1.Reshaping Intercellular Interactions: Empowering the Exploration of Disease Mechanisms and Therapies Using Organoid Co-Culture Models
Dengxu TAN ; Yifan MA ; Ke LIU ; Yanying ZHANG ; Changhong SHI
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2025;45(3):309-317
The organoid co-culture model, as a novel tool for recreating a three-dimensional microenvironment to study cell-cell interactions, has demonstrated significant application potential in biomedical research in recent years. By simulating the in vivo tissue microenvironment, this model provides a more precise experimental platform for investigating complex cellular interactions, particularly in areas such as tumor immune evasion mechanisms, drug sensitivity testing, and the pathological characterization of neurodegenerative diseases, where it has demonstrated significant value. However, the organoid co-culture model still faces several challenges in terms of standardized procedures, large-scale cultivation, ethical guidelines, and future development. In particular, in the field of laboratory animal science, how to effectively combine organoids with traditional animal models, and how to select the most appropriate model for different research needs while exploring its potential for replacement, remain pressing issues. In the context of ethical approval and the replacement of animal experiments, the organoid co-culture model offers an experimental approach that better aligns with the "3R" principle (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement), potentially becoming an important tool for replacing traditional animal models. To this end, this paper reviews the latest advances and key challenges in this field, providing a detailed description of the construction methods for organoid co-culture models and discussing their applications in disease mechanism research and drug screening. The paper also systematically compares the organoid co-culture models with traditional animal models, exploring the criteria for selecting the appropriate model for specific applications. Furthermore, this paper discusses the potential value of organoid co-culture models as alternatives to animal experiments and anticipates future development trends of this technology. Through these discussions, the paper aims to promote the innovation and development of organoid co-culture technology and provide new perspectives and scientific evidence for future research.
2.Reshaping Intercellular Interactions: Empowering the Exploration of Disease Mechanisms and Therapies Using Organoid Co-Culture Models
Dengxu TAN ; Yifan MA ; Ke LIU ; Yanying ZHANG ; Changhong SHI
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2025;45(3):309-317
The organoid co-culture model, as a novel tool for recreating a three-dimensional microenvironment to study cell-cell interactions, has demonstrated significant application potential in biomedical research in recent years. By simulating the in vivo tissue microenvironment, this model provides a more precise experimental platform for investigating complex cellular interactions, particularly in areas such as tumor immune evasion mechanisms, drug sensitivity testing, and the pathological characterization of neurodegenerative diseases, where it has demonstrated significant value. However, the organoid co-culture model still faces several challenges in terms of standardized procedures, large-scale cultivation, ethical guidelines, and future development. In particular, in the field of laboratory animal science, how to effectively combine organoids with traditional animal models, and how to select the most appropriate model for different research needs while exploring its potential for replacement, remain pressing issues. In the context of ethical approval and the replacement of animal experiments, the organoid co-culture model offers an experimental approach that better aligns with the "3R" principle (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement), potentially becoming an important tool for replacing traditional animal models. To this end, this paper reviews the latest advances and key challenges in this field, providing a detailed description of the construction methods for organoid co-culture models and discussing their applications in disease mechanism research and drug screening. The paper also systematically compares the organoid co-culture models with traditional animal models, exploring the criteria for selecting the appropriate model for specific applications. Furthermore, this paper discusses the potential value of organoid co-culture models as alternatives to animal experiments and anticipates future development trends of this technology. Through these discussions, the paper aims to promote the innovation and development of organoid co-culture technology and provide new perspectives and scientific evidence for future research.
3.Clinical value of serum levels of MC-CP,CCL26 and DcR3 in the diagnosis of COPD complicated with OSAS
Liping CHEN ; Yongxing SHI ; Yanhong CHEN ; Ping FENG ; Changhong ZHANG ; Weijia LIN ; Baoli XIANG
Basic & Clinical Medicine 2025;45(1):76-80
Objective To investigate the clinical value of serum mast cell carboxypeptidase(MC-CP),C-C motif chemokine 26(CCL26),and decoy receptor 3(DcR3)in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS)in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).Methods Ninety COPD patients who visited the First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University from January 2021 to January 2023 were collected.Among them,48 patients with simple COPD were included in the COPD group,and 42 patients with COPD combined with OSAS were included in the COPD-OSAS group.During the same period,48 healthy volunteers who underwent physical examination in that Hospital of Hebei North collected as the control group.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was applied to detect serum level of MC-CP,CCL26,and DcR3.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was applied to analyze the clinical value of serum level of MC-CP,CCL26,and DcR3 in the diag-nosis of COPD complicated with OSAS.Multivariate Logistic regression was applied to analyze the influencing fac-tors of COPD complicated with OSAS.Results Compared with the control group,the smoking index,C-reactive protein(CRP)and white blood cell count(WBC)in the COPD and COPD-OSAS groups increased obviously in sequence,the ratio of forced expiratory volume in first second to forced vital capacity(FEV1/FVC)decreased obviously in sequence(P<0.05);Compared with the control group,the level of MC-CP,CCL26,and DcR3 in patients with COPD and COPD-OSAS increased significantly in sequence(P<0.05);The combination of serum MC-CP,CCL26 and DcR3 had a higher area under the curve(AUC)for the diagnosis of COPD complicated with OSAS compared to the individual diagnosis(Z=4.066,P<0.001;Z=2.391,P<0.05;Z=2.353,P<0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that smoking index,serum level of MC-CP,CCL26 and DcR3 were influencing factors for COPD complicated with OSAS(P<0.05).Conclusions The simultane-ously increased expression of MC-CP,CCL26 and DcR3 in the serum of COPD may support clinical diagnostic of COPD patients with OSAS.
4.A randomized controlled trial of value orientation brief therapy combined with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in mild to moderate depression
Ziyang JI ; Lijing SHI ; Yifang FU ; Yixuan ZHANG ; Meiqi SHAO ; Manyu HE ; Jiao DONG ; Fengju YAO ; Huiying WANG ; Changhong WANG
Chinese Mental Health Journal 2025;39(3):193-199
Objective:To evaluate the effect of value orientation brief therapy(VBT)combined with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs)on clinical symptoms,rumination,decision-making ability,and cognitive func-tion in patients with mild to moderate depression.Methods:Eighty patients meeting the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for mild to moderate depression were randomly assigned to either a medication(SSRIs)group(36 completed)or a VBT combined group(38 completed)for a 6-week intervention.Baseline and post-intervention assessments includ-ed the Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD),Hamilton Anxious Scale(HAMA),Ruminative Response Scale-Chi-nese Version(RRS-CV),Iowa Gambling Test(IGT),number of eye fixation(NEF),responsive search score(RSS)in exploratory eye trajectory movement were used to evaluate patients'anxiety and depression symptoms,ru-minative thinking,decision-making function,and cognitive function.Results:The VBT combined group showed sig-nificantly better therapeutic effects than the medication group(P<0.05).Compared to baseline and the medication group,the VBT combined group had significantly lower post-intervention scores in HAMD,HAMA,symptom rumi-nation,introspective reflection,compulsive meditation,and RRS-CV total scores after intervention(Ps<0.05),and significantly higher scores in IGT net profit scores,NEF,and RSS scores(Ps<0.05).Compared with the medica-tion group,the VBT combined group demonstrated a greater reduction in HAMD,HAMA,symptom rumination,in-trospective reflection,compulsive meditation,and RRS-CV total scores before and after intervention(Ps<0.05),and a larger increase in IGT net profit scores,NEF,and RSS scores(Ps<0.05).Conclusion:VBT combined with SSRIs effectively improves the symptoms of depression,anxiety,decision-making ability,rumination thinking,and cognitive function in patients with mild to moderate depression.
5.Progress in application of patient-derived organoid xenograft model in cancer precision therapy
Yanzi XING ; Jumei ZHAO ; Changhong SHI
Acta Laboratorium Animalis Scientia Sinica 2025;33(1):99-107
Precision therapy has become an important approach in modern medicine,with the goal of providing individualized treatment according to the characteristics of individual patients.The successful development of precision medicine depends on the application of preclinical cancer models.Patient-derived organoid(PDO)xenograft models display characteristics of both PDO models and in vivo patient-derived tumor xenograft models.This type of model can not only maintain the heterogeneity of the original tumor,but also has additional advantages,such as large-scale cultivation,high-throughput drug screening in vitro and drug sensitivity testing in vivo.It is an innovative,precise preclinical disease model.In this review,we summarize the basic characteristics of the PDO xenograft model,analyze its construction method and influencing factors,further discuss its application in precision therapy,with the aim of providing a reliable preclinical experimental tool for individualized cancer treatment.
6.Research progress in gene-editing technology in tumor organoids
Mengyao LI ; Minli HUANG ; Peng LI ; Junke XIE ; Mengtian GUO ; Yongbin ZHANG ; Changhong SHI
Acta Laboratorium Animalis Scientia Sinica 2025;33(5):721-729
Organoids have become an important technological platform in cancer research,but simulating the primary tumor tissue structure and function still presents problems.The development of gene-editing technology,especially when combined with tumor organoids,provides a new approach for accurately and comprehensively simulating the in vivo characteristics of tumor models.Introducing specific gene mutations or correcting mutations in tumor organoids through gene-editing technology can allow detailed analysis of the mechanisms of tumor initiation and progression,as well as exploring potential therapeutic targets,accelerating the drug-screening process,and providing new insights for personalized cancer treatment.This article reviews the formation of tumor organoids and the technical aspects of gene-editing strategies,emphasizing their unique applications and prospects in tumor organoids.We also propose that accurately simulating the in vivo microenvironment,promoting the standardization and stability of organoid gene-editing technology,and optimizing the efficiency of gene editing can accelerate the application of organoids in precision medicine research.
7.Padi2 knockout exacerbates depressive-like behaviors in socially isolated mice
Ya ZHAO ; Chonghao LYU ; Shifan LUO ; Ke LIU ; Zemin ZHENG ; Bing BAI ; Changhong SHI
Acta Laboratorium Animalis Scientia Sinica 2025;33(2):190-203
Objective To explore the impact of peptidylarginine deiminase 2(Padi2)-knockout on depressive-like behaviors in socially isolated mice.Methods Using CRISPR/Cas9 technology,a Padi2-knockout(Padi2-/-)mouse model with a C57BL/6J background was established,and the effect of Padi2 knockout was identified by genotyping and RT-qPCR detection.Six-week-old male Padi2-/- mice and wild-type C57BL/6J mice were selected and divided into normal rearing and social isolation groups,with 15 mice per group.The normal rearing group mice were housed with 5 mice per cage,and the social isolation group was housed with 1 mouse per cage,and weighed once a week.After 4 weeks,forced swimming and open field tests were conducted.After the behavioral experiments,brain tissues were taken from mice in each group,and changes in microglia in the brains were detected by immunofluorescence.Results We successfully established Padi2-/- mice.There was no difference in behavior between Padi2-/- mice and C57BL/6J mice in the normal rearing group.After social isolation,compared with C57BL/6J mice,Padi2-/- mice showed a significant increase in depressive symptoms,obvious weight gain,and a significant increase in the number of microglia in brain tissue.Conclusions Padi2 knockout exacerbated depressive-like behaviors and obesity in socially isolated mice,indicating that Padi2 is involved in the progression of depression and may be an effective target for the prevention and treatment of depression.
8.Japanese encephalitis virus escape type Ⅰ interferon mechanism in the creation of a mouse infection model
Yifan ZHOU ; Caiqin ZHANG ; Bingrun LI ; Jiaojiao BAO ; Yanying ZHANG ; Changhong SHI
Acta Laboratorium Animalis Scientia Sinica 2025;33(2):288-295
Japanese encephalitis virus(JEV)usually evades the inhibitory effect of the innate immunity factor type Ⅰ interferon(Ⅰ-IFN)when it infects human cells and tissues.The virus then causes a series of serious symptoms,such as spasticity,neurodegenerative lesions,neuroinflammation,and even death.Generally,JEV escapes innate immunity by inhibiting IFN-α/β production and the interferon Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling pathway.Because of this special immune escape mechanism,various mouse infection models have been constructed for the study of the pathogenesis of and therapeutic regimens for JEV infections.In this review,based on an exposition of the IFN immune escape mechanism of JEV,we systematically introduce the concept of JEV-infected mouse models and analyze the characteristics of these models and the degree to which they simulate human symptoms.The intention is to develop various new JEV-infected mouse models based on potential new research targets and provide novel ideas for animal models for JEV research.
9.Targeting of stromal MAOA expression in the immune microenvironment of prostate cancer using a dual-humanized mouse model
Zhite ZHAO ; Xinglin HE ; Changhong SHI ; Lijun YANG
Acta Laboratorium Animalis Scientia Sinica 2025;33(4):479-488
Objective Construction of an immune-tumor dual humanized mouse model to explore the role of targeting monoamine oxidase A(MAOA)in the immune microenvironment of prostate cancer.Methods Bioinformatics analysis was used to examine the relationship between MAOAhigh cancer associated fibroblasts(CAFs)and T cells in prostate cancer.Multiplex immunofluorescence was employed to analyze the relationship between stromal MAOA expression and CD8+T cells.An immune-tumor dual humanized mouse model was constructed for in vivo verification of the infiltration of CD8+T cells in response to the targeting of stromal MAOA.Results MAOA expression in the stroma was inversely proportional to the infiltration of CD8+T cells.Inhibiting MAOA expression in the stroma enhanced the infiltration of CD8+T cells in vivo,which may reflect suppression of the accumulation of collagen in the tumor microenvironment.Conclusions Stromal MAOA plays an important role in the immunosuppressive microenvironment of prostate cancer,and its inhibition may promote the infiltration of immune cells.MAOA inhibitors have therapeutic potential in immune combination therapy for patients with prostate cancer.
10.Effect and mechanism of gambogic acid based on heterogeneous transformation of prostate cancer
Minli HUANG ; Mengyao LI ; Yanzi XING ; Gen LI ; Yongbin ZHANG ; Changhong SHI
Acta Laboratorium Animalis Scientia Sinica 2025;33(9):1289-1298
Objective To systematically construct patient-derived tumor organoid(PDO)and patient-derived xenograft(PDX)models of prostate cancer(PCa),and to explore the inhibitory effect and mechanism of gambogic acid(GA)on PCa.Methods The PubChem,SwissTargetPrediction,SuperPred,SEA,GeneCards,OMIM,and STRING databases,and the Venny 2.1.0 online website,Cytoscape 3.8.2,and DAVID software were used to construct a protein-protein interaction network.Gene ontology(GO)and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG)enrichment analyses were carried out,and visualization processing was performed to identify the targets and pathways of GA acting on PCa.GA was applied to PDOs and PCa cells(22Rv1,PC3,and DU145)for 48 hours and its effects on cell viability were assessed by CellTiter-Glo and CCK-8 assays.Changes in gene and protein levels of the targets were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western Blot,respectively.The PDX model was treated with GA and the tumor volume and weight were measured.Changes in expression levels of the targets in tumor tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results Network pharmacology identified signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)as the core target of GA inhibiting PCa,related to the hypoxia-inducible factor(HIF)-1α signaling pathway.GA reduced the viability of cells and PDOs and significantly down-regulated HIF-1α,STAT3,and P-STAT3 protein levels.In vivo experiments,tumor volume and weight were significantly reduced in the GA group,and immunohistochemistry showed that STAT3 and HIF-1α expression levels were decreased.Conclusions The clinically representative PDO and PDX models,combined with cell lines,verified the prediction result of network pharmacology,confirming a significant killing effect of GA on PCa,possibly via a mechanism related to the STAT3/HIF-1α signaling pathway.

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