1.Research progresses on Keap1-Nrf2 pathway in inflammatory diseases
Wenyan ZHOU ; Shanshan HU ; Wannian ZHANG ; Chunlin ZHUANG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice and Service 2025;43(3):97-108
The Keap1-Nrf2 pathway has been shown to be an important defense mechanism against oxidative stress, which may be an effective therapeutic strategy for many diseases. The research progresses on Keap1-Nrf2 pathway in inflammatory diseases were mainly reviewed. The basic components and activation mechanism of Keap1-Nrf2 pathway were introduced. The relationship between Keap1-Nrf2 pathway and the crosstalk between NF-κB pathway and HO-1 pathway, the expression of inflammatory mediators and enzymes, and inflammatory bodies were expounded. Natural product-derived inhibitors, small molecule inhibitors targeting Keap1-Nrf2 pathway and their clinical progress were introduced, and the potential application value of Keap1-Nrf2 pathway in the treatment of inflammation was discussed.
2.Percutaneous coronary intervention vs . medical therapy in patients on dialysis with coronary artery disease in China.
Enmin XIE ; Yaxin WU ; Zixiang YE ; Yong HE ; Hesong ZENG ; Jianfang LUO ; Mulei CHEN ; Wenyue PANG ; Yanmin XU ; Chuanyu GAO ; Xiaogang GUO ; Lin CAI ; Qingwei JI ; Yining YANG ; Di WU ; Yiqiang YUAN ; Jing WAN ; Yuliang MA ; Jun ZHANG ; Zhimin DU ; Qing YANG ; Jinsong CHENG ; Chunhua DING ; Xiang MA ; Chunlin YIN ; Zeyuan FAN ; Qiang TANG ; Yue LI ; Lihua SUN ; Chengzhi LU ; Jufang CHI ; Zhuhua YAO ; Yanxiang GAO ; Changan YU ; Jingyi REN ; Jingang ZHENG
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(3):301-310
BACKGROUND:
The available evidence regarding the benefits of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on patients receiving dialysis with coronary artery disease (CAD) is limited and inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the association between PCI and clinical outcomes as compared with medical therapy alone in patients undergoing dialysis with CAD in China.
METHODS:
This multicenter, retrospective study was conducted in 30 tertiary medical centers across 12 provinces in China from January 2015 to June 2021 to include patients on dialysis with CAD. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and non-fatal stroke. Secondary outcomes included all-cause death, the individual components of MACE, and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium criteria types 2, 3, or 5 bleeding. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between PCI and outcomes. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) and propensity score matching (PSM) were performed to account for potential between-group differences.
RESULTS:
Of the 1146 patients on dialysis with significant CAD, 821 (71.6%) underwent PCI. After a median follow-up of 23.0 months, PCI was associated with a 43.0% significantly lower risk for MACE (33.9% [ n = 278] vs . 43.7% [ n = 142]; adjusted hazards ratio 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.45-0.71), along with a slightly increased risk for bleeding outcomes that did not reach statistical significance (11.1% vs . 8.3%; adjusted hazards ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval, 0.82-2.11). Furthermore, PCI was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities. Subgroup analysis did not modify the association of PCI with patient outcomes. These primary findings were consistent across IPTW, PSM, and competing risk analyses.
CONCLUSION
This study indicated that PCI in patients on dialysis with CAD was significantly associated with lower MACE and mortality when comparing with those with medical therapy alone, albeit with a slightly increased risk for bleeding events that did not reach statistical significance.
Humans
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Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/methods*
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Male
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Female
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Coronary Artery Disease/drug therapy*
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Retrospective Studies
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Renal Dialysis/methods*
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Middle Aged
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Aged
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China
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Proportional Hazards Models
;
Treatment Outcome
3.Chemical knockdown of Keap1 and homoPROTAC-ing allergic rhinitis.
Jianyu YAN ; Tianyu WANG ; Ruizhi YU ; Lijuan XU ; Hongming SHAO ; Tengfei LI ; Zhe WANG ; Xudong CHA ; Zhenyuan MIAO ; Chengguo XING ; Ke XU ; Huanhai LIU ; Chunlin ZHUANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(8):4137-4155
Allergic rhinitis (AR), a globally prevalent immune-mediated inflammatory condition, is still an incurable disease. In the present study, we have validated the impact of the Kelch-like ECH associated protein 1 (Keap1)-related oxidative stress and inflammatory response in clinical AR patient peripheral blood and nasal swab samples, emphasizing the biological relevance of Keap1 and AR. Targeting Keap1 -nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) related anti-oxidative stress may be effective for AR intervention. Drawing inspiration from the Keap1 homodimerization and the E3 ligase characteristics, we herein present a design of novel bivalent molecules for chemical knockdown of Keap1. For the first time, we characterized ternary complexes of Keap1 dimer and one molecule of bivalent compounds. The best bivalent molecule 8 encompasses robust capacity to degrade Keap1 as a homoPROTACKEAP1. It efficaciously suppresses inflammatory cytokines in extensively different cells, including human nasal epithelial cells. Moreover, in an AR mouse model, we confirmed that the chemical degradation induced by homoPROTACKEAP1 led to therapeutic benefits in managing AR symptoms, oxidative stress and inflammation. In summary, our findings underscore the efficacy of targeting the Keap1 system through the homoPROTAC-ing technology as an innovative and promising treatment strategy for the incurable allergic disorders.
4.Research progresses on the main active components in Ningxia Sophora alopecuroides and the therapeutic activities for liver diseases
Danni QUAN ; Yue XU ; Zhuo QU ; Weiheng XU ; Wannian ZHANG ; Chunlin ZHUANG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice 2022;40(1):1-5
Sophora alopecuroides, a plant of the family Leguminosae, is one of the Daodi herbs in Ningxia. The active constituents of Sophora alopecuroides are abundant and complex, including alkaloids, flavonoids, volatile oils, steroids, polysaccharides, fatty acids and so on. In recent decades, a great number of domestic and overseas studies have been carried out on Sophora alopecuroides alkaloids, which have anti-hepatitis, anti-liver fibrosis, anti-cirrhosis, anti-liver failure and anti-liver cancer and other pharmacological effects. Clinically, Matrine-related drugs are used to treat hepatitis B virus infection and other diseases. This review aims to summarize the main active ingredients of Sophora alopecuroides, mainly focusing on the research progress in their treatment activities for liver diseases.
5.Cytotoxicity study on FC58, an indole-chalcone, against multi-drug resistant leukemia cells
Jiawei DAI ; Saijian SHI ; Aiwei SONG ; Zhibin WANG ; Chunlin ZHUANG ; Chunnian XIA
Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice 2021;39(4):305-308
Objective To synthesize and investigate cytotoxicity of an indole-chalcone derivative FC58. Methods The target compound was synthesized through the Aldol condensation with 1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)ethan-1-one and 1H-indole-3-carbaldehyde. The Cell Titer-Blue method was used to determine in vitro cytotoxicity. The cell cycle experiment was performed to analyze the action characteristics of FC58. Results FC58 exhibited high cytotoxicity against various leukemia cells and resulted in G2/M phase arrest. It showed stronger drug resistant index than traditional tubulin inhibitors such as paclitaxel, vinblastine and doxorubicin. Conclusion FC58 represents a promising lead compound for multi-drug resistant leukemia.
6.Ligand-based substituent-anchoring design of selective receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 necroptosis inhibitors for ulcerative colitis therapy.
Jing ZHU ; Meng XIN ; Congcong XU ; Yuan HE ; Wannian ZHANG ; Zhibin WANG ; Chunlin ZHUANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2021;11(10):3193-3205
Receptor-interacting protein (RIP) kinase 1 is involved in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases including ulcerative colitis (UC) by regulating necroptosis and inflammation. Our group previously identified TAK-632 (
7.Research progress on small molecule inhibitors of coronaviruses
Zhengguang YAO ; Zhibin WANG ; Chunnian XIA ; Chunlin ZHUANG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice 2020;38(5):385-397
Coronavirus infection seriously threatens human health. There is no specific medication or vaccine so far. In recent years, domestic and foreign researchers have developed a variety of small-molecule inhibitors against the ligand S protein, RdRp, PLpro and 3CLpro of three highly pathogenic coronavirus, SARS-CoV,MERS-CoV,SARS-CoV-2. This article reviews the characteristics of these coronaviruses, action targets, small molecule inhibitors, and structure-activity relationships.
8.Improving the positional adaptability: structure-based design of biphenyl-substituted diaryltriazines as novel non-nucleoside HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors.
Kaijun JIN ; Minjie LIU ; Chunlin ZHUANG ; Erik DE CLERCQ ; Christophe PANNECOUQUE ; Ge MENG ; Fener CHEN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2020;10(2):344-357
In order to improve the positional adaptability of our previously reported naphthyl diaryltriazines (NP-DATAs), synthesis of a series of novel biphenyl-substituted diaryltriazines (BP-DATAs) with a flexible side chain attached at the C-6 position is presented. These compounds exhibited excellent potency against wild-type (WT) HIV-1 with EC values ranging from 2.6 to 39 nmol/L and most of them showed low nanomolar anti-viral potency against a panel of HIV-1 mutant strains. Compounds and had the best activity against WT, single and double HIV-1 mutants and reverse transcriptase (RT) enzyme comparable to two reference drugs (EFV and ETR) and our lead compound NP-DATA (). Molecular modeling disclosed that the side chain at the C-6 position of DATAs occupied the entrance channel of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase non-nucleoside binding pocket (NNIBP) attributing to the improved activity. The preliminary structure-activity relationship and PK profiles were also discussed.
9.Development of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs): our past twenty years.
Chunlin ZHUANG ; Christophe PANNECOUQUE ; Erik DE CLERCQ ; Fener CHEN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2020;10(6):961-978
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the primary infectious agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) are the cornerstone of HIV treatment. In the last 20 years, our medicinal chemistry group has made great strides in developing several distinct novel NNRTIs, including 1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]-6-(phenylthio)thymine (HEPT), thio-dihydro-alkoxy-benzyl-oxopyrimidine (-DABO), diaryltriazine (DATA), diarylpyrimidine (DAPY) analogues, and their hybrid derivatives. Application of integrated modern medicinal strategies, including structure-based drug design, fragment-based optimization, scaffold/fragment hopping, molecular/fragment hybridization, and bioisosterism, led to the development of several highly potent analogues for further evaluations. In this paper, we review the development of NNRTIs in the last two decades using the above optimization strategies, including their structure-activity relationships, molecular modeling, and their binding modes with HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT). Future directions and perspectives on the design and associated challenges are also discussed.
10.Methodology of drug screening and target identification for new necroptosis inhibitors
Pengchao PAN ; Zhenyu CAI ; Chunlin ZHUANG ; Xiaofei CHEN ; Yifeng CHAI
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2019;9(2):71-76
Apoptosis has been considered as the only form of regulated cell death for a long time. However, a novel form of programmed cell death called necroptosis was recently reported. The process of necroptosis is regulated and plays a critical role in the occurrence and development of multiple human diseases. Thus, the study on the molecular mechanism of necroptosis and its effective inhibitors has been an attractive field for researchers. Herein, we introduce the molecular mechanism of necroptosis and focus on the literature about necroptosis drug screening in recent years. In addition, the identification of the critical drug targets of the necroptosis is also discussed.

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