Mechanism of Duhuo Jisheng Decoction based on bioinformatics and network pharmacology in treating osteoporosis of kidney Yin deficiency

Objective:To study the active ingredients,target and mechanism of Duhuo JiSheng Decoction for the treatment of osteoporosis by bioinformatics analysis and network pharmacology.Methods:The gene expression profile of GSE56116 was acquired through the NCBI GEO database,and the software R was used for differential analysis.The Chinese medicine system pharmacology technology platform(TCMSP)was used to retrieve the chemical components,target genes of Duhuo,Fangfeng,Xixin,and Sangjisheng.The differential genes acquired from GSE56116 were intersected and analyzed by GO enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway to study the mechanism of Duhuo JiSheng Decoction.Results:A total of 33 active ingredients and 9 differential genes of Duhuo JiSheng Decoction for the treatment of Shengyin deficiency osteoporosis were screened.GO function enrichment analysis focuses on the regulation of intracellular signal transduction,calcium-mediated signaling,and steroid hormone mediated signaling.KEGG analysis showed that it was mainly concentrated in signal pathways such as P53 signal pathway,TNF signal pathway,and IL-17 signal pathway.Conclusion:Through bioinformatics and network pharmacological analysis,Duhuo JiShenng Decoction may exert therapeutic effects by acting on AR,IGFBP3,and FOS target genes.

Progress in the pathogenesis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome

Objective:Sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) is a common sleep disorder, which is manifested as a reduction in tidal volume or apnea during sleep, which results in intermittent hypoxia and tissue hypoxia and induces oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic disease contributing to hyperplasia of synovial membrane, cartilage erosion and joint damage. Fibroblast like synoviocytes (FLS), which make up the lining of the synovial membrane, are believed to play a role in the pathogenesis of RA. RA is a series of inflammation-like responses that induce joint damage and dysfunction and impair patients' life quality. This article first introduced the basic features of RA and analyzes the pathogenesis of RA with SAHS. Then the relationship between RA and SAHS was investigated. Finally, the progress in the treatment for RA with SAHS was reviewed emphatically.

Expression of the SARS-CoV-2 cell receptor gene ACE2 in a wide variety of human tissues

Background:Since its discovery in December 2019,severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)has infected more than 2180000 people worldwide and has caused more than 150000 deaths as of April 16,2020.SARS-CoV-2,which is the virus causing coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19),uses the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE2)as a cell receptor to invade human cells.Thus,ACE2 is the key to understanding the mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 infection.This study is to investigate the ACE2 expression in various human tissues in order to provide insights into the mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 infection.Methods:We compared ACE2 expression levels across 31 normal human tissues between males and females and between younger(ages≤49 years)and older(ages>49 years)persons using two-sided Student's t test.We also investigated the correlations between ACE2 expression and immune signatures in various tissues using Pearson's correlation test.Results:ACE2 expression levels were the highest in the small intestine,testis,kidneys,heart,thyroid,and adipose tissue,and were the lowest in the blood,spleen,bone marrow,brain,blood vessels,and muscle.ACE2 showed medium expression levels in the lungs,colon,liver,bladder,and adrenal gland.ACE2 was not differentially expressed between males and females or between younger and older persons in any tissue.In the skin,digestive system,brain,and blood vessels,ACE2 expression levels were positively associated with immune signatures in both males and females.In the thyroid and lungs,ACE2 expression levels were positively and negatively associated with immune signatures in males and females,respectively,and in the lungs they had a positive and a negative correlation in the older and younger groups,respectively.Conclusions:Our data indicate that SARS-CoV-2 may infect other tissues aside from the lungs and infect persons with different sexes,ages,and races equally.The different host immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection may partially explain why males and females,young and old persons infected with this virus have markedly distinct disease severity.This study provides new insights into the role of ACE2 in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Toward wiping out osteoarthritis in China:research highlights

Osteoarthritis(OA)is currently considered as more than a degenerative disorder of weight-bearing joints,instead one organ disease of“all-joint”due to cause(s)of aging,injury,inflammation,metabolic disorders,etc.Its prevalence is high:9.6%in men and 18.0%in women aged over 60 years.Most health professionals say that OA is incurable and focus exclusively on palliative treatment,as we lack effective disease modifying osteoarthritis drugs(DMOADs).[1]But should we hope that treating OA precisely in China is possible through intensive research and drug development?

Celastrol promotes chondrocyte autophagy by regulating mTOR expression

Osteoarthritis(OA)is a debilitating disease with limited treatment options.[1]Autophagy serves as an important protective mechanism against the deterioration of cartilage and is negatively regulated by the mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR).[2]In previous studies,celastrol could promote autophagy in various cell types and had the promising therapeutic potential for OA.[3]However,the effect and underlying mechanisms of celastrol on autophagy in OA remain unclear.Our preliminary study using transcriptome sequencing and a network pharmacology analysis identified mTOR as a potential direct target of celastrol for protection against OA.[4]In this study,we aim to evaluate the effects of celastrol on mTOR activity in primary human osteoarthritic chondrocytes and to determine the mechanism by which it affects autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum(ER)stress.

Optimizing health-span:advances in stem cell medicine and longevity research

Introduction The pursuit of optimal health and longevity is a long-standing human aspiration[1,2].Advances in public health policies and population medicine have significantly extended life expectancy,which has tripled from 20–30 years a century and a half ago.However,this has also led to an increase in age-related diseases.As we age,stem cells,the foundation of every organ and tissue in our body,lose their regenerative capacity,leading to tissue decline and age-related diseases.Environmental conditions and disease treatments can also negatively impact the quality of life and health span[3].