Zijin Sun

Dr. Zijin Sun

orcid

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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1 January 2026 in Research
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
HSHaojun Shi
Haojun Shi
LHLei Huang
Lei Huang
JZJohn Zhang
John Zhang
CSChengwan Shen
Chengwan Shen
NZNan Zhang
Nan Zhang
YCYisheng Chen
Yisheng Chen
Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disorder characterized by reduced bone mass, impaired microarchitecture, and increased fracture risk, primarily resulting from dysregulated bone remodeling. Increasing evidence highlights a close interaction between bone metabolism and the gut microbiota. Alterations in bone mineral density can influence gut microbial composition. Conversely, microbial dysbiosis disrupts bone homeostasis through multiple pathways, including microbial metabolites, immune regulation, and neuroendocrine signaling. Short-chain fatty acids suppress osteoclast differentiation and enhance intestinal calcium absorption, while gut dysbiosis promotes bone loss by impairing intestinal barrier integrity and increasing proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6. The gut–brain–bone axis represents an important regulatory network linking the central nervous system, gut-derived signals, and skeletal remodeling. Chronic stress and neurodegenerative conditions activate the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and bone-derived extracellular vesicle signaling, thereby favoring bone resorption. Estrogen deficiency further disrupts the receptor activator of nuclear factor κΒ ligand/osteoprotegerin signaling pathway and alters gut microbial composition, contributing to postmenopausal bone loss. Therapeutic strategies targeting this axis, including probiotics, prebiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, dietary fiber supplementation, and pharmacological or natural compounds, show potential in restoring microbial balance and improving bone metabolism. Future studies integrating multiomics approaches and well-designed clinical trials are needed to clarify microbiome–bone interactions and support the development of targeted interventions for osteoporosis.

23 May 2025 in Pharmaceuticals
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
YGYiXiao Gu
YiXiao Gu
ZSZijin Sun
Zijin Sun
TLTao Li
Tao Li
XDXia Ding
Xia Ding
Background: Ischemic stroke (IS) is a severe condition with limited therapeutic options. Pyroptosis, a type of programmed cell death linked to inflammation, is closely associated with IS-related damage. Studies suggest inflammation aligns with the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) concept of “fire-heat syndrome”. Huanglian Jiedu Decoction (HLJD), a TCM formula known for clearing heat and purging fire, has shown therapeutic effects on IS, potentially by regulating pyroptosis. Study design: Eight-week-old male mice were divided into six groups: sham operation, model, positive drug, and low-, medium-, and high-dose HLJD groups. After a week of adaptive feeding, mice received respective treatments for five days, followed by modeling on the sixth day, with samples collected 23 h post-perfusion. Analyses included multi-omics, physiology, histopathology, virtual drug screening, target affinity assessment, and molecular biology techniques to measure relevant indicators. Results: HLJD effectively mitigated IS-related damage, maintaining neurological function, reducing ischemic levels, protecting cellular morphology, inhibiting neuronal apoptosis, and preserving blood–brain barrier integrity. Bioinformatics of high-throughput omics data revealed significant activation of pyroptosis and related inflammatory pathways in IS. ScRNA-seq identified neutrophils, macrophages, and microglia as key pyroptotic cell types, suggesting potential therapeutic targets. Network pharmacology and molecular docking identified NLRP3 as a critical target, with 6819 ligand–receptor docking results. SPR molecular fishing, LC-MS, molecular dynamics, and affinity measurements identified small molecules with high affinity for NLRP3. Molecular biology techniques confirmed that HLJD regulates pyroptosis via the classical inflammasome signaling pathway and modulates the inflammatory microenvironment. Conclusions: Following IS, pyroptosis in myeloid cells triggers an inflammatory cascade, leading to neural damage. HLJD may inhibit NLRP3 activity, reducing pyroptosis and associated inflammation, and ultimately mitigating damage.

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ZSZijin Sun
Zijin Sun
YLYongchao Liu
Yongchao Liu
KWKai Wang
Kai Wang
HZHaojia Zhang
Haojia Zhang
RZRui Zhou
Rui Zhou
WSWei Shao
Wei Shao
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of mortality worldwide, and residual inflammatory risk persists despite optimal lipid and glucose control. Emerging evidence indicates that metabolic reprogramming within immune cells constitutes a central driver of cardiovascular immune injury. In this review, we propose a unifying framework in which glyco-lipotoxicity acts as a primary metabolic trigger, inducing mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and cGAS–STING pathways. Hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia reshape intracellular metabolic circuits, enhancing glycolysis and disrupting oxidative phosphorylation, thereby promoting sustained pro-inflammatory phenotypes. Crucially, metabolic intermediates function as cofactors for epigenetic remodelling. This establishes trained immunity in both circulating innate immune cells and haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, which serves as the cellular basis for persistent metabolic memory. This persistent immunometabolic imprint amplifies sterile inflammation and accelerates vascular and myocardial remodelling. Furthermore, these processes are systemically propagated through cross-organ communication networks, including the heart–adipose, gut–heart, and cardio-hematopoietic axes, forming a multidimensional inflammatory amplification loop. We also summarise emerging therapeutic strategies targeting the metabolic–epigenetic axis, aiming to reverse maladaptive trained immunity and mitigate residual CVD risk. By integrating immunometabolism, epigenetic regulation, and organ crosstalk, this review highlights metabolic reprogramming as a pivotal mechanistic nexus and potential precision target for cardiovascular protection.

1 June 2026 in Mechanisms of Ageing and Development
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
KWKai Wang
Kai Wang
YLYongchao Liu
Yongchao Liu
HZHaojia Zhang
Haojia Zhang
XLXiaomin Li
Xiaomin Li
RZRui Zhou
Rui Zhou
ZSZijin Sun
Zijin Sun

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
WSWei Shao
Wei Shao
KWKai Wang
Kai Wang
YLYongchao Liu
Yongchao Liu
HZHaojia Zhang
Haojia Zhang
ZSZijin Sun
Zijin Sun
RZRui Zhou
Rui Zhou
The mammalian brain fundamentally relies on precise lipid homeostasis to maintain structural integrity and complex neural signaling. Emerging evidence positions lipid metabolism reprogramming not merely as a secondary pathological byproduct but as a core initiating driver of age-related neurodegenerative diseases. This review systematically evaluates the mechanisms of cerebral lipid dyshomeostasis during brain aging, highlighting glial cells as the central mediators of this pathological cascade. We comprehensively dissect the age-associated “lipid drift”, emphasizing apolipoprotein E (APOE)-induced cholesterol transport defects and lipid raft pathology, the accumulation of lipid droplets that triggers microglial metabolic stress (LDAMs), and ceramide-driven neuronal apoptosis coupled with the exosome-mediated propagation of pathogenic proteins. Furthermore, we map these aberrant lipid networks to specific pathological signatures in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and demyelinating diseases. Finally, we critically evaluate promising therapeutic interventions, including nutritional strategies, LXR/RXR agonists, and nanotechnology-enabled delivery systems designed to bypass the blood–brain barrier. By integrating high-throughput lipidomics for early diagnostic biomarker discovery, we underscore the translational imperative of restoring cerebral lipid homeostasis as a disease-modifying strategy for neurodegeneration.

26 June 2026 in Food Science & Nutrition
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
YZYazhen Zhang
Yazhen Zhang
YCYisheng Chen
Yisheng Chen
ZHZhaoyuan Huang
Zhaoyuan Huang
SZShizhong Zheng
Shizhong Zheng
CSChengwan Shen
Chengwan Shen
SZShaocong Zhao
Shaocong Zhao
Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is one of the most devastating subtypes of stroke, with limited preventive options and a challenging recovery process. This study presents a translational framework that integrates tea polyphenols (TPPs) and exercise‐induced metabolites as dual modulators of neurovascular stability, with a focus on patient education for enhancing post‐stroke recovery. By synthesizing preclinical and clinical evidence, we demonstrate how TPPs, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and key exercise metabolites such as lactate, β‐hydroxybutyrate, and short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) interact with shared redox‐sensitive and inflammatory signaling pathways (Nrf2/NF‐κB/AMPK axis) to reinforce endothelial integrity, preserve blood–brain barrier function, and maintain cerebral perfusion. These interventions also reshape the gut microbiota, promoting an SCFA‐enriched, anti‐inflammatory profile that fosters bidirectional gut‐brain communication, further stabilizing vascular homeostasis. Multi‐omics evidence suggests that TPPs and exercise metabolites may jointly regulate metabolic and immune pathways, enhancing resilience against oxidative and inflammatory injuries in the vasculature. We propose a mechanistic model in which TPPs and exercise‐derived metabolites synergistically support neurovascular function and reduce neurovascular vulnerability associated with ICH, while promoting cognitive recovery and metabolic health. Incorporating these findings into patient rehabilitation education may help individuals make informed decisions about lifestyle changes that enhance vascular health. Future research should explore the dose–response relationship, the optimal timing between tea and exercise, and individual variations, using metabolomic, microbiomic, and imaging biomarkers to personalize cerebrovascular prevention strategies.