Frontiers in Oncology
·
2020
·
IF 4.848
Chen Shuo,Shen Jiaqi,Zhao Jing,Wang Jiazhong,Shan Tao,Li Junhui,Xu Meng,Chen Xi,Liu Yang,Cao Gang
Magnolol, a hydroxylated biphenyl extracted from Magnolia officinalis, has recently drawn attention due to its anticancer potential. The present study was aimed to explore the effects of Magnolol on restraining the proliferation, migration and invasion of pancreatic cancer in vivo and in vitro. Magnolol showed significant anti-growth effect in an orthotopic xenograft nude mouse model, and immunohistochemical staining of the xenografts revealed that Magnolol suppressed vimentin expression and facilitated E-cadherin expression. The cytoactive detection using CCK-8 assay showed Magnolol inhibited PANC-1 and AsPC-1 concentration-dependently. Scratch healing assay and the Transwell invasion assay proved the inhibiting effects of Magnolol on cellular migration and invasion at a non-cytotoxic concentration. Western blot and rt-PCR showed that Magnolol suppressed epithelial-mesenchymal-transition by increasing the expression level of E-cadherin and decreasing those of N-cadherin and vimentin. Magnolol suppressed the TGF-β/Smad pathway by negatively regulating phosphorylation of Smad2/3. Moreover, TGF-β1 impaired the antitumor effects of Magnolol in vivo. These results demonstrated that Magnolol can inhibit proliferation, migration and invasion in vivo and in vitro by suppressing the TGF-β signal pathway and EMT. Magnolol could be a hopeful therapeutic drug for pancreatic malignancy.
研究领域:
肿瘤学
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药理学
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分子生物学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
·
2025
·
IF 4.7
Xue-Li Jiang,Chuang Liu,Zi-Ying Zhan,Xiao-Qi Lan,Yan-Ling Wu,Ji-Xing Nan,Cheng-Hua Jin,Li-Hua Lian
Liver fibrosis is a critical precursor to the progression of cirrhosis and liver cancer. However, the development of precision therapies for this condition has been impeded by incompletely elucidated molecular mechanisms. Activin receptor like kinase 5 (ALK5), termed TGF-β type I receptor (TGF-βRI), has been identified as a promising therapeutic target for antifibrotic drug development. In this study, we designed and synthesized two novel thiazole derivatives (J-1155 and J-1156) featuring enantiomeric amino acid moieties to selectively target ALK5 for hepatic fibrosis treatment. Our data demonstrated that both compounds effectively attenuate hepatic fibrosis and associated inflammation through dual inhibition of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway and blockade of the P2X7R-NLRP3 inflammasome axis. In comparison, J-1156 demonstrated superior overall therapeutic efficacy to J-1155 in terms of anti-fibrotic efficacy, while J-1155 exhibited superior modulation of Smurf2. Collectively, our observations demonstrate the potential of J-1155 and J-1156 as dual novel therapeutic agents targeting hepatic fibrosis.
研究领域:
药理学
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分子生物学
·
肝脏疾病研究
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Small
·
2023
·
IF 13.3
Min Hou,Rui Guo,Tianyu Ren,Tao Wang,Jian-Hui Jiang,Jianjun He
Dysfunctional transcription factors that activate abnormal expressions of specific proteins are often associated with the progression of various diseases. Despite being attractive drug targets, the lack of druggable sites has dramatically hindered their drug development. The emergence of proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) has revitalized the drug development of many conventional hard-to-drug protein targets. Here, the use of a palindromic double-strand DNA thalidomide conjugate (PASTE) to selectively bind and induce proteolysis of targeted activated transcription factor (PROTAF) is reported. The selective proteolysis of the dimerized phosphorylated receptor-regulated Smad2/3 and inhibition of the canonical Smad pathway validates PASTE-mediated PROTAF. Further aptamer-guided active delivery of PASTE and near-infrared light-triggered PROTAF are demonstrated. Great potential in using PASTE for the selective degradation of the activated transcription factor is seen, providing a powerful tool for studying signaling pathways and developing precision medicines.
研究领域:
药理学
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分子生物学
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生物技术
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治疗学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
·
2021
·
IF 5.279
Miao Song,Yilong Cui,Qi Wang,Xuliang Zhang,Jian Zhang,Menglin Liu,Yanfei Li
Aluminum (Al)-induced bone formation and metabolism disorder through inhibition of the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway is one of the important mechanisms of bone impairment. Ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3), a specific biological effector molecule, can provide protection to bones. Previously, we demonstrated that Rg3 can reverse aluminum chloride (AlCl3)-induced oxidative stress and metabolic disorder of bones; however, whether the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway is involved in it remains unclear. First, we found that Rg3 attenuated Al-induced bone impairment in vivo and in vitro by relieving structural damage to the femur, increasing MC3T3-E1 cell activity, differentiation, mineralization, inhibition of cell apoptosis, and upregulating the extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis and the expression of TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway key factors. Subsequently, in the signal pathway intervention experiment, the protective effect of Rg3 on bone impairment induced by Al was weakened; these results indicate that activating the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway is one of the mechanisms of Rg3-attenuated Al-induced bone impairment.
研究领域:
药理学
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毒理学
·
骨生物学
·
信号转导
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PubMed
高影响因子
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
·
2022
·Vol. 23
·期 23
·14831
·
IF 6.208
Aiyun Yang,Shen Li,Yan Zhang,Xiuwei Wang,Zhen Guan,Zhiqiang Zhu,Yingchao Liang,Lijiao Zhao,Jianhua Wang
Neural-tube defects (NTDs) are one type of the most serious birth defects. Studies have shown that inositol deficiency is closely related to the occurrence of NTDs. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-mediated Smad signaling pathways have been implicated in neurogenesis and neural-tube closure. However, the role of the BMP/Smad pathway in inositol-deficiency-induced NTDs remains unclear. Inositol-deficiency models in C57 mice and mouse neural stem cells (mNSCs) were induced with Li2CO3treatment or inositol withdrawal. The role of the BMP/Smad pathway in the regulation of cell proliferation and the development of NTDs was determined utilizing qRT-PCR, HE staining, Western blot, immunostaining, MTT assay, EdU staining, and flow cytometry. The intraperitoneal injection of Li2CO3at Embryonic Day 7.5 induced the occurrence of NTDs. The mRNA levels ofBmp2,Bmp4,Smad1,Smad5,Smad8andRunx2, the phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8, and the nuclear translocation of Runx2 were significantly increased in NTD embryonic brain tissues and mNSCs exposed to Li2CO3or an inositol-free medium, which were suppressed by BMP receptor selective inhibitor LDN-193189. The Li2CO3-induced phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8 was inhibited by inositol supplementation. Cell proliferation was significantly promoted by Li2CO3exposure or the absence of inositol in mNSCs, which was reversed by LDN-193189. These results suggest that the activation of the BMP/Smad signaling pathway might play an important role in the development of NTDs induced by maternal Li2CO3exposure via inositol deficiency.Keywords:inositol;BMP signaling;neural-tube defects;neural stem cell;proliferation
研究领域:
发育生物学
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神经科学
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分子生物学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Pharmaceutics
·
2025
·Vol. 17
·期 10
·1307
·
IF 5.5
Ruoqing Guan,Xiangjun He,Yuxing Dai,Guangye Huang,Zhaoyun Xue,Jianwen Chen,Peiqing Liu
Background/Objectives: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fatal lung disease characterized by progressive loss of lung function and poor prognosis. Cryptotanshinone (CTS), a small-molecule compound extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza, possesses diverse pharmacological activities but suffers from poor oral bioavailability, which restricts its clinical development, particularly in pulmonary fibrosis. DST-3, a newly synthesized derivative of CTS, was designed to overcome these limitations.Methods: The antifibrotic effects of DST-3 were investigated in a bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis model in C57BL/6 mice through lung function assessment, histopathological evaluation, hydroxyproline quantification, and cytokine profiling. In vitro, TGF-β1-stimulated MRC5 fibroblasts were employed to explore the mechanism of action, focusing on STAT3/Smad signaling via Western blotting and molecular binding assays. Furthermore, a validated HPLC–MS/MS method was developed for DST-3, and its pharmacokinetic profile was characterized in Sprague–Dawley rats and compared with that of CTS.Results: DST-3 markedly attenuated pulmonary fibrosis in vivo, as evidenced by improved lung function, reduced collagen deposition, and decreased proinflammatory cytokine levels. In vitro, DST-3 inhibited TGF-β1-induced fibroblast activation by directly binding to STAT3 and suppressing STAT3/Smad signaling. Pharmacokinetic analysis demonstrated that, compared with CTS, DST-3 exhibited more rapid absorption, a higher peak plasma concentration, a greater area under the curve (AUC), improved hepatic metabolic stability, and enhanced lung tissue exposure.Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that DST-3 exerts potent antifibrotic effects in vivo and in vitro, primarily through STAT3 pathway inhibition. Its improved pharmacokinetic characteristics further support its potential as a promising candidate for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.
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PubMed
高影响因子
Molecular Medicine Reports
·
2020
·Vol. 22
·期 5
·3687-3694
·
IF 2.1
Yingli Ren,Xiangdong Jian,Zhongchen Zhang,Qiong Ning,Baotian Kan,Li Kong
Paraquat is a highly toxic pesticide, which often causes pulmonary interstitial fibrosis after poisoning, and there is no specific antidote. At present, limited studies have reported that tacrolimus, as an immunosuppressant, can inhibit pulmonary fibrosis, but the specific mechanism remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the effect of tacrolimus on the TGF‑β1 pathway associated with pulmonary fibrosis in paraquat exposed alveolar type II epithelial cells, and to identify the antipulmonary fibrosis mechanism of tacrolimus The rat alveolar epithelial type II RLE‑6TN cell line was exposed to paraquat and treated with or without tacrolimus for 24 h, or with a TGF‑β1 receptor type I/II inhibitor (LY2109761) for 1, 4, 8 or 16 h. MTT assays were used to detect the viability of rat alveolar type II epithelial cells under these different treatment conditions, while the concentrations of TGF‑β1, SMAD3, SMAD7 and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the cell culture supernatant were determined using ELISAs. Additionally, reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR and immunofluorescence were used to analyze the mRNA and protein expression levels of TGF‑β1, SMAD3, CTGF and SMAD7. The results demonstrated that the inhibition of the proliferation of RLE‑6TN cells exposed to 200 nmol/l paraquat was 26.05±2.99%. The inhibition rate of 10 ng/ml tacrolimus on paraquat‑exposed alveolar type II epithelial cells was 18.40±3.49%. The inhibition rate caused by 5 µmol/l LY2109761 was 26.56±4.49%. The expression levels of TGF‑β1, SMAD3 and CTGF, as well as their concentrations in the culture supernatant, were significantly downregulated in the tacrolimus group compared with the paraquat group. However, both the concentration and expression levels of SMAD7 were significantly upregulated in the tacrolimus group compared with the paraquat group. In conclusion, tacrolimus can reduce the levels of TGF‑β1, SMAD3 and CTGF, increase the level of SMAD7 in TGF‑β1 signaling pathway and protect the development of pulmonary fibrosis in paraquat exposed alveolar epithelial cells.
研究领域:
药理学
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肺病学
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细胞生物学
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毒理学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Stem Cell Research & Therapy
·
2026
·Vol. 17
·期 1
·200
·
IF 7.8
Chen Qi,Chen Xiaolong,Yang Qu,Miao Xinxin,Yuan Jinghong,Ding Shuihua,Ding Rui,Cai Shenghao,Li Bin,Cheng Xigao
Background Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is characterized by progressive nucleus pulposus cell loss and extracellular matrix degradation, in which persistent oxidative stress plays a critical pathogenic role. Transplantation of nucleus pulposus–derived stem cells (NPSCs) is a promising therapeutic strategy, yet the hostile oxidative microenvironment severely compromises cell survival. Although cellular quiescence has been suggested to enhance stress tolerance, its regulatory mechanisms and relevance in NPSCs remain largely unexplored. Methods Oxidative stress was evaluated in human degenerated disc tissues, a rat needle-puncture degeneration model, and tert-butyl hydroperoxide–treated NPSCs in vitro. Proliferating and quiescent NPSCs were compared for reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, apoptosis, viability, and transcriptomic profiles. Pathway enrichment analyses were performed to identify critical signaling mechanisms. Recombinant transforming growth factor-beta 3 (rhTGF-β3) was used to activate the pathway, while small interfering RNA targeting the transforming growth factor-beta receptor type 2 ( Tgfbr2 ) and the pharmacological inhibitor SB431542 were applied for pathway suppression. Functional assays, organ culture, and in vivo transplantation were conducted to assess cell survival and regenerative effects. Results Elevated oxidative stress was consistently observed across clinical, animal, and cellular models of disc degeneration. Quiescent NPSCs demonstrated enhanced resistance to oxidative injury, with reduced ROS accumulation, decreased apoptosis, and improved survival. Transcriptomic analyses revealed suppression of metabolic and P53-mediated apoptotic pathways, alongside marked activation of TGF-β/SMAD signaling. Activation of this pathway induced quiescence, reduced ROS levels, inhibited mitochondrial apoptotic signaling, and protected NPSCs from oxidative injury, whereas pathway inhibition abolished these protective effects. In both organ culture and in vivo transplantation models, quiescent and TGF-β–activated NPSCs exhibited superior survival and significantly improved disc structural preservation compared with proliferating or pathway-blocked cells. Conclusion Activation of the TGF-β/SMAD pathway induces NPSC quiescence and enhances oxidative stress tolerance by suppressing P53-dependent mitochondrial apoptosis. Pharmacological induction of quiescence represents a potential strategy to improve stem cell–based therapies for intervertebral disc degeneration.
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高影响因子
Translational Research
·
2025
·
IF 5.9
Junjuan Lu,Caihong Liu,Ting Yuan,Honghui Yang,Li Zhang
Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory condition primarily caused by inhalation of harmful particles such as tobacco smoke. Cellular senescence serves as a key driver in its pathogenesis. Although endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been shown to alleviate COPD by reducing inflammatory cell infiltration, the role and mechanisms underlying EPC senescence in this disease remain unclear. Methods A cigarette smoke (CS)-exposed COPD mouse model was established. Lung injury was assessed histologically, with concurrent quantification of neutrophil infiltration and cellular senescence levels in lung tissues. Pearson analysis evaluated the correlation between senescence severity and neutrophil numbers. In vivo neutrophil depletion was achieved using anti-Ly6G antibody, while GW4869 was used to inhibit exosome secretion from COPD-derived neutrophils. Neutrophils were then co-cultured with EPCs to assess their impact on EPC senescence and DNA damage. Proteomic analyses were employed to identify mechanisms of neutrophil-derived exosomes in COPD. Results COPD mice exhibited significant lung tissue damage, accelerated cellular senescence, and increased neutrophil infiltration. Senescence severity positively correlated with neutrophil proportion. Mechanistically, thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) was highly expressed in COPD-derived neutrophils. Knockdown of neutrophil-derived exosomal TSP-1 alleviated EPC senescence. Furthermore, TSP-1 expression was regulated by transcription factor FOS, whereas TGF-β inhibition attenuated the promoting effects of TSP-1 overexpression on cellular senescence and lung injury in COPD mice. Conclusion This study demonstrates that neutrophil-derived exosomal TSP-1 aggravates EPC senescence and lung injury in COPD, revealing the pathogenic role of TSP-1 in disease progression and highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target.
研究领域:
呼吸病学
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细胞生物学
·
分子生物学
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免疫学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
CELL BIOCHEMISTRY AND FUNCTION
·
2023
·Vol. 42
·期 1
·e3899
·
IF 3.6
Tingting Wang,Guihua Song,Mengmeng Sun,Yan Zhang,Bingxue Zhang,Minghao Peng,Mengyin Li
Asthma is a common respiratory disease associated with airway inflammation. Nerolidol is an acyclic sesquiterpenoid with anti-inflammatory properties. BALB/C mice were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) to induce asthma symptoms and given different doses of Nerolidol. We found that Nerolidol reduced OVA-induced inflammatory cell infiltration, the number of goblet cells and collagen deposition in lung tissue. Nerolidol reduced the OVA-specific IgE levels in serum and alveolar lavage fluid in an asthma model. Immunohistochemical staining of α-SMA (the marker of airway smooth muscle) showed that Nerolidol caused bronchial basement membrane thinning in asthmatic mice. The hyperplasia of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) is an important feature of airway remodeling in asthma. ASMCs were treated with 10 ng/mL TGF-β to simulate the pathological environment of asthma in vitro and then treated with different doses of Nerolidol. Nerolidol inhibited the activity of TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway both in the lung tissue of OVA-induced mouse and TGF-β-stimulated ASMCs. 16s rRNA sequencing was performed on feces of normal mice, the changes of intestinal flora in OVA-induced asthmatic mice and Nerolidol-treated asthmatic mice were studied. The results showed that Nerolidol reversed the reduced gut microbial alpha diversity in asthmatic mice. Nerolidol changed the relative abundance of gut bacteria at different taxonomic levels. At the phylum level, the dominant bacteria were Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria. At the genus level, the dominant bacteria were Lactobacillus, Muribaculaceae, Bacteroides , and Lachnospiraceae . We conclude that Nerolidol attenuates OVA-induced airway inflammation and alters gut microbes in mice with asthma via TGF-β/Smad signaling. Significance statement This research has demonstrated a mitigating effect of Nerolidol on the progress of asthma. TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway is the critical target of Nerolidol. Intestinal flora disorders induced by asthma are also regulated by Nerolidol.
研究领域:
药理学
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免疫学
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微生物学
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呼吸系统疾病
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
American Journal of Translational Research
·
2019
·
IF 3.266
Zhao Wang,Hong-Wei Bao
Our aim was to study the osteogenic effect of cnidium lactone for bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and its potential mechanism. BMSCs were isolated and identified by flow cytometry and multidirectional differentiation capacity. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) was used to identify the optimal concentration of cnidium lactone. Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) and Alizarin Red S (ARS) was performed to identify whether cnidium lactone has effect on osteogenesis at early and late phase respectively. Moreover, we used estrogen receptor antagonist, ICI182780, to identify the receptor of cnidium lactone. The expression of Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), Osterix (OSX), osteopontin (OPN), estrogen receptor (ER), Smad4, p-Smad1, Smad1 and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) protein were measured by PCR and western blot. Cnidium lactone (2 μM) demonstrated increased osteogenesis after osteogenic inducible medium (OIM) induction, as evidenced by more ALP activity and mineralization. When blocked with ICI182780, osteogenesis capacity was decreased. Moreover, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blotting results indicated that cnidium lactone enhanced ER, BMP2, Smad1, Smad4, RUNX2, OSX, and OPN expression and Smad1 phosphorylation. Cnidium lactone can effectively stimulates osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs via BMP-2/Smad-Signaling cascades mediated by ER.
研究领域:
药理学
·
干细胞生物学
·
骨骼再生
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Biomedicines
·
2026
·Vol. 14
·期 7
·1586
·
IF 4.5
Xiaofei Tong,Meina Sun,Xin Gan,Xin Chen,Shiyang Liu,Ieong Sun,Lin Zhang,Weihong Zheng
Background: Capsular contracture is driven by self-amplifying foreign body response (FBR) where inflammatory and fibrotic signals from fibroblasts and macrophages reinforce each other. We hypothesized that cogradient simultaneous blockade of NF-κB as an inflammatory node and TGF-β/Smad as fibrotic node could attenuate the FBR. Emodin has dual inhibitory activity but suffers from poor delivery.Methods: Emodin liposomes (Emo-Lip) were characterized and tested on TGF-β1-stimulated NIH/3T3 fibroblasts and LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. In a rat silicone implant model, periprosthetic injections were given for four weeks. Fibrous capsule formation was evaluated by histology, immunofluorescence, and FAPI-PET/CT. Transcriptomic analyses were performed to verify and predict relevant pathways.Results: Emo-Lip had uniform size and high encapsulation efficiency. In vitro, Emo-Lip inhibited fibroblast migration, ROS production, myofibroblast differentiation (α-SMA+) as well asCtgfexpression, while suppressing M1 polarization and reduced IL-12/IL-6 secretion in macrophages. In vivo, Emo-Lip reduced capsule thickness, collagen area, and α-SMA/Col I expression, comparable to dexamethasone. Transcriptomics showed coordinated downregulation of inflammatory/fibrotic genes, and Western blot confirmed suppressed phosphorylation of Smad3.Conclusions: Coordinated two-node blockade of NF-κB and TGF-β/Smad by liposomal emodin reprograms the FBR and effectively prevents capsular contracture in rats, offering a translational strategy for implant-associated fibrosis.
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高影响因子
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