1.Role of Innate Trained Immunity in Diseases
Chuang CHENG ; Yue-Qing WANG ; Xiao-Qin MU ; Xi ZHENG ; Jing HE ; Jun WANG ; Chao TAN ; Xiao-Wen LIU ; Li-Li ZOU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):119-132
The innate immune system can be boosted in response to subsequent triggers by pre-exposure to microbes or microbial products, known as “trained immunity”. Compared to classical immune memory, innate trained immunity has several different features. Firstly, the molecules involved in trained immunity differ from those involved in classical immune memory. Innate trained immunity mainly involves innate immune cells (e.g., myeloid immune cells, natural killer cells, innate lymphoid cells) and their effector molecules (e.g., pattern recognition receptor (PRR), various cytokines), as well as some kinds of non-immune cells (e.g., microglial cells). Secondly, the increased responsiveness to secondary stimuli during innate trained immunity is not specific to a particular pathogen, but influences epigenetic reprogramming in the cell through signaling pathways, leading to the sustained changes in genes transcriptional process, which ultimately affects cellular physiology without permanent genetic changes (e.g., mutations or recombination). Finally, innate trained immunity relies on an altered functional state of innate immune cells that could persist for weeks to months after initial stimulus removal. An appropriate inducer could induce trained immunity in innate lymphocytes, such as exogenous stimulants (including vaccines) and endogenous stimulants, which was firstly discovered in bone marrow derived immune cells. However, mature bone marrow derived immune cells are short-lived cells, that may not be able to transmit memory phenotypes to their offspring and provide long-term protection. Therefore, trained immunity is more likely to be relied on long-lived cells, such as epithelial stem cells, mesenchymal stromal cells and non-immune cells such as fibroblasts. Epigenetic reprogramming is one of the key molecular mechanisms that induces trained immunity, including DNA modifications, non-coding RNAs, histone modifications and chromatin remodeling. In addition to epigenetic reprogramming, different cellular metabolic pathways are involved in the regulation of innate trained immunity, including aerobic glycolysis, glutamine catabolism, cholesterol metabolism and fatty acid synthesis, through a series of intracellular cascade responses triggered by the recognition of PRR specific ligands. In the view of evolutionary, trained immunity is beneficial in enhancing protection against secondary infections with an induction in the evolutionary protective process against infections. Therefore, innate trained immunity plays an important role in therapy against diseases such as tumors and infections, which has signature therapeutic effects in these diseases. In organ transplantation, trained immunity has been associated with acute rejection, which prolongs the survival of allografts. However, trained immunity is not always protective but pathological in some cases, and dysregulated trained immunity contributes to the development of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Trained immunity provides a novel form of immune memory, but when inappropriately activated, may lead to an attack on tissues, causing autoinflammation. In autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis, trained immunity may lead to enhance inflammation and tissue lesion in diseased regions. In Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, trained immunity may lead to over-activation of microglial cells, triggering neuroinflammation even nerve injury. This paper summarizes the basis and mechanisms of innate trained immunity, including the different cell types involved, the impacts on diseases and the effects as a therapeutic strategy to provide novel ideas for different diseases.
2.Chemical consitituents and hypoglycemic activity of Qinhuai No. 1 Rehmannia glutinosa
Meng YANG ; Zhi-you HAO ; Xiao-lan WANG ; Chao-yuan XIAO ; Jun-yang ZHANG ; Shi-qi ZHOU ; Xiao-ke ZHENG ; Wei-sheng FENG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(1):205-210
Eight compounds were isolated and purified from the ethyl acetate part of 70% acetone extract of
3.Application of blood conservation measures with different red blood cell transfusion volumes in obstetrics and their impact on postpartum outcomes
Huimin DENG ; Fengcheng XU ; Meiting LI ; Lan HU ; Xiao WANG ; Shiyu WANG ; Xiaofei YUAN ; Jun ZHENG ; Zehua DONG ; Yuanshan LU ; Shaoheng CHEN
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(5):691-698
Objective: To evaluate the application of blood conservation measures in obstetric patients with different red blood cell transfusion volumes and to assess the impact of different transfusion volumes on postpartum outcomes. Methods: A retrospective investigation was conducted on 448 obstetric patients who received blood transfusions at the Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from January 2016 to December 2022. Patients were divided into four groups (1-2 units group, 3-4 units group, 5-6 units group, and >6 units group) based on the volumes of red blood cells (RBCs) transfused during and within 7 days after delivery. The maternal physiological indicators, pre- and postpartum laboratory test indicators, obstetric complications, application of blood conservation measures, use of blood products, and postpartum outcomes were reviewed. The clinical characteristics, application of blood conservation measures, and their impact on postpartum outcomes were compared among different transfusion groups. Results: There were statistically significant differences in the multivariate logistic analysis of history of previous cesarean section (OR=1.781), eclampsia/pre-eclampsia/(OR=1.972) and postpartum blood loss>1 000 mL(OR=1.699)(P<0.05) among different transfusion groups. In terms of blood conservation measures, the more RBCs transfused, the higher the rate of mothers receiving blood conservation measures such as balloon occlusion, arterial ligation, autologous blood transfusion with a cell saver, and hysterectomy. With the increase in the volume of RBCs transfusion, the demand for fresh frozen plasma(FFP), cryoprecipitate, and platelet transfusions also increased. The hospitalization days for the four groups of parturients were 6.0 (4.0-9.0), 7.5 (5.0-14.8), 7.0 (4.5-13.0) and 11.0 (9.0-20.5), respectively (P<0.05) and the rates of ICU transfer were 2.0% (5/250), 9.4% (12/128),18.2% (6/33) and 51.4% (19/37), respectively (P<0.05). Both increased significantly with the increase in the volume of RBCs transfusion, and the differences between groups were statistically significant. Conclusion: Parturients who received higher volume of RBCs had multiple risks factors for bleeding before childbirth, had higher postpartum blood loss, and had a higher rate of application of various blood conservation measures. In addition, an increase in the volume of RBCs transfusion may have adverse effects on postpartum recovery.
4.Deep learning-based radiomics allows for a more accurate assessment of sarcopenia as a prognostic factor in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Zhikun LIU ; Yichao WU ; Abid Ali KHAN ; L U LUN ; Jianguo WANG ; Jun CHEN ; Ningyang JIA ; Shusen ZHENG ; Xiao XU
Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B 2024;25(1):83-90
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies and is a major cause of cancer-related mortalities worldwide (Forner et al., 2018; He et al., 2023). Sarcopenia is a syndrome characterized by an accelerated loss of skeletal muscle (SM) mass that may be age-related or the result of malnutrition in cancer patients (Cruz-Jentoft and Sayer, 2019). Preoperative sarcopenia in HCC patients treated with hepatectomy or liver transplantation is an independent risk factor for poor survival (Voron et al., 2015; van Vugt et al., 2016). Previous studies have used various criteria to define sarcopenia, including muscle area and density. However, the lack of standardized diagnostic methods for sarcopenia limits their clinical use. In 2018, the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) renewed a consensus on the definition of sarcopenia: low muscle strength, loss of muscle quantity, and poor physical performance (Cruz-Jentoft et al., 2019). Radiological imaging-based measurement of muscle quantity or mass is most commonly used to evaluate the degree of sarcopenia. The gold standard is to measure the SM and/or psoas muscle (PM) area using abdominal computed tomography (CT) at the third lumbar vertebra (L3), as it is linearly correlated to whole-body SM mass (van Vugt et al., 2016). According to a "North American Expert Opinion Statement on Sarcopenia," SM index (SMI) is the preferred measure of sarcopenia (Carey et al., 2019). The variability between morphometric muscle indexes revealed that they have different clinical relevance and are generally not applicable to broader populations (Esser et al., 2019).
Humans
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Aged
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Sarcopenia/diagnostic imaging*
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Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/diagnostic imaging*
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Muscle, Skeletal/diagnostic imaging*
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Deep Learning
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Prognosis
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Radiomics
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Liver Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging*
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Retrospective Studies
5.Study on the Treatment of Dampness Stagnated in the Triple Energizer Based on the Theory of"Qi Transformation Leading to the Removal of Pathogenic Dampness"
Xiao-Ying MO ; Wei-Jun RUAN ; Feng-Ling ZHENG ; Huan-Huan LUO
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;41(4):1048-1052
The statement of"qi transformation leading to the removal of pathogenic dampness"was recorded in Wen Bing Tiao Bian(Analysis on Epidemic Febrile Diseases)written by the Qing Dynasty physician WU Ju-Tong.Dampness in the triple energizer is caused by the dysfunction of qi transformation,and the treatment of dampness must be based on the activation of qi movement and focused on the promotion of qi movement and the restoration of the qi transformation in the triple energizer.For the treatment of dampness attack in the upper energizer,therapies of dispersing lung to smooth qi and resolving dampness to relieve the obstruction are recommended.For the treatment of dampness obstruction in the middle energizer,therapy of activating spleen qi by strengthening spleen and moving qi is stressed for helping the removal of dampness and for the eradication of the source of dampness.For the treatment of dampness stagnation in the lower energizer,therapy of draining dampness with sweet-light medicines and activating yang can be used according to the illness status.The three methods of treating dampness,namely dispersing the upper energizer,activating the middle energizer and draining the lower energizer,all embody the mechanism of"qi transformation leading to the removal of pathogenic dampness",and the therapies of dispersing lung with light medicines,inducing perspiration by opening striated layer,eliminating dampness with aromatics and draining dampness with sweet-light medicines should be used in accordance with the syndromes.The elucidation of the academic thoughts of"qi transformation leading to the removal of pathogenic dampness"can provide theoretical reference for the fundamental research of dampness syndrome and clinical application of therapies for resolving dampness in Chinese medicine.
6.Effects of miR-4531/CX3CL1 signaling pathway on the vascular injury in preeclampsia in vitro
Man WANG ; Jun LI ; Hang LI ; Qing SONG ; Yan LIU ; Haili WANG ; Xiao WANG ; Qunxian CHENG ; Zheng HU ; Ling XU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2024;31(6):868-874
Objective To investigate the effects of miR-
7.Variation rules of main secondary metabolites in Hedysari Radix before and after rubbing strip
Xu-Dong LUO ; Xin-Rong LI ; Cheng-Yi LI ; Peng QI ; Ting-Ting LIANG ; Shu-Bin LIU ; Zheng-Ze QIANG ; Jun-Gang HE ; Xu LI ; Xiao-Cheng WEI ; Xiao-Li FENG ; Ming-Wei WANG
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2024;46(3):747-754
AIM To investigate the variation rules of main secondary metabolites in Hedysari Radix before and after rubbing strip.METHODS UPLC-MS/MS was adopted in the content determination of formononetin,ononin,calycosin,calycosin-7-glucoside,medicarpin,genistein,luteolin,liquiritigenin,isoliquiritigenin,vanillic acid,ferulic acid,γ-aminobutyric acid,adenosine and betaine,after which cluster analysis,principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis were used for chemical pattern recognition to explore differential components.RESULTS After rubbing strip,formononetin,calycosin,liquiritigenin and γ-aminobutynic acid demonstrated increased contents,along with decreased contents of ononin,calycosin-7-glucoside and vanillic acid.The samples with and without rubbing strip were clustered into two types,calycosin-7-glucoside,formononetin,γ-aminobutynic acid,vanillic acid,calycosin-7-glucoside and formononetin were differential components.CONCLUSION This experiment clarifies the differences of chemical constituents in Hedysari Radix before and after rubbing strip,which can provide a reference for the research on rubbing strip mechanism of other medicinal materials.
8.Clinicopathologic features of stomach oxyntic gland neo-plasms on 49 patients
Lu-Lu ZHANG ; Hui LI ; Bing-Xin GUAN ; Yu-Ping ZHENG ; Xiao-Lin WU ; Cheng-Jun ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Current Advances in General Surgery 2024;27(1):30-35
Objective:To analyze the clinicopathological features of gastric oxyntic gland neo-plasms.Methods:Forty-nine cases of stomach oxyntic gland neoplasms including oxyntic gland adenoma(OGA)and gastric adenocarcinoma of the fundic gland type(GA-FG)diagnosed in the Sec-ond Hospital of Shandong University from January 2016 to December 2020 were selected.The clini cal information,endoscopic appearance,histological features and immunophenotype were analyzed retrospectively,and followed up.Results:Age of the gastric oxyntic gland neoplasm patients ranged from 19 to 83 years old,with an average age of(57.3±2.4)years old.The male-to-female ratio was 24:25.Most of the lesions were located in the gastric body(27/49)and fundus(15/49).There were four endoscopic phenotypes:flat bulging,polypoid,flat and depression.In some lesions,there were dilated dendritic vessels.48 cases were single onset.The mean maximum diameter of lesions was(3.9±0.5)mm(1.0~7.0 mm).Seven cases showed submucosal invasion,and the inva-sion depth was less than 500 μm.The tumor consists of the dense glandular and the glandular con-nects to form a strip shape,which is irregularly branched and labyrinthlike under the microscope.These tumor cells were well differentiated and the morphology was similar to oxyntic gland cells.The chief cells were the predominant cells.The nucleus was mildly enlarged with slight pleomorphism and the mitosis was uncommon.The oxyntic gland neoplasms of the stomach were diffusely posi-tive for Mucin-6(MUC6)(100%)and Pepsinogen Ⅰ(83%),focally positive for H+/K+-ATPase(58%).Conclusions:The stomach oxyntic gland neoplasm is a new histology type with unique clinico-pathological features.The incidence of this neoplasm is low and the prognosis is good but it still needs long-term follow-up.
9.A Prognostic Model Based on Colony Stimulating Factors-related Genes in Triple-negative Breast Cancer
Yu-Xuan GUO ; Zhi-Yu WANG ; Pei-Yao XIAO ; Chan-Juan ZHENG ; Shu-Jun FU ; Guang-Chun HE ; Jun LONG ; Jie WANG ; Xi-Yun DENG ; Yi-An WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(10):2741-2756
ObjectiveTriple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the breast cancer subtype with the worst prognosis, and lacks effective therapeutic targets. Colony stimulating factors (CSFs) are cytokines that can regulate the production of blood cells and stimulate the growth and development of immune cells, playing an important role in the malignant progression of TNBC. This article aims to construct a novel prognostic model based on the expression of colony stimulating factors-related genes (CRGs), and analyze the sensitivity of TNBC patients to immunotherapy and drug therapy. MethodsWe downloaded CRGs from public databases and screened for differentially expressed CRGs between normal and TNBC tissues in the TCGA-BRCA database. Through LASSO Cox regression analysis, we constructed a prognostic model and stratified TNBC patients into high-risk and low-risk groups based on the colony stimulating factors-related genes risk score (CRRS). We further analyzed the correlation between CRRS and patient prognosis, clinical features, tumor microenvironment (TME) in both high-risk and low-risk groups, and evaluated the relationship between CRRS and sensitivity to immunotherapy and drug therapy. ResultsWe identified 842 differentially expressed CRGs in breast cancer tissues of TNBC patients and selected 13 CRGs for constructing the prognostic model. Kaplan-Meier survival curves, time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves, and other analyses confirmed that TNBC patients with high CRRS had shorter overall survival, and the predictive ability of CRRS prognostic model was further validated using the GEO dataset. Nomogram combining clinical features confirmed that CRRS was an independent factor for the prognosis of TNBC patients. Moreover, patients in the high-risk group had lower levels of immune infiltration in the TME and were sensitive to chemotherapeutic drugs such as 5-fluorouracil, ipatasertib, and paclitaxel. ConclusionWe have developed a CRRS-based prognostic model composed of 13 differentially expressed CRGs, which may serve as a useful tool for predicting the prognosis of TNBC patients and guiding clinical treatment. Moreover, the key genes within this model may represent potential molecular targets for future therapies of TNBC.
10.Establishment of Rat Karoshi Model and Model-based Proteomic and Metabolomic Analyses of Energy Metabolism and Oxidative Stress
Jia-Min LI ; Rui-Bing SU ; Xiao-Jun YU ; Yong-Xia ZHENG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(8):1935-1949
ObjectiveKaroshi, death from overwork, is a serious problem with unclear identification standards and mechanisms. This study aims to establish a karoshi rat model by integrating weight-bearing swimming and sleep deprivation. This model will enable us to investigate the adverse effects of acute physical and mental fatigue on cardiac functions and explore the response mechanisms to overwork using integrated omics approaches, specifically metabonomics and proteomics. MethodsThe experimental design involved healthy male sprague-dawley (SD) rats subjected to weight-bearing swimming and sleep deprivation for 7 d. The rats were monitored for changes in physiological function indexes, including electrocardiogram and respiration. Protein digestion, iTRAQ labeling, and quantitative data analyses were performed to determine differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). Additionally, GC-MS analysis was conducted to identify differential metabolites. The integration analysis of differential metabolites and proteins shared by the fatigue group and the overwork group was performed to construct a relevant metabolic pathway network and integrate the proteomics and metabolomics data. Statistical analysis was carried out using one-way ANOVA and Duncan’s multiple range t-tests. ResultsThe rats subjected to weight-bearing swimming and sleep deprivation showed various physical and behavioral changes associated with fatigue, including hair disorder, decreased muscle tension, reduced food intake, and weight loss. Analysis of cardiac functions revealed cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure in the fatigue and karoshi groups, as evidenced by changes in heart color, myocardial fiber structure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and cardiac ultrasound measurements. Metabolomics analysis using GC-MS identified several differential metabolites in response to overwork, including amino acids involved in various metabolic pathways. Proteomic analysis using iTRAQ technology identified DEPs in the fatigue and karoshi groups, with a subset of DEPs shared by both groups. The GO analysis revealed that the up-regulated DEPs were primarily associated with mitochondria and peroxisomes in the cellular component category. The Reactome analysis further highlighted the enrichment of DEPs in the transfer of ferriheme from methemoglobin to hemopexin pathway. Integration analysis of the DEPs and differential metabolites revealed the activation of autophagy, increased mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, enhanced branched-chain amino acid degradation, and altered peroxisomal β-oxidation. These findings suggested complex metabolic adaptations to meet the increased energy demands during overwork while also dealing with oxidative stress. Furthermore, the reprogramming of energy metabolism was observed, with upregulation of fatty acid β-oxidation enzymes and glycolysis-related enzymes in the fatigue group, indicating a shift towards glucose metabolism. In contrast, the karoshi group showed a decreased dependence on fatty acids as an energy source and increased utilization of glucose. The model proposed in this study highlights the interconnected metabolic changes involving mitochondria, peroxisomes, and lysosomes in response to overwork. The findings contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms involved in overwork-related pathologies and provide a basis for further research in the field of karoshi. ConclusionOverall, metabolic reprogramming might provide sufficient energy to the heart, alleviate oxidative stress and damage to cardiac cells in response to excessive exertion and fatigue. Our findings provide an insight into response mechanism to overwork death and lay a foundation for further research on overwork death.

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