1.In situ Analytical Techniques for Membrane Protein Interactions
Zi-Yuan KANG ; Tong YU ; Chao LI ; Xue-Hua ZHANG ; Jun-Hui GUO ; Qi-Chang LI ; Jing-Xing GUO ; Hao XIE
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(5):1206-1218
Membrane proteins are integral components of cellular membranes, accounting for approximately 30% of the mammalian proteome and serving as targets for 60% of FDA-approved drugs. They are critical to both physiological functions and disease mechanisms. Their functional protein-protein interactions form the basis for many physiological processes, such as signal transduction, material transport, and cell communication. Membrane protein interactions are characterized by membrane environment dependence, spatial asymmetry, weak interaction strength, high dynamics, and a variety of interaction sites. Therefore, in situ analysis is essential for revealing the structural basis and kinetics of these proteins. This paper introduces currently available in situ analytical techniques for studying membrane protein interactions and evaluates the characteristics of each. These techniques are divided into two categories: label-based techniques (e.g., co-immunoprecipitation, proximity ligation assay, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, resonance energy transfer, and proximity labeling) and label-free techniques (e.g., cryo-electron tomography, in situ cross-linking mass spectrometry, Raman spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance, nuclear magnetic resonance, and structure prediction tools). Each technique is critically assessed in terms of its historical development, strengths, and limitations. Based on the authors’ relevant research, the paper further discusses the key issues and trends in the application of these techniques, providing valuable references for the field of membrane protein research. Label-based techniques rely on molecular tags or antibodies to detect proximity or interactions, offering high specificity and adaptability for dynamic studies. For instance, proximity ligation assay combines the specificity of antibodies with the sensitivity of PCR amplification, while proximity labeling enables spatial mapping of interactomes. Conversely, label-free techniques, such as cryo-electron tomography, provide near-native structural insights, and Raman spectroscopy directly probes molecular interactions without perturbing the membrane environment. Despite advancements, these methods face several universal challenges: (1) indirect detection, relying on proximity or tagged proxies rather than direct interaction measurement; (2) limited capacity for continuous dynamic monitoring in live cells; and (3) potential artificial influences introduced by labeling or sample preparation, which may alter native conformations. Emerging trends emphasize the multimodal integration of complementary techniques to overcome individual limitations. For example, combining in situ cross-linking mass spectrometry with proximity labeling enhances both spatial resolution and interaction coverage, enabling high-throughput subcellular interactome mapping. Similarly, coupling fluorescence resonance energy transfer with nuclear magnetic resonance and artificial intelligence (AI) simulations integrates dynamic structural data, atomic-level details, and predictive modeling for holistic insights. Advances in AI, exemplified by AlphaFold’s ability to predict interaction interfaces, further augment experimental data, accelerating structure-function analyses. Future developments in cryo-electron microscopy, super-resolution imaging, and machine learning are poised to refine spatiotemporal resolution and scalability. In conclusion, in situ analysis of membrane protein interactions remains indispensable for deciphering their roles in health and disease. While current technologies have significantly advanced our understanding, persistent gaps highlight the need for innovative, integrative approaches. By synergizing experimental and computational tools, researchers can achieve multiscale, real-time, and perturbation-free analyses, ultimately unraveling the dynamic complexity of membrane protein networks and driving therapeutic discovery.
2.Hypoglycemic Effect and Mechanism of ICK Pattern Peptides
Lin-Fang CHEN ; Jia-Fan ZHANG ; Ye-Ning GUO ; Hui-Zhong HUANG ; Kang-Hong HU ; Chen-Guang YAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):50-60
Diabetes is a very complex endocrine disease whose common feature is the increase in blood glucose concentration. Persistent hyperglycemia can lead to blindness, kidney and heart disease, neurodegeneration, and many other serious complications that have a significant impact on human health and quality of life. The number of people with diabetes is increasing yearly. The global diabetes prevalence in 20-79 year olds in 2021 was estimated to be 10.5% (536.6 million), and it will rise to 12.2% (783.2 million) in 2045. The main modes of intervention for diabetes include medication, dietary management, and exercise conditioning. Medication is the mainstay of treatment. Marketed diabetes drugs such as metformin and insulin, as well as GLP-1 receptor agonists, are effective in controlling blood sugar levels to some extent, but the preventive and therapeutic effects are still unsatisfactory. Peptide drugs have many advantages such as low toxicity, high target specificity, and good biocompatibility, which opens up new avenues for the treatment of diabetes and other diseases. Currently, insulin and its analogs are by far the main life-saving drugs in clinical diabetes treatment, enabling effective control of blood glucose levels, but the risk of hypoglycemia is relatively high and treatment is limited by the route of delivery. New and oral anti-diabetic drugs have always been a market demand and research hotspot. Inhibitor cystine knot (ICK) peptides are a class of multifunctional cyclic peptides. In structure, they contain three conserved disulfide bonds (C3-C20, C7-C22, and C15-C32) form a compact “knot” structure, which can resist degradation of digestive protease. Recent studies have shown that ICK peptides derived from legume, such as PA1b, Aglycin, Vglycin, Iglycin, Dglycin, and aM1, exhibit excellent regulatory activities on glucose and lipid metabolism at the cellular and animal levels. Mechanistically, ICK peptides promote glucose utilization by muscle and liver through activation of IR/AKT signaling pathway, which also improves insulin resistance. They can repair the damaged pancrease through activation of PI3K/AKT/Erk signaling pathway, thus lowering blood glucose. The biostability and hypoglycemic efficacy of the ICK peptides meet the requirements for commercialization of oral drugs, and in theory, they can be developed into natural oral anti-diabetes peptide drugs. In this review, the structural properties, activity and mechanism of ICK pattern peptides in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism were summaried, which provided a reference for the development of new oral peptides for diabetes.
3.The inhibitory effect of lidocaine by different administration routes on cardiovascular stress response during tracheal intubation of anesthetic intubation
Jing GUO ; Jinlong KANG ; Qiang LI ; Lin ZHAO ; Ji LIU ; Xuewu XU
Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice and Service 2025;43(6):303-306
Objective To investigate the preventive effects of lidocaine administered through different routes on cardiovascular stress responses during anesthesia tracheal intubation. Methods Total 120 patients scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia were randomly divided into three groups: intravenous injection group (group IV), throat spray group (group LJ), and control group (group CT), with 40 patients in each. Group IV received 50 mg of lidocaine via intravenous injection 1 minute before tracheal intubation. Group LJ received 50 mg of lidocaine sprayed into the pharyngeal cavity, glottis, and subglottic area. Group CT did not receive any treatment, and the remaining procedures were performed following the routine general anesthesia induction protocol. Heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded at four time points: T0 (before tracheal intubation), T1 (immediately after tracheal intubation), T2 (3 minutes after intubation), and T3 (5 minutes after intubation). Statistical analysis of the data was performed using SPSS 22.0. Results There were no significant differences in HR at various time points within the group LJ. The changes in HR in the group IV and group CT were different statistically from those in the throat spray group. The blood pressure of patients in all three groups increased to varying degrees immediately after tracheal intubation, with the group CT showing particularly significant changes that differed significantly from both the group IV and the group LJ. The group LJ rapidly returned to levels close to those before intubation. Conclusion The preventive effects of lidocaine on stress responses during tracheal intubation were different depending on the route of administration. The inhibitory preventive effect of the throat spray method was superior to that of intravenous lidocaine, especially in preventing changes in heart rate.
4.Research progress on the chemical composition and antidepressant mechanism of volatile oils of traditional Chinese medicine
Yifei ZHANG ; Lu CHENG ; Mingshi REN ; Dao GUO ; Fengjiao KUANG ; Zonghua KANG ; Jianguang LUO ; Feihua WU
Journal of China Pharmaceutical University 2025;56(1):22-30
Depressive disorder is a mental illness characterized by poor mood and cognitive dysfunction caused by a range of complicated factors. Antidepressants have strong short-term efficacy in clinical application, yet with significant adverse effects and resistance in long-term use. Essential oils are small molecular compounds mainly composed of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, most of which are characterized by aromatic odors, easy permeability through the blood-brain barrier, and low toxic side effects. Volatile oil from traditional Chinese medicine can regulate neurotransmitter monoamine, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, and intestinal microbiota-gut-brain axis to exert an antidepressant effect through multiple pathways and targets. This review summarizes the main antidepressant chemical components of essential oil of traditional Chinese medicine, their pharmacological mechanisms and clinical application, aiming to provide some reference for further development and clinical application of essential oil of traditional Chinese medicine.
5.Risk factors for pyogenic liver abscess comorbid with sepsis and construction of a nomogram prediction model
Jiayi GUO ; Haiquan KANG ; Mengjiao WANG ; Deyang XI ; Xuebing YAN ; Chunyang LI
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(6):1143-1149
ObjectiveTo investigate the risk factors for pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) comorbid with sepsis by analyzing clinical features, and to construct a predictive model. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed for 489 patients who were hospitalized and diagnosed with PLA in The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2019 to December 2023, and according to the presence or absence of sepsis, they were divided into sepsis group with 306 patients and non-sepsis group with 183 patients. Related data were collected, including general information, laboratory markers, and outcome measures. The patients were further divided into a training set of 342 patients and a validation set of 147 patients at a ratio of 7∶3, and the training set was used for screening of variables and construction of a predictive model, while the validation set was used to test the performance of the model. An LASSO regression analysis was used for the screening of variables, and a multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to construct the predictive model and plot a nomogram. The calibration curve, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and the decision curve analysis were used for the validation of the model, and internal validation was performed for assessment. The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups; the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical variables between groups. ResultsThere were significant differences between the sepsis group and the non-sepsis group in pulse rate, mean arterial pressure, duration pf symptoms, comorbidity of liver cirrhosis or malignant tumor, leukocyte count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, platelet count (PLT), activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, albumin, total bilirubin (TBil), creatinine, potassium, and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) (all P<0.05). In the training set, the LASSO regression analysis identified four predictive factors of pulse rate, PLT, TBil and PNI, and the multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that pulse rate (odds ratio [OR]=1.033, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.006 — 1.061, P=0.018), PLT (OR=0.981, 95%CI: 0.975 — 0.987, P<0.001), TBil (OR=1.086, 95%CI: 1.053 — 1.125, P<0.001), and PNI (OR=0.935, 95%CI: 0.882 — 0.988, P=0.019) were independent influencing factors for the risk of sepsis in patients with PLA. The model constructed based on these factors showed a good predictive ability, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.948 (95%CI: 0.923 — 0.973) in the training set and 0.912 (95%CI: 0.848 — 0.976) in the validation set. The decision curve analysis showed that the model has a good net benefit within the range of 0.3 — 0.9 for threshold probability. ConclusionThe nomogram prediction model constructed based on pulse rate, PLT, TBil, and PNI has a certain clinical value and can well predict the risk of sepsis in patients with PLA.
6.Research progress on the mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine monomers acting on myelosuppression after chemotherapy based on the four properties theory
Sihan ZHANG ; Tingting WANG ; Zhifen ZHAO ; Hanyu KANG ; Jiaqi JI ; Ziqiang GUO ; Tong LIU ; Shiqing JIANG
China Pharmacy 2025;36(18):2341-2347
Chemotherapy is an important treatment for tumors, but most patients experience varying degrees of chemotherapy- induced myelosuppression. Four properties theory of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has unique advantages in improving chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression. The monomers from TCM with different properties and flavors, such as cold-natured (e.g. Scutellaria baicalensis, Rhus chinensis), cool-natured (e.g. Ligustrum lucidum, Ophiopogon japonicus), warm-natured (e.g. Panax ginseng, Epimedium brevicornu, Curcuma longa, Angelica sinensis), hot-natured (e.g. Cinnamomum cassia, Aconitum carmichaeli), and neutral-natured (e. g. donkey-hide gelatin, Lycium barbarum, Rhodiola rosea, fungi), can exert anti- myelosuppressive effects by reducing damage to hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, improving the bone marrow hematopoietic microenvironment, inhibiting the oxidative stress response, regulating signaling pathways, so as to ultimately repaire inflammatory damage and improve hematopoietic function, thereby playing an anti-myelosuppressive role.
7.Tildrakizumab for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in Chinese patients: A 12-week randomized placebo-controlled phase III trial with long-term extension
Chen YU ; Songmei GENG ; Bin YANG ; Yunhua DENG ; Fuqiu LI ; Xiaojing KANG ; Mingye BI ; Furen ZHANG ; Yi ZHAO ; Weili PAN ; Zhongwei TIAN ; Jinhua XU ; Zhenghua ZHANG ; Nan YU ; Xinsuo DUAN ; Shuping GUO ; Qing SUN ; Weiquan LI ; Juan TAO ; Zhijun LIU ; Yuanyuan YIN ; Gang WANG
Chinese Medical Journal 2024;137(10):1190-1198
Background::There is a need for effective and safe therapies for psoriasis that provide sustained benefits. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of tildrakizumab, an anti-interleukin-23p19 monoclonal antibody, for treating moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in Chinese patients.Methods::In this multi-center, double-blind, phase III trial, patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis were enrolled and randomly assigned (1:1) to receive subcutaneous tildrakizumab 100 mg or placebo at weeks 0 and 4. Patients initially assigned to placebo were switched to receive tildrakizumab at weeks 12, 16, and every 12 weeks thereafter. Patients in the tildrakizumab group continued with tildrakizumab at week 16, and every 12 weeks until week 52. The primary endpoint was the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 75) response rate at week 12.Results::At week 12, tildrakizumab demonstrated significantly higher PASI 75 response rates (66.4% [73/110] vs. 12.7% [14/110]; difference, 51.4% [95% confidence interval (CI), 40.72, 62.13]; P <0.001) and Physician’s Global Assessment (60.9% [67/110] vs. 10.0% [11/110]; difference, 49.1% [95% CI, 38.64, 59.62]; P <0.001) compared to placebo. PASI 75 response continued to improve over time in both tildrakizumab and placebo-switching to tildrakizumab groups, reaching maximal efficacy after 28 weeks (86.8% [92/106] vs. 82.4% [89/108]) and maintained up to 52 weeks (91.3% [95/104] vs. 87.4% [90/103]). Most treatment-emergent adverse events were mild and not related to tildrakizumab. Conclusion::Tildrakizumab demonstrated durable efficacy through week 52 and was well tolerated in Chinese patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.Trial registration::ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05108766.
8.CP-25 inhibits GRK2 activity to treat osteoarthritis in mice
Hui-Min WANG ; Xu-Lei WANG ; Zhu-Ping CHU ; Ting-Ting GUO ; Nuo XU ; Kang WANG ; Ying LI ; Wei WEI ; Shang-Xue YAN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(5):936-944
Aim To investigate the protective poten-tial of paeoniflorin 6-oxy-benzenesulfonate(CP-25)in preserving knee cartilage integrity in osteoarthritis mice through inhibition of GRK2 activity.Methods The posttraumatic osteoarthritis model was established fol-lowing DMM surgery.The experiment consisted of a sham operation group,a model group,a CP-25 admin-istration group,and a paroxetine positive control group.Intragastric administration commenced after the surgery.After 12 weeks of administration,the animals were euthanized.Micro-CT imaging was used to ob-serve the knee cartilage degeneration and abnormal bone remodeling,and the joint histopathology of mice was observed by staining with ferrubens solid green.Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression level of related molecules in cartilage tissue.Furthermore,Western blot was em-ployed to determine GRK2 and EP4 membrane protein expression levels as well as total protein levels of GRK2 and MMP13 following CP-25 treatment.Results Compared with the sham operation group,the articular cartilage in the model group was significantly degrad-ed,with the cartilage surface calcifying and osteo-phytes forming.CP-25 could significantly reduce the number of osteophytes and the thickness of the sub-chondral plate of articular cartilage,promote the regen-eration of the cartilage matrix,reduce the expression of cartilage matrix degradation protein,and have a signifi-cant protective effect on knee cartilage.Immunohisto-chemical and immunofluorescence results showed that compared with the model group,CP-25 treatment sig-nificantly decreased the expressions of GRK2,AD-AMTS5 and MMP13 in knee tissue and increased the expressions of Col Ⅱ and Aggrecan in knee tissue.The results of in vitro experiments showed that CP-25 ad-ministration could significantly reduce the expression levels of GRK2 membrane protein and total protein,in-crease the level of EP4 membrane protein,and de-crease the level of MMP13.Conclusions The ad-ministration of CP-25 can significantly promote the re-generation of articular cartilage matrix in OA mice,re-duce the degradation of cartilage matrix,and exhibit therapeutic effects on OA.The mechanism behind this is related to the inhibition of GRK2-mediated cartilage matrix metabolism.
9.The protective effect of Jujing formula on tretina of mice with dry age-related macular degeneration
Cheng-Cheng QI ; Ruo-Ying FAN ; Xue-Sen WANG ; Shu-Lan SU ; Yue ZHU ; Sheng GUO ; Hong-Jie KANG ; Xue-Yi ZHOU ; Jin-Ao DUAN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(7):1358-1367
Aim To investigate the protective effect of Jujing formula on retina of mice with dry age-related macular degeneration(AMD).Methods The mouse model of dry AMD was induced by intraperitoneal in-jection of sodium iodate,and the prognosis was given to the Jujing formula.Retinal thickness was detected by optical coherence tomography(OCT),the retinal morphological changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining,and the apoptosis of retinal cells was detected by in situ terminal transferase labeling(TUNEL)staining.Combination of tumor necrosis fac-tor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6)and interleukin-1β(IL-1 β)in eyeballs and serum,superoxide dis-mutase(SOD),glutathione(GSH)and malondialde-hyde(MDA)were evaluated to assess the protective effects of Jujing formula on retinal injury in mice with dry AMD.Results The results of OCT,HE and TUNEL staining showed that Jujing formula significant-ly improved the retinal injury induced by sodium iodate in mice with dry AMD,increased the retinal thickness(P<0.05),reduced the apoptosis of retinal cells(P<0.01),and increased the levels of GSH,IL-6 and SOD activity in eyeballs and serum(P<0.01).The levels of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β and MDA were reduced(P<0.01).Conclusions Jujing formula has certain therapeutic effects on retinal injury in dry AMD,which may be related to inhibiting inflammatory response and enhancing antioxidant capacity.
10.Effect and complication among different kinds of spinal endoscopic surgery for lumbar disc herniation
Kang CHEN ; Fu-Guo YANG ; Yuan-Chao LUO ; Ren-Jian HE
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2024;37(3):228-234
Objective To compare clinical efficacy and complication rate of percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discec-tomy(PETD),percutaneous endoscopic interlaminar discectomy(PEID)and unilateral biportal endoscopic(UBE)in treating single-segment lumbar disc herniation(LDH).Methods From October 2019 to August 2021,121 LDH patients with single-segment treated by spinal endoscopy were retrospectively analyzed and divided into three groups.In PETD group,there were 48 patients,including 19 males and 29 females,aged from 18 to 72 years old with an average of(44.0±13.9)years old;3 patients with L3,4 segments,27 patients with L4,5 segments,and 18 patients with L5S1 segments.In PEID group,there were 43 patients,including 23 males and 20 females,aged from 20 to 69 years old with an average of(40.1±12.1)years old;1 patient with L3.4 segments,15 patients with L4.5 segments,and 27 patients with L5S1 segments.In UBE group,there were 30 patients,including 12 males and 18 females,agedfrom29 to 72 years old with an average of(41.2±15.0)years old;1 patient with L3,4 segments,18 patients with L4,5 segments,and 11 patients with L5S1 segments.Operation time,blood loss,fluoroscopy times and complica-tions among three groups were observed and compared.Before opertaion,3 months after operation and at the latest follow-up,visual analogue scale(VAS)was used to evaluate low back pain and lower extremity pain,Oswestry disfunction index(ODI)was used to evaluate lumbar function,and modified MacNab was used to evaluate clinical efficacy at the latest follow-up.Re-sults All patients were performed endoscopic spinal surgery completely and were followed up for at least 12 months.One patient occurred dural sac rupture both in PETD and PEID group,and dural sac rupture was small,and there was no obvious discomfort after operation.Two patients were occurred intraoperative rupture of dural sac in UBE group.One patient was occurred cere-brospinal fluid leakage after operation,and was improved after rest in supine position and fluid rehydration.One patient without no significant postoperative discomfort.(1)There were no significant difference in operating time,blood loss and hospital stay between PETD and PEID group(P>0.05),while UBE group was higher than those of PETD and PEID group(P<0.05).There was no statistical significance in fluoroscopy times between PEID and UBE group(P>0.05),but PETD group was higher than that of PEID and UBE group(P<0.05).(2)VAS of low back pain at 3 months after operation in UBE group was higher than that in PETD and PEID group(P<0.05),but there was no significant difference between PETD and PEID group(P>0.05).At the latest follow-up,there was no significant difference in VAS of low back pain among three groups(P>0.05).(3)Lower ex-tremity pain of VAS and ODI among 3 groups after operation were significantly improved at all time points compared with those before opertaion(P<0.05),and there were no statistical significance between groups(P>0.05),and there were no statistical significance in interaction between different time points and operation groups(P>0.05).(4)At the latest follow-up,according to the modified MacNab standard,the results of PETD group were excellent in 27 patients,good in 16 patients,moderate in 4 patients,poor in 1 patient;in PEID group,27 patients got excellent result,12 good,3 moderate,and 1 poor;in UBE group,16 patients got excellent,10 good,2 moderate,and 2 poor.There was no significant difference among three groups(x2=0.308,P>0.05).Recurrence of lumbar disc herniation occurred in 1 patient among each three groups,symptoms were improved in 2 pa-tients after symptomatic treatment,and 1 patient was treated in other hospitals.Conclusion PETD,PEID and UBE techniques could achieve good early clinical effects in treating lumbar disc herniation with similar complication rates.Both of PETD and PEID are single-channel minimally invasive surgery,with mild intraoperative tissue damage and quick postoperative recovery;while intraoperative fluoroscopy of PETD was relatively more frequent,and PEID was more suitable for L5S1 segment;UBE is a two-channel surgery,in which the intraoperative soft tissue damage is more severe,but exposure is broad,which is more suit-able for complex cases.

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