1.Evolution-guided design of mini-protein for high-contrast in vivo imaging.
Nongyu HUANG ; Yang CAO ; Guangjun XIONG ; Suwen CHEN ; Juan CHENG ; Yifan ZHOU ; Chengxin ZHANG ; Xiaoqiong WEI ; Wenling WU ; Yawen HU ; Pei ZHOU ; Guolin LI ; Fulei ZHAO ; Fanlian ZENG ; Xiaoyan WANG ; Jiadong YU ; Chengcheng YUE ; Xinai CUI ; Kaijun CUI ; Huawei CAI ; Yuquan WEI ; Yang ZHANG ; Jiong LI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(10):5327-5345
Traditional development of small protein scaffolds has relied on display technologies and mutation-based engineering, which limit sequence and functional diversity, thereby constraining their therapeutic and application potential. Protein design tools have significantly advanced the creation of novel protein sequences, structures, and functions. However, further improvements in design strategies are still needed to more efficiently optimize the functional performance of protein-based drugs and enhance their druggability. Here, we extended an evolution-based design protocol to create a novel minibinder, BindHer, against the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). It not only exhibits super stability and binding selectivity but also demonstrates remarkable properties in tissue specificity. Radiolabeling experiments with 99mTc, 68Ga, and 18F revealed that BindHer efficiently targets tumors in HER2-positive breast cancer mouse models, with minimal nonspecific liver absorption, outperforming scaffolds designed through traditional engineering. These findings highlight a new rational approach to automated protein design, offering significant potential for large-scale applications in therapeutic mini-protein development.
2.Targeting Programmed Cell Death in Acquired Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Ferroptosis, Necroptosis, and Pyroptosis.
Shasha ZHANG ; Hairong XIAO ; Yanqin LIN ; Xujun TANG ; Wei TONG ; Buwei SHAO ; He LI ; Lei XU ; Xiaoqiong DING ; Renjie CHAI
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(6):1085-1102
Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), the most commonly-occurring form of hearing loss, is caused mainly by injury to or the loss of hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons in the cochlea. Numerous environmental and physiological factors have been shown to cause acquired SNHL, such as ototoxic drugs, noise exposure, aging, infections, and diseases. Several programmed cell death (PCD) pathways have been reported to be involved in SNHL, especially some novel PCD pathways that have only recently been reported, such as ferroptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis. Here we summarize these PCD pathways and their roles and mechanisms in SNHL, aiming to provide new insights and potential therapeutic strategies for SNHL by targeting these PCD pathways.
Humans
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Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/metabolism*
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Necroptosis/drug effects*
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Pyroptosis/drug effects*
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Ferroptosis/drug effects*
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Animals
3.MAGED4 activates the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway through SIRT7 to promote glioma cell proliferation
Ai Ye ; Ziliang Zhong ; Feng Li ; Huan Xie ; Xiaoqiong Zou ; Guojian Wang ; Zi Wang ; Bin Luo ; Qingmei Zhang ; Xiaoxun Xie
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2025;60(12):2235-2246
Objective:
To determine the expression of melanoma-associated antigens D4(MAGED4) and SIRT7 in human glioma, and to analyze the potential effects of MAGED4 and SIRT7 on glioma cell proliferation.
Methods:
The MAGED4 and SIRT7 expression levels and their correlation were compared by the China glioma genome atlas(CGGA), human protein atlas(HPA), and UALCAN databases. Survival analysis, ROC curve analysis, and Cox regression analysis were used to predict the outcome of MAGED4 and SIRT 7 in glioma patients. Gene ontology(GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG) signaling pathway enrichment analysis were used to explore the biological functions of MAGED4 and SIRT7 in glioma. Western blot experiment was used to investigate whether MAGED4 protein exerted its regulatory effects on the activity of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway via SIRT7. The effect of MAGED4 on cell proliferation in glioma through SIRT7 was explored by CCK-8.
Results:
The analysis results of CGGA, UALCAN, and HPA databases showed that the expression levels of MAGED4 and SIRT7 in glioma tissues were higher than those in normal brain tissue, and the expression were positively correlated. Results of survival, ROC, and Cox analysis showed that high expression of MAGED4 and SIRT7 mRNA were risk factors for poor prognosis in glioma. Results of KEGG enrichment analysis showed that MAGED4 and SIRT7 were associated with the PI3K/AKT signaling in glioma, and Western blot results showed that MAGED4 activated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway by regulating SIRT7. The CCK-8 results showed that MAGED4 promotes the proliferation of glioma cells through SIRT7.
Conclusion
MAGED4 and SIRT7 are highly expressed in glioma and associated with poor prognosis, and MAGED4 promotes glioma cell proliferation through activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway by SIRT7.
4.Research progress of traditional Chinese medicine monomer and compound intervention on the Wnt signaling pathway in regulating bone metabolism
Ting LI ; Xiaoqiong ZHANG ; Mei LIU ; Qin WANG
China Pharmacy 2024;35(5):623-628
Bone metabolism refers to the decomposition and anabolism occurring during bone remodeling, and its balance is regulated by bone resorption and bone formation. A slight deviation of this balance causes various skeletal diseases, such as osteoporosis and renal osteodystrophy. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) monomers and compounds have certain advantages in treating bone metabolism diseases. The Wnt signaling pathway includes the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, dependent on β-catenin, and the non-canonical Wnt signaling pathway, independent of β-catenin. Both types of pathways can maintain bone metabolism balance by regulating bone formation and bone resorption and are essential for bone development, bone mass maintenance, and bone remodeling. A variety of TCM monomers (albiflorin, catalpol and icariin) and formulas (Zuogui pill, Yishen gugu prescription, Duzhong jiangu prescription, etc.) have been confirmed to promote differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts, bone injury repair, and osteoporosis improvement by activating the Wnt signaling pathway in recent years. Here, this article summarizes the research progress in the Wnt signaling pathway regulation of bone metabolism by TCM monomers and compounds to provide ideas for the clinical application of TCM and the research and development of new drugs for the prevention and treatment of bone metabolism diseases.
5.Effect and its mechanism of esketamine on anxiety and depression in mice
Jingwen Zhou ; Yuanhai Li ; Gaolin Qiu ; Wen Cai ; Yuanyuan Zhao ; Xiaoqiong Xia
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2024;59(1):106-110
Objective :
To explore the effect of esketamine on anxiety-depressive-like behavior in mice and its rela- tionship with inflammation.
Methods :
SPF grade healthy adult male C57BL/6J mice,weighing 20 -24 g,were used in the exprement.The random number table method was used to divide into 5 groups (n = 8) : control group ( Con group) ,esketamine group (ESK group) ,model group ( LPS group) ,model + esketamine prevention group (LPS + ESK1 group) and model + esketamine treatment group ( LPS + ESK2 group) .An inflammation-induced anxiety-depression model was prepared by intraperitoneal injection of LPS 0. 83 mg / kg.The ESK group was injec- ted with esketamine 10 mg / kg ; LPS group was injected with LPS 0. 83 mg / kg ; LPS + ESK1 group was injected with LPS 0. 83 mg / kg before 24 hours intraperitoneal injection of esketamine 10 mg / kg ; and the LPS + ESK2 group was injected with LPS 0. 83 mg / kg and 30 minutes later with esketamine 10 mg / kg.24 h after intraperitoneal injec- tion of LPS,the anxiety-depression-like behaviors of mice were measured using behavioral experiments.At the end of behavioral experiments,the spleen was taken immediately ; hippocampal tissues were taken and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the contents of interleukin-1 β (IL-1 β) ,tumor necrosis factor al- pha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) and neuronal pathological changes in hippocampal tissues were observed by HE staining.
Results :
Compared with the Con group,mice in the LPS group showed increased anxiety and depres- sion-like behavior (P<0. 05) ,increased spleen weight / body weight (P <0. 05 ) ,increased hippocampal tissue concentrations of IL-1 β , TNF-α and IL-6 (P<0. 05) ,and increased neuronal degeneration necrosis,there was no statistically significant difference in these indicators in the ESK group compared with the Con group.Compared with the LPS group,mice in the LPS + ESK1 and LPS + ESK2 groups showed reduced anxiety-depression-like behavior (P<0. 05) ,decreased splenic weight / body weight (P <0. 05) ,hippocampal tissue IL-1 β , TNF-α , IL- 6 con- centrations were reduced (P<0. 05) ,and neuronal degeneration necrosis was reduced.Compared with the LPS + ESK1 group,the LPS + ESK2 group showed an increase in the distance travelled in the central area of the open field experiment and the distance into the open arm of the elevated cross maze experiment (P<0. 05) ,a decrease in IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations (P<0. 05) ,and a reduction in the degree of neuronal damage.
Conclusion
Esketamine ameliorates LPS-induced anxiety-depression-like behavior and neuronal damage in mice by a mechanism that may be related to reduced inflammation.
6.Evaluation of the therapeutic effect of botulinum toxin type a in patients with rosacea erythema telangiectasia and analysis of dermoscopic characteristics
China Modern Doctor 2024;62(23):68-72
Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect of botulinum toxin type A(BTX-A)in patients with rosacea erythema telangiectasia and analyze the characteristics of dermoscopy.Methods Thirty patients with erythema telangiectasia rosacea treated in our hospital from January 2021 to August 2023 were collected as the observation targets.All of them received oral drugs(doxycycline hydrochloride combined with hydroxychloroquine sulfate),and were randomized,double-blind,face-divided.The patients with rosacea were injected with botulinum toxin type A(treatment side)and normal saline(control side)respectively,and the skin physiological indexes(transepidermal water loss,oil content,cuticle water content,erythema index)of the patients before and after treatment were compared.The vascular changes before and after dermoscopic treatment were analyzed,and the incidence of adverse reactions of the patients were calculated.Results After treatment,compared with the control side,the water loss,erythema index and oil content in the epidermis of the treatment side were decreased,and the water content in the stratum corneum was increased after treatment,with statistical significance(P<0.05).There was no difference before and after treatment on the control side(P>0.05).On the treatment side,the therapeutic effect was the best at 4 weeks after treatment,and the effect lasted until the 8th week,with no statistical significance(P>0.05),and the therapeutic effect was weakened at 8 weeks to 12 weeks,with statistical significance(P<0.05).The results of dermoscopy showed that after 4 weeks of treatment,compared with before treatment,the distribution proportion of dark red background,red background and polygonal blood vessels decreased,while the distribution proportion of light red background,linear blood vessels,branched blood vessels and punctured blood vessels increased,with statistical significance(P<0.05).There were no significant differences in yellow and red background and blood vessel distribution(P>0.05).The incidence of adverse reactions was 6.67%in the control group and 10.00%in the treatment group,with no statistical difference between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion BTX-A has a significant improvement effect on the symptoms of erythematous telangiectatic rosacea with high safety.
7.Research status and hotspot analysis of dietary restriction regulating inflammation based on CiteSpace and VOSviewer visualization software
Xiaoqiong TONG ; Li WU ; Li ZHANG ; Bin YUAN ; Yujun LI ; Dazhang BAI ; Guohui JIANG
China Medical Equipment 2024;21(6):149-156
Objective:To conduct visualization analysis on the literature on dietary restriction(DR)regulating inflammation based on CiteSpace and VOSviewer visualization software,and to explore research hotspots and trends in this field.Methods:The literature on DR regulation inflammation in Web of Science core databases from January 1 2010 to September 29 2022 were searched.CiteSpace and VOSviewer visualization software was used to conduct quantitative and visual analysis of the annual publication volume,countries,institutions,authors,citation frequency and keywords of the retrieved literature.Results:A total of 1 344 papers related to the topic were included,and the annual number of papers was generally on the rise,with the highest citation frequency of 1 676 times.The United States(481 papers)is the country with the largest number of publications,followed by China(181 papers).The research hotspots in this field focused on calorie restriction(CR),ketogenic diet,aging,metabolic diseases,adipose tissue and gut microbiota.Conclusion:DR regulation of inflammation is increasingly favored by international and domestic researchers,and future research hotspots may be CR mimics(CRMs),intestinal microbiota,neurodegenerative diseases and cardiovascular diseases.The overall research trend is to further clarify the anti-inflammatory mechanism of DR,find new therapeutic targets,and conduct more rigorous clinical trials with more effective regimens that have been proven in vitro and animal models.
8.Retrospective study of bilateral frontal sinus stent implantation in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps undergoing full functional endoscopic sinus surgery
Xiaoqiong SHI ; Yingna GAO ; Xiangqiang DUAN ; Minhui ZHU ; Jing SONG ; Li ZHOU ; Hongliang ZHENG ; Haihong TANG
Chinese Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2024;31(2):105-108
OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy of bioabsorbable steroid-releasing sinus stents for improving surgical outcomes and subjective symptoms when placed in the bilateral frontal sinus opening(FSO)following full functional endoscopic sinus surgery in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps(CRSwNP).METHODS CRSwNP patients who had under full functional endoscopic sinus surgery with complete data of nasal endoscopy and sinus computed tomography data were identified and included in the study.The patients were divided into a control group consisting of patients receiving only full functional endoscopic sinus surgery(n=92)and a stent group consisting of patients receiving full functional endoscopic sinus surgery combined with placement of steroid implants in both FSO(n=38).The visual analogue scale(VAS)subjective symptom scores and surgical outcomes were compared preoperatively,and on postoperative day(PD30 and PD90)between the two groups.RESULTS Compared to baseline,the overall symptom VAS scores of patients after operation decreased significantly in both groups(P<0.05),and the degree of improvement of overall symptoms in the stent group was significantly better than in the control group(P<0.05).On PD30,the proportion of patients requiring postoperative interventions for bilateral FSO was reduced by 42.3%in the stent group,and was significantly lower than in the control group(P<0.05).Compared to the control group,the proportion of patients needing postoperative intervention in both ethmoid sinus on the stent group decreased by 17.7%(P>0.05).The results at PD90 were consistent with those at PD30.CONCLUSION Full functional endoscopic sinus surgery in combination with bilateral frontal sinus stent implantation is better than full functional endoscopic sinus surgery alone.
9.Effects of Lipopharyngeal Qibi Formula on swallowing function and apoptosis in central cortical swallowing neurons in rats after stroke
Yanjie LI ; Sijin LI ; Xiaoqiong HUA ; Hewei QIN ; Xiaoqin JIN ; Zhixin ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(16):2527-2533
BACKGROUND:The treatment of post-stroke dysphagia with Lipopharyngeal Qibi Formula has achieved good efficacy,and 5-hydroxytryptamine in peripheral serum and neurotransmitters in the nucleus tractus solitarius are closely related to swallowing.Therefore,this study was conducted to explore the modulatory effects of peripheral serum and nucleus tractus solitarius neurotransmitters in swallowing by using modern medical experimental methods such as molecular biology,thereby developing new ideas for the exploration of their mechanisms. OBJECTIVE:To verify the therapeutic effect of Lipopharyngeal Qibi Formula on post-stroke dysphagia and to investigate its mechanism of action. METHODS:Thirty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into model group(n=14),treatment group(n=14)and sham-operated group(n=10).Animals in the model and treatment groups were modeled by reperfusion after 90 minutes of transient cerebral ischemia by wire bolus method.At 6 hours after modeling,neurological function was scored,and rats with a score of 2 were selected for subsequent experiments.The treatment group was given compound Lipopharyngeal Qibi Formula by gavage starting from the 2nd day after modeling and the remaining two groups were given normal saline by gavage.Changes in body mass,24-hour food and water intake were recorded on days 2,7,14 and 30.The swallowing initiation response time and the number of swallows were detected using a biosignal collector and a tonic transducer on days 14 and 30.After the swallowing test,the ischemic area of the brain in each group was measured by TTC staining.The expression of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the nucleus tractus solitarius of the medulla oblongata was measured by immunohistochemistry.The mRNA and protein expression levels of BCL-2 and BAX in the insula,premotor cortex,cingulate cortex and thalamus of rats in each group were measured by RT-PCR and Western blot,respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the sham-operated group,the body mass,24-hour food intake and water intake were reduced,the swallow initiation response time was prolonged,and the number of swallows was reduced in the treatment and model groups at day 14 of gavage(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the body mass,24-hour food intake and water intake of rats were increased in the treatment group at day 30 of gavage(P<0.05),but were still lower than those in the sham-operated group.Compared with the model group,the swallow initiation reaction time was shortened and the number of swallows increased in the treatment group,but the number of swallows was still significantly lower than that in the sham-operated group(P<0.05).Cerebral ischemia area was reduced in the treatment group compared with the model group,and the number of 5-hydroxytryptamine-positive cells in the nucleus tractus solitarius of the medulla oblongata was increased in the treatment group compared with the model group,but it was still significantly lower than that in the sham-operated group(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the expression of BCL-2 mRNA and protein in the insula,cingulate cortex and thalamus of rats in the treatment group were significantly increased,the expression of BAX mRNA and protein were significantly decreased,and the BCL-2/BAX ratio was significantly increased(P<0.05).To conclude,the Chinese herbal compound Lipopharyngeal Qibi Formula could improve the number of swallows and swallowing initiation response time,as well as 24-hour food intake,body mass and other swallowing-related indexes in rats with post-stroke dysphagia.The mechanism of action may be achieved by improving the area of cerebral ischemia,inhibiting the apoptosis of neuronal cells in the insula,cingulate cortex and thalamus of rats,thus improving the regulation of the higher centers on the medulla oblongata swallowing center,and regulating the level of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the nucleus tractus solitarius.
10.Development and performance evaluation of an antioxidant gene-knockout microbial sensor for active monitoring of DNA damage effects
Yue YU ; Anyi LI ; Wenjia WANG ; Hao JIANG ; Yulin DENG ; Xiaoqiong LI ; Xuefei LYU ; Rongji DAI
Space Medicine & Medical Engineering 2024;35(2):73-77
Objective The oxidative damage of DNA can be caused by excessive levels of Reactive oxygen species(ROS).Monitoring of DNA oxidative damage enables effective evaluation of ROS damage effects.Although the detection of DNA damage effects based on microbial sensor allows quantitative analysis of oxidative damage,the ROS clearance mechanism existed in bacterial will affect the sensitive of detection.The work of this article is to knockout the key genes of ROS clearance mechanism and construct an antioxidant gene-knock-out microbial sensor.The microbial sensor can realize sensitive monitoring of DNA damage effects and then evaluates the damage effects of cells by ROS.Methods The antioxidant damage genes of bacterial ahpCF,katE and katG were knocked out by λ-Red homologous recombination and antioxidant gene-knockout microbial sensor was constructed.The nalidixic acid sodium salt and UV irradiation were used to characterize the performance for monitoring of DNA damage effects.Results The antioxidant gene-knockout microbial sensors ΔahpC,ΔahpCF/ΔkatEG and ΔahpCF/ΔkatE/ΔkatG were constructed successfully.The results showed that the microbial sensor ΔahpCF/ΔkatE/ΔkatGl had the highest sensitive of damage effects and the limit of detection for nalidixic acid sodium salt was 0.40 μmol/L.In addition,1.80 min of UV irradiation(254 nm)was sufficient to induce a significant fluorescent expression effect in the engineered bacteria.Conclusion In this article,antioxidant gene-knockout microbial sensors had been constructed to realize active and sensitive monitoring of DNA damage effects such as DNA damage reagents and UV irradiation.The sensors could provide an active,effective,and sensitive potential monitoring method for future evaluation of radiation effects in space.


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