1.Identification of a JAK-STAT-miR155HG positive feedback loop in regulating natural killer (NK) cells proliferation and effector functions.
Songyang LI ; Yongjie LIU ; Xiaofeng YIN ; Yao YANG ; Xinjia LIU ; Jiaxing QIU ; Qinglan YANG ; Yana LI ; Zhiguo TAN ; Hongyan PENG ; Peiwen XIONG ; Shuting WU ; Lanlan HUANG ; Xiangyu WANG ; Sulai LIU ; Yuxing GONG ; Yuan GAO ; Lingling ZHANG ; Junping WANG ; Yafei DENG ; Zhaoyang ZHONG ; Youcai DENG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(4):1922-1937
The Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT) control natural killer (NK) cells development and cytotoxic functions, however, whether long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in this pathway remains unknown. We found that miR155HG was elevated in activated NK cells and promoted their proliferation and effector functions in both NK92 and induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)-derived NK (iPSC-NK) cells, without reliance on its derived miR-155 and micropeptide P155. Mechanistically, miR155HG bound to miR-6756 and relieved its repression of JAK3 expression, thereby promoting the JAK-STAT pathway and enhancing NK cell proliferation and function. Further investigations disclosed that upon cytokine stimulation, STAT3 directly interacts with miR155HG promoter and induces miR155HG transcription. Collectively, we identify a miR155HG-mediated positive feedback loop of the JAK-STAT signaling. Our study will also provide a power target regarding miR155HG for improving NK cell generation and effector function in the field of NK cell adoptive transfer therapy against cancer, especially iPSC-derived NK cells.
2.Preliminary clinical study of a novel FAP-targeted PET tracer 64Cu-FAPI-XT117 in malignant solid tumors: a comparative study with 18F-FDG
Xi HE ; Meijuan ZHOU ; Peng HOU ; Kaixiang ZHONG ; Youcai LI ; Jie LYU ; Miao KE ; Ruiyue ZHAO ; Shaoyu LIU ; Yimin FU ; Huizhen ZHONG ; Xinlu WANG
Chinese Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2025;45(12):708-713
Objective:To systematically evaluate the safety and efficacy of the novel fibroblast activation protein (FAP)-targeted tracer 64Cu-FAP inhibitor (FAPI)-XT117 in patients with malignant solid tumors, and to compare with 18F-FDG. Methods:This self-controlled study was conducted on fifteen patients (8 males, 7 females; age (60 ±9) years) with malignant solid tumors from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University between July 2023 and December 2023. Each subject underwent 64Cu-FAPI-XT117 PET/CT at 30, 60, and 120min post-injection and was assigned to three dose cohorts (111MBq, 148MBq, and 185MBq; 5 patients in each cohort), and safety assessments were conducted within 24h after injection. In addition, all patients underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT at 60min post-injection. Time-activity curves were generated for 64Cu-FAPI-XT117, and the dosimetry was calculated. Image quality was evaluated using a 5-point Likert scale, and the optimal injected activity and imaging time point were determined. The paired t test was used to compare differences of the lesion detection count and SUV max between 64Cu-FAPI-XT117 and 18F-FDG PET/CT. Results:64Cu-FAPI-XT117 was well tolerated, with no adverse events reported. Time-activity curves of 68Ga-FAPI-XT117 revealed prominent uptake in the uterus, while the background activity in other organs remained low, with the whole-body effective dose of (0.0084±0.0021)mSv/MBq. The optimal imaging time point for 64Cu-FAPI-XT117 PET/CT was 60min post-injection, with an optimal administered activity of 111MBq. Compared with 18F-FDG, 64Cu-FAPI-XT117 demonstrated significantly higher uptake and more lesions in lymph-node metastases (SUV max: 8.6±3.8 vs 15.3±6.8, t=2.33, P=0.048; number of lesions: 8.3±5.4 vs 15.0±6.4; t=4.21, P=0.003) and distant metastases (SUV max: 11.8±3.7 vs 20.9±7.2, t=3.66, P=0.022; number of lesions: 7.0±3.2 vs 12.4±3.7, t=2.86, P=0.046). Conclusions:64Cu-FAPI-XT117 PET/CT is well tolerated in patients with solid tumors, with a controllable radiation risk. Moreover, it outperforms 18F-FDG PET/CT in the assessment of metastases.
3.New tetrahydroanthraquinones and γ-butenolides from the fungus Auxarthron umbrinum DSM3193.
Ling TIAN ; Bingyu LIU ; Qian WEI ; Chen ZHANG ; Jiamin SHANG ; Xiaoxue LI ; Xiuying YANG ; Jinhua WANG ; Youcai HU
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(8):951-960
Nine novel compounds, comprising seven tetrahydroanthraquinones (auxarthrolones A-G, 1-7), a γ-butenolide glycoside (malfilamentoside E, 26), and a γ-butenolide (auxarthrolide A, 27), together with eighteen known compounds (8-25) were isolated from rice-based solid culture of Auxarthron umbrinum (A. umbrinum) DSM3193 using the one strain many compounds (OSMAC) approach. The structural elucidation of these compounds was accomplished through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), mass spectrometry (MS), and NMR calculation combined with DP4+ analysis or MAEΔΔδ parameter, while the absolute configurations of new compounds were established through single-crystal X-ray diffraction, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectroscopic data analysis and/or chemical derivatization. Austrocortilutein (10) and auxarthrol H (14) demonstrated moderate cytotoxicity against U87 and U251 [half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) 3.5-12.1 μmol·L-1]. Additionally, auxarthrolone A (1), auxarthrol H (14), eupolyphagin B (15), and 7-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxypropyl)-5-methylchromone (17) exhibited torsional effects on fibroblast proliferation challenges induced by oleic acid, thus demonstrating fibroblast proliferation-promoting activity.
4-Butyrolactone/pharmacology*
;
Molecular Structure
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Anthraquinones/pharmacology*
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Humans
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Animals
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Mice
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Cell Line, Tumor
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Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
4.Preliminary clinical study of a novel FAP-targeted PET tracer 64Cu-FAPI-XT117 in malignant solid tumors: a comparative study with 18F-FDG
Xi HE ; Meijuan ZHOU ; Peng HOU ; Kaixiang ZHONG ; Youcai LI ; Jie LYU ; Miao KE ; Ruiyue ZHAO ; Shaoyu LIU ; Yimin FU ; Huizhen ZHONG ; Xinlu WANG
Chinese Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2025;45(12):708-713
Objective:To systematically evaluate the safety and efficacy of the novel fibroblast activation protein (FAP)-targeted tracer 64Cu-FAP inhibitor (FAPI)-XT117 in patients with malignant solid tumors, and to compare with 18F-FDG. Methods:This self-controlled study was conducted on fifteen patients (8 males, 7 females; age (60 ±9) years) with malignant solid tumors from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University between July 2023 and December 2023. Each subject underwent 64Cu-FAPI-XT117 PET/CT at 30, 60, and 120min post-injection and was assigned to three dose cohorts (111MBq, 148MBq, and 185MBq; 5 patients in each cohort), and safety assessments were conducted within 24h after injection. In addition, all patients underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT at 60min post-injection. Time-activity curves were generated for 64Cu-FAPI-XT117, and the dosimetry was calculated. Image quality was evaluated using a 5-point Likert scale, and the optimal injected activity and imaging time point were determined. The paired t test was used to compare differences of the lesion detection count and SUV max between 64Cu-FAPI-XT117 and 18F-FDG PET/CT. Results:64Cu-FAPI-XT117 was well tolerated, with no adverse events reported. Time-activity curves of 68Ga-FAPI-XT117 revealed prominent uptake in the uterus, while the background activity in other organs remained low, with the whole-body effective dose of (0.0084±0.0021)mSv/MBq. The optimal imaging time point for 64Cu-FAPI-XT117 PET/CT was 60min post-injection, with an optimal administered activity of 111MBq. Compared with 18F-FDG, 64Cu-FAPI-XT117 demonstrated significantly higher uptake and more lesions in lymph-node metastases (SUV max: 8.6±3.8 vs 15.3±6.8, t=2.33, P=0.048; number of lesions: 8.3±5.4 vs 15.0±6.4; t=4.21, P=0.003) and distant metastases (SUV max: 11.8±3.7 vs 20.9±7.2, t=3.66, P=0.022; number of lesions: 7.0±3.2 vs 12.4±3.7, t=2.86, P=0.046). Conclusions:64Cu-FAPI-XT117 PET/CT is well tolerated in patients with solid tumors, with a controllable radiation risk. Moreover, it outperforms 18F-FDG PET/CT in the assessment of metastases.
5.Enhancing definitive hematopoiesis signals improves the efficiency of natural killer cell generation derived from human embryonic stem cells
Zhaohui ZHANG ; Xiaofeng YIN ; Boning XU ; Qinghua BI ; Qiangqiang LAI ; Yan JI ; Tao LIU ; Limeng DAI ; Gaoke LIU ; Youcai DENG
Immunological Journal 2023;39(10):839-846
This study explores the effects of enhancing the definitive hematopoiesis(DH)signals during the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells(hESCs)into hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells on the generation efficiency and effector function of natural killer(NK)cells generated from hESCs(also known as hESC-NK cells).The hESC(H1)were transformed into embryoid bodies(Ebs)by centrifugation,and during the induction of K562,were used to analyze the efficiency of hematopoietic differentiation,the efficiency of NK cell generation from hESC,the in vitro effector functions,and the expression of effector function related surface receptors.Compared to the control group,the DH group had a significant increase in the number of arterial hematopoietic endothelial cells(CD34+DLL4+)and a significant decrease in primitive hematopoietic related cells(CD34-CD43+)on day 8 of hematopoietic differentiation(P<0.05).On day 28 of NK cell differentiation,the DH group demonstrated a significant increase in the number of NK cells(CD45+CD56+),while a slight increase in the expression of effector function-related molecules such as IFN-γ,Granzyme B,Perforin and CD107a without statistical significance.Furthermore,the activation receptors CD16a and CD69 were significantly increased,NKP46 was significantly decreased,the inhibitory receptor NKG2A was significantly increased,while CD96 was significantly decreased on hESC-NK cells of DH groups(P<0.05).Conclusively,enhancing the signals for definitive hematopoiesis during hESC differentiation into hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells significantly improves the yield of NK cells and the expression of CD16a without affecting their in vitro effector functions.Our study provides a new approach to improving the efficiency of hESC-NK cell or iPSC-NK cell generation.
6.Application value of transverse perineal arc incision approach in complete resection of presacral cyst in the lithotomy position
Guoqiang ZHANG ; Gangcheng WANG ; Yan ZHANG ; Cong WANG ; Zhi ZHANG ; Liangliang DING ; Yingjun LIU ; Youcai WANG ; Fang WANG ; Hongli WANG
Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery 2023;22(6):762-768
Objective:To investigate the application value of transverse perineal arc incision approach in complete resection of presacral cyst in the lithotomy position.Methods:The retrospec-tive cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 114 patients who underwent com-plete resection of presacral cyst in Henan Cancer Hospital from August 2012 to October 2021 were collected. There were 14 males and 100 females, aged (35±9)years. All patients were diagnosed as presacral cysts by preoperative magnetic resonance imaging. Of the 114 patients, 76 patients undergoing intraoperative perineal arc incision approach in the lithotomy position were divided into the innovative group, and 38 patients undergoing intraoperative Kraske approach were divided into the traditional group. Observation indicators: (1) surgical situations and specimen; (2) postoperative situations; (3) Follow-up. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M(range), and comparison between groups was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test. Count data were described as absolute numbers or percentages, and com-parison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Results:(1) Surgical situations and specimen. The operation time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, cases with intraoperative combined transabdominal approach or sacrectomy were (137±20)minutes, (261±101)mL, 0 in the innovation group, versus (136±34)minutes, (261±116)mL, 15 in the tradi-tional group, showing no significant difference in the operation time and volume of intraoperative blood loss between the two groups ( t=0.18, 0, P>0.05) and showing a significant difference in cases with intraoperative combined transabdominal approach or sacrectomy between the two groups ( P<0.05). Results of postoperative specimen anatomy in patients of the two groups showed complete removal of the cyst. (2) Postoperative situations. The time to postoperative removing presacral drainage tube, duration of postoperative hospital stay, cases with postoperative second stage healing of incision were (11.4±2.1)days, (13.5±3.5)days, 23 in the innovation group, versus (11.5±1.9)days, (13.7±3.8)days, 4 in the traditional group, showing no significant difference in the time to post-operative removing presacral drainage tube and duration of postoperative hospital stay between the two groups ( t=-0.20, -0.24, P>0.05) and showing a significant difference in cases with postoperative second stage healing of incision between the two groups ( χ2=5.46, P<0.05). Cases with postoperative severe complications were 4 and 2 in the innovation group and the traditional group, respectively, showing no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05). (3) Follow-up. All 114 patients were followed up for 48(range, 6?108)months. Cases with recurrence of cysts were 2 and 0 in the innovation group and the traditional group, respectively, showing no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05). During the follow-up period, the anal defecation control function of all patients was classified as grade A?B of Williams score. Conclusions:The transverse perineal arc incision approach in complete resection of presacral cyst in the lithotomy position is safe and feasible. Compared with Kraske approach, the transverse perineal arc incision approach in the lithotomy position is more suitable for patients with high presacral cyst.
7.Pedicled omentum packing of the pelvic floor in the prevention of short-term postoperative complications after laparoscopic Miles precedure
Youcai WANG ; Gangcheng WANG ; Han ZHOU ; Songtao WANG ; Chendi WANG ; Yingjun LIU ; Cong WANG ; Guoqiang ZHANG
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2023;38(2):86-89
Objective:To evaluate the effect of pedicled omentum packing of pelvic floor after laparoscopic Miles precedure in the prevention of short-term postoperative complications.Methods:Seventy-two patients undergoing laparoscopic combined abdominal perineal resection for rectal cancer at He'nan Tumor Hospital from Jan 2014 to Aug 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. The observation group underwent pelvic floor reconstruction with pedicled omentum, while in control group the pelvic floor was leaving unconstructed.Results:There was no intestinal obstruction in the observation group. There were 5 cases of intestinal obstruction in the control group. Three were recovered by conservative treatment, 2 cases underwent laparotomy and 1 case underwent anastomosis between small intestine and small intestine. The incidence of intestinal obstruction between 2 groups was statistically different (0 vs. 14%, χ2=5.083, P=0.024 ). The operation time, hospital stay between the two groups were statistically different [(195±13) min vs. (159±9) min, t=10.047, P=0.000; (11.9±0.9) d vs. (14.9±2.1) d, t=-5.996, P=0.000 ). Between the two groups, there were no significant differences in the incidence of presacral infection , pulmonary infection, venous thrombosis and intraoperative blood loss (all P>0.05) . Conclusion:Pedicled greater omentum used in pelvic floor reconstruction after laparoscopic Miles procedure reduces the incidence of short-term postoperative complications, especially of intestinal obstruction.
8.The types and surgical treatments of complex intestinal fistula after radiotherapy for cervical cancer
Zhi ZHANG ; Gangcheng WANG ; Guoqiang ZHANG ; Youcai WANG ; Han ZHOU ; Yingjun LIU ; Shuzhen TIAN ; Fang WANG ; Hongli WANG
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2022;37(9):655-659
Objective:To investigate the types, surgical treatments of complex intestinal fistula after radiotherapy for cervical cancer.Methods:The clinical data and treatment of 26 patients with complex intestinal fistula after radiotherapy for cervical cancer at Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University from Jan 2013 to Jan 2020 were reviewed .Results:Eleven patients were with recto-vaginal fistula, 1 patient with sigmoido-vesical fistula, 5 patients with combined rectal, vaginal and vesical fistula, 7 patients with low rectal fistula and peripheral infection, and 2 patients with ileo-vaginal stump fistula after radical resection of cervical cancer and adjuvant radiotherapy. All patients were underwent the surgery, including 9 patients for total pelvic or posterior pelvic resection, 6 patients for rectum or sigmoid colectomy, bladder or vaginal repair, 7 patients were done for Hartmann surgery, and 1 patient underwent segmental resection, enteroanastomosis and vaginal repair, 3 patients for transverse colostomy or proximal ileostomy. No major postoperative complications occurred . The symptoms of intestinal fistula in all patients were dissolved, and the perineal pain was significantly relieved in 23 patients. The symptoms of ileal fistula reccurred in 2 patients within 1 year after operation, and there was no mortality.Conclusions:The rectal related intestinal fistula is the most common complex intestinal fistula after radical radiotherapy for cervical cancer. The point of surgical treatment is to remove the diseased rectum or ileum.
9.Inhibitory effect of Niuhuang Qinggan Capsule on proliferation of 2019 novel coronavirus in vitro
Xuexin LU ; Shuangli ZHU ; Yaning LIU ; Xueying ZHAO ; Tiejun DI ; Youcai ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Experimental and Clinical Virology 2022;36(2):128-130
Objective:Objective The inhibitory effect of Niuhuang Qinggan Capsule on 2019-nCoV virus was studied to provide experimental evidence for drug screening and treatment of 2019-nCoV acute respiratory disease.Methods:The 2019-nCoV virus GS048 strain was isolated and cultured by Vero-E6 cells. The solution of Niuhuang Qinggan capsule was incubated with virus in vitro to determine the change of virus titer. The effect of Niuhuang Qinggan capsule on the proliferation of 2019-nCoV virus was determined by cell culture medium method.Results:It was found that the concentration of 274.3 μg/ml was not toxic to the cells when the concentration of drugs was lower. When the drug was incubated with virus, the titer of virus decreased from 10 4.4TCID 50/ml to 10 2.8TCID 50/ml. In vitro 2019-nCoV virus culture experiment showed that the addition of the drugs reduced the cytopathy, and the logarithmic value of virus titer decreased by 40% -50%. Conclusion:In this study, in vitro inhibition experiments suggest that Niuhuang Qinggan capsule has the potential to inhibit the proliferation of 2019-nCoV. It can be used as a candidate drug to further verify the therapeutic effect of the 2019-nCoV acute respiratory disease.
10.Genome mining combined metabolic shunting and OSMAC strategy of an endophytic fungus leads to the production of diverse natural products.
Qian WEI ; Jian BAI ; Daojiang YAN ; Xiuqi BAO ; Wenting LI ; Bingyu LIU ; Dan ZHANG ; Xiangbing QI ; Dequan YU ; Youcai HU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2021;11(2):572-587
Endophytic fungi are promising producers of bioactive small molecules. Bioinformatic analysis of the genome of an endophytic fungus

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