1.Strategies and Challenges of Hydrogen Production Catalyzed by Bioencapsulated Hydrogenase
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1415-1438
Hydrogenases, as a class of highly efficient and reversible biological catalysts, can catalyze the reduction of protons to molecular hydrogen, thus demonstrating great potential in a wide range of fields such as renewable energy production and green chemistry. Despite their significant potential, the large-scale industrial application of hydrogenases has long been constrained by several inherent limitations, including high sensitivity to molecular oxygen, the challenges in the in vitro reconstitution and maturation of their catalytic centers, and the inefficiency and instability of the natural electron transfer pathways. To overcome these limitations and enhance the catalytic performance of hydrogenases, researchers have developed various strategies, among which enzyme molecular engineering, photo-driven modification, and enzyme immobilization techniques are the most common exploration directions. Particularly, enzyme immobilization technology is widely used to improve the reusability of hydrogenases, but traditional immobilization methods often come with disadvantages in practical applications, such as complex multi-step procedures and insufficient biocompatibility of the immobilization materials. In recent years, bioencapsulation technology has emerged as a promising alternative strategy to enhance the catalytic performance of hydrogenases. This method utilizes biologically derived encapsulation materials to construct physically confined and precisely defined chemical microenvironments around the enzyme molecules, offering simpler self-assembly processes and superior biocompatibility. With these biomimetic constructs, bioencapsulation technology not only provides better oxygen tolerance but also helps to create a local microenvironment conducive to sustained catalytic function. This article systematically reviews the latest research progress of two main bioencapsulation strategies for hydrogenases: one is the encapsulation technology based on protein-based nanocages; the other is the engineering strategy for whole-cell hydrogenase expression. In the nanocage-based systems, this article focuses on the structural and functional characteristics of virus-like capsids and carboxysome protein shells, which serve as efficient enzyme encapsulation scaffolds, not only providing a stable physical barrier to prevent oxygen diffusion but also enabling high-density enzyme loading, thereby promoting substrate channeling effects and electron transfer kinetics. This article also discusses whole-cell encapsulation systems, which achieve hydrogenase compartmentalization within engineered cellular structures or by using external natural polysaccharide-based encapsulation matrices to wrap whole-cell catalysts. Bioencapsulation strategies can bring multiple synergistic benefits: they can effectively protect hydrogenases from oxygen-mediated inactivation, significantly delay the decline of catalytic activity over time, and enhance the hydrogen production rate by increasing the local concentration of active enzyme molecules and optimizing the electron transfer efficiency from redox partners to the catalytic center.Despite the significant progress made, several technical challenges remain to be addressed. The main obstacles include limited enzyme loading and encapsulation efficiency, insufficient long-term stability of encapsulation materials under operating conditions, and the need to improve the matching of the photo-biological interface in systems integrating light-harvesting components with enzymatic catalysis. Future efforts can focus on the integration of multiple technological approaches, such as using computer-aided protein design to optimize encapsulation structures, developing engineered electron transfer pathways to enhance catalytic conversion efficiency, and designing composite multifunctional materials with both structural stability and functional adaptability. These directions collectively aim to achieve efficient, stable, and scalable hydrogen production applications of bioencapsulated hydrogenase systems.
2.Strategies and Challenges of Hydrogen Production Catalyzed by Bioencapsulated Hydrogenase
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1415-1438
Hydrogenases, as a class of highly efficient and reversible biological catalysts, can catalyze the reduction of protons to molecular hydrogen, thus demonstrating great potential in a wide range of fields such as renewable energy production and green chemistry. Despite their significant potential, the large-scale industrial application of hydrogenases has long been constrained by several inherent limitations, including high sensitivity to molecular oxygen, the challenges in the in vitro reconstitution and maturation of their catalytic centers, and the inefficiency and instability of the natural electron transfer pathways. To overcome these limitations and enhance the catalytic performance of hydrogenases, researchers have developed various strategies, among which enzyme molecular engineering, photo-driven modification, and enzyme immobilization techniques are the most common exploration directions. Particularly, enzyme immobilization technology is widely used to improve the reusability of hydrogenases, but traditional immobilization methods often come with disadvantages in practical applications, such as complex multi-step procedures and insufficient biocompatibility of the immobilization materials. In recent years, bioencapsulation technology has emerged as a promising alternative strategy to enhance the catalytic performance of hydrogenases. This method utilizes biologically derived encapsulation materials to construct physically confined and precisely defined chemical microenvironments around the enzyme molecules, offering simpler self-assembly processes and superior biocompatibility. With these biomimetic constructs, bioencapsulation technology not only provides better oxygen tolerance but also helps to create a local microenvironment conducive to sustained catalytic function. This article systematically reviews the latest research progress of two main bioencapsulation strategies for hydrogenases: one is the encapsulation technology based on protein-based nanocages; the other is the engineering strategy for whole-cell hydrogenase expression. In the nanocage-based systems, this article focuses on the structural and functional characteristics of virus-like capsids and carboxysome protein shells, which serve as efficient enzyme encapsulation scaffolds, not only providing a stable physical barrier to prevent oxygen diffusion but also enabling high-density enzyme loading, thereby promoting substrate channeling effects and electron transfer kinetics. This article also discusses whole-cell encapsulation systems, which achieve hydrogenase compartmentalization within engineered cellular structures or by using external natural polysaccharide-based encapsulation matrices to wrap whole-cell catalysts. Bioencapsulation strategies can bring multiple synergistic benefits: they can effectively protect hydrogenases from oxygen-mediated inactivation, significantly delay the decline of catalytic activity over time, and enhance the hydrogen production rate by increasing the local concentration of active enzyme molecules and optimizing the electron transfer efficiency from redox partners to the catalytic center.Despite the significant progress made, several technical challenges remain to be addressed. The main obstacles include limited enzyme loading and encapsulation efficiency, insufficient long-term stability of encapsulation materials under operating conditions, and the need to improve the matching of the photo-biological interface in systems integrating light-harvesting components with enzymatic catalysis. Future efforts can focus on the integration of multiple technological approaches, such as using computer-aided protein design to optimize encapsulation structures, developing engineered electron transfer pathways to enhance catalytic conversion efficiency, and designing composite multifunctional materials with both structural stability and functional adaptability. These directions collectively aim to achieve efficient, stable, and scalable hydrogen production applications of bioencapsulated hydrogenase systems.
3.Teprotumumab combined with glucocorticoid pulse therapy for thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy
Yuan LIU ; Qian YANG ; Juan DU ; Hu CHANG ; Ge GAO
International Eye Science 2026;26(7):1264-1269
AIM: To explore the clinical therapeutic effect of teprotumumab combined with glucocorticoid pulse therapy for thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy(TAO), and its impacts on thyroid function, levels of inflammatory factors, and adverse reactions in patients. METHODS: Active TAO patients admitted to the Ophthalmology Department were enrolled and randomly divide into the steroid group and the combined group. Then the steroid group was treated with glucocorticoid pulse therapy, while the combined group was combined with intravenous infusion of teprotumumab on the basis of the steroid group. The clinical therapeutic effect, the CAS, OSDI, M-C-TAO-QOL scores, ocular sign indicators(fissure width, proptosis), levels of inflammatory factors(TNF-α, CRP, IL-17), thyroid function(TSH, FT3, FT4)before and after treatment, and occurrence of adverse reactions were compared between two groups.RESULTS:Totally 96 TAO patients(192 eyes)were included, with 48 cases(96 eyes)in each group. In the combined group, there were 17 males and 31 females, with an average age of 51.85±3.53 y; in the steroid group, there were 14 males and 34 females, with an average age of 51.26±3.84 y. The total effective rate of the combined group(94%)was higher than that of the steroid group(79%)(P<0.05). After treatment, the CAS score, OSDI score, fissure width, proptosis, levels of TNF-α, CRP, and IL-17 in the combined group were all lower than those in the steroid group, and the M-C-TAO-QOL score was higher than that in the steroid group(P<0.05). However, there was no difference in thyroid function indicators and adverse reactions between two groups after treatment(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The combination of teprotumumab and glucocorticoid pulse therapy for TAO has a prominent therapeutic effect. Meantime, it can more effectively control ocular inflammation, improve ocular signs and quality of life of patients, and has no obvious adverse effect on thyroid function, with controllable safety.
4.Clinical characteristics and short-term prognosis of acute myocardial infarction following cardiac surgery
Tingting YANG ; Yunqing SHI ; Beijian ZHANG ; Juying QIAN ; Shufu CHANG ; Junbo GE
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2026;33(3):486-492
Objective To explore the clinical characteristics and short-term prognosis of postoperative acute myocardial infarction (PAMI) after cardiac surgery. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 45 PAMI patients who underwent coronary angiography after cardiac surgery at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, from February 2015 to February 2025. General information, type of surgery, onset time and causes of PAMI, and in-hospital recovery condition were collected. Univariate logistic regression was used to analyze factors related to in-hospital survival. Results The patients’ age was (62.40±11.72) years, 31 cases (68.89%) were male, 21 cases (46.67%) had hypertension. Twenty-six patients (57.78%) underwent cardiac valve surgery, and 16 patients (35.56%) received coronary artery bypass grafting. The onset time of PAMI was 24 (0, 48) hours, with 38 cases (84.44%) developing within 48 hours after surgery. Twenty-eight patients (62.22%) presented with new lesions in coronary arteries/bypass grafts, and 20 patients (44.44%) were considered to have thrombus-induced PAMI. Nine patients died in hospital, 13 patients failed to recover and were discharged automatically, and 23 patients were discharged after recovery. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that new lesion in coronary arteries/bypass grafts was risk factor for in-hospital survival (OR=0.235, P=0.036). Conclusions PAMI frequently occurs within 48 hours post-cardiac surgery, and thrombosis is the most common cause of PAMI. New lesions in coronary arteries/bypass grafts are closely correlated with poor short-term prognosis.
5.Improvement effect and mechanism of modified Jinfeicao powder on cough-variant asthma in rats
China Pharmacy 2026;37(17):2272-2278
OBJECTIVE To investigate the improvement effect and mechanism of modified Jinfeicao powder (MJCP) on cough-variant asthma (CVA) in rats.METHODS Network pharmacology was employed to identify the key targets and signaling pathways involved in the therapeutic action of MJCP against CVA. Rats were divided into normal control group, model group, positive control group (prednisone acetate, 0.9 mg/kg), and MJCP low-, medium-, and high-dose groups (3.5, 7, 14 g/kg), with six rats in each group. Except for the normal control group, CVA models were established in other groups. From day 14 of the experiment, rats in each group were administered corresponding drugs or normal saline intragastrically once daily for 14 consecutive days. After the final administration, cough frequency, serum levels of immune-inflammatory and oxidative stress-related indicators, pulmonary histopathological changes, and expression of pathway-related proteins were detected and observed.RESULTS Network pharmacology identified five key targets, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6(IL-6), and protein kinase B(AKT), as well as signaling pathways such as phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). Animal experimental results showed that, compared with the model group, cough frequency was significantly reduced in all treatment groups ( P <0.05). Serum levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE), IL-6, TNF-α, Src family of protein tyrosine kinase, epidermal growth factor receptor, and malondialdehyde (MDA) (except for IgE and MDA in the MJCP low-dose group), mean pathological scores, the ratio of total airway wall area to basement membrane perimeter, and the expression levels of α -smooth muscle actin, Collagen-Ⅰ, phosphorylated PI3K, phosphorylated AKT (except in the MJCP low-dose group), phosphorylated mTOR, and HIF-1α protein in lung tissues were all significantly decreased ( P <0.05). Glutathione (except in the MJCP low-dose group) and superoxide dismutase levels in serum were significantly increased( P <0.05).CONCLUSIONS MJCP may alleviate airway inflammation, airway remodeling, and oxidative stress by regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and HIF-1α signaling pathways, thereby exerting its improvement effects on CVA.
6.Kynurenine Pathway and Its Metabolites in Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Close Link
Ya-Qian XIAO ; Li-Chen QIAO ; De-Chang RONG ; Yu-Chen LEI ; Hakan ÜREY ; Lan-Lan ZUO ; Hasan BAYRAM ; Reza A. GHILADI ; Yi-Fan DUAN ; Meng-Jiao LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(9):2402-2413
Kynurenine pathway (KP) is a major catabolic route of tryptophan, generating a series of bioactive metabolites including kynurenine, kynurenic acid (KA), quinolinic acid, and 3-hydroxykynurenine. Beyond its fundamental role in amino acid metabolism, KP exerts critical regulatory functions in neurodevelopment, synaptic plasticity, and immune modulation. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition with onset in early childhood, characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviors. Despite extensive research, the etiological mechanisms underlying ASD remain highly complex and incompletely understood, involving genetic, environmental, and immunological factors. Emerging clinical evidence has consistently revealed a significant imbalance in KP metabolites in individuals with ASD, often accompanied by altered ratios of neuroprotective versus neurotoxic byproducts. However, the primary drivers of this metabolic dysregulation and its causative contribution to ASD pathogenesis are not yet fully elucidated. In this review, we systematically review the enzymatic steps of KP and the principal physiological functions of its major metabolites, with particular emphasis on their dual roles in neuroprotection and neurotoxicity. We then analyze the potential pathogenic mechanisms through which KP dysfunction may contribute to ASD, focusing on two interconnected etiological dimensions. First, KP imbalance can promote oxidative stress, which in turn triggers chronic inflammatory responses via microglial activation and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, thereby disrupting neuronal homeostasis. Second, aberrant KP metabolism affects neurotransmitter systems, particularly glutamatergic and dopaminergic signaling, leading to impaired neural circuit development and synaptic pruning. By integrating current findings on the KP-ASD association, this review offers a comprehensive etiological framework and a clinically relevant paradigm. Furthermore, we highlight that specific KP metabolites, such as the KA/quinolinic acid ratio, hold promise as peripheral biomarkers for early diagnosis and disease stratification. Finally, we discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting KP enzymes or receptors for personalized intervention strategies, while acknowledging the challenges in translating these findings into clinical practice.
7.Progress in the application of 577 nm subthreshold micropulse laser in common fundus diseases
Xiaorong GAO ; Lu CHANG ; Shuai XIONG ; Aijun QIAN ; Yunzhen FEI ; Guangzhen YANG ; Yuqing HE
International Eye Science 2026;26(11):1945-1949
The 577 nm subthreshold micropulse laser(577 nm SML)is a non-invasive retinal laser treatment technique that selectively acts on the retinal pigment epithelium(RPE), induces heat shock protein expression, regulates inflammatory response, promotes blood retinal barrier repair, downregulates vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)levels, improves Müller cell function, promotes retinal metabolism and functional recovery, and avoids thermal damage caused by traditional threshold lasers. In recent years, 577 nm SML has been widely used in the treatment of various fundus diseases, including central serous chorioretinopathy(CSC), diabetes macular edema(DME), macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion(RVO-ME), age-related macular degeneration(ARMD), type 2 macular telangiectasia(MacTel2), persistent subretinal fluid after retinal detachment repair, and Irvine-Gass syndrome. Characterized by favorable safety and repeatability, 577 nm SML possesses high clinical application value and serves as a vital adjuvant and complementary strategy for anti-VEGF therapy. This review aims to summarize the therapeutic mechanisms and clinical applications of 577 nm SML in common fundus diseases, and provide a theoretical basis for its further clinical application.
8.Research progress of airway epithelial cell senescence mechanism in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Zhao-liang LI ; Lue-li WANG ; Qian YI ; Ruo-qiu MA ; Rong GUO ; Chang-li XU ; Xiao-hua DU ; Wei-min YANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(5):805-810
As the first defense of respiratory system,airway epi-thelial cells(AECs)play an important role in separating the re-spiratory internal and external environment.They are essential for the natural immune function.Small airway lesions are an im-portant early pathology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD),when AECs are exposed to harmful particles or gases for a long time,the epithelial barrier is damaged,and the signa-ling pathways which involved in differentiation,repair,and in-flammatory are disordered,resulting in epithelial cell cycle stag-nation and accelerated aging.A number of studies have sugges-ted that AECs of COPD patients express high levels of aging markers,suggesting that senescence of AECs is closely related to COPD.This review discusses the potential mechanisms of AECs senescence in COPD,the impact of AECs senescence on the de-velopment and severity of the disease,and highlights potential targets for modulating cellular senescence in airway epithelium as a therapeutic approach in COPD.
9.High glucose inhibits expression of KIAA0753 and CCSAP proteins and disrupts osteoblast differentiation in mouse embryonic osteoblast progenitors MC3T3-E1 through impaired calcium signal transduction
Ji-chun WANG ; Zheng-xia QIAN ; Meng-xue LI ; Chang-dong WANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(3):456-465
Aim To explore the effects of high glucose on KIAA0753 and CCSAP and the relationship between KIAA0753 and CCSAP and osteogenic differentiation and calcium signaling pathway under high glucose con-ditions.Methods Mouse embryonic osteoblast pre-cursor cells(MC3T3-E1)were induced by osteoblast medium with glucose concentrations of 5.5 and 25 mmol·L-1,and the protein expressions of KIAA0753 and CCSAP were detected by Western blot.The over-expressed plasmid was transfected into human embry-onic kidney cells(HEK-293T),and the interaction between KIAA0753 and CCSAP was detected by co-im-munoprecipitation.MC3T3-E1 cells were treated in the osteogenic medium with different glucose concentrations and induction times.Alkaline phosphatase(ALP)ac-tivity was detected with a kit.The expression of KI-AA0753,CCSAP,osteopontin,osteocalcin,and other proteins were assessed using Western blot.and then 5.5,25 mmol·L-1,and 25 mmol·L-1+OE-CCSAP three groups of MC3T3-E1 cells were set.The expression of KIAA0753,OCN,OPN protein,and ALP activity were detected successively.The diabetic mouse model dataset in Gene Expression Omnibus was used to screen differential genes for bioinformatics a-nalysis.MC3T3-E1 cells were set up in three groups,5.5,25 mmol·L-1,and 25 mmol·L-1+OE-KI-AA0753,respectively.The calcium/calmodulin-de-pendent protein kinase Ⅱ beta(CAMK2B)and phos-pholamban(PLN)were detected by Western blot.Re-sults Compared with the 5.5 mmol·L-1 group,25 mmol·L-1 inhibited the expression of KIAA0753 and CCSAP proteins in osteoblasts,and there was an inter-action between KIAA0753 and CCSAP.At the same time,25 mmol·L-1 also inhibited the expression of ALP,OPN,and OCN proteins in osteoblasts.Overex-pression of CCSAP at 25 mmol·L-1 up-regulated the expression of KIAA0753,OCN,OPN,and ALP.The differential genes of the diabetic mouse model were mainly concentrated in the aspects of"signal receptor and signal regulation".25 mmol·L-1 glucose inhibi-ted the expression of CAMK2B and PLN proteins in os-teoblasts,and overexpression of KIAA0753 at 25 mmol·L-1 upregulated the expression of CAMK2B and PLN proteins.Conclusions High glucose inhibits the expression of KIAA0753 and CCSAP protein,inhibits the osteogenic differentiation and calcium signaling in mouse embryonic osteoblast precursor cells,overex-pression of CCSAP saves the inhibitory effect of high glucose on osteogenic differentiation,and overexpres-sion of KIAA0753 reverses the inhibitory effect of high glucose on calcium signaling pathway.
10.Expert recommendations for diagnosis and treatment routes of severe infections in elderly people based on immune function evaluation
Lina ZHANG ; Chunhui LI ; Zhihong ZUO ; Zhanwen WANG ; Fulai YUAN ; Chuan-chang LI ; Qiong CHEN ; Wei LIU ; Anhua WU ; Zhaoxin QIAN
Chinese Journal of Infection Control 2025;24(8):1027-1032
The aging trend is intensifying currently,but there is still a lack of standardized diagnosis and treat-ment schemes for severe infections in elderly people.This paper focuses on the recommendations for immune-related clinical diagnosis and treatment routes as well as the idea of risk stratified diagnosis and treatment for elderly peo-ple,aiming to effectively prevent infectious diseases in elderly people and perform stratified management through systematic and scientific means of immune function monitoring and regulation,so as to enhance the standardized level of diagnosis and treatment as well as clinical treatment effect of infection in elderly people.

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