1.Thyroid Hormone Network Regulation in MASLD: Mechanisms and Targeted Therapies
Wen-Ping XIAO ; Yang MA ; Heng GUAN ; Sha WAN ; Wen HAN ; Bing-Bing LUO ; Wu-Feng WANG ; Fang LIU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(3):643-661
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has become the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide, affecting approximately 32%-38% of the adult population and posing a growing public health burden. MASLD represents a continuous disease spectrum ranging from simple steatosis to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), progressive hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, and ultimately hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The pathological core of MASLD lies in disruption of hepatic lipid metabolic homeostasis, characterized by an imbalance among de novo lipogenesis, fatty acid β-oxidation, and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-mediated lipid export. This metabolic disequilibrium subsequently drives inflammatory injury and fibrotic progression. Among the multiple regulatory pathways involved, thyroid hormone (TH) signaling has emerged as a central regulator of hepatic metabolic homeostasis. The liver is a major peripheral target organ of TH action, where TH predominantly exerts its metabolic effects through thyroid hormone receptor β (TRβ). Large-scale epidemiological studies and meta-analyses have demonstrated that hypothyroidism is significantly associated with increased MASLD prevalence, more severe histological injury, and advanced hepatic fibrosis, suggesting that dysregulation of TH signaling may participate throughout the entire MASLD disease spectrum. At the molecular level, TH regulates hepatic lipid metabolism by coordinating suppression of lipogenesis, enhancement of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, and promotion of VLDL assembly and secretion through integrated genomic actions of the T3-TRβ axis and non-genomic signaling pathways. Across different stages of MASLD, TH signaling exerts stage-dependent protective effects. In the steatosis stage, TH improves metabolic flexibility by modulating insulin sensitivity, glucose metabolism, and lipid droplet clearance, thereby alleviating early lipotoxic stress. During progression to MASH, TH attenuates inflammatory amplification by improving mitochondrial homeostasis, suppressing activation of the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, and modulating the gut-liver axis microenvironment. In advanced stages, TH signaling influences hepatic stellate cell activation and extracellular matrix deposition, partly through interaction with the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/SMAD pathway, while alterations in intrahepatic TH availability, mediated by dynamic changes in iodothyronine deiodinase 1 (DIO1), contribute to fibrosis progression and hepatocellular dedifferentiation. In hepatocellular carcinoma, coordinated downregulation of TRβ and DIO1 establishes a tumor-associated hypothyroid state that promotes metabolic reprogramming and tumor progression. The clinical relevance of TH signaling in MASLD has been underscored by the recent approval of Resmetirom, a liver-targeted TRβ‑selective agonist, for the treatment of non-cirrhotic MASH with moderate-to-severe fibrosis (F2-F3). This approval represents a landmark transition from mechanistic understanding to metabolism-centered precision therapy in MASLD. Clinical trials have demonstrated that Resmetirom not only improves key histological endpoints, including MASH resolution and fibrosis regression, but also favorably modulates atherogenic lipid profiles, highlighting the therapeutic potential of selectively targeting hepatic TH pathways. This review systematically summarizes the multidimensional regulatory roles of TH across the MASLD disease spectrum and discusses emerging diagnostic and therapeutic implications of TH-based interventions, aiming to inform future mechanistic research and optimize clinical management strategies.
2.PRMT1-mediated asymmetric dimethylation of arginine residue 602 in DDX1 promotes cholangiocarcinoma progression
Wenzheng LIU ; Yangwei LIAO ; Yiyang KUAI ; Xin GAO ; Xingmin YAN ; Jingjing LI ; Junsheng CHEN ; Jukun SU ; Jingcong ZHOU ; Yizhu KONG ; Siqin HUANG ; Zhiwei ZHANG ; Feng PENG ; Bing WANG ; Yongjun CHEN
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2026;32(2):843-865
Background/Aims:
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a primary malignant neoplasm with an extremely poor prognosis. While combined chemoradiotherapy has been demonstrated to delay CCA progression to a certain extent, the absence of specific molecular biomarkers or targets significantly hinders the diagnosis and treatment of CCA.
Methods:
Through cross-analysis of proteomics and ADMA modificationomics, we identified DDX1 overexpressed in CCA with elevated R602-ADMA modifications. HPLC-MS/MS identified PRMT1 as the methyltransferase and USP10 as the deubiquitinating enzyme for DDX1. Immunofluorescence and nuclear-cytoplasmic partitioning experiments confirmed DDX1’s nuclear localization. GO and KEGG analyses clarify the biological functions of DDX1 in response to hypoxia. RNA-seq transcriptomics analyzed key pathways influenced by DDX1. A hydrodynamic in situ CCA mouse model was established to validate the chemopreventive effects of the PRMT1-specific inhibitor GSK715 on CCA development.
Results:
DDX1 promotes CCA progression both in vivo and in vitro and can be inhibited by GSK715. Mechanistically, PRMT1 mediates ADMA modification at position R602 of DDX1. This modification promotes DDX1 nuclear localization by recruiting USP10 to deubiquitinate DDX1, while simultaneously inhibiting PRMT1 degradation. DDX1 promotes the transcription of PRMT1 and USP10 by binding to the mRNA 3’UTR region, establishing a positive feedback regulatory pathway. This mechanism promotes the occurrence and development of CCA and can serve as a target for the inhibitor GSK715 to suppress CCA progression.
Conclusions
Our study identified DDX1-R602-ADMA modification as a novel ADMA modification in CCA. It further confirmed its pivotal role in CCA progression. Targeting the USP10-PRMT1-DDX1 axis may represent a significant therapeutic approach for CCA.
3.Role of SWI/SNF Chromatin Remodeling Complex in Tumor Drug Resistance
Gui-Zhen ZHU ; Qiao YE ; Yuan LUO ; Jie PENG ; Lu WANG ; Zhao-Ting YANG ; Feng-Sen DUAN ; Bing-Qian GUO ; Zhu-Song MEI ; Guang-Yun WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):20-31
Tumor drug resistance is an important problem in the failure of chemotherapy and targeted drug therapy, which is a complex process involving chromatin remodeling. SWI/SNF is one of the most studied ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes in tumorigenesis, which plays an important role in the coordination of chromatin structural stability, gene expression, and post-translation modification. However, its mechanism in tumor drug resistance has not been systematically combed. SWI/SNF can be divided into 3 types according to its subunit composition: BAF, PBAF, and ncBAF. These 3 subtypes all contain two mutually exclusive ATPase catalytic subunits (SMARCA2 or SMARCA4), core subunits (SMARCC1 and SMARCD1), and regulatory subunits (ARID1A, PBRM1, and ACTB, etc.), which can control gene expression by regulating chromatin structure. The change of SWI/SNF complex subunits is one of the important factors of tumor drug resistance and progress. SMARCA4 and ARID1A are the most widely studied subunits in tumor drug resistance. Low expression of SMARCA4 can lead to the deletion of the transcription inhibitor of the BCL2L1 gene in mantle cell lymphoma, which will result in transcription up-regulation and significant resistance to the combination therapy of ibrutinib and venetoclax. Low expression of SMARCA4 and high expression of SMARCA2 can activate the FGFR1-pERK1/2 signaling pathway in ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma cells, which induces the overexpression of anti-apoptosis gene BCL2 and results in carboplatin resistance. SMARCA4 deletion can up-regulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by activating YAP1 gene expression in triple-negative breast cancer. It can also reduce the expression of Ca2+ channel IP3R3 in ovarian and lung cancer, resulting in the transfer of Ca2+ needed to induce apoptosis from endoplasmic reticulum to mitochondria damage. Thus, these two tumors are resistant to cisplatin. It has been found that verteporfin can overcome the drug resistance induced by SMARCA4 deletion. However, this inhibitor has not been applied in clinical practice. Therefore, it is a promising research direction to develop SWI/SNF ATPase targeted drugs with high oral bioavailability to treat patients with tumor resistance induced by low expression or deletion of SMARCA4. ARID1A deletion can activate the expression of ANXA1 protein in HER2+ breast cancer cells or down-regulate the expression of progesterone receptor B protein in endometrial cancer cells. The drug resistance of these two tumor cells to trastuzumab or progesterone is induced by activating AKT pathway. ARID1A deletion in ovarian cancer can increase the expression of MRP2 protein and make it resistant to carboplatin and paclitaxel. ARID1A deletion also can up-regulate the phosphorylation levels of EGFR, ErbB2, and RAF1 oncogene proteins.The ErbB and VEGF pathway are activated and EMT is increased. As a result, lung adenocarcinoma is resistant to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs). Although great progress has been made in the research on the mechanism of SWI/SNF complex inducing tumor drug resistance, most of the research is still at the protein level. It is necessary to comprehensively and deeply explore the detailed mechanism of drug resistance from gene, transcription, protein, and metabolite levels by using multi-omics techniques, which can provide sufficient theoretical basis for the diagnosis and treatment of poor tumor prognosis caused by mutation or abnormal expression of SWI/SNF subunits in clinical practice.
4.Cost-utility analysis of benmelstobart plus anlotinib and chemotherapy as first-line treatment for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer
Bing FENG ; Ning GAO ; Shengnan GAO ; Yuxi ZHANG ; Ranran ZHANG ; Guoqiang LIU
China Pharmacy 2025;36(5):579-583
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the cost-utility of benmelstobart combined with anlotinib and chemotherapy as first-line treatment for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) from the perspective of China’s healthcare system. METHODS Based on the data from the ETER 701 study, a partitioned survival model was constructed with a cycle of 3 weeks to simulate the total cost, quality-adjusted life years (QALY), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) over 10 years for patients with ES- SCLC treated with benmelstobart plus anlotinib and chemotherapy, or chemotherapy alone. One-way sensitivity analysis and probability sensitivity analysis were performed to verify the robustness of the simulation results. The willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold was set at 3 times the per capita gross domestic product (GDP) of China in 2023, which amounted to 268 074 yuan/QALY. RESULTS Compared with chemotherapy alone, benmelstobart combined with anlotinib and chemotherapy gained 0.438 QALY more at the cost of 403 505.55 yuan more, with an ICER of 922 031.37 yuan/QALY, which was higher than the WTP threshold set in this study. One-way sensitivity analysis showed that benmelstobart’s cost and utility value of the progression-free survival state had a greater impact on the ICER value; probabilistic sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the model; only when the price of benmelstobart was reduced by 75.4%, the combined regimen would be cost-effective. CONCLUSIONS The first-line treatment of ES-SCLC with benmelstobart combined with anlotinib and chemotherapy is not cost-effective from the perspective of China’s healthcare system at present.
5.A new glycoside from Alstonia mairei Lévl.
Li-ke WANG ; Bing-yan LI ; Zhen-zhu ZHAO ; Yan-zhi WANG ; Xiao-kun LI ; Wei-sheng FENG ; Ying-ying SI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(1):191-195
Nine compounds were isolated and purified from 90% ethanol extract of
6.Analysis of Gene Types and Clinical Characteristics of Thalasse-mia in Children in Nanchong Area
Bing ZHANG ; Xin LI ; Li LI ; Jia ZHAO ; Feng PU ; Li-Jun DU
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(6):1720-1726
Objective:To investigate the positive rate,mutation type and distribution characteristics of thalassemia gene detection in children in Nanchong area.Methods:The common α and β-thalassemia gene mutation sites were detected in 1 254 children suspected of thalassemia by hematological screening in our hospital from January 2017 to December 2023,and the genotypes,detection rates and clinical characteristics of thalassemia in local children were statistically analyzed.Results:Among 1 254 children with suspected thalassemia,490 carriers were screened out,with a positive detection rate of 39.07%.Among them,220 cases(17.54%)were α-thalassemia,251 cases(20.02%)wereβ-thalassemia,and 19 cases(1.52%)were αβ compound thalassemia.Among 220 cases of α-thalassemia,the main genotypes were--SEA/αα,-α3.7/αα,-α3.7/--SEA and-α4.2/αα,accounting for 63.64%,18.64%,5.91%,and 5.00%,respectively.Among 251 cases of β-thalassemia,CD17,CD41-42,and IVS-Ⅱ-654 genotypes were the most common,accounting for 40.24%,29.88%,and 17.93%,respectively.In 19 cases of αβ compound thalassemia,the most common genotypes were-α3.7/αα compound CD41-42,--SEA/αα compound CD41-42,--SEA/αα compound CD17,accounting for 26.32%,15.79%,and 15.79%,respectively.In addition,compared with healthy individuals,red blood cell(RBC)in the thalassemia gene carriers was significantly increased,while hemoglobin(Hb),mean corpuscular volume(MCV),mean corpuscular hemoglobin(MCH),mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration(MCHC)and red blood cell distribution width-standard deviation(RDW-SD)were significantly decreased(all P<0.01).The ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of RDW-SD,MCHC,MCH,MCV,Hb and RBC were 0.827,0.707,0.823,0.863,0.603 and 0.882,respectively.The thalassemia gene carrying rates from 2017 to 2023 in Nanchong were 35.6%(54/154),28.43%(56/197),34.74%(74/213),40.56%(58/143),42.69%(73/171),45.86%(83/181),and 47.18%(92/195),respectively,showing an upward trend year by year.Conclusion:The positive detection rate of children's thalassemia gene in Nanchong is relatively high,and the genetic types are complex,with β-thalassemia as the main type.The genetic pattern shows obvious regional distribution characteristics.The genotypes of thalassemia in children are mainly--SEA/αα,-α3.7/αα,CD17,CD41-42 and IVS-Ⅱ-654,which are consistent with the genotypes of adults in this area,but different from high-risk areas such as Dongguan and Guangxi.
7.Model of cardiovascular metabolic risk intervention for obese students based on the operating mechanism of vice president of health
Dan-hua DAI ; Bing LI ; Qi ZHAO ; Feng JIANG ; Sha XU
Fudan University Journal of Medical Sciences 2025;52(6):903-907
To explore an effective health management model for obese students,a comprehensive intervention was carried out for obese students with cardiovascular and metabolic risks,and the effectiveness of this intervention model was evaluated.From Jan to Apr 2024(excluding the winter vacation),300 students were selected from 6 primary schools in Qibao Community,Minhang District,Shanghai,to participate in the study(28 students dropped out during the study period).The study subjects were divided into two intervention groups(pilot intervention group:equipped with a health vice principal;general intervention group:not equipped with a health vice principal)and a control group.The intervention group received comprehensive intervention measures such as science popularization,diet,exercise and psychology,while the control group received daily health management.The post-intervention results showed that the intervention group had significant improvements in healthy diet,scientific exercise and positive psychology,with significant differences compared to the control group(P<0.05).At the same time,the intervention group had a reduced detection rate of obesity(BMI≥P95),and a decreased detection rate of abnormal metabolic indicators such as blood pressure,fasting blood glucose and triglyceride,especially significant differences in fasting blood glucose and triglyceride compared with the control group(P<0.001).In addition,the pilot intervention group under the operation of health vice principal showed better effects in changing healthy behaviors and improving some metabolic indicators compared with the general intervention group.The implementation of this project provided a scientific basis for the promotion of a comprehensive intervention model for student health under the oprtation of health vice principle.
8.Analysis of the safety and efficacy of PD-1 inhibitor combined with cord blood-derived NK cells in the treatment of advanced malignant solid tumors
Yunxia FAN ; Jun GAO ; Zhihai HAN ; Bingqiao HUANG ; Bing QI ; Yinjiashu CHEN ; Feng XI ; Dan WANG ; Peipei NIAN ; Weijun FAN
Chinese Journal of Cancer Biotherapy 2025;32(6):628-635
Objective:To preliminarily investigate the safety and efficacy of programmed death-1(PD-1)inhibitor combined with cord blood-derived natural killer cells(NK cells)in the treatment of advanced malignant solid tumors in an exploratory clinical trial.Methods:Three patients with advanced solid tumors treated at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical University from December 2019 to December 2021 were enrolled.According to tumor type and CSCO guidelines,patients received multiple treatment cycles(21 days per cycle)consisting of standard chemotherapy,targeted therapy,or bevacizumab combined with PD-1 inhibitor.Umbilical cord blood-derived NK cells(8×107 cells per infusion)were infused at appropriate intervals during the treatment course.Target lesion size,tumor markers,levels of 12 peripheral blood cytokines,and lymphocyte subsets were assessed in each treatment cycle.Adverse events were also monitored throughout the treatment.Results:Following the treatment with PD-1 inhibitor combined with cord blood NK cells,2 patients achieved stable disease(SD,per RECIST 1.1 criteria),with durations of 118 days and 92 days,respectively.After NK cell infusion,patient#1 exhibited a marked decrease in the tumor marker CA199 to normal range and sustained for three follow-up periods;patient#2 showed significant reductions in tumor markers CA199,CA242,and CA724.Conclusion:The combination of NK cells with chemotherapy and PD-1 inhibitor demonstrates potential therapeutic efficacy for solid tumors.No severe immune-related adverse reactions were observed in the three patients enrolled in this study.
9.Effectiveness and safety of minimally invasive anchoring hook intraocular lens interscleral suture fixation surgery
Ruiling ZHAO ; Bing WANG ; Leilei TANG ; Feng GAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Ophthalmology 2025;43(9):813-817
Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of minimally invasive anchoring hook intraocular lens (IOL) interscleral suture fixation surgery.Methods:A cohort study was conducted.A total of 74 patients (74 eyes) with aphakia, artificial lens dislocation, or lens dislocation were included at Tengzhou Central People's Hospital from 2021 to 2022.According to the surgical method, the patients were divided into conventional fixation group (39 cases, 39 eyes) undergoing conventional intraocular lens suspension surgery and anchoring hook fixation group (35 cases, 35 eyes) undergoing minimally invasive anchoring hook type IOL interscleral suture fixation surgery.Surgical time, preoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) before surgery and at 1 day and 1 month after surgery, corneal endothelial cell density before and at 1 month after surgery, mislocation of the artificial IOL and the incidence of complications were recorded.This study was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Tengzhou Central People's Hospital (No.2019-20), and all patients signed the informed consent form.Results:One day and 1 month after surgery, the BCVA of the anchoring hook fixation group was better than that of the conventional fixation group, and the differences were statistically significant (both P<0.05). The preoperative corneal endothelial cell densities of the anchor hook fixation group and conventional fixation group were (2 431±556) and (2 406±625)cells/mm 2, and the postoperative 1-month corneal endothelial cell densities were (2 012±703) and (2 004±759)cells/mm 2, respectively, without statistically significant difference (both P>0.05). The average surgical time of the anchoring hook fixation group was (67.1±7.2) minutes, which was significantly shorter than (93.1±17.9) minutes of the conventional fixation group, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=13.654, P<0.001). During the 1-month follow up, no IOL mislocation occurred in the two groups, and two eyes in the routine fixation group developed anterior chamber hemorrhage, accounting for 5.1%, no anterior chamber bleeding occurred in the anchoring hook fixation group.Corneal edema was observed in 6 eyes and 1 eye of the conventional fixation group and anchor hook fixation group, accounting for 15.4% and 2.9%, respectively.Macular edema was observed in 2 eyes of the conventional fixation group, accounting for 5.1%, and no macular edema occurred in the anchoring hook fixation group.Throughout the entire follow-up, there was no case of low intraocular pressure, ciliary detachment, exposed sutures, or requiring secondary surgical intervention in either group. Conclusions:Both minimally invasive anchoring hook IOL intrascleral suture fixation and conventional IOL suspension are safe and effective.Compared with conventional IOL suspension surgery, anchoring hook IOL intrascleral suture fixation surgery has more advantages in postoperative visual recovery, shorter surgical operation time and a lower incidence of postoperative complications.
10.Predictive value of dual-energy CT quantitative parameters in determining breast cancer molecular subtypes and EGFR expression
Bing SUN ; Yinshi ZHENG ; Kunpeng FENG ; Mu YUAN ; Hongmei CHEN ; Wenqi HUANG
Chinese Journal of Endocrine Surgery 2025;19(2):213-217
Objective:To explore the predictive potential of dual-energy CT (DECT) quantitative parameters in identifying breast cancer molecular subtypes and the expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) .Methods:A cohort of 97 breast cancer patients, treated between Jun. 2022 and Jun. 2024 were selected. The study compared DECT parameters-such as iodine concentration (IC) , normalized iodine concentration (NIC) , spectral curve slope (λ HU) , and effective atomic number (Z eff) in both arterial and venous phases across different molecular subtypes. A multiclass logistic regression model was employed to assess the parameters' value in predicting molecular subtypes, while a binary logistic regression model was used to evaluate their predictive value for EGFR expression. Results:Multiple Logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for confounder age and family history, IC ( OR=1.72, 2.78, 3.05) , NIC ( OR=2.52, 1.94, 2.93) , λ HU ( OR=2.08, 2.54, 3.17) and Z eff ( OR=2.03, 2.30, 2.37) at arterial stage were independently correlated with the molecular subtypes of breast cancer ( P<0.05) . Binary logistic regression analysis, adjusted for tumor size and lymph node metastasis, identified arterial phase IC ( OR=3.45) , NIC ( OR=2.73) , λ HU ( OR=2.59) , and Z eff ( OR=1.76) as independent risk factors for EGFR-positive breast cancer ( P<0.05) . Conclusion:DECT quantitative parameters, particularly arterial phase IC, NIC, λ HU, and Zeff, offer valuable insights into the molecular subtyping of breast cancer and EGFR expression, thereby assisting in the development of personalized treatment strategies.

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