1.Clinical Application of Bispecific Antibodies in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma:Current Status and Challenges
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(8):1096-1105
Multiple myeloma(MM)is a hematologic malignancy originating from plasma cells in the bone marrow.In recent years,the use of novel drugs and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT)has significantly improved the prognosis of MM patients.However,MM remains challenging to cure and is prone to relapse and resistance.For patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma(RRMM),there is an urgent need to explore novel therapeutic approaches.Bispecific antibodies(BsAbs)are a promising class of immunotherapeutics that functions by simultaneously binding to tumor cell antigens and endogenous effector cells,thereby forming an immunological synapse.This interaction facilitates the activation of effector cells,leading to the targeted lysis of tumor cells.Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated the significant efficacy of BsAbs,either as monotherapy or in combination with other treatment regimens,in patients with RRMM.This article summarizes the mechanisms of action,ef-ficacy,and safety of BsAbs,and discusses optimal sequencing strategies in immunotherapy,aiming to provide new perspectives for the treatment of MM.
2.Exploration of the Microglia Function and Its Mechanism in Mouse Models of Autism
Wei-Yan WU ; Xie HE ; Jiang-Hong HE
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(8):1106-1114
Autism spectrum disorder(ASD)is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by impairments in social interaction,communication,and repetitive behaviors.Accumulating evidence suggests that neuroimmune inflammatory responses may contribute to the pathogenesis of ASD.Within the central nervous system,microglia,as the key innate immune cells,play a pivotal role in shaping the neu-roimmune inflammatory microenvironment.This review systematically synthesizes findings regarding alter-ations in microglial number and morphology across two major categories of ASD mouse models,consider-ing both genetic and environmental dimensions.Specifically,it examines changes in dendritic spine den-sity and neurotransmission function in gene mutation-induced models and environmentally triggered mod-els,such as maternal immune activation models.Furthermore,this article highlights comparative analy-ses of shared mechanisms,including the interleukin-17 receptor A signaling pathway and the mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway,between MIA models and genetically induced BTBR T+Itpr3tf/J mouse models.Building on these insights,the review elaborates on cytokine dysregulation in abnormally activated microglia,mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation dysfunction,and elevated reactive oxygen species levels within ASD mouse brains,elucidating their implications for cellular function.Finally,the article summarizes how microglia influence neurodevelopment through neurogenesis and synaptic formation and function,exploring potential pathways underlying autism-like behavioral phenotypes and identifying novel therapeutic targets for clinical ASD intervention.
3.Development of Single-closed Tube Multiplex PCR Technology for Detection
Ting-Ting HU ; Yun-Long ZHANG ; Bing-Jie ZOU
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(8):1115-1126
Nucleic acid detection technology has been widely applied in fields such as pathogen detection due to its characteristics of rapidity,sensitivity,and specificity.With the numerous nucleic acid markers related to diseases,the demand for multiplex nucleic acid detection is gradually increasing.Multiplex polymerase chain reaction(PCR)can simultaneously amplify multiple targets,but there are problems such as easy contamination when opening the tube during the analysis process after amplification and high technical requirements.With the continuous advancement of detection technology,a series of simple,re-liable single-tube multiplex PCR detection technologies that do not require opening the tube have emerged successively.A common technology is the single-closed tube multiplex PCR detection method based on fluorescent probes,which mainly uses different fluorescent labels to distinguish multiple targets.Com-bined with different specific enzymatic digestion reactions,it can achieve multiplex detection of rare tumor mutations and single nucleotide-specific genotyping.In addition,the monochromatic melting curve analysis method based on differences in melting temperatures enables parallel detection of multiple targets within a single fluorescence channel.When performed within multiple fluorescence channels,it is called the multicolor melting curve analysis method,which can increase the number of detected targets to doz-ens,greatly breaking through the limitation of the number of fluorescence channels on the multiplexity of detection.At the same time,the fluorescence coding method using different combinations of fluorescent labels also provides new ideas for single-closed tube multiplex PCR detection.These include encoding the sequence of signals generated by different fluorescent labels corresponding to the same target,using a combination of two fluorescent labels to identify specific targets,and controlling the amplitude of fluores-cent signals of different targets,all of which can also improve the multiplexity of detection.This article summarizes and prospects the research progress of single-closed tube multiplex PCR detection technology in recent years from multiple dimensions such as principles,applications,and the advantages and disad-vantages of the methods,providing valuable references for subsequent scientific research exploration and application.
4.Metabolic Reprogramming in Pancreatic Cancer
Yi-Ni XU ; Ji-Yun ZHU ; Si-Ming ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(8):1149-1158
Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor with a very poor prognosis,characterized by early me-tastasis and high invasiveness,and is unresponsive to traditional treatments like chemotherapy and radio-therapy.In recent years,the study of metabolic products has become a new hotspot in pancreatic cancer research,showing that the metabolic reprogramming of tumor cells is a key factor for their growth and pro-liferation,and that regulatory factors of metabolic pathways may serve as new therapeutic targets.Meta-bolic reprogramming primarily manifests as alterations in three major nutrient metabolic pathway and oxi-dative phosphorylation processes.Additionally,the tumor microenvironment of pancreatic cancer exhibits unique metabolic features.Mechanistic studies are actively underway,and future research may focus on integrating omics,artificial intelligence,and other novel research techniques to further explore how meta-bolic changes drive the development of pancreatic cancer and to improve treatment strategies,including the development of targeted drugs and metabolomics-based diagnostic tools.
5.Cell Division Cycle 20 Drives Gefitinib Resistance of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer by Activating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathway
Zhi-Jian LI ; Bing ZHANG ; Ning LIU
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(8):1159-1168
Gefitinib,a first-generation epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)tyrosine kinase inhibi-tor(TKI),exerts significant therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)by selectively targeting mutant forms of EGFR.However,the development of acquired resistance signifi-cantly limits its long-term clinical benefits.Cell division cycle 20(CDC20),a key regulator of cell cycle progression,has been implicated in the tumorigenesis and progression of various malignancies.Neverthe-less,its role and underlying regulatory mechanisms in the acquisition of drug resistance in NSCLC remain largely unexplored.This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which CDC20 contributes to gefitinib resistance in NSCLC.Gefitinib-resistant cell lines,HCC827/GR(ICs0 0.05±0.01 μmnol/L vs 36.24±6.21 μmol/L)and PC9/GR(IC50 0.02±0.01 μmol/L vs 25.36±5.57 μmol/L),were established through stepwise drug induction,exhibiting markedly increased IC50 values compared to their parental counterparts.Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the transcriptional level of CDC20 is signifi-cantly upregulated in lung cancer tissues and is associated with poor patient prognosis.Western blotting analysis confirmed elevated CDC20 protein levels in the resistant HCC827/GR and PC9/GR cells relative to the parental HCC827 and PC9 cells.To further investigate the functional role of CDC20 in NSCLC ge-fitinib resistance,CDC20 was knocked out using CRISPR/Cas9 technology.This genetic intervention sig-nificantly restored gefitinib sensitivity in resistant cells(IC 50 37.08±6.15 μmol/L vs 10.49±1.83μmol/L,7.23±1.55 μamol/L),while concurrently promoting apoptosis and inducing G2/M phase cell cycle arrest.Conversely,CDC20 overexpression decreased drug sensitivity in parental cells and notably attenuated gefitinib-induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest.Mechanistically,CDC20 depletion was found to inhibit activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway,upregulate pro-apoptotic proteins such as cleaved-Caspase 3 and Bax,and downregulate the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2.Collectively,these find-ings demonstrate that CDC20 mediates gefitinib resistance in NSCLC through modulation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway,thereby identifying CDC20 as a potential therapeutic target for overcoming resistance to EGFR-targeted therapies.
6.Expression,Purification and Activity Determination of PD-133-150 and PD-L119-239 Proteins
Xin-Rong YU ; Xiao-Hong QIN ; Li-Zhi MI
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(8):1193-1203
Programmed cell death protein 1(PD-1)and its ligand,programmed cell death 1 ligand 1(PD-L1),represent a pair of prototypical immune checkpoint that plays a critical role in tumor immune evasion.However,the development of targeted therapeutics against these two proteins is limited by their low levels and high glycosylation modifications in eukaryotic cells.In this study,we designed two func-tional but truncated variants of PD-1(PD-133-150)and PD-L1(PD-L1 19-239);and subcloned them into eukaryotic expression vectors using golden gate assembly technology.Using these vectors,we achieved high level yields of these two proteins in transiently-transfected HEK-293T cells.After one-step affinity purification,the yields of PD-133-150 and PD-L119 239 proteins reached 5 mg and 3 mg per liter of cell cul-ture medium,with over 95%purity.Using biolayer interferometry and flow cytometry analysis,we deter-mined the binding kinetics,equilibrium constants,and the cellular binding activities of these proteins.Compared with the PD-1 extracellular domain expressed in insect or E.coli cells,the PD-133-150 purified from HEK-293T cells has a 24-fold and a 50-fold increase in its binding affinity to PD-L1.In addition,the dissociation rate of the binding decreased to less than l/400th of the original rate.Thus,we speculate that N-glycosylation could modulate the PD-1/PD-L1 interactions.Together,we established an effective eukaryotic expression and purification platform for functional characterization of PD-133150/PD-L119239 in-teractions,thereby providing high-quality molecular tools for PD-1/PD-L1 antibody screening and im-mune checkpoint research.
7.Bone Marrow Microenvironment and Targeted Therapies for Multiple Myeloma
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(8):1085-1095
Multiple myeloma(MM)is a hematologic malignancy characterized by clonal proliferation of plasma cells within the bone marrow,with pathological features including abnormal secretion of mono-clonal immunoglobulins,osteolytic bone disease,and multi-organ dysfunction.Despite significant ad-vancements in therapeutic approaches that have markedly extended patient survival,primary drug resist-ance and relapse remain major obstacles to clinical cure.The pathogenesis and progression of MM are in-tricately regulated by the bone marrow microenvironment(BMME),a dynamic network composed of di-verse cellular and non-cellular components.The BMME not only supports the survival and proliferation of MM cells but also plays a pivotal role in disease progression by modulating bone metabolic homeostasis,mediating immune escape,and promoting drug resistance.In recent years,groundbreaking therapeutic strategies targeting the BMME have emerged,including immunomodulatory drugs,bispecific antibodies,CAR T-cell therapies,and microenvironment-modulating agents.These approaches have significantly im-proved objective response rates and survival outcomes in relapsed/refractory MM by disrupting cytokine signaling,reprogramming the immunosuppressive microenvironment,or inhibiting tumor-stromal interac-tions.However,challenges such as drug resistance,treatment-related toxicity,and tumor heterogeneity persist in clinical practice.This review systematically delineates the roles of BMME components in MM pathogenesis,analyzes the molecular mechanisms underlying MM cell-BMME interactions,and explores innovative strategies to enhance therapeutic efficacy and prognosis through targeted modulation of the BMME.These insights provide a foundation for developing novel therapeutic paradigms aimed at overco-ming current limitations in MM treatment.
8.The Functions and Mechanisms of tRNA Methylation Modifications in Cell Cycle Regulation
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(8):1127-1136
tRNA is one of the RNA molecules with the most diverse post-transcriptional modifications.It not only functions as an adaptor molecule transporting amino acids during translation but also relies on its extensive post-transcriptional modifications to regulate gene expression,thereby influencing numerous bio-logical processes.These modifications are dynamically regulated by tRNA methyltransferases and demeth-ylases,which collaboratively maintain a balance-the former catalyze methyl group addition,while the latter remove methyl groups,ensuring reversible control.Mutations or dysregulation of these enzymes are closely associated with tumorigenesis and other diseases,constituting a major research focus.They pro-mote tumor progression through two distinct pathways:cytoplasmic tRNA(ctRNA)methylation enhances the translation of oncogenes,whereas mitochondrial tRNA(mtRNA)methylation optimizes mitochondrial protein synthesis to reprogram energy metabolism.From the dual dimensions of"enzyme supply"and"energy provision",tRNA methylation establishes a material foundation for tumor cell growth and directly contributes to cell cycle dysregulation.The cell cycle,an orderly process governing cell division,is tight-ly controlled by checkpoint proteins to guarantee accurate genetic information transmission.Notably,ab-errant cell cycle activation is not only a hallmark of cancer but also a pivotal therapeutic target.tRNA methyltransferases and demethylases exert multidimensional control over both cell cycle progression and metabolic adaptation.Elucidating the mechanisms underlying tRNA modification mediated cell cycle reg-ulation will not only accelerate the discovery of novel therapeutic targets but may also overcome the con-straints of conventional cell cycle targeted therapies.Within this context,we systematically review the molecular mechanisms by which tRNA methylation-modifying enzymes regulate the cell cycle,with an emphasis on their translational potential.
9.Molecular Mechanism of Premature Ovarian Insufficiency Mediated by Oxidative Stress-induced Granulosa Cell Damage
You TAN ; Shi-Yan SUI ; Bi-Rong ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(8):1137-1148
Premature ovarian insufficiency(POI),also known as premature ovarian failure(POF),is one of the major causes of female infertility.Its incidence has been increasing year by year,seriously af-fecting women's reproductive health and becoming an increasingly serious public health problem world-wide.The pathogenesis of POI is complex and may be related to genetic,immune and environmental fac-tors,but in recent years,oxidative stress(OS)has received widespread attention as a key factor that can affect the function of ovarian granulosa cells(GCs),which can lead to the occurrence of POI.Reactive oxygen species(ROS)regulate the proliferation,survival and apoptosis of GCs through multiple signaling pathways,such as PI3K-Akt,MAPK,TGF-β/Smad,Notch,etc.AMPK and mitochondrial autophagy play important roles in attenuating the ROS damage and protecting the ovarian function.Excessive ROS disrupts the autophagy and lysosomal functions,leading to the accumulation of intracellular waste prod-ucts,thus affecting the physiological function and endocrine stability of GCs.In addition,OS can in-crease the risk of POI by affecting hormone synthesis and disrupting the function of GCs,leading to an imbalance in estrogen and progesterone levels.Herein we review the mechanism of OS in POI,explore how OS affects ovarian decline through the regulation of signaling pathways and cellular functions,and provide a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of POI,which in turn provides new research ideas for its early diagnosis and prevention.
10.Investigation on the Oligomeric Status and Thermal Stability Properties of Pathological Mutations of KDSR in Progressive Symmetrical Erythematokeratosis
Jia-Cong SUN ; Li WANG ; Xue GONG ; Zhen-Lu LI ; Cheng CHEN
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(8):1169-1178
Progressive symmetric erythrokeratodermia(PSEK)is a rare hereditary skin disease charac-terized by symmetrical erythema,hyperkeratosis and multiorgan lesions.Its clinical phenotypes are highly heterogeneous and may be accompanied by symptoms such as thrombocytopenia,which can be fatal in se-vere cases.The genotype-phenotype association mechanism of PSEK is extremely complex.Currently,it is known that mutations in multiple genes such as GJB3,KDSR,and KRT83 can cause the disease.A-mong them,3-ketodihydrosphingosine reductase(KDSR)has been found to harbor nearly 20 clinical mu-tations.These mutations interfere with the de novo ceramide synthesis pathway,disrupt the homeostasis of the skin barrier,and cause platelet production disorders and multi-organ lesions,making it a current research hotspot in the molecular mechanism of PSEK.The pathogenic mutations of KDSR are widely and uniformly distributed throughout the entire protein,rather than being limited to the traditionally recog-nized active center,suggesting that the impairment of the KDSR enzymatic activity is not the only cause of PSEK.In view of this,this study selected four typical mutants of KDSR(KDSRQG55-56R,KDSRn38C,KDSRY186F,KDSRG182S),and first used recombinant expression technology to prepare pure and homoge-neous mutant proteins.Subsequently,thermal stability experiments as well as oligomerization analysis were conducted on these four mutant proteins.The results showed that the Tm values of the four mutants were significantly lower than that of the wild type.Particularly,KDSRF138C and KDSRQG55-56R were nearly completely denatured at physiological temperature.This result was perfectly consistent with the further Rosetta energy analysis.In conclusion,this study took several pathological mutations of the PSEK patho-genic factor KDSR as the research object and discovered that the conformational stability of KDSR might be closely related to the occurrence of PSEK pathogenicity,indicating that the imbalance of conformation-al homeostasis is very likely to be one of the common contributing factors of many genetic diseases,inclu-ding PSEK.This provides a new theoretical basis and reference for explaining the molecular mechanism of genotype-phenotype heterogeneity in many genetic diseases.

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