Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences最新文献

{"title":"Editorial: Molecular basis of the energy management in cells: implications in health and disease.","authors":"Vanessa Checchetto, Simona Reina, Francesca Maria Garino, Marianna Flora Tomasello","doi":"10.3389/fmolb.2025.1578972","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmolb.2025.1578972","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12465,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences","volume":"12 ","pages":"1578972"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11936817/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143718021","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Expression and distribution of activin-follistatin-inhibin axis in the urinary bladder.","authors":"Weipu Mao, Tracy Zhang, Huan Chen, Sagar Barge, Zongwei Wang, Aria Olumi, Seth Alper, Weiqun Yu","doi":"10.3389/fmolb.2025.1519977","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fmolb.2025.1519977","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The activin-follistatin-inhibin (AFI) axis plays a crucial role in sexual development and reproduction. Recently it was demonstrated that these proteins are also synthesized by many local tissues and regulate different biological activities, including tissue regeneration and cancer metastasis. However, little is known about the expression profile of the AFI axis in the bladder and its role in bladder function and dysfunction. We have examined the expression profile of 11 AFI family members in the mouse bladder. INHA, INHBA, and follistatin are the major ligand subunits detected among the six examined in the bladder. ACVR1, ACVR1B, and ACVR2B are the major receptor subunits detected among the five examined in the bladder. Immunolocalization studies reveal unique cellular distributions of these ligands and receptors within the bladder. The urothelial-localized ACVR2B/ACVR1B receptor complex suggests a role of activin signaling in urothelial function. The stimulatory activin A is present only in a subset of interstitial cells, separated from the urothelial activin receptor ACVR2B/ACVR1B by a basement membrane containing accumulated inhibitory ligand FST and by a layer of activin-negative myofibroblasts. This spatial information on AFI signal molecules suggests that activin A-positive interstitial cells might regulate urothelial cell function via paracrine signaling through activin A-ACVR2B/ACVR1B interaction. Further analysis of the human bladder confirmed the expression profile of the AFI axis, and revealed significantly upregulated expression of INHBA-ACVR2B in bladder cancer. These data suggest roles for these molecules in the growth and metastasis of bladder cancer, and highlight their potential as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.</p>","PeriodicalId":12465,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences","volume":"12 ","pages":"1519977"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11936821/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143718124","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrative multi-omics analysis and machine learning refine global histone modification features in prostate cancer.","authors":"XiaoFeng He, QinTao Ge, WenYang Zhao, Chao Yu, HuiMing Bai, XiaoTong Wu, Jing Tao, WenHao Xu, Yunhua Qiu, Lei Chen, JianFeng Yang","doi":"10.3389/fmolb.2025.1557843","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fmolb.2025.1557843","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Prostate cancer (PCa) is a major cause of cancer-related mortality in men, characterized by significant heterogeneity in clinical behavior and treatment response. Histone modifications play key roles in tumor progression and treatment resistance, but their regulatory effects in PCa remain poorly understood.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We utilized integrative multi-omics analysis and machine learning to explore histone modification-driven heterogeneity in PCa. The Comprehensive Machine Learning Histone Modification Score (CMLHMS) was developed to classify PCa into two distinct subtypes based on histone modification patterns. Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed, and drug sensitivity analysis identified potential therapeutic vulnerabilities.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>High-CMLHMS tumors exhibited elevated histone modification activity, enriched proliferative and metabolic pathways, and were strongly associated with progression to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Low-CMLHMS tumors showed stress-adaptive and immune-regulatory phenotypes. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed distinct differentiation trajectories related to tumor aggressiveness and histone modification patterns. Drug sensitivity analysis showed that high-CMLHMS tumors were more responsive to growth factor and kinase inhibitors (e.g., PI3K, EGFR inhibitors), while low-CMLHMS tumors demonstrated greater sensitivity to cytoskeletal and DNA damage repair-targeting agents (e.g., Paclitaxel, Gemcitabine).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The CMLHMS model effectively stratifies PCa into distinct subtypes with unique biological and clinical characteristics. This study provides new insights into histone modification-driven heterogeneity in PCa and suggests potential therapeutic targets, contributing to precision oncology strategies for advanced PCa.</p>","PeriodicalId":12465,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences","volume":"12 ","pages":"1557843"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11936803/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143718130","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Computational electrostatic engineering of nanobodies for enhanced SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain recognition.","authors":"Zafar Iqbal, Muhammad Asim, Umair Ahmad Khan, Neelam Sultan, Irfan Ali","doi":"10.3389/fmolb.2025.1512788","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fmolb.2025.1512788","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study presents a novel computational approach for engineering nanobodies (Nbs) for improved interaction with receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Using Protein Structure Reliability reports, RBD (7VYR_R) was selected and refined for subsequent Nb-RBD interactions. By leveraging electrostatic complementarity (EC) analysis, we engineered and characterized five Electrostatically Complementary Nbs (ECSb1-ECSb5) based on the CeVICA library's SR6c3 Nb. Through targeted modifications in the complementarity-determining regions (CDR) and framework regions (FR), we optimized electrostatic interactions to improve binding affinity and specificity. The engineered Nbs (ECSb3, ECSb4, and ECSb5) demonstrated high binding specificity for AS3, CA1, and CA2 epitopes. Interestingly, ECSb1 and ECSb2 selectively engaged with AS3 and CA1 instead of AS1 and AS2, respectively, due to a preference for residues that conferred superior binding complementarities. Furthermore, ECSbs significantly outperformed SR6c3 Nb in MM/GBSA results, notably, ECSb4 and ECSb3 exhibited superior binding free energies of -182.58 kcal.mol^-1 and -119.07 kcal.mol^-1, respectively, compared to SR6c3 (-105.50 kcal.mol^-1). ECSbs exhibited significantly higher thermostability (100.4-148.3 kcal·mol⁻¹) compared to SR6c3 (62.6 kcal·mol⁻¹). Similarly, enhanced electrostatic complementarity was also observed for ECSb4-RBD and ECSb3-RBD (0.305 and 0.390, respectively) relative to SR6c3-RBD (0.233). Surface analyses confirmed optimized electrostatic patches and reduced aggregation propensity in the engineered Nb. This integrated EC and structural engineering approach successfully developed engineered Nbs with enhanced binding specificity, increased thermostability, and reduced aggregation, laying the groundwork for novel therapeutic applications targeting the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.</p>","PeriodicalId":12465,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences","volume":"12 ","pages":"1512788"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11931142/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143700117","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis reveals the effects of EMMPRIN on nucleotide metabolism and 1C metabolism in AS mouse BMDMs.","authors":"Yun Zhang, Diyuan Zhang, Zulong Xie, Tianli Xia, Lili Zou, Tao Wang, Li Zhong, Zhuo Zeng, Lingying Wang, Guozhu Chen, Xing Liang","doi":"10.3389/fmolb.2024.1460186","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fmolb.2024.1460186","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) has been considered as a key promoting factor in atherosclerosis (AS). Some studies have shown that regulating EMMPRIN expression in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) of ApoE-/- mice can affect plaque stability, but the mechanism was not clear.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>AS model mice were built from high-fat-feeding ApoE -/- mice, and were divided into siE group and CON group. The BMDMs and aortas from AS mice were harvested following <i>in vivo</i> treatment with either EMMPRIN short interfering (si)RNA (siEMMPRIN) or negative control siRNA. Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles were analyzed using RNA-sequencing and Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), respectively. The efficacy of siEMMPRIN was assessed through real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting (WB). Immunofluorescence staining was employed to measure EMMPRIN expression within aortic atherosclerotic plaques. Cell proliferation was monitored using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8), while flow cytometry was utilized to analyze the cell cycle. Additionally, seahorse analysis and oil red O staining were conducted to verify glucose and lipid metabolism, respectively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 3,282 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) and 16,138 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the CON group and siE group. The nucleotide metabolism and one-carbon (1C) metabolism were identified as major altered pathways at both the transcriptional and metabolic levels. Metabolomic results identified increased levels of glycine, serine, betaine and S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) to S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (SAH) ratio and decreased levels of dimethylglycine (DMG) and SAH in 1C metabolism, accompanied by the accumulation of nucleotides, nucleosides, and bases in nucleotide metabolism. Transcriptomics results shown that Dnmt, Mthfd2 and Dhfr were downregulated, while Mthfr were upregulated in 1C metabolism. And numerous genes involved in <i>de novo</i> nucleotide synthesis, pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) and dNTP production were significantly inhibited, which may be associated with decreased BMDMs proliferation and cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase in siE group. Multi-omics results also showed changes in glucose and lipid metabolism. Seahorse assay confirmed reduced glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) levels and the Oil Red O staining confirmed the decrease of lipid droplets in siE group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis suggested that nucleotide metabolism and 1C metabolism may be major metabolic pathways affected by siEMMPRIN in AS mouse BMDMs. Our study contributes to a better understanding of the role of EMMPRIN in AS development.</p>","PeriodicalId":12465,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences","volume":"11 ","pages":"1460186"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11927532/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143691573","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rapamycin combined with osimertinib alleviated non-small cell lung cancer by regulating the PARP, Akt/mTOR, and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways.","authors":"Qingrong Ma, Kai Chen, Haiping Xiao","doi":"10.3389/fmolb.2025.1548810","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fmolb.2025.1548810","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Backgrounds: </strong>Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), one kind of common malignant tumor, is accompanied by high morbidity and mortality. The effects and related mechanisms of rapamycin (Rapa) combined with osimertinib (Osi) in treating NSCLC are still unclear. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects and related mechanisms of Rapa combined with Osi on NSCLC.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In A549 and PC-9 cells, the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to select the optimal administrative concentrations of Rapa and Osi and evaluate the cell viability. The Transwell assay and flow cytometry were used to determine the migration, cell cycle, apoptosis, and the level of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), respectively. The protein and mRNA expression level of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9), Caspase-3, Microtubule-Associated Protein 1 Light Chain 3 II/I (LC3 II/I), beclin1, Sequestosome 1 (p62), Poly (ADP-ribose) Polymerase (PARP), Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK), Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase (ERK), Protein Kinase B (Akt), and Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) was determined by Western blot and Quantitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The optimal administrative concentrations of Rapa and Osi were 0.5 μM and 1 μM, respectively. Rapamycin combined with Osimertinib significantly decreased the viability of cells, the quantity of migrated cells, the levels of ROS, as well as the mRNA and protein expression levels of MMP9 and p62, Caspase-3, LC3 II/I, beclin1. The combination of the two drugs is markedly more effective than the use of drugs alone.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In conclusion, the study demonstrated that Rapamycin combined with Osimertinib can inhibit the cell migration, regulate the cell cycle, promote the autophagy and apoptosis, increase the ROS level and regulate the PARP, MAPK/EKR, and Akt/mTOR pathways in A549 and PC-9 cells, providing a novel theoretical basis for their clinical treatment of NSCLC.</p>","PeriodicalId":12465,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences","volume":"12 ","pages":"1548810"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11925885/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143691574","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Role of the cytoskeleton in cellular reprogramming: effects of biophysical and biochemical factors.","authors":"Ekaterina Momotyuk, Nour Ebrahim, Ksenia Shakirova, Erdem Dashinimaev","doi":"10.3389/fmolb.2025.1538806","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fmolb.2025.1538806","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The cytoskeleton plays a crucial role in regulating cellular behavior, acting as both a structural framework and a mediator of mechanical and biochemical signals that influence cell fate. In the context of cellular reprogramming, modifications to the cytoskeleton can have profound effects on lineage commitment and differentiation efficiency. This review explores the impact of mechanical forces such as substrate stiffness, topography, extracellular fluid viscosity, and cell seeding density on cytoskeletal organization and mechanotransduction pathways, including Rho/ROCK and YAP/TAZ signaling. Additionally, we examine the influence of biochemical agents that modulate cytoskeletal dynamics, such as actin and microtubule polymerization inhibitors, and their effects on stem cell differentiation. By understanding how cytoskeletal remodeling governs cellular identity, this review highlights potential strategies for improving reprogramming efficiency and directing cell fate by manipulating mechanical and biochemical cues.</p>","PeriodicalId":12465,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences","volume":"12 ","pages":"1538806"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11926148/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143691575","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring proinsulin proteostasis: insights into beta cell health and diabetes.","authors":"Parisima Ghaffarian Zavarzadeh, Kathigna Panchal, Dylan Bishop, Elizabeth Gilbert, Mahi Trivedi, Tovaria Kee, Srivastav Ranganathan, Anoop Arunagiri","doi":"10.3389/fmolb.2025.1554717","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fmolb.2025.1554717","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Proinsulin misfolding is central to diabetes. This review examines the cellular mechanisms regulating proinsulin proteostasis in pancreatic β-cells, encompassing genetic factors such as insulin gene mutations, and exploring the roles of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR), ER redox balance, mitochondrial function, and the influence of extrinsic factors. Mutations in the INS gene, particularly those affecting cysteine residues, impair folding and disulfide bond formation, often exhibiting dominant-negative effects on the wild-type proinsulin. The importance of ER quality control mechanisms, including chaperones and oxidoreductases, in facilitating proper folding and degradation of misfolded proinsulin is emphasized. Disruptions in these systems, due to genetic mutations, ER stress, or impaired ER-to-Golgi trafficking, lead to proinsulin accumulation and β-cell dysfunction. The unfolded protein response (UPR), especially the PERK and IRE1α-XBP1 pathways, emerges as a central regulator of protein synthesis and ER stress management. The review also discusses the role of mitochondrial health, ER redox state, and extrinsic factors such as diet and medications in influencing proinsulin proteostasis. Finally, the structural insights from NMR and molecular dynamics simulations are discussedhighlighting the dynamics of misfolding and underscoring the importance of disulfide bonds. These mechanistic insights suggest innovative strategies targeting thiol/disulfide redox systems in cells to mitigate protein misfolding diseases including diabetes.</p>","PeriodicalId":12465,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences","volume":"12 ","pages":"1554717"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11919908/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143663139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Carbon dots derived from <i>Zingiber officinale</i> Rosc (ginger) with hemostatic effects.","authors":"Wen-Jing Hu, Ai-Qi Yu, Hai-Zheng Bi, Zhao-Jiong Zhang, Zhi-Bin Wang, Meng Wang, Hai-Xue Kuang","doi":"10.3389/fmolb.2025.1530469","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fmolb.2025.1530469","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Ginger, as a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), can be used in clinical practice to treat various diseases. The product of ginger processed at high temperatures is called carbonized ginger (CG), which has a hemostatic effect that ginger originally did not have. The purpose of this study is to investigate the hemostatic effect of CG and the substances that exert hemostatic effects.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>CG was prepared and successfully obtained CG carbon dots (CG-CDs) from its aqueous solution. After fully characterizing its structural information, the hemostatic effect was evaluated using mouse tail bleeding and liver injury bleeding models, and the clotting time was evaluated using capillary coagulation experiments. In addition, the hemostatic mechanism of CG-CDs was explored.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The average particle size of CG-CDs was observed to be 4.07 nm and the lattice spacing was 0.216 nm. It was mainly composed of graphite structured carbon, with the main constituent elements being C, N, and O, containing functional groups such as C=N, C=O, and C-OH. The FL spectrum showed that the maximum excitation wavelength of CG-CDs was 360 nm, and the maximum emission wavelength was 470 nm. The QY of CG-CDs was calculated to be 0.45%. CG-CDs shortened bleeding time, reduced bleeding volume, and also shortened the time for blood clotting. With the increase of CG-CDs, the values of FIB gradually increased, and the PT values gradually decreased. In addition, CG-CDs increased PLT count, increased PLT activating factor TXB2, decreased 6-keto-PGF_1<i>α</i> , increased PAI-1, and decreased t-PA.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>CG-CDs obtained from CG has hemostatic activity, mainly by activating exogenous coagulation and co-coagulation pathways, increasing PLT count, increasing PLT activating factor TXB2, reducing 6-keto-PGF_1<i>α</i> , increasing PAI-1, and reducing t-PA, thereby affecting the fibrinolytic system and other pathways to exert hemostatic effects.</p>","PeriodicalId":12465,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences","volume":"12 ","pages":"1530469"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11913708/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143656839","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Moxibustion inhibits inflammation in monosodium urate crystal-induced gouty arthritis model rats through metabolomic regulation.","authors":"Yufeng Xie, Yun Chen, Ting Qin, Jun Li, Zhichun Chang, Yanfang Li, Jianmei Zhang, Mujun Liu, Jianli Wang, Rong Ren, Ziliang Qian, Jinxin Liu, Min Chen","doi":"10.3389/fmolb.2025.1433912","DOIUrl":"10.3389/fmolb.2025.1433912","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Moxibustion is a form of therapy that to warm the acupoints located skin by using dried mugwort leaves. It is widely used to treat gouty arthritis (GA). However, the mechanism of moxibustion on improving GA has not been fully revealed. In this study, we explore the mechanism of moxibustion on GA via metabolomics combined with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Three days before model induction, the rats of moxibustion groups were treated with moxibustion in the ST36 and SP6, and then, a GA rat model induced by monosodium urate (MSU) was established. Biological samples, including joint synovial tissue and serum samples, were collected and measured by histopathological staining, molecular biology assays and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based metabolomics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We found that moxibustion could reduce the ankle edema induced by MSU crystals, decrease the expression of related proinflammatory genes, decrease the levels of serum IL-18 and IL-1β, and restore the metabolism of glycerol phospholipids, niacin and nicotinamide in GA model rats.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Moxibustion can regulate the metabolism of GA model rats widely to inhibit inflammation. Our research deepens our understanding of the complex mechanisms of moxibustion and promotes the application of moxibustion in the clinical practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":12465,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences","volume":"12 ","pages":"1433912"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11911207/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143647787","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}