1.Ferroptosis as a double-edged sword in liver fibrosis
Yiyun AO ; Anqi WU ; Zhenggen WANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2026;42(4):965-971
Ferroptosis exhibits a clear “double-edged sword” effect in liver fibrosis, with its impact strictly dependent on the type of target cells. In hepatocytes, ferroptosis induced by specific signaling pathways (such as glutathione peroxidase 4 inhibition) is a key factor for driving hepatic injury and initiating fibrogenesis, and dying hepatocytes activate hepatic stellate cells by releasing damage-associated molecules; on the contrary, in activated hepatic stellate cells, ferroptosis becomes a therapeutic target for promoting liver fibrosis regression, and selective elimination can be achieved by disrupting their distinctive antioxidant defense mechanisms. Moreover, ferroptosis modulates the dynamic balance of the fibrotic liver microenvironment by regulating macrophage polarization and intercellular communication. Based on the above mechanisms, targeting ferroptosis has emerged as a promising strategy for precise treatment. This article summarizes related research advances and discusses the major challenges and future directions for clinical translation.
2.Survival advantage of first-line chemoimmunotherapy combined with radiotherapy for advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A propensity score matching analysis
Peixin FENG ; Qing HOU ; Ningning YAO ; Wenjuan ZHANG ; Bochen SUN ; Wenxia NIU ; Anqi ZHAO ; Wenlu CHEN ; Baixue WU ; Yuying ZHOU ; Yiwen ZHANG ; Yu LIANG ; Xin CAO ; Wei BAI ; Jianting LIU ; Shuangping ZHANG ; Jianzhong CAO
Chinese Journal of Radiological Medicine and Protection 2025;45(8):766-773
Objective:To investigate the efficacy of radiotherapy in patients with advanced esophageal cancer receiving first-line chemoimmunotherapy.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 137 patients with Stage Ⅳ esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treated at our hospital from January 2018 to May 2023. These patients were divided into two groups: a group treated with first-line chemoimmunotherapy combined with radiotherapy (chemoimmunotherapy + radiotherapy group, n = 43) and a group treated with only chemoimmunotherapy ( n = 94). Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was applied to balance baseline characteristics between the groups. With overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) as study endpoints, the survival data were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method, the log-rank test, and the Cox regression method. Results:Before calibration, the chemoimmunotherapy + radiotherapy group significantly outperformed the sole chemoimmunotherapy group in median PFS (13.6 months vs. 7.0 months; HR: 0.501, 95% CI: 0.309-0.811, P = 0.005). After calibration using the COX proportional-hazards model for age, gender, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, smoking history, T/N/M stage, and tumor location, the chemoimmunotherapy + radiotherapy group still had significant advantages in PFS (14.7 months vs. 7.0 months; HR: 0.441, 95% CI: 0.261-0.745, P = 0.002). IPTW analysis further confirmed this trend (13.9 months vs. 7.0 months; HR: 0.492, 95% CI: 0.304-0.795, P < 0.001). Specifically, the median OS of the chemoimmunotherapy + radiotherapy group demonstrated significant improvement in all analyses: pre-calibration (29.5 months vs. 18.0 months; HR: 0.507, 95% CI: 0.297-0.867, P = 0.013), after calibration using the Cox model (27.5 months vs. 16.7 months; HR: 0.470, 95% CI: 0.266-0.830, P = 0.009), and after calibration using IPTW (29.5 months vs. 16.9 months; HR: 0.448, 95% CI: 0.262-0.764, P < 0.001). Conclusions:The combination of radiotherapy and first-line chemoimmunotherapy can significantly improve survival outcomes of patients with advanced ESCC, suggesting its potential as a standard treatment strategy.
3.Monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma: a clinicopathological and genetic mutation characteristics analysis of forty-two cases
Dage FAN ; Yizeng WANG ; Anqi LI ; Binshen OUYANG ; Minghui QU ; Haimin XU ; Lei DONG ; Chunlin WU ; Chaofu WANG ; Hongmei YI
Chinese Journal of Pathology 2025;54(9):932-939
Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological and genetic characteristics of monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma (MEITL).Methods:The forty-two MEITL cases diagnosed in the Department of Pathology, Ruijin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China from 2016 to 2022 was retrospectively analyzed. Clinical data were collected, and follow-up was performed. Morphological characteristics were observed. Immunohistochemistry, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in situ hybridization, clonal rearrangement analysis of T-cell receptor (TCR) genes, and targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) were performed.Results:Among the 42 patients (male/female ratio of 2.8∶1.0), the age range was 32-77 years with a median age of 59.5 (52.0-65.0) years. Grossly, the tumors were presented as ulcerative or exophytic lesions, with a maximum diameter of 2-18 cm. There were 34 cases with a single lesion and 8 cases with more than 1 lesion. The tumor cells in all 42 cases were relatively monotonous in histology and small or medium in size. They had round or oval nuclei, moderately pale or clear cytoplasm, evenly distributed nuclear chromatin, inconspicuous nucleoli, and frequent mitotic figures. In one of the cases, there were moderately large cells, vacuolated nuclei, and clear nucleoli. Lymphoepithelial lesions were observed in 36 (85.7%) of the 42 cases, tumor necrosis in 4 (9.5%) cases, scattered eosinophils and/or plasma cell infiltration in the background in 9 (21.4%) cases, and a "starry sky" phenomenon in 1 (2.4%) case. The tumor cells in all cases exhibited high expression of CD3, CD2, CD7, CD8, CD56, TIA1, Granzyme B, and Perforin, while some also expressed CD4 (5/41, 12.2%), CD5 (3/41, 7.3%), CD20 (4/41, 11.9%), CD79α (2/37, 5.4%), and CD30 (1/34, 2.9%). The Ki-67 proliferation index ranged from 40% to 90%. EBER in situ hybridization tests were negative in all cases. TCR gene clonal rearrangement was detected in 96.4% (27/28) of the tested cases. Targeted NGS revealed commonly mutated genes including SETD2, STAT5B, JAK3, TP53, and CREBBP. The primary treatment was chemotherapy, with 2 cases undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Follow-up information was obtained for 29 cases, with a follow-up period of 1-73 months. The mortality was 93.1% (27/29).Conclusions:MEITL is a rare and highly aggressive peripheral T-cell lymphoma. Its clinical manifestations are diverse, and diagnosis primarily relies on a comprehensive assessment of pathological morphology, immunohistochemical profiles, and EBV infection status, supplemented by genetic testing if necessary. At present, there is no effective treatment, and its overall prognosis is poor.
4.Progress in peripheral helper T cells in systemic autoimmune diseases
Ruqing JIN ; Xiaomeng ZHANG ; Ruihe WU ; Baochen LI ; Anqi GAO ; Xiaofeng LI ; Caihong WANG
Chinese Journal of Microbiology and Immunology 2025;45(5):427-432
Pathological interaction between CD4 + T cells and B cells is one of the important mechanisms of systemic autoimmune diseases. Follicular helper T cells (Tfh) and peripheral helper T cells (Tph) are key cells for assisting B cells. Tph cell is a newly discovered helper T cell subset, and their phenotype is PD-1 highCXCR5 -CD4 +. Tph cell and Tfh cell have certain differences in phenotype, function, and site of action. It interacts with B cells, promoting the differentiation of B cells into plasma cells and the production of autoantibodies, as well as promoting the formation of ELS to maintain local inflammation and antibody responses. Tph cells have recently been reported in various autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren′s syndrome, and IgG4-related diseases. This review summarizes the progress in peripheral immune response of Tph cells in different systemic autoimmune diseases, aiming to explore the new mechanism of autoantibody production and help to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic targets in the future.
5.Discussion on the effects of Shenshuaikang Enema on H/ R-induced senescence of NRK-52E cells based on P53/P21 pathway
Yu ZHANG ; Lizeyu LYU ; Yong LIN ; Lihua WU ; Mengfan YANG ; Anqi TANG ; Mingquan LI
International Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;47(8):1103-1109
Objective:To investigate the effects and mechanism of Shenshuaikang Enema on hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) NRK-52E cells; To provide references for Shenshuaikang Enema to treat AKI.Methods:The H/R-induced NRK-52E cell model was established, and control group, model group, drug-containing serum group, drug-containing blood group +p53 agonist group, p53 agonist group, p53 inhibitor group were set up. Cell viability was detected by CCK8. The cell cycle distribution in each group was analyzed using flow cytometry, while cell senescence was assessed via β-galactosidase staining. The levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in the cell supernatant were evaluated using ELISA. Western Blot analyses were conducted to measure the protein expressions of p53, phosphorylated p53 (p-p53), and p21.Results:Compared with model group, NRK-52E cell vitality significantly increased in the drug-containing serum group and p53 inhibitor group ( P<0.01, P<0.05), S phase and G2/M phase percentage was significantly reduced ( P<0.01), β-galactoase staining decreased ( P<0.01), the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α decreased ( P<0.05, P<0.01), the protein expressions of p-p53 and p21 decreased ( P<0.01). Compared with the drug-containing serum group, NRK-52E cell vitality significantly decreased in the drug-containing serum+p53 agonist group and p53 agonist group ( P<0.01), S phase and G2/M phase percentage was significantly increased ( P<0.01), β-galactoase staining increased ( P<0.01), the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α increased ( P<0.01), the protein expressions of p-p53 and p21 increased ( P<0.01 or P<0.05). Conclusion:The drug-containing serum of Shenshuaikang Enema may promote cell proliferation, improve cell cycle arrest, inhibit pro-inflammatory and senescence related secretory phenotypes, and inhibit cell senescence by inhibiting p53/p21 signaling pathway, so as to promote H/ R-induced NRK-52E cell damage repair.
6.The research on the mechanism of GBP2 promoting the progression of silicosis by inducing macrophage polarization and epithelial cell transformation.
Maoqian CHEN ; Jing WU ; Xuan LI ; Jiawei ZHOU ; Yafeng LIU ; Jianqiang GUO ; Anqi CHENG ; Dong HU
Chinese Journal of Cellular and Molecular Immunology 2025;41(7):611-619
Objective This study aims to investigate the expression, phenotypic changes, and mechanisms of action of guanylate-binding protein 2 (GBP2) in the process of silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Methods The expression and localization of GBP2 in silicotic lung tissue were detected by immunohistochemical staining and immunofluorescence. An in vitro cell model was constructed, and methods such as Western blot and real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerasechain reaction were utilized to investigate the function of GBP2 in different cell lines following silica stimulation. The mechanism of action of GBP2 in various cell lines was elucidated using Western blot analysis. Results GBP2 was highly expressed in the lung tissue of patients with silicosis. Immunohistochemical staining and immunofluorescence have revealed that GBP2 was localized in macrophages and epithelial cells. In vitro cell experiments demonstrated that silicon dioxide stimulated THP-1 cells to activate the c-Jun pathway through GBP2, promoting the secretion of inflammatory factors and facilitating the occurrence of M2 macrophage polarization. In epithelial cells, GBP2 promoted the occurrence of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) by upregulating Krueppel-like factor 8 (KLF8). Conclusion GBP2 not only activates c-Jun in macrophages to promote the production of inflammatory factors and the occurrence of M2 macrophage polarization, but also activates the transcription factor KLF8 in epithelial cells to induce EMT, collectively promoting the progression of silicosis.
Humans
;
Silicosis/genetics*
;
Macrophages/cytology*
;
Epithelial Cells/pathology*
;
GTP-Binding Proteins/physiology*
;
Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
;
Disease Progression
;
Cell Line
;
Male
7.Influencing factors of family caregivers' caregiving capacity for children with Hirschsprung's disease:a mixed-method study
Anqi WU ; Yuanyuan ZHANG ; Qian LI ; Zhilong YAN ; Jie WU ; Yaqing ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Nursing 2025;60(18):2238-2245
Objective To evaluate the caregiving capacity of family caregivers of children with hirschsprung's disease(HD)and to establish an evidence base for developing family-empowered home care interventions.Methods An explanatory sequential mixed-method design was employed.A total of 308 family caregivers of HD patients admitted to the Pediatric Surgery Department of a tertiary children's hospital in Shanghai,were enrolled from July 2019 to July 2024.Quantitative data were collected in 2024 using a demographic questionnaire,the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview and the Family Caregiver Task Inventory.Semi-structured interviews were conducted in August to December 2024 with 15 caregivers of children with HD with poor caregiving skills.Quantitative data were analyzed using nonparametric tests and multiple linear regression,and qualitative information was refined through Colaizzi's 7-step analysis of themes.Results In the end,281 valid questionnaires were recovered.The total caregiving competence was 12.00(6.00,20.00).Multivariate analysis identified significant predictors of caregiving competence,including children in the postoperative dilation period,frequency of enterocolitis episodes,place of residence monthly household income and burden of caregiving were the factors influencing the ability of family caregivers to take care of their children(P<0.05).Qualitative analysis revealed 4 themes:persistent multidimensional adaptive challenges,disparity in clinical caregiving skills,systemic support limitations,and role multiplicity strain.Conclusion Family caregivers of children with HD face multidimensional stressors,necessitating a dynamic,family-centered support ecosystem.Strategic interventions should focus on enhancing clinical caregiving literacy while improving access to socioeconomic resources and establishing role-specific support networks.
8.Monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma: a clinicopathological and genetic mutation characteristics analysis of forty-two cases
Dage FAN ; Yizeng WANG ; Anqi LI ; Binshen OUYANG ; Minghui QU ; Haimin XU ; Lei DONG ; Chunlin WU ; Chaofu WANG ; Hongmei YI
Chinese Journal of Pathology 2025;54(9):932-939
Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological and genetic characteristics of monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma (MEITL).Methods:The forty-two MEITL cases diagnosed in the Department of Pathology, Ruijin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China from 2016 to 2022 was retrospectively analyzed. Clinical data were collected, and follow-up was performed. Morphological characteristics were observed. Immunohistochemistry, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in situ hybridization, clonal rearrangement analysis of T-cell receptor (TCR) genes, and targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) were performed.Results:Among the 42 patients (male/female ratio of 2.8∶1.0), the age range was 32-77 years with a median age of 59.5 (52.0-65.0) years. Grossly, the tumors were presented as ulcerative or exophytic lesions, with a maximum diameter of 2-18 cm. There were 34 cases with a single lesion and 8 cases with more than 1 lesion. The tumor cells in all 42 cases were relatively monotonous in histology and small or medium in size. They had round or oval nuclei, moderately pale or clear cytoplasm, evenly distributed nuclear chromatin, inconspicuous nucleoli, and frequent mitotic figures. In one of the cases, there were moderately large cells, vacuolated nuclei, and clear nucleoli. Lymphoepithelial lesions were observed in 36 (85.7%) of the 42 cases, tumor necrosis in 4 (9.5%) cases, scattered eosinophils and/or plasma cell infiltration in the background in 9 (21.4%) cases, and a "starry sky" phenomenon in 1 (2.4%) case. The tumor cells in all cases exhibited high expression of CD3, CD2, CD7, CD8, CD56, TIA1, Granzyme B, and Perforin, while some also expressed CD4 (5/41, 12.2%), CD5 (3/41, 7.3%), CD20 (4/41, 11.9%), CD79α (2/37, 5.4%), and CD30 (1/34, 2.9%). The Ki-67 proliferation index ranged from 40% to 90%. EBER in situ hybridization tests were negative in all cases. TCR gene clonal rearrangement was detected in 96.4% (27/28) of the tested cases. Targeted NGS revealed commonly mutated genes including SETD2, STAT5B, JAK3, TP53, and CREBBP. The primary treatment was chemotherapy, with 2 cases undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Follow-up information was obtained for 29 cases, with a follow-up period of 1-73 months. The mortality was 93.1% (27/29).Conclusions:MEITL is a rare and highly aggressive peripheral T-cell lymphoma. Its clinical manifestations are diverse, and diagnosis primarily relies on a comprehensive assessment of pathological morphology, immunohistochemical profiles, and EBV infection status, supplemented by genetic testing if necessary. At present, there is no effective treatment, and its overall prognosis is poor.
9.Progress in peripheral helper T cells in systemic autoimmune diseases
Ruqing JIN ; Xiaomeng ZHANG ; Ruihe WU ; Baochen LI ; Anqi GAO ; Xiaofeng LI ; Caihong WANG
Chinese Journal of Microbiology and Immunology 2025;45(5):427-432
Pathological interaction between CD4 + T cells and B cells is one of the important mechanisms of systemic autoimmune diseases. Follicular helper T cells (Tfh) and peripheral helper T cells (Tph) are key cells for assisting B cells. Tph cell is a newly discovered helper T cell subset, and their phenotype is PD-1 highCXCR5 -CD4 +. Tph cell and Tfh cell have certain differences in phenotype, function, and site of action. It interacts with B cells, promoting the differentiation of B cells into plasma cells and the production of autoantibodies, as well as promoting the formation of ELS to maintain local inflammation and antibody responses. Tph cells have recently been reported in various autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren′s syndrome, and IgG4-related diseases. This review summarizes the progress in peripheral immune response of Tph cells in different systemic autoimmune diseases, aiming to explore the new mechanism of autoantibody production and help to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic targets in the future.
10.Survival advantage of first-line chemoimmunotherapy combined with radiotherapy for advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A propensity score matching analysis
Peixin FENG ; Qing HOU ; Ningning YAO ; Wenjuan ZHANG ; Bochen SUN ; Wenxia NIU ; Anqi ZHAO ; Wenlu CHEN ; Baixue WU ; Yuying ZHOU ; Yiwen ZHANG ; Yu LIANG ; Xin CAO ; Wei BAI ; Jianting LIU ; Shuangping ZHANG ; Jianzhong CAO
Chinese Journal of Radiological Medicine and Protection 2025;45(8):766-773
Objective:To investigate the efficacy of radiotherapy in patients with advanced esophageal cancer receiving first-line chemoimmunotherapy.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 137 patients with Stage Ⅳ esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) treated at our hospital from January 2018 to May 2023. These patients were divided into two groups: a group treated with first-line chemoimmunotherapy combined with radiotherapy (chemoimmunotherapy + radiotherapy group, n = 43) and a group treated with only chemoimmunotherapy ( n = 94). Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was applied to balance baseline characteristics between the groups. With overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) as study endpoints, the survival data were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method, the log-rank test, and the Cox regression method. Results:Before calibration, the chemoimmunotherapy + radiotherapy group significantly outperformed the sole chemoimmunotherapy group in median PFS (13.6 months vs. 7.0 months; HR: 0.501, 95% CI: 0.309-0.811, P = 0.005). After calibration using the COX proportional-hazards model for age, gender, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, smoking history, T/N/M stage, and tumor location, the chemoimmunotherapy + radiotherapy group still had significant advantages in PFS (14.7 months vs. 7.0 months; HR: 0.441, 95% CI: 0.261-0.745, P = 0.002). IPTW analysis further confirmed this trend (13.9 months vs. 7.0 months; HR: 0.492, 95% CI: 0.304-0.795, P < 0.001). Specifically, the median OS of the chemoimmunotherapy + radiotherapy group demonstrated significant improvement in all analyses: pre-calibration (29.5 months vs. 18.0 months; HR: 0.507, 95% CI: 0.297-0.867, P = 0.013), after calibration using the Cox model (27.5 months vs. 16.7 months; HR: 0.470, 95% CI: 0.266-0.830, P = 0.009), and after calibration using IPTW (29.5 months vs. 16.9 months; HR: 0.448, 95% CI: 0.262-0.764, P < 0.001). Conclusions:The combination of radiotherapy and first-line chemoimmunotherapy can significantly improve survival outcomes of patients with advanced ESCC, suggesting its potential as a standard treatment strategy.

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