基于细胞外囊泡阐释中医学理论现代科学内涵和中药治疗机制

Exploration the modern scientific connotations of traditional Chinese medicine theory and therapeutic mechanism of Chinese materia medica based on extracellular vesicles

细胞外囊泡由各种细胞分泌,携带母细胞来源的RNA、DNA、蛋白质和脂质等信息,介导细胞-细胞间和器官-器官间的信息交流,在疾病发生发展、诊断、治疗及药物靶向递送等领域具有重要价值,同时,也与中医学理论和中药治疗密切相关。气血津液理论和藏象学说是中医学的基本理论,细胞外囊泡属于“津液”范畴,可经血脉到达其他脏腑,干扰脏腑之间的关系,甚至造成脏腑关系失衡,从而引起疾病。中药(包括中成药和中草药)可以调节机体内源性细胞外囊泡的数量及其内容物含量以改善机体的病理状态,同时,中草药来源细胞外囊泡样颗粒是中药治疗疾病的主要药效物质形式之一。此外,细胞外囊泡还可作为载体,递送药物参与精准靶向治疗。探讨中医药与细胞外囊泡的关系可阐明中医学理论的现代科学内涵,并揭示中药发挥治疗作用的机制,发展以中药为基础的工程化细胞外囊泡将为临床治疗提供更多新策略。

Extracellular vesicles(EVs)are secreted by various cells and carry information such as parent cell-derived RNA,DNA,proteins,and lipids.They mediate information exchange between cells and organs,playing a crucial role in disease occurrence and development,diagnosis,treatment,and targeted drug delivery.EVs are also closely associated with traditional Chinese medicine theories and treatments.The qi-blood-fluid and visceral outward manifestation theories are the fundamental theories of traditional Chinese medicine.EVs belong to the fluid category and can reach other viscera through the blood vessels.They regulate the relationship between the viscera or cause imbalances between the viscera,resulting in disease.Chinese materia medica,which primarily includes traditional Chinese patent medicines and simple preparations,and Chinese herbal medicine,can help regulate the quantity and content of endogenous EVs in the body to improve pathological conditions.Additionally,EV-like particles derived from herbal medicines are a major form of pharmacologically active substances that contribute to the therapeutic effects of Chinese medicine in treating diseases.Furthermore,EVs can also be used as carriers to deliver drugs for targeted therapy.Therefore,exploring the relationship between traditional Chinese medicine and EVs will elucidate the modern scientific connotation of traditional Chinese medicine theories and reveal the mechanism of Chinese materia medica.The development of engineered EVs based on Chinese materia medica will provide novel strategies for clinical treatment.