Biomedical subjects

Li Song

Publications and source records attributed to Li Song.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2026

Chronic heart failure and GPX3 promoter methylation: A clinical-epigenetic analysis.

BACKGROUND: Selenoprotein GPX3 is linked to Chronic Heart Failure (CHF), but its promoter methylation patterns in CHF remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: To explore CpG methylation in the GPX3 promoter region and its association with clinical parameters in CHF. METHODS: Twenty CHF patients and twenty healthy controls were included. Methylation levels of CpG sites within the GPX3_FA28 promoter region were quantified. Group differences were assessed using appropriate statistical tests. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were applied to explore dose-response associations between differentially methylated CpG sites and clinical indicators across multiple physiological systems. RESULTS: Significant locus-specific methylation alterations were identified in CHF patients. CpG_5 showed hypermethylation (P = 0.017), while CpG_9 (P = 0.045) and CpG_19 (P = 0.008) were hypomethylated compared with controls. Patients with NYHA class I/II exhibited higher methylation at CpG_1 (P = 0.028) and CpG_2 (P = 0.040). CpG_5 methylation displayed nonlinear associations (P < 0.05) with total bilirubin (inverted U-shape), carbon dioxide (triphasic), total cholesterol (U-shape), and plateletcrit (wave-like). CpG_9 correlated with activated partial thromboplastin time and hematopoietic markers, while CpG_19 was linked to eosinophil percentage and erythrocyte parameters. CONCLUSIONS: GPX3 promoter methylation displays apparent locus specificity in CHF. Different CpG sites may contribute to CHF pathophysiology through distinct epigenetic mechanisms. These findings highlight the potential of GPX3 methylation as a stratified biomarker in CHF.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Rice transcription factor bHLH25 confers resistance to multiple diseases by sensing H2O2.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a ubiquitous signal regulating many biological processes, including innate immunity, in all eukaryotes. However, it remains largely unknown that how transcription factors directly sense H2O2 in eukaryotes. Here, we report that rice basic/helix-loop-helix transcription factor bHLH25 directly senses H2O2 to confer resistance to multiple diseases caused by fungi or bacteria. Upon pathogen attack, rice plants increase the production of H2O2, which directly oxidizes bHLH25 at methionine 256 in the nucleus. Oxidized bHLH25 represses miR397b expression to activate lignin biosynthesis for plant cell wall reinforcement, preventing pathogens from penetrating plant cells. Lignin biosynthesis consumes H2O2 causing accumulation of non-oxidized bHLH25. Non-oxidized bHLH25 switches to promote the expression of Copalyl Diphosphate Synthase 2 (CPS2), which increases phytoalexin biosynthesis to inhibit expansion of pathogens that escape into plants. This oxidization/non-oxidation status change of bHLH25 allows plants to maintain H2O2, lignin and phytoalexin at optimized levels to effectively fight against pathogens and prevents these three molecules from over-accumulation that harms plants. Thus, our discovery reveals a novel mechanism by which a single protein promotes two independent defense pathways against pathogens. Importantly, the bHLH25 orthologues from available plant genomes all contain a conserved M256-like methionine suggesting the broad existence of this mechanism in the plant kingdom. Moreover, this Met-oxidation mechanism may also be employed by other eukaryotic transcription factors to sense H2O2 to change functions.

Hydrogen Peroxide↗

PubMed2025

Phylogenetic and Genetic Evolution Analysis of Complete SFTSV Genome Sequences in Shandong Province, China.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease caused by SFTS virus (SFTSV). Shandong province is one of the epidemic regions with high incidence rate of SFTS. To investigate phylogenetical and genetic evolution characteristics of SFTSV in Shandong province, we isolated SFTSV from suspected patients between April 2023 and October 2024, and then whole SFTSV genomes were amplified and sequenced in this study. A total of 25 new strains were analyzed together 56 strains submitted in Genbank from Shandong province. Phylogenetical and genetic analyses of the data set revealed that four genotypes were co-circulating in Shandong province. C3 genotype was the most common genotype in each year with lower genetic divergence. 298 amino acid substitutions were detected in the four proteins of SFTSV, but only two substitutions (Arg624Lys and Arg962Ser) had been proven to have potential impacts on biological functions. In addition, one reassortment strain (C3/C4/C4 for L, M and S segments) and three recombinant strains were identified. Analysis of selection pressure at the level of amino acid substitutions indicated genes within the four ORFs of SFTSV were all subjected to negative selection. In conclusion, the genetic characteristics and evolutionary mechanism of SFTSV was complex in Shandong province. It is necessary to conduct continuous surveillance to grasp the genetic evolution patterns, and to discover novel prevalent variants in a timely manner.

China↗