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Zhang J, Li X, Wang R, Feng X, Wang S, Wang H, Wang Y, Li H, Li Y, Guo Y. DNA methylation patterns in patients with asthenospermia and oligoasthenospermia. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:602. [PMID: 38886667 PMCID: PMC11181631 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10491-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spermatogenesis is a highly regulated and complex process in which DNA methylation plays a crucial role. This study aimed to explore the differential methylation profiles in sperm DNA between patients with asthenospermia (AS) and healthy controls (HCs), those with oligoasthenospermia (OAS) and HCs, and patients with AS and those with OAS. RESULTS Semen samples and clinical data were collected from five patients with AS, five patients with OAS, and six age-matched HCs. Reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) was performed to identify differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in sperm cells among the different types of patients and HCs. A total of 6520, 28,019, and 16,432 DMRs were detected between AS and HC, OAS and HC, and AS and OAS groups, respectively. These DMRs were predominantly located within gene bodies and mapped to 2868, 9296, and 9090 genes in the respective groups. Of note, 12, 9, and 8 DMRs in each group were closely associated with spermatogenesis and male infertility. Furthermore, BDNF, SMARCB1, PIK3CA, and DDX27; RBMX and SPATA17; ASZ1, CDH1, and CHDH were identified as strong differentially methylated candidate genes in each group, respectively. Meanwhile, the GO analysis of DMR-associated genes in the AS vs. HC groups revealed that protein binding, cytoplasm, and transcription (DNA-templated) were the most enriched terms in the biological process (BP), cellular component (CC), and molecular function (MF), respectively. Likewise, in both the OAS vs. HC and AS vs. OAS groups, GO analysis revealed protein binding, nucleus, and transcription (DNA-templated) as the most enriched terms in BP, CC, and MF, respectively. Finally, the KEGG analysis of DMR-annotated genes and these genes at promoters suggested that metabolic pathways were the most significantly associated across all three groups. CONCLUSIONS The current study results revealed distinctive sperm DNA methylation patterns in the AS vs. HC and OAS vs. HC groups, particularly between patients with AS and those with OAS. The identification of key genes associated with spermatogenesis and male infertility in addition to the differentially enriched metabolic pathways may contribute to uncovering the potential pathogenesis in different types of abnormal sperm parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingdi Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, No.1 Shuaifuyuan, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Xiaogang Li
- Medical Science Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Rongrong Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, No.1 Shuaifuyuan, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Xinxin Feng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, No.1 Shuaifuyuan, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Siyu Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, No.1 Shuaifuyuan, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Hai Wang
- Department of Urology, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yutao Wang
- Department of Urology, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hongjun Li
- Department of Urology, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yongzhe Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, No.1 Shuaifuyuan, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Ye Guo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, No.1 Shuaifuyuan, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
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Li S, Xiao H, Liu M, Wang Q, Sun C, Yao J, Cao N, Zhang H, Zhang G, Xiao X. Network pharmacology and experimental verification to explore the anti-superficial thrombophlebitis mechanism of Mailuo shutong pill. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 322:117668. [PMID: 38159829 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Mailuo shutong pill (MLST) has been widely used in clinical treatment of superficial thrombotic phlebitis (STP). Nevertheless, the major active components of MLST and the mechanism of synergistic action have not been reported. AIM OF THE STUDY The present study aimed to evaluate the improving effects and the underlying mechanism of MLST on mannitol-induced STP in rabbits. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this study, Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization quadrupole-exactive orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-Q-Exactive-Orbitrap-MS) was used to analyze and identify the chemical composition of MLST and the prototype components absorbed into the blood. Then, according to the prototype components in serum, the targets and mechanisms of MLST were explored by applying network pharmacology. The rabbit model of STP was established by injecting 20% mannitol into bilateral auricular vein. The pathological changes of rabbit ear tissues, inflammatory factors, coagulation function and hemorheology were detected. In addition, molecular docking verified the interaction between the main active ingredient and the key target. Finally, the PI3K/AKT pathway and its regulated downstream pathways were verified by Western blot. RESULTS A total of 96 MLST components and 53 prototypical components absorbed into the blood were successfully identified. Based on network pharmacology, PI3K/AKT pathway and 10 chemical components closely related to this pathway were obtained. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining results indicated that MLST effectively improved of the pathological damage of ear tissues. MLST decreased levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP). The expression of platelets (PLT) and fibrinogen concentration (FIB) was decreased, while prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) were prolonged. In addition, the plasma viscosity and whole blood viscosity in the MLST groups were significantly decreased. The more important discovery was that the expressions of P-PI3K, VEGF, P-AKT, P-IκB-α, P-NF-κB, NLRP3, ASC, Cleaved IL-1β and Cleaved Caspase-1 were effectively reversed after treatment with MLST. CONCLUSIONS This study comprehensively analyzed and characterized the chemical composition of MLST and the prototypical components absorbed into the blood. This study strongly confirmed the pharmacodynamic effect of MLST on STP. More importantly, this pharmacodynamic effect was achieved through inhibition of the PI3K/AKT pathway and its regulated NF-κB and NLRP3 pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirong Li
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China.
| | - He Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Integration and Innovation of Classic Formula and Modern Chinese Medicine, Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co. LTD., Linyi, 276005, China.
| | - Mingfei Liu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China.
| | - Qingguo Wang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China.
| | - Chenghong Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Integration and Innovation of Classic Formula and Modern Chinese Medicine, Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co. LTD., Linyi, 276005, China.
| | - Jingchun Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Integration and Innovation of Classic Formula and Modern Chinese Medicine, Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co. LTD., Linyi, 276005, China.
| | - Ningning Cao
- Second Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 300250, China.
| | - Haifang Zhang
- Graduate School of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China.
| | - Guimin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Integration and Innovation of Classic Formula and Modern Chinese Medicine, Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co. LTD., Linyi, 276005, China.
| | - Xuefeng Xiao
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China.
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Liu SJ, Guo BD, Gao QH, Deng YJ, Yan B, Zeng Y, Zhao M, Ren K, Wang F, Guo J. Ursolic acid alleviates chronic prostatitis via regulating NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated Caspase-1/GSDMD pyroptosis pathway. Phytother Res 2024; 38:82-97. [PMID: 37807970 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.8034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Ursolic acid (UA) is a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid widely found in fruits and vegetables. It has been reported that UA has anti-inflammatory effects. However, its efficacy and mechanism of action in the treatment of chronic prostatitis (CP) remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of UA treatment in CP and further explore the underlying mechanism. CP rat and pyroptosis cell models were established in vivo and in vitro, respectively. The efficacy of UA in inhibiting CP was evaluated via haematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and measurement of inflammatory cytokines. RNA sequencing and molecular docking were used to predict the therapeutic targets of UA in CP. The expression of pyroptosis-related proteins was examined using various techniques, including immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry. UA significantly ameliorated pathological damage and reduced the levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the CP model rats. RNA sequencing analysis and molecular docking suggested that NLRP3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD may be key targets. We also found that UA decreased ROS levels, alleviated oxidative stress, and inhibited p-NF-κB protein expression both in vivo and in vitro. UA improved pyroptosis morphology as indicated by electron microscope and inhibited the expression of the pyroptosis-related proteins NLRP3, Caspase-1, ASC, and GSDMD, reversed the levels of IL-1β, IL-18, and lactate dehydrogenase in vivo and in vitro. UA can mitigate CP by regulating the NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway. Therefore, UA may be a potential for the treatment of CP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-Jing Liu
- Department of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bo-da Guo
- Department of Urology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Qing-He Gao
- Department of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ying-Jun Deng
- Department of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Yan
- Department of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yin Zeng
- Department of Andrology, Beijing Chinese Medicine Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ming Zhao
- Department of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Ren
- Department of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fu Wang
- Department of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Guo
- Department of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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