rapid TP processing remains unclear. The researchers investigated the subcortical mechanism of TP processing with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). They find that a subcortical magnocellular pathway is responsible for the early processing of TP, and this subcortical processing of TP accelerates object recognition. Based on their findings, we propose a novel training approach called subcortical magnocellular pathway training (SMPT), aimed at improving the efficiency of the subcortical M pathway to restore visual and attentional functions in disorders associated with subcortical pathway dysfunction.
6. Establishment and genotype identification of hepatic stellate cell-specific Grk2 gene knockout mouse model
Yu-Han WANG ; Ya-Ping XU ; Nan LI ; Ting-Ting CHEN ; Ling LI ; Ping-Ping GAO ; Wei WEI ; Wu-Yi SUN ; Hua WANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(1):189-194
Aim To establish a stable hepatic stellate cell ( HSC ) -specific G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 ( GRK2 ) knockout mice and provide the important animal model for further studying the biological function of GRK2 in HSC. Methods The loxP-labeled Grk2 gene mouse (Grk2
7. Characterization of group Ⅰ metabotropic glutamate receptors in rat superior cervical ganglion and their changes following chronic intermittent hypoxia
Xi-Xi WEI ; Chao-Hong LI ; Chen-Lu ZHAO ; Jia-Ping TANG ; Yu-Zhen LIU ; Xi-Xi WEI ; Chao-Hong LI ; Chen-Lu ZHAO ; Jia-Ping TANG ; Yu-Zhen LIU
Acta Anatomica Sinica 2024;55(1):3-9
Objective To observe the expression and localization of group Ⅰ metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR1/ 5) in rat superior cervical ganglion (SCG) and the effect of chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) on mGluR1/ 5 protein level. Methods Twelve male SD rats were randomly divided into control group(Ctrl)and CIH group(CIH), 6 rats in each group. After 6 weeks of modeling, the effect of CIH on mGluR1/ 5 protein level was detected by Western blotting, the expression and distribution of mGluR1/ 5 in SCG were detected by immunohistochemistry and double-immunofluorescent staining. Results mGluR1/ 5 was expressed in rat SCG. mGluR1 was distributed in neurons and small intensely fluorescent (SIF) cells, but not in satellite glial cells (SGCs), nerve fibers and blood vessels, whereas mGluR5 was mainly distributed in nerve fibers and a little in neurons, but not in SGCs, SIF cells and blood vessels. CIH increased the protein levels of mGluR1/ 5 (P<0. 01) in rat SCG. Conclusion Both mGluR1 and mGluR5 are expressed in the rat SCG, but their distribution are different, and the increased protein levels of both may be involved in CIH-induced hypertension.
8.The preliminary therapeutic effect of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue adhesive injection with the assistance of metal clips in treatment of cirrhotic patients with gastric varices and gastric-renal shunt
Jiali MA ; Zhenglin AI ; Julong HU ; Yu JIANG ; Yuling ZHOU ; Xiuxia LIANG ; Hongshan WEI ; Ping LI
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2024;40(4):734-738
ObjectiveTo investigate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue adhesive injection with the assistance of metal clips in the treatment of cirrhotic patients with gastric varices and gastric-renal shunt (GRS). MethodsThe patients who attended Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, due to liver cirrhosis and gastric varices from February to June 2023 were enrolled, and all patients were confirmed to have GRS and received endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue adhesive injection with the assistance of metal clips. The primary evaluation index was alleviation or disappearance of varicose veins after surgery, and the secondary evaluation indices were surgical completion and complications. ResultsA total of 11 patients were enrolled in this study, among whom there were 7 male patients and 4 female patients, with a median age of 55 years. Of all patients, 1 had Child class A liver function, 7 had Child class B liver function, and 3 had Child class C liver function. The maximum (median) diameter of the shunt was 8 mm, and the minimum (median) diameter of the shunt was 4 mm. The median blood flow velocity of the target vessel was 11 cm/s before treatment and 5 cm/s after occlusion with metal clips. The median amount of tissue adhesive injected was 2 mL, and the amount of lauromacrogol used was 1 mL. Disappearance of blood flow signals was observed in all patients after surgery (100%), and the success rate of surgery was 100%. No patient experienced rebleeding after follow-up for 6 weeks. Gastroscopy at 1 month after surgery showed that gastric varices were eradicated or almost disappeared in 9 patients and were alleviated in 2 patients. ConclusionEndoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue adhesive injection with the assistance of metal clips is a feasible, safe, and effective treatment method for cirrhotic patients with gastric varices and GRS.
9.Research progress of natural product evodiamine-based antitumor drug design strategies
Zhe-wei XIA ; Yu-hang SUN ; Tian-le HUANG ; Hua SUN ; Yu-ping CHEN ; Chun-quan SHENG ; Shan-chao WU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(3):532-542
Natural products are important sources for the discovery of anti-tumor drugs. Evodiamine is the main alkaloid component of the traditional Chinese herb Wu-Chu-Yu, and it has weak antitumor activity. In recent years, a number of highly active antitumor candidates have been discovered with a significant progress. This article reviews the research progress of evodiamine-based antitumor drug design strategies, in order to provide reference for the development of new drugs with natural products as leads.
10.miR-139-5p enhances the inhibition effect of metformin on cell proliferation of pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1 cultured in normal-glucose medium
Jie YU ; Minglei MA ; Huabing ZHANG ; Fan PING ; Wei LI ; Linglin XU ; Yuxiu LI
Basic & Clinical Medicine 2024;44(1):8-15
Objective To investigate the effects of metformin(Met)on the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells under different glucose concentration culture conditions,and to find the potential role of miR-139-5p in the process.Methods PANC-1 cells were treated with different concentrations of metformin(0/5/10/20 mmol/L)in 25 mmol/L(high-glucose group,HG)or 5 mmol/L(normal-glucose group,NG)glucose culture,cell proliferation,apoptosis,migration and cell cycle were detected after 48 h.The expression of miR-139-5p was quantitatively detected by RT-qPCR,and the miR-139-5p mimics were transfected into PANC-1 cells to clarify the role of miR-139-5p.Results Metformin inhibited the proliferation,promoted apoptosis,and induced S phase and G2/M phase arrest of PANC-1 cells under in high glucose and normal glucose culture conditions,and its anti-proliferation and pro-apoptosis effects were more significant in the normal glucose groups.The expression of miR-139-5p was up-regu-lated by metformin treatment in normal but not in high glucose culture.Further studies showed that miR-139-5p mimics inhibited of PANC-1 cells proliferation without metformin pre-incubation and enhanced the anti-prolifera-tion effect of 5 mmol/L metformin.The pro-apoptotic effect of 10 mmol/L metformin in normal glucose culture conditions.Conclusions In normal-glucose culture conditions,metformin can inhibit proliferation,induce apop-tosis and cell cycle arrest of PANC-1 cells more significantly than in higher-glucose culture,which may be partly related to the up-regulation of miR-139-5p.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail