Role of Ferroptosis in Bone Homeostasis and Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Osteoporosis （OP） is a systemic metabolic bone disease characterized by bone microstructure degeneration and bone mass loss， which has a high prevalence and disability rate. Effective prevention and treatment of OP is a major difficulty in the medical community. The nature of OP is that multiple pathological factors lead to the imbalance of human bone homeostasis maintained by osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic cell death pathway， and its fundamental cause is cell damage caused by iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation. Studies have shown that ferroptosis is involved in and affects the occurrence and development of OP， which leads to OP by mediating the imbalance of bone homeostasis. Ferroptosis is an adjustable form of programmed cell death. The intervention of ferroptosis can regulate the damage degree and death process of osteoblasts and osteoclasts， which is beneficial to maintain bone homeostasis， slow down the development process of OP， improve the clinical symptoms of patients， reduce the risk of disability， and improve their quality of life. However， there are few studies on ferroptosis in OP. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） is a medical treasure with unique characteristics and great application value in China. It has been widely used in China and has a long history. It has the multi-target and multi-pathway advantages in the treatment of OP， with high safety， few toxic and side effects， and low treatment cost， and has a significant effect in clinical application. The intervention of TCM in ferroptosis to regulate bone homeostasis may be a new direction for the prevention and treatment of OP in the future. This article summarized the regulatory mechanisms related to ferroptosis， discussed the role of ferroptosis in bone homeostasis， and reviewed the current status and progress of active ingredients in TCM compounds and monomers in the regulation of OP through ferroptosis， so as to provide a theoretical basis for the participation of TCM in the prevention and treatment of OP in the future.

Anti-aging Effect of Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma：A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma（GRR） has the function of replenishing vital energy and can lighten the body and prolong the life when taken for a long time， which is suitable for the development of anti-aging products， so this paper intends to sort out the progress of anti-aging research on GRR. After combing， the results of modern studies have shown that a variety of components in GRR have anti-aging effect， which can prolong the lifespan of aging animal models， as well as delay the aging of various systems. The anti-aging mechanisms mainly include anti-cellular senescence， anti-oxidative stress， inhibiting telomere shortening， maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis and so on. The anti-aging ingredients of GRR involved in the researches mainly include ginsenoside Rg1 and ginsenoside Rb1， in addition， ginsenoside Rg3， ginsenoside Rd， ginsenoside Rg2， ginsenoside Re， ginsenoside Rb2， oligosaccharides of GRR， polysaccharides of GRR， water extract of GRR， total saponins of Panax ginseng stems and leaves are also included. Therefore， under current background of population aging， the in-depth development of GRR and its transformation into anti-aging products are of great significance for delaying senility and improving the health conditions of aging population.

The regulatory mechanism of physiological sleep-wake / 中国药理学通报

This paper explains the mechanism of the mutual switching between physiological sleep and wakefulness from the aspects of the sleep circadian system and the sleep homeostasis system. In the circadian rhythm system, with the suprachiasmatic nucleus as the core, the anatomical connections between the suprachiasmatic nucleusand various systems that affect sleep are summarized, starting from the suprachiasmatic nucleus, passing through the four pathways of the melatonin system, namely, subventricular area of the hypothalamus, the ventrolateral nucleus of the preoptic area, orexin neurons, and melatonin, then the related mechanisms of their regulation of sleep and wakefulness are expounded. In the sleep homeostasis system, with adenosine and prostaglandin D2 as targets, the role of hypnogen in sleep arousal mechanisms in regulation is also expounded.

Broad-spectrum ginsentides are principal bioactives in unraveling the cure-all effects of ginseng

Stress and illness connection is complex and involves multiple physiological systems. Panax ginsengs, reputed for their broad-spectrum "cure-all" effect, are widely prescribed to treat stress and related illnesses. However, the identity of ginseng's "cure-all" medicinal compounds that relieve stress remains unresolved. Here, we identify ginsentides as the principal bioactives that coordinate multiple systems to restore homeostasis in response to stress. Ginsentides are disulfide-rich, cell-penetrating and proteolytic-stable microproteins. Using affinity-enrichment mass spectrometry target identification together with in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo validations, we show that highly purified or synthetic ginsentides promote vasorelaxation by producing nitric oxide through endothelial cells via intracellular PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, alleviate α1-adrenergic receptor overactivity by reversing phenylephrine-induced constriction of aorta, decrease monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells via CD166/ESAM/CD40 and inhibit P2Y12 receptors to reduce platelet aggregation. Orally administered ginsentides were effective in animal models to reduce ADP-induced platelet aggregation, to prevent collagen and adrenaline-induced pulmonary thrombosis as well as anti-stress behavior of tail suspension and forced swimming tests in mice. Together, these results strongly suggest that ginsentides are the principal panacea compounds of ginsengs because of their ability to target multiple extra- and intra-cellular proteins to reverse stress-induced damages.

Metabolic basis of solute carrier transporters in treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Solute carriers (SLCs) constitute the largest superfamily of membrane transporter proteins. These transporters, present in various SLC families, play a vital role in energy metabolism by facilitating the transport of diverse substances, including glucose, fatty acids, amino acids, nucleotides, and ions. They actively participate in the regulation of glucose metabolism at various steps, such as glucose uptake (e.g., SLC2A4/GLUT4), glucose reabsorption (e.g., SLC5A2/SGLT2), thermogenesis (e.g., SLC25A7/UCP-1), and ATP production (e.g., SLC25A4/ANT1 and SLC25A5/ANT2). The activities of these transporters contribute to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Notably, SLC5A2 has emerged as a valid drug target for T2DM due to its role in renal glucose reabsorption, leading to groundbreaking advancements in diabetes drug discovery. Alongside SLC5A2, multiple families of SLC transporters involved in the regulation of glucose homeostasis hold potential applications for T2DM therapy. SLCs also impact drug metabolism of diabetic medicines through gene polymorphisms, such as rosiglitazone (SLCO1B1/OATP1B1) and metformin (SLC22A1-3/OCT1-3 and SLC47A1, 2/MATE1, 2). By consolidating insights into the biological activities and clinical relevance of SLC transporters in T2DM, this review offers a comprehensive update on their roles in controlling glucose metabolism as potential drug targets.

Refractory Rickets

Nutritional rickets, caused by vitamin D and/or calcium deficiency is by far the most common cause of rickets. In resource-limited settings, it is therefore not uncommon to treat rickets with vitamin D and calcium. If rickets fails to heal and/or if there is a family history of rickets, then refractory rickets should be considered as a differential diagnosis. Chronic low serum phosphate is the pathological hallmark of all forms of rickets as its low concentration in extracellular space leads to the failure of apoptosis of hypertrophic chondrocytes leading to defective mineralisation of the growth plate. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) control serum phosphate concentration by facilitating the excretion of phosphate in the urine through their action on the proximal renal tubules. An increase in PTH, as seen in nutritional rickets and genetic disorders of vitamin D-dependent rickets (VDDRs), leads to chronic low serum phosphate, causing rickets. Genetic conditions leading to an increase in FGF23 concentration cause chronic low serum phosphate concentration and rickets. Genetic conditions and syndromes associated with proximal renal tubulopathies can also lead to chronic low serum phosphate concentration by excess phosphate leak in urine, causing rickets. In this review, authors discuss an approach to the differential diagnosis and management of refractory rickets

Sistema glinfático: aspectos anatómicos, fisiológicos e implicaciones clínicas / Glymphatic system: Anatomo-physiological principles and their clinical implications

Introducción: El sistema glinfático comprende el conjunto de rutas perivasculares tanto arteriales como venosas que se encuentran en estrecha asociación con células astrogliales y que permiten la interacción entre el líquido cefalorraquídeo (LCR) y el líquido intersticial cerebral (LIC), para llevar a cabo procesos como la depuración de los metabolitos de desecho celular, o la distribución de nutrientes, así como contribuir al metabolismo cerebral local, la transmisión de volumen y la señalización paracrina cerebral. Contenidos: Este artículo busca profundizar en los conceptos anatómicos y fisiológicos, hasta el momento descritos, sobre este sistema macroscópico de transporte. Se realiza una búsqueda bibliográfica de revisiones y estudios experimentales sobre la anatomía, la fisiología y las implicaciones fisiopatológicas del sistema glinfático. Conclusiones: La identificación anatómica y funcional del sistema glinfático ha ampliado el conocimiento sobre la regulación del metabolismo cerebral en cuanto a distribución de nutrientes y cascadas de señalización celular. Al establecer una interacción entre el espacio subaracnoideo subyacente y el espacio intersticial cerebral, el sistema glinfático surge como uno de los mecanismos protagonistas de la homeostasis cerebral. La disfunción de esta vía hace parte de los mecanismos fisiopatológicos de múltiples trastornos neurológicos, ya sea por la acumulación de macromoléculas, como ocurre en la enfermedad de Alzheimer, o por la reducción del drenaje de sustancias químicas y citocinas proinflamatorias en patologías como la migraña o el trauma craneoencefálico.

Introduction: The glympathic system comprises the set of perivascular routes, arterials or venous, that are found in close relationship with astroglial cells and allow interaction between the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the interstitial brain fluid (ISF), to carry processes like cell-wasting metabolites depuration, nutrients distribution, as well as make a contribution in the local brain metabolism, volumen transmition and brain paracrine signaling. Contents: This article seeks to deepen in the anatomical and physiological concepts, so far described, about this macroscopic transport system. A bibliographic search of reviews and experimental studies on the anatomy, physiology and pathophysiological implications of the glymphatic system is carried out. Conclusions: Anatomical and functional identification of glympathic system has broaden the knowledge about regulation of brain metabolism on the nutrients distribution and cell signaling cascades. When setting an interaction between the subarachnoid space and the brain interstitial space, the glymphatic system arise as one of the leading mechanisms of brain homeostasis. Disfunction of this pathway makes part of the patophysiological mechanisms of multiple neurological disease, either be by collection of macromolecules as in Alzheimer's disease, or by the reduction of inflammatory cytokines and chemical substances drainage as in migraine or traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Status of Serum Magnesium in Different Stages of CKD Patients: A Tertiary Care Hospital Study in Bangladesh

Background: In chronic kidney disease (CKD), renal regulatory mechanisms may be insufficient to balance intestinal magnesium absorption hence insufficient to maintain homeostasis. But related data are relatively sparse and not readily available, especially in Bangladesh context. Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to assess the pattern of serum magnesium level in different stages of CKD patients. Material & Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Medicine and the Department of Nephrology, Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) for nine months’ period. Approval for the study was taken from the ethical review committee of DMC before the commencement of the study. Diagnosed patients of chronic kidney disease (CKD) were approached for the inclusion of the study. Informed written consent was taken from each patient. All patients were subjected to detailed history taking, physical examination, and relevant investigations. For the study purpose, serum magnesium was done for all patients. Results: After compiling data from all participants, statistical analysis was performed using the statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 22 for windows, and a p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Mean age of the patients was 53 years with male predominance (male 64% vs female 36%). Of all, 6.7% of cases had hypomagnesemia and 55.3% had hypermagnesemia. The mean serum magnesium level was 2.68±0.81 mg/dl. Assessment of serum magnesium in a different stages of CKD showed that hypermagnesemia is associated with higher staging (p<0.05), and there is a negative correlation between lower e-GFR with serum magnesium ((r=-0.753, p<0.01). Conclusion: Nearly two-third of CKD patients were found with altered magnesium level in the form of hypomagnesemia or hypermagnesemia in this study. Serum magnesium was found increased in higher stages of CKD. That means serum magnesium level increases along with higher stage of the disease. Urinary magnesium excretion also decreases when eGFR of patient decreased.

Morphological Effects of Cigarette Smoking on Respiratory System and Related Functions Based on AQPs Expression

SUMMARY: A great deal of attention of air pollution on respiratory health is increasing, particularly in relation to haze days. It is that exposure to cigarette smoke augments the toxicity of common air contaminants, thereby increasing the complexity of respiratory diseases. Although there are various mechanisms involved to respiratory diseases caused or worsen by cigarette smoking, in which the role of AQPs in the lung with regard to fluid homeostasis still remains elusive. In this paper, we copied the rat models based on smoke generator, and investigated the morphological changes of mucosa and related functions depending on the balance of lining liquid of alveoli via AQPs expression. Compared with normal group, weak labelling of AQP1 and AQP5 protein abundance were clearly detected in the corresponding part of smoke exposure groups compared with normal group. Hence, it is suggested that the contribution of AQPs in the lung is diminished, thereby causing perturbed balancing between resorptive and secretory fluid homeostasis under cigarette smoking.

Cada vez se presta más atención a la contaminación del aire en la salud respiratoria, particularmente, en relación con los días de neblina. En consecuencia la exposición al humo del cigarrillo aumenta la toxicidad de los contaminantes comunes del aire, lo que además aumenta la complejidad de las enfermedades respiratorias. Aunque existen varios mecanismos involucrados en las enfermedades respiratorias causadas o empeoradas por el tabaquismo, en las que el papel de las AQP en el pulmón respecto a la homeostasis de líquidos sigue siendo difícil de alcanzar. En este artículo, copiamos los modelos de rata basados en el generador de humo e investigamos los cambios morfológicos de la mucosa y las funciones relacionadas según el equilibrio del líquido de revestimiento de los alvéolos a través de la expresión de AQP. En comparación con el grupo normal, se detectó claramente un etiquetado débil de la abundancia de proteínas AQP1 y AQP5 en la parte correspondiente de los grupos de exposición al humo en comparación con el grupo control. Por lo tanto, se sugiere que la contribución de las AQP en el pulmón está disminuida, provocando así un equilibrio perturbado entre la homeostasis del líquido secretor y de reabsorción bajo el hábito de fumar cigarrillos.

The threshold value for identifying insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in an admixed adolescent population: A hyperglycemic clamp validated study

ABSTRACT Objectives: To validate the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) of insulin resistance (IR) as a surrogate to the hyperglycemic clamp to measure IR in both pubertal and postpubertal adolescents, and determine the HOMA-IR cutoff values for detecting IR in both pubertal stages. Subjects and methods: The study sample comprised 80 adolescents of both sexes (aged 10-18 years; 37 pubertal), in which IR was assessed with the HOMA-IR and the hyperglycemic clamp. Results: In the multivariable linear regression analysis, adjusted for sex, age, and waist circumference, the HOMA-IR was independently and negatively associated with the clamp-derived insulin sensitivity index in both pubertal (unstandardized coefficient - B = −0.087, 95% confidence interval [CI] = −0.135 to −0.040) and postpubertal (B = −0.101, 95% CI, −0.145 to −0.058) adolescents. Bland-Altman plots showed agreement between the predicted insulin sensitivity index and measured clamp-derived insulin sensitivity index in both pubertal stages (mean = −0.00 for pubertal and postpubertal); all P > 0.05. The HOMA-IR showed a good discriminatory power for detecting IR with an area under the receiver operator characteristic curve of 0.870 (95% CI, 0.718-0.957) in pubertal and 0.861 (95% CI, 0.721-0.947) in postpubertal adolescents; all P < 0.001. The optimal cutoff values of the HOMA-IR for detecting IR were > 3.22 (sensitivity, 85.7; 95% CI, 57.2-98.2; specificity, 82.6; 95% CI, 61.2-95.0) for pubertal and > 2.91 (sensitivity, 63.6; 95% CI, 30.8-89.1, specificity, 93.7; 95%CI, 79.2-99.2) for postpubertal adolescents. Conclusion: The threshold value of the HOMA-IR for identifying insulin resistance was > 3.22 for pubertal and > 2.91 for postpubertal adolescents.

Protective mechanism of Yinchenzhufu decoction against cholestatic liver injury induced by lithic acid based on network pharmacology / 药学学报

Yinchenzhufu decoction (YCZFD) is a classic formula for treating Yin Huang syndrome, which can improve liver injury caused by cholestasis. However, the mechanism of action of YCZFD still remains unclear. This article used network pharmacology, molecular docking, animal experiments, and molecular biology methods to explore the mechanism of YCZFD in treating liver injury caused by cholestasis. A mouse model of acute cholestasis induced by lithocholic acid was used to investigate the effects of YCZFD on liver injury. The experimental procedures described in this paper were reviewed and approved by the Ethical Committee at the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (approval NO. PZSHUTCM190823002). The results showed that YCZFD could reduce the levels of blood biochemical indicators and improve hepatocyte damage of cholestatic mice. Then, multiple databases were used to predict the corresponding targets of YCZFD active components on cholestatic liver injury. An intersection target protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks based on String database and Cytoscape software was used to demonstrate the possible core targets of YCZFD against cholestatic liver injury. The results indicated that core targets of YCZFD include tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-1β, non-receptor tyrosine kinase Src, interleukin-6, etc. GO (gene ontology) and KEGG (kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes) enrichment analysis indicated that YCZFD may regulate the tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway, bile secretion, and other related factors to ameliorate the cholestatic liver injury. AutoDockTools software was used to perform molecular docking verification on the core targets and components of YCZFD. To verify the results of network pharmacology, UPLC-MS/MS method was used to determine the effect of YCZFD on levels of bile acid profiles in mouse liver tissues. It was found that treatment with YCZFD significantly reduced the content of free bile acids, taurine bound bile acids, and total bile acids in the liver tissues of cholestatic mice. Then, results from real time PCR and Western blot also found that YCZFD can upregulate the expression of hepatic nuclear receptor farnesoid X receptor, metabolizing enzyme (UDP glucuronidase transferase 1a1), and efflux transporters (bile salt export pump, multidrug resistance-associated protein 2, multidrug resistance-associated protein 3, etc) in cholestasis mice, promote bile acid metabolism and excretion, and improve bile acid homeostasis. Moreover, YCZFD can also inhibit pyroptosis and inflammation by regulating NOD-like receptors 3 pathway, thereby inhibiting cholestatic liver injury.

Mechano-Chemical Coupling in Living Organisms and Possible Road Map of Mechanomedicine / 医用生物力学

In view of fundamental challenges to the current life and medical researches, this paper analyzes the mechano-chemical coupling behaviors of living organisms at molecular, sub-cellular, cellular and tissue levels, attempting to explain the quantitative relationships in those mechano-chemical coupling behaviors at different scales. These quantitative relationships show that the structures of living organisms at various scales are closely related to their tensional homeostasis, i. e. , the structural changes will inevitably lead to the changes of tensional homeostasis; Conversely, the changes of the tensional homeostasis will inevitably lead to structural changes. The tensional homeostasis in living organisms stems from contractile force in actin cytoskeleton generated by the action of myosin II at molecular level, and the tensional homeostasis at higher structural levels is realized with the help of hierarchical structures of the living organisms. Therefore, the mechano-chemical coupling mechanisms and their corresponding quantitative relationships inspire scientists to develop a new way of understanding and dealing with diseases, called as mechanomedicine. Finally, the paper discusses possible ways / road maps of mechanomedicine to understand and treat diseases, in order to provide diagnostic and therapeutic ideas for this new medical paradigm.

Prevention and Treatment of NAFLD with Traditional Chinese Medicine Monomers by Regulating AMPK Pathway： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD） is a chronic liver disease with complex and diverse pathogenesis， and there is no effective treatment or specific drugs for its clinical treatment. In recent years， its incidence has been on the rise， and it has become the earnest expectation of medical researchers in China and abroad that related patients could be treated. AMP-activated protein kinase （AMPK） functions to regulate cellular energy homeostasis and mitochondrial homeostasis. When activated， it has a good intervention effect on NAFLD progression with lipid metabolism disorders and mitochondrial homeostasis disorders. For NAFLD， the activation of AMPK can inhibit the production of new lipogenesis in the liver， promote the oxidation of fatty acids in the liver， and enhance the mitochondrial function of adipose tissues. As a key target of metabolic diseases， AMPK can also improve apoptosis， liver fibrosis， autophagy， and inflammation. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） is good at treating diseases from multiple targets and multiple pathways and is also commonly used in the treatment of chronic liver disease in clinical practice. A large number of in vitro and in vivo experimental studies on NAFLD have shown that TCM monomers have good prospects for the treatment of NAFLD through the AMPK signaling pathway， including glycosides， phenols， alkaloids， flavonoids， quinones， terpenoids， and lignans， which are natural activators of AMPK. This study reviewed the research progress on TCM monomers in regulating the AMPK pathway to prevent and treat NAFLD， providing a broader perspective for TCM treatment of NAFLD.

The role of sinusoidal endothelial cells in liver injury: a review / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) locate on the surface of hepatic sinusoids. As the first line of defense between the liver and blood, LSECs are the most abundant non-parenchymal cells in the liver. Under physiological conditions, LSECs may induce liver immune tolerance through participating in substance transport and metabolic waste removal, thereby maintaining liver homeostasis, and under pathological conditions, LSECs may promote liver immune response via antigen presentation. LSECs have been found to play a crucial regulatory role in maintaining the balance between liver regeneration and liver fibrosis. This article reviews the progress of researches on LSECs functions, LSECs changes in liver injury, signal pathways associated with regulation of LSECs functions, and the interaction between LSECs and other types of cells in the liver, aiming to elucidate the function of LSECs and their roles in liver diseases.

Research progress on the role of chondrocyte mitochondrial homeostasis imbalance in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis / 中国修复重建外科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To summarize the role of chondrocyte mitochondrial homeostasis imbalance in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA) and analyze its application prospects.@*METHODS@#The recent literature at home and abroad was reviewed to summarize the mechanism of mitochondrial homeostasis imbalance, the relationship between mitochondrial homeostasis imbalance and the pathogenesis of OA, and the application prospect in the treatment of OA.@*RESULTS@#Recent studies have shown that mitochondrial homeostasis imbalance, which is caused by abnormal mitochondrial biogenesis, the imbalance of mitochondrial redox, the imbalance of mitochondrial dynamics, and damaged mitochondrial autophagy of chondrocytes, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of OA. Abnormal mitochondrial biogenesis can accelerate the catabolic reaction of OA chondrocytes and aggravate cartilage damage. The imbalance of mitochondrial redox can lead to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), inhibit the synthesis of extracellular matrix, induce ferroptosis and eventually leads to cartilage degradation. The imbalance of mitochondrial dynamics can lead to mitochondrial DNA mutation, decreased adenosine triphosphate production, ROS accumulation, and accelerated apoptosis of chondrocytes. When mitochondrial autophagy is damaged, dysfunctional mitochondria cannot be cleared in time, leading to ROS accumulation, which leads to chondrocyte apoptosis. It has been found that substances such as puerarin, safflower yellow, and astaxanthin can inhibit the development of OA by regulating mitochondrial homeostasis, which proves the potential to be used in the treatment of OA.@*CONCLUSION@#The mitochondrial homeostasis imbalance in chondrocytes is one of the most important pathogeneses of OA, and further exploration of the mechanisms of mitochondrial homeostasis imbalance is of great significance for the prevention and treatment of OA.

Neuroprotective effect of ginsenoside Re on drosophila model of Parkinson's disease / 中国中药杂志

This study aims to explore the neuroprotective mechanism of ginsenoside Re(GS-Re) on drosophila model of Parkinson's disease(PD) induced by rotenone(Rot). To be specific, Rot was used to induce PD in drosophilas. Then the drosophilas were grouped and respectively treated(GS-Re: 0.1, 0.4, 1.6 mmol·L~(-1); L-dopa: 80 μmol·L~(-1)). Life span and crawling ability of drosophilas were determined. The brain antioxidant activity [content of catalase(CAT), malondialdehyde(MDA), reactive oxygen species(ROS), superoxide dismutase(SOD)], dopamine(DA) content, and mitochondrial function [content of adenosine triphosphate(ATP), NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit B8(NDUFB8) Ⅰ activity, succinate dehydrogenase complex, subunit B(SDHB) Ⅱ activity] were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The number of DA neurons in the brains of drosophilas was measured with the immunofluorescence method. The levels of NDUFB8 Ⅰ, SDHB Ⅱ, cytochrome C(Cyt C), nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2(Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1(HO-1), B-cell lymphoma/leukemia 2(Bcl-2)/Bcl-2-assaciated X protein(Bax), and cleaved caspase-3/caspase-3 in the brain were detected by Western blot. The results showed that model group [475 μmol·L~(-1) Rot(IC_(50))] demonstrated significantly low survival rate, obvious dyskinesia, small number of neurons and low DA content in the brain, high ROS level and MDA content, low content of SOD and CAT, significantly low ATP content, NDUFB8 Ⅰ activity, and SDHB Ⅱ activity, significantly low expression of NDUFB8 Ⅰ, SDHB Ⅱ, and Bcl-2/Bax, large amount of Cyt C released from mitochondria to cytoplasm, low nuclear transfer of Nrf2, and significantly high expression of cleaved caspase-3/caspase-3 compared with the control group. GS-Re(0.1, 0.4, and 1.6 mmol·L~(-1)) significantly improved the survival rate of PD drosophilas, alleviated the dyskinesia, increased DA content, reduced the loss of DA neurons, ROS level, and MDA content in brain, improved content of SOD and CAT and antioxidant activity in brain, maintained mitochondrial homeostasis(significantly increased ATP content and activity of NDUFB8 Ⅰ and SDHB Ⅱ, significantly up-regulated expression of NDUFB8 Ⅰ, SDHB Ⅱ, and Bcl-2/Bax), significantly reduced the expression of Cyt C, increased the nuclear transfer of Nrf2, and down-regulated the expression of cleaved caspase-3/caspase-3. In conclusion, GS-Re can significantly relieve the Rot-induced cerebral neurotoxicity in drosophilas. The mechanism may be that GS-Re activates Keap1-Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway by maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis, improves antioxidant capacity of brain neurons, then inhibits mitochondria-mediated caspase-3 signaling pathway, and the apoptosis of neuronal cells, thereby exerting the neuroprotective effect.

Synergistic effect of β-thujaplicin and tigecycline against tet(X4)-positive Escherichia coli in vitro / 生物工程学报

The widespread of tigecycline resistance gene tet(X4) has a serious impact on the clinical efficacy of tigecycline. The development of effective antibiotic adjuvants to combat the looming tigecycline resistance is needed. The synergistic activity between the natural compound β-thujaplicin and tigecycline in vitro was determined by the checkerboard broth microdilution assay and time-dependent killing curve. The mechanism underlining the synergistic effect between β-thujaplicin and tigecycline against tet(X4)-positive Escherichia coli was investigated by determining cell membrane permeability, bacterial intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, iron content, and tigecycline content. β-thujaplicin exhibited potentiation effect on tigecycline against tet(X4)-positive E. coli in vitro, and presented no significant hemolysis and cytotoxicity within the range of antibacterial concentrations. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that β-thujaplicin significantly increased the permeability of bacterial cell membranes, chelated bacterial intracellular iron, disrupted the iron homeostasis and significantly increased intracellular ROS level. The synergistic effect of β-thujaplicin and tigecycline was identified to be related to interfere with bacterial iron metabolism and facilitate bacterial cell membrane permeability. Our studies provided theoretical and practical data for the application of combined β-thujaplicin with tigecycline in the treatment of tet(X4)-positive E. coli infection.

Role of Ferroptosis in Cardiovascular Diseases and Chinese Medicine Treatment Based on Iron Homeostasis： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Cardiovascular diseases are a class of circulatory system diseases involving the heart and vessels， including arrhythmia， hypertension， coronary heart disease， myocardial infarction， heart failure and so on. Due to the complicated pathogenesis， diverse disease types， and difficult treatment， cardiovascular diseases pose serious threatens to the human health. Therefore， it is urgent to develop effective therapies. Ferroptosis， a new type of cell death different from autophagy and apoptosis， is iron-dependent and accompanied by lipid peroxide accumulation. The mechanism of ferroptosis is complex. Recent studies have shown that iron homeostasis plays a role in the occurrence of ferroptosis， which may be induced by iron intake， utilization， and output and iron-related protein synthesis. In addition， iron homeostasis and ferroptosis have been confirmed to be involved in the pathological process of cardiovascular diseases， so regulating iron homeostasis and ferroptosis in cardiomyocytes may be a focus of the future research on cardiovascular diseases. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） provides a unique treatment method， and the unique syndrome differentiation system and treatment methods have been widely used in the clinical diagnosis， prevention， and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Studies have demonstrated that TCM compound prescriptions and the active components in Chinese medicinal materials can regulate iron homeostasis and ferroptosis to protect cardiomyocytes. This paper introduces the mechanism of iron homeostasis in regulating ferroptosis and summarizes the effects of iron homeostasis-mediated ferroptosis on cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore， the research progress of TCM in regulating iron homeostasis-mediated ferroptosis in cardiovascular diseases is reviewed to provide new ideas for TCM prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Mechanism of Bone Homeostasis Regulation by Autophagy in Osteoporosis and Intervention of Traditional Chinese Medicine： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Osteoporosis （OP） is a systemic metabolic bone disease caused by various factors， with a high incidence， and its pathogenesis is not yet clear. There is no specific drug for prevention and treatment， making it a significant global public health issue. In recent years， research has found that autophagy plays a role in the development of OP， and intervention in autophagy has become a hot topic in OP treatment. With further research， there has been a gradual increase in studies related to autophagy regulation by traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） to treat OP， and the treatment efficacy has been recognized. However， there is still a lack of systematic reviews on the mechanisms of autophagy in OP and the specific targets of TCM intervention in autophagy for OP treatment. Therefore， this article systematically reviewed the impact of autophagy on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells （BMSCs）， osteoblasts， osteoclasts， and bone cells in the development of OP， as well as studies on TCM intervention in cell autophagy for OP treatment， aiming to provide a theoretical reference for the treatment of OP and further research in this field.

Effect of autophagic core protein Atg101 on adipocyte senescence / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of autophagy related gene Atg101 on white adipocyte senescence.Methods:An Atg101 knockdown model of 3T3-L1 mature adipocytes was constructed to probe the effect of Atg101 on autophagy-related proteins LC3 and p62 protein. The RNA-seq database of human subcutaneous adipose tissue was constructed and analyzed, and the co-expressed gene set was predicted based on the pearson correlation coefficient( R2>0.4, P<0.05) between FPKM values of Atg101 and other gene, followed by KEGG and Reactome enrichment analysis. Young mouse(8 weeks old) and old mouse(18 months old) models were established, and the expression levels of Atg101 in inguinal white adipose tissue and epididymal white adipose tissue were detected by quantitative real-time PCR(RT-qPCR) and Western blot. Furthermore, the differences in white adipocyte senescence-associated secretory phenotype(SASP), cell cycle and mitochondrial homeostasis-related genes were detected by RNA-seq, Western blot, and RT-qPCR to analyze the effects of Atg101 silencing on adipocyte senescence. Results:The autophagy-related protein LC3-Ⅱ expression was significantly decreased and p62 protein was induced after Atg101 was knockdowned in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, suggesting impaired cell autophagy. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that Atg101 co-expressed gene set was mainly enriched in autophagy and senescence-related pathways; Reactome enrichment analysis revealed that this gene set was associated with multiple cell cycle signaling pathways. RT-qPCR and Western blot confirmed that both mRNA and protein levels of Atg101 were down-regulated in inguinal white adipose tissue of aging mice, and protein levels in epididymal white adipose tissue were also significantly reduced. Finally, it was further confirmed that SASP-related genes were induced after Atg101 knockdown in white adipocytes, and cell cycle-specific gene expression was restricted and cytokine-dependent protein kinase inhibitors p16 and p21 expressions were significantly increased, while mitochondrial homeostasis regulatory genes were also suppressed.Conclusions:Knockdown of Atg101 may regulate white adipocyte senescence by inhibiting autophagic activity, presenting impaired mitochondrial homeostasis.