1.The Role of NEAT1 in Bone and Cartilage Metabolism and Bone Diseases
Rui-Ming WEN ; Rui-Qi HUANG ; Yi-Xing CHANG ; Ke XU ; Xue-Jie YI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(4):930-945
In the process of maintaining the steady state of bone tissue, the transcription network and signal pathway of the body play a vital role. These complex regulatory mechanisms need precise coordination to ensure the balance between bone formation and bone absorption. Once this balance is broken, it may lead to pathological changes of bone and cartilage, and then lead to various bone diseases. Therefore, it is of great significance to understand these regulatory mechanisms for the prevention and treatment of bone diseases. In recent years, with the deepening of research, more and more lncRNA has been found to be closely related to bone health. Among them, nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1), as an extremely abundant RNA molecule in mammalian nuclei, has attracted extensive attention. NEAT1 is mainly transcribed from a specific site in human chromosome 11 by RNA polymerase II (RNaseP), which can form two different subtypes NEAT1_1 and NEAT1_2. These two subtypes are different in intracellular distribution and function, but they participate in many biological processes together. Studies have shown that NEAT1 plays a specific role in the process of cell growth and stress response. For example, it can regulate the development of osteoblasts (OB), osteoclasts (OC) and chondrocytes by balancing the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), thus maintaining the steady state of bone metabolism. This discovery reveals the important role of NEAT1 in bone development and remodeling. In addition, NEAT1 is closely related to a variety of bone diseases. In patients with bone diseases such as osteoporosis (OP), osteoarthritis (OA) and osteosarcoma (OS), the expression level of NEAT1 is different. These differential expressions may be closely related to the pathogenesis and progression of bone diseases. By regulating the level of NEAT1, it can affect a variety of signal transduction pathways, and then affect the development of bone diseases. For example, some studies show that by regulating the expression level of NEAT1, the activity of osteoclasts can be inhibited, and the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts can be promoted, thus improving the symptoms of osteoporosis. It is worth noting that NEAT1 can also be used as a key sensor for the prevention and treatment of bone diseases. When exercising or receiving some natural products, the expression level of NEAT1 will change, thus reflecting the response of bones to external stimuli. This feature makes NEAT1 an important target for studying the prevention and treatment strategies of bone diseases. However, although the role of NEAT1 in bone biology and bone diseases has been initially recognized, its specific mechanism and regulatory relationship are still controversial. For example, the expression level, mode of action and interaction with other molecules of NEAT1 in different bone diseases still need further in-depth study. This paper reviews the role of NEAT1 in maintaining bone and cartilage metabolism, and discusses its expression and function in various bone diseases. By combing the existing research results and controversial points, this paper aims to provide new perspectives and ideas for the prevention and treatment of bone diseases, and provide useful reference and enlightenment for future research.
2.Role and mechanism of caffeic acid in a mouse model of severe acute pancreatitis
Siyu XU ; Tao LIU ; Lulu LAN ; Yining XUE ; Wei WEI ; Yi HAN ; Sucheng MU ; Haiyan SONG ; Shilin DU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(4):722-730
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and potential mechanism of caffeic acid (CA) on severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) induced by caerulein combined with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and to provide a basis for the research on novel drugs for the treatment of SAP. MethodsC57BL/6J mice, aged 6 weeks, were divided into control group, model group, CA group, and octreotide acetate (OA) group, with 6 mice in each group. The mice in the control group were given injection of normal saline, and those in the other groups were given intraperitoneal injection of caerulein combined with LPS to establish a mouse model of SAP. At 1 hour after the first injection of caerulein, the mice in the CA group and the OA group were given intraperitoneal injection of CA or subcutaneous injection of OA at an interval of 8 hours. The general status of the mice was observed after 24 hours of modeling, and serum, pancreas, lung, and colon samples were collected. HE staining was used to observe the histopathological changes of the pancreas and lungs, and the serum levels of α-amylase, lipase, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and creatinine were measured. RT-PCR was used to measure the expression of proinflammatory factors in the pancreas and lungs; myeloperoxidase (MPO) immunohistochemistry was used to observe the degree of neutrophil infiltration; Western blot was used to measure the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and the level of citrullinated histone H3 (CitH3), a marker for the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), in the pancreas and lungs, as well as the expression level of ZO-1 in colon tissue. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups, and the Dunnett’s t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsCompared with the control group, the model group had severe injury in the pancreas and lungs and significant increases in the activity of serum α- amylase and lipase and the levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and TNF-α in serum and lung tissue (all P<0.05), as well as significant increases in NF-κB activation, neutrophil infiltration, and the formation of NETs in the pancreas and lungs (all P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the CA group had alleviated pathological injury of the pancreas and lungs and significant reductions in the activity of serum α-amylase and the levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in serum and lung tissue (all P<0.05), as well as significant reductions in NF-κB activation, neutrophil infiltration, and the formation of NETs in the pancreas and lungs (all P<0.05). ConclusionCA can alleviate SAP induced by caerulein combined with LPS in mice, possibly by inhibiting neutrophil recruitment and the formation of NETs.
3.Effects of Non-invasive Light Flicker on Functional Properties of Primary Visual Cortex in Adult Mice
Xue-Qi LI ; Yi-Feng ZHOU ; Guang-Wei XU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(9):2360-2375
ObjectiveAs the central hub of the classical visual pathway, the primary visual cortex not only encodes and processes visual information but also establishes dense neural circuit connections with higher-order cognitive brain regions. Numerous studies have shown that 40 Hz flicker stimulation can induce γ oscillations in the brain and significantly improve learning and cognitive impairments in patients with neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, flickering light phenomena naturally occur in daily environments. Given that the primary visual cortex serves as the brain’s first cortical hub for receiving visual input, it is essential to comprehensively understand how non-invasive light flicker stimulation modulates its information processing mechanisms. This study systematically investigates the effects of non-invasive light flicker stimulation at different frequencies on the functional properties of neurons in the primary visual cortex of adult mice, aiming to uncover how such stimulation modulates this region and, consequently, affects overall brain function. MethodsThree groups of adult mice (approximately 12 weeks old) were exposed to light flicker stimulation at frequencies of 20 Hz, 40 Hz, and 60 Hz, respectively, for a duration of two months. A control group was exposed to the same light intensity without flickering. Following the stimulation period, in vivo multi-channel electrophysiological recordings were conducted. During these recordings, anesthetized mice were presented with various types of moving sinusoidal light gratings to assess the effects of different flicker frequencies on the functional properties of neurons in the primary visual cortex. ResultsThe experimental results demonstrate that two months of light flicker stimulation at 20 Hz, 40 Hz, and 60 Hz enhances the orientation tuning capabilities of neurons in the primary visual cortex. Specifically, 40 Hz and 60 Hz stimulation improved contrast sensitivity, whereas 20 Hz had no significant effect. Further analysis revealed that all three frequencies reduced neuronal response variability (as measured by the Fano factor), increased the signal-to-noise ratio, and decreased noise correlation (rsc) between neurons. ConclusionNon-invasive light flicker stimulation enhances orientation tuning (e.g., orientation bias index) and contrast sensitivity (e.g., contrast threshold and C50) in neurons of the primary visual cortex. This enhancement is likely due to improved information processing efficiency, characterized by reduced neuronal variability and increased signal-to-noise ratio. These findings suggest that the primary visual cortex can achieve precise and efficient information encoding in complex lighting environments by selectively adapting to different flicker frequencies and optimizing receptive field properties. This study provides new experimental evidence on how various types of light flicker influence visual perception and offers insights into the mechanisms through which specific frequencies enhance brain function.
4.Colorimetric Determination of Antioxidant Capacity by Peroxidase Mimics Based on Ruthenium Nanoparticles Supported on Carbon Nanosheets
Ru-Xue HE ; Peng XU ; Fang-Ning LIU ; Peng-Juan NI ; Yi-Zhong LU
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2024;52(1):45-53,中插5-中插13
Lattice strain ruthenium nanoparticles uniformly and stably supported on nitrogen-modified carbon nanosheets(RuNPs/NC)were prepared via simple wet-chemical and subsequent pyrolysis method.The nitrogen doped NC could effectively improve their uniform dispersion and lattice compression of RuNPs.Through changing the pyrolysis temperature,the nitrogen content,types and degree of lattice strain of RuNPs could be effectively tuned,which could be used to adjust and control their peroxidase-like activity.The as-prepared RuNPs/NC-900 exhibited highest peroxidase-like activity,and could catalyze the oxidation of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine(TMB)to produce a blue product with the maximum absorption at 652 nm in the presence of H2O2.The steady-state kinetic analysis indicated that the reaction catalyzed by RuNPs/NC followed the Michaelis-Menten kinetic model.Tannic acid(TA),gallic acid(GA)and ascorbic acid(AA)could effectively inhibit the RuNPs/NC-H2O2-triggered chromogenic reaction of TMB,resulting in color fading and decrease in absorbance.Based on this,a sensitive and accurate system was constructed for detection of TA,GA and AA.The detection limits(3σ/S)for TA,GA and AA were 0.014,0.014 and 0.29 μmol/L,respectively.This study not only developed a colorimetric sensing method based on RuNPs/NC nanozyme but also offered a new approach for the sensitive detection of antioxidants in food.
5.Expression of PLCD3 mRNA in synovium of osteoarthritis and its relationship with immune cell infiltration
Pu YING ; Zhi ZHENG ; Yue XU ; Ye ZHOU ; Yufan GE ; Yi XUE ; Yiming MIAO
International Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2024;45(2):208-212
Objective To investigate the expression of PLCD3 mRNA in the synovium of osteoarthritis(OA)and its relationship with immune cell infiltration.Methods Based on the differentially expressed genes of OA found in the previous study,the expression of phospholipase Cδ3(PLCD3)mRNA was detected by col-lecting synovial samples from OA group and control group.CIBERSORT algorithm was used to analyze the infiltration pattern of immune cells in OA group and control group,and the correlation between PLCD3 and infiltrating immune cells was further analyzed.Results Compared with the control group,the relative expres-sion level of PLCD3 mRNA was significantly increased in synovial samples of OA group(P<0.05).The pro-portions of B cells naive,NK cells activated,M2 macrophages and mast cells activated in synovial tissues of OA group were relatively high(P<0.05).PLCD3 was positively correlated with the proportion of these four immune cells(P<0.05).Conclusion PLCD3 may be a key biomarker for the diagnosis of OA,which may be involved in the pathogenesis of OA by interacting with infiltrating immune cells.
6.Study on the Effect of Liuwei Dihuang Pills on Regulating the Antigen Cross-Presenting Ability of Dendritic Cells by Interfering with Gap Junctional Communication Function
Yue SONG ; Man-Si XU ; Xue-Ying ZHONG ; Wen-Jing ZHANG ; Xiao-Yi CHEN ; Biao-Yan DU ; Jian-Yong XIAO ; Kun WANG
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;41(1):169-177
Objective To investigate whether Liuwei Dihuang Pills enhances the antigen cross-presenting ability of dendritic cell(DC)by increasing gap junctional intercellular communication(GJIC),and to explore the mechanisms involved.Methods Western Blot and immunofluorescence were used to observe the effects of Liuwei Dihuang Pills-containing serum on the expression and membrane localisation of gap junction protein connexin43(Cx43)in mouse melanoma cells(B16);Calcein-AM/DiI fluorescence tracer assay was used to observe the effects of Liuwei Dihuang Pills-containing serum on the function of GJIC in B16 cells;flow cytometry was used to observe the role of GJIC in the enhancement of DC antigen presenting ability by Liuwei Dihuang Pills-containing serum;and propidium iodide(PI)/Hoechst staining assay was used to observe the immunocidal effect of CD8+ T-lymphocytes.Results Western Blot and immunofluorescence experiments showed that Liuwei Dihuang Pills-containing serum led to the up-regulation of Cx43 expression;fluorescence tracer experiments proved that the GJIC function of B16 cells was significantly enhanced by Liuwei Dihuang Pills-containing serum;flow cytometry analyses showed that the DC antigen-presenting ability was enhanced by Liuwei Dihuang Pills-containing serum;and the results of PI/Hoechst staining showed that the immuno-killing effect of CD8+T-cells was more significant after the intervention of Liuwei Dihuang Pills-containing serum in B16-OVA.Conclusion Liuwei Dihuang Pills improve the GJIC function by up-regulating the Cx43 expression of melanoma cells,and then enhance the cross-presenting ability of DCs thus activating stronger CD8+ T-cell immunocidal responses.
7.Mechanism by which miR-34a-5p/PLCD3 axis regulates osteoarthritis progression
Pu YING ; Yue XU ; Tong LU ; Yi XUE ; Yiming MIAO
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;33(33):5320-5325
BACKGROUND:Molecular mechanisms targeting the miRNA/mRNA axis to regulate osteoarthritis disease process have been studied.We identified the mRNA:phospholipase C delta 3(PLCD3)and its target miRNA(miR-34a-5p)with clinical predictive value through previous bioinformatics studies,while experiments to verify their specific roles and mechanisms in regulating osteoarthritis are still lacking. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the regulatory role and mechanism of miR-34a-5p/PLCD3 axis on osteoarthritis progression. METHODS:The synovium of 15 patients with knee osteoarthritis was selected as the osteoarthritis group,and the synovium of 15 young patients with internal fixation of patellar fracture caused by trauma during the same period was selected as the control group.The expression of PLCD3 and miR-34a-5p in the synovium was detected by real-time PCR.Human fibroblast like synovial cells-osteoarthritis(HFLS-OA)cells were treated by cell transfection and divided into miR-34a-5p mimic group,pCDH-PLCD3 group,miR-34a-5p mimic+pCDH-PLCD3 group,miR-34a-5p inhibitor group,si-PLCD3 group,and miR-34a-5p inhibitor+si-PLCD3 group.The relationship between PLCD3 and miR-34a-5p expression was detected by real-time PCR.The effects of HFLS-OA cell viability and cell migration in each group were detected by CCK-8 assay and cell scratch test.Western blot assay was used to detect the expression level of apoptosis marker protein.The expression of inflammatory factors was detected by ELISA. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)PLCD3 was a direct target of miR-34a-5p,and the expression levels of PLCD3 and miR-34a-5p were negatively correlated.(2)Upregulation of PLCD3 promoted proliferation of HFLS-OA cells and inhibited cell migration.The up-regulation of miR-34a-5p significantly inhibited the activity of HFLS-OA cells and enhanced cell migration.Overexpression of miR-34a-5p significantly increased the levels of Casp3 and Casp9 proteins in HFLS-OA cells,while overexpression of PLCD3 showed the opposite trend.(3)PLCD3 overexpression significantly increased the expression of interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha in HFLS-OA cells,while miR-34a-5p mimics showed protective activity.(4)The miR-34a-5p/PLCD3 axis may affect the progression of osteoarthritis by regulating the inflammatory process or apoptosis of synovial cells.
8.A qualitative study on optimizing influenza vaccination services and strategies for people aged 60 and above in Shanghai
Xiaolan WANG ; Tian YANG ; Caoyi XUE ; Linlin WU ; Yi FEI ; Xiaoguang YANG ; Biao XU
Shanghai Journal of Preventive Medicine 2024;36(10):977-982
ObjectiveTo understand the process and influencing factors affecting the utilization of influenza vaccination services and vaccination decision-making among the elderly in Shanghai, to explore the delivery of influenza vaccination services and the difficulties faced by the health service system, and to provide guidance for optimizing immunization strategies. MethodsBased on the vaccine hesitancy determinants matrix, semi-structured personal interviews were conducted with stakeholders involved in influenza vaccination services in Shanghai from January to February 2024, using a purposive sampling method. Participants were included until thematic saturation was achieved. Interview data were audio-recorded, transcribed, coded, and organized using NVivo 20 software, and analyzed using the thematic framework method. ResultsA total of 25 interviewees were included, including 9 medical staff, 12 elderly people aged 60 and above, and 4 family members. The study found that Shanghai had a well-managed and standardized influenza vaccination service. However, the promotion of vaccine-related information at the grassroots level was passive and limited. Out-of-pocket payment of the vaccine and cultural beliefs of the elderly negatively impacted vaccination rates. Meanwhile, recommendations from family, friends, and medical staff facilitated vaccination, although the impact varied depending on the type of medical staff. Neighborhood committees in townships and streets played a crucial role in delivering vaccination information to the target population. Additionally, the internet, social media, and the COVID-19 vaccine had both positive and negative impacts on influenza vaccination. Strategic optimization of vaccination should prioritize price concessions, enhance publicity strategies, and improve awareness, professionalism, and willingness among medical and healthcare workers to recommend vaccination. ConclusionThe influenza vaccination service in Shanghai is well-managed and standardized. However, it is essential to consider the influence of family and other support systems on the elderly. It is also necessary to enhance the professionalism, service awareness, and willingness to recommend among the medical staff. Furthermore, systematic interventions and publicity efforts should be effectively integrated with social media and the functions of neighborhood committees.
9.Reduced Field of View APT Imaging of Rectum (RAPTOR) at 3T MRI Scanner
Xu-Bin CHAI ; Yi WANG ; Zi-Jun HE ; Ai-Hua LIU ; Rong XUE
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(6):1471-1478
ObjectiveThe chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) technique has become a valuable tool in diagnosing metabolic changes associated with cerebral and systemic diseases, leveraging the calculation of compounds with exchangeable protons in proximity to water molecules. Specifically, the amide proton transfer (APT) CEST technique has shown promise in diagnosing cerebral strokes and tumors by comparing altered endogenous proteins or peptides with normal tissues. Reduced field of view (rFOV) imaging technology has been widely used in the diagnosis of small organ lesions in the body. In this study, we aim to apply the rFOV imaging to identify CEST signals in the rectum, investigating the potential utility of rFOV technique in clinical diagnosis of rectal diseases and providing metabolic insights for chemoradiotherapy. MethodsMRI images of eleven healthy volunteers were acquired using transverse Full_FOV and rFOV CEST imaging on a 3T scanner. The resolution was set at 2.5×2.5×6 mm³ and 1.5×1.5×6 mm³ for Full_FOV or the rFOV method. Saturation powers of 0.7 μT and 2 μT were applied. For the 2 μT saturation, MTRasym at ±3.5 ppm was employed, while for 0.7 μT saturation, Lorentzian difference was used for CEST quantification of the contrast maps and curves. ResultsThe rFOV method has the advantage of halving the scan time while maintaining the same contrast as the Full_FOV method. When compared to Full_FOV methods, rFOV methods exhibited nearly identical Z_spec and very similar MTRasym curves. Additionally, rFOV with a 1.5 mm×1.5 mm in-plane resolution could be achieved in approximately 3 min. rFOV method displayed better structural details for the entire rectum, including CEST contrast maps and quantitative curves. ConclusionCEST MRI proves valuable in diagnosing rectal diseases, and employing the rFOV technique could provide higher spatial and temporal resolution. CEST MRI should be the preferred choice for offering improved diagnostic capabilities with its potential for rectal disease diagnosis.
10.Effect of high-fat diet intake on pharmacokinetics of amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium tablet in healthy Chinese volunteers
Yu-Fang XU ; Hao-Jing SONG ; Bo QIU ; Yi-Ting HU ; Wan-Jun BAI ; Xue SUN ; Bin CAO ; Zhan-Jun DONG
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(4):589-593
Objective To observe the pharmacokinetic effect of amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium tablets on amoxicillin in Chinese healthy subjects under fasting and high fat and high calorie diet.Methods 71 healthy subjects were given a single dose of amoxicillin potassium clavulanate tablets(0.375 g)on fasting or high fat diet,and venous blood samples were collected at different time points.The concentrations of amoxicillin in human plasma were determined by HPLC-MS/MS method,and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by non-atrioventricular model using PhoenixWinNonlin 8.0 software.Results The main pharmacokinetic parameters of amoxicillin potassium clavulanate tablets after fasting and high fat diet were(5 105.00±1 444.00),(4 593.00±1 327.00)ng·mL-1,and postprandial-fasting ratio 89.40%,90%confidence interval(79.55%-100.19%);t1/2 were(1.52±0.16),(1.39±0.22)h;AUC0-t were(12 969.00±1 841.00),(11 577.00±1 663.00)ng·mL-1·h,and postdietary/fasting ratio 89.20%,90%confidence interval(83.92%-94.28%);AUC0-∞ were(13 024.00±1 846.00),(11 532.00±1 545.00)ng·mL-1·h,and postprandial-fasting ratio 88.60%,90%confidence interval(83.48%-93.50%).The median Tmax(range)were 1.63(0.75,3.00)and 2.50(0.75,6.00)h,respectively,and the Tmax of postprandial medication was delayed(P<0.01).Conclusion Compared with fasting condition,amoxicillin Tmax was significantly delayed after high fat diet,while Cmax,AUC0-t and AUC0-∞ were not significantly changed,indicating that food could delay the absorption of amoxicillin,but did not affect the degree of absorption.

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