1.Advances in Research on Mechanisms of Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences) 2026;47(4):613-626
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) restore and enhance anti-tumor immune responses by relieving the suppressive regulatory mechanisms of the immune system, representing a landmark breakthrough in oncology that has fundamentally transformed the therapeutic paradigms for multiple malignancies and significantly prolonged survival in a subset of patients. However, clinical practice has revealed that the majority of patients develop primary resistance (initial non-response to therapy) or acquired resistance (resistance emerging after initial disease control) to ICIs treatment, substantially limiting their broad clinical application. The emergence of ICIs-resistant phenotypes may arise from diverse biological mechanisms, with complex and multifaceted resistance mechanisms encompassing alterations in tumor cell-intrinsic characteristics, tumor microenvironment (TME) remodeling, and host immune system status. In-depth investigation into ICIs resistance mechanisms and comprehensive understanding of these processes are essential for developing targeted resistance-overcoming strategies and improving the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy, which hold significant clinical implications and broad application prospects. This review provides a focused overview of ICIs resistance mechanisms with a summary of research advances in resistance-overcoming strategies. Resistance mechanisms include tumor cell-intrinsic factors, tumor microenvironmental factors, immune evasion-related mechanisms, and drug-related factors while resistance-overcoming strategies encompass combination therapies, novel target drug development, and tumor microenvironment modulation. With the understanding we aim to establish a theoretical foundation for enhancing ICIs therapeutic efficacy.
2.Effect of Buyang Huanwu Decoction on Delaying Vascular Aging Based on miR-665/DRAM1 Signaling-Mediated Autophagy
Caibo YE ; Xiangyu CHEN ; Jieyong DU ; Yubin YANG ; Zunpeng SHU ; Li ZHANG
Journal of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;40(4):369-378
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the effects of Buyang Huanwu Decoction(BYHWD)on delaying vascu-lar aging and explore whether the underlying mechanism is associated with microRNA-665(miR-665)/DNA damage-regulated autoph-agy modulator1(DRAM1)-mediated autophagy.METHODS Male SD rats with natural aging were randomly divided into the aging group,BYHWD low,medium,high dosage groups(9.25,18.5,37.0 g·kg-1)and resveratrol group(80 mg·kg-1),with a young group set as well.The rats in each group were dissected and the blood vessels were collected.ELISA was used to assess senescence as-sociated β-galactosidase(SA-β-Gal)activity and advanced glycation end products(AGEs)level in vascular tissues.HE,Masson,and EVG staining were performed to observe the morphological structure of the vascular tissues.The qPCR was performed to detect the expression of miR-665 in vascular tissues.Bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase reporter gene experiments were used to validate the targeting relationship between miR-665 and DRAM1.Transmission electron microscope was used to observe the autophagosome.Western blot was performed to determine the protein expression of p16,DRAM1 and autophagy-related proteins Bec-lin1,p62 and LC3.Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein expression of DRAM1 in vascular tissues.RESULTS Com-pared to the young group,the aging group showed increased SA-β-Gal activity,AGEs level and p16 protein expression(P<0.01),disordered arrangement of vascular tissues,thickened media,increased collagen fibers,fractured and disorganized elastic fibers.The expression of miR-665 was upregulated(P<0.01).The number of autophagosomes was reduced.The protein expression of Beclin1 and LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ downregulated(P<0.01),while the protein expression of p62 was upregulated(P<0.01).In addition,the protein ex-pression of DRAM1 was downregulated in vascular tissues(P<0.01).Compared to the aging group,intervention with BYHWD and resveratrol reduced SA-β-Gal activity(P<0.01),AGEs level and p16 protein expression(P<0.05,P<0.01),improved vascular morphology and elastic fiber structure,reduced collagen fibers.High dose BYHWD significantly downregulated miR-665 expression(P<0.01),increased the number of autophagosomes.Different doses of BYHWD significantly upregulated protein expression of Bec-lin1(P<0.05,P<0.01),medium and high doses of BYHWD significantly upregulated protein expression of LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ(P<0.01),and downregulated protein expression of p62(P<0.01).High dose BYHWD significantly upregulated protein expression of DRAM1 in vascular tissues of aging rats(P<0.05).Bioinformatics analysis revealed the presence of specific complementary binding sites between the sequences of miR-665 and DRAM1.Dual-luciferase reporter assays confirmed that miR-665 targeted DRAM1 gene and negatively regulated DRAM1 protein expression.CONCLUSION BYHWD may promote the protein expression of DRAM1 by inhibiting the ex-pression of miR-665,thereby promoting vascular autophagy and delaying vascular aging.

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