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.Establishment and evaluation of an orthotopic transplantation tumor model derived from transgenic mouse with spontaneous pancreatic cancer
Qingling AN ; Dengxu TAN ; Ya ZHAO ; Caiqin ZHANG ; Changhong SHI
Acta Laboratorium Animalis Scientia Sinica 2024;32(1):1-8
Objective To establish an orthotopic transplantation tumor model of pancreatic cancer derived from transgenic LSL-KrasG12D/+ LSL-Trp53R172H/+ Pdx1-Cre(KPC)mice.To provide a stable and reliable drug preclinical research animal model to study the developmental mechanism and treatment strategies of pancreatic cancer.Methods Tumor tissue derived from KPC transgenic mice with spontaneous pancreatic cancer was transplanted into the C57BL/6J mouse pancreas.Ultrasound was used to monitor tumor growth.HE and immunofluorescence staining was used to evaluate the pathological characteristics of this model.Results The tumor derived from KPC mice grew steadily on the pancreas of C57BL/6J mice.Tumor cell proliferation index Ki67,matrix fibrosis marker αSMA,and immune cell markers CD45 and CD206 were all stably expressed in the tumor.The model stably retained the pathological features of primary pancreatic cancer.Widespread tumor metastases,which were similar to those observed in patients with pancreatic cancer,developed in this model.Conclusions An orthotopic transplantation model derived from a transgenic mouse with spontaneous pancreatic cancer was established successfully.The model simulates the stromal environment and immune cell infiltration of pancreatic cancer and retains strong stability and uniformity with the original tumor.It can be used as an effective drug preclinical research model to study pancreatic cancer progression and treatment strategies.
4.Construction and application of patient-derived pancreatic tumor organoid model
Peng LI ; Minli HUANG ; Dengxu TAN ; Caiqin ZHANG ; Yongbin ZHANG ; Changhong SHI
Chinese Journal of Comparative Medicine 2024;34(6):40-46
Objective To construct a patient-derived pancreatic tumor organoid(PDO)and evaluate its effectiveness.Methods We collected fresh surgical specimens from pancreatic cancer patients for PDO culture and compared the pathological and genetic characteristics of the PDO model with those of primary tumors.The PDO model was used to evaluate the efficacy of clinical chemotherapy drugs,and the effectiveness of the model was assessed.Results A PDO model of pancreatic cancer was successfully established.Histomorphological analysis indicated that the PDO model maintained the basic pathological characteristics of the primary tumor.Whole-exon sequencing showed that both the organoids and original tumor tissue remained consistent in their gene mutation type and characteristics.Drug screening tests revealed that the PDO model had good sensitivity to gemcitabine and irinotecan.Conclusions A pancreatic cancer PDO was successfully constructed that reflected the histological and genetic characteristics of the original tumor.The model was shown to be effective for drug sensitivity experiments in vitro and is expected to have implications for precision medicine assays.
5.Efficacy and Safety of KRASG12C Inhibitors in Advanced Solid Tumors with KRASG12C-mutated: A Single-arm Meta-analysis
Dengxu TAN ; Ke LIU ; Yifan MA ; Yongfeng WANG ; Yanying ZHANG ; Changhong SHI
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2023;50(7):688-693
Objective To systematically study the efficacy and safety of KRASG12C inhibitors in advanced solid tumors with KRASG12C-mutated. Methods Computer searches from PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI, and CBM databases were conducted to collect clinical studies on KRASG12C inhibitors in advanced solid tumors with KRASG12C-mutated, with a search time from inception to October 12, 2022. Then, two investigators independently screened the literature, extracted information, assessed the risk of bias in included studies, and performed meta-analyses using RevMan 5.4 software. Results There were four publications included, all of which were single-arm clinical studies. The KRASG12C inhibitors that completed clinical phase Ⅰ and Ⅱ trials were sotorasib and adagrasib, with two publications each. A total of 388 and 394 patients were included in the efficacy evaluation and safety evaluation, respectively. Resultsof the Meta-analysis showed that the patients had objective response rate, overall disease control, and disease stabilization rates of 35%, 82%, and 45%, respectively. In addition, the rate of serious adverse events, general adverse events, and all adverse events in patients was 2%, 28%, and 79%, respectively. Moreover, the rate of partial remission of disease in NSCLC patients was 38%. Conclusion The KRASG12C inhibitors sotorasib and adagrasib exhibited good efficacy and high safety in advanced solid tumors.
6.Clinical and pathological characteristics and prognostic analysis of gastric neuroendo-crine carcinoma
Fengjin SHANG ; Sheng TAN ; Weipeng WU ; Jian JIAO ; Lulu LI ; Haoran ZHANG ; Zhiguo TONG ; Changhong LIAN
Chinese Journal of Clinical Oncology 2023;50(21):1098-1105
Objective:To explore the clinical and pathological characteristics and prognostic factors of gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma(G-NEC)and gastric mixed adenoendocrine carcinoma(G-MANEC).Methods:Retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 67 patients with G-NEC and G-MANEC who underwent surgical treatment at Heping Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical College from May 2015 to May 2023.The study included an analysis of the pathological characteristics distinguishing G-NEC from G-MANEC.Results:Com-pared to gastric adenocarcinoma,patients with G-NEC and G-MANEC in the stomach showed a higher incidence of gastric cancer in the male gastric cardia and were diagnosed at a later age.Tumors with larger diameters increase susceptibility to anemia,low albumin levels,and in-vasion of nerves and vasculature.Deeper tumor infiltration is associated with increased local lymph node metastases,later TNM staging,and a higher likelihood of distant metastasis post-surgery.The prognosis of G-NEC and G-MANEC is worse than that of gastric adenocarcinoma(P=0.001).However,there is no statistically significant difference in the pathological characteristics(P>0.05)and prognosis analysis(P=0.212)between G-NEC and G-MANEC.Univariate survival analysis identified age,preoperative albumin,preoperative CEA,number of lymph node metastases,TNM staging,and postoperative distant metastasis as risk factors affecting patient's overall survival(OS).In the multivariate ana-lysis,age,preoperative albumin,TNM staging,and postoperative distant metastasiswere identified as independent risk factors for OS.Con-clusions:There is a significant difference in clinical characteristics between G-NEC,G-MANEC,and gastric adenocarcinoma,often diagnosed at an advanced stage,which is prone to distant metastasis post-surgery.Poor prognosis is observed in patients aged over 60 years,with pre-operative albumin<40g/L,TNM stage Ⅱ/Ⅲ,and postoperative distant metastasis.
7.Correction to: Expression and Function of Zinc-α2-Glycoprotein.
Xin WEI ; Xi LIU ; Changhong TAN ; Lijuan MO ; Hui WANG ; Xi PENG ; Fen DENG ; Lifen CHEN
Neuroscience Bulletin 2019;35(4):778-778
In the original publication, the author name was incorrectly published as "Lifeng Chen".
8.Expression and Function of Zinc-α2-Glycoprotein.
Xin WEI ; Xi LIU ; Changhong TAN ; Lijuan MO ; Hui WANG ; Xi PENG ; Fen DENG ; Lifeng CHEN
Neuroscience Bulletin 2019;35(3):540-550
Zinc-α2-glycoprotein (ZAG), encoded by the AZGP1 gene, is a major histocompatibility complex I molecule and a lipid-mobilizing factor. ZAG has been demonstrated to promote lipid metabolism and glucose utilization, and to regulate insulin sensitivity. Apart from adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, liver, and kidney, ZAG also occurs in brain tissue, but its distribution in brain is debatable. Only a few studies have investigated ZAG in the brain. It has been found in the brains of patients with Krabbe disease and epilepsy, and in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Alzheimer disease, frontotemporal lobe dementia, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Both ZAG protein and AZGP1 mRNA are decreased in epilepsy patients and animal models, while overexpression of ZAG suppresses seizure and epileptic discharges in animal models of epilepsy, but knowledge of the specific mechanism of ZAG in epilepsy is limited. In this review, we summarize the known roles and molecular mechanisms of ZAG in lipid metabolism and glucose metabolism, and in the regulation of insulin sensitivity, and discuss the possible mechanisms by which it suppresses epilepsy.
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metabolism
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Carrier Proteins
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metabolism
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Epilepsy
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metabolism
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Glucose
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metabolism
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metabolism
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Humans
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Insulin Resistance
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Lipid Metabolism
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metabolism
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Signal Transduction
9.Chemoterapeutic drug screening based on patient?derived pancreatic cancer xenograft(PDX)models
He ZHANG ; Xue CHEN ; Caiqin ZHANG ; Yong ZHAO ; Dengxu TAN ; Changhong SHI
Acta Laboratorium Animalis Scientia Sinica 2018;26(1):29-35
Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect of chemotherapeutic drugs on pancreatic carcinoma based on patient-derived xenograft(PDX)models,and to screen an individualized treatment strategy. Methods Fresh human pancreatic carcinoma tissues were subcutaneously transplanted into nude mice to establish PDX models which could be stab-ly passaged. The traceability of PDX models was determined by STR analysis. The PDX models were treated with three dif-ferent clinical chemotherapeutic drugs oxaliplatin, gemcitabine and irinotecan, respectively, and the tumor volumes were measured at different times. The therapeutic effect of those drugs was assessed by TGD mathematical model and plasma CA19-9 test. Results The traceability of patient-derived xenograft samples was up to 99.99%. Compared with the con-trol group,the treatment with irinotecan and gemcitabine inhibited tumor growth significantly(P=0.001), and gemcit-abine had even better result. The minimum toxic effect in the mice was induced by irinotecan treatment,followed by gem-citabine treatment. Conclusions Pancreatic carcinoma PDX models are successfully established and can be stably pas-saged. Gemcitabine shows the most inhibitory effect on tumor growth based on TGD mathematical model assessment, and deserves to be recommended as the preferred drug for individual treatment of pancreatic carcinoma.
10.Establishment and characterization of a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft ( PDOX) model of pancreatic cancer
He ZHANG ; Caiqin ZHANG ; Yong ZHAO ; Dengxu TAN ; Changhong SHI
Acta Laboratorium Animalis Scientia Sinica 2018;26(3):296-301
Objective To establish and evaluate a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft ( PDOX ) model of pancreatic cancer. Methods Tissues of patient-derived pancreatic tumor were transplanted into nude mouse pancreas by surgery. The PDOX models were evaluated by the small animal near infrared fluorescence ( NIRF) optical imaging and PET/CT. The traceability of PDOX models was detected by STR technology, and the pathological changes were observed by H&E staining, immunohistochemistry, and serum level of CA19-9 was detected by ELISA. Results Apparent NIRF were observed to be accumulated in pancreatic site by optical imaging system. The location and size of the xenografts tumor were revealed by fluorescence intensity. The PET/CT images with 18F-FDG molecular probe confirmed the tumor's location and size. Ex vivo NIRF imaging of isolated organ further showed the tumor formation. The traceability of PDOX models was 99. 99% with human origin. H&E staining pathology and immunohistochemistry indicated the pancreatic cancer characteristics. The high serum level of ca19-9 confirmed the mice bearing tumor. Conclusions Pancreatic PDOX models are successfully established in this study, and it can be evaluated comprehensively by NIRF optical imaging and PET/CT, providing an appropriate platform for further research of pancreatic cancer.

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