OBJECTIVE: To identify the underlying molecular mechanism of Modified Hu-Lu-Ba-Wan (MHW) in alleviating renal lesions in mice with diabetic kidney disease (DKD). METHODS: The db/db mice were divided into model group and MHW group according to a random number table, while db/m mice were settled as the control group (n=8 per group). The control and model groups were gavaged daily with distilled water [10 mL/(kg·d)], and the MHW group was treated with MHW [17.8 g/(kg·d)] for 6 weeks. After MHW administration for 6 weeks, indicators associated with glucolipid metabolism and urinary albumin were tested. Podocytes were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Kidney transcriptomics was performed after confirming therapeutic effects of MHW on DKD mice. The relevant target of MHW' effect in DKD was further determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot analysis, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, MHW improved glucose and lipid metabolism (P<0.05), and reduced lipid deposition in the kidney. Meanwhile, MHW reduced the excretion of urinary albumin (P<0.05) and ameliorated renal damage. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the inflammation response, particularly the interleukin-17 (IL-17) signaling pathway, may be responsible for the effect of MHW on DKD. Furtherly, our results found that MHW inhibited IL-17A and alleviated early fibrosis in the diabetic kidney. CONCLUSION MHW ameliorated renal damage in DKD via inhibiting IL-17A, suggesting a potential strategy for DKD therapy.
Animals ; Diabetic Nephropathies/genetics* ; Interleukin-17/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Male ; Kidney/ultrastructure* ; Podocytes/metabolism* ; Mice ; Albuminuria ; Lipid Metabolism/drug effects* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

The development of anticancer drugs to treat triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an ongoing challenge. Immunogenic cell death (ICD) has garnered considerable interest worldwide as a promising synergistic modality for cancer chemoimmunotherapy. However, only few drugs or treatment modalities can trigger an ICD response and none of them exert a considerable clinical effect against TNBC. Therefore, new agents with potentially effective chemoimmunotherapeutic response are required. In this study, five new cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes containing isoquinoline alkaloid CˆN ligands were designed and synthesized. Among them, Ir-1 exhibited the highest in vitro cytotoxicity. Mechanistically, Ir-1 could trigger autophagy-dependent ferroptosis and a subsequent ferroptosis-dependent ICD response as well as indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) inhibition via reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in MDA-MB-231 cells. When immunocompetent BALB/c mice were vaccinated with Ir-1-treated dying TNBC cells, antitumor CD8⁺ T-cell response and Foxp3⁺ T-cell depletion were induced, resulting in long-lasting antitumor immunity in TNBC cells. Moreover, combination therapy with Ir-1 and anti-PD1 could substantially augment in vivo therapeutic effects. Based on these results, Ir-1 is a promising candidate for chemoimmunotherapy against TNBC and its effects are mediated synergistically via ICD induction and IDO blockage.

Glutamine provides carbon and nitrogen to support the proliferation of cancer cells. However, the precise reason why cancer cells are particularly dependent on glutamine remains unclear. In this study, we report that glutamine modulates the tumor suppressor F-box and WD repeat domain-containing 7 (FBW7) to promote cancer cell proliferation and survival. Specifically, lysine 604 (K604) in the sixth of the 7 substrate-recruiting WD repeats of FBW7 undergoes glutaminylation (Gln-K604) by glutaminyl tRNA synthetase. Gln-K604 inhibits SCFFBW7-mediated degradation of c-Myc and Mcl-1, enhances glutamine utilization, and stimulates nucleotide and DNA biosynthesis through the activation of c-Myc. Additionally, Gln-K604 promotes resistance to apoptosis by activating Mcl-1. In contrast, SIRT1 deglutaminylates Gln-K604, thereby reversing its effects. Cancer cells lacking Gln-K604 exhibit overexpression of c-Myc and Mcl-1 and display resistance to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. Silencing both c-MYC and MCL-1 in these cells sensitizes them to chemotherapy. These findings indicate that the glutamine-mediated signal via Gln-K604 is a key driver of cancer progression and suggest potential strategies for targeted cancer therapies based on varying Gln-K604 status.
Glutamine/metabolism* ; Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein/genetics* ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc/genetics* ; Cell Proliferation ; Signal Transduction ; Neoplasms/pathology* ; F-Box-WD Repeat-Containing Protein 7/genetics* ; Cell Survival ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Apoptosis

Cells not only contain membrane-bound organelles (MBOs), but also membraneless organelles (MLOs) formed by condensation of many biomacromolecules. Examples include RNA-protein granules such as nucleoli and PML nuclear bodies (PML-NBs) in the nucleus, as well as stress granules and P-bodies in the cytoplasm. Phase separation is the basic organizing principle of the form of the condensates or membraneless organelles (MLOs) of biomacromolecules including proteins and nucleic acids. In particular, liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) compartmentalises and concentrates biological macromolecules into liquid condensates. It has been found that phase separation of biomacromolecules requires some typical intrinsic characteristics, such as intrinsically disordered regions, modular domains and multivalent interactions. The phase separation of biomacromolecules plays a key role in many important cell activities. In recent years, the phase separation of biomacromolecules phase has become a focus of research in gene transcriptional regulation. Transcriptional regulatory elements such as RNA polymerases, transcription factors (TFs), and super enhancers (SEs) all play important roles through phase separation. Our group has previously reported for the first time that long-term inactivation or absence of assembly factors leads to the formation of condensates of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) subunits in the cytoplasm, and this process is reversible, suggesting a novel regulatory model of eukaryotic transcription machinery. The phase separation of biomacromolecules provides a biophysical understanding for the rapid transmission of transcriptional signals by a large number of TFs. Moreover, phase separation during transcriptional regulation is closely related to the occurrence of cancer. For example, the activation of oncogenes is usually associated with the formation of phase separation condensates at the SEs. In this review, the intrinsic characteristics of the formation of biomacromolecules phase separation and the important role of phase separation in transcriptional regulation are reviewed, which will provide reference for understanding basic cell activities and gene regulation in cancer.

Although significant progress has been made in the development of novel targeted drugs for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia(AML)in recent years,chemotherapy still remains the mainstay of treatment and the overall survival is poor in most patients.Here,we demonstrated the antileukemia activity of a novel small molecular compound NL101,which is formed through the modification on bendamustine with a suberanilohydroxamic acid(SAHA)radical.NL101 suppresses the proliferation of myeloid malignancy cells and primary AML cells.It induces DNA damage and caspase 3-mediated apoptosis.A genome-wide clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)library screen revealed that phosphatase and tensin homologous(PTEN)gene is critical for the regulation of cell survival upon NL101 treatment.The knockout or inhibition of PTEN significantly reduced NL101-induced apoptosis in AML and myelodysplastic syndrome(MDS)cells,accompanied by the activation of protein kinase B(AKT)signaling pathway.The inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)by rapamycin enhanced the sensitivity of AML cells to NL101-induced cell death.These findings uncover PTEN protein expression as a major determinant of chemosensitivity to NL101 and provide a novel strategy to treat AML with the combination of NL101 and rapamycin.

Objective To investigate the influences and mechanism of X chromosome inactivation specific transcript(XIST)on the proliferation and extracellular matrix synthesis of nucleus pulposus cells in rats with intervertebral disc degeneration(IDD).Methods SD rat intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus cells were isolated and cultured in vitro,and then randomly divided cells into control group,model group,XIST knockdown group,empty plasmid group,and XIST knockdown+miR-132-3p knockdown group.Except for control group,the cells in other groups were induced by interleukin(IL)-1β to establish IDD models.After nucleus pulposus cells were grouped and treated,the expressions of XIST and miR-132-3p in the nucleus pulposus cells of rats were detected by qRT-PCR;the proliferation of intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus cells was detected by MTS method and EdU staining;ELISA was used to measure the levels of inflammatory factors IL-6 and IL-18 in the intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus cells;Immunoblotting was used to detect the expression of extracellular matrix labeled proteins Collagen Ⅱ and Aggrecan in rat nucleus pulposus cells.The targeted regulation of miR-132-3p by XIST in rat nucleus pulposus cells was detected by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay.IDD rat models were established by intramuscular injection of IL-1β and divided into sham operation group,model group,XIST knockdown group,no-load plasmid group,XIST knockdown+miR-132-3p knockdown group,with 12 rats in each group.After treatment in each group,the expressions of XIST and miR-132-3p in intervertebral disc tissues were detected by qRT-PCR;TUNEL staining was used to detect apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells in intervertebral disc tissue of rats;the morphology of intervertebral disc cartilage was observed by saffron O staining;serum levels of inflammatory factors IL-6 and IL-18 were determined by ELISA;the expressions of Collagen Ⅱ and Aggrecan in intervertebral disc tissues were detected by Western blotting.Results Compared with control group(cells)/sham operation group(rats),XIST expression in intervertebral disc tissue and nucleus pulposus cells,apoptosis rate of intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus cells,levels of inflammatory factors IL-6 and IL-18 in intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus cells culture medium and serum were increased in model group(P＜0.05),the activity and proliferation rate of nucleus pulposus cells and the expressions of miR-132-3p,Collagen Ⅱ and Aggrecan protein in nucleus pulposus cells and intervertebral disc tissues decreased(P＜0.05);compared with model group,the apoptosis rate of nucleus pulposus cells,the levels of inflammatory factors IL-6 and IL-18 in intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus cells culture medium and serum,and the expression of XIST in nucleus pulposus cells and intervertebral disc tissues of rats in XIST knockdown group decreased(P＜0.05),the activity and proliferation rate of nucleus pulposus cells and the expressions of miR-132-3p,Collagen Ⅱ and Aggrecan protein in nucleus pulposus cells and intervertebral disc tissues increased(P＜0.05).Down-regulation of miR-132-3p attenuates the ameliorative effect of knockdown XIST on IL-1β-induced intervertebral disc injury and cartilage matrix loss.XIST was able to target and down-regulate the expression of miR-132-3p in rat nucleus pulposus cells.Conclusion Knockdown of XIST can inhibit inflammation by up-regulating miR-132-3p,thereby inhibiting the apoptosis of IDD nucleus pulposus cells and promoting their proliferation and extracellular matrix synthesis.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between early recurrence and late recurrence within 48 hours after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on atrial fibrillation patients who underwent catheter ablation at the Heart Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from April 2020 to November 2021. Preoperative examinations and baseline data of patients were collected. After surgery, the patient was given continuous electrocardiogram monitoring for 48 hours to observe whether there was early recurrence of atrial fibrillation. Follow up visits were conducted at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after surgery to observe whether there were atrial fibrillation events. The impact of extremely early recurrence on late recurrence free atrial fibrillation was analyzed using Kaplan Meier curves, and the predictive value of extremely early recurrence and other indicators for late atrial fibrillation recurrence was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards models and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.Results:A total of 96 patients who underwent catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation for the first time were included in this study, with an age of (60.2±12.6)years. Among them, 46 patients (47.92%) experienced very early recurrence within 48 hours after surgery. During the 1-year follow-up, 16 patients in the very early recurrence group experienced late recurrence, which was statistically significant compared to the very early non recurrence group ( P=0.003). The proportion of persistent atrial fibrillation was higher in patients with very early recurrence (32.6% vs 8.0%, P=0.006), and more patients with late recurrence (34.8% vs 8.0%, P=0.003). The left atrial diameter was larger [(40.28±4.72)mm vs (37.10±4.35)mm, P=0.001]. The Kaplan Meier curve showed that compared with the very early non recurrence group, the late recurrence rate of patients in the very early recurrence group was significantly higher (Long rank P=0.001 6). Cox single factor regression analysis showed that very early recurrence, age increase, increased left atrial diameter, hypertension and diabetes were risk factors for late recurrence (all P<0.2). Multivariate regression analysis suggested that extremely early recurrence was an independent risk factor for late recurrence ( HR=3.99, 95% CI: 1.22-13.06, P=0.021). The area under the ROC curve for predicting late recurrence after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation with extremely early recurrence was 0.703, and the negative predictive value was 0.920. Conclusions:Early recurrence within 48 hours after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation is an independent risk factor for late recurrence and has good predictive value.

As a major global public health problem, pulmonary diseases threaten human life and health while causing a huge economic burden. The messenger RNA (mRNA)-based inhalation preparation, which effectively targets pulmonary cells can overcome the problems of traditional therapy, such as high side effects, low pulmonary bioavailability, and difficulty in synthesizing target proteins in vitro, thus providing new ideas for the treatment of pulmonary diseases. However, as the lung structure is complex and mRNA has trouble entering cells, researchers have been attempting to develop a suitable nano delivery system for higher delivery efficiency. This review introduces the barriers to pulmonary delivery, discusses the recent research development of the mRNA pulmonary delivery systems, including lipid nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, polypeptides and exosomes, summarizes their limitations and looks forward to the application of mRNA inhalation preparations.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of dyslipidemia and the level of blood lipids among Tajik people in Pamir Plateau, Xinjiang, and explore the related factors of dyslipidemia. Methods: It is a retrospective cross-sectional study. A multi-stage cluster random sampling survey was conducted among 5 635 Tajiks over 18 years old in Tashkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, Xinjiang Province from May to October 2021. Data were collected through questionnaire survey (general information, medical history, and personal history), physical examination (height, weight, waist, and blood pressure) and blood test (total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density cholesterol (HDL-C)) to analyze the dyslipidemia and its risk factors among Tajiks. Results: The age of Tajik participants was (41.9±15.0) years, including 2 726 males (48.4%). The prevalence of borderline high TC, high LDL-C and high TG levels were 17.2%, 14.7% and 8.9%, respectively. The prevalence of high TC, high LDL-C, high TG and low HDL-C were 4.1%, 4.9%, 9.4% and 32.4%, respectively, and the prevalence of dyslipidemia was 37.0%. There is a positive correlation between male,higher education level, higher body mass index (BMI) value,waist circumference, living in town, smoking and dyslipidemia. Conclusions: The low prevalence of high TC, high LDL-C, high TG and high prevalence of low HDL-C was a major characteristic of Tajik people in Pamir Plateau of Xinjiang. The lower rates of overweight and obesity may be one of the reasons for the lower prevalence of dyslipidemia among Tajik.
Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dyslipidemias/epidemiology* ; Hypercholesterolemia/epidemiology* ; Hypertriglyceridemia/epidemiology* ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Female

Objective: To provide survival evidence of anthracycline-free neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with stages Ⅱ-Ⅲ human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) positive and hormone receptor (HR) negative breast cancer. Methods: The prospective cohort study was conducted at the Department of Medical Oncology of Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Patients with HER-2 positive and HR negative breast cancer in stages Ⅱ-Ⅲ were enrolled to receive neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) of dose-dense paclitaxel (175 mg/m(2)) plus carboplatin (AUC=4.0) biweekly for 6 cycles in combination with trastuzumab (PCbH), and matched patients who received standard adjuvant therapy of physicians' choice were recruited for survival and safety comparison. Results: From July 2013 to November 2019, 166 patients were included (neoadjuvant 51, adjuvant 115). Compared with those who received adjuvant therapy, patients receiving NAT were younger (<35 years: 19.6% vs 5.2%, P=0.014), had larger tumors (T3: 62.7% vs 7.8%, P<0.001) and more advanced diseases (stage ⅡA: 2.0% vs 41.7%, P<0.001). Patients in the neoadjuvant group all received surgery, and 96 (83.5%) in the adjuvant group received anthracycline-and-taxane-containing regimens. A total of 98 patients (49 pairs) were matched, and the covariates between the two groups were acceptably balanced. Within a median follow-up of 46.5 (range, 14-87) months, the 4-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate among patients who received NAT was 73.3% (95% CI: 59.0%-87.6%), versus 80.6% (95% CI: 67.9%-93.3%) among those in the adjuvant group without statistical difference (P=0.418). A similar result was observed for the 4-year overall survival (OS) [neoadjuvant versus adjuvant: 91.5% (95% CI: 81.7%-100.0%) vs 97.8% (95% CI: 93.5%-100.0%), P=0.314]. Compared with standard adjuvant therapy, PCbH was related to less neutropenia and better cardiac safety. Conclusions: These results support the consideration of anthracycline-free neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with anti-HER-2 therapy for patients with stages Ⅱ-Ⅲ HER-2-positive and HR-negative breast cancer. Optimized regimens with both efficacy and safety are needed and to be further investigated.
Female ; Humans ; Anthracyclines/therapeutic use* ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic/therapeutic use* ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Carboplatin/therapeutic use* ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Hormones/therapeutic use* ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Paclitaxel/therapeutic use* ; Prospective Studies ; Receptor, ErbB-2/metabolism* ; Trastuzumab/therapeutic use* ; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy*