Interferon stimulating factor STING, a transmembrane protein residing in the endoplasmic reticulum, is extensively involved in the sensing and transduction of intracellular signals and serves as a crucial component of the innate immune system. STING is capable of directly or indirectly responding to abnormal DNA originating from diverse sources within the cytoplasm, thereby fulfilling its classical antiviral and antitumor functions. Structurally, STING is composed of 4 transmembrane helices, a cytoplasmic ligand binding domain (LBD), and a C terminal tail structure (CTT). The transmembrane domain (TM), which is formed by the transmembrane helical structures, anchors STING to the endoplasmic reticulum, while the LBD is in charge of binding to cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs). The classical second messenger, cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate (cGAMP), represents a key upstream molecule for STING activation. Once cGAMP binds to LBD, STING experiences conformational alterations, which subsequently lead to the recruitment of Tank-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) via the CTT domain. This, in turn, mediates interferon secretion and promotes the activation and migration of dendritic cells, T cells, and natural killer cells. Additionally, STING is able to activate nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), thereby initiating the synthesis and release of inflammatory factors and augmenting the body’s immune response. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have disclosed the non-classical functions of STING. It has been found that STING plays a significant role in organelle regulation. STING is not only implicated in the quality control systems of organelles such as mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum but also modulates the functions of these organelles. For instance, STING can influence key aspects of organelle quality control, including mitochondrial fission and fusion, mitophagy, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. This regulatory effect is not unidirectional; rather, it is subject to organelle feedback regulation, thereby forming a complex interaction network. STING also exerts a monitoring function on the nucleus and ribosomes, which further enhances the role of the cGAS-STING pathway in infection-related immunity. The interaction mechanism between STING and organelles is highly intricate, which, within a certain range, enhances the cells’ capacity to respond to external stimuli and survival pressure. However, once the balance of this interaction is disrupted, it may result in the occurrence and development of inflammatory diseases, such as aseptic inflammation and autoimmune diseases. Excessive activation or malfunction of STING may trigger an over-exuberant inflammatory response, which subsequently leads to tissue damage and pathological states. This review recapitulates the recent interactions between STING and diverse organelles, encompassing its multifarious functions in antiviral, antitumor, organelle regulation, and immune regulation. These investigations not only deepen the comprehension of molecular mechanisms underlying STING but also offer novel concepts for the exploration of human disease pathogenesis and the development of potential treatment strategies. In the future, with further probing into STING function and its regulatory mechanisms, it is anticipated to pioneer new approaches for the treatment of complex diseases such as inflammatory diseases and tumors.

Objective To analyze the status of persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and the distribution of viral subtypes in the Zhengzhou region. Methods Clinical data of 55239 patients who underwent HPV-DNA genotyping tests from 2018 to 2024 were collected. On the basis of HPV follow-up results, patients were divided into three groups: 849 cases of infection with the same HPV type, 255 cases of persistent infection with different HPV types, and 857 cases of transient HPV infection. Results Among the 9232 initially-screened patients who were positive with HPV, the high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) positive rate was 84.6% (7813/9232), and predominant subtypes were HPV-16 (20.8%), HPV-52 (17.2%), and HPV-53 (9.6%). The low-risk HPV (LR-HPV) positive rate was 15.4% (1419/9232), mainly HPV-81 (28.1%) and HPV-42 (27.0%). Among the 1961 follow-up cases, the rates of persistent and non-persistent infections with the same HPV type were 35.7% (701/1961) and 7.5% (148/1961), respectively. The rates of persistent and non-persistent infections with different HPV types were 10.9% (214/1961) and 2.1% (41/1961), respectively. Meanwhile, 43.7% (857/1961) tested negative upon follow-up. Among the 701 cases of persistent infection with the same HPV type, HR-HPV accounted for 85.7% (601/701), and LR-HPV accounted for 14.3% (100/701). Among the 214 cases of persistent infection with different HPV types, 89.7% (192/214) were high-risk transitions, and 10.3% (22/214) were low-risk transitions. Regardless of HPV types, HR-HPV was more likely to cause persistent infection than LR-HPV. In addition, over 60% of HR-HPV persistent infections resolved within 18 months, 30% developed into persistent infections, and only 15% of patients had persistent infections that last more than 24 months. Conclusion Persistent HPV infections are predominantly high-risk types. Most patients clear the infection within 18 months, approximately 30% develop persistent infections, and about 15% of patients have persistent infections that last more than 24 months. However, the HR-HPV persistent infection rates across different age groups slightly differ.

Recent clinical trials have demonstrated a protective effect in using traditional Chinese medicine Tongxinluo (TXL) capsule to treat atherosclerosis. However, clinical evidence of the effects of TXL treatment on coronary plaque vulnerability is unavailable. In response, we developed this study to investigate the hypothesis that on the basis of statin therapy, treatment with TXL capsule may stabilize coronary lesions in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The TXL-CAP study was an investigator-initiated, randomized, double-blind clinical trial conducted across 18 medical centers in China. Patients with ACS aging from 18 to 80 years old who had a non-intervened coronary target lesion with a fibrous cap thickness (FCT) < 100 μm and lipid arc > 90° as defined by optical coherence tomography (OCT) were recruited. A total of 220 patients who met the selection criteria but did not meet the exclusion criteria will be finally recruited and randomized to receive treatment with TXL (n = 110) or placebo (n = 110) for a duration of 12 months. The primary endpoint was the difference in the minimum FCT of the coronary target lesion between TXL and placebo groups at the end of the 12-month follow-up. Secondary endpoints included: (1) changes of the maximum lipid arc and length of the target plaque, and the percentage of lipid, fibrous, and calcified plaques at the end of the 12-month period; (2) the incidence of composite cardiovascular events and coronary revascularization within the 12 months; (3) changes in the grade and scores of the angina pectoris as assessed using the Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) grading system and Seattle angina questionnaire (SAQ) score, respectively; and (4) changes in hs-CRP serum levels. The results of the TXL-CAP trial will provide additional clinical data for revealing whether TXL capsules stabilizes coronary vulnerable plaques in Chinese ACS patients.

HDAC7, a member of class IIa HDACs, plays a pivotal regulatory role in tumor, immune, fibrosis, and angiogenesis, rendering it a potential therapeutic target. Nevertheless, due to the high similarity in the enzyme active sites of class IIa HDACs, inhibitors encounter challenges in discerning differences among them. Furthermore, the substitution of key residue in the active pocket of class IIa HDACs renders them pseudo-enzymes, leading to a limited impact of enzymatic inhibitors on their function. In this study, proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology was employed to develop HDAC7 drugs. We developed an exceedingly selective HDAC7 PROTAC degrader B14 which showcased superior inhibitory effects on cell proliferation compared to TMP269 in various diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. Subsequent investigations unveiled that B14 disrupts BCL6 forming a transcriptional inhibition complex by degrading HDAC7, thereby exerting proliferative inhibition in DLBCL. Our study broadened the understanding of the non-enzymatic functions of HDAC7 and underscored the importance of HDAC7 in the treatment of hematologic malignancies, particularly in DLBCL and AML.

"Weibing" is a fundamental concept in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), representing a transitional state characterized by diminished self-regulatory abilities without overt physiological or social dysfunction. This perspective delves into the biological foundations and quantifiable markers of Weibing, aiming to establish a research framework for early disease intervention. Here, we propose the "Health Quadrant Classification" system, which divides the state of human body into health, sub-health, disease-susceptible state, and disease. We suggest the disease-susceptible stage emerges as a pivotal point for TCM interventions. To understand the intrinsic dynamics of this state, we propose laboratory and clinical studies utilizing time-series experiments and stress-induced disease susceptibility models. At the molecular level, bio-omics technologies and bioinformatics approaches are highlighted for uncovering intricate changes during disease progression. Furthermore, we discuss the application of mathematical models and artificial intelligence in developing early warning systems to anticipate and avert the transition from health to disease. This approach resonates with TCM's preventive philosophy, emphasizing proactive health maintenance and disease prevention. Ultimately, our perspective underscores the significance of integrating modern scientific methodologies with TCM principles to propel Weibing research and early intervention strategies forward.

Microglial pyroptosis and neuroinflammation have been implicated in the pathogenesis of sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE). OGT-mediated O-GlcNAcylation is involved in neurodevelopment and injury. However, its regulatory function in microglial pyroptosis and involvement in SAE remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that OGT deficiency augmented microglial pyroptosis and exacerbated secondary neuronal injury. Furthermore, OGT inhibition impaired cognitive function in healthy mice and accelerated the progression in SAE mice. Mechanistically, OGT-mediated O-GlcNAcylation of ATF2 at Ser44 inhibited its phosphorylation and nuclear translocation, thereby amplifying NLRP3 inflammasome activation and promoting inflammatory cytokine production in microglia in response to LPS/Nigericin stimulation. In conclusion, this study uncovers the critical role of OGT-mediated O-GlcNAcylation in modulating microglial activity through the regulation of ATF2 and thus protects against SAE progression.
Animals ; Microglia/metabolism* ; Pyroptosis/physiology* ; Mice ; Sepsis-Associated Encephalopathy/prevention & control* ; Activating Transcription Factor 2/metabolism* ; N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases/genetics* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Male ; Mice, Knockout

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) accounts for about half of the number of patients with heart failure. In addition to the typical features of heart failure such as myocardial stiffness and diastolic function impairment, the key characteristic of HFpEF is the normal left ventricular ejection fraction, which increases the difficulty of clinical diagnosis. QiShenYiQi Dripping Pills (QSYQ) is a standardized traditional Chinese medicine approved by the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA), and many clinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of QSYQ in the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, but the role of QSYQ in HFpEF has not been clarified. In this paper, high fat diet (HFD) and drinking water containing N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 0.5 g·L^-1, pH=7.4) were used in C57BL/6N male mice to construct the classical HFpEF model (the experiment was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Hefei University of Technology, the approval number is HFUT20220921002), and at the 8^th week, the mice were dosed with ① empagliflozin, ② low-dose QSYQ (LQ), ③ high-dose QSYQ (HQ), ④ empagliflozin plus low-dose QSYQ (ELQ) for 4 weeks, the body weight of the mice was recorded during the experiment, echocardiography, blood pressure and glucose tolerance were detected and the exercise capacity of mice was evaluated, and pathological and biochemical experiments were used to detect cardiac fibrosis, liver fibrosis and serum biochemical indexes in mice, RNAseq assay was performed with mice heart tissues. The results showed that QSYQ as well as QSYQ+empagliflozin could significantly reduce the body weight, improve diastolic function and hypertension, improve glucose tolerance and enhance exercise ability of HFpEF mice. At the biochemical and molecular levels, QSYQ and QSYQ+empagliflozin can reduce the cross-sectional area of cardiomyocytes and reduce cardiac collagen contents, thereby alleviating myocardial hypertrophy and fibrotic phenotypes, and improve metabolic disorders. The RNAseq results suggest that the function of QSYQ in improving HFpEF may be related to calsequestrin 1. In conclusion, this study shows that QSYQ and QSYQ+empagliflozin can significantly improve HFpEF-related cardiac dysfunction and metabolic disorders, which provides a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of HFpEF.

Objective To explore the application effect of volunteer service in the practical teaching of Traditional Chi-nese Pediatrics.Methods In 2023,80 undergraduate interns from the 2021 cohort at Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,who were shadowing in the pediatrics department of a traditional Chinese medicine hospital in Yunnan,were randomly selected as research subjects.They were divided into an experimental group and a control group.The experimental group received teaching through a combination of volunteer service and traditional teaching methods,while the control group was taught using tra-ditional classroom methods.Results The experimental group scored significantly higher than the control group in clinical skills assessments,Mini-CEX scores,subject recognition evaluations,and teaching satisfaction,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).Conclusion The use of volunteer service in the practical teaching of Traditional Chinese Pediatrics is highly feasi-ble and can significantly enhance students'clinical practice abilities,stimulate their enthusiasm for learning,foster independent thinking,and improve their overall clinical competencies.