1.Advances in platelet-associated membrane delivery systems
Ting PAN ; Li CHEN ; Chunyan YAO
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2026;39(2):277-284
Progress in biomimetic membrane systems has enabled the extensive application of cell membranes in constructing nano-drug delivery systems. These biological membranes endowed the delivery systems with advantages, including superior biocompatibility, precision targeting capabilities, and long circulation. Platelet membranes, owing to their distinctive biological properties, have emerged as exceptional natural materials for nano-drug delivery systems and have continuously promoted the development of the delivery systems in the field of disease treatment. This review comprehensively summarizes the biological characteristics and molecular basis of platelet-associated membranes, various coated systems and methods, and systematically summarizes the research progress of platelet-related membrane delivery systems in the treatment of tumors, inflammatory diseases, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and thrombotic diseases. It also analyzes the application challenges in the biomedical field and looks forward to the future development direction.
2.Skeleton Binding Protein 1 of Plasmodium berghei Influences Deformability and Cytoskeletal Ultrastructure of Infected Erythrocyte
Xin-Yue GUO ; Huan-Qi ZHAO ; Yan-Xuan ZHONG ; Ru-Meng JIANG ; Yao-Xian LI ; Lei-Ting PAN ; Qian WANG ; Xiao-Yu SHI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(4):1015-1027
ObjectiveThe malaria parasites remodel the host erythrocyte structure by exporting parasite proteins that interact with the membrane skeleton proteins of red blood cells (RBCs), facilitating their intracellular survival and pathogenicity. Skeleton-binding protein 1 (SBP1) is a conserved exported protein across Plasmodium species. In Plasmodium falciparum, SBP1 has been reported to interact with erythrocyte membrane skeleton proteins 4.1R and spectrin, while its contribution to erythrocyte remodeling and parasite virulence in Plasmodium berghei (Pb) remains unclear. This study aims to determine whether PbSBP1 associates with the host cytoskeletal protein 4.1R and to investigate its role in the remodeling of host RBCs and the pathogenicity of Plasmodium berghei. MethodsIn Plasmodium berghei, the relationship between PbSBP1 and the erythrocyte cytoskeletal protein 4.1R was examined using co-immunoprecipitation. A Pbsbp1 gene knockout mutant of Plasmodium berghei (Pbsbp1∆) was generated based on the principle of double crossover homologous recombination. The deformability of erythrocytes infected with Pbsbp1∆ parasites was assessed using microfluidic methods. Microchannels with an array of cylindrical pillars were used to detect modifications in infected RBC deformability. The infected RBCs were squashed between the rows and recovered between the columns and the transit velocity (μm/s) of infected RBCs travelling through the microchannel was recorded. The component of the erythrocyte membrane skeleton junctional complex, tropomodulin (TMOD), was fluorescently labeled, and the cytoskeletal network of infected erythrocytes was imaged using super-resolution stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) to analyze ultrastructural changes in the cytoskeleton of wild-type (WT) and Pbsbp1∆-infected erythrocytes. Actin-based junctional complexes were displayed as individual clusters by the labeled TMOD in the STORM images, and the cluster densities and distances between adjacent clusters of infected RBCs were calculated. Additionally, rodent malaria models (BALB/c mice) and experimental cerebral malaria models (C57BL/6 mice) were employed to monitor the growth of Pbsbp1∆ and WT parasites during the intraerythrocytic stage and their capacity to induce cerebral malaria in mice. ResultsPbSBP1 may participate in the remodeling of infected erythrocytes through direct or indirect interaction with the erythrocyte cytoskeletal protein 4.1R. Microfluidic assays revealed that the deformability of erythrocytes infected with Pbsbp1∆ parasites was significantly enhanced compared to those infected with WT parasites. STORM imaging further demonstrated that the ultrastructure of the erythrocyte cytoskeleton in Pbsbp1∆-infected cells was altered relative to that in WT-infected erythrocytes. The distances between nearest neighbors of clusters had a tendency to increase while the cluster densities were decreased in Pbsbp1∆-infected RBCs compared to WT-infected RBCs. Subsequent phenotypic analysis indicated that the growth rate of Pbsbp1∆ parasites during the intraerythrocytic stage was significantly slower than that of WT parasites, and their ability to induce cerebral malaria in mice was also attenuated. These findings suggest that PbSBP1 is involved in the remodeling of the erythrocyte membrane skeleton, likely through its direct or indirect interaction with protein 4.1R, thereby regulating the deformability of infected erythrocytes and influencing the pathogenicity of the blood-stage parasites. ConclusionThis study establishes a role for PbSBP1 in host erythrocyte remodeling and parasite virulence, providing new research strategies for the prevention and treatment of malaria.
3.hAMSCs repair endometrial injury through suppressing endometrial EMT and fibrosis via TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway
Ting XIE ; Yanming HUANG ; Jiaying NIU ; Rongxia LIU ; Siyu LIANG ; Yao ZHANG ; Lu CHEN ; Binyue SHENG
Journal of Army Medical University 2025;47(21):2688-2697
Objective To explore the repair effect and mechanism of human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells(hAMSCs)on endometrial injury.Methods hAMSCs were isolated using a two-enzyme digestion and then cultured.The third-passage(P3)cells were harvested to detect the surface markers by flow cytometry and to identify their trilineage differentiation potentials.Eighteen nulliparous female SD rats(8~9 weeks old,weighing 250~280 g)were randomly divided into 3 groups(n=6):normal control group,model group,and hAMSCs group.A rat model of intrauterine adhesions(IUA)was established in SD rats by using curettage combined with lipopolysaccharide(LPS)infection.In 2 weeks after modeling,the hAMSCs group received a bilateral uterine horn transplantation of 0.2 mL hAMSCs(1.0×10? cells/mL),while the model group received a same volume of PBS into both uterine horns.All rats were sacrificed in 2 weeks after transplantation.HE and Masson staining was used to observe endometrial thickness and gland number as well as endometrial fibrosis area.RT-qPCR and Western blotting were performed to detect the mRNA and protein levels of TGF-β1,Smad3,Smad7,epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)markers(E-cadherin,Vimentin),fibrosis factor α-SMA,and endometrial estrogen receptor(ER)and progesterone receptor(PR)in endometrial tissues.Results The obtained cells were identified as hAMSCs due to the characteristics of surface markers and differentiation potentials.Compared with the normal control group,the model group showed decreased endometrial thickness,reduced gland number,increased fibrosis area,and enhanced mRNA and protein levels of fibrosis-related factors TGF-β1,Smad3,Vimentin,and α-SMA(P<0.01),while down-regulation of fibrosis-inhibiting molecule Smad7,the EMT marker E-cadherin,and endometrial receptors ER and PR at both mRNA and protein levels(P<0.01).hAMSCs transplantation increased endometrial thickness and gland number,decreased fibrosis area,and down-regulated mRNA expression of the aforementioned fibrosis-related factors(P<0.01),and up-regulated the mRNA expression levels of Smad7,E-cadherin,ER,and PR(P<0.01).The hAMSCs group also exhibited obviously down-regulated protein levels of TGF-β1,Smad3,and α-SMA(P<0.05),while enhanced protein levels of Smad7 and PR(P<0.05).Conclusion Intrauterine transplantation of hAMSCs can promote the repair of endometrial injury,and inhibits endometrial EMT and fibrosis through the TGF-β1/Smad7 signaling pathway.
4.Mechanism of PER1-mediated inhibition of proliferation and migration in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma via the NF-κB signaling pathway by regulating SPINK5
Wanchen LIU ; Hui SHEN ; Yakui MOU ; Hanrui WANG ; Yao WANG ; Ting YANG ; XiaoYu SONG ; Mingjun ZHANG ; Yuanchao CHENG ; Chao REN ; Xicheng SONG
Chinese Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2025;32(8):512-517
OBJECTIVE To investigate the expression characteristics and regulatory mechanisms of the circadian clock gene period circadian regulator 1(PER1)and the tumor suppressor gene serine peptidase inhibitor Kazal type 5(SPINK5)in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC),and to elucidate the molecular mechanism by which PER1 regulates SPINK5 transcription via the NF-κB signaling pathway.METHODS Differentially expressed genes in HNSCC were screened using The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)and GSE205155 datasets.The association between SPINK5 expression and patient prognosis was assessed via the GEPIA database.mRNA and protein expression levels of SPINK5 and PER1 in 60 clinical samples were detected by RT-qPCR,immunohistochemistry,and Western blot.PER1 knockdown(using siRNA)and overexpression(via plasmid transfection)were performed in the AMC-HN-8 cell line.Wound healing and colony formation assays were applied to evaluate the effects of PER1,SPINK5,and their interaction on HNSCC cell migration and proliferation.Western blot was utilized to examine the regulatory effect of NF-κB on SPINK5.RESULTS SPINK5 and PER1 were significantly downregulated in HNSCC tissues(all P<0.01),and their low expression was correlated with poor patient prognosis(for SPINK5,HR=0.69,P=0.006 7).A significant positive correlation was observed between PER1 and SPINK5 expression(R2=0.719 2,P=0.001 0).Knockdown and overexpression of PER1 respectively resulted in synchronous alterations in SPINK5 mRNA levels(all P<0.05).PER1 knockdown enhanced cell migration and proliferation(P<0.05),whereas SPINK5 overexpression suppressed these capabilities(P<0.01).Importantly,SPINK5 overexpression reversed the phenotypic changes induced by PER1 knockdown.Mechanistically,PER1 overexpression led to concomitant changes in NF-κB expression,activating the NF-κB pathway and thereby promoting SPINK5 transcription.CONCLUSION PER1 positively regulates SPINK5 transcription via the NF-κB pathway,inhibiting HNSCC cell proliferation and migration.These findings suggest that PER1 and SPINK5 may serve as potential therapeutic targets for HNSCC.
5.Progress in Methods for Electrochemical Detection of Thrombin
Di WU ; Xi-Yao ZHANG ; Jing-Jing XU ; Yi-Ting CHEN ; Wen-Qi TANG ; Wen-Hui XU ; Song-Min CHEN ; Qiong HU ; Li NIU
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(9):1403-1410
As a serine protease,thrombin can convert soluble fibrinogen into insoluble fibrin and plays a pivotal role in the coagulation cascade.Therefore,the accurate quantitative assay of thrombin levels is of great value in the evaluation of coagulation function,clinical screening and prognostic monitoring of coagulation-related diseases,and screening of drugs for targeted therapy.Existing methods for thrombin detection can be divided into two categories,e.g.,the assay of concentration levels using nucleic acid aptamers as the affinity elements and the assay of activity levels based on the hydrolytic cleavage of substrate peptides.In recent years,electrochemical biosensors have attracted much attention in thrombin detection due to high sensitivity,high selectivity,simple instrument,fast response,and good portability.In this review,the latest research progress in methods for electrochemical detection of thrombin was summarized,focusing on the detection principles and the applied signal amplification strategies of related electrochemical biosensors.In addition,the challenges with respect to the practical use of electrochemical thrombin biosensors and the prospects were discussed.
6.Does 10-Year Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Predict Incident Diabetic Nephropathy and Retinopathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus? Results from Two Prospective Cohort Studies in Southern China
Jiaheng CHEN ; Yu Ting LI ; Zimin NIU ; Zhanpeng HE ; Yao Jie XIE ; Jose HERNANDEZ ; Wenyong HUANG ; Harry H.X. WANG ;
Diabetes & Metabolism Journal 2025;49(2):298-310
Background:
Diabetic macrovascular and microvascular complications often coexist and may share similar risk factors and pathological pathways. We aimed to investigate whether 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk, which is commonly assessed in diabetes management, can predict incident diabetic nephropathy (DN) and retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Methods:
This prospective cohort study enrolled 2,891 patients with clinically diagnosed T2DM who were free of ASCVD, nephropathy, or retinopathy at baseline in the Guangzhou (2017–2022) and Shaoguan (2019–2021) Diabetic Eye Study in southern China. The 10-year ASCVD risk was calculated by the Prediction for ASCVD Risk in China (China-PAR) equations. Multivariable- adjusted Cox proportional hazard models were developed to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to evaluate predictive capability.
Results:
During follow-up, a total of 171 cases of DN and 532 cases of DR were documented. Each 1% increment in 10-year ASCVD risk was associated with increased risk of DN (pooled HR, 1.122; 95% CI, 1.094 to 1.150) but not DR (pooled HR, 0.996; 95% CI, 0.979 to 1.013). The model demonstrated acceptable performance in predicting new-onset DN (pooled AUC, 0.670; 95% CI, 0.628 to 0.715). These results were consistent across cohorts and subgroups, with the association appearing to be more pronounced in women.
Conclusion
Ten-year ASCVD risk predicts incident DN but not DR in our study population with T2DM. Regular monitoring of ASCVD risk in routine diabetes practice may add to the ability to enhance population-based prevention for both macrovascular and microvascular diseases, particularly among women.
7.Clinical Observation on the Efficacy of Acupuncture at Four Gates and Other Acupoints for Postoperative Pain After Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair
Jingyu WANG ; Cong LIAO ; Zijing PENG ; Ting WANG ; Gongxiong YAO ; Xueren AO
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;42(10):2503-2509
Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at Four Gates(bilateral LI4 and LR3)and other acupoints in treating postoperative pain after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair and to explore its potential mechanism of action.Methods Sixty patients who underwent tension-free laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine between June 2024 and January 2025 and developed postoperative pain were enrolled.They were randomly divided into an observation group(n=30)and a control group(n=30)using a random number table.The control group received standard postoperative care,while the observation group received additional acupuncture at Four Gates and other acupoints(administered at 0 hour and 24 hours postoperatively).Clinical efficacy was assessed after 24 hours.Changes in the Numerical Rating Scale(NRS)for pain and the Bruggrmann Comfort Scale(BCS)were recorded.Serum levels of white blood cells(WBC),C-reactive protein(CRP),erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),and cortisol(COR)were compared before and after treatment.Safety and adverse reactions were also evaluated.Results(1)After 4 hours and 24 hours of treatment,the NRS scores in the observation group were significantly improved(P<0.05).Additionally,the observation group showed a significantly greater improvement in NRS scores than the control group during the same period,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).(2)After 4 hours and 24 hours of treatment,the BCS scores of both groups of patients were significantly improved(P<0.05).The observation group showed a significantly greater improvement in BCS scores than the control group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).(3)After treatment,the levels of WBC,CRP,and ESR in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in COR levels between the two groups(P>0.05).After treatment,the WBC levels in the observation group were slightly lower than before treatment,but the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05),while the WBC levels in the control group were significantly higher than before treatment(P<0.05).(4)The overall response rate in the observation group was 96.70%(29/30),while that in the control group was 56.77%(17/30).The efficacy of the observation group was superior to that of the control group,with a statistically significant difference(P<0.05).(5)No significant adverse reactions occurred in either the observation group or the control group.There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture at Four Gates and other acupoints significantly alleviates postoperative pain,enhances patient comfort,and demonstrates excellent clinical efficacy with high safety.The treatment modulates postoperative WBC,CRP,ESR,and COR levels,suggesting systemic anti-inflammatory and stress-regulatory effects.
8.Identification of characteristics, supply channels, and imperial court processing of Arecae Semen in the Qing court.
Feng-Yuan LI ; Hua-Sheng PENG ; Xue-Ling GUAN ; Yan JIN ; Ting YAO ; Yuan YUAN ; Lu-Qi HUANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(11):2924-2930
Qing court records show that Arecae Semen was extensively applied. The royal medical records of the Qing Dynasty document nine types of Arecae Semen, with the Palace Museum preserving seven kinds, totaling twelve cultural relics. Historical documents and physical artifacts corroborate each other, providing evidence for the study of the supply channels and court processing of Arecae Semen in the Qing court. According to relevant Qing court archival records, the sources of Arecae Semen used in the imperial court were diverse, including tributes from foreign countries such as Vietnam and Gurkha, annual tributes from local governments in Guangdong, gifts from close aides, and commodities purchased by the Imperial Household Department from civilian shops. The imperial physicians of the Qing court placed great emphasis on the specifications of Arecae Semen slices and were extremely meticulous about their processing. The variety of Arecae Semen slices used in the Qing palace exceeded those recorded in the botanical texts of the era. Compared with the commonly used processing methods for Arecae Semen in the Qing Dynasty, the imperial physicians adjusted the properties and efficacy of the herbs through different processing techniques, based on the patient's condition, constitution, and other factors, in order to meet the clinical treatment needs of the court. The slicing of Arecae Semen in the Qing court required strict control of thickness, with an average thickness of 0.44 mm, which is significantly thinner than the Arecae Semen slices found in today's markets. The texture was softer, making them easier to chew and absorb. Both the Qing court Arecae Semen slices and the Muxiang Binglang Pills focused on the use of authentic medicinal materials, ensuring the quality of the medicine and enhancing the efficacy of Arecae Semen through meticulous selection and preparation.
China
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/history*
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Humans
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional/history*
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History, 19th Century
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History, Ancient
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History, 17th Century
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History, 18th Century
9.Tracing origin of "Qinggong Maidong" production area based on analysis of literature and historical materials and identification of characteristics of Qinggong medicinal materials and cultural relics.
Ao-Yu REN ; Ting YAO ; Feng-Yuan LI ; Hua-Sheng PENG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(11):2931-2937
Maidong products are categorized into "Hang Maidong" and "Chuan Maidong". Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, "Hang Maidong" has been regarded as having superior quality, but currently, it remains in name only in the market. This article reviewed historical materia medica and local chronicles from the Ming and Qing Dynasties and analyzed the historical evolution of Maidong production areas. The history of Maidong production in Zhejiang can be traced back to the Song Dynasty, and cultivation had already developed by at least the Ming Dynasty. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was consistently used as a tribute. Ming Dynasty chronicles record "Chuan Maidong", which had already been cultivated on a large scale by the Qing Dynasty. "Hang Maidong" and "Chuan Maidong" share the same origin, with the former identifiable by the "gourd waist" shape of its tuberous root. Based on this, it can be inferred that the "Maimendong" herb illustrated in the Origins of Materia Medica(Ben Cao Yuan Shi) and the Maidong stored in the Qing Palace Imperial Pharmacy were both "Hang Maidong". The protection and development of the authentic "Hang Maidong" medicinal herb are urgently needed.
China
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/history*
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History, 17th Century
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History, Ancient
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional/history*
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History, Medieval
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History, 16th Century
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History, 18th Century
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History, 15th Century
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Plants, Medicinal/chemistry*
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History, 19th Century
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History, 20th Century
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Humans
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Materia Medica/history*
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History, 21st Century
10.Comparison between sinking and floating fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples by UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS, fingerprinting, and chemometrics.
Shi-Long LIU ; Hong-Wei ZHANG ; Zhen-Ling ZHANG ; Han-Ting JIA ; Zhi-Jun GUO ; Rui-Sheng WANG ; Hong-Wei ZHANG ; Shuo WANG ; Yi-Jian ZHONG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(14):3918-3929
This study aims to explore the scientific connotation of sinking Rehmanniae Radix has the best quality and compare the quality between floating and sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem quadrupole electrostatic field Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS) was employed to detect the chemical components in floating and sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples. The fingerprint of fresh Rehmanniae Radix was established by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC), and four index components were determined simultaneously. The cluster analysis, principal component analysis(PCA), and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) were conducted to compare the quality of floating and sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples. An evaporative light-scattering detector was used to compare the content of five sugars. The extract yield and drying rate were determined, and the quality connotation of sinking Rehmanniae Radix has the best quality was explained by multiple indicators. A total of 41 components were preliminarily identified from fresh Rehmanniae Radix by UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS, including 7 iridoid glycosides, 9 phenylethanol glycosides, 6 amino acids, 4 sugars, 3 phenolic acids, 5 nucleosides, 3 organic acids, 1 ionone, 1 furan, 1 coumarin, and 1 phenylpropanoid. The results showed that the main chemical components were consistent between floating and sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix. Nine common peaks were identified in the fingerprints of 15 batches of floating and sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples, and the similarity of fingerprints was greater than 0.9. The cluster analysis, PCA, and OPLS-DA classified floating and sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix sasmples into two categories, indicating differences in the quality between them. The total content of catalpol, rehmannioside D, ajugol, and verbascoside in sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples was higher than that in floating samples of the same batch and specification, and the main differential component was catalpol. The total content of fructose, glucose, sucrose, raffinose, and stachyose in sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples was higher than that in floating samples of the same batch and specification, and the main differential component was stachyose. The extract yield and drying rate of the sinking samples were higher than those of floating samples. This study preliminarily showed that floating and sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples had the same components but great differences in the content of medicinal substance basis. The total content of four glycosides and five sugars, extract yield, and drying rate of sinking fresh Rehmanniae Radix samples is higher than that of floating samples of the same batch and specification. These findings, to a certain extent, explains the scientificity of sinking Rehmanniae Radix has the best quality recorded in ancient books and provide a reference for the quality control and clinical application of fresh Rehmanniae Radix.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*
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Rehmannia/chemistry*
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Chemometrics
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Mass Spectrometry/methods*
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Quality Control
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Principal Component Analysis
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Plant Extracts

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