1.Nucleic Acid-driven Protein Degradation: Frontiers of Lysosomal Targeted Degradation Technology
Han YIN ; Yu LI ; Yu-Chuan FAN ; Shuai GUO ; Yuan-Yu HUANG ; Yong LI ; Yu-Hua WENG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):5-19
Distinct from the complementary inhibition mechanism through binding to the target with three-dimensional conformation of small molecule inhibitors, targeted protein degradation technology takes tremendous advantage of endogenous protein degradation pathway inside cells to degrade plenty of “undruggable” target proteins, which provides a novel route for the treatment of many serious diseases, mainly including proteolysis-targeting chimeras, lysosome-targeting chimeras, autophagy-targeting chimeras, antibody-based proteolysis-targeting chimeras, etc. Unlike proteolysis-targeting chimeras first found in 2001, which rely on ubiquitin-proteasome system to mainly degrade intracellular proteins of interest, lysosome-targeting chimeras identified in 2020, which was act as the fastly developing technology, utilize cellular lysosomal pathway through endocytosis mediated by lysosome-targeting receptor to degrade both extracellular and membrane proteins. As an emerging biomedical technology, nucleic acid-driven lysosome-targeting chimeras utilize nucleic acids as certain components of chimera molecule to replace with ligand to lysosome-targeting receptor or protein of interest, exhibiting broad application prospects and potential clinical value in disease treatment and drug development. This review mainly introduced present progress of nucleic acid-driven lysosome-targeting chimeras technology, including its basic composition, its advantages compared with antibody or glycopeptide-based lysosome-targeting chimeras, and focused on its chief application, in terms of the type of lysosome-targeting receptors. Most research about the development of nucleic acid-driven lysosome-targeting chimeras focused on those which utilized cation-independent mannose-6-phosphonate receptor as the lysosome-targeting receptor. Both mannose-6-phosphonate-modified glycopeptide and nucleic aptamer targeting cation-independent mannose-6-phosphonate receptor, even double-stranded DNA molecule moiety can be taken advantage as the ligand to lysosome-targeting receptor. The same as classical lysosome-targeting chimeras, asialoglycoprotein receptor can also be used for advance of nucleic acid-driven lysosome-targeting chimeras. Another new-found lysosome-targeting receptor, scavenger receptor, can bind dendritic DNA molecules to mediate cellular internalization of complex and lysosomal degradation of target protein, suggesting the successful application of scavenger receptor-mediated nucleic acid-driven lysosome-targeting chimeras. In addition, this review briefly overviewed the history of lysosome-targeting chimeras, including first-generation and second-generation lysosome-targeting chimeras through cation-independent mannose-6-phosphonate receptor-mediated and asialoglycoprotein receptor-mediated endocytosis respectively, so that a clear timeline can be presented for the advance of chimera technique. Meantime, current deficiency and challenge of lysosome-targeting chimeras was also mentioned to give some direction for deep progress of lysosome-targeting chimeras. Finally, according to faulty lysosomal degradation efficiency, more cellular mechanism where lysosome-targeting chimeras perform degradation of protein of interest need to be deeply explored. In view of current progress and direction of nucleic acid-driven lysosome-targeting chimeras, we discussed its current challenges and development direction in the future. Stability of natural nucleic acid molecule and optimized chimera construction have a great influence on the biological function of lysosome-targeting chimeras. Discovery of novel lysosome-targeting receptors and nucleic aptamer with higher affinity to the target will greatly facilitate profound advance of chimera technique. In summary, nucleic acid-driven lysosome-targeting chimeras have many superiorities, such as lower immunogenicity, expedient synthesis of chimera molecules and so on, in contrast to classical lysosome-targeting chimeras, making it more valuable. Also, the chimera technology provides new ideas and methods for biomedical research, drug development and clinical treatment, and can be used more widely through further research and optimization.
2.Clinical characteristics and survival analysis of pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma: a multicenter study.
Ying LIN ; Li-Li PAN ; Shao-Hua LE ; Jian LI ; Bi-Yun GUO ; Yu ZHU ; Kai-Zhi WENG ; Jin-Hong LUO ; Gao-Yuan SUN ; Yong-Zhi ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(6):668-674
OBJECTIVES:
To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic factors of pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma (HL).
METHODS:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of children with newly diagnosed HL from January 2011 to December 2023 at four hospitals: Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fujian Medical University Zhangzhou Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, and Fujian Children's Hospital. Patients were categorized into low-risk (R1), intermediate-risk (R2), and high-risk (R3) groups based on HL staging and pre-treatment risk factors. The patients received ABVD regimen or Chinese Pediatric HL-2013 regimen chemotherapy. Early treatment response and long-term efficacy were assessed, and prognostic factors were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model.
RESULTS:
The overall complete response (CR) rates after 2 and 4 cycles of chemotherapy were 42% and 68%, respectively. Compared with the ABVD regimen group, patients treated with the HL-2013 regimen in the R1 group showed significantly higher CR rates after both 2 and 4 cycles (P<0.05). However, no statistically significant differences in CR rates were observed between the two regimens in the R2 and R3 groups (P>0.05). The 5-year event-free survival (EFS) rate, overall survival rate, and freedom from treatment failure rate were 83%±4%, 97%±2%, and 88%±4%, respectively. Cox analysis indicated that the presence of a large tumor mass at diagnosis and failure to achieve CR after 4 cycles of chemotherapy were independent risk factors for lower EFS rates (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Pediatric HL generally has a favorable prognosis. The presence of a large tumor mass at diagnosis and failure to achieve CR after 4 cycles of chemotherapy indicate poor prognosis.
Humans
;
Hodgkin Disease/pathology*
;
Male
;
Child
;
Female
;
Adolescent
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Child, Preschool
;
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use*
;
Prognosis
;
Proportional Hazards Models
;
Survival Analysis
;
Infant
3.Roles of lncRNA in the crosstalk between osteogenesis and angiogenesis in the bone microenvironment.
Shihua ZHANG ; Jianmin GUO ; Yuting HE ; Zhi'ang SU ; Yao FENG ; Lan ZHANG ; Zou JUN ; Xiquan WENG ; Yu YUAN
Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B 2025;26(2):107-123
Bone is a highly calcified and vascularized tissue. The vascular system plays a vital role in supporting bone growth and repair, such as the provision of nutrients, growth factors, and metabolic waste transfer. Moreover, the additional functions of the bone vasculature, such as the secretion of various factors and the regulation of bone-related signaling pathways, are essential for maintaining bone health. In the bone microenvironment, bone tissue cells play a critical role in regulating angiogenesis, including osteoblasts, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), and osteoclasts. Osteogenesis and bone angiogenesis are closely linked. The decrease in osteogenesis and bone angiogenesis caused by aging leads to osteoporosis. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in various physiological processes, including osteogenesis and angiogenesis. Recent studies have shown that lncRNAs could mediate the crosstalk between angiogenesis and osteogenesis. However, the mechanism by which lncRNAs regulate angiogenesis‒osteogenesis crosstalk remains unclear. In this review, we describe in detail the ways in which lncRNAs regulate the crosstalk between osteogenesis and angiogenesis to promote bone health, aiming to provide new directions for the study of the mechanism by which lncRNAs regulate bone metabolism.
RNA, Long Noncoding/physiology*
;
Osteogenesis/physiology*
;
Humans
;
Neovascularization, Physiologic/genetics*
;
Bone and Bones/metabolism*
;
Animals
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Mesenchymal Stem Cells
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Signal Transduction
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Osteoblasts
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Osteoclasts
;
Angiogenesis
4.DDX24 promotes lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis via AGRN production in cervical squamous cell carcinoma.
Baibin WANG ; Yuan ZHUANG ; Chongrong WENG ; Yanhui JIANG ; Bingfan XIE ; Lijie WANG ; Yingying DONG ; Xiangpei FANG ; Jianzhong HE ; Xiaojin WANG ; Huanhuan HE ; Yong CHEN ; Huilong NIE
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(3):361-363
5.Liquiritin inhibits osteoclast differentiation and alleviates bone loss
Wensheng ZHANG ; Haiwei GUO ; Rui WENG ; Ling MO ; Zhenjie SONG ; Han TIAN ; Yelin ZHONG ; Yuancheng WANG ; Hanwu TANG ; Caijun LIU ; Chao YUAN ; Ying LI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(12):2429-2437
BACKGROUND:Relatively or absolutely active bone resorption function of osteoclasts is one of the causative factors of osteoporosis. Therefore,how to inhibit the formation of osteoclasts and reduce the bone resorption activity is a key element in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Liquiritin,which is derived from licorice,plays a role in the clinical treatment of bone diseases,but there are fewer studies addressing the application of liquiritin in osteoporosis and the mechanism is unknown.OBJECTIVE:To confirm,through both in vivo and in vitro experiments,that liquiritin inhibits osteoclast differentiation and alleviates bone loss.METHODS:Cell counting kit-8 was used to detect whether Liquiritin exerts toxic or proliferative effects on mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages,and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining was performed to observe the effect of liquiritin in inhibiting osteoclast differentiation. The affinity of liquiritin binding to proteins related to osteoclast differentiation was verified by network pharmacology. RT-PCR and western blot assays were performed to detect the inhibitory effects of liquiritin on osteoclast-specific protein and gene expression as well as relevant signaling pathways. Finally,the mitigating effect of liquiritin on bone loss was verified in the C57BL/6J mouse osteoporosis model.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Liquiritin,at concentrations of 20 μmol/L and below,could inhibit the formation and differentiation of osteoclasts. Concurrently,it exhibited a high affinity with osteoclast-specific proteins such as nuclear factor of activated T-cells 1,Cathepsin K,c-Fos,and matrix metalloproteinase 9,and reduced the relative expression levels of these genes and proteins. Liquiritin could also effectively lower the phosphorylation expression level of JNK in the MAPK signaling pathway at the 15th,30th,45th,and 60th minutes,and it could salvage the degradation of nuclear factor-κB inhibitor α in the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway at the 60th minute. In vivo experiments demonstrated that liquiritin could mitigate bone loss caused by osteoclasts and improve parameters related to trabecular bone. To conclude,liquiritin possesses the capacity to inhibit osteoclast differentiation and alleviate bone loss,thereby exerting a protective role against osteoporosis.
6.Expression of erythropoietin-producing hepatocyte kinase receptor A10 in gastric cancer and its correlation with clinical features and prognosis
Shiya WENG ; Mingjie ZHAO ; Ping YUAN ; Yan LI ; Kangjie YU ; Dongni LENG
Chinese Journal of Postgraduates of Medicine 2025;48(7):603-608
Objective:To investigate the expression of erythropoietin-producing hepatocyte kinase receptor A10 (EphA10) in gastric cancer and adjacent tissues, and analyze its correlation with clinical features and prognosis.Methods:The clinical data of 112 patients with gastric cancer from January 2018 to December 2023 in Eastern Theater Command Air Force Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The expression of EphA10 in gastric cancer and adjacent tissues was detected by EnVision immunohistochemical staining. The relationship between EphA10 expression and clinicopathological features was analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve was drawn, and the comparison used the log-rank test. Multivariate Cox regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors of the overall survival time in patients with gastric cancer.Results:The positive expression rate of EphA10 in gastric cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues: 44.6% (50/112) vs. 0, and there was statistical difference ( χ2 = 64.37, P<0.01). In patients with gastric cancer, the positive expression of EphA10 in gastric cancer tissues was correlated with tumor long diameter, differentiation, TNM stage and lymph node metastasis ( P<0.01 or <0.05), but without age, gender and distant metastasis ( P>0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis result showed that the median overall survival time in patients with positive EphA10 expression was significantly lower than that in patients with negative EphA10 expression: 18 months vs. 48 months, and there was statistical difference (log-rank χ2 = 53.66, P<0.01). Multivariate Cox regression analysis result showed that tumor long diameter ≥3 cm, TNM stage Ⅲ to Ⅳ, lymph node metastasis and EphA10 positive expression were the independent risk factors of the overall survival time in patients with gastric cancer ( HR = 1.250, 1.515, 1.321 and 0.831; 95% CI 1.143 to 1.368, 1.267 to 1.813, 1.168 to 1.497 and 0.756 to 0.913; P<0.01 or <0.05). Conclusions:The expression level of EphA10 in gastric cancer tissues is up-regulated, and its expression level is correlated with the clinicopathological features. EphA10 can be used as one of the reference indicators for clinical prognosis evaluation in patients with gastric cancer.
7.Liquiritin inhibits osteoclast differentiation and alleviates bone loss
Wensheng ZHANG ; Haiwei GUO ; Rui WENG ; Ling MO ; Zhenjie SONG ; Han TIAN ; Yelin ZHONG ; Yuancheng WANG ; Hanwu TANG ; Caijun LIU ; Chao YUAN ; Ying LI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(12):2429-2437
BACKGROUND:Relatively or absolutely active bone resorption function of osteoclasts is one of the causative factors of osteoporosis. Therefore,how to inhibit the formation of osteoclasts and reduce the bone resorption activity is a key element in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Liquiritin,which is derived from licorice,plays a role in the clinical treatment of bone diseases,but there are fewer studies addressing the application of liquiritin in osteoporosis and the mechanism is unknown.OBJECTIVE:To confirm,through both in vivo and in vitro experiments,that liquiritin inhibits osteoclast differentiation and alleviates bone loss.METHODS:Cell counting kit-8 was used to detect whether Liquiritin exerts toxic or proliferative effects on mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages,and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining was performed to observe the effect of liquiritin in inhibiting osteoclast differentiation. The affinity of liquiritin binding to proteins related to osteoclast differentiation was verified by network pharmacology. RT-PCR and western blot assays were performed to detect the inhibitory effects of liquiritin on osteoclast-specific protein and gene expression as well as relevant signaling pathways. Finally,the mitigating effect of liquiritin on bone loss was verified in the C57BL/6J mouse osteoporosis model.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Liquiritin,at concentrations of 20 μmol/L and below,could inhibit the formation and differentiation of osteoclasts. Concurrently,it exhibited a high affinity with osteoclast-specific proteins such as nuclear factor of activated T-cells 1,Cathepsin K,c-Fos,and matrix metalloproteinase 9,and reduced the relative expression levels of these genes and proteins. Liquiritin could also effectively lower the phosphorylation expression level of JNK in the MAPK signaling pathway at the 15th,30th,45th,and 60th minutes,and it could salvage the degradation of nuclear factor-κB inhibitor α in the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway at the 60th minute. In vivo experiments demonstrated that liquiritin could mitigate bone loss caused by osteoclasts and improve parameters related to trabecular bone. To conclude,liquiritin possesses the capacity to inhibit osteoclast differentiation and alleviate bone loss,thereby exerting a protective role against osteoporosis.
8.Behavioral causes of lack of compliance with life care in the transplant warehouse in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients: a qualitative study
Yuan TIAN ; Xiaofei LIN ; Yuanyuan LIN ; Jiaojiao WENG ; Xin'en LYU ; Shujuan ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2025;31(10):1364-1370
Objective:To explore the causes of lack of compliance with life care in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients while living alone in the transplant warehouse, and to provide a basis for developing targeted promotion measures.Methods:Using purposive sampling method, from June to December 2023, on-site observations were conducted on the voluntary completion of life care by hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients (with a 30 day observation period) admitted to the Blood Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University. The compliance was calculated after the observation period. Patients with a compliance of less than 80% were selected, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 of them after informed consent. The Colaizzi 7-step analysis method was applied to organize and analyze the interview data.Results:Three core themes on lack of compliance were distilled, namely physical factors impeding compliance (somatic specific symptoms leading to distraction, somatic non-specific symptoms leading to activity intolerance), psychological factors impeding compliance (negative emotions, comfort zone dilemmas, regression phenomena, constraints of personality psychological traits), and cognitive factors impeding compliance (subjective cognitive unperceived benefit, poor modeling resulting in cognitive biases, limited perceived attention) .Conclusions:The behavioral causes of lack of compliance with life care of hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients while living alone in the transplant warehouse are due to multiple factors of the body and mind, among which psychologically mediated mechanisms are key to compliance. Healthcare professionals should pay attention to both the physiological and psychological needs of patients, actively alleviate physical symptoms, appropriately provide psychological care to remove psychological barriers, help them actively seek family and social support, and promote cognitive improvement, thereby improving compliance.
9.Interpretation of the Expert Consensus on Characteristics of Convex Skin Barriers and Clinical Application
Longmei SI ; Meng ZHANG ; Yujie ZHOU ; Shuqin WAN ; Xiaomin SUN ; Xiaomei ZHU ; Niu NIU ; Yuan LIU ; Yajuan WENG
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2025;31(24):3228-3232
The classification of stoma skin barriers varies based on their specific features. The curvature design of convex skin barriers provides a secure and effective seal for patients with flat, retracted stomas or peristomal skin folds. The secure sealing ability of convex skin barriers is attributed to several critical structural components. Although convex skin barriers offer many clinical advantages, there is currently no unified standard for measuring their characteristics, resulting in confusion among healthcare professionals when selecting stoma care products. To address this issue, the 2021 International Stoma Care Expert Meeting proposed the Expert Consensus on Characteristics of Convex Skin Barriers and Clinical Application, which clearly defines five essential properties and clinical application guidelines for convex barriers. However, as most consensus contributors are from Europe and North America, its applicability in Chinese healthcare settings may be limited. Therefore, this paper provides a detailed interpretation of the five characteristics and clinical application statements of convex skin barriers, aiming to offer practical guidance to clinical nurses in selecting appropriate convex products and managing stoma-related complications.
10.Effects of exercise under cold exposure on hepatic AKT/FoxO1 signaling pathway of nutritionally obese rats
Yao FENG ; Baoxuan LIN ; Shihua ZHANG ; Wenyan CAO ; Yu YUAN ; Xiquan WENG
Chinese Journal of Sports Medicine 2025;44(3):209-219
Objective To explore the effect of exercise under cold exposure on hepatic protein ki-nase B(AKT)/forkhead box O1(FoxO1)expression in obese rats.Methods Among rats successfully induced nutritional obesity by high-fat diet,forty were selected and randomly divided into a normal-temperature control group(NC,n=10),a normal-temperature exercise group(NE,n=10),a sus-tained-cold control group(SC,n=10),and a sustained-cold exercise group(SE,n=10).The normal temperature was kept at 25°C±1°C,while the low temperature remained at 4°C±1°C,with 50%to 60%relative humidity.The exercise protocol was every other day at a speed of 25 m/min for 2 sets of 30 min each,with an interval of 10 minutes.After 5 weeks,glucose and insulin tolerance were tested by oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT)and insulin tolerance test insulin tolerance test(ITT).Then,all rats were weighed and sacrificed,then taken blood from the abdominal aorta to sepa-rate serum,followed by detection of serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and aspartate aminotransfer-ase(AST)levels using fully automatic biochemical analyzer.Moreover,livers were weighed to calcu-late the liver index.Meanwhile,the mRNA expressions of hepatic AKT,FoxO1 and PEPCK were de-tected using RT-qPCR,while the protein expressions of AKT,phosphorylated protein kinase B(p-AKT),and FoxO1 in the liver were measured using Western blotting.Results(1)The average body weights of the NE,SC and SE groups were significantly lower than the NC group(P<0.01),with that of the SC and SE groups significantly lower than the NE group(P<0.01).(2)Compared with the NC group,the area under the OGTT curve of the SC group decreased(P<0.01).Moreover,the area under the ITT curve of the SE group was significantly lower than the other 3 groups(P<0.01,P<0.01,P<0.05),with that of the NE and SC groups significantly lower than the NC group(P<0.05,P<0.01).(3)The liver indices of the NE,SC and SE groups were all significantly lower than the NC group(P<0.01),while the serum ALT level of the NE group was significantly lower than the NC and SE groups(P<0.05),with that of the SC group significantly lower than the NC group(P<0.01).(4)Compared with the NC group,hepatic AKT mRNA expression increased significantly in the SE group(P<0.05),while the hepatic FoxO1 and PEPCK mRNA expression decreased significantly in the other three groups(P<0.01).(5)Compared with the NC group,the liver AKT protein phosphorylation levels were significantly higher in the other three groups(P<0.05,P<0.05,P<0.01),while the FoxO1 protein expression decreased significantly(P<0.05,P<0.01,P<0.01).(6)Body mass,liver FoxO1,PEPCK mRNA expression,AKT protein phosphorylation level and FoxO1 protein expression level of obese rats were affected by cold exposure,exercise and cold exposure+exercise,and the liver index and serum ALT level were done by exercise and cold exposure+exercise.However,the area un-der the ITT curve and liver AKT mRNA content were impacted by cold exposure and exercise,while that under the OGTT curve was influenced by cold exposure and cold exposure+exercise.Conclu-sion Exercise under cold exposure can activate hepatic AKT/FoxO1 signaling pathway,protect liver function,increase insulin sensitivity,and effectively improve glucose metabolism in obese rats.

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