Although some studies have shown that some static magnetic fields (SMFs) can promote wound healing in diabetic mice, it is not clear whether the other diabetes complications, such as liver disease and diabetic nephropathy, can also be alleviated. Here, we constructed two simple magnetic plates using neodymium permanent magnets to examine the comprehensive effects of moderate SMFs on genetically obese leptin receptor-deficient db/db diabetic mice. We found that although the blood glucose was not obviously reduced by these two SMF settings, both of the glycated serum protein (GSP) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly decreased (Cohen’s d = 2.57–3.04). Moreover, the wound healing, liver lipid accumulation, and renal defects were all significantly improved by SMF treatment (Cohen’s d = 0.91–2.05). Wound tissue examination showed obvious nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) level decrease (Cohen’s d = 2.49–5.40) and Ki-67 level increase (Cohen’s d = 2.30–3.40), indicating decreased oxidative stress and increased cell proliferation. In vitro cellular studies with fibroblast NIH3T3 cells showed that SMFs could reduce high glucose-induced NRF2 nucleus translocation (Cohen’s d = 0.87–1.15) and cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) elevation (Cohen’s d = 0.92), indicating decreased oxidative stress. Consequently, high glucose-induced impairments in cell vitality, proliferation, and migration were all improved by SMF treatment. Therefore, our results demonstrate that these simple SMF devices could effectively reduce oxidative stress in diabetic mice and may provide a cost-effective physical therapy strategy to alleviate multiple diabetic complications in the future.

Mushroom galectins are promising anticancer agents for their low IC₅₀ values against cancer cells in vitro. In this study, two Coprinopsis cinerea galectins, CGL1 and CGL2, were heterologously expressed, and their biochemistry properties and anticancer effects were evaluated. The purified galectins were thermostable at neutral pH conditions. They both existed as tetramers and shared a high affinity towards lactose. CGL1 and CGL2 strongly inhibited the cell viability of many cancer cell lines, including three colorectal cancer cells, in a dose-dependent manner by inducing mitochondria-mediated caspase-dependent apoptosis. Furthermore, CGL1 exhibited higher apoptosis-inducing ability and cytotoxicity than CGL2. In vivo cell viability experiments based on two xenograft mouse models showed that CGL1 had a more substantial inhibitory effect than CGL2 on HCT116 tumor growth (p < 0.0001), whereas only CGL1 inhibited DLD1 tumor growth (p < 0.01). This is the first study to evaluate the anti-colorectal cancer effect of mushroom lectins in vivo, and our results showed that CGL1 is a potent agent for colorectal cancer treatment.

Review Shiyu Lu ^1,2, Junjun Wang ^1,* and Xin Zhang ^1,2,* ¹ High Magnetic Field Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China ² Science Island Branch of Graduate School, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China * Correspondence: junjunwang1222@hmfl.ac.cn (J.W.); xinzhang@hmfl.ac.cn (X.Z.) Received: 1 December 2024; Revised: 11 December 2024; Accepted: 26 December 2024; Published: 8 January 2025 Abstract: Metabolic diseases encompass a range of disorders resulting from disruptions in amino acid, glucose, lipid, or energy homeostasis. In recent years, there has been increasing recognition among researchers that static magnetic fields (SMFs) can have diverse effects on certain metabolic diseases. Cellular and animal studies indicate that SMFs elicit markedly different responses in animals, depending on whether they are healthy or have pathological conditions. Notably, several studies have reported that SMFs with specific parameters could have beneficial effects in mice with diabetes, fatty liver disease, and cancer. However, the safety threshold for SMF exposure appears to be significantly lower in mice with severe metabolic diseases, such as severe diabetes or alcoholic liver disease, compared to healthy mice. Furthermore, the SMF direction is also an indispensable factor in regulating pathological conditions involving cell proliferation. This review aims to summarize the impact of SMFs on prevalent metabolic diseases, including diabetes, fatty liver disease, and cancer, explore their potential mechanisms, and address the factors contributing to the inconsistent findings in the literature. The goal is to provide a foundation for the future development of SMFs as non-invasive, highly penetrative physical approaches for diagnosing and treating metabolic disorders.

Millions of people reside in hypobaric, hypoxic high-altitude environments, yet the chronic consequences of sustained exposure remain incompletely understood. Liver magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in residents at different altitudes revealed signal alterations suggestive of changes in magnetic susceptibility and tissue composition. To further investigate these observations, mice were exposed to simulated 5000 m hypobaric hypoxia for six weeks. High-altitude-exposed mice developed significant liver impairment, characterized by increased hepatocyte apoptosis and elevated magnetic susceptibility. Quantitative analyses demonstrated approximately a two-fold increase in hepatic iron content accompanied by the formation of iron aggregates. Concomitant lipid accumulation and oxidative stress were observed, indicating coordinated disruption of iron homeostasis and metabolic balance. Collectively, these findings suggest that high-altitude-associated iron accumulation contributes to magnetic susceptibility alterations and promotes liver injury through dysregulated lipid metabolism and oxidative stress, providing mechanistic insight and potential implications for high-altitude risk assessment and clinical management.