1.Research progress on NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated regulation of tissue remodeling during orthodontic tooth movement
WANG Jiajia ; ZHANG Jiangtao ; ZENG Fulei
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2025;33(2):169-176
NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome mediates inflammation, induces pyroptosis, and regulates periodontal tissue remodeling through the maturation and secretion of its downstream cysteine protease 1 (Caspase-1)-dependent pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18. Orthodontic force mediates the aseptic inflammation of periodontal tissues and triggers adaptive alteration of periodontal tissues, thereby promoting the movement and stability of orthodontic teeth. NLRP3 inflammasome plays an important role in orthodontic tooth movement and causes periodontal tissue inflammation and orthodontic inflammatory root resorption in orthodontic patients. Literature review suggests that NLRP3 inflammasome is involved in the activation and differentiation of periodontal ligament fibroblasts, periodontal ligament stem cells, macrophages, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts in orthodontic tooth mobile tissue remodeling. Additionally, it targets the upstream nuclear factor kappa-B signaling pathway; downstream effectors, such as Caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18; and the NLRP3 inflammasome components for regulating tooth movement as well as treating and preventing orthodontics-associated periodontitis and orthodontic-induced inflammatory root resorption. Future studies can be focused on the specific mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasome tissue modification during orthodontic tooth movement. This article reviews the effects and regulatory mechanisms of the NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway on the corresponding tissue remodeling during orthodontic tooth movement.
2.Mechanism of Shengmai Injection Against Cerebral Ischemia Based on Proteomics
Jingtong LIU ; Shaowei HU ; Mengli CHANG ; Jing XU ; Qingqing CAI ; Xinghong LI ; Liying TANG ; Huanhuan WANG ; Hongwei WU
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(9):57-67
ObjectiveTo evaluate pharmacological effects of Shengmai injection(SMI)on cerebral ischemia and study its neuroprotective mechanism. MethodsMale specific pathogen-free (SPF) Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a sham group, a model group, a low-dose SMI group(3 mL·kg-1), a middle-dose SMI group(6 mL·kg-1), a high-dose SMI group(12 mL·kg-1), and a Ginaton group(4 mL·kg-1)according to the random number table method, with 12 rats in each group. The rat model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion(MCAO/R)was prepared via the suture method. The administration groups were intraperitoneally injected with corresponding concentrations of SMI or Ginaton injection after reperfusion, which was conducted for 3 consecutive days. The sham group and model group were administered the equivalent volume of physiological saline. The pharmacological effects of SMI on brain injury in MCAO/R rats were evaluated by neurological function scores, cerebral infarction area, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, Nissl staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining, and Western blot. The dominant link and key protein of SMI treating cerebral injury were explored using proteomic analysis. The related mechanisms of SMI were further validated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot, and chloride ion fluorescence probe with oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation(OGD/R)-treated PC12 cells and MCAO/R rats. ResultsCompared with the sham group, the model group showed significantly increased neurological function scores, cerebral infarction area, neuronal apoptosis rate, and expression levels of apoptosis related proteins (P<0.05, P<0.01)and significantly decreased density of Nissl bodies and neurons(P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the SMI groups exhibited significantly decreased neurological function scores, cerebral infarction area, neuronal apoptosis rate, and expression levels of apoptosis related proteins (P<0.05, P<0.01)and significantly increased density of Nissl bodies and neurons (P<0.05). The proteomic analysis results showed that oxidative stress and inflammatory response were important processes of SMI intervening in MCAO/R injury, and the chloride intracellular channel protein 1 (CLIC1) was one of key proteins in its action network. The levels of representative indicators of oxidative stress and inflammatory response in the MCAO/R rats of the SMI groups were significantly reduced, compared with those in the model group(P<0.05, P<0.01), and the expression levels of CLIC1 and downstream NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) decreased (P<0.01). In addition, the experimental results based on the OGD/R PC12 cells showed that SMI significantly increased the cell survival rate(P<0.01) and significantly decreased the intracellular chloride ion concentration(P<0.05). ConclusionSMI has neuroprotective effects. Oxidative stress and inflammatory response are key processes of SMI intervening in MCAO/R injury. The potential mechanism is closely related to the regulation of CLIC1.
3.Advances in Mouse Models of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Lianlian LUO ; Yanchun YUAN ; Junling WANG ; Guangsen SHI
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2025;45(3):290-299
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an irreversible, fatal neurodegenerative disorder whose incidence is positively correlated with the aging population. ALS is characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness, atrophy, and ultimately respiratory failure. The pathogenesis of ALS involves multiple factors, including genetic and environmental influences, with genetic factors playing a particularly significant role. To date, several causative genes have been identified in ALS, such as the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase 1 (Cu/Zn SOD1, also known as SOD1) gene, transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) gene, fused in sarcoma (FUS) gene, and chromosome open reading frame 72 (C9orf72). Mutations in these genes have been found not only in familial ALS but also in sporadic ALS. Based on the identified ALS risk genes, various ALS animal models have been established through multiple approaches, including transgenic models, gene knockout/knock-in models, and adeno-associated virus-mediated overexpression models. These models simulate some typical pathological features of human ALS, such as motor neuron loss, ubiquitinated inclusions, and neuromuscular junction degeneration. However, these models still have limitations: (1) single-gene mutation models are insufficient to fully replicate the complex multi-factorial pathogenesis of sporadic ALS; (2) significant differences in microenvironmental regulation mechanisms and the rate of neurodegeneration between model organisms and humans may affect the accurate reproduction of disease phenotypes and the reliable evaluation of drug efficacy. To better understand the pathogenesis of ALS and promote the development of effective therapies, constructing and optimizing ALS animal models is crucial. This review aims to summarize commonly used ALS gene mutation mouse models, analyze their phenotypes and pathological characteristics, including transgenic mouse models, gene knockout/knock-in mouse models, and adeno-associated virus-mediated overexpression mouse models, and further discuss their specific applications in ALS pathogenesis research and drug development by comparing the advantages and limitations of each model.
4.Advances in Mouse Models of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Lianlian LUO ; Yanchun YUAN ; Junling WANG ; Guangsen SHI
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2025;45(3):290-299
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an irreversible, fatal neurodegenerative disorder whose incidence is positively correlated with the aging population. ALS is characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness, atrophy, and ultimately respiratory failure. The pathogenesis of ALS involves multiple factors, including genetic and environmental influences, with genetic factors playing a particularly significant role. To date, several causative genes have been identified in ALS, such as the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase 1 (Cu/Zn SOD1, also known as SOD1) gene, transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) gene, fused in sarcoma (FUS) gene, and chromosome open reading frame 72 (C9orf72). Mutations in these genes have been found not only in familial ALS but also in sporadic ALS. Based on the identified ALS risk genes, various ALS animal models have been established through multiple approaches, including transgenic models, gene knockout/knock-in models, and adeno-associated virus-mediated overexpression models. These models simulate some typical pathological features of human ALS, such as motor neuron loss, ubiquitinated inclusions, and neuromuscular junction degeneration. However, these models still have limitations: (1) single-gene mutation models are insufficient to fully replicate the complex multi-factorial pathogenesis of sporadic ALS; (2) significant differences in microenvironmental regulation mechanisms and the rate of neurodegeneration between model organisms and humans may affect the accurate reproduction of disease phenotypes and the reliable evaluation of drug efficacy. To better understand the pathogenesis of ALS and promote the development of effective therapies, constructing and optimizing ALS animal models is crucial. This review aims to summarize commonly used ALS gene mutation mouse models, analyze their phenotypes and pathological characteristics, including transgenic mouse models, gene knockout/knock-in mouse models, and adeno-associated virus-mediated overexpression mouse models, and further discuss their specific applications in ALS pathogenesis research and drug development by comparing the advantages and limitations of each model.
5.Exploration of the practical path of integrating red doctor culture into ideological and political education in medical colleges and universities
Yang SHEN ; Li WANG ; Zailei ZHANG
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(7):890-896
The Master Plan on Building China into a Leading Country in Education (2024-2035) has made important arrangements for“expanding the space and battlefield for practical and online education”and“fully utilizing the educational function of red resources”. Red medicine culture is a cultural system with strong vitality and excellent genes created by the people led by the CPC in the process of creating health care undertakings. In the context of the new era, how to effectively promote the integration of red medicine culture into the ideological and political education in medical colleges and universities to enhance medical students’ sense of professional identity, responsibility, and mission has become a key issue in the current medical education reform. By analyzing the necessity and basic principles of integrating red doctor culture into ideological and political education in medical colleges and universities, a practical path based on the “three horizontal integrations and three vertical dimensions” model was proposed. Specifically, this involves horizontally promoting textbook construction, classroom teaching, and ideological and political practice, while vertically deepening pre-class preparation, classroom teaching reform, and post-class evaluation, thereby building a systematic and operational red doctor culture integration system as well as providing theoretical support and practical guidance for the cultivation of medical talents in the new era.
6.Clinical and pathological analysis of pulmonary endometriosis: Three cases report
Dan YUAN ; Jinhua XIA ; Qing JI ; Jinjing WANG
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2025;32(06):882-886
Pulmonary endometriosis (PEM) is a rare disease with diverse clinical manifestations, most commonly presenting as hemoptysis, while patients presenting solely with pulmonary nodules are less common. Here, we report three female patients (aged 32, 19, and 46 years, respectively). One patient sought medical attention due to hemoptysis during menstruation, while the other two had no obvious symptoms and were found to have pulmonary nodules during routine physical examinations. Two patients had a history of cesarean section, and one had a history of miscarriage. Pathologically, one patient of PEM showed extensive hemorrhage in the alveolar spaces, with fragmented endometrial glandular epithelium observed within the hemorrhagic foci. The other two patients exhibited proliferative endometrial glands and stroma, surrounded by old hemorrhage. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the endometrial glands and stroma in all three patients were positive for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and vimentin, with CD10 positivity in the endometrial stroma. All three patients were definitively diagnosed as PEM by pathology and underwent thoracoscopic pulmonary wedge resection. Follow-up periods were 18, 31, and 49 months, respectively, with no recurrence observed in any of the patients.
7.Effect and mechanism of dabrafenib combined with tremelimumab on melanoma
Xiaosong WANG ; Yunjiao LIU ; Jin ZHOU ; Qianqian ZHANG ; Lingjie MENG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice and Service 2025;43(10):496-502
Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of dabrafenib (DAB) combined with tremelimumab (TREM) on melanoma. Methods The effects of DAB combined with TREM on cell viability, cytotoxicity and cell migration of A375 cells were evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) method, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) method and scratch assay. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were detected to evaluate the effects of combined drugs on oxidative stress and energy metabolism. In addition, A375 tumor-bearing nude mice model was used to evaluate the inhibitory effect of the combined treatment on tumor growth in vivo, and the degree of cell apoptosis and cell proliferation in tumor tissues were analyzed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dutP Nick end labeling (TUNEL) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunohistochemical staining. Results The combined treatment significantly inhibited the survival rate and migration ability of A375 cells and enhanced the cytotoxicity. The combined intervention also significantly increased ROS level, decreased ATP, SOD and MDA levels. It effectively inhibited tumor growth in tumor-bearing nude mice, increased the apoptosis rate of tumor cells and inhibited cell proliferation. Conclusion DAB combined with TREM may improve the therapeutic effect of melanoma by enhancing oxidative stress, inhibiting energy metabolism, and promoting cell apoptosis. This combination therapy may provide a new therapeutic strategy to overcome the limitations of singledrug therapy.
8.Research advances in the immunomodulatory mechanism of galectin-9 and its role in liver diseases
Jun LING ; Bing ZHU ; Weiwei CHEN ; Zhuoran WANG ; Limei YU ; Shaoli YOU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2024;40(1):193-198
Galectin-9 (Gal-9) is a member of the galectin family that can specifically recognize and bind to galactosides. Recent studies have shown that Gal-9 is highly expressed in the liver and can help to maintain intrahepatic immune homeostasis and perform biological functions in various liver diseases. This article reviews the immunomodulatory functions of Gal-9 and its role in different liver diseases. Studies have shown that Gal-9 has important biological functions in different liver diseases through multiple pathways. Research on the specific immunomodulatory mechanisms and functions of Gal-9 may help to discover the therapeutic role of Gal-9 in liver diseases.
9.Pathogenesis of liver injury caused by antiviral drugs for coronavirus disease 2019
Xue ZENG ; Fuqing LI ; Qingqing LI ; Hong WANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2024;40(2):402-407
Drug-induced liver injury is caused by the drug itself and/or its metabolites during drug use or occurs due to hypersensitivity or reduced tolerance to the drug in a particular body type. In the last three years of the diagnosis and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), antiviral drugs have played a very important role, but there are many reports on liver injury caused by anti-COVID-19 drugs in China and globally, with unknown pathogenesis of liver injury caused by such drugs. This article reviews the research advances in the types of antiviral drugs for COVID-19 and their mechanism in inducing liver injury, in order to promote the rational use of antiviral drugs.
10.Mechanism of ginkgo flavonoid aglycone against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity
Ying CAI ; Li QIAN ; Kailiang WANG ; Qin LI ; Chunhua LIU ; Jia SUN ; Jie PAN ; Yongjun LI ; Yuan LU
China Pharmacy 2024;35(6):659-664
OBJECTIVE To investigate the potential mechanism of the effect of ginkgo flavone aglycone (GA) against doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity. METHODS The male ICR mice were randomized into control group (CON group), model group (DOX group) and GA+DOX group (GDOX group), with 12 mice in each group. The DOX group was injected with DOX solution at a dose of 3 mg/kg via tail vein every other day, and the GDOX group was given GA suspension intragastrically at a dose of 100 mg/kg every day+DOX solution at a dose of 3 mg/kg via tail vein every other day, for 15 consecutive days. After the end of administration, the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase(AST), creatine kinase(CK), creatine kinase isoenzyme(CK- MB) and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) in mice were detected in each group. Based on the metabolomics method, UHPLC-Q- Exactive Orbitrap HRMS method was used; based on principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares- discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), the differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were screened using the criteria of variable importance in the projection≥1, fold change of peak area>1 and P<0.05; biological analysis was conducted based on databases such as HMDB and PubChem. RESULTS Compared with CON group, serum levels of AST, CK, CK-MB and LDH were increased significantly in DOX group (P<0.05); compared with DOX group, the serum levels of the above indicators (except for CK-MB) were decreased significantly in GDOX group (P<0.05). PCA and OPLS-DA showed that myocardial tissue samples of CON group, DOX group and GDOX group were isolated completely. After database matching, 37 common DEMs were identified, among which 17 DEMs were significantly up-regulated in the DOX group and significantly down- regulated in the GDOX group, and 8 DEMs were significantly down-regulated in the DOX group and significantly up-regulated in the GDOX group; pathway enrichment involved the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, arachidonic acid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism; the key metabolites in the above pathways included docosahexaenoic acid, arachidonic acid, phosphatidylcholine (16∶0/18∶3) and taurine. CONCLUSIONS GA may regulate the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, arachidonic acid metabolism and other metabolic pathways by acting on the core metabolites such as docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid, thus alleviating the cardiotoxic effects of DOX.


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