1.Prospects for 3D Bioprinting Research and Transdisciplinary Application to Preclinical Animal Models
Min HU ; Lexuan DONG ; Yi GAO ; Ziqi XI ; Zihao SHEN ; Ruiyang TANG ; Xin LUAN ; Min TANG ; Weidong ZHANG
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2025;45(3):318-330
Animal experiments are widely used in biomedical research for safety assessment, toxicological analysis, efficacy evaluation, and mechanism exploration. In recent years, the ethical review system has become more stringent, and awareness of animal welfare has continuously increased. To promote more efficient and cost-effective drug research and development, the United States passed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Modernization Act 2.0 in September 2022, which removed the federal mandate requiring animal testing in preclinical drug research. In April 2025, the FDA further proposed to adopt a series of "new alternative methods" in the research and development of drugs such as monoclonal antibodies, which included artificial intelligence computing models, organoid toxicity tests, and 3D micro-physiological systems, thereby gradually phasing out traditional animal experiment models. Among these cutting-edge technologies, 3D bioprinting models are a significant alternative and complement to animal models, owing to their high biomimetic properties, reproducibility, and scalability. This review provides a comprehensive overview of advancements and applications of 3D bioprinting technology in the fields of biomedical and pharmaceutical research. It starts by detailing the essential elements of 3D bioprinting, including the selection and functional design of biomaterials, along with an explanation of the principles and characteristics of various printing strategies, highlighting the advantages in constructing complex multicellular spatial structures, regulating microenvironments, and guiding cell fate. It then discusses the typical applications of 3D bioprinting in drug research and development,including high-throughput screening of drug efficacy by constructing disease models such as tumors, infectious diseases, and rare diseases, as well as conducting drug toxicology research by building organ-specific models such as those of liver and heart. Additionally,the review examines the role of 3D bioprinting in tissue engineering, discussing its contributions to the construction of functional tissues such as bone, cartilage, skin, and blood vessels, as well as the latest progress in regeneration and replacement. Furthermore, this review analyzes the complementary advantages of 3D bioprinting models and animal models in the research of disease progression, drug mechanisms, precision medicine, drug development, and tissue regeneration, and discusses the potential and challenges of their integration in improving model accuracy and physiological relevance. In conclusion, as a cutting-edge in vitro modeling and manufacturing technology, 3D bioprinting is gradually establishing a comprehensive application system covering disease modeling, drug screening, toxicity prediction, and tissue regeneration.
2.Prospects for 3D Bioprinting Research and Transdisciplinary Application to Preclinical Animal Models
Min HU ; Lexuan DONG ; Yi GAO ; Ziqi XI ; Zihao SHEN ; Ruiyang TANG ; Xin LUAN ; Min TANG ; Weidong ZHANG
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2025;45(3):318-330
Animal experiments are widely used in biomedical research for safety assessment, toxicological analysis, efficacy evaluation, and mechanism exploration. In recent years, the ethical review system has become more stringent, and awareness of animal welfare has continuously increased. To promote more efficient and cost-effective drug research and development, the United States passed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Modernization Act 2.0 in September 2022, which removed the federal mandate requiring animal testing in preclinical drug research. In April 2025, the FDA further proposed to adopt a series of "new alternative methods" in the research and development of drugs such as monoclonal antibodies, which included artificial intelligence computing models, organoid toxicity tests, and 3D micro-physiological systems, thereby gradually phasing out traditional animal experiment models. Among these cutting-edge technologies, 3D bioprinting models are a significant alternative and complement to animal models, owing to their high biomimetic properties, reproducibility, and scalability. This review provides a comprehensive overview of advancements and applications of 3D bioprinting technology in the fields of biomedical and pharmaceutical research. It starts by detailing the essential elements of 3D bioprinting, including the selection and functional design of biomaterials, along with an explanation of the principles and characteristics of various printing strategies, highlighting the advantages in constructing complex multicellular spatial structures, regulating microenvironments, and guiding cell fate. It then discusses the typical applications of 3D bioprinting in drug research and development,including high-throughput screening of drug efficacy by constructing disease models such as tumors, infectious diseases, and rare diseases, as well as conducting drug toxicology research by building organ-specific models such as those of liver and heart. Additionally,the review examines the role of 3D bioprinting in tissue engineering, discussing its contributions to the construction of functional tissues such as bone, cartilage, skin, and blood vessels, as well as the latest progress in regeneration and replacement. Furthermore, this review analyzes the complementary advantages of 3D bioprinting models and animal models in the research of disease progression, drug mechanisms, precision medicine, drug development, and tissue regeneration, and discusses the potential and challenges of their integration in improving model accuracy and physiological relevance. In conclusion, as a cutting-edge in vitro modeling and manufacturing technology, 3D bioprinting is gradually establishing a comprehensive application system covering disease modeling, drug screening, toxicity prediction, and tissue regeneration.
3.Associations of systemic immune-inflammation index and systemic inflammation response index with maternal gestational diabetes mellitus: Evidence from a prospective birth cohort study.
Shuanghua XIE ; Enjie ZHANG ; Shen GAO ; Shaofei SU ; Jianhui LIU ; Yue ZHANG ; Yingyi LUAN ; Kaikun HUANG ; Minhui HU ; Xueran WANG ; Hao XING ; Ruixia LIU ; Wentao YUE ; Chenghong YIN
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(6):729-737
BACKGROUND:
The role of inflammation in the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has recently become a focus of research. The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), novel indices, reflect the body's chronic immune-inflammatory state. This study aimed to investigate the associations between the SII or SIRI and GDM.
METHODS:
A prospective birth cohort study was conducted at Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital from February 2018 to December 2020, recruiting participants in their first trimester of pregnancy. Baseline SII and SIRI values were derived from routine clinical blood results, calculated as follows: SII = neutrophil (Neut) count × platelet (PLT) count/lymphocyte (Lymph) count, SIRI = Neut count × monocyte (Mono) count/Lymph count, with participants being grouped by quartiles of their SII or SIRI values. Participants were followed up for GDM with a 75-g, 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 24-28 weeks of gestation using the glucose thresholds of the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG). Logistic regression was used to analyze the odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for the the associations between SII, SIRI, and the risk of GDM.
RESULTS:
Among the 28,124 women included in the study, the average age was 31.8 ± 3.8 years, and 15.76% (4432/28,124) developed GDM. Higher SII and SIRI quartiles were correlated with increased GDM rates, with rates ranging from 12.26% (862/7031) in the lowest quartile to 20.10% (1413/7031) in the highest quartile for the SII ( Ptrend <0.001) and 11.92-19.31% for the SIRI ( Ptrend <0.001). The ORs (95% CIs) of the second, third, and fourth SII quartiles were 1.09 (0.98-1.21), 1.21 (1.09-1.34), and 1.39 (1.26-1.54), respectively. The SIRI findings paralleled the SII outcomes. For the second through fourth quartiles, the ORs (95% CIs) were 1.24 (1.12-1.38), 1.41 (1.27-1.57), and 1.64 (1.48-1.82), respectively. These associations were maintained in subgroup and sensitivity analyses.
CONCLUSION
The SII and SIRI are potential independent risk factors contributing to the onset of GDM.
Humans
;
Female
;
Pregnancy
;
Diabetes, Gestational/immunology*
;
Prospective Studies
;
Adult
;
Inflammation/immunology*
;
Glucose Tolerance Test
;
Birth Cohort
4.Efficacy and Safety of Decitabine-Based Myeloablative Preconditioning Regimen for allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Xia-Wei ZHANG ; Jing-Jing YANG ; Ning LE ; Yu-Jun WEI ; Ya-Nan WEN ; Nan WANG ; Yi-Fan JIAO ; Song-Hua LUAN ; Li-Ping DOU ; Chun-Ji GAO
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(2):557-564
OBJECTIVE:
To analyze the efficacy and safety of decitabine-based myeloablative preconditioning regimen for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
METHODS:
The clinical characteristics and efficacy of 115 AML patients who underwent allo-HSCT at the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from August 2018 to August 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, including 37 patients treated with decitabine conditioning regimen (decitabine group) and 78 patients without decitabine conditioning regimen (non-decitabine group). The cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR), overall survival (OS), leukemia-free survival (LFS), non-relapse mortality (NRM) and graft versus host disease (GVHD) were analyzed.
RESULTS:
For the patients in first complete remission (CR1) state before allo-HSCT, the 1-year relapse rates of decitabine group(22 cases) and non-decitabine group(69 cases) were 9.1% and 29.6%, respectively, the difference was statistically significant(P =0.042). The 1-year cumulative incidence of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) in decitabine group and non-decitabine group was 62.2% and 70.5%, respectively, and the 1-year cumulative incidence of chronic inhibitor-versus-host disease (cGVHD) was 18.9% and 14.1%, respectively, there were no significant differences in the incidence of aGVHD and cGVHD between the two groups (P >0.05). Of the 115 patients, there were no significantly differences in the 1-year CIR(21.7% vs 28.8%, P =0.866), NRM(10.9% vs 3.9%, P =0.203), OS(75.2% vs 83.8%, P =0.131) and LFS(74.6% vs 69.1%, P =0.912) between the decitabine group(37 cases) and the non-decitabine group(78 cases).
CONCLUSION
Decitabine-based conditioning regimen could reduce the relapse rate of AML CR1 patients with good safety.
Humans
;
Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/therapy*
;
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/methods*
;
Decitabine/therapeutic use*
;
Transplantation Conditioning/methods*
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Graft vs Host Disease
;
Transplantation, Homologous
;
Male
;
Female
;
Adult
;
Middle Aged
;
Adolescent
;
Young Adult
5.Cost-utility analysis of sacituzumab govitecan versus single-agent chemotherapy in the treatment of HR+/HER2- advanced metastatic breast cancer
Yinmei HE ; Xiao LI ; Xiaoli LIU ; Longzhou LI ; Yan GAO ; Jianguo YU ; Jiajie LUAN ; Yilai WU
China Pharmacy 2024;35(20):2493-2498
OBJECTIVE To estimate the cost-utility of sacituzumab govitecan (SG) versus single-agent chemotherapy in the treatment of hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) advanced metastatic breast cancer. METHODS From the perspective of the Chinese medical system, a three-state partitioned survival model was constructed to examine the cost-utility of SG versus single-agent chemotherapy based on TROPiCS-02 trial. The cycle length was set to 1 month, and the time horizon was 10 years. The annual discount was 5%. The model output included total costs and quality adjusted life month (QALM), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated for cost-utility analysis, by setting willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold at 3 times gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of China in 2023 (22 340 yuan/QALM). Univariate sensitivity analyses, probability sensitivity analyses, and scenario analyses were performed to evaluate the robustness of the results and calculate the price threshold when SG had economic advantages. RESULTS SG group gained incremental 4.25 QALM and 561 570 yuan compared with single-agent chemotherapy, which resulted in an ICER of 132 102/QALM that was higher than WTP. The results of the univariate sensitivity analysis showed that the monthly average cost of SG had the greatest impact on the results; the results of probability sensitivity analysis showed that the probability of SG scheme being cost-effective at the WTP threshold was 0. The results of scenario analysis showed that the conclusions of this study were robust under different time horizons (5, 10, 15 years). The price threshold for SG being cost-effective was 1 344 yuan per 180 mg. CONCLUSIONS Based on the perspective of Chinese medical system, SG appears to be not cost-effective compared with single-agent chemotherapy for HR+/ HER2- advanced metastatic breast cancer at the price of 8 400 yuan per 180 mg. A substantial price cut should be taken to be cost- effective.
6.Logic-gated tumor-microenvironment nanoamplifier enables targeted delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 for multimodal cancer therapy.
Yongchun PAN ; Xiaowei LUAN ; Fei ZENG ; Xuyuan WANG ; Shurong QIN ; Qianglan LU ; Guanzhong HE ; Yanfeng GAO ; Xiaolian SUN ; Xin HAN ; Bangshun HE ; Yujun SONG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2024;14(2):795-807
Recent innovations in nanomaterials inspire abundant novel tumor-targeting CRISPR-based gene therapies. However, the therapeutic efficiency of traditional targeted nanotherapeutic strategies is limited by that the biomarkers vary in a spatiotemporal-dependent manner with tumor progression. Here, we propose a self-amplifying logic-gated gene editing strategy for gene/H2O2-mediated/starvation multimodal cancer therapy. In this approach, a hypoxia-degradable covalent-organic framework (COF) is synthesized to coat a-ZIF-8 in which glucose oxidase (GOx) and CRISPR system are packaged. To intensify intracellular redox dyshomeostasis, DNAzymes which can cleave catalase mRNA are loaded as well. When the nanosystem gets into the tumor, the weakly acidic and hypoxic microenvironment degrades the ZIF-8@COF to activate GOx, which amplifies intracellular H+ and hypoxia, accelerating the nanocarrier degradation to guarantee available CRISPR plasmid and GOx release in target cells. These tandem reactions deplete glucose and oxygen, leading to logic-gated-triggered gene editing as well as synergistic gene/H2O2-mediated/starvation therapy. Overall, this approach highlights the biocomputing-based CRISPR delivery and underscores the great potential of precise cancer therapy.
7.Ultrafast pulse wave assesses carotid artery elasticity decline in patients with simple hypertriglyceridemia
Ping DAI ; Zhengqiu ZHU ; Hui GAO ; Yun LUAN ; Wenjun LIU ; Xuezhong JIANG ; Hui HUANG
Chongqing Medicine 2024;53(18):2766-2770
Objective To investigate the application value of ultrafast pulse wave velocity (ufPWV) technique in the assessment of carotid artery elasticity decline in the patients with simple hypertriglyceridemia (TG).Methods The patients visiting the cardiology outpatient department of Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine/Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from January 2020 to March 2022 were selected,the serum lipid satisfied:TG≥1.7 mmol/L,moreover total cholesterol (TC)<5.2 mmol/L,low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)<3.4 mmol/L and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)>1.0 mmol/L,they were included into the simple high TG group (n=63).Sixty-eight healthy subjects undergoing physical examination in this hospital were selected as the normal blood lipid group and their blood lipid indicators TG,TC,LDL-C and HDL-C all were within the normal range.The clinical data of all subjects were collected.The ufPWV technique was used to detect the common carotid artery pulse wave velocity of beginning systole (PWV-BS),pulse wave velocity of ending systolic (PWV-ES) and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT).Results The body mass index (BMI),systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pres-sure,TG,fasting blood glucose (FBG),cIMT and PWV-ES value had statistical differences between the sim-ple high TG group and normal blood lipid group (P<0.05);PWV-BS,PWV-ES and cIMT were positively correlated with age,and the PWV-ES correlation was the highest (r=0.607,P<0.001),followed by cIMT (r=0.590,P<0.001),and PWV-BS (r=0.325,P<0.001) was the lowest;the Logistic regression analysis showed that PWV-ES could serve as a predictive factor of carotid artery elasticity decline in the population with simple TG,moreover which was independent of the factors such as age,gender,BMI,systolic blood pres-sure,diastolic blood pressure and FBG (OR=1.449,P<0.005).Conclusion The ufPWV technique could e-valuate the decline phenomenon of carotid artery elasticity in the population with simple high TG,and the ele-vated PWV-ES is an independent risk factor for carotid artery elasticity decline in this population.
8.The crosstalk of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and p53 in acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease
Wen-Hua MING ; Lin WEN ; Wen-Juan HU ; Rong-Fang QIAO ; Yang ZHOU ; Bo-Wei SU ; Ya-Nan BAO ; Ping GAO ; Zhi-Lin LUAN
Kidney Research and Clinical Practice 2024;43(6):724-738
Wnt/β-catenin is a signaling pathway associated with embryonic development, organ formation, cancer, and fibrosis. Its activation can repair kidney damage during acute kidney injury (AKI) and accelerate the occurrence of renal fibrosis after chronic kidney disease (CKD). Interestingly, p53 has also been found as a key modulator in AKI and CKD in recent years. Meantime, some studies have found crosstalk between Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways and p53, but more evidence is required on whether they have synergistic effects in renal disease progression. This article reviews the role and therapeutic targets of Wnt/β-catenin and p53 in AKI and CKD and proposes for the first time that Wnt/β-catenin and p53 have a synergistic effect in the treatment of renal injury.
9.Effect of anterior cingulate cortex-nucleus accumbens GABAergic cir-cuit on irritable bowel syndrome in mice and its underlying mechanisms
Ruixiao GUO ; Shengli GAO ; Xufei FENG ; Hua LIU ; Xing MING ; Jinqiu SUN ; Xinchi LUAN ; Zhenyu LIU ; Weiyi LIU ; Feifei GUO
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2024;40(5):815-826
AIM:To investigate the effects of the γ-aminobutyric acid(GABAergic)neural pathway from the anterior cingulate cortex(ACC)to the nucleus accumbens(NAc)on the regulation of irritable bowel syndrome(IBS)and its underlying mechanisms in mice.METHODS:(1)A C57BL/6J mice model of IBS was established by using chronic acute combing stress(CACS).The mice were divided into a normal group and an IBS group(n=8).The presence of IBS-like symptoms was determined through behavioural tests,an intestinal motility test and abdominal withdrawal reflex scores.(2)Fluorescence gold(FG)retrograde tracing and immunohistochemistry were used to investigate the ACC-NAc GABAergic neural pathway and to examine the activation of GABA in the ACC in IBS mice(n=8).(3)A total of 1.5 μL of normal saline(NS),GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline(BIC)or agonist isoguvacine hydrochloride(Isog)was ad-ministered via a preburied catheter into the NAc of mice in IBS and normal groups.The mice were randomly divided into three groups(n=8):NS group,BIC group and Isog group.IBS-like symptoms were assessed.(4)The mice were prein-jected with AAV2/9-mDlx-iCre-WPRE-pA in the ACC and AAV2/2Retro Plus-hSyn-DIO-hM3D(Gq)-eGFP-WPRE-pA in the NAc and subsequently divided into four groups(n=8):NS(intraperitoneal injection)+NS(NAc microinjection)group,NS+BIC group,clozapine N-oxide(CNO)+NS group and CNO+BIC group.The mice who received AAV2/2Retro-hSyn-DIO-hM4D(Gi)-EGFP-WPRE-pA in the NAc were randomly divided into three groups(n=8):NS+NS group,NS+BIC group and CNO+NS group.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was employed to estimate the expression levels of histamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)in colon tissue,and the effects of GABAergic neural pathways from ACC to NAc on IBS were studied.RESULTS:CACS induced IBS-like symptoms in mice.The results of FG retrograde tracing combined with fluorescence immunohistochemistry showed that GABA neurons of ACC could project to NAc.The injection of BIC in the NAc was found to significantly reduce anxiety-like behaviours,diarrheal symptoms and visceral hy-persensitivity in the IBS mice(P<0.05).Chemogenetic inhibition of the ACC-NAc GABAergic neurons ameliorated IBS-like symptoms in mice(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:The GABAergic pathway of ACC-NAc might be involved in the regu-lation of IBS in mice,which may be related to the release of histamine and 5-HT in colon tissue.
10.Human AKR1A1 involves in metabolic activation of carcinogenic aristolochic acid Ⅰ
Zhenna GAO ; Xinyue YOU ; Weiying LIU ; Jiaying WU ; Jing XI ; Yiyi CAO ; Xiaohong ZHANG ; Xinyu ZHANG ; Yang LUAN
Chinese Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology 2024;38(9):641-651
OBJECTIVE To investigate whether aldo-keto reductases(AKRs)can act as a nitrore-ductase(NR)and bioactivate aristolochic acid Ⅰ(AA-Ⅰ)to produce AA-Ⅰ-DNA adducts.METHODS① Human-induced hepatocytes(hiHeps)and human bladder RT4 cells were used as tool cells and treated with AA-Ⅰ0,0.5,1.0 and 2 μmol·L-1 for 24 h.Cell viability was detected using the CCK-8 method,and the half maximal inhibition concentration(IC50)was calculated using the CCK-8 method and the level of DNA adduct production was calculated.②hiHeps and RT4 cells were treated with AKR inhibitor luteotin(0,5,10 and 25 μmol·L-1)+AA-Ⅰ 0.2 and 1.0 μmol·L-1 for 24 h,respectively,and the levels of DNA adducts were detected by a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer(LC-MS/MS).③hiHeps cells were incubated with 80 nmol·L-1 small interfering RNAs(si-AKRs)for 48 h and treated with AA-Ⅰ1.0 μmol·L-1 for 24 h.Real-time qualitative PCR(RT-qPCR)method was used to detect the mRNA expression of AKRs gene and LC-MS/MS technology was used to investigate the effect of specific AKR gene knockdown on DNA adduct levels.④500 nmol·L-1 human AKR recombinant proteins AKR1A1 and AA-Ⅰwere incubated in vitro under anaerobic conditions and the formation of AA-Ⅰ-DNA adducts was detected.RESULTS ①The IC50 of AA-Ⅰto hiHeps and RT4 cells was 1.9 and 0.42 μmol·L-1,respec-tively.The level of DNA adduct production of the two cell lines was significantly different(P<0.01).② Luteolin≥5 μmol·L-1 significantly inhibited the production of AA-Ⅰ-DNA adducts in both cells(P<0.05),and there was a concentration-dependent effect in hiHeps cells(P<0.01,R=0.84).③In the AKR family,the knockdown of AKR1A1 gene up to 80%inhibited the generation of AA-Ⅰ-DNA adducts by 30%-40%.④The AA-Ⅰ-DNA adducts were detected in the incubation of recombinant protein AKR1A1 and AA-Ⅰ under anaerobic conditions in vitro,approximately 1 adduct per 107 nucleotides.CONCLU-SION AKR1A1 is involved in AA-Ⅰ bioactivation,providing a reference for elucidation of the carcino-genic mechanism of AA-Ⅰ.

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