1.Recent Advances of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Treatment of Cervical Cancer
Haojie QIN ; Zhifan ZUO ; Dan CHEN ; Jia LIU ; Shan JIN ; Yang ZHANG ; Yongpeng WANG
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2025;52(10):848-854
As a hot spot in clinical research today, immune checkpoint inhibitor has been recommended by guidelines in the first- and second-line treatments of advanced cervical cancer as immune monotherapy or combination therapy. It has also achieved good efficacy in clinical practice. In locally advanced cervical cancer, immune checkpoint inhibitors have been included in the guidelines for adjuvant therapy, and good tumor regression effects have been achieved in clinical practice. Based on the results of existing trials, immune checkpoint inhibitors have also shown good clinical potential as neoadjuvant therapy. Furthermore, the issue of immunotherapy rechallenge has increasingly captured clinicians’ attention, offering a potential new therapeutic strategy for cervical cancer patients with prior immunotherapy exposure. In this article, the clinical application and research progress of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of cervical cancer in recent years are summarized to provide valuable ideas and directions for clinical treatment.
2.Role of Toll-like receptors in persistent infection of cervical high-risk human papillomavirus based on "latent pathogen theory".
Dan-Dan HONG ; Ting-Ting SHANG ; Hong-Yu GUO ; Wen-Ting ZUO ; Rui SUN ; Wen-Wen XU ; Qing-Ling REN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(7):1974-1979
Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus(HR-HPV) is the primary etiological factor in cervical lesions and cervical cancer. Toll-like receptors(TLRs), as important pattern recognition receptors of the innate immune system, play a key role in the persistence of cervical HR-HPV infection. The "latent pathogen theory" in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) holds that latent pathogens have both "latent" and "triggered" characteristics, which closely resemble the persistent infection and latent pathogenic potential of cervical HR-HPV. Guided by the "latent pathogen theory" and using contemporary immunological techniques, this paper explores the bidirectional immunomodulatory effects of TLRs in the persistence of cervical HR-HPV infection and their relationship with latent pathogens. The results indicate that TLRs play a crucial role in immune recognition and modulation. Dysregulation and overactivation of TLRs can induce chronic inflammation, allowing cervical HR-HPV to persist and evade immune detection. TLR dysfunction, coupled with a deficiency in healthy Qi that prevents the expulsion of pathogens, is a critical factor in the pathogenicity of latent pathogens. Restoring healthy Qi to modulate the immune functions of TLRs emerges as an important strategy for clearing cervical HR-HPV infection. By harmonizing the spleen and kidney and regulating immune balance, it is possible to reverse cervical HR-HPV infection, providing a scientific basis for clinical research.
Humans
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Toll-Like Receptors/genetics*
;
Female
;
Papillomavirus Infections/genetics*
;
Papillomaviridae/immunology*
;
Persistent Infection/genetics*
;
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/immunology*
;
Animals
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional
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Cervix Uteri/immunology*
;
Human Papillomavirus Viruses
3.Exploring the causal relationship between leukocyte telomere length and prostatitis, orchitis, and epididymitis based on a two-sample Mendelian randomization.
Dan-Yang LI ; Shun YU ; Bo-Hui YANG ; Jun-Bao ZHANG ; Guo-Chen YIN ; Lin-Na WU ; Qin-Zuo DONG ; Jin-Long XU ; Shu-Ping NING ; Rong ZHAO
National Journal of Andrology 2025;31(4):306-312
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the genetic causal relationship of leukocyte telomere length (LTL) with prostatitis, orchitis and epididymitis by two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR).
METHODS:
Using LTL as the exposure factor and prostatitis, orchitis and epididymitis as outcome factors, we mined the Database of Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS). Then, we analyzed the causal relationship of LTL with prostatitis, orchitis and epididymitis by Mendelian randomization using inverse variance weighting (IVW) as the main method and weighted median and MR-Egger regression as auxiliary methods, determined the horizontal multiplicity by MR-Egger intercept test, and conducted sensitivity analysis using the leaving-one-out method.
RESULTS:
A total of 121 related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in this study. IVW showed LTL to be a risk factor for prostatitis (OR = 1.383, 95% CI: 1.044-1.832, P = 0.024), and for orchitis and epididymitis as well (OR = 1.770, 95% CI: 1.275-2.456, P = 0.000 6).
CONCLUSION
Genetic evidence from Mendelian randomized analysis indicates that shortening of LTL reduces the risk of prostatitis, orchitis and epididymitis.
Humans
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Male
;
Mendelian Randomization Analysis
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Epididymitis/genetics*
;
Prostatitis/genetics*
;
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
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Leukocytes
;
Orchitis/genetics*
;
Genome-Wide Association Study
;
Telomere
;
Risk Factors
4.Microbiome, metabolome, and transcriptome analyses in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: insights into immune modulation by F. nucleatum.
Xue ZHANG ; Jing HAN ; Yudong WANG ; Li FENG ; Zhisong FAN ; Yu SU ; Wenya SONG ; Lan WANG ; Long WANG ; Hui JIN ; Jiayin LIU ; Dan LI ; Guiying LI ; Yan LIU ; Jing ZUO ; Zhiyu NI
Protein & Cell 2025;16(6):491-496
5.SOCS3 ameliorates Parkinson's disease neuropathology by suppressing NF-κB signaling-mediated microglial inflammation
Fangya ZUO ; Dan FENG ; Yun LIU ; Fenfen LIU ; Xiuhong GUO ; Yuqi LIU ; Lanlan CHEN ; Yujie WANG ; Jinyong TIAN
Journal of Army Medical University 2025;47(21):2611-2620
Objective To investigate the mechanism by which suppressor of cytokine signaling 3(SOCS3)regulates microglial inflammation through nuclear factor-kappaB(NF-κB),providing novel mechanistic insights into microglial involvement in Parkinson's disease(PD)pathogenesis.Methods ① Ten male C57BL/6 mice(12 weeks old,weighing 20~25 g)were subjected to intraperitoneal injection of 15 mg/kg MPTP to establish a PD model.Rotarod test was used to assess motor function.Western blotting was employed to detect the protein expression of tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)and ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1(IBA-1)in the substantia nigra.RT-qPCR was utilized to measure the mRNA level of SOCS3 in the substantia nigra.Immunohistochemistry was performed to assess NF-κB p65 subunit expression.The expression of SOCS3,NF-κB and p-NF-κB was measured with Western blotting.② Microglial cell line BV2 was stimulated with 1 000 ng/mL lipopolysaccharide(LPS)for 6 h to establish an inflammatory model.Subsequently,SOCS3 was knocked down.NF-κB inhibitor BAY 11-7082 was used to treat the cells.RT-qPCR and Western blotting were used to measure the expression of SOCS3 at mRNA and protein levels.Western blotting was also applied to detect the expression of NF-κB and p-NF-κB,and ELISA was conducted to measure TNF-α and IL-1β levels in the culture supernatant.Immunofluorescence assay was carried out to localize NF-κB(nuclear vs cytoplasmic).③ A co-culture system of BV2 microglia and N2a neuroblastoma cells was established to investigate the regulatory effects of microglia on neuronal cells.MTT assay and TUNEL staining were used respectively to determine cell viability and apoptosis of N2a cells.Results ① Compared to the control mice,the PD mouse model exhibited reduced rotarod fall latency,down-regulation in TH and SOCS3(P<0.01),up-regulation in IBA-1 and increased p-NF-κB/NF-κB ratio(P<0.01).② In BV2 cells,LPS stimulation increased TNF-α,IL-1β,and p-NF-κB/NF-κB ratio(P<0.01),while down-regulated SOCS3 expression(P<0.01).SOCS3 knockdown in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells further increased the p-NF-κB/NF-κB ratio(P<0.01),increased nuclear localization of NF-κB,and elevated TNF-α and IL-1β levels(P<0.01).BAY 11-7082 treatment in these SOCS3-knockdown,LPS-stimulated cells resulted in reduced p-NF-κB/NF-κB ratio,TNF-α,and IL-1β(P<0.01),and decreased NF-κB nuclear distribution.③ LPS-stimulated BV2 cells reduced cell viability and increased cell apoptosis in N2a cells(P<0.01).SOCS3 knockdown in BV2 cells exacerbated the reduction in N2a cell viability(P<0.01)and the increase in cell apoptosis in N2a cells(P<0.01).BAY 11-7082 treatment of these SOCS3-knockdown BV2 microglia attenuated the reduction in N2a cell viability and decreased apoptosis in N2a cells(P<0.01).Conclusion SOCS3 inhibits microglia inflammatory response through down-regulation of NF-kB activity,and in turn attenuates neuronal cell death and ameliorates PD nerve injury.
6.Neferine attenuates parkinson's disease via modulating microglial pyroptosis mediated by ROS/NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway
Fenfen LIU ; Dan FENG ; Yun LIU ; Fangya ZUO ; Xiuhong GUO ; Yuqi LIU ; Lanlan CHEN ; Yujie WANG ; Jinyong TIAN
Journal of Army Medical University 2025;47(23):2933-2942
Objective To demonstrate that neferine(Nef)alleviates Parkinson's disease(PD)by inhibiting microglial pyroptosis mediated through the reactive oxygen species(ROS)/NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)/Caspase-1 pathway.Methods BV2 microglial cells were divided into:control group,lipopolysaccharides(LPS)-adenosine triphosphate(ATP)group,and LPS-ATP+Nef group.Pyroptosis was induced by 1 μg/mL LPS+5 mmol/L ATP,with 2 mmol/L Nef pretreatment.Eighteen 10-12-week-old male C57BL/6 mice(22~25 g)were randomly assigned to:control(n=6),1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine(MPTP)(n=6),and MPTP+Nef(n=6)groups.Detection methods included:flow cytometry for pyroptosis,Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK-8)for viability,2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate(DCFH-DA)for ROS,commercial kits for malondialdehyde(MDA),superoxide dismutase(SOD),glutathione(GSH),ELISA/Western blot for interleukin-1β(IL-1β)/IL-18,immunofluorescence/immunohistochemistry for NLRP3/Caspase-1,tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)immunohistochemistry,hematoxylin-eosin staining for neuropathology,and modified neurological severity score(mNSS).Results Versus control,LPS-ATP group showed decreased viability(P=0.002),increased pyroptosis(P<0.001),elevated ROS(P<0.001)/MDA(P<0.001)/IL-1β(P<0.001)/IL-18(P<0.001),upregulated NLRP3(P<0.001)/Caspase-1(P<0.001),and reduced GSH(P<0.001)/SOD(P<0.001).Nef treatment reversed these effects(all P<0.05).According to the results of murine studies,compared with the control group,the MPTP group had increased mNSS(P<0.001)/tissue ROS(P<0.001),downregulated TH(P<0.001),upregulated NLRP3(P<0.001)/Caspase-1(P<0.001).Nef treatment significantly attenuated the MPTP-induced deleterious effects(P<0.05).Histopathological analysis revealed that control group exhibited uniformly distributed hippocampal neurons with distinct nuclear morphology;MPTP group showed neuronal swelling,interstitial edema,and nuclear atrophy;MPTP+Nef group demonstrated ameliorated neuronal damage.Conclusion Nef inhibits microglial pyroptosis via ROS/NLRP3/Caspase-1 axis,ameliorating PD neuroinflammation and pathology.
7. Effect Xuefu Zhuyu decoction on endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition of pulmonary artery endothelial cells and its mechanism
Zuo-Mei ZENG ; Xin-Yue WANG ; Lei-Yu TIAN ; Li-Dan CUI ; Jian GUO ; Yu-Cai CHEN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(1):155-161
Aim To investigate the effect of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction on transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1 ) -induced endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells ( PMVEC), and further analyze the mechanism related to the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway. Method To construct an EndMT cell model, PMVEC was treated with TGF-β1 (5 μg · L
8.Relationship between executive function and social adjustment in children with developmental dyslexia
YIN Feifei, XIAO Xinyu, ZHANG Han, ZUO Pengxiang,LI Dan
Chinese Journal of School Health 2024;45(6):835-839
Objective:
To explore the characteristics of executive function of developmental dyslexic children and the relationship with social adaptability, in order to provide a scientific basis for promoting healthy development of developmental dyslexic children.
Methods:
From June to September 2023, 85 students in the developmental dyslexia group, 85 students in the biological agematched group and 85 students in the reading levelmatched group were selected from the third to sixth grades of two elementary school in a region of Xinjiang by cluster random sampling method. Their executive function was assessed by the Stroop procedure, the 2-back procedure and the numerical conversion procedure, respectively, and their social adaptive ability was assessed by the Social Adaptation Scale for Children and Adolescents. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the differences in executive function and social adjustment among the three groups, and Pearsons correlation was used to analyze the relationship between executive function and social adjustment in developmental dyslexic children.
Results:
Children in the developmental dyslexia group had lower correctness on the Stroop colorword task (0.72±0.21), the 2-back task (0.32±0.13), the digitswitching task (0.54±0.16) and the total score of social adjustment (165.39±31.36) than children in the biological agematched (0.80±0.19,0.38±0.11,0.61±0.15,181.71±31.85) and reading levelmatched group (0.79±0.17,0.35±0.07,0.58±0.15,175.71±27.48) (F=4.54,5.05,4.97,6.31,P<0.01). The inhibition (Stroop colorword task correct rate) and conversion subcomponent (digitswitching task correct rate) of the executive function of children in the developmental dyslexia group were both positively correlated with their social adaptive ability (r=0.34,0.43), and the refreshing subcomponent of the executive function (2-back task correct rate) was negatively correlated with their social adaptive ability (r=-0.27) (P<0.05).
Conclusions
Children with developmental dyslexia have executive function deficits and social maladjustment, and their executive function is related to social adjustment. Measures should be taken to improve the executive function of developmental dyslexic children and to improve their social adaptation.
9.Genetic and clinical characteristics of single and compound types of patients with long QT syndrome type 3
Zhonghe ZHANG ; Jing ZUO ; Yan HUANG ; Hongyi DUAN ; Hao XIA ; Hong JIANG ; Dan HU
Chinese Journal of Cardiology 2024;52(7):777-783
Objective:To explore the genetic background and clinical features of patients with long QT syndrome type 3 (LQT3).Methods:This retrospective cohort included patients diagnosed with LQT3 at the Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from January 1998 to December 2022. Patients were categorized into compound type group and single type group based on the presence of a single SCN5A mutation. The two groups were followed up and the differences in baseline characteristics, electrocardiograms, and clinical events between the two groups and probands were compared. Kaplan-Meier curves were used for survival analysis, and the log-rank test was employed to compare the event-free survival rates of first cardiac events between the groups and probands.Results:A total of 97 LQT3 patients were enrolled, including 59 probands. The age at diagnosis was (23.45±19.86) years, with 46 patients (47.4%) being male. Among them, 89 patients were classified as single type group, while 8 patients were classified as compound type group. Genetic testing identified 49 SCN5A mutations, with missense mutations being the majority (91.8%), primarily located in transmembrane regions (40.8%, n=20), interdomain linker regions (28.6%, n=14), and C-terminus (22.4%, n=11). The first cardiac event occurred in 44 patients (45.4%), with an onset age of (13.82±12.50) years. The main trigger was identified as rest or sleep (54.5%, n=24). Compared with patients in single type group, patients in compound type group were younger at diagnosis ((10.35±10.28) years vs. (24.63±20.13) years, P=0.040), had a significantly higher proportion of syncope (87.5% (7/8) vs. 33.7% (30/89), P=0.009), aborted cardiac arrest (62.5% (5/8) vs. 11.2% (10/89), P=0.001), and a lower incidence of event-free survival rates of first cardiac events (12.5% (1/8) vs.58.4% (52/89), log-rank P=0.001). The probands in compound type group had a significantly higher proportion of aborted cardiac arrest comparing to probands in single type group (62.5% (5/8) vs. 17.6% (9/51), P=0.020), while the difference in the incidence rate of event-free survival rates of first cardiac events between the probands in two groups was not statistically significant (12.5% (1/8) vs. 39.2% (20/51), log-rank P=0.08). Conclusion:Compound type LQT3 patients are not uncommon. Such patients are diagnosed at a younger age and exhibit more severe phenotypes, requiring close follow-up and proactive intervention strategies.
10.Connexin 43 hemichannel mediates NLRP3 inflammasome activation and its role in cerebral ischemia
Linhui PENG ; Dan LI ; Zhiqiang HU ; Xialin ZUO
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2024;40(10):1450-1454
Gap junction proteins have a significant impact on the propagation of neuroinflammation after cerebral ischemia.Connexin 43(Cx43),the principal connexin in the central nervous system,typically assembles hexameric hemichannels in an oligomeric state that dock with hemichannels on adjacent cells to form gap junction channels.Ordinarily,the likelihood of cell surface hemichannels opening is minimal.However,during cerebral ischemia,the excessive activation of Cx43 hemichannels leads to the liberation of a substantial quantity of ions(Na+,Cl-,Ca2+,and K+),glutamate,aspartate,and adenosine triphosphate(ATP),thereby resulting in impairment of adjacent cells and aggravation of neuronal injury.Furthermore,the activation of Cx43 hemichannels triggers the release of inflammatory factors,which exhibits a strong association with the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome after cerebral ischemia.Hence,the modulation of Cx43 hemichannels presents a potential avenue for mitigating neuroinflammation and subsequently diminishing cerebral ischemic injury.This article focuses on the relationship between Cx43 hemichannels and NLRP3 inflammasome activation,as well as its role in cerebral ischemia,all of which provide novel insights and therapeutic approaches for managing cerebral ischemia.


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