1.The Potential Role of Immune Checkpoint Molecules in the Pathogenesis of Autoimmune Hepatitis and in Targeted Therapy
Haixia LI ; Aiping TIAN ; Miao XUE ; Ziyi LI ; Xiaorong MAO
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(2):512-518
Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic, immune-mediated liver injury of unknown etiology. The onset of this disease involves the activation and recruitment of diverse immune and non-immune cells, which in turn trigger hepatic damage. Immune checkpoint molecules (ICM) are expressed on the surface of multiple cell types. By regulating cellular functional states, they help limit the intensity and duration of immune responses, thereby preventing excessive inflammation and tissue damage, and maintaining immune homeostasis. In AIH, however, this natural "braking" mechanism is impaired, leading to aberrant activation of both immune and non-immune cells and the breakdown of immune homeostasis. Consequently, ICM are likely to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of AIH. A deeper understanding of the function of ICM in AIH not onlyadvances our insight into the disease mechanism, but also suggests that targeting these molecules may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of AIH.
2.Diagnosis and treatment of colorectal liver metastases: Chinese expert consensus-based multidisciplinary team (2024 edition).
Wen ZHANG ; Xinyu BI ; Yongkun SUN ; Yuan TANG ; Haizhen LU ; Jun JIANG ; Haitao ZHOU ; Yue HAN ; Min YANG ; Xiao CHEN ; Zhen HUANG ; Weihua LI ; Zhiyu LI ; Yufei LU ; Kun WANG ; Xiaobo YANG ; Jianguo ZHOU ; Wenyu ZHANG ; Muxing LI ; Yefan ZHANG ; Jianjun ZHAO ; Aiping ZHOU ; Jianqiang CAI
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(15):1765-1768
3.Lower vs. standard starting dose oral roxadustat for treating anemia in Chinese patients with chronic kidney disease on dialysis: A prospective, randomized clinical trial.
Yan TU ; Yan XU ; Li YAO ; Beiru ZHANG ; Tiekun YAN ; Aiping YIN ; Xinzhou ZHANG ; Min YANG ; Jun LIU ; Caili WANG ; Xiaomei PENG ; Jianqin WANG ; Wei NIU ; Wenqing JIANG ; Bi-Cheng LIU
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(19):2520-2522
4.Inhaled non-viral delivery systems for RNA therapeutics.
Cheng HUANG ; Hongjian LI ; Xing DUAN ; Peidong ZHANG ; Shaolong QI ; Jianshi DU ; Xiangrong SONG ; Aiping TONG ; Guocan YU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(5):2402-2430
RNA-based gene therapy has been widely used for various diseases, and extensive studies have proved that suitable delivery routes greatly help the development of RNA therapeutics. Identifying a safe and effective delivery system is key to realizing RNA therapeutics' clinical translation. Inhalation is a non-invasive pulmonary delivery modality that can enhance the retention of therapeutic agents in the lungs with negligible toxicity, thereby improving patient compliance. Inhaled RNA therapeutics are increasingly becoming an area of focus for researchers; however, only several clinical trials have explored inhaled delivery of RNA for pulmonary diseases. This review presents an overview of recent advances in inhaled delivery systems for RNA therapeutics, including viral and nonviral systems, highlighting state of the art regarding inhalation in the messenger RNA (mRNA) field. We also summarize the applications of mRNA inhalants in infectious and other lung diseases. Simultaneously, the research progresses on small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), and different types of RNA are also discussed to provide new strategies for developing RNA inhalation therapy. Finally, we clarify the challenges inhaled RNA-based therapeutics face before their widespread adoption and provide insights to help advance this exciting field to the bedside.
5.Orexin-A promotes motor function recovery of rats with spinal cord injury by regulating ionotropic glutamate receptors.
Guanglü HE ; Wanyu CHU ; Yan LI ; Xin SHENG ; Hao LUO ; Aiping XU ; Mingjie BIAN ; Huanhuan ZHANG ; Mengya WANG ; Chao ZHENG
Journal of Southern Medical University 2025;45(5):1023-1030
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the effect of orexin-A-mediated regulation of ionotropic glutamate receptors for promoting motor function recovery in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI).
METHODS:
Thirty-six newborn SD rats (aged 7-14 days) were randomized into 6 groups (n=6), including a normal control group, a sham-operated group, and 4 SCI groups with daily intrathecal injection of saline, DNQX, orexin-A, or orexin-A+DNQX for 3 consecutive days after PCI. Motor function of the rats were evaluated using blood-brain barrier (BBB) score and inclined plane test 1 day before and at 1, 3, and 7 days after SCI. For patch-clamp experiment, spinal cord slices from newborn rats in the control, sham-operated, SCI, and SCI+orexin groups were prepared, and ventral horn neurons were acutely isolated to determine the reversal potential and dynamic indicators of glutamate receptor-mediated currents under glutamate perfusion.
RESULTS:
At 3 and 7 days after SCI, the orexin-A-treated rats showed significantly higher BBB scores and grip tilt angles than those with other interventions. Compared with those treated with DNQX alone, the rats receiving the combined treatment with orexin and DNQX had significantly higher BBB scores and grip tilt angles on day 7 after PCI. In the patch-clamp experiment, the ventral horn neurons from SCI rat models exhibited obviously higher reversal potential and greater rise slope of glutamate current with shorter decay time than those from sham-operated and orexin-treated rats.
CONCLUSIONS
Orexin-A promotes motor function recovery in rats after SCI possibly by improving the function of the ionotropic glutamate receptors.
Animals
;
Spinal Cord Injuries/drug therapy*
;
Rats
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Receptors, Ionotropic Glutamate/metabolism*
;
Recovery of Function/drug effects*
;
Orexins/pharmacology*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Animals, Newborn
;
Neuropeptides/pharmacology*
;
Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/pharmacology*
6.Fabrication and evaluation of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride microneedles based on 3D printing.
Yuanke YANG ; Xiaolu HAN ; Xianfu LI ; Xiaoxuan HONG ; Shanshan YANG ; Chunyan LIU ; Zengming WANG ; Aiping ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(8):3214-3227
Compared with conventional transdermal drug delivery systems, dissolving microneedles significantly enhance drug bioavailability by penetrating the stratum corneum barrier and achieving intradermal drug delivery. In order to improve the transdermal bioavailability of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride, in this study, a novel microneedle delivery system was developed for dexmedetomidine hydrochloride based on 3D printing combined with micro-molding. By systematically optimizing the microneedle geometrical parameters, array arrangement, and preparation process parameters, we determined the optimal ratio of drug-carrying matrix as 15% PVP (polyvinyl pyrrolidone) K90. The microneedles exhibited significant drug loading gradients, with mean content of (209.99±27.56) μg/patch, (405.31±30.31) μg/patch, and (621.61±34.43) μg/patch. They showed a regular pyramidal structure under SEM and handheld electron microscopy, and their mechanical strength allowed effective penetration into the stratum corneum. The surface contact angles were all < 90°, indicating excellent hydrophilicity. The microneedles dissolved completely within 10 min after skin insertion, achieving a cumulative release rate of 90% (Higuchi model, r=0.996) during 2 hours of in vitro transdermal permeation. The cytotoxicity test and hemolysis test verified good biocompatibility. Pharmacodynamic evaluation showed that the microneedle group demonstrated pain-relieving effect within 15 min, with the pain threshold at the time point of 60 min being 3 times that in the transdermal cream group. The microneedle system developed in this study not only offers an efficient drug delivery option for patients but also establishes an innovative platform for rapid percutaneous delivery of hydrophilic drugs, demonstrating significant potential in perioperative pain management.
Dexmedetomidine/pharmacokinetics*
;
Printing, Three-Dimensional
;
Needles
;
Drug Delivery Systems/methods*
;
Administration, Cutaneous
;
Animals
;
Microinjections/instrumentation*
;
Skin Absorption
;
Skin/metabolism*
7.Research progress on the pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of immune platelet transfusion refractoriness
Penghui LI ; Chenggao WU ; Aiping LE
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(11):1620-1626
Platelet transfusion refractoriness (PTR) is one of the common problems in platelet transfusion, significantly impacting patient clinical outcomes and increasing the demand for allogeneic platelet transfusion. Both immune and non-immune factors contribute to PTR, among which the occurrence mechanism of immune platelet transfusion refractoriness (IPTR) involves humoral and cellular immune processes and is influenced by platelet storage, processing, and the patient's disease, therapy and immune status. This review comprehensively discusses the research related to the factors for alloimmune of IPTR, the mechanism of platelet clearance and its influencing factors. Furthermore, it explores feasible prevention and treatment measures such as platelet compatibility transfusion and clinical treatments. The aim is to provide a systematic cognition for a deeper understanding of the pathological process of platelet alloimmunization and clearance, and to provide a theoretical basis for the construction of precise clinical prevention and treatment strategies for IPTR, as well as to explore feasible research directions in this field in the future.
8.Silibinin inhibits lipogenic differentiation of 3T3-F442A adipocytes in murine through inhibition of MEK /ERK pathway and matrix metalloproteinase activity
Aiping Liu ; Tong Li ; Yaqing Cheng ; Renwen Zhang ; Yakun Ge ; Yuanxin Zhang
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2024;59(1):111-117
Objective :
To study the effect and mechanism of action of Silibinin on the differentiation of 3T3-F442A preadipocytes in murine.
Methods :
The effects of 0-400 μmol / L Silibinin on the proliferation of 3T3-F442A adi- pocytes at 24,48 and 72 h were detected by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2) -2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide ( MTT) assay,and the effects of Silibinin on the adipogenesis of 3T3-F442A adipocytes were visualized by Oil Red O stai- ning ; RT-qPCR , Western blot and ELISA assays were used to detect the effects of Silibinin on 3T3-F442A adipo- cyte differentiation-associated transcription factor CCAAT / enhancer binding protein ( C / EBP) α , C / EBP β , per- oxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ cular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) -α and VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) ,matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) -2 and MMP-9,mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) and phosphorylated MEK (p-MEK) ,and extracellular regu- lated protein kinase (ERK) and phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK) expression. (PPARγ) ,adipocyte protein 2 (aP2) ,adipose generation-associated vas
Results :
MTT assay showed that the cell proliferation rate of 3T3-F442A preadipocytes decreased after 100,200,and 400 μmol /L Silibinin treatment compared with the control group (P<0. 001) ; Oil Red O staining assay showed that the accumulation of red lipid droplets of the cells in the 160 μmol /L Silibinin assay group significantly decreased ; RT-qPCR assay showed that mRNA expression of C/EBPα , C/EBPβ , PPARγ , aP2,VEGF-α , VEGFR-2,MMP-2,and MMP-9 was down-reg- ulated in 3T3-F442A adipocytes treated with 160 μmol /L Silibinin compared with the control group (P<0. 001) ; Western blot assay showed that protein expression of C /EBPα , C /EBPβ , PPARγ and aP2 was down-regulated in 3T3-F442A adipocytes treated with 160 μmol /L Silibinin (P<0. 001) ,and the phosphorylation level of p-MEK/ MEK and p-ERK/ ERK proteins was down-regulated compared with the control group (P <0. 001) ; ELISA assay showed that the protein concentrations of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the cell supernatant were down-regulated (P < 0. 001) in 3T3-F442A adipocytes treated with 160 μmol /L Silibinin.
Conclusion
Silibinin inhibited 3T3-F442A adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis through inhibition of the MEK/ ERK pathway and matrix metalloproteinase activity.
9.In vitro oral simulation evaluation of palatability and chewability of chewable tablets
Aonan ZHONG ; Conghui LI ; Zengming WANG ; Xiaolu HAN ; Hui ZHANG ; Nan LIU ; He ZHANG ; Jintao LIN ; Chunyan LIU ; Aiping ZHENG
China Pharmacy 2024;35(14):1708-1714
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the palatability and chewability of chewable tablets, and provide reference for the quality evaluation of various types of chewable tablets. METHODS Using self-made Glucosamine hydrochloride chewable tablets as the model drug, the quality test was conducted. The in vitro simulation system for chewable tablets was established by using a texture analyzer and rheometer, and an oral simulation experiment was conducted on chewable tablets. The texture analyzer was used to measure the force required for chewing and simulate the static disintegration process of chewable tablets; the rheometer was adopted to measure the viscoelasticity, thixotropy, and deformability of chewable tablets during the chewing process. RESULTS The disintegration time limit, principal component content, and dissolution of self-made Glucosamine hydrochloride chewable tablets all met the limit requirements. The in vitro simulation results of the texture analyzer showed that self-made chewable tablets were easy to chew in both axial and radial directions, and the force required for chewing was within the range of the chewing force of the teeth; chewable tablets could disintegrate at an appropriate time without being chewed and only taken in the oral cavity. The in vitro simulation results of the rheometer showed that the chewable tablets in the oral cavity exhibited a behavior of elasticity as the main factor and viscosity as the secondary factor through the continuous stirring of the tongue, and the viscosity of the chewable tablets gradually decreased with tongue stirring or tooth chewing; when chewing with teeth, the internal force of the chewing tablets decreased, causing plastic deformation and crushing. After being crushed, the shape couldn’t be restored, making it easy to chew and swallow. CONCLUSIONS The combination of texture analyzer and rheometer can be used to simulate the oral chewing process and evaluate the palatability and chewability of self-made Glucosamine hydrochloride chewable tablets. This model can provide reference for the evaluation of various chewable tablets.
10.Construction and preparation of human metapneumovirus vaccine based on influenza virus vector
Mengxue GAO ; Xiaoman LIU ; Liru GUO ; Mei KONG ; Zhichao ZHUANG ; Aiping YU ; Rui LI ; Xiaoyan LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental and Clinical Virology 2024;38(1):77-85
Objective:To construct and prepare recombinant virus strains chimeric with human metapneumovirus (HMPV) antigenic epitopes.Methods:Recombinant influenza virus vectors which chimeric with different HMPV antigenic epitopes were rescued by reverse genetics using eight-plasmid system. The recombinant influenza virus strain used the internal genes of A/PR/8/34 (PB1, PB2, PA, NP, NS, M, HA, and NA) as a backbone, with concomitant genetic modifications to insert the B-cell epitopes of HMPV into the HA gene, and the CTL+ Th cell epitopes of HMPV into the NA gene. Preparation of recombinant influenza virus strains using reverse genetics in a " 7+ 1" model. The recombinant virus strains were evaluated by measuring hemagglutinin (HA) titers, half tissue culture infectious dose (TCID 50) and growth curves. Sequencing analysis was conducted to verify whether the rescued viruses carried the chimeric HMPV epitopes. Results:The epitopes of HMPV were inserted into the influenza virus genome and two recombinant influenza virus strains were rescued successfully, named as FLU/HMPV/B and FLU/HMPV/CTL+ Th. HA titers of the recombinant strains were both 2 7, their TCID 50 were 10 5.2/ml and 10 5.0/ml, respectively. After cultured for three passages in chick embryo, these two recombinant strains could proliferate steadily. Whole genome sequencing verified that the FLU/HMPV/B carried the B-cell epitopes of HMPV, the FLU/HMPV/CTL+ Th carried the CTL and Th cell epitopes of HMPV. Growth curve tests also verified that the recombinant strains could proliferate steadily in eggs. Conclusions:Two recombinant influenza virus vector strains carrying the B cell, CTL and Th epitopes of HMPV were rescued successfully. The result of the recombinant virus strains in terms of growth characteristics as well as genetic stability indicate that they meet the requirements for proceeding to the next step of animal experiments. The immunogenicity and immunoprotective effect will be further evaluated by mouse experiments. Ultimately new ideas for the realization of " one vaccine for two uses" or " one vaccine formultiple uses", as well as a new strategy for the development of HMPV vaccine will be proposed.


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail