Yu Cao

Prof. Dr. Yu Cao


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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5 January 2025 in Phytomedicine
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
MSMingyang Sun
Mingyang Sun
DXDianwen Xu
Dianwen Xu
DLDianfeng Liu
Dianfeng Liu
XRXin Ran
Xin Ran
FLFeng Li
Feng Li
SFShoupeng Fu
Shoupeng Fu

5 May 2026 in The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
XZXiechen Zhou
Xiechen Zhou
MSMingyang Sun
Mingyang Sun
NJNaiyuan Jiang
Naiyuan Jiang
JCJi Cheng
Ji Cheng
FLFeng Li
Feng Li
SFShoupeng Fu
Shoupeng Fu

16 October 2026 in Biology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
YWYan Wang
Yan Wang
HWHao Wang
Hao Wang
SLShi Li
Shi Li
YHYuejia Han
Yuejia Han
YCYu Cao
Yu Cao
YLYuhao Liu
Yuhao Liu
Manganese (Mn) pollution in aquatic environments poses threats to fish health, yet the molecular mechanisms of Mn-induced cardiac injury remain poorly understood. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major bioactive catechin in green tea, exhibits potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Bioinformatics revealed overlap between Mn toxicity targets and EGCG-modulated genes, enriched in oxidative stress, ER stress and inflammation-related mechanisms. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which Mn exposure induces cardiotoxicity in common carp and to evaluate whether dietary EGCG supplementation confers protection against cardiac injury, with particular focus on the roles of integrated stress response (ISR) and inflammation. Carp were exposed to Mn2+ with or without dietary EGCG. We found that Mn exposure resulted in myocardial histological structural damage, elevated serum cardiac injury markers, and reduced myocardial ATPase activities, indicating cardiac injury at the structural and biochemical levels. Mechanistically, Mn-induced oxidative stress (decreased SOD1, CAT, NRF2; increased MDA) was associated with ER stress and ISR-related transcript changes (upregulated HSPA5, DDIT3, eiF2AK4, atf4b) and triggered inflammatory responses (increased IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ, iNOS/NO), alongside upregulated inflammatory signaling nodes (NF-κB, STAT3, JUN, MAPK1, MAPK14b). EGCG supplementation significantly reversed these pathological changes. Importantly, ISRIB treatment in EPC epithelial cells and H9c2 rat cardiac-derived myoblasts attenuated Mn-induced inflammatory gene expression, providing supporting mechanistic evidence that ISR-associated signaling may contribute to inflammation, although these in vitro findings do not directly confirm the proposed mechanism in carp cardiomyocytes. Taken together, these findings support a proposed mechanistic framework in which waterborne Mn exposure is associated with oxidative stress, ER stress, and ISR-related signaling, together with inflammatory responses and cardiac injury in common carp, rather than a conclusively demonstrated causal pathway. Dietary EGCG supplementation attenuated these Mn-associated responses and was associated with reduced cardiac injury. Our work provide a new mechanistic way of thinking for understanding heavy metal-caused cardiac injury in fish and improving the current application potential of EGCG as an experimental dietary intervention for aquatic pollution stress management.