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Biomedical subjects

Xiao Li

Publications and source records attributed to Xiao Li.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2026

Mechanism of Shoutai Wan against recurrent spontaneous abortion: regulation of decidual vascular remodeling via ERβ-ANGPT2 signaling axis.

Shoutai Wan (STW), a classic traditional Chinese medicine formula used to tonify the kidney and prevent miscarriage, has been widely applied in the clinical management of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). Increasing clinical evidence supports its efficacy in reducing miscarriage rates and improving pregnancy outcomes. However, the molecular basis by which STW alleviates defective decidual vascular remodeling in unexplained RSA remains insufficiently understood. Clinically, decidual ERβ and ANGPT2 expression, as well as serum estradiol, ANGPT2 and VEGFA levels were significantly decreased in RSA patients, accompanied by reduced decidual microvascular density. Furthermore, ERβ expression was positively correlated with ANGPT2 and microvascular density. In vivo, STW dose-dependently reduced embryo loss in RSA mice, repaired the damaged decidual-placental interface structure, and improved vascular maturation, structural stability and endothelial-pericyte ultrastructural connections. Mechanistically, STW upregulated ERβ expression. We demonstrated that ERβ binds to the ANGPT2 promoter, suggesting transcriptional upregulation of ANGPT2, thereby activating Tie2 and the downstream PI3K/AKT pathway and increasing NO and VEGFA secretion. In vitro, hypoxia inhibited ERβ nuclear translocation and ANGPT2 secretion in mDSCs, while STW-containing serum reversed these abnormalities. ERβ knockdown impaired the pro-angiogenic capacity of mDSCs, which was partially rescued by exogenous ANGPT2 supplementation. Network pharmacology predicted that STW targets were mainly enriched in PI3K-Akt, estrogen, VEGF and angiogenesis-related pathways. Transcriptomic GSEA further revealed that the gene signatures of angiogenesis and PI3K-Akt signaling were markedly suppressed in the RSA model, and STW treatment significantly normalized these transcriptional signatures.

Female↗
PubMed2026

A three-metabolite microbiota-associated signature for early risk stratification of gestational diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and long-term metabolic and cardiovascular risk. However, oral glucose tolerance testing at 24-28 gestational weeks limits early risk stratification. Gut microbiota-associated metabolites may reflect early metabolic abnormalities, including those relevant to cardiometabolic health, but robust early-pregnancy biomarkers remain limited. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter nested case-control and prospective study involving 2,693 pregnant women. Untargeted metabolomics and metagenomics were integrated to identify GDM-associated metabolites and gut microbial alterations. Three consistently dysregulated metabolites, 3-hydroxydecanoic acid, γ-Glu-Leu, and propionic acid, were quantified by targeted LC-MS/MS. Candidate algorithms were compared using repeated 10-fold cross-validation, and a final generalized linear model was externally and prospectively validated. RESULTS: Women who later developed GDM showed an adverse early-pregnancy metabolic profile, including higher BMI, triglycerides, and platelet count. Untargeted metabolomics identified 14 persistently altered metabolites enriched in energy, oxidative stress, and amino acid metabolism pathways. Metagenomics revealed taxonomic restructuring and coordinated microbiota-metabolite associations. The three-metabolite model achieved AUCs of 0.838 (95% CI, 0.791-0.885) in training, 0.840 (95% CI, 0.769-0.911) in internal validation, 0.955 (95% CI, 0.925-0.985) and 0.917 (95% CI, 0.875-0.958) in two external cohorts, and 0.969 (95% CI, 0.937-1.000) in the prospective cohort. CONCLUSION: Early microbiota-associated metabolic dysregulation is detectable before routine GDM diagnosis. This compact three-metabolite panel may support early GDM risk stratification and provides metabolic evidence relevant to broader cardiometabolic risk assessment in pregnancy.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Developmental patterning of adipose tissue by abd-A and Abd-B homeotic genes in Drosophila melanogaster.

The Bithorax Complex (BX-C) homeobox proteins specify segmental identities along the anterior-posterior axis during Drosophila embryogenesis. Differential expression of the BX-C genes abd-A and Abd-B distinguishes abdominal from thoracic adipocytes, yet the mechanism regulating this heterogeneity remains poorly understood. Here, we identify cis-regulatory elements (CREs) and transcription factors that direct abdominal-specific expression of abd-A and Abd-B in the larval fat body. Fine-mapping analyses identified a 627-bp CRE within the Abd-B locus and a ~6-kb CRE within the abd-A locus sufficient to drive heterogeneous expression. Yeast one-hybrid screening combined with functional analyses identified Lola, Lolal, and Combgap as key repressors of Abd-B, whereas Piragua (Prg) and Seven up (Svp) function as transcriptional activators, indicating that adipocyte heterogeneity in postembryonic adipose tissue is actively regulated. In turn, lola and prg are repressed by Abd-B, whereas lolal and svp are activated, forming a feedback circuit further modulated by Wnt signaling, which promotes lola and lolal expression while repressing svp. CUT&RUN analyses suggest that these interactions are direct, with dTCF/Pan and Abd-B occupancy detected at target loci. Together, our findings define a transcriptional circuit that regulates Abd-B gene transcription to pattern adipose tissue and may establish the developmental basis of fat depot specialization.

Abd-B↗
PubMed2026

[Genetic diversity analysis of Forsythia suspensa germplasm resources in Shanxi based on phenotypic traits and SNP molecular markers].

This study aimed to clarify the degree of fruit phenotypic variation and the characteristics of genetic diversity, population structure, and genetic differentiation of Forsythia suspensa resources in Shanxi, providing an important basis for germplasm conservation and breeding of superior varieties. A total of 46 F. suspensa fruits were collected, and 12 agronomic traits were measured and analyzed. The population genetic structure and genetic diversity of F. suspensa germplasm were evaluated using simplified genome sequencing technology. For the five quality traits of the 46 fruits, the Shannon-Wiener index ranged from 0.631 to 1.074, and the Simpson index ranged from 0.379 to 0.560. The seven quantitative traits exhibited abundant genetic variation, with coefficients of variation ranging from 9.764%(fruit shape index) to 45.494%(forsythin content). Principal component analysis reduced the 12 phenotypic traits to four factors, with a cumulative variance contribution of 74.547%. Sequencing data showed mean Q20 and Q30 values of 98.13% and 94.33%, respectively, with an average GC content of 35.95%. After filtering, a total of 12 347 327 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP) loci were obtained. Based on these high-quality SNPs, principal component analysis, population structure analysis, and phylogenetic tree construction were carried out. The 46 germplasm resources were divided into four groups; however, grouping showed little relationship with geographic origin, and intermixing occurred among regions. Mantel test revealed a significant but weak positive correlation between phenotypic and genetic distances(r=0.159, P=0.001). At the molecular level, the four groups exhibited moderate genetic diversity overall, and the genetic differentiation index among populations ranged from 0.027 to 0.084, indicating low to moderate differentiation. The rich genetic diversity of the main phenotypic traits provides a solid material basis for screening superior germplasm and genetic breeding of F. suspensa.

Forsythia↗
PubMed2025

The downregulation of ubiquitin-specific peptidase 2 indicates a poor prognosis and promotes the progression of gastric cancer through focal adhesion and ECM pathway signaling.

Gastric cancer ranks among the most prevalent forms of cancer worldwide. Recent rapid advancements in diagnostic methods, neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapies, and surgical procedures have significantly improved survival rates for patients with gastric cancer. Nonetheless, these benefits have not yet reached the majority of individuals affected. Previous research has indicated that USP2, a component of the ubiquitin system, plays a crucial role in reshaping the proteome and enhancing the prognosis of diseases. However, the current understanding of USP2 expression and the associated pathways in gastric cancer remains unclear. The differential expression of USP2 was examined in pan-cancer, with a particular focus on its expression in gastric cancer cells and patients. Additionally, the impact of USP2 on the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of gastric cancer cells was explored via CCK8, transwell, and invasion assays. RNA sequencing was employed to investigate pathways associated with USP2, and RT-qPCR and western blotting were utilized to confirm the expression of related pathway genes and proteins. The prognostic value of a model derived from USP2 expression was assessed and validated. USP2 expression was significantly reduced in gastric cancer cells and patient samples (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). Patients with low USP2 expression are primarily associated with genetic variations, neoantigen loads, microsatellite instability (MSI) scores, and immune cell infiltration (p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05). The overexpression of USP2 suppresses proliferation, migration, and cell cycle progression while enhancing apoptosis in GC cells. Concurrently, we identified 865 genes whose expression was downregulated. KEGG and GSEA enrichment analyses revealed significant suppression of the focal adhesion and ECM receptor interaction pathways following USP2 overexpression. A genomic model derived from USP2 was constructed and validated for its reliability in predicting patient prognosis. The expression of USP2 was positively correlated with sensitivity to small-molecule drugs, including entinostat, SB590885, and PF-562,271. USP2 acts as a negative regulator of gastric cancer progression. Consequently, USP2 has the potential to be utilized as a therapeutic target to improve the clinical prognosis and survival rates of patients.

Humans↗
PubMed2025

Construction and In Vitro and In Vivo Analysis of Coxsackievirus B4 Reporter Viruses: Attenuated Virulence but Highly Efficient for Antiviral Drug Screening and Evaluation.

Coxsackievirus B4 (CVB4) is an enterovirus with one of the highest mortality rates following infection, yet research on it remains limited. To enhance the efficiency of CVB4 research, we developed the rCVB4-EGFP and rCVB4-NanoLuc reporter viruses. The replication kinetics of these reporter viruses in SH-SY5Y and HeLa cells were essentially consistent with those of the wild-type CVB4. A strong correlation was observed between the fluorescence and bioluminescence signals of rCVB4-EGFP and rCVB4-NanoLuc and viral titers at specific times postinfection. When evaluating the anti-CVB4 drug fluoxetine using these reporter viruses, the half-maximal effective concentrations derived from fluorescence signals, bioluminescence signal intensities, and viral genome copies were consistent. In In Vivo drug evaluations, because CVB4 can infect various tissues and organs, the bioluminescence signal of rCVB4-NanoLuc effectively demonstrated the antiviral effects of drugs, offering significant advantages over traditional tissue viral titer analysis. The reporter viruses exhibited reduced virulence compared with wild-type CVB4 both In Vitro, in SH-SY5Y and HeLa cells, and In Vivo, in ICR suckling mice. Although this reduced virulence may limit their application for studying pathogenic mechanisms, these reporter viruses can serve as highly efficient tools for high-throughput screening and evaluation of anti-CVB4 drugs, vaccines, and neutralizing antibodies.

Humans↗
PubMed2006

Antitumor effects of a recombinant fowlpox virus expressing Apoptin in vivo and in vitro.

Apoptin is a chicken anemia virus-derived, p53-independent, bcl-2-insensitive apoptotic protein with the ability to specifically induce apoptosis in tumor cells. To explore the use of the Apoptin gene in cancer gene therapy, we constructed a recombinant fowlpox virus expressing the Apoptin protein (vFV-Apoptin) and compared the tumor-killing activity of the recombinant virus with that of wild-type fowlpox virus in the human hepatoma cell line HepG2. We found that although cells were somewhat resistant to the basal cytotoxic effect of wild-type fowlpox virus, infection with vFV-Apoptin caused a pronounced, additional cytotoxic effect. Furthermore, cell death and disruption of tumor integrity were apparent in the vFV-Apoptin-infected cells. We also tested whether fowlpox virus-mediated expression of Apoptin in tumor cells could stimulate an antitumor effect by injecting aggressive subcutaneous tumors derived from H22 mouse hepatoma cells in C57BL/6 mice with vFV-Apoptin. We found that fowlpox virus-mediated intratumoral expression of the Apoptin gene can induce protective and therapeutic antitumor effects and significantly increase survival. Taken together, these data indicate that infection of tumors with fowlpox virus expressing Apoptin inhibits tumor growth, induces apoptosis and may be an effective cancer treatment.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Two-dimensional molecular imprinting approach to produce optical biosensor recognition elements.

This article describes a new two-step methodology for preparing thiol monolayers having artificial recognition sites for dansylated amino acids on gold optical biosensor surfaces. Nepsilon-Dansyl-L-lysine (DK) was used as the template molecule to form molecularly imprinted monolayers (MIMs). Impact factors that were studied were the concentration of DK in step one (template deposition) and the time and method for thiol monolayer formation in step two (backfilling). Compared to a prior method that used the simultaneous adsorption of the template and thiol from solution, this new approach provides the flexibility to imprint template molecules that have low binding energies on gold. Control over the surface density of imprinting sites can be achieved by this approach, and rebinding studies done using surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy confirmed that the MIMs prepared against DK showed selectivity for that template over didansyl-L-lysine.

Biosensing Techniques↗
PubMed2006

Sequence and annotation of the 369-kb NY-2A and the 345-kb AR158 viruses that infect Chlorella NC64A.

Viruses NY-2A and AR158, members of the family Phycodnaviridae, genus Chlorovirus, infect the fresh water, unicellular, eukaryotic, chlorella-like green alga, Chlorella NC64A. The 368,683-bp genome of NY-2A and the 344,690-bp genome of AR158 are the two largest chlorella virus genomes sequenced to date; NY-2A contains 404 putative protein-encoding and 7 tRNA-encoding genes and AR158 contains 360 putative protein-encoding and 6 tRNA-encoding genes. The protein-encoding genes are almost evenly distributed on both strands, and intergenic space is minimal. Two of the NY-2A genes encode inteins, the large subunit of ribonucleotide reductase and a superfamily II helicase. These are the first inteins to be detected in the chlorella viruses. Approximately 40% of the viral gene products resemble entries in the public databases, including some that are unexpected for a virus. These include GDP-d-mannose dehydratase, fucose synthase, aspartate transcarbamylase, Ca(++) transporting ATPase and ubiquitin. Comparison of NY-2A and AR158 protein-encoding genes with the prototype chlorella virus PBCV-1 indicates that 85% of the genes are present in all three viruses.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Sequence and annotation of the 314-kb MT325 and the 321-kb FR483 viruses that infect Chlorella Pbi.

Viruses MT325 and FR483, members of the family Phycodnaviridae, genus Chlorovirus, infect the fresh water, unicellular, eukaryotic, chlorella-like green alga, Chlorella Pbi. The 314,335-bp genome of MT325 and the 321,240-bp genome of FR483 are the first viruses that infect Chlorella Pbi to have their genomes sequenced and annotated. Furthermore, these genomes are the two smallest chlorella virus genomes sequenced to date, MT325 has 331 putative protein-encoding and 10 tRNA-encoding genes and FR483 has 335 putative protein-encoding and 9 tRNA-encoding genes. The protein-encoding genes are almost evenly distributed on both strands, and intergenic space is minimal. Approximately 40% of the viral gene products resemble entries in public databases, including some that are the first of their kind to be detected in a virus. For example, these unique gene products include an aquaglyceroporin in MT325, a potassium ion transporter protein and an alkyl sulfatase in FR483, and a dTDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase in both viruses. Comparison of MT325 and FR483 protein-encoding genes with the prototype chlorella virus PBCV-1 indicates that approximately 82% of the genes are present in all three viruses.

Aquaglyceroporins↗
PubMed2006

Chemically imaging living cells by scanning electrochemical microscopy.

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) is useful in probing and characterizing interfaces at high resolution. In this paper, the general principles of this technique are described and several applications of SECM to biological systems, particularly to living cells, is discussed, along with several example systems. Thiodione was detected and monitored electrochemically during the treatment of hepatocytes with cytotoxic menadione. The antimicrobial effects of silver(I) was followed by SECM through bacterial respiration. Living HeLa cells were shown to accumulate ferrocencemethanol (FcMeOH) and generated positive feedback for FcMeOH oxidation that can be further used to monitor the cell viability. Finally, individual giant liposomes, as cell models, with encapsulated redox compounds were successfully probed by SECM. In general SECM has the advantage of very high spatial resolution and versatility, especially for the detection of electroactive substances.

Biosensing Techniques↗
PubMed2006

A new insight into Cannabis sativa (Cannabaceae) utilization from 2500-year-old Yanghai Tombs, Xinjiang, China.

A cache of shoots, leaves and fruits dated by (14)C at 2500 years B.P. were unearthed in the Yanghai Tombs, Turpan District in Xinjiang, China. By comparing the morphological and anatomical characteristics of the plant remains found in the tomb and specimens of modern plants, it is shown that the remains belong to Cannabis. Based on the shamanistic background of the deceased man and ancient customs, it is assumed that the Cannabis was utilized for ritual/medicinal purposes.

Cannabis↗
PubMed2006

[Resection and reconstruction for tumors of iliac bone].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the resection of tumors, reconstruction of defects. METHODS: Sixty-one patients with tumors in ileum were treated surgically in People's Hospital from July 1998 to July 2004. The series comprised 38 males and 23 females with an average age of 43 years old (range from 12 to 78 years old). According to Enneking staging system, 36 cases had lesions in region I, 17 cases in region I and II, and 8 cases in region I and IV. After tumor resected, posterior fixation system of spine was applied to reconstruct the integrality of pelvic ring in series of region I cases. The four pedicle screws were implanted in the lumbar and sacrum superiorly, pubis and ischium inferiorly. For children patients, bone graft or bone cement and Steinmann's pins internal fixation was applied to reconstruct the pelvis. RESULTS: Among all the 61 cases, 48 cases followed up from 16 months to 6 years. Thirty-three cases were survived and had no local recurrence or metastasis. Fifteen cases were dead. Oncology result: local recurrence were found in 19.4% patients with region I resection (7/36), the resection level was close to acetabulum (in order to reserve the acetabulum), and it might be the reason of recurrence. 35.3% of patients (6/17) with region I and II resection had local recurrence, the recurrence maybe related to residual tumor after curettage. 50.0% of the patients (4/8) with region I and IV resection had local recurrence, the tumor residual in sacrum might be the reason of recurrence. Functional result: all of the 36 cases received region I resection regained normal walking function. The hip joint function was normal in 17 cases received tumor curettage, bone cement or hip joint replacement. CONCLUSIONS: The posterior fixation system of spine can be used to reconstruct the integrality of pelvic ring after resection of iliac tumors. Simple reconstruction is more favorable for child patients. Allograft or self-ileum can be implanted in the space of sacral wing and residual ileum, and the bone graft is fixed with compressional screw.

Acetabulum↗
PubMed2006

Induction of an effective anti-tumor immune response and tumor regression by combined administration of IL-18 and Apoptin.

Immunization strategies using plasmid DNA can potentially improve humoral and cellular immune responses that protect against cancer and infectious diseases. The chicken anemia virus-derived Apoptin protein exhibits remarkable specificity in its ability to induce apoptosis in tumor cells, but not in normal diploid cells. Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a Th1-type cytokine that has demonstrated potential as a biological adjuvant in murine tumor models. In this study, we analyzed the anti-tumor potential and mechanism of action of simultaneous Apoptin and IL-18 gene transfer in C57BL/6 mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC). Here we report that the growth of established tumors in mice immunized with pAPOPTIN in conjunction with pIL-18 was significantly inhibited compared with the growth of tumors in mice immunized with the empty vector (EV) or pAPOPTIN alone. Furthermore, the immunization of mice with pAPOPTIN in conjunction with pIL-18 elicited strong natural killer activity and LLC tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses in vitro. In addition, T cells from lymph nodes of mice vaccinated with pIL-18 or pAPOPTIN + pIL-18 secreted high levels of the Th1 cytokine IL-2 and IFN-gamma, indicating that the regression of tumor cells is related to a Th1-type dominant immune response. These results demonstrate that vaccination with Apoptin together with IL-18 may be a novel and powerful strategy for cancer immunotherapy.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Adsorption of dansylated amino acids on molecularly imprinted surfaces: a surface plasmon resonance study.

Surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy (SPR) was used to measure the adsorption kinetics and isotherms of dansylated amino acids onto surface-confined molecularly imprinted polymer films (MIP-Fs) and the corresponding non-imprinted polymer control films (NIP-Fs). The surface-confined polymer films were grafted from flat gold surfaces using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). This approach allowed uniform nanothin films to be grown, thereby ensuring that the amino acids see a uniform surface during adsorption. N,N'-Didansyl-l-cystine (DDC) and didansyl-l-lysine (DDK) were used as the template molecules to form the MIP-Fs. Adsorption kinetics data were analyzed using single- and dual-site Langmuir adsorption models. It was found that, within the experimental measurement range, adsorption isotherm data were well described by any of four isotherm models: Langmuir, dual-site Langmuir, Freundlich, or Langmuir-Freundlich (LF). The relatively high heterogeneity index values regressed using the Freundlich and LF isotherms suggest the formation of fairly homogeneous MIP-Fs; although Scatchard analysis reveals binding site heterogeneity does exist. Selectivity studies showed that the MIP-Fs display cross-reactivity between DDC and DDK; nevertheless, MIP-Fs prepared against one template showed selectivity for that template. Solution pH and polymer layer thickness were studied as independent parameters to determine their impacts on amino acid adsorption, as monitored by SPR.

Adsorption↗
PubMed2006

Post-traumatic hepatic artery pseudo-aneurysm combined with subphrenic liver abscess treated with embolization.

A 23-year-old man with post-traumatic hepatic artery pseudo-aneurysm and subphrenic liver abscess was admitted. He underwent coil embolization of hepatic artery pseudo-aneurysm. The pseudo-aneurysm was successfully obstructed and subphrenic liver abscess was controlled. Super-selective trans-catheter coil embolization may represent an effective treatment for hepatic artery pseudo-aneurysm combined with subphrenic liver abscess in the absence of other therapeutic alternatives.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Role of beta-catenin in hepatocarcinogenesis of rats.

BACKGROUND: Beta-catenin has two distinct roles in E-cadherin mediated cell adhesion and carcinogenesis by activating the wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway. One occurs at the cell-adhesion site, where cadherins are linked to the actin-based cytoskeleton. The other takes place in the cytoplasm and nuclei and is thought to regulate cell transformation. We studied the role of beta-catenin in hepatocarcinogenesis of rats. METHODS: Fresh liver specimens were obtained from normal rats, and atypical hyperplasia livers and hepatocarcinoma tissues from model rats. The changes of beta-catenin in gene expression levels were detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the different specimens separately. At the same time, their localization was observed immunohistochemically. RESULTS: In the normal liver specimens, beta-catenin staining was seen in the cell membrane. In liver specimens of atypical hyperplasia, beta-catenin staining occurred in the cell cytoplasm of some cells as well as in the cell membrane of others. Immunohistochemically cancerous tissues showed the presence of beta-catenin in the cytoplasm and nuclei. RT-PCR revealed that the gene expression levels of beta-catenin were same in all samples. CONCLUSIONS: The accumulation of beta-catenin in the cytoplasm and/or nuclei frequently occurs in hepatocarcinogenesis of rats. It may be an early event in the development of hepatocarcinoma of rats.

Animals↗