1.Clinical Diseases Responding Specially to TCM Treatment: Psoriasis
Liu LIU ; Xiaoying SUN ; Mei MO ; Yaqiong ZHOU ; Bin LI ; Xiaoxiao ZHANG ; Xin LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(5):260-268
Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory systemic disease in dermatology. Its high prevalence, recurrence rate, and numerous comorbidities impose a significant physical and mental burden on patients. With the continuous advancement of modern medicine, the emergence of biological agents has improved clinical efficacy, making it possible to overcome psoriasis, in addition to classical treatments. However, in clinical practice, adverse reactions, drug resistance, recurrence rates, and immune drift cannot be ignored. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a history of thousands of years in treating psoriasis, demonstrating good efficacy, high safety, and a low recurrence rate, but a standardized management system is lacking. Therefore, the 25th Clinical Diseases Responding Specially to TCM Treatment Series (Psoriasis) Youth Salon, hosted by the Chinese Association of Chinese Medicine and organized by the Youth Committee of the Chinese Association of Chinese Medicine, invited 29 experts and scholars from TCM, Western medicine, and interdisciplinary fields to actively discuss the "Advantages, Challenges, and Clinical Transformation of TCM and Western Medicine in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Psoriasis". The experts at the meeting concluded that the advantages of TCM in the treatment of psoriasis are as follows. Firstly, in the TCM-led treatment plan, TCM's understanding of psoriasis follows the principle of combining the differentiation of disease and syndrome. This approach distinguishes the basic contradiction from the current main contradiction and enables a clear grasp of the dynamic process of psoriasis development. Based on the system of syndrome differentiation and treatment, TCM intervention is applied to address the current main contradiction, and the optimal TCM treatment plan is formulated by combining internal and external treatments. Adhering to the principle of "what is visible outside must be addressed inside", TCM can prevent and treat psoriasis comorbidities early by differentiating syndrome types. Secondly, in the integrated TCM and Western medicine treatment plan, the combination of both methods not only enhances efficacy but also reduces the adverse reactions of immunosuppressants and biological agents, lowering the recurrence rate. This conference provides a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of psoriasis using TCM and integrated TCM and Western medicine, opening up new ideas for clinical and basic research and guiding future research directions.
2.Protective effects and mechanisms of sodium pyruvate on storage lesions in human red blood cells
Haoning CHEN ; Qi MIAO ; Qiang GAO ; Xin SUN ; Shunyu MEI ; Li WANG ; Yun LIAN ; Honglin LUO ; Chenjie ZHOU ; Hao LI
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(6):833-838
Objective: To investigate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of sodium pyruvate (SP) on RBC storage lesions using an oxidative damage model. Methods: Six units of leukocyte-depleted suspended RBCs (discarded for non-infectious reasons within three days post-collection) were randomly assigned to four groups: negative control (NS), positive control (PS), experimental group 1 (SP1), and experimental group 2 (SP2). Oxidative stress was induced in the PS group by the addition of hydrogen peroxide (H
O
), while SP1 and SP2 received SP supplementation at different concentrations (25 mM and 50 mM, respectively) in the presence of H
O
. After 1 hour of incubation, RBC morphology was assessed microscopically, and biochemical indicators including glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), methemoglobin (MetHb), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and Na
/K
-ATPase activity were measured. Results: RBCs in the PS group exhibited pronounced morphological damage, including cell shrinkage and echinocyte formation, whereas both SP-treated groups showed significantly reduced structural injury. SP treatment led to elevated GSH levels and decreased concentrations of MDA and MetHb, suggesting attenuation of oxidative stress. Additionally, SP enhanced intracellular ATP levels and Na
/K
-ATPase activity, thereby contributing to membrane stability. Notably, the SP2 group (50 mM) demonstrated superior protective effects compared to SP1 (25 mM). Conclusion: Sodium pyruvate effectively attenuates oxidative storage lesions in RBCs, primarily through its antioxidant properties, energy metabolism supporting ability, and celluar membrane stabilizing function. These findings suggest SP as a promising additive for enhancing the quality and safety of stored RBCs.
3.Exploring Mechanism of Hei Xiaoyaosan Regulating PI3K/Akt Pathway to Improve Learning and Memory Ability of Insomnia Rats with Liver Depression Syndrome Based on Transcriptomics
Jiamin LIU ; Yale WANG ; Hai HUANG ; Yue LI ; Xin FAN ; Pengpeng LIANG ; Shizhao ZHANG ; Mei YAN ; Guiyun LI ; Hongyan WU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(16):114-125
ObjectiveBased on transcriptomics, to explore the mechanism of Hei Xiaoyaosan regulating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway to improve the learning and memory ability of insomnia rats with liver depression syndrome. MethodsSixty 8-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into the blank group, model group, eszopiclone group (0.09 mg·kg-1), and low, medium, and high dose groups of Hei Xiaoyaosan (3.82, 7.65, 15.30 g·kg-1), with ten rats in each group. Except for the blank group, the other groups were induced insomnia rat model with liver depression by chronic restraint, tail clamping stimulation and intraperitoneal injection of p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA). Each treatment group received intragastric administration according to the specified dosage, once a day for 14 consecutive days. The pentobarbital sodium cooperative sleep test, open field test, and Morris water maze test were used to test the sleep quality, depressive-like behavior, and learning and memory abilities of rats. Additionally, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the contents of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and nitric oxide (NO) in hippocampus. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to observe pathological changes of the hippocampal tissue, while terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) nick end labeling (TUNEL) was used to evaluate apoptosis of hippocampal neurons. Transcriptomic sequencing technology was employed to identify differentially expressed genes in hippocampus between the model group and the blank group, as well as between the medium-dose group of Hei Xiaoyaosan and the model group. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis were performed on the intersecting genes. Subsequently, the enriched key genes and signaling pathways were analyzed and verified. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was utilized to assess the mRNA expression levels of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)-like protein 11 (BCL2L11), and mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1) in hippocampus, and Western blot was employed to evaluate the protein expressions of PI3K, phosphorylation (p)-PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, Bcl-2, Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), and cleaved Caspase-3 in the same tissue. ResultsCompared with the blank group, the model group exhibited a reduction in body weight, an increase in sleep latency, and a decrease in sleep duration (P<0.01). Additionally, rats showed obvious depression-like behavior, and their learning and memory abilities decreased. Furthermore, the contents of 5-HT, GABA, NO, BDNF and GDNF in hippocampus decreased (P<0.01). Histological examination revealed a disorganized cell arrangement in the CA1 region of the hippocampus, characterized by irregular cell shapes, a reduced cell count, deeply stained and pyknotic nuclei, increased vacuolar degeneration, and an elevated apoptosis rate (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the body weight of the high and medium dose groups of Hei Xiaoyaosan increased, the sleep latency shortened and the sleep time prolonged (P<0.05, P<0.01). Additionally, depression-like behavior and learning and memory abilities of rats were significantly improved, the levels of 5-HT, GABA, NO, BDNF and GDNF in the hippocampus increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). These interventions also ameliorated pathological damage in the hippocampal CA1 area and reduced the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons (P<0.01). Transcriptomic sequencing results indicated that Hei Xiaoyaosan might exert a therapeutic effect by regulating PI3K/Akt pathway through key mRNAs such as PTEN, BCL2L11, and MAPK1. The roles of these key mRNAs and proteins within PI3K/Akt pathway were further validated. In comparison to the blank group, the expression levels of PTEN, BCL2L11 and MAPK1 mRNA in the hippocampus of rats in the model group were increased (P<0.01), while the protein expression levels of p-PI3K, p-Akt and Bcl-2 were decreased (P<0.01), and the protein expression levels of PTEN, Bax and cleaved Caspase-3 were increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the high-dose and medium-dose groups of Hei Xiaoyaosan could down-regulate the expressions of PTEN, BCL2L11 and MAPK1 mRNAs (P<0.01), up-regulate the expressions of p-PI3K, p-Akt and Bcl-2 proteins (P<0.01), and down-regulate the protein expressions of PTEN, Bax and cleaved Caspase-3 (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionHei Xiaoyaosan may regulate PI3K/Akt signaling pathway by down-regulating expressions of key genes such as PTEN, BCL2L11 and MAPK1, and thus improve the learning and memory abilities of insomnia rats with liver depression syndrome.
4.Targeting effect and anti-tumor mechanism of folic acid-modified crebanine nanoparticles combined with ultra-sound irradiation on M109 cells in vitro and in vivo
Hailiang ZHANG ; Xiaoyu ZHAO ; Jiahua MEI ; Rui PAN ; Junze TANG ; Kun YU ; Rui XUE ; Xiaofei LI ; Xin CHENG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(14):1730-1736
OBJECTIVE To investigate the targeting effect of folic acid-modified crebanine nanoparticles (FA-Cre@PEG- PLGA NPs, hereinafter referred to as “NPs”) combined with ultrasound irradiation on M109 cells in vitro and in vivo after administration, and explore the anti-tumor mechanism. METHODS CCK-8 assay was used to detect the inhibitory effect of NPs combined with ultrasound irradiation on the proliferation of M109 cells, and the best ultrasound time was selected. Using human lung cancer A549 cells as a control, the targeting of NPs combined with ultrasound irradiation to M109 cells was evaluated by free folic acid blocking assay and cell uptake assay. The effects of NPs combined with ultrasound irradiation on the migration, invasion, apoptosis, cell cycle and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels of M109 cells were detected by cell scratch test, Transwell chamber test and flow cytometry at 1 h after 958401536@qq.com administration; the changes of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were observed by fluorescence inverted microscope. A mouse subcutaneous tumor model of M109 cells was constructed, and the in vivo tumor targeting of NPs combined with ultrasound irradiation was investigated by small animal in vivo imaging technology. RESULTS NPs combined with ultrasound irradiation could significantly inhibit the proliferation of M109 cells, and the optimal ultrasound time was 1 h after administration. The free folic acid could antagonize the inhibitory effect of NPs on the proliferation of M109 cells, and combined with ultrasound irradiation could partially reverse this antagonism. Compared with A549 cells, the uptake rate of NPs in M109 cells was significantly higher (P<0.01), and ultrasound irradiation could promote cellular uptake. NPs combined with ultrasound irradiation could inhibit the migration and invasion of M109 cells and block the cell cycle in the G0/G1 and G2/M phases. Compared with control group, the apoptosis rate of M109 cells and ROS level were increased significantly (P<0.01), while the MMP decreased significantly (P<0.01) in the different concentration (100, 200, 300 μg/mL) groups of M109 cells. Compared with the mice in non-ultrasound group, the fluorescence intensity and tumor-targeting index of the tumor site in the 0 h ultrasound group were significantly enhanced (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS NPs combined with ultrasound irradiation have a strong targeting effect on M109 cells in vitro and in vivo, the anti-tumor mechanism includes inhibiting cell migration and invasion, blocking cell cycle, and inducing apoptosis.
5.Discussion on Research Paradigm and Layout Based on Disease (Psoriasis) Specifically Responding to Traditional Chinese Medicine
Liu LIU ; Xiaoying SUN ; Mei MO ; Zihan FANG ; Yaqiong ZHOU ; Bin LI ; Xiaoxiao ZHANG ; Xin LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(18):203-211
To implement the Opinions of the State Council of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Promoting the Inheritance and Innovative Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine, delve into the diseases specifically responding to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and serve the building of advantageous specialties, clinical talent cultivation, national research layout, and academic innovation, the Chinese Association of Chinese Medicine sponsored the salons in multiple fields to discuss the diseases specifically responding to TCM. On August 26, 2023, the 25th salon on the diseases specifically responding to TCM was held in Shanghai. In view of the advantages of TCM and integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of psoriasis, Chinese and western medicine experts and interdisciplinary researchers carried out extensive and in-depth discussions and formed specific suggestions and consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of psoriasis with TCM and integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine. However, there was still a lack of detailed research path. Under the guidance of the Chinese Association of Chinese Medicine, this paper analyzes the problems in the diagnosis and treatment of psoriasis from the occurrence and development of psoriasis. According to the advantages and characteristics of TCM and integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of psoriasis, this paper puts forward the main points of research layout for psoriasis from the three aspects of psoriasis diagnosis and treatment, comorbidity prevention, and chronic disease management as follows: ① optimization of the syndrome differentiation system for psoriasis, ② optimization of assessment indicators for psoriasis, ③ recurrence mechanisms of psoriasis, ④ construction and research of TCM prevention and treatment of psoriasis recurrence, ⑤ construction of the comorbidity spectrum and TCM theoretical system of psoriasis, ⑥ comorbidity mechanisms of psoriasis. Furthermore, this article proposed the research layout and directions, expected goals and values, and funding priorities. Therefore, on the basis of the series of salons about psoriasis as a disease specifically responding to TCM, this article puts forward the research paradigm of psoriasis, aiming to facilitate the high-quality development of TCM and provide reference for the national research layout, the research and development of new TCM preparations, the selection of research topics, and the formulation of guidelines and consensus.
6. Mechanism and experimental validation of Zukamu granules in treatment of bronchial asthma based on network pharmacology and molecular docking
Yan-Min HOU ; Li-Juan ZHANG ; Yu-Yao LI ; Wen-Xin ZHOU ; Hang-Yu WANG ; Jin-Hui WANG ; Ke ZHANG ; Mei XU ; Dong LIU ; Jin-Hui WANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(2):363-371
Aim To anticipate the mechanism of zuka- mu granules (ZKMG) in the treatment of bronchial asthma, and to confirm the projected outcomes through in vivo tests via using network pharmacology and molecular docking technology. Methods The database was examined for ZKMG targets, active substances, and prospective targets for bronchial asthma. The protein protein interaction network diagram (PPI) and the medication component target network were created using ZKMG and the intersection targets of bronchial asthma. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomics (KEGG) and gene ontology (GO) were used for enrichment analysis, and network pharmacology findings were used for molecular docking, ovalbumin (OVA) intraperitoneal injection was used to create a bronchial asthma model, and in vivo tests were used to confirm how ZKMG affected bronchial asthma. Results There were 176 key targets for ZKMG's treatment of bronchial asthma, most of which involved biological processes like signal transduction, negative regulation of apoptotic processes, and angiogenesis. ZKMG contained 194 potentially active components, including quercetin, kaempferol, luteolin, and other important components. Via signaling pathways such TNF, vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), cancer pathway, and MAPK, they had therapeutic effects on bronchial asthma. Conclusion Key components had strong binding activity with appropriate targets, according to molecular docking data. In vivo tests showed that ZKMG could reduce p-p38, p-ERKl/2, and p-I
7. Study on mechanism of Hippo/YAP pathway inhibition by salvianolic acid B in HuH-7 cells
Xin-Mei YU ; Li-Li LI ; Yan YANG ; Ao ZHANG ; Jie DENG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(1):106-113
Aim To investigate whether salvianolic acid B ( Sal B) has inhibitory effect on hepatoma HuH- 7 cells and explore whether it works via Hippo/YAP signaling pathway. Methods HuH-7 cells were induced by TGF-β1 (9 pmol · L
8. Effect Xuefu Zhuyu decoction on endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition of pulmonary artery endothelial cells and its mechanism
Zuo-Mei ZENG ; Xin-Yue WANG ; Lei-Yu TIAN ; Li-Dan CUI ; Jian GUO ; Yu-Cai CHEN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(1):155-161
Aim To investigate the effect of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction on transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1 ) -induced endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells ( PMVEC), and further analyze the mechanism related to the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway. Method To construct an EndMT cell model, PMVEC was treated with TGF-β1 (5 μg · L
9. Lycium barbarian seed oil activates Nrf2/ARE pathway to reduce oxidative damage in testis of subacute aging rats
Rui-Ying TIAN ; Wen-Xin MA ; Zi-Yu LIU ; Hui-Ming MA ; Sha-Sha XING ; Na HU ; Chang LIU ; Biao MA ; Jia-Yang LI ; Hu-Jun LIU ; Chang-Cai BAI ; Dong-Mei CHEN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(3):490-498
Aim To explore the effects of Lycium berry seed oil on Nrf2/ARE pathway and oxidative damage in testis of subacute aging rats. Methods Fifty out of 60 male SD rats, aged 8 weeks, were subcutaneously injected with 125 mg • kg"D-galactosidase in the neck for 8 weeks to establish a subacute senescent rat model. The presence of senescent cells was observed using P-galactosidase ((3-gal), while testicular morphology was examined using HE staining. Serum levels of testosterone (testosterone, T), follicle-stimulating hormone ( follicle stimulating hormone, FSH ) , luteinizing hormone ( luteinizing hormone, LH ) , superoxide dis-mutase ( superoxide dismutase, SOD ) , glutathione ( glutathione, GSH) and malondialdehyde ( malondial-dehyde, MDA) were measured through ELISA, and the expressions of factors related to aging, oxidative damage, and the Nrf2/ARE pathway were assessed via immunohistochemical analysis and Western blotting. Results After successfully identifying the model, the morphology of the testis was improved and the intervention of Lycium seed oil led to a down-regulation in the expression of [3-gal and -yH2AX. The serum levels of SOD, GSH, T, and FSH increased while MDA and LH decreased (P 0. 05) . Additionally, there was an up-regulated expression of Nrf2, GCLC, NQOl, and SOD2 proteins in testicular tissue ( P 0. 05 ) and nuclear expression of Nrf2 in sertoli cells. Conclusion Lycium barbarum seed oil may reduce oxidative damage in testes of subacute senescent rats by activating the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway.
10.Mechanism of salvianolic acid B protecting H9C2 from OGD/R injury based on mitochondrial fission and fusion
Zi-xin LIU ; Gao-jie XIN ; Yue YOU ; Yuan-yuan CHEN ; Jia-ming GAO ; Ling-mei LI ; Hong-xu MENG ; Xiao HAN ; Lei LI ; Ye-hao ZHANG ; Jian-hua FU ; Jian-xun LIU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(2):374-381
This study aims to investigate the effect of salvianolic acid B (Sal B), the active ingredient of Salvia miltiorrhiza, on H9C2 cardiomyocytes injured by oxygen and glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) through regulating mitochondrial fission and fusion. The process of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury was simulated by establishing OGD/R model. The cell proliferation and cytotoxicity detection kit (cell counting kit-8, CCK-8) was used to detect cell viability; the kit method was used to detect intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), total glutathione (t-GSH), nitric oxide (NO) content, protein expression levels of mitochondrial fission and fusion, apoptosis-related detection by Western blot. Mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) detection kit and Hoechst 33342 fluorescence was used to observe the opening level of MPTP, and molecular docking technology was used to determine the molecular target of Sal B. The results showed that relative to control group, OGD/R injury reduced cell viability, increased the content of ROS, decreased the content of t-GSH and NO. Furthermore, OGD/R injury increased the protein expression levels of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), mitofusions 2 (Mfn2), Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 3 (caspase 3), and decreased the protein expression levels of Mfn1, increased MPTP opening level. Compared with the OGD/R group, it was observed that Sal B had a protective effect at concentrations ranging from 6.25 to 100 μmol·L-1. Sal B decreased the content of ROS, increased the content of t-GSH and NO, and Western blot showed that Sal B decreased the protein expression levels of Drp1, Mfn2, Bax and caspase 3, increased the protein expression level of Mfn1, and decreased the opening level of MPTP. In summary, Sal B may inhibit the opening of MPTP, reduce cell apoptosis and reduce OGD/R damage in H9C2 cells by regulating the balance of oxidation and anti-oxidation, mitochondrial fission and fusion, thereby providing a scientific basis for the use of Sal B in the treatment of myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury.

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