Mannose,a different isomer of the hydroxyl group at the C-2 position of glucose,shares the same transport carrier protein with glucose to enter cells and participate in the regulation of glucose metabolism.It affects ...Mannose,a different isomer of the hydroxyl group at the C-2 position of glucose,shares the same transport carrier protein with glucose to enter cells and participate in the regulation of glucose metabolism.It affects cell growth,differentiation,and function and plays an active role in tumor immunity and inflammatory processes.This paper provides theoretical support for expanding the clinical applications of mannose by exploring its constitution,metabolic pathways,and role in regulating immune cell function and treating immunology-related diseases.展开更多
The continuous increase in the incidence rate of various fatal malignant tumors in the recent years warrants an imperative search for medications or drugs with obvious anti-tumor eflects and reliable curative effects....The continuous increase in the incidence rate of various fatal malignant tumors in the recent years warrants an imperative search for medications or drugs with obvious anti-tumor eflects and reliable curative effects.Previous studies have found that Curcuma zedoaria and its active ingredients,such as turmeric oil,curcumol,and P-elemene,have obvious antitumor effects,and they do not have the adverse reactions and side effects seen in the anti-tumor drugs of Western medicine.Based on the review and inductive analysis of related literature,we summarize in the present article the results of some researchers who investigated the anti-tumor effects of Curcuma zedoaria and its active ingredients through the immune regulation mechanism.展开更多
Several types of modifications have been proven to participate in the metabolism and processing of different RNA types,including non-coding RNAs(ncRNAs).N-6-methyladenosine(m6A)is a dynamic and reversible RNA modifica...Several types of modifications have been proven to participate in the metabolism and processing of different RNA types,including non-coding RNAs(ncRNAs).N-6-methyladenosine(m6A)is a dynamic and reversible RNA modification that is closely involved in the ncRNA homeostasis,and serves as a crucial regulator for multiple cancer-associated signaling pathways.The ncRNAs usually regulate the epigenetic modification,mRNA transcription and other biological processes,displaying enormous roles in human cancers.In this review,we summarized the significant implications of m6A-ncRNA interaction in various types of cancers.In particular,the interplay between m6A and ncRNAs in cancer pathogenesis and therapeutic resistance are being widely recognized.We also discussed the relevance of m6A-ncRNA interaction in immune regulation,followed by the interference on cancer immunotherapeutic procedures.In addition,we briefly highlighted the computation tools that could identify the accurate features of m6A methylome among ncRNAs.In summary,this review would pave the way for a better understanding of the biological functions of m6A-ncRNA crosstalk in cancer research and treatment.展开更多
Precise and dynamic regulation of gene expression is a key feature of immunity.In recent years,rapid advances in transcriptome profiling analysis have led to recognize long noncoding RNAs(lncRNAs)as an additional laye...Precise and dynamic regulation of gene expression is a key feature of immunity.In recent years,rapid advances in transcriptome profiling analysis have led to recognize long noncoding RNAs(lncRNAs)as an additional layer of gene regulation context.In the immune system,lncRNAs are found to be widely expressed in immune cells including monocytes,macrophages,dendritic cells(DC),neutrophils,T cells and B cells during their development,differentiation and activation.However,the functional importance of immune-related lncRNAs is just emerging to be characterized.In this review,we discuss the up-to-date knowledge of lncRNAs in immune regulation.展开更多
As important messengers of intercellular communication,exosomes can regulate local and distant cellular communication by transporting specific exosomal con-tents and can also promote or suppress the development and pr...As important messengers of intercellular communication,exosomes can regulate local and distant cellular communication by transporting specific exosomal con-tents and can also promote or suppress the development and progression of gas-tric cancer(GC)by regulating the growth and proliferation of tumor cells,the tumor-related immune response and tumor angiogenesis.Exosomes transport bioactive molecules including DNA,proteins,and RNA(coding and noncoding)from donor cells to recipient cells,causing reprogramming of the target cells.In this review,we will describe how exosomes regulate the cellular immune respon-se,tumor angiogenesis,proliferation and metastasis of GC cells,and the role and mechanism of exosome-based therapy in human cancer.We will also discuss the potential application value of exosomes as biomarkers in the diagnosis and treat-ment of GC and their relationship with drug resistance.展开更多
Periodontal disease is an inflammatory and destructive disease of periodontal support tissue caused by microorganisms in dental plaque. During the development of periodontal disease, host immune regulation plays an im...Periodontal disease is an inflammatory and destructive disease of periodontal support tissue caused by microorganisms in dental plaque. During the development of periodontal disease, host immune regulation plays an important role, and unnecessary excessive immune regulation often exacerbates the course of chronic periodontal disease. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells with self replication ability and multi-directional differentiation potential. Many studies have found that MSCs have strong immunosuppressive effects on both adaptive and innate immunity. In recent years, literature has reported that MSCs are involved in the immune regulatory effect of chronic periodontal disease, inhibiting its inflammatory response and alveolar bone resorption, but the specific regulatory mechanism has not been elucidated. This article reviews the current research status of the immune regulatory effects of MSCs on chronic periodontitis.展开更多
Autoimmune hepatitis(AIH)is a chronic inflammatory liver disease occurring in indi-viduals of all ages with a higher incidence in females and characterized by hypergam-maglobulinemia,elevated serum autoantibodies and ...Autoimmune hepatitis(AIH)is a chronic inflammatory liver disease occurring in indi-viduals of all ages with a higher incidence in females and characterized by hypergam-maglobulinemia,elevated serum autoantibodies and histological features of interface hepatitis.AIH pathogenesis remains obscure and still needs in-depth study,which is likely associated with genetic susceptibility and the loss of immune homeostasis.Steroids alone and in combination with other immunosuppressant agents are the pri-mary choices of AIH treatment in the clinic,whereas,in some cases,severe adverse effects and disease relapse may occur.Chinese medicine used for the treatment of AIH has proven its merits over many years and is well tolerated.To better under-stand the pathogenesis of AIH and to evaluate the efficacy of novel therapies,several animal models have been generated to recapitulate the immune microenvironment of patients with AIH.In the current review,we summarize recent advances in the study of animal models for AIH and their application in pharmacological research of Chinese medicine-based therapies and also discuss current limitations.This review aims to provide novel insights into the discovery of Chinese medicine-originated therapies for AIH using cutting-edge animal models.展开更多
Reviews The Dectin-1 cluster comprises seven members:CLEC-12A,CLEC-12B,CLEC-1A,CLEC-7A,CLEC-2,CLEC-9A and OLR1.These members have been demonstrated to be involved in the tumorigenesis,progression,and metastasis of sev...Reviews The Dectin-1 cluster comprises seven members:CLEC-12A,CLEC-12B,CLEC-1A,CLEC-7A,CLEC-2,CLEC-9A and OLR1.These members have been demonstrated to be involved in the tumorigenesis,progression,and metastasis of several cancers.However,little is known about their roles in human lung adenocarcinoma(LUAD).The expression patterns of the Dectin-1 cluster were analyzed via the ONCOMINE and GEPIA databases.We evaluated the prognostic value of the Dectin-1 cluster in patients with LUAD using the Kaplan-Meier plotter and GEPIA.Differential expression was validated with the EMBL-EBI database,and protein expression was analyzed with the HPA database.In addition,protein-protein interaction network,GO,and KEGG analyses were conducted.Finally,the correlations between CLEC-12A and immune molecules(immune inhibitors and MHC molecules)were investigated via TISIDB and GEPIA.The expression levels of Dectin-1 cluster genes were downregulated in LUAD tissues compared to those in normal lung tissues.The expression levels of CLEC-12A,CLEC-12B,CLEC-2,and CLEC-9A correlated with tumor stage,and CLEC-12A and CLEC-12B were significantly associated with survival in patients with LUAD.The seven genes mostly participated in immune regulation processes and were involved in autoimmune disorders and hematological malignancies.Finally,correlation analyses revealed CLEC-12A expression was associated with most immune inhibitors and MHCs.CLEC-12A was positively related to PD-1,PD-L1,PD-L2,CTLA4,TIM3,and LAG3.In conclusion,our findings suggest that CLEC-12A and CLEC-12B can be used as prognostic biomarkers in LUAD.CLEC-12A expression was associated with immune checkpoint molecules,and CLEC-12A may be a potential assistant target to improve the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors immunotherapy.展开更多
Extracellular vesicles(EVs)are cystic vesicles naturally released by most mammalian cells and bacteria.EV contents include proteins,lipids,and nucleic acids.EVs can act as messengers to transmit a variety of molecules...Extracellular vesicles(EVs)are cystic vesicles naturally released by most mammalian cells and bacteria.EV contents include proteins,lipids,and nucleic acids.EVs can act as messengers to transmit a variety of molecules to recipient cells and thus play important regulatory roles in intercellular signal transduction.EVs,released by either a host cell or a pathogen,can carry pathogen-associated antigens and thus act as modulators of immune responses.EVs derived from Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb)-infected cells can regulate the innate immune response through various pathways,such as regulating the release of inflammatory cytokines.In addition,EVs can mediate antigen presentation and regulate the adaptive immune response by transmitting immunoregulatory molecules to T helper cells.In this review,we summarize the regulatory roles of EVs in the immune response against Mtb.展开更多
As a fat-soluble vitamin,Vitamin D is a necessary hormone to maintain normal physiological activities of the body.In recent years,vitamin D has been considered as a new neuroendocrine-immunomodulatory hormone,and rese...As a fat-soluble vitamin,Vitamin D is a necessary hormone to maintain normal physiological activities of the body.In recent years,vitamin D has been considered as a new neuroendocrine-immunomodulatory hormone,and researchers have paid more attention to the study of immune regulatory mechanism.It is not only related to calcium and phosphorus metabolism,bone metabolism and other important metabolic mechanisms of the body,but also closely related to the immune regulation mechanism of the body.Vitamin D deficiency caused by many factors can play a certain role in the development of autoimmune diseases.In this paper,the related mechanisms of vitamin D affecting autoimmune diseases were reviewed,with a view to expound the close correlation between vitamin D and autoimmune diseases,so as to find new diagnosis and treatment approaches for clinical autoimmune diseases and improve the quality of life of patients with autoimmune diseases.展开更多
Tumor burden remains a global health problem that threatens human life worldwide.Over the past few years,the evolution of immune checkpoint inhibitors has represented one of the most successful approaches in the field...Tumor burden remains a global health problem that threatens human life worldwide.Over the past few years,the evolution of immune checkpoint inhibitors has represented one of the most successful approaches in the field of tumor therapy.Drugs regulating tumor immune microenvironment or enhancing body immunity have indicated a novel perspective to treat tumors.Therefore,an increased number of scientists have been shifting their research focus to explore the immunity regulation effects of anti-tumor traditional medicine or natural products.In this review,we summarize the research progress of traditional medicines on tumor immunity regulation in 2020.Our findings suggest that more herbal medicine-derived phytochemicals and formulas were derived from traditional Chinese medicine,and more papers were published in comprehensive journals.Traditional medicine can comprehensively regulate the tumor immune microenvironment,including natural killer cells,dendritic cells,CD4+/CD8+T lymphocytes,regulatory T cells,myeloid-derived suppressor cells,tumor-associated macrophages,immunosuppressive factors,and immune checkpoints.In 2020,a greater number of research papers focused on active ingredients and formulas that regulate tumor-associated macrophages and immune checkpoints.Active ingredients such as flavonoids became a global hotspot in 2020.Certain natural products were also found to exert synergistic anti-tumor activity with immune checkpoint inhibitors,such as curcumin.However,a distinct lack of high-quality experimental and clinical studies remains a prevalent and challenging issue that hinders the further development of traditional medicine.展开更多
There is growing evidence that long-term central nervous system(CNS)inflammation exacerbates secondary deterioration of brain structures and functions and is one of the major determinants of disease outcome and progre...There is growing evidence that long-term central nervous system(CNS)inflammation exacerbates secondary deterioration of brain structures and functions and is one of the major determinants of disease outcome and progression.In acute CNS injury,brain microglia are among the first cells to respond and play a critical role in neural repair and regeneration.However,microglial activation can also impede CNS repair and amplify tissue damage,and phenotypic transformation may be responsible for this dual role.Mesenchymal stem cell(MSC)-derived exosomes(Exos)are promising therapeutic agents for the treatment of acute CNS injuries due to their immunomodulatory and regenerative properties.MSC-Exos are nanoscale membrane vesicles that are actively released by cells and are used clinically as circulating biomarkers for disease diagnosis and prognosis.MSC-Exos can be neuroprotective in several acute CNS models,including for stroke and traumatic brain injury,showing great clinical potential.This review summarized the classification of acute CNS injury disorders and discussed the prominent role of microglial activation in acute CNS inflammation and the specific role of MSC-Exos in regulating pro-inflammatory microglia in neuroinflammatory repair following acute CNS injury.Finally,this review explored the potential mechanisms and factors associated with MSCExos in modulating the phenotypic balance of microglia,focusing on the interplay between CNS inflammation,the brain,and injury aspects,with an emphasis on potential strategies and therapeutic interventions for improving functional recovery from early CNS inflammation caused by acute CNS injury.展开更多
Despite continuous progress,the prevention and treatment of human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS)remain the world’s most serious public health challenges.A key problem is the deg...Despite continuous progress,the prevention and treatment of human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS)remain the world’s most serious public health challenges.A key problem is the degree of immune function reconstruction after antiretroviral therapy.Antiretroviral therapy has enriched the treatment of HIV/AIDS and improved the present conditions and the life quality of HIV/AIDS patients.However,some patients still fail to achieve normalization of CD4+T lymphocyte counts although persistent virological suppression.These patients are referred to as immunological non-responders,and usually present with severe immunological dysfunction.To date,since the underlying mechanism of incomplete immune reconstitution in HIV/AIDS has not been fully elucidated,remaining to be the focus and difficulties of current research.It is still a challenge to explore a safe,effective,and reliable therapeutic method for immunological non-responders.Due to fewer side effects and lower drug resistance,traditional Chinese medicine is often sought to provide alternative pharmacotherapy for regulating the immunity of immunological non-responders in China.In this review,we aimed at summarizing the latest and most comprehensive information on traditional Chinese medicine therapeutic methods for promoting immune reconstruction.In addition,outlooks and perspectives for possible future research that related are also discussed.展开更多
BACKGROUND Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)have great potential for the treatment of various immune diseases due to their unique immunomodulatory properties.However,MSCs exposed to the harsh inflammatory environment of da...BACKGROUND Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)have great potential for the treatment of various immune diseases due to their unique immunomodulatory properties.However,MSCs exposed to the harsh inflammatory environment of damaged tissue after intravenous transplantation cannot exert their biological effects,and therefore,their therapeutic efficacy is reduced.In this challenging context,an in vitro preconditioning method is necessary for the development of MSC-based therapies with increased immunomodulatory capacity and transplantation efficacy.AIM To determine whether hypoxia and inflammatory factor preconditioning increases the immunosuppressive properties of MSCs without affecting their biological characteristics.METHODS Umbilical cord MSCs(UC-MSCs)were pretreated with hypoxia(2%O_(2))exposure and inflammatory factors(interleukin-1β,tumor necrosis factor-α,interferon-γ)for 24 h.Flow cytometry,polymerase chain reaction,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and other experimental methods were used to evaluate the biological characteristics of pretreated UC-MSCs and to determine whether pretreatment affected the immunosuppressive ability of UC-MSCs in coculture with immune cells.RESULTS Pretreatment with hypoxia and inflammatory factors caused UC-MSCs to be elongated but did not affect their viability,proliferation or size.In addition,pretreatment significantly decreased the expression of coagulationrelated tissue factors but did not affect the expression of other surface markers.Similarly,mitochondrial function and integrity were retained.Although pretreatment promoted UC-MSC apoptosis and senescence,it increased the expression of genes and proteins related to immune regulation.Pretreatment increased peripheral blood mononuclear cell and natural killer(NK)cell proliferation rates and inhibited NK cell-induced toxicity to varying degrees.CONCLUSION In summary,hypoxia and inflammatory factor preconditioning led to higher immunosuppressive effects of MSCs without damaging their biological characteristics.展开更多
Currently, researchers are using neural stem cell transplantation to promote regeneration after peripheral nerve injury, as neural stem cells play an important role in peripheral nerve injury repair. This article revi...Currently, researchers are using neural stem cell transplantation to promote regeneration after peripheral nerve injury, as neural stem cells play an important role in peripheral nerve injury repair. This article reviews recent research progress of the role of neural stem cells in the repair of peripheral nerve injury. Neural stem cells can not only differentiate into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, but can also differentiate into Schwann-like cells, which promote neurite outgrowth around the injury. Transplanted neural stem cells can differentiate into motor neurons that innervate muscles and promote the recovery of neurological function. To promote the repair of peripheral nerve injury, neural stem cells secrete various neurotrophic factors, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor, fibroblast growth factor, nerve growth factor, insulin-like growth factor and hepatocyte growth factor. In addition, neural stem cells also promote regeneration of the axonal myelin sheath, angiogenesis, and immune regulation. It can be concluded that neural stem cells promote the repair of peripheral nerve injury through a variety of ways.展开更多
Stem cell therapy is a promising strategy for the treatment of traumatic brain injury(TBI). However, animal experiments are needed to evaluate safety;in particular, to examine the immunogenicity and tumorigenicity of ...Stem cell therapy is a promising strategy for the treatment of traumatic brain injury(TBI). However, animal experiments are needed to evaluate safety;in particular, to examine the immunogenicity and tumorigenicity of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells(hu MSCs) before clinical application. In this study, hu MSCs were harvested from human amniotic membrane and umbilical cord vascular tissue. A rat model of TBI was established using the controlled cortical impact method. Starting from the third day after injury, the rats were injected with 10 μL of 5 × 10^(6)/m L hu MSCs by cerebral stereotaxis or with 500 μL of 1 × 10^(6)/m L hu MSCs via the tail vein for 3 successive days. hu MSC transplantation decreased the serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines in rats with TBI and increased the serum levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines, thereby exhibiting good immunoregulatory function. The transplanted hu MSCs were distributed in the liver, lung and brain injury sites. No abnormal proliferation or tumorigenesis was found in these organs up to 12 months after transplantation. The transplanted hu MSCs negligibly proliferated in vivo, and apoptosis was gradually observed at later stages. These findings suggest that hu MSC transplantation for the treatment of traumatic brain injury displays good safety. In addition, hu MSCs exhibit good immunoregulatory function, which can help prevent and reduce secondary brain injury caused by the rapid release of inflammatory factors after TBI. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Wuhan General Hospital of PLA(approval No. 20160054) on November 1, 2016.展开更多
BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GISTs)are the most common mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract.Surgical resection and tyrosine kinase inhibitors are defined as the main treatments but cannot ...BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GISTs)are the most common mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract.Surgical resection and tyrosine kinase inhibitors are defined as the main treatments but cannot cure patients with advanced GIST,which eventually develops into recurrence and acquired drug resistance.Therefore,it is necessary to identify prognostic biomarkers and new therapeutic targets for GISTs.CC chemokine receptor type 8(CCR8)protein participates in regulation of immune responses.Recent studies on CCR8 in nonsmall cell lung cancer and colorectal cancer showed that it was highly expressed in tumor-infiltrating regulatory T cells and correlated with a poor prognosis.AIM To detect CCR8 expression in GIST tissues and analyze its relationships with clinicopathological features and prognosis in patients with GISTs.METHODS Tissue samples were used for the tissue microarrays construction.The microarrays were then subjected to immunohistochemical analyses to detect CCR8 expression.Next,Kaplan–Meier analysis was utilized to calculate the survival rate of patients with complete follow-up data,and the potential prognostic value of CCR8 was evaluated by Cox regression analysis.Finally,a Gene Ontology/Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes single-gene enrichment chart of CCR8 was constructed using the STRING database.RESULTS CCR8-positive signals were detected as brown or brown-yellow particles by immunohistochemistry located in the cytoplasm.Among 125 tissue samples,74 had CCR8 high expression and 51 had low or negative expression.Statistical analyses suggested CCR8 was significantly correlated with tumor size,mitotic index,AFIP-Miettinen risk classification and tumor location.Kaplan–Meier and multivariate analyses showed that patients with low or negative CCR8 expression,mitotic index<5/high-power fields(HPF)and tumor diameter<5 cm had a better prognosis.Based on the STRING database,CCR8 was significantly enriched in biological processes such as tumor immunity,T lymphocyte chemotaxis,migration and pathways like the nuclear factor-κB and tumor necrosis factor pathways as well as intestinal immune regulation networks.CONCLUSION CCR8 is a prognostic biomarker for malignant potential of GISTs,with high expression correlated with malignancy and poor prognosis.展开更多
Seahorses have evolved many unique biological traits,including a male brood pouch,the absence of caudal and pelvic fins,and the lack of spleen and gut-associated lymphatic tissue.The mitogenactivated protein kinases(M...Seahorses have evolved many unique biological traits,including a male brood pouch,the absence of caudal and pelvic fins,and the lack of spleen and gut-associated lymphatic tissue.The mitogenactivated protein kinases(MAPKs)are known to be involved in various important biological processes including growth,differentiation,immunity,and stress responses.Therefore,we hypothesized that the adaptive evolution and expression of the MAPK gene family in seahorse may differ from those of other teleost species.We identified positive selection sites in the erk2,erk5,jnk1,and p38αMAPK genes of the lined seahorse Hippocampus erectus and tiger-tailed seahorse Hippocampus comes.A novel expression profile of MAPK cascade genes was found in seahorse larvae during the first day after birth based on the RNA-seq data of H.erectus,which refl ected vital signs of immune response to its parental immune system.The expression patterns of the four positively selected MAPK genes were analyzed following the bacterial challenge of Vibrio fortis,revealing their upregulation pattern in brood pouch and other immune tissues.This study enriched our knowledge of the evolution of the H.erectus MAPK subfamilies,and could help better understanding the functional role of MAPKs in teleosts.展开更多
[Objectives]To explore the effect of Shenling Baizhu San combined with routine treatment on the clinical efficacy,gastrointestinal function protection,inflammatory response and immune function of children with bacteri...[Objectives]To explore the effect of Shenling Baizhu San combined with routine treatment on the clinical efficacy,gastrointestinal function protection,inflammatory response and immune function of children with bacterial pneumonia.[Methods]From July 2017 to January 2018,80 children with bacterial pneumonia were randomly selected and divided into observation group and control group with 40 cases in each group.The control group was treated with conventional Western medicine,while the observation group was treated with Shenling Baizhu San on the basis of conventional treatment,with a period of 10 d.Then,we compared the clinical efficacy,incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms,WBC,CRP,CD4+and CD8+levels between the two groups.[Results]The clinical efficacy of the observation group was better than that of the control group(P<0.05).After treatment,the levels of WBC and CRP in the two groups decreased,especially in the observation group(P<0.05).After treatment,the level of CD4+in both groups increased significantly,while the level of CD8+decreased significantly,and the level of CD4+in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group after treatment.The incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.01).[Conclusions]Shenling Baizhu San can obviously improve the clinical effect of bacterial pneumonia in children and has the protective effect of gastrointestinal tract,and its mechanism may be related to its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects.展开更多
Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has been successfully applied worldwide in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19),which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2).However,th...Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has been successfully applied worldwide in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19),which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2).However,the pharmacological mechanisms underlying this success remain unclear.Hence,the aim of this review is to combine pharmacological assays based on the theory of TCM in order to elucidate the potential signaling pathways,targets,active compounds,and formulas of herbs that are involved in the TCM treatment of COVID-19,which exhibits combatting viral infections,immune regulation,and amelioration of lung injury and fibrosis.Extensive reports on target screening are elucidated using virtual prediction via docking analysis or network pharmacology based on existing data.The results of these reports indicate that an intricate regulatory mechanism is involved in the pathogenesis of COVID-19.Therefore,more pharmacological research on the natural herbs used in TCM should be conducted in order to determine the association between TCM and COVID-19 and account for the observed therapeutic effects of TCM against COVID-19.展开更多
基金supported by Natural Science Foundation Project of Jilin Provincial Department of Science and Technology(YDZJ202301ZYTS348)。
文摘Mannose,a different isomer of the hydroxyl group at the C-2 position of glucose,shares the same transport carrier protein with glucose to enter cells and participate in the regulation of glucose metabolism.It affects cell growth,differentiation,and function and plays an active role in tumor immunity and inflammatory processes.This paper provides theoretical support for expanding the clinical applications of mannose by exploring its constitution,metabolic pathways,and role in regulating immune cell function and treating immunology-related diseases.
基金Guangxi Natural Science Foundation Project(No.2018GXNSFAA294115)Guangxi Natural Science Foundation Project(No.2018GXNSFAA050064)Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Guangxi First-Class Discipline Construction Open Project(No.2019XK038)。
文摘The continuous increase in the incidence rate of various fatal malignant tumors in the recent years warrants an imperative search for medications or drugs with obvious anti-tumor eflects and reliable curative effects.Previous studies have found that Curcuma zedoaria and its active ingredients,such as turmeric oil,curcumol,and P-elemene,have obvious antitumor effects,and they do not have the adverse reactions and side effects seen in the anti-tumor drugs of Western medicine.Based on the review and inductive analysis of related literature,we summarize in the present article the results of some researchers who investigated the anti-tumor effects of Curcuma zedoaria and its active ingredients through the immune regulation mechanism.
基金This work was supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81803035)The China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2021T140754 and 2020M672521)+1 种基金The Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province,China(No.2020JJ5934)The Postdoctoral Science Foundation of Central South University,China(No.248485).
文摘Several types of modifications have been proven to participate in the metabolism and processing of different RNA types,including non-coding RNAs(ncRNAs).N-6-methyladenosine(m6A)is a dynamic and reversible RNA modification that is closely involved in the ncRNA homeostasis,and serves as a crucial regulator for multiple cancer-associated signaling pathways.The ncRNAs usually regulate the epigenetic modification,mRNA transcription and other biological processes,displaying enormous roles in human cancers.In this review,we summarized the significant implications of m6A-ncRNA interaction in various types of cancers.In particular,the interplay between m6A and ncRNAs in cancer pathogenesis and therapeutic resistance are being widely recognized.We also discussed the relevance of m6A-ncRNA interaction in immune regulation,followed by the interference on cancer immunotherapeutic procedures.In addition,we briefly highlighted the computation tools that could identify the accurate features of m6A methylome among ncRNAs.In summary,this review would pave the way for a better understanding of the biological functions of m6A-ncRNA crosstalk in cancer research and treatment.
基金This work was supported in part by the grants including R01DK064240(to XDT)and R21AA020494(to XDT)National Institutes of Health and Merit Review Award(I01BX001690 to XDT)from US Department of Veterans Affairs.
文摘Precise and dynamic regulation of gene expression is a key feature of immunity.In recent years,rapid advances in transcriptome profiling analysis have led to recognize long noncoding RNAs(lncRNAs)as an additional layer of gene regulation context.In the immune system,lncRNAs are found to be widely expressed in immune cells including monocytes,macrophages,dendritic cells(DC),neutrophils,T cells and B cells during their development,differentiation and activation.However,the functional importance of immune-related lncRNAs is just emerging to be characterized.In this review,we discuss the up-to-date knowledge of lncRNAs in immune regulation.
文摘As important messengers of intercellular communication,exosomes can regulate local and distant cellular communication by transporting specific exosomal con-tents and can also promote or suppress the development and progression of gas-tric cancer(GC)by regulating the growth and proliferation of tumor cells,the tumor-related immune response and tumor angiogenesis.Exosomes transport bioactive molecules including DNA,proteins,and RNA(coding and noncoding)from donor cells to recipient cells,causing reprogramming of the target cells.In this review,we will describe how exosomes regulate the cellular immune respon-se,tumor angiogenesis,proliferation and metastasis of GC cells,and the role and mechanism of exosome-based therapy in human cancer.We will also discuss the potential application value of exosomes as biomarkers in the diagnosis and treat-ment of GC and their relationship with drug resistance.
文摘Periodontal disease is an inflammatory and destructive disease of periodontal support tissue caused by microorganisms in dental plaque. During the development of periodontal disease, host immune regulation plays an important role, and unnecessary excessive immune regulation often exacerbates the course of chronic periodontal disease. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells with self replication ability and multi-directional differentiation potential. Many studies have found that MSCs have strong immunosuppressive effects on both adaptive and innate immunity. In recent years, literature has reported that MSCs are involved in the immune regulatory effect of chronic periodontal disease, inhibiting its inflammatory response and alveolar bone resorption, but the specific regulatory mechanism has not been elucidated. This article reviews the current research status of the immune regulatory effects of MSCs on chronic periodontitis.
基金supported by the Innovation Team and Talents Cultivation Program of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (grant no. ZYYCXTD-C-202006 to XL)Beijing Municipal Science&Technology Commission (grant no. 7212174 to XL)+3 种基金National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 82004045 to XL)Beijing Nova Program of Science&Technology (grant no. Z191100001119088 to XLgrant no. Z201100006820025 to RL)the Young Talents Promotion Project of China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine (grant no. 2020-QNRC2-01 to XL)
文摘Autoimmune hepatitis(AIH)is a chronic inflammatory liver disease occurring in indi-viduals of all ages with a higher incidence in females and characterized by hypergam-maglobulinemia,elevated serum autoantibodies and histological features of interface hepatitis.AIH pathogenesis remains obscure and still needs in-depth study,which is likely associated with genetic susceptibility and the loss of immune homeostasis.Steroids alone and in combination with other immunosuppressant agents are the pri-mary choices of AIH treatment in the clinic,whereas,in some cases,severe adverse effects and disease relapse may occur.Chinese medicine used for the treatment of AIH has proven its merits over many years and is well tolerated.To better under-stand the pathogenesis of AIH and to evaluate the efficacy of novel therapies,several animal models have been generated to recapitulate the immune microenvironment of patients with AIH.In the current review,we summarize recent advances in the study of animal models for AIH and their application in pharmacological research of Chinese medicine-based therapies and also discuss current limitations.This review aims to provide novel insights into the discovery of Chinese medicine-originated therapies for AIH using cutting-edge animal models.
基金supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation[Grant No.2018M643495]Technology Department of Sichuan Province[Grant No.2020YJ0049].
文摘Reviews The Dectin-1 cluster comprises seven members:CLEC-12A,CLEC-12B,CLEC-1A,CLEC-7A,CLEC-2,CLEC-9A and OLR1.These members have been demonstrated to be involved in the tumorigenesis,progression,and metastasis of several cancers.However,little is known about their roles in human lung adenocarcinoma(LUAD).The expression patterns of the Dectin-1 cluster were analyzed via the ONCOMINE and GEPIA databases.We evaluated the prognostic value of the Dectin-1 cluster in patients with LUAD using the Kaplan-Meier plotter and GEPIA.Differential expression was validated with the EMBL-EBI database,and protein expression was analyzed with the HPA database.In addition,protein-protein interaction network,GO,and KEGG analyses were conducted.Finally,the correlations between CLEC-12A and immune molecules(immune inhibitors and MHC molecules)were investigated via TISIDB and GEPIA.The expression levels of Dectin-1 cluster genes were downregulated in LUAD tissues compared to those in normal lung tissues.The expression levels of CLEC-12A,CLEC-12B,CLEC-2,and CLEC-9A correlated with tumor stage,and CLEC-12A and CLEC-12B were significantly associated with survival in patients with LUAD.The seven genes mostly participated in immune regulation processes and were involved in autoimmune disorders and hematological malignancies.Finally,correlation analyses revealed CLEC-12A expression was associated with most immune inhibitors and MHCs.CLEC-12A was positively related to PD-1,PD-L1,PD-L2,CTLA4,TIM3,and LAG3.In conclusion,our findings suggest that CLEC-12A and CLEC-12B can be used as prognostic biomarkers in LUAD.CLEC-12A expression was associated with immune checkpoint molecules,and CLEC-12A may be a potential assistant target to improve the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors immunotherapy.
基金Natural Science Foundation of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region for Distinguished Young Scholars,No.2020JQ07General Programs of Natural Science Foundation of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region,No.2020MS08126and"Zhiyuan"Talent Project of the Inner Mongolia Medical University,No.ZY0130013.
文摘Extracellular vesicles(EVs)are cystic vesicles naturally released by most mammalian cells and bacteria.EV contents include proteins,lipids,and nucleic acids.EVs can act as messengers to transmit a variety of molecules to recipient cells and thus play important regulatory roles in intercellular signal transduction.EVs,released by either a host cell or a pathogen,can carry pathogen-associated antigens and thus act as modulators of immune responses.EVs derived from Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb)-infected cells can regulate the innate immune response through various pathways,such as regulating the release of inflammatory cytokines.In addition,EVs can mediate antigen presentation and regulate the adaptive immune response by transmitting immunoregulatory molecules to T helper cells.In this review,we summarize the regulatory roles of EVs in the immune response against Mtb.
基金National College Students Innovation and Entrepreneurship Project(Project No.:202011810019).
文摘As a fat-soluble vitamin,Vitamin D is a necessary hormone to maintain normal physiological activities of the body.In recent years,vitamin D has been considered as a new neuroendocrine-immunomodulatory hormone,and researchers have paid more attention to the study of immune regulatory mechanism.It is not only related to calcium and phosphorus metabolism,bone metabolism and other important metabolic mechanisms of the body,but also closely related to the immune regulation mechanism of the body.Vitamin D deficiency caused by many factors can play a certain role in the development of autoimmune diseases.In this paper,the related mechanisms of vitamin D affecting autoimmune diseases were reviewed,with a view to expound the close correlation between vitamin D and autoimmune diseases,so as to find new diagnosis and treatment approaches for clinical autoimmune diseases and improve the quality of life of patients with autoimmune diseases.
文摘Tumor burden remains a global health problem that threatens human life worldwide.Over the past few years,the evolution of immune checkpoint inhibitors has represented one of the most successful approaches in the field of tumor therapy.Drugs regulating tumor immune microenvironment or enhancing body immunity have indicated a novel perspective to treat tumors.Therefore,an increased number of scientists have been shifting their research focus to explore the immunity regulation effects of anti-tumor traditional medicine or natural products.In this review,we summarize the research progress of traditional medicines on tumor immunity regulation in 2020.Our findings suggest that more herbal medicine-derived phytochemicals and formulas were derived from traditional Chinese medicine,and more papers were published in comprehensive journals.Traditional medicine can comprehensively regulate the tumor immune microenvironment,including natural killer cells,dendritic cells,CD4+/CD8+T lymphocytes,regulatory T cells,myeloid-derived suppressor cells,tumor-associated macrophages,immunosuppressive factors,and immune checkpoints.In 2020,a greater number of research papers focused on active ingredients and formulas that regulate tumor-associated macrophages and immune checkpoints.Active ingredients such as flavonoids became a global hotspot in 2020.Certain natural products were also found to exert synergistic anti-tumor activity with immune checkpoint inhibitors,such as curcumin.However,a distinct lack of high-quality experimental and clinical studies remains a prevalent and challenging issue that hinders the further development of traditional medicine.
文摘There is growing evidence that long-term central nervous system(CNS)inflammation exacerbates secondary deterioration of brain structures and functions and is one of the major determinants of disease outcome and progression.In acute CNS injury,brain microglia are among the first cells to respond and play a critical role in neural repair and regeneration.However,microglial activation can also impede CNS repair and amplify tissue damage,and phenotypic transformation may be responsible for this dual role.Mesenchymal stem cell(MSC)-derived exosomes(Exos)are promising therapeutic agents for the treatment of acute CNS injuries due to their immunomodulatory and regenerative properties.MSC-Exos are nanoscale membrane vesicles that are actively released by cells and are used clinically as circulating biomarkers for disease diagnosis and prognosis.MSC-Exos can be neuroprotective in several acute CNS models,including for stroke and traumatic brain injury,showing great clinical potential.This review summarized the classification of acute CNS injury disorders and discussed the prominent role of microglial activation in acute CNS inflammation and the specific role of MSC-Exos in regulating pro-inflammatory microglia in neuroinflammatory repair following acute CNS injury.Finally,this review explored the potential mechanisms and factors associated with MSCExos in modulating the phenotypic balance of microglia,focusing on the interplay between CNS inflammation,the brain,and injury aspects,with an emphasis on potential strategies and therapeutic interventions for improving functional recovery from early CNS inflammation caused by acute CNS injury.
基金the Science and Technology Project of Sichuan Province(No.2020YFS0333).
文摘Despite continuous progress,the prevention and treatment of human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome(AIDS)remain the world’s most serious public health challenges.A key problem is the degree of immune function reconstruction after antiretroviral therapy.Antiretroviral therapy has enriched the treatment of HIV/AIDS and improved the present conditions and the life quality of HIV/AIDS patients.However,some patients still fail to achieve normalization of CD4+T lymphocyte counts although persistent virological suppression.These patients are referred to as immunological non-responders,and usually present with severe immunological dysfunction.To date,since the underlying mechanism of incomplete immune reconstitution in HIV/AIDS has not been fully elucidated,remaining to be the focus and difficulties of current research.It is still a challenge to explore a safe,effective,and reliable therapeutic method for immunological non-responders.Due to fewer side effects and lower drug resistance,traditional Chinese medicine is often sought to provide alternative pharmacotherapy for regulating the immunity of immunological non-responders in China.In this review,we aimed at summarizing the latest and most comprehensive information on traditional Chinese medicine therapeutic methods for promoting immune reconstruction.In addition,outlooks and perspectives for possible future research that related are also discussed.
基金This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Shanxi Medical University(Approval No.2018LL016).
文摘BACKGROUND Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)have great potential for the treatment of various immune diseases due to their unique immunomodulatory properties.However,MSCs exposed to the harsh inflammatory environment of damaged tissue after intravenous transplantation cannot exert their biological effects,and therefore,their therapeutic efficacy is reduced.In this challenging context,an in vitro preconditioning method is necessary for the development of MSC-based therapies with increased immunomodulatory capacity and transplantation efficacy.AIM To determine whether hypoxia and inflammatory factor preconditioning increases the immunosuppressive properties of MSCs without affecting their biological characteristics.METHODS Umbilical cord MSCs(UC-MSCs)were pretreated with hypoxia(2%O_(2))exposure and inflammatory factors(interleukin-1β,tumor necrosis factor-α,interferon-γ)for 24 h.Flow cytometry,polymerase chain reaction,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and other experimental methods were used to evaluate the biological characteristics of pretreated UC-MSCs and to determine whether pretreatment affected the immunosuppressive ability of UC-MSCs in coculture with immune cells.RESULTS Pretreatment with hypoxia and inflammatory factors caused UC-MSCs to be elongated but did not affect their viability,proliferation or size.In addition,pretreatment significantly decreased the expression of coagulationrelated tissue factors but did not affect the expression of other surface markers.Similarly,mitochondrial function and integrity were retained.Although pretreatment promoted UC-MSC apoptosis and senescence,it increased the expression of genes and proteins related to immune regulation.Pretreatment increased peripheral blood mononuclear cell and natural killer(NK)cell proliferation rates and inhibited NK cell-induced toxicity to varying degrees.CONCLUSION In summary,hypoxia and inflammatory factor preconditioning led to higher immunosuppressive effects of MSCs without damaging their biological characteristics.
基金supported by the Major State Basic Research and Development Program of China(973 Program),No.2014CB542201the National Key Research and Development Program of China,No.2016YFC1101601,2017YFA0104702+2 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Beijing of China,No.7172202a grant from the 13th Five-Year Plan Period of People’s Liberation Army of China,No.BWS13C029-5a grant from the Science and Technology Project of Beijing of China,No.Z161100005016059
文摘Currently, researchers are using neural stem cell transplantation to promote regeneration after peripheral nerve injury, as neural stem cells play an important role in peripheral nerve injury repair. This article reviews recent research progress of the role of neural stem cells in the repair of peripheral nerve injury. Neural stem cells can not only differentiate into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, but can also differentiate into Schwann-like cells, which promote neurite outgrowth around the injury. Transplanted neural stem cells can differentiate into motor neurons that innervate muscles and promote the recovery of neurological function. To promote the repair of peripheral nerve injury, neural stem cells secrete various neurotrophic factors, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor, fibroblast growth factor, nerve growth factor, insulin-like growth factor and hepatocyte growth factor. In addition, neural stem cells also promote regeneration of the axonal myelin sheath, angiogenesis, and immune regulation. It can be concluded that neural stem cells promote the repair of peripheral nerve injury through a variety of ways.
基金supported by the General Project of Hubei Health Committee of China,No.WJ2019M263(to GW)。
文摘Stem cell therapy is a promising strategy for the treatment of traumatic brain injury(TBI). However, animal experiments are needed to evaluate safety;in particular, to examine the immunogenicity and tumorigenicity of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells(hu MSCs) before clinical application. In this study, hu MSCs were harvested from human amniotic membrane and umbilical cord vascular tissue. A rat model of TBI was established using the controlled cortical impact method. Starting from the third day after injury, the rats were injected with 10 μL of 5 × 10^(6)/m L hu MSCs by cerebral stereotaxis or with 500 μL of 1 × 10^(6)/m L hu MSCs via the tail vein for 3 successive days. hu MSC transplantation decreased the serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines in rats with TBI and increased the serum levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines, thereby exhibiting good immunoregulatory function. The transplanted hu MSCs were distributed in the liver, lung and brain injury sites. No abnormal proliferation or tumorigenesis was found in these organs up to 12 months after transplantation. The transplanted hu MSCs negligibly proliferated in vivo, and apoptosis was gradually observed at later stages. These findings suggest that hu MSC transplantation for the treatment of traumatic brain injury displays good safety. In addition, hu MSCs exhibit good immunoregulatory function, which can help prevent and reduce secondary brain injury caused by the rapid release of inflammatory factors after TBI. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Wuhan General Hospital of PLA(approval No. 20160054) on November 1, 2016.
文摘BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GISTs)are the most common mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract.Surgical resection and tyrosine kinase inhibitors are defined as the main treatments but cannot cure patients with advanced GIST,which eventually develops into recurrence and acquired drug resistance.Therefore,it is necessary to identify prognostic biomarkers and new therapeutic targets for GISTs.CC chemokine receptor type 8(CCR8)protein participates in regulation of immune responses.Recent studies on CCR8 in nonsmall cell lung cancer and colorectal cancer showed that it was highly expressed in tumor-infiltrating regulatory T cells and correlated with a poor prognosis.AIM To detect CCR8 expression in GIST tissues and analyze its relationships with clinicopathological features and prognosis in patients with GISTs.METHODS Tissue samples were used for the tissue microarrays construction.The microarrays were then subjected to immunohistochemical analyses to detect CCR8 expression.Next,Kaplan–Meier analysis was utilized to calculate the survival rate of patients with complete follow-up data,and the potential prognostic value of CCR8 was evaluated by Cox regression analysis.Finally,a Gene Ontology/Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes single-gene enrichment chart of CCR8 was constructed using the STRING database.RESULTS CCR8-positive signals were detected as brown or brown-yellow particles by immunohistochemistry located in the cytoplasm.Among 125 tissue samples,74 had CCR8 high expression and 51 had low or negative expression.Statistical analyses suggested CCR8 was significantly correlated with tumor size,mitotic index,AFIP-Miettinen risk classification and tumor location.Kaplan–Meier and multivariate analyses showed that patients with low or negative CCR8 expression,mitotic index<5/high-power fields(HPF)and tumor diameter<5 cm had a better prognosis.Based on the STRING database,CCR8 was significantly enriched in biological processes such as tumor immunity,T lymphocyte chemotaxis,migration and pathways like the nuclear factor-κB and tumor necrosis factor pathways as well as intestinal immune regulation networks.CONCLUSION CCR8 is a prognostic biomarker for malignant potential of GISTs,with high expression correlated with malignancy and poor prognosis.
基金Supported by the Shandong Province Science and Technology Support Program for Outstanding Youth of Colleges and Universities(No.2020KJF007)the Shandong Province Science and Technology Research Program for Colleges and Universities(No.J18KA146)+3 种基金the Yantai Foundation for Development of Science and Technology(Nos.2020LJRC120,2019CXJJ040)the Weihai Foundation for Development of Science and Technology(No.2017GNS10)the Key Special Project for Introduced Talents Team of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory(Guangzhou)(No.GML2019ZD0407)the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(No.2019A1515110199)。
文摘Seahorses have evolved many unique biological traits,including a male brood pouch,the absence of caudal and pelvic fins,and the lack of spleen and gut-associated lymphatic tissue.The mitogenactivated protein kinases(MAPKs)are known to be involved in various important biological processes including growth,differentiation,immunity,and stress responses.Therefore,we hypothesized that the adaptive evolution and expression of the MAPK gene family in seahorse may differ from those of other teleost species.We identified positive selection sites in the erk2,erk5,jnk1,and p38αMAPK genes of the lined seahorse Hippocampus erectus and tiger-tailed seahorse Hippocampus comes.A novel expression profile of MAPK cascade genes was found in seahorse larvae during the first day after birth based on the RNA-seq data of H.erectus,which refl ected vital signs of immune response to its parental immune system.The expression patterns of the four positively selected MAPK genes were analyzed following the bacterial challenge of Vibrio fortis,revealing their upregulation pattern in brood pouch and other immune tissues.This study enriched our knowledge of the evolution of the H.erectus MAPK subfamilies,and could help better understanding the functional role of MAPKs in teleosts.
基金Major Medical and Health Project of Zhongshan Science and Technology Bureau(2016B1004).
文摘[Objectives]To explore the effect of Shenling Baizhu San combined with routine treatment on the clinical efficacy,gastrointestinal function protection,inflammatory response and immune function of children with bacterial pneumonia.[Methods]From July 2017 to January 2018,80 children with bacterial pneumonia were randomly selected and divided into observation group and control group with 40 cases in each group.The control group was treated with conventional Western medicine,while the observation group was treated with Shenling Baizhu San on the basis of conventional treatment,with a period of 10 d.Then,we compared the clinical efficacy,incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms,WBC,CRP,CD4+and CD8+levels between the two groups.[Results]The clinical efficacy of the observation group was better than that of the control group(P<0.05).After treatment,the levels of WBC and CRP in the two groups decreased,especially in the observation group(P<0.05).After treatment,the level of CD4+in both groups increased significantly,while the level of CD8+decreased significantly,and the level of CD4+in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group after treatment.The incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.01).[Conclusions]Shenling Baizhu San can obviously improve the clinical effect of bacterial pneumonia in children and has the protective effect of gastrointestinal tract,and its mechanism may be related to its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects.
基金This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Project of China(2020YFA0708004 and 2020YFA0708000)the Tianjin Natural Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars(20JCJQJC00070)the International Cooperation Study on the Mechanism of Xuanfei Baidu Decoction Against COVID-19 Pneumonia(2021YFE0200300).
文摘Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has been successfully applied worldwide in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19),which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2).However,the pharmacological mechanisms underlying this success remain unclear.Hence,the aim of this review is to combine pharmacological assays based on the theory of TCM in order to elucidate the potential signaling pathways,targets,active compounds,and formulas of herbs that are involved in the TCM treatment of COVID-19,which exhibits combatting viral infections,immune regulation,and amelioration of lung injury and fibrosis.Extensive reports on target screening are elucidated using virtual prediction via docking analysis or network pharmacology based on existing data.The results of these reports indicate that an intricate regulatory mechanism is involved in the pathogenesis of COVID-19.Therefore,more pharmacological research on the natural herbs used in TCM should be conducted in order to determine the association between TCM and COVID-19 and account for the observed therapeutic effects of TCM against COVID-19.
