1.A-to-I RNA editing of miR-411 attenuates post-infarction cardiac fibrosis via dual targeting of TGFBR2 and CD44
Suling DING ; Zhiwei ZHANG ; Xiyang YANG ; Dili SUN ; Jianfu ZHU ; Xiaowei ZHU ; Xiangdong YANG ; Junbo GE
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2026;33(1):191-192
Objective To explore the functional impact of A-to-I editing in the seed region of miR-411 during post-myocardial infarction (MI) fibrosis and elucidate its therapeutic potential. Methods Integrating GEO database with myocardial RNA-seq data from MI mouse models, we identified dynamic A-to-I RNA editing in small noncoding RNAs across MI progression (1 day to 8 weeks post-MI). Four miRNAs exhibited differential editing rates between MI and controls, with miR-411 showing progressive editing enhancement at seed region position 4 (P<0.01). This editing event was validated in both murine MI models and human heart failure specimens. Results The A-to-I editing ratio change of the 4th nucleotide in the seed region of miR-411 mainly occurs in cardiac fibroblasts rather than cardiomyocytes, and the editing at this site depends on ADAR2 rather than ADAR1. Edited miR-411 (ED-miR-411) diverged from wild-type miR-411 (WT-miR-411) in suppressing collagen-related pathways (extracellular matrix [ECM]-receptor interaction, collagen-containing ECM, ECM organization; P<0.01) in cardiac fibroblasts. Mechanistically, dual-luciferase assays confirmed ED-miR-411 directly targeted the 3′UTR and suppressed expression of type Ⅱ transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta receptor (TGFBR2) and CD44, which were key drivers of TGF-β-mediated fibroblast activation. ED-miR-411 overexpression blunted TGF-β-induced collagen synthesis and myofibroblast proliferation (P<0.05). In vivo, intramyocardial delivery of ED-miR-411 mimics at 1 week post-MI reduced fibrosis by 40% and improved ejection fraction by 15% (P<0.01 vs controls), whereas WT-miR-411 showed no therapeutic effect. Conclusions A-to-I editing of miR-411 emerges as an endogenous anti-fibrotic mechanism by repressing TGFBR2 and CD44, thereby disrupting TGF-β signaling and ECM dysregulation. Our findings highlight ED-miR-411 as a novel RNA-based therapeutic candidate to mitigate post-infarction cardiac remodeling.
2.MTARC1 p.A165 ablation reduces hepatocellular carcinoma aggressiveness in vitro and in vivo
Lohitesh KOVOORU ; Jingjing ZHANG ; Francesco Giuseppe MONNI ; Tanmoy DUTTA ; Xiangdong GONGYE ; Bernice ASIEDU ; Patrizia INFELISE ; Emelie BARREBY ; Oveis JAMIALAHMADI ; Margit MAHLAPUU ; Rosellina M. MANCINA ; Stefano ROMEO
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2026;32(2):829-842
Background/Aims:
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide and is driven by metabolic reprogramming that supports tumor growth and progression. A common missense genetic variant (rs2642438, p.A165T) in mitochondrial amidoxime reducing component 1 (MTARC1), identified as protective against liver disease, has been recently associated with lower prevalence of steatosis, cirrhosis, and HCC. However, the mechanistic role of MTARC1 in HCC is unclear. Therefore, we sought to decipher the role of MTARC1 in HCC.
Methods:
We investigated the role of MTARC1 in HCC by performing siRNA-mediated knockdown across human immortalized HCC cell lines (Hep3B2, HuH7, HepG2 and HepaRG) homozygous for the risk allele (p.A165) and by generating stable CRISPR-Cas9 knockout (KO) models. Next, we assessed the effect of MTARC1 loss on cell proliferation, migration, lipid metabolism, and fatty acid oxidation in vitro, as well as tumor aggressiveness in a subcutaneous xenograft mouse model. Additionally, we performed global proteomics in both in vitro and xenograft models.
Results:
Transient knockdown of MTARC1 p.A165 reduced proliferation in HCC cell lines. CRISPR-Cas9-mediated stable MTARC1 p.A165 KO in Hep3B2 cells led to decreased neutral lipid intracellular accumulation, enhanced β-oxidation and reduced cell migration. An MTARC1 KO xenograft model had reduced tumor volume. Proteomic analyses of both in vitro HCC cells and xenograft tumors revealed inhibition of oncogenic pathways and activation of anti-proliferative proteins.
Conclusions
Downregulation of MTARC1 p.A165 inhibits lipid accumulation, dampens tumor-promoting pathways and restricts tumor growth, highlighting MTARC1 as a promising therapeutic target for HCC.
3.Value of liver and spleen stiffness measured by two-dimensional shear wave elastography in diagnosing the severity of portal hypertension
Min WANG ; Guanhua ZHANG ; Lijuan FENG ; Yuhong SUO ; Fuliang HE ; Xiangdong HU ; Min LI ; Yu WANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(5):1075-1082
ObjectiveTo investigate the value of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and spleen stiffness measurement (SSM) measured by two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) in the diagnosis of severe portal hypertension (SPH) and high-risk varices (HRV), and to provide a basis for noninvasive assessment of portal hypertension. MethodsA prospective study was conducted among 78 patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension who were treated in Liver Research Center of Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, from December 2019 to April 2023. According to hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG), the patients were divided into 6 mmHg≤HVPG<12 mmHg group, 12 mmHg≤HVPG<20 mmHg group, and HVPG ≥20 mmHg group. All patients underwent gastroscopy and 2D-SWE within 1 week after HVPG measurement, and SWE-LSM and SWE-SSM measured by 2D-SWE were recorded. A one-way analysis of variance or the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups, and the chi-square test or the Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. With HVPG and gastroscopy findings as the gold standard, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate diagnostic performance, while the DeLong test was used for comparison of AUC. The Pearson or Spearman correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation between variables, and the linear regression analysis and the Logistic regression analysis were used to investigate the influencing factors for HVPG and HRV. ResultsThe mean HVPG was 18.1±6.4 mmHg for the patients enrolled in this study, and HRV was observed in 62 patients (79.5%). Both SWE-LSM and SWE-SSM were significantly positively correlated with HVPG (r=0.413 and 0.633, both P<0.001), with an AUC of 0.812 and 0.902, respectively, in the diagnosis of HVPG≥12 mmHg and an AUC of 0.804 and 0.789, respectively, in the diagnosis of HVPG≥20 mmHg (all P>0.05). The multivariate linear regression analysis showed that SWE-SSM was an independent influencing factor for HVPG (β=0.17, P<0.001). In the diagnosis of HRV, only SWE-SSM showed a significant positive correlation with HRV (r=0.432, P<0.001), with a better diagnostic performance than SWE-LSM in terms of AUC (0.808 vs 0.642, Z=2.775, P=0.006). The multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that platelet count was an independent influencing factor for HRV (odds ratio=0.97, P=0.014). ConclusionSWE-SSM is closely correlated with both HVPG and HRV, showing a good performance in the diagnosis of SPH and HRV, and therefore, it is expected to become an effective noninvasive tool for assessing portal hypertension.
4.Quality evaluation of adverse drug reaction reports in clinical departments based on game theory combinatorial weighting-TOPSIS-rank-sum ratio method
Haikun WANG ; Zichuang MA ; Na WU ; Aizong SHEN ; Xiangdong JIANG ; Maomao ZHANG ; Dan SU
China Pharmacy 2025;36(23):2969-2973
OBJECTIVE To comprehensively evaluate the quality of adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports in clinical departments or ward (hereinafter referred to as “department”) based on game theory combinatorial weighting-technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS)-rank-sum ratio (RSR) method, providing a reference for the further standardization of ADR reporting. METHODS Based on relevant documents and scoring criteria, the ADR report quality evaluation standards previously developed by our team were modified. Using game theory principles, the fusion of subjective and objective weights for each indicator was determined. A game theory combinatorial weighting-TOPSIS-RSR model was developed to evaluate and categorize the quality of raw ADR reports submitted by departments to the pharmacy department at Bozhou Hospital of Anhui Medical University. RESULTS A total of 222 ADR reports from 23 departments were included. The game theory combinatorial weighting method identifies weak points in management, such as ADR symptoms and signs, the description of underlying diseases, timing of ADR, by optimizing the weightings of the indicators. The TOPSIS-RSR method calculates that the mean relative closeness of the departments was 0.401 7, indicating that the overall report quality ranged from moderate to substandard. 20095) Three departments, including neurosurgery, demonstrated medium reporting quality [estinate closeness (Ĉ)i ≥0.506], while two departments, such as the respiratory department,were rated as unqualified (Ĉi<0.278). The remaining departments were all deemed qualified (0.278≤ Ĉi<0.506). CONCLUSIONS The developed game theory combinatorial weighting-TOPSIS-RSR method provides an effective approach for the quality evaluation of ADR reports, which not only balances subjective and objective weights but also facilitates comparisons among different departments. There is still room for improvement in the ADR report quality at the hospital.
5.The Role of Intravenous Anesthetics for Neuro: Protection or Toxicity?
Kaixin WANG ; Yafeng WANG ; Tianhao ZHANG ; Bingcheng CHANG ; Daan FU ; Xiangdong CHEN
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(1):107-130
The primary intravenous anesthetics employed in clinical practice encompass dexmedetomidine (Dex), propofol, ketamine, etomidate, midazolam, and remimazolam. Apart from their established sedative, analgesic, and anxiolytic properties, an increasing body of research has uncovered neuroprotective effects of intravenous anesthetics in various animal and cellular models, as well as in clinical studies. However, there also exists conflicting evidence pointing to the potential neurotoxic effects of these intravenous anesthetics. The role of intravenous anesthetics for neuro on both sides of protection or toxicity has been rarely summarized. Considering the mentioned above, this work aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved both in the central nerve system (CNS) and the peripheral nerve system (PNS) and provide valuable insights into the potential safety and risk associated with the clinical use of intravenous anesthetics.
Animals
;
Humans
;
Anesthetics, Intravenous/adverse effects*
;
Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology*
;
Propofol
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Neurotoxicity Syndromes/prevention & control*
;
Central Nervous System/drug effects*
;
Dexmedetomidine
6.Discovery of selective HDAC6 inhibitors driven by artificial intelligence and molecular dynamics simulation approaches.
Xingang LIU ; Hao YANG ; Xinyu LIU ; Minjie MOU ; Jie LIU ; Wenying YAN ; Tianle NIU ; Ziyang ZHANG ; He SHI ; Xiangdong SU ; Xuedong LI ; Yang ZHANG ; Qingzhong JIA
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(8):101338-101338
Increasing evidence showed that histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) dysfunction is directly associated with the onset and progression of various diseases, especially cancers, making the development of HDAC6-targeted anti-tumor agents a research hotspot. In this study, artificial intelligence (AI) technology and molecular simulation strategies were fully integrated to construct an efficient and precise drug screening pipeline, which combined Voting strategy based on compound-protein interaction (CPI) prediction models, cascade molecular docking, and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations. The biological potential of the screened compounds was further evaluated through enzymatic and cellular activity assays. Among the identified compounds, Cmpd.18 exhibited more potent HDAC6 enzyme inhibitory activity (IC50 = 5.41 nM) than that of tubastatin A (TubA) (IC50 = 15.11 nM), along with a favorable subtype selectivity profile (selectivity index ≈ 117.23 for HDAC1), which was further verified by the Western blot analysis. Additionally, Cmpd.18 induced G2/M phase arrest and promoted apoptosis in HCT-116 cells, exerting desirable antiproliferative activity (IC50 = 2.59 μM). Furthermore, based on long-term MD simulation trajectory, the key residues facilitating Cmpd.18's binding were identified by decomposition free energy analysis, thereby elucidating its binding mechanism. Moreover, the representative conformation analysis also indicated that Cmpd.18 could stably bind to the active pocket in an effective conformation, thus demonstrating the potential for in-depth research of the 2-(2-phenoxyethyl)pyridazin-3(2H)-one scaffold.
7.Effects of remimazolam on stress response indexes, T lymphocyte subsets and postoperative delirium in patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy
Jing NIU ; Xiangdong BAI ; Yanli ZHAO ; Jin ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Endocrine Surgery 2025;19(5):700-704
Objective:To study the effects of remimazolam on stress response index, T lymphocyte subsets and postoperative delirium in patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy.Methods:A total of 120 patients with breast cancer who underwent modified radical mastectomy in our hospital from Aug. 2024 to Dec. 2024 were separated into the control group (n=60, anesthetic induction and maintenance with Propofol) and the observation group (n=60, anesthetic induction and maintenance with remimazolam) according to random number table method, and the other anesthetic drugs were the same. The operation time, anesthesia recovery time, postoperative delirium and cognitive dysfunction of the two groups were observed, and the changes of stress response indexes and T lymphocyte subsets indexes at different time points were compared, and the adverse reactions after anesthesia were counted.Results:The incidence of postoperative delirium and cognitive dysfunction in the observation group was lower than that in the control group ( x2=4.62, 5.18, P < 0.05), and there was no statistically significant difference in operation time or anesthesia recovery time between the two groups ( t=0.43, 1.71, P > 0.05). The observation group had lower serum cortisol (Cor), norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E) levels 30 min after anesthesia induction (T 1) and immediately after surgery (T 2) ( t=5.53, 6.71, 9.33, 6.74, 7.26, 8.77, P < 0.05), while the comparison of those indexes before surgery (T 0) and 12 h after surgery (T 3) showed no statistically significant difference ( t=1.19, 1.85, 0.90, 1.55, 1.64, 1.81, P > 0.05). The levels of CD3 +T, CD4 +T and CD4 +/CD8 + in the observation group were higher than those in the control group at T 1, T 2 and T 3 ( t=2.21, 4.94, 4.77, 4.44, 6.24, 7.07, 2.11, 2.56, 2.15, P < 0.05), and there was no statistically significant difference in those indexes between the two groups at T 0 ( t=0.76, 0.79, 1.51, P > 0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions after anesthesia showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups [25.00% (15/60) and 33.33% (20/60) ] ( χ2=1.008, P > 0.05) . Conclusion:The induction and maintenance of remimazolam anesthesia can effectively reduce the incidence of postoperative delirium and cognitive dysfunction in patients with modified radical mastectomy, relieve the body stress response of patients, and effectively reduce the influence of anesthesia on T lymphocytes.
8.Effect of Radiation Therapy on Antitumor Immunity in Patients with Prostate Cancer
Wanqiu ZHANG ; Xiangdong LIU ; Bo LUO
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2025;52(12):1035-1044
Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common urological malignancy in men worldwide, and its incidence is increasing annually. Radiotherapy is one of the main treatment methods for PCa. However, some patients still have recurrence, local progression, and even distant metastasis after receiving radical radiotherapy. As an emerging tumor treatment strategy, immunotherapy has made great progress in the treatment of various solid tumors. Owing to the inherent immune escape mechanism of PCa, the efficacy of immunotherapy is unsatisfactory. Therefore, new combined strategies must be explored to improve the efficacy of immunotherapy for PCa. With the in-depth study of the tumor immune microenvironment, the immunomodulatory effect of radiotherapy has gradually attracted attention. Researchers found that the immunomodulatory effect of radiotherapy depends on the dose. Low-dose radiotherapy can enhance tumor immunogenicity by remodeling the tumor microenvironment, whereas high-dose radiotherapy can further activate the innate immune signaling pathway by directly inducing the immunogenic necrosis of tumor cells. Therefore, the synergistic strategy of radiotherapy and immunotherapy has become a research hotspot. This work aims to review the regulatory effect of radiotherapy on PCa antitumor immunity, clarify the latest progress and potential clinical value of radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy, and provide a theoretical basis and new research directions for optimizing the combination immunotherapy strategies for prostate cancer.
9.Hematopoietic Engineering:The Current Status and Prospects of In Vitro Erythrocyte Production Technology
Qianli ZHUO ; Zhaojun ZHANG ; Xiangdong FANG
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(5):1179-1184
In vitro erythrocyte manufacturing technology offers a novel solution for transfusion therapy,en-suring sustainable blood supply,reducing dependence on donors,and minimizing the risk of infectious disease transmission.This review summarizes recent advancements in in vitro erythrocyte production,including techniques for generating red blood cells(RBC)from various cell sources,with a focus on the cultivation and development of immortalized erythroid cell lines.The importance of enhancing enucleation efficiency and ensuring the safety of immortalized erythroid cells is emphasized.Additionally,the potential and challenges in clinical translation are discussed,aiming to provide new insights for future sustainable RBC supply and therapeutic applications.
10.Evaluation of ultrasound scoring system combined with shear wave elastography on curative effect of IgG4-related submandibular and lacrimal gland inflammation
Jinhuai ZHANG ; Mingzhu ZHOU ; Yanying LIU ; Xiangdong HU
China Medical Equipment 2025;22(5):10-15
Objective:To explore the assessment value of ultrasound scoring system combined with shear wave elastography(SWE)on curative effect of IgG4-related submandibular and lacrimal gland inflammation.Methods:This study was a prospective cohort study.A total of 103 patients with IgG4-related submandibular and/or lacrimal gland inflammation who admitted to the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology of Beijing Friendship Hospital,Capital Medical University from September 2022 to December 2024 were consecutively included.They were divided into an effective group(45 cases)and a non-effective group(58 cases)based on the curative effect.All patients were assessed by conventional ultrasound and SWE before and after treatment.Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent influencing factors of assessing the curative effect,and then,a receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve and nomograms were drawn.Results:There were no statistically significant differences in gender and age between the effective group and the non-effective group(P>0.05).The difference between the submandibular and lacrimal gland score,change rate of score,difference of mean Young's modulus(Emean),Emean change rate,difference of maximum value of Young's modulus(Emax),and Emax change rate in the effective group were all higher than those in the non-effective group,and the differences were statistically significant(Z=-7.916,-7.680,-6.767,-6.722,-6.360,-5.957,P<0.05),respectively.The difference between the submandibular and lacrimal gland score(OR=2.90,P<0.001)and the Emax difference(OR=1.18,P<0.05)had diagnostic value for assessing the curative effectiveness.The area under curve(AUC)value,sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of the difference between submandibular and lacrimal gland score were respectively 0.945,88.9%,94.8%and 87.4%in assessing the curative effectiveness.The above indicators of Emax difference were respectively 0.866,86.7%,70.7%and 77.7%in assessing the curative effectiveness.The above indicators of the combination of them were respectively 0.976,93.3%,94.8%and 94.2%.Conclusion:The combination of the conventional ultrasound scoring system and SWE has higher diagnostic value in assessing the curative effect of IgG4-related submandibular and lacrimal gland inflammation.The combined application can significantly improve the accuracy and provide reliable imaging reference for clinical practice.

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