International Journal of Medical Sciences最新文献

{"title":"Dual Role of Transcription Factors in the Development and Thermogenic Function of Brown Adipose Tissue.","authors":"Shuai Wang, Fuan Xie, Weihua Li, Wenlong Xie, Hongqiu Cheng","doi":"10.7150/ijms.127214","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijms.127214","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Obesity, a major global health challenge, is intricately linked to various metabolic disorders, primarily driven by an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure. Brown adipose tissue (BAT), through its unique thermogenic capability, dissipates energy as heat, playing a vital role in regulating energy homeostasis and maintaining body temperature. Recent studies have revealed a complex regulatory network involving multiple transcription factors (e.g., PPARγ, EBF2, ZFP516, FOXP1) and signaling pathways (e.g., cAMP-PKA, AMPK, mTOR), which act synergistically to finely tune the development and thermogenic function of BAT. Furthermore, gene therapy based on adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors, which enhances the thermogenic capacity of BAT, provides a highly promising strategy for addressing obesity and metabolic disorders. Additionally, several natural product extracts including <i>Artemisia argyi</i> oil and capsaicin may activate BAT thermogenesis with fewer side effects, representing potential safe and effective dietary supplements for combating obesity in the future. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms may lead to novel therapeutic approaches targeting obesity and metabolic disorders, paving the way for new interventions to improve human health.</p>","PeriodicalId":14031,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"23 3","pages":"972-985"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12964565/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147377382","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification of Key Genes via Integrated Multi-Omics and Machine Learning Uncovers Tumor Biological Features and Prognostic Biomarkers in Uterine Leiomyosarcoma.","authors":"Wei Lu, Susu Jiang, Qiran Sun, Yating Huang, Ying Yang, Xiaoqin Wang, Liwen Zhang, Yi Guo, Rujun Chen","doi":"10.7150/ijms.126491","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijms.126491","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Uterine leiomyosarcoma (ULMS) is a rare, aggressive uterine malignancy with high misdiagnosis rates, poor prognosis, and limited molecular biomarkers. Its pathogenesis, links between specific genes and the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), and applications of machine learning (ML) and Mendelian randomization (MR) remain understudied.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Multi-cohort data (4 GEO datasets, TCGA-SARC, single-cell sequencing) were integrated. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and WGCNA-derived key modules identified \"InteGenes\". 113 ML algorithms were compared to build a diagnostic model (top: GBM, core genes = \"Mgenes\"). CIBERSORT analyzed TIME; MR explored Mgenes-ULMS causal links.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>96 InteGenes enriched in cell cycle/p53/DNA repair pathways. The GBM model had training AUC = 1 and validation accuracy 92.3-100%; 36 Mgenes (e.g., TRIP13, AUC = 0.972) showed diagnostic value. Mgenes correlated with TIME (upregulated Mgenes ↔ M2 TAMs/Tregs; downregulated ↔ effector cells). MR found no genetic causality between Mgenes and ULMS.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>InteGenes reflect ULMS pathogenesis; the GBM model and Mgenes are promising diagnostic tools. Mgenes modulate ULMS's TIME, offering immunotherapeutic targets. This study advances ULMS molecular/immune understanding for translational research.</p>","PeriodicalId":14031,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"23 3","pages":"927-949"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12964573/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147377441","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrative analysis of the PSMA family identifies PSMA6 as an adverse prognostic biomarker promoting bladder cancer cell proliferation.","authors":"Zhengnan Huang, Xiangqian Cao, Yilin Yan, Huaxing Li, Bing Shen, Tengjiao Wang","doi":"10.7150/ijms.119034","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijms.119034","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Proteasome subunit alpha members (PSMAs) are reported to be involved in diverse biological processes, and mounting evidence indicates that PSMAs have been implicated in the carcinogenesis of various malignancies. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of reports on the expression, prognostic significance, and potential functions of the PSMA family in bladder cancer (BLCA).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We utilized the TCGA, GEO, TIMER, UALCAN, and HPA databases to evaluate the expression of PSMAs in BLCA. Survival analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier methods. The validation of PSMA6 dysregulation in human BLCA samples encompassed western blotting and immunohistochemistry. For the enrichment of biological processes, we applied Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Gene Set Enrichment Analyses (GSEA). Subsequent analyses involved the exploration of correlations between gene expression and Immune-related effects. In-depth investigations into the role of PSMA6 in BLCA were conducted through both <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> experiments.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We demonstrated that PSMA6 was upregulated among PSMAs in BLCA, and overexpression of PSMA6 was associated with unfavorable prognosis and tumor malignancy. Enrichment analyses disclosed the involvement of PSMA6 in immune-related activities within the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, the expression of PSMA6 was closely correlated with tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TICs) and immune checkpoints (ICPs). Besides, we also revealed that BLCA patients with high PSMA6 expression would have better immunotherapy response. Functional studies demonstrated that PSMA6 knockdown suppressed BLCA cell proliferation <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings suggested that PSMA6 might function as an unfavorable prognostic biomarker, fostering BLCA cell proliferation, while also potentially serving as a predictive indicator for the efficacy of immunotherapy in BLCA patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":14031,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"23 3","pages":"986-1001"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12964584/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147377464","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of the Impact of <i>Cordyceps cicadae</i> Mycelium on Vision Health: A Cohort Study.","authors":"Lee Sun, Jui-Hsia Hsu, Yuan-Yen Chang, Chieh-Lin Wu, Min-Yen Hsu, Yu-Chien Hung, Chin-Chu Chen, Hui-Wen Lin","doi":"10.7150/ijms.127003","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijms.127003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Cordyceps cicadae</i> is a traditional Chinese medicinal fungus known for its diverse bioactive compounds and pharmacological properties similar to those of <i>Cordyceps sinensis</i>. Extracts of <i>C. cicadae</i> have been reported to alleviate dry eye syndrome, reduce intraocular pressure (IOP), and show therapeutic potential in various ocular diseases. In this study, we evaluated the effects of <i>C. cicadae</i> mycelium (CCM) intake on visual function in 60 healthy volunteers. Comprehensive eye examinations including visual acuity, axial length, corneal curvature, and refractive error were conducted at six time points: baseline (day 0, pre-intake), one- and two-hours post-intake on day 0 and again on day 28 (pre-final intake and one- and two- hours post-intake), following a 28-day period of continuous supplementation. Subjective ocular surface condition was also assessed using an OSDI questionnaire. No significant changes were observed in axial length, corneal curvature, or refractive error throughout the study. However, improvements in VA were noted in a subset of participants as early as one hour after CCM intake, with further enhancement at two hours and sustained improvement following 28 days of daily supplementation. Subjective reports also indicated a marked reduction in eye fatigue after CCM consumption. These findings suggest that CCM supplementation may serve as a supportive strategy for relieving digital eye strain and enhancing visual function.</p>","PeriodicalId":14031,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"23 3","pages":"864-875"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12964581/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147377380","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sex-Specific Prediction Models of Alzheimer's Disease: A Gene Expression Analysis.","authors":"Xiaomeng Ma, Abdilahi Abdi Ibrahim, Lili Ma, Xueying Ma, Zhan Ma, Yingying Liu, Donghong Li, Jia Liu, Xiaofeng Xu, Huimin Dong, Xiaohong Chen, Fuhua Peng","doi":"10.7150/ijms.122666","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijms.122666","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Alzheimer's disease (AD) exhibits sex-specific molecular signatures that may improve diagnostic precision. We aimed to identify and validate male- and female-specific blood and brain gene expression biomarkers for AD prediction. We analyzed four GEO datasets (blood- and brain-derived) using limma and Fisher's meta-analysis to identify sex-specific differentially expressed genes, assessed age associations via linear regression, and constructed 10-fold cross-validated logistic regression models. After performing a meta-analysis, 74 differentially expressed genes were identified in the female cohort and 89 DEGs were screened in the male cohort. ERH and MRPS33 were identified as the most relevant genes in the male cohort, and NDUFA1 and NDUFS5 were screened in the female cohort. The identified genes were downregulated in AD samples compared to controls. Both male-specific and female-specific prediction models achieved an AUC of above 0.7 in two external validation blood-derived datasets as well entorhinal cortex dataset. Paradoxically, qPCR showed significant upregulation of all four genes in the AD group compared to the control group.</p>","PeriodicalId":14031,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"23 3","pages":"852-863"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12964574/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147377343","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A prognostic 19-gene signature and LBP-mediated immune dysregulation define the tumor microenvironment in poor-prognosis KIRC.","authors":"Chia-Hung Chen, Hsiao-Hsuan Huang, Tzu-Han Weng, Ta-Wei Kuo, Nien-Che Ho, Kai-Yao Huang, Hui-Ju Kao, Chen-Lin Yu, Shun-Long Weng, Kuang-Wen Liao","doi":"10.7150/ijms.125505","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijms.125505","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) exhibits pronounced immune heterogeneity, and immune dysregulation within the tumor microenvironment (TME) contributes to poor outcomes. Leveraging TCGA-KIRC RNA-seq, we stratified patients by immune-cell infiltration and immune-regulatory gene expression to define a poor-survival subgroup for discovery. Differential expression analysis prioritized lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) and generated an immune-relevant candidate set that was refined from 406 to 87 genes by stepwise logistic regression and then benchmarked through one million random 20-gene models, yielding a final 19-gene prognostic signature. Six immune-cell features associated with survival were identified, including higher M0 macrophages, regulatory T cells, activated CD4 memory T cells, plasma cells, and neutrophils (worse prognosis) and resting mast cells (better prognosis). LBP was highly expressed in the poor-survival subgroup and functionally validated <i>in vitro</i>: RT-PCR/ELISA/Western blot and cell-based assays showed that LBP promotes tumor-cell migration and macrophage activation, while LBP neutralization reversed these effects, supporting its role as a mediator of tumor-immune crosstalk. The 19-gene panel robustly distinguished poor-survival patients, achieving AUC = 0.84 in TCGA-KIRC and 0.79-1.00 across three external datasets. Pathway analysis implicated ERK signaling, immune suppression, and chronic inflammation. These findings establish a clinically relevant 19-gene signature and highlight LBP-driven immune dysregulation as a potential target in KIRC.</p>","PeriodicalId":14031,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"23 3","pages":"824-842"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12964576/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147377376","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Melatonin inhibits FAK signaling to suppress PD-L1 expression and enhance chemosensitivity in triple-negative breast cancer.","authors":"Cheng-Che Wu, Ping-Fu Yang, Shu-Jyuan Chang, Mei-Ren Pan, Chung-Liang Li, Chun-Chieh Wu, Jung-Yu Kan, Fang-Ming Chen, Ming-Feng Hou, Chi-Wen Luo","doi":"10.7150/ijms.127669","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijms.127669","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype lacking targetable hormone receptors, making conventional chemotherapy the primary treatment option, despite its associated toxicity and potential for drug resistance. Melatonin, a natural hormone with anticancer and immunomodulatory properties, has shown promise in multiple cancers; however, its role in TNBC remains unclear.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analyzed serum melatonin levels in TNBC patients and healthy controls. The biological effects of melatonin were then evaluated in human (MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468) and murine (4T1) TNBC cell lines. <i>In vitro</i> assays assessed proliferation, apoptosis, migration, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and chemosensitization. Mechanistic pathways were analyzed, and an orthotopic 4T1 syngeneic mouse model was employed to confirm antitumor and immunomodulatory effects <i>in vivo</i>.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We found that TNBC patients had significantly lower serum melatonin levels than healthy controls. <i>In vitro</i>, melatonin reduced cell viability, migration, and tumorsphere formation, and promoted apoptosis. Mechanistically, it downregulated focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). FAK inhibition increased melatonin sensitivity, whereas FAK overexpression conferred resistance. Melatonin also enhanced cisplatin cytotoxicity. <i>In vivo</i>, melatonin treatment suppressed tumor growth, increased CD8⁺ T-cell infiltration, and decreased PD-L1 expression and the number of FOXP3⁺ regulatory T cells in the tumor microenvironment.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Melatonin suppresses TNBC progression by inhibiting proliferation and migration and by modulating the immune microenvironment through the FAK-PD-L1 axis. These findings highlight melatonin as a potential low-toxicity adjunct to enhance the efficacy of current TNBC therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":14031,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"23 3","pages":"876-888"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12964572/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147377277","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of Virtual Reality-Based Mindfulness Program vs Audio-Guided Mindfulness on Depression, Sleep, and Quality of Life in Dementia Family Caregivers: An Exploratory Randomized Controlled Trial.","authors":"Dorothy Bai, Yu-Hua Wang, Yu-Fang Lin, Megan F Liu","doi":"10.7150/ijms.126415","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijms.126415","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Family caregivers of individuals with dementia often experience significant psychological and physical burdens. While mindfulness-based interventions have shown potential in improving caregiver well-being, the effects of integrating virtual reality (VR) technology into these interventions remain underexplored.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study compared a VR-based mindfulness program with an audio-guided mindfulness program on depression, sleep quality, and quality of life among family caregivers of people with dementia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An exploratory randomized controlled trial was conducted with 16 dementia family caregivers. Participants were randomly assigned to a VR-based mindfulness intervention group or an audio-guided mindfulness active control group. The six-week intervention included practices such as mindful breathing, body scanning, and yoga. The primary outcome was depression (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, CES-D). Secondary outcomes were sleep quality (Chinese Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, CPSQI) and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF Taiwan version). Outcomes were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Within-group changes were assessed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and between-group differences in change scores were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Both groups showed significant within-group improvements in depression (VR: -4.50, <i>p</i> = .012; audio: -4.00, <i>p</i> = .012), sleep quality (VR: -1.50, <i>p</i> = .012; audio: -1.50, <i>p</i> = .017), and quality of life (VR: +2.00, <i>p</i> = .012; audio: +3.00, <i>p</i> = .012). Although between-group differences were not statistically significant, no VR-related adverse symptoms were reported, and the findings support further evaluation of VR-delivered mindfulness in larger trials.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Both VR-based and audio-guided mindfulness interventions were associated with within-group improvements in depression, sleep, and quality of life in dementia caregivers. VR offers an engaging alternative for mindfulness delivery, with potential to enhance user experience. Given the small sample size, these findings should be interpreted cautiously, and larger studies are needed to examine VR's added benefits.</p>","PeriodicalId":14031,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"23 3","pages":"843-851"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12964570/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147377446","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biopsy-Proven Pulmonary Tumors Detected by LDCT: A 10-Year Single-Center Study of Growth Patterns and Diagnostic Pitfalls.","authors":"Chia-Tsung Hung, Chou-Chin Lan, Po-Chun Hsieh, Kun-Eng Lim, Tsung-Han Hsieh, I-Shiang Tzeng, Chih-Wei Wu","doi":"10.7150/ijms.123625","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijms.123625","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) reduces lung cancer mortality but may lead to increased resection of benign tumors. We aimed to characterize growth patterns, pathologic diagnoses, diagnostic timelines, and CT-guided biopsy accuracy in screening-detected lung tumors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We retrospectively analyzed LDCT screening data from 6,997 participants at Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital (2013-2018) with follow-up through 2023. Clinical, radiologic, and pathological features of biopsied lung tumors were evaluated. Volume doubling time (VDT) was calculated for progressive lesions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the 128 patients who underwent biopsy, 84 were diagnosed with lung cancer, resulting in a detection rate of 1.2%. Of these, 86% were stage 0-I, and 95% were adenocarcinomas. Of the 157 biopsied tumors, 34% were benign. The most common benign pathological finding was fibrosis, followed by anthracosis. Lobulation and subsolid attenuation were significantly associated with malignancy. Time to diagnosis did not differ significantly between benign and malignant tumors (HR = 1.1, p = 0.53). Notably, 7% of benign tumors showed interval growth and 13% were detected de novo. Benign tumors exhibited a faster growth rate (3.8 vs. 1.5 mm/year, p = 0.28) and shorter VDT (347 vs. 565 days, p = 0.14) than malignant tumors. CT-guided biopsy had a 23% false-negative rate and a 78% negative predictive value.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Benign tumors with interval growth or de novo presentation remain a diagnostic challenge. VDT alone is insufficient for distinguishing benign from malignant tumors. Given the substantial false-negative rate of CT-guided biopsy in small lung tumors, integrating radiologic features with clinical context is essential for guiding subsequent surveillance strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":14031,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"23 3","pages":"780-787"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12964566/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147377413","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy of Combined <i>Hericium erinaceus</i> Mycelium and Undenatured Type II Collagen in Reducing Osteoarthritis Progression in a Preclinical Animal Model.","authors":"Kun-Tsan Lee, Chin-Jung Hsu, Li-Chai Chen, Li-Ya Lee, Wan-Ping Chen, Yu-Wen Chen, Chin-Chu Chen, Yen-You Lin, Tzu-Ching Chang, Chen-Ming Su, Chih-Hsin Tang","doi":"10.7150/ijms.126220","DOIUrl":"10.7150/ijms.126220","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition linked with aging that impacts joints and leads to functional disability. <i>Hericium erinaceus</i>, a large edible mushroom widely consumed in Asian countries, is recognized as a functional food and has been reported as a beneficial supplement for OA management. Undenatured type II collagen (UC-II), a new nutraceutical ingredient, has garnered significant interest for its potential in OA treatment. This study investigated whether <i>H. erinaceus</i> mycelium (HEM) and UC-II together are more effective at preventing the advancement of OA. HEM and UC-II reduce bone pain and the development of OA associated with anterior cruciate ligament transaction. Through the reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α, as well as the chondrolytic factors MMP-3, MMP-13, and ADAMTS5, HEM and UC-II inhibited the degradation of aggrecan and COL2A1. This action resulted in a blockade of cartilage breakdown and bone loss. The combination of HEM and UC-II also prevented OA progression. These findings provide evidence for using HEM and UC-II for OA therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":14031,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"23 3","pages":"815-823"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12964575/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147377443","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}