1.Effect Analysis of Different Interventions to Improve Neuroinflammation in The Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
Jiang-Hui SHAN ; Chao-Yang CHU ; Shi-Yu CHEN ; Zhi-Cheng LIN ; Yu-Yu ZHOU ; Tian-Yuan FANG ; Chu-Xia ZHANG ; Biao XIAO ; Kai XIE ; Qing-Juan WANG ; Zhi-Tao LIU ; Li-Ping LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):310-333
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a central neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive decline and memory impairment in clinical. Currently, there are no effective treatments for AD. In recent years, a variety of therapeutic approaches from different perspectives have been explored to treat AD. Although the drug therapies targeted at the clearance of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) had made a breakthrough in clinical trials, there were associated with adverse events. Neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the onset and progression of AD. Continuous neuroinflammatory was considered to be the third major pathological feature of AD, which could promote the formation of extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. At the same time, these toxic substances could accelerate the development of neuroinflammation, form a vicious cycle, and exacerbate disease progression. Reducing neuroinflammation could break the feedback loop pattern between neuroinflammation, Aβ plaque deposition and Tau tangles, which might be an effective therapeutic strategy for treating AD. Traditional Chinese herbs such as Polygonum multiflorum and Curcuma were utilized in the treatment of AD due to their ability to mitigate neuroinflammation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and indomethacin had been shown to reduce the level of inflammasomes in the body, and taking these drugs was associated with a low incidence of AD. Biosynthetic nanomaterials loaded with oxytocin were demonstrated to have the capability to anti-inflammatory and penetrate the blood-brain barrier effectively, and they played an anti-inflammatory role via sustained-releasing oxytocin in the brain. Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells could reduce neuroinflammation and inhibit the activation of microglia. The secretion of mesenchymal stem cells could not only improve neuroinflammation, but also exert a multi-target comprehensive therapeutic effect, making it potentially more suitable for the treatment of AD. Enhancing the level of TREM2 in microglial cells using gene editing technologies, or application of TREM2 antibodies such as Ab-T1, hT2AB could improve microglial cell function and reduce the level of neuroinflammation, which might be a potential treatment for AD. Probiotic therapy, fecal flora transplantation, antibiotic therapy, and dietary intervention could reshape the composition of the gut microbiota and alleviate neuroinflammation through the gut-brain axis. However, the drugs of sodium oligomannose remain controversial. Both exercise intervention and electromagnetic intervention had the potential to attenuate neuroinflammation, thereby delaying AD process. This article focuses on the role of drug therapy, gene therapy, stem cell therapy, gut microbiota therapy, exercise intervention, and brain stimulation in improving neuroinflammation in recent years, aiming to provide a novel insight for the treatment of AD by intervening neuroinflammation in the future.
2.Role of Peripheral 5-hydroxytryptamine in Toll-like Receptor 4-mediated Diabetes Mellitus Type 2
Yi-Ying ZHANG ; Ping ZHANG ; Bo YANG ; Xiao-Tong CHANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(5):1070-1080
In recent years, the prevalence of diabetes has continued to rise, with diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) being the most common form. T2DM is characterized by chronic low-grade inflammation and disruptions in insulin metabolism. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is a key pattern recognition receptor that, upon activation, upregulates pro-inflammatory cytokines via the nuclear factor κB (NF‑κB) pathway, thereby contributing to the pathogenesis of T2DM. Peripheral 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), primarily synthesized by enterochromaffin (EC) cells in the gut, interacts with 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors (5-HTRs) in key insulin-target tissues, including the liver, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle. This interaction influences hepatic gluconeogenesis, fat mobilization, and the browning of white adipose tissue. Elevated peripheral 5-HT levels may disrupt glucose and lipid metabolism, thereby contributing to the onset and progression of T2DM. Within mitochondria, 5-HT undergoes degradation and inactivation through the enzymatic action of monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A), leading to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Excessive ROS production and accumulation can induce oxidative stress, which may further contribute to the pathogenesis of T2DM. Platelets serve as the primary reservoir for5-HT in the bloodstream. The activation of the TLR4 signaling pathway on the platelet surface, coupled with reduced expression of the 5-HT transporter on the cell membrane, leads to elevated serum 5-HT levels, potentially accelerating the progression of T2DM. Therefore, inhibition of TLR4 and reduction of peripheral 5-HT levels could represent promising therapeutic strategies for T2DM. This review explores the synthesis, transport, and metabolism of peripheral 5-HT, as well as its role in TLR4-mediated T2DM, with the aim of providing novel insights into the clinical diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation of T2DM.
3.PANoptosis: a New Target for Cardiovascular Diseases
Xin-Nong CHEN ; Ying-Xi YANG ; Xiao-Chen GUO ; Jun-Ping ZHANG ; Na-Wen LIU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(5):1113-1125
The innate immune system detects cellular stressors and microbial infections, activating programmed cell death (PCD) pathways to eliminate intracellular pathogens and maintain homeostasis. Among these pathways, pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis represent the most characteristic forms of PCD. Although initially regarded as mechanistically distinct, emerging research has revealed significant crosstalk among their signaling cascades. Consequently, the concept of PANoptosis has been proposed—an inflammatory cell death pathway driven by caspases and receptor-interacting protein kinases (RIPKs), and regulated by the PANoptosome, which integrates key features of pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis. The core mechanism of PANoptosis involves the assembly and activation of the PANoptosome, a macromolecular complex composed of three structural components: sensor proteins, adaptor proteins, and effector proteins. Sensors detect upstream stimuli and transmit signals downstream, recruiting critical molecules via adaptors to form a molecular scaffold. This scaffold activates effectors, triggering intracellular signaling cascades that culminate in PANoptosis. The PANoptosome is regulated by upstream molecules such as interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1), transforming growth factor beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), and adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1), which function as molecular switches to control PANoptosis. Targeting these switches represents a promising therapeutic strategy. Furthermore, PANoptosis is influenced by organelle functions, including those of the mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and lysosomes, highlighting organelle-targeted interventions as effective regulatory approaches. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the leading global cause of morbidity and mortality, are profoundly impacted by PCD. Extensive crosstalk among multiple cell death pathways in CVDs suggests a complex regulatory network. As a novel cell death modality bridging pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis, PANoptosis offers fresh insights into the complexity of cell death and provides innovative strategies for CVD treatment. This review summarizes current evidence linking PANoptosis to various CVDs, including myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, myocardial infarction, heart failure, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy, cardiotoxic injury, atherosclerosis, abdominal aortic aneurysm, thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection, and vascular toxic injury, thereby providing critical clinical insights into CVD pathophysiology. However, the current understanding of PANoptosis in CVDs remains incomplete. First, while PANoptosis in cardiomyocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells has been implicated in CVD pathogenesis, its role in other cell types—such as vascular endothelial cells and immune cells (e.g., macrophages)—warrants further investigation. Second, although pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) are known to activate the PANoptosome in infectious diseases, the stimuli driving PANoptosis in CVDs remain poorly defined. Additionally, methodological challenges persist in identifying PANoptosome assembly in CVDs and in establishing reliable PANoptosis models. Beyond the diseases discussed, PANoptosis may also play a role in viral myocarditis and diabetic cardiomyopathy, necessitating further exploration. In conclusion, elucidating the role of PANoptosis in CVDs opens new avenues for drug development. Targeting this pathway could yield transformative therapies, addressing unmet clinical needs in cardiovascular medicine.
4.Mechanism of Kaixuan Jiedu Core Prescription in Regulating PTGS2 to Improve Skin Lesions in Psoriasis Mouse Models
Xue XIAO ; Liping KANG ; Dan DAI ; Yidi MA ; Bin YANG ; Ping SONG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(17):49-59
ObjectiveTo identify the active constituents of Kaixuan Jiedu core prescription (KXJD) and investigate its effective components and therapeutic targets in the treatment of common psoriasis
5.Exploration of Kaixuan Jiedu Core Prescription's Efficacy in Alleviating Psoriasis Through Modulation of Ferroptosis Pathways: An Integrative Approach Involving Bioinformatics and Experimental Validation
Haoruo YANG ; Xue XIAO ; Jiaqi LI ; Ningxin ZHANG ; Bin YANG ; Ping SONG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(17):69-78
ObjectiveTo use bioinformatics technology to screen the molecular patterns and diagnostic biomarkers of ferroptosis closely related to psoriasis, observe the therapeutic effect of Kaixuan Jiedu core prescription on psoriasis and explore its potential mechanism through animal experiments. MethodsPsoriasis microarray data from GEO were analyzed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Intersection with a ferroptosis gene set yielded psoriasis ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs), which underwent correlation, consensus clustering, enrichment, and immune infiltration analyses. Core diagnostic FRGs (Hub-FRGs) were identified using random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), LASSO regression, Nomogram, and ROC analyses. In vivo, imiquimod (5% cream) induced psoriasis in mice (except controls). Drug treatment groups received respective doses, while control and model groups received saline via daily gavage for 7 days. Back skin changes were recorded and PASI scored. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining assessed histopathology. The levels of ferrous ion (Fe2+), malondialdehyde (MDA), 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and free fatty acid (FFA) in skin tissue were detected. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in skin tissue was detected by immunofluorescence. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of ChaC glutathione-specific γ-glutamyl transferase 1 (CHAC1), arachidonic acid 12-lipoxygenase β (ALOX12B), trimotif protein 21 (TRIM21), proliferation marker (Ki67) and nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) protein. ResultsAnalysis of GSE30999 identified 2 100 DEGs and 24 FRGs. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment revealed 1 000 biological functions and 75 pathways. After cluster analysis, combined with three machine learning algorithms, Nomogram and ROC curve analysis, the core Hub-FRGs (CHAC1, ALOX12 B, TRIM21) were obtained. Immunoinfiltration showed inactive memory CD4+T cells and activated dendritic cells abundance significantly correlated with Hub-FRGs. In vivo, model group vs. control showed significantly increased PASI/Baker scores (P<0.05), epidermal hyperkeratosis, inflammatory infiltration, and elevated levels of Fe2+, MDA, 4-HNE, FFA, ROS, CHAC1, ALOX12B, TRIM21, Ki67, and NF-κB (P<0.05). Drug groups vs. model group exhibited significantly reduced scores (P<0.05), alleviated skin lesions, and decreased levels of Fe2+, MDA, 4-HNE, FFA, ROS, Hub-FRGs, Ki67, and NF-κB (P<0.05). ConclusionKaixuan Jiedu core prescription can significantly improve the skin pathological injury of psoriasis mice, showing good therapeutic and repair effects, and its mechanism may be related to regulating the expression of ferroptosis genes CHAC1, ALOX12B and TRIM21, which are closely related to the pathogenesis of psoriasis.
6.Mechanism of Kaixuan Jiedu Core Prescription in Regulating PTGS2 to Improve Skin Lesions in Psoriasis Mouse Models
Xue XIAO ; Liping KANG ; Dan DAI ; Yidi MA ; Bin YANG ; Ping SONG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(17):49-59
ObjectiveTo identify the active constituents of Kaixuan Jiedu core prescription (KXJD) and investigate its effective components and therapeutic targets in the treatment of common psoriasis
7.Exploration of Kaixuan Jiedu Core Prescription's Efficacy in Alleviating Psoriasis Through Modulation of Ferroptosis Pathways: An Integrative Approach Involving Bioinformatics and Experimental Validation
Haoruo YANG ; Xue XIAO ; Jiaqi LI ; Ningxin ZHANG ; Bin YANG ; Ping SONG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(17):69-78
ObjectiveTo use bioinformatics technology to screen the molecular patterns and diagnostic biomarkers of ferroptosis closely related to psoriasis, observe the therapeutic effect of Kaixuan Jiedu core prescription on psoriasis and explore its potential mechanism through animal experiments. MethodsPsoriasis microarray data from GEO were analyzed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Intersection with a ferroptosis gene set yielded psoriasis ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs), which underwent correlation, consensus clustering, enrichment, and immune infiltration analyses. Core diagnostic FRGs (Hub-FRGs) were identified using random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), LASSO regression, Nomogram, and ROC analyses. In vivo, imiquimod (5% cream) induced psoriasis in mice (except controls). Drug treatment groups received respective doses, while control and model groups received saline via daily gavage for 7 days. Back skin changes were recorded and PASI scored. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining assessed histopathology. The levels of ferrous ion (Fe2+), malondialdehyde (MDA), 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and free fatty acid (FFA) in skin tissue were detected. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in skin tissue was detected by immunofluorescence. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of ChaC glutathione-specific γ-glutamyl transferase 1 (CHAC1), arachidonic acid 12-lipoxygenase β (ALOX12B), trimotif protein 21 (TRIM21), proliferation marker (Ki67) and nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) protein. ResultsAnalysis of GSE30999 identified 2 100 DEGs and 24 FRGs. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment revealed 1 000 biological functions and 75 pathways. After cluster analysis, combined with three machine learning algorithms, Nomogram and ROC curve analysis, the core Hub-FRGs (CHAC1, ALOX12 B, TRIM21) were obtained. Immunoinfiltration showed inactive memory CD4+T cells and activated dendritic cells abundance significantly correlated with Hub-FRGs. In vivo, model group vs. control showed significantly increased PASI/Baker scores (P<0.05), epidermal hyperkeratosis, inflammatory infiltration, and elevated levels of Fe2+, MDA, 4-HNE, FFA, ROS, CHAC1, ALOX12B, TRIM21, Ki67, and NF-κB (P<0.05). Drug groups vs. model group exhibited significantly reduced scores (P<0.05), alleviated skin lesions, and decreased levels of Fe2+, MDA, 4-HNE, FFA, ROS, Hub-FRGs, Ki67, and NF-κB (P<0.05). ConclusionKaixuan Jiedu core prescription can significantly improve the skin pathological injury of psoriasis mice, showing good therapeutic and repair effects, and its mechanism may be related to regulating the expression of ferroptosis genes CHAC1, ALOX12B and TRIM21, which are closely related to the pathogenesis of psoriasis.
8.Mechanism studies underlying the alleviatory effects of isoliquiritigenin on abnormal glucolipid metabolism triggered by type 2 diabetes
Zi-yi CHEN ; Xiao-xue YANG ; Wen-wen DING ; Dou-dou WANG ; Ping HE ; Ying LIU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(1):105-118
Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) is an active chalcone compound isolated from licorice. It possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities. In our previous study, we uncovered a great potential of ISL in treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Therefore, this study aims to reveal the mechanism underlying the alleviatory effects of ISL on T2DM-induced glycolipid metabolism disorder. High-fat-high-sugar diet (HFD) combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) were used to establish T2DM mice model. All animal experiments were carried out with approval of the Committee of Ethics at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. HepG2 cells were used in
9.A reporter gene assays for bioactivity determination of human chorinonic gonadotropin
Ying HUANG ; Xiao-ming ZHANG ; He-yang LI ; Lü-yin WANG ; Hui ZHANG ; Ping LÜ ; Jing LI ; Xiang-dong GAO ; Cheng-gang LIANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(2):432-438
This study constructed a LHCGR-CRE-luc-HEK293 transgenic cell line according to the activation of the cAMP signaling pathway after recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin binding to the receptor. The biological activity of recombinant human chorionic gonadotropin was assayed using a luciferase assay system. The relative potency of the samples was calculated using four-parameter model. And the method conditions were optimized to validate the specificity, relative accuracy, precision and linearity of the method. The results showed that there was a quantitative potency relationship of human chorinonic gonadotropin (hCG) in the method and it was in accordance with the four-parameter curve. After optimization, the conditions were determined as hCG dilution concentration of 2.5 μg·mL-1, dilution ratio of 1∶4, cell number of 10 000-15 000 cells/well, and induction time of 6 h. The method had good specificity, relative accuracy with relative bias ranging from -8.9% to 3.4%, linear regression equation correlation coefficient of 0.996, intermediate precision geometric coefficient of variation ranging from 3.3% to 15.0%, and linearity range of 50% to 200%. This study successfully established and validated a reporter gene method to detect hCG biological activity, which can be used for hCG biological activity assay and quality control.
10.Comparison of the predictive value of new simplified insulin resistance assessment indexes in identifying left ventricular subclinical dysfunction in T2DM patients
Yan-Yan CHEN ; Meng-Ying LI ; Jie ZHOU ; Jian-Fang FU ; Ying ZHANG ; Yi WANG ; Cheng WANG ; Xiang-Yang LIU ; Sheng-Jun TA ; Li-Wen LIU ; Ze-Ping LI ; Xiao-Miao LI
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2024;49(2):137-143
Objective To investigate the predictive value of new simplified insulin resistance(IR)assessment indexes in identifying subclinical left ventricular systolic function impairment in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods A total of 150 T2DM patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF≥50%)who were admitted to Department of Endocrinology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University from June 2021 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.All patients underwent two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography to measure left ventricular global longitudinal strain(GLS).According to GLS value,the subjects were divided into the normal group(GLS≥18%group,n=80)and the impaired group(GLS<18%group,n=70).Some new simplified IR assessment indicators were calculated and compared between the two groups,including body mass index(BMI),TG/HDL-C ratio,triglyceride-glucose(TyG)index,TyG-BMI index,TyG-WHR and metabolic score for IR(METS-IR).Correlation between the GLS and the new simplified IR assessment indexes was analyzed.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the diagnostic efficacy of different simplified IR assessment indexes,with the area under the curve(AUC)calculated.Furthermore,according to whether the subjects were complicated with hypertension,binary logistics regression analysis was performed to explore the independent correlation between the simplified IR assessment index and GLS<18%.Results Total 150 were included with aged(54.5±13.7)years with 96(64.0%)men and 54(36.0%)women.Compared with the GLS≥18%group,the TG/HDL-C ratio,TyG index,TyG-BMI,and METS-IR of subjects in the GLS<18%group were significantly increased(P<0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed that TG/HDL-C ratio,TyG index,TyG-BMI,TyG-WHR,and METS-IR were negatively correlated with GLS(P<0.05).ROC analysis showed that TyG index had a certain predictive value for the evaluation of GLS<18%(AUC=0.678,95%CI 0.591-0.765,P<0.001).Stratification based on hypertension and further adjusting for confounding factors,TyG index remains significantly associated with GLS<18%(OR=3.249,95%CI 1.045-10.103,P=0.042).Conclusions The novel simplified insulin resistance evaluation indexes are closely associated with left ventricular subclinical systolic dysfunction in T2DM patients with preserved ejection fraction.TyG index is an effective index to identify left ventricular subclinical dysfunction in these populations.

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