1.Regulatory Mechanism of Extracellular Vesicles in The Tumor Immune Microenvironment and Its Application in Diagnosis and Treatment
Zi-Qi WANG ; Jing WANG ; Yuan-Yu HUANG ; Mei LU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(4):968-981
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are pivotal mediators of intercellular communication within the tumor immune microenvironment (TME). They are broadly categorized into exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies based on their distinct biogenesis pathways. Exosomes originate from the endosomal system via multivesicular body fusion, microvesicles bud directly from the plasma membrane, and apoptotic bodies are released during programmed cell death. By shuttling diverse bioactive cargoes—including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids such as mRNA, miRNA, and DNA—EVs exert dual modulatory effects on tumor initiation, progression, and immune evasion. Importantly, EVs exhibit remarkable compositional heterogeneity that is intrinsically linked to their cellular origin. Tumor-derived EVs (TDEVs) are typically enriched with immunosuppressive molecules like PD-L1, TGF‑β, and miR-21, which promote tumor immune escape and metastasis. In contrast, EVs derived from immune cells, such as dendritic cells or cytotoxic T lymphocytes, often carry immunostimulatory components including antigens, co-stimulatory molecules, and granzymes, thereby potentiating anti-tumor immunity. This review systematically delineates the biogenesis and molecular composition of EVs, with a particular emphasis on their dynamic regulatory functions within the TME. Specifically, we discuss how EVs mediate intricate crosstalk between immune and tumor cells, facilitating signal transfer that reshapes immune surveillance. For instance, TDEVs can induce macrophage polarization toward an M2-like pro-tumor phenotype, while also suppressing natural killer cell cytotoxicity and dendritic cell maturation. The clinical utility of EV-associated biomarkers in liquid biopsy is increasingly recognized. Circulating EVs carry tumor-specific molecular signatures that mirror the genetic and proteomic alterations of primary tumors, enabling non-invasive early diagnosis, molecular subtyping, and real-time monitoring of therapeutic responses. Their natural biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, and intrinsic ability to traverse biological barriers make them ideal candidates for drug delivery systems. This review explores cutting-edge applications, including the use of EVs in immune checkpoint blockade therapy—for instance, engineered EVs displaying anti-PD-1 antibodies or carrying siRNA to silence immunosuppressive genes. Moreover, EV-based tumor vaccines are being developed, leveraging dendritic cell-derived EVs loaded with tumor antigens to elicit potent T cell responses. The feasibility of loading EVs with therapeutic molecules such as chemotherapeutic agents, oncolytic viruses, or CRISPR-Cas9 components is also under active investigation. The advent of engineered EVs has further expanded their therapeutic potential. Through surface modification or cargo encapsulation, EVs can be tailored for targeted delivery and controlled release, enhancing precision immunotherapy. However, several hurdles impede clinical translation. Current isolation and purification methods, such as ultracentrifugation and size-exclusion chromatography, suffer from low yield and purity. Distinguishing EV subpopulations remains technically challenging due to overlapping size and marker expression. Moreover, the lack of standardized protocols for EV production, characterization, and quality control poses significant barriers to regulatory approval and clinical adoption. Looking forward, the convergence of multi-omics technologies with artificial intelligence offers a powerful approach to decipher EV heterogeneity and identify robust diagnostic signatures. Machine learning algorithms can integrate proteomic, transcriptomic, and lipidomic data from large patient cohorts to construct predictive models for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Concurrently, advances in bioengineering are enabling the design of next-generation EVs with enhanced targeting specificity, on-demand drug release, and reduced off-target effects. Future efforts should also focus on establishing good manufacturing practice (GMP)‑compliant production processes and conducting rigorous preclinical and clinical evaluations. In summary, this review provides a comprehensive overview of EV biology, their multifaceted roles in the TME, and their transformative potential in cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. By addressing current challenges and leveraging emerging technologies, EV-based strategies are poised to revolutionize precision oncology.
2.The Diversity of Filamentous Morphologies and Magnetic Sensitivity Modulated by Diverse MagR Expression in Bacteria
Ya-Fei CHANG ; Jing ZHANG ; Peng ZHANG ; Xiu-Juan ZHOU ; Meng-Ke WEI ; Tian-Tian CAI ; Pei-Qi HE ; Jun-Feng WANG ; Can XIE
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1439-1456
Objective Magnetoreception, the remarkable ability of diverse animals to sense and utilize the geomagnetic field for orientation and navigation, remains a molecularly unresolved mystery in sensory biology. The putative magnetoreceptor (MagR, previously known as IscA1) is a highly conserved iron-sulfur protein implicated in both magnetoreception and iron metabolism; however, the functional diversity among its cross-species homologs remains poorly understood. Cellular morphology is a key genetically determined trait that can be altered through genetic or environmental modifications—a process known as cell morphology engineering. Constructing engineered cells with specific morphological features and magnetic sensitivity to achieve remote, non-invasive magnetic modulation represents a crucial goal in this field with significant application potential. Therefore, this study aims to systematically investigate the effects of MagR heterologous expression on bacterial morphology and magnetic sensing capabilities, screen for MagR-based magnetically sensitive morphology engineering pathways, and reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods We systematically screened 28 MagR homologous genes from diverse prokaryotic and animal taxa to evaluate their expression and corresponding phenotypic effects in Escherichia coli (E. coli). To compare the differential magnetic responses among bacteria expressing various recombinant MagR proteins, we utilized high-throughput automated bright-field microscopic imaging and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, comprehensive biochemical and biophysical characterizations of iron and iron-sulfur cluster binding were performed using Ferrozine colorimetric assays, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Additionally, 100 mT static magnetic field (SMF) exposure experiments were conducted to assess magnetically tunable phenotypes, while the intrinsic magnetic properties of purified MagR proteins were directly measured using a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. Results Our results demonstrated that the heterologous expression of MagR homologs induced varying degrees of bacterial filamentation. From this comprehensive screen, two distinct morphological patterns were identified: hydra (Hydra vulgaris) MagR (hyMagR) promoted uniform cell elongation and filamentation, exhibiting robust magnetic sensitivity manifested as significantly enhanced filamentation under the 100 mT SMF. In contrast, pigeon (Columba livia) MagR (clMagR) induced only low-frequency, extreme filamentation (sporadically exceeding 80 μm) with a relatively weaker magnetic morphological response. Mechanistically, our data unambiguously proved that these phenotypic differences are primarily driven by distinct iron redox preferences rather than total cellular iron accumulation. Specifically, hyMagR preferentially binds ferrous iron (Fe2+), whereas clMagR favors ferric iron (Fe3+) and forms more stable iron-sulfur clusters. Intriguingly, although SQUID magnetometry showed that purified clMagR exhibited approximately five-fold higher mass magnetic susceptibility than hyMagR, its cellular magnetic response was weaker. We hypothesize that the Fe2+-preferred intracellular environment associated with hyMagR overexpression primes the cell for enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via the Fenton reaction. Exposure to an SMF synergizes with this primed redox state, triggering the bacterial SOS response and upregulating cell division inhibitors to efficiently induce uniform filamentation. Conclusion Our findings identify the Fe2+/Fe3+ redox state as a critical determinant of MagR-mediated morphological remodeling and magnetic responsiveness. This discovery suggests a potential strategy for engineering magnetically responsive cellular systems for synthetic biology applications, and provides a plausible framework, which potentially combines intrinsic protein magnetism with redox-state modulation, for further investigating the evolutionary mechanisms of MagR-mediated magnetoreception.
3.The Diversity of Filamentous Morphologies and Magnetic Sensitivity Modulated by Diverse MagR Expression in Bacteria
Ya-Fei CHANG ; Jing ZHANG ; Peng ZHANG ; Xiu-Juan ZHOU ; Meng-Ke WEI ; Tian-Tian CAI ; Pei-Qi HE ; Jun-Feng WANG ; Can XIE
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(5):1439-1456
Objective Magnetoreception, the remarkable ability of diverse animals to sense and utilize the geomagnetic field for orientation and navigation, remains a molecularly unresolved mystery in sensory biology. The putative magnetoreceptor (MagR, previously known as IscA1) is a highly conserved iron-sulfur protein implicated in both magnetoreception and iron metabolism; however, the functional diversity among its cross-species homologs remains poorly understood. Cellular morphology is a key genetically determined trait that can be altered through genetic or environmental modifications—a process known as cell morphology engineering. Constructing engineered cells with specific morphological features and magnetic sensitivity to achieve remote, non-invasive magnetic modulation represents a crucial goal in this field with significant application potential. Therefore, this study aims to systematically investigate the effects of MagR heterologous expression on bacterial morphology and magnetic sensing capabilities, screen for MagR-based magnetically sensitive morphology engineering pathways, and reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods We systematically screened 28 MagR homologous genes from diverse prokaryotic and animal taxa to evaluate their expression and corresponding phenotypic effects in Escherichia coli (E. coli). To compare the differential magnetic responses among bacteria expressing various recombinant MagR proteins, we utilized high-throughput automated bright-field microscopic imaging and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, comprehensive biochemical and biophysical characterizations of iron and iron-sulfur cluster binding were performed using Ferrozine colorimetric assays, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Additionally, 100 mT static magnetic field (SMF) exposure experiments were conducted to assess magnetically tunable phenotypes, while the intrinsic magnetic properties of purified MagR proteins were directly measured using a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. Results Our results demonstrated that the heterologous expression of MagR homologs induced varying degrees of bacterial filamentation. From this comprehensive screen, two distinct morphological patterns were identified: hydra (Hydra vulgaris) MagR (hyMagR) promoted uniform cell elongation and filamentation, exhibiting robust magnetic sensitivity manifested as significantly enhanced filamentation under the 100 mT SMF. In contrast, pigeon (Columba livia) MagR (clMagR) induced only low-frequency, extreme filamentation (sporadically exceeding 80 μm) with a relatively weaker magnetic morphological response. Mechanistically, our data unambiguously proved that these phenotypic differences are primarily driven by distinct iron redox preferences rather than total cellular iron accumulation. Specifically, hyMagR preferentially binds ferrous iron (Fe2+), whereas clMagR favors ferric iron (Fe3+) and forms more stable iron-sulfur clusters. Intriguingly, although SQUID magnetometry showed that purified clMagR exhibited approximately five-fold higher mass magnetic susceptibility than hyMagR, its cellular magnetic response was weaker. We hypothesize that the Fe2+-preferred intracellular environment associated with hyMagR overexpression primes the cell for enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via the Fenton reaction. Exposure to an SMF synergizes with this primed redox state, triggering the bacterial SOS response and upregulating cell division inhibitors to efficiently induce uniform filamentation. Conclusion Our findings identify the Fe2+/Fe3+ redox state as a critical determinant of MagR-mediated morphological remodeling and magnetic responsiveness. This discovery suggests a potential strategy for engineering magnetically responsive cellular systems for synthetic biology applications, and provides a plausible framework, which potentially combines intrinsic protein magnetism with redox-state modulation, for further investigating the evolutionary mechanisms of MagR-mediated magnetoreception.
4.Consideration of Health Economics Evidence in Clinical Practice Guidelines: Methods and Steps
Dongrui PENG ; Qi ZHOU ; Xufei LUO ; Zijun WANG ; Hui LIU ; Junxian ZHAO ; Jinghong HUANG ; Hongyu HU ; Xin XING ; Jing WU ; Shitong XIE ; Xiaohui WANG ; Yaolong CHEN
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2026;17(3):862-870
Health economics evidence plays an important role in linking clinical value evidence with health resource allocation decisions in the development of clinical practice guidelines. It can not only effectively balance clinical effectiveness and economic feasibility but also avoid forming "idealized" recommendations that are detached from the affordability of the healthcare system or the burden-bearing capacity of patients. To promote guideline developers to use health economics evidence more standardizedly and fully, this paper conducts an in-depth analysis of the current application status, existing challenges, access channels, and application processes of health economics evidence in current guidelines, and on this basis, puts forward considerations and suggestions for strengthening and standardizing the application of health economics evidence in China's clinical practice guidelines.
5.Strategies for selecting recipient vessels in free flap reconstruction for head and neck defects
Hongbo XU ; Lifeng LI ; Xinmeng QI ; Jing ZHOU ; Zheng YANG ; Qi FU ; Guihua WANG ; Xiaohong CHEN ; Zhigang HUANG
Chinese Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 2025;32(7):409-412
OBJECTIVE To investigate the selection strategy for recipient vessels in free flap reconstruction of head and neck defects.METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on 96 patients who underwent 99 free flap reconstructions for head and neck defects between January 2020 and December 2024.Recipient vessel selection,flap survival,and postoperative complications were analyzed based on defect location and flap type.RESULTS In 99 cases microvessel anastomosis,the recipient arteries were superior thyroid artery in 49 branches,facial artery in 28 branches,superficial temporal artery in 14 branches,lingual artery in 5 branches.external carotid artery in 1 branch,transverse cervical artery in 1 branch,and superior laryngeal artery in 1 branch.Venous anastomosis was performed in 104 branches,with 94 cases in 1 venous anastomosis and 5 cases in 2 venous anastomoses.The recipient veins selected were facial vein in 62 branches,external jugular vein in 21 branches,superficial temporal vein in 12 branches,retromandibular vein in 3 branches,middle thyroid vein in 2 branches,internal jugular vein in 2 branches,middle temporal vein in 1 branch,and superior thyroid vein in 1 branch.Complete flap necrosis occurred in 5 cases,and partial necrosis occurred in 4 cases.When the recipient vessels were deficient,the lingual artery was chosen in 3 cases,the facial artery in 1 case,the external jugular vein in 3 cases,the internal jugular vein with end-to-side anastomosis in 1 case,and the common facial vein with end-to-side anastomosis in 1 case.CONCLUSION In free flap reconstruction for head and neck defects,the superior thyroid artery,facial artery,and superficial temporal artery are commonly used as recipient arteries,while the facial vein,external jugular vein,and superficial temporal vein are frequently selected as recipient veins.When recipient vessels are scarce,the ipsilateral lingual artery,transverse cervical artery,and main trunk of the internal jugular vein can serve as alternative recipient vessels.
6.A Sensitive Lateral Flow Immunoassay for Detection of Interleukin-6 Using Carbon Dots-Mesoporous Silica Nanocomposite Fluorescent Probes
Yue-Qian YANG ; Peng-Yue WANG ; Jia-Qi REN ; Xiao PAN ; Feng-Hua TAN ; Yu-Jie MA ; Cong-Ying WEN ; Jing-Bin ZENG
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(9):1467-1475
In this study,a sensitive lateral flow immunoassay(LFIA)platform based on carbon dots-mesoporous silica nanocomposite(CD-MSNs)fluorescent probes was constructed for high-performance detection of inflammatory marker interleukin-6(IL-6).Green fluorescent carbon dots(CDs)were prepared by hydrothermal method with 3,9-perylenic acid and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane(APTES)as raw materials,and highly fluorescent CD-MSNs composites were then constructed by encapsulating the prepared CDs in mesoporous silica nanoparticles(MSNs).Fluorescent probes were prepared by covalent coupling of CD-MSNs with IL-6 antibody.Fluorescent immunochromatographic test strips were constructed by spraying IL-6 capture antibody and goat anti-mouse IgG on nitrocellulose membrane as detection line(T-line)and quality control line(C-line),respectively.The fluorescence immunoassay analyzer was used to quantitatively detect the fluorescence intensity of T-line,and the experimental results showed that the LFIA platform based on this probe had a good linear relationship in IL-6 concentration range of 102-106 pg/mL,and the detection limit was 64 pg/mL,which was two orders of magnitude more sensitive than that of the traditional colloidal gold test strips.This method effectively solved the issue of insufficient sensitivity of traditional LFIA technique,and provided a rapid and highly sensitive detection method for early diagnosis of inflammatory diseases.
7.Guided by National Strategic Needs,Striving to Build a First-Class Forensic Medicine Discipline—The Construction Plan for Forensic Medicine at Southern Medical University
Dong-Fang QIAO ; Ping-Ming QIU ; Qi WANG ; Yun-Chun TAI ; Dong-Ri LI ; Jing-Tao XU ; Qi-Zhi LUO ; En-Ping HUANG ; Bo-Feng ZHU
Journal of Forensic Medicine 2025;41(1):15-19
The 2024 National Education Work Conference pointed out that at the current juncture of the critical period for achieving the goals and tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan,the implementation of the Education Powerhouse Construction Plan Outline should be taken as the main line of work,and building first-class disciplines is an crucial task for a higher education powerhouse.In 2022,forensic medicine was officially listed as a first-level discipline under the medical category,presenting an un-precedented historical opportunity for the development of forensic medicine.The forensic medicine dis-cipline of Southern Medical University comprehensively improves the quality of talent cultivation and facilitates the construction of first-class disciplines as its main direction.It aims to initiate and imple-ment a high-level faculty team building plan featuring"combining recruitment and cultivation,inter-disciplinary integration";make vigorous efforts to establish a first-level doctoral program,refine advan-tageous second-level disciplines and research directions;and establish an innovative research platform from a high starting point with deep integration.The discipline adheres to moral cultivation and the Five Domains of Education simultaneous development,to build a high-quality talent joint training model.Guided by the construction of the national legal system and industry needs,the discipline will enhance social service capabilities.The forensic medicine construction in our university will continue to contribute to the rule of law in China and educational power.
8.Multi-center clinical study on the efficacy and safety of combined lienal polypeptide injection therapy in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia
Qi CHENG ; Yunxiao SHANG ; Han ZHANG ; Jiujun LI ; Ning CHEN ; Lishen SHAN ; Nan YANG ; Lihua NING ; Xuemei BAI ; Jianhua LIU ; Yuling HAN ; Jichun WANG ; Jing LI ; Yong FENG ; Liyun LIU ; Li CHEN ; Si LIU ; Qinzhen ZHANG ; Jia ZHENG ; Fengchao LI ; Sukun LU ; Yun ZHANG ; Xiaoyi CHAI
International Journal of Pediatrics 2025;52(3):204-210
Objective:To observe the efficacy and safety of combined lienal polypeptide injection therapy in the treatment of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia(MPP)in children aged 3 to 14 years old in multiple clinical centers.Methods:A randomized,controlled,multi-center clinical study design was adopted.A total of 240 hospitalized children aged 3 to 14 years old with MPP from 7 hospitals from September 1,2023 to January 31,2024 were included.According to the severity of pneumonia,they were divided into the mild MPP group with 80 cases and the severe MPP/refractory MPP(SMPP/RMPP)group with 160 cases,and then randomly divided into the control group and the experimental group at a ratio of 1 ∶1,using the random number table method.After screening,subjects entered a treatment period of 5 to 7 days.The control group was treated with azithromycin,while the experimental group was treated with azithromycin plus lienal polypeptide injection .The recovery of lung CT,length of hospital stay,duration of fever,cough score,whether mild cases developed into severe or refractory cases,duration of hormone use,use of intravenous immunoglobulin(IVIG),bronchoscopy treatment,and immune function were observed between the two groups to evaluate the efficacy of lienal polypeptide injection.Adverse events after medication,vital signs,blood routine,urine routine,liver function,myocardial enzymes,renal function,and electrocardiogram were observed to evaluate the safety. Results:A total of 231 subjects have completed the trial in the 7 hospitals,including 118 cases in the experimental group and 113 cases in the control group.Main observation index:the rate of lung CT aggravation in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group(2.6% vs 15.3%, P<0.01),and the difference was statistically significant.Secondary indexes:there were no statistically significant differences in the length of hospital stay,duration of fever,cough score,duration of hormone use,whether IVIG treatment was used,the number of bronchoscopy treatment cases,and immunoglobulin between the two groups(all P>0.05).However,the rate of cases of plastic bronchitis(PB)found under bronchoscopy in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group(0 vs 18.8%, P=0.03),and the difference was statistically significant.Among the mild MPP(72 cases),there were no statistically significant differences in the length of hospital stay,duration of fever,cough score,duration of hormone use,whether IVIG treatment was used,the number of bronchoscopy treatment cases,and the improvement rate of lung CT between the two groups(all P>0.05).However,compared with the control group,the rate of cases developing into SMPP/RMPP in the experimental group was less(24.3% vs 48.6%, P=0.03),and the difference in IgG before and after treatment was small[0.53(-0.04,1.18)g/L vs 1.33(0.48,2.25)g/L, P=0.01].Among the SMPP/RMPP cases(159 cases),the rate of cases of PB found under bronchoscopy in the experimental group was less than that in the control group(0 vs 20%, P=0.04),and the rate of cases with aggravated lung CT in the experimental group was less than that in the control group(1.3% vs 19.5%, P<0.01),and the improvement rate of lung CT in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group(88.8% vs 75.3%, P=0.03),with statistically significant differences.There were no statistically significant differences in the length of hospital stay,duration of fever,cough score,duration of hormone use,whether IVIG treatment was used,the number of bronchoscopy treatment cases,and immunoglobulin between the two groups(all P>0.05).Two cases in the experimental group developed rashes,which improved after the drug was discontinued.There were no serious adverse reactions such as abnormal vital signs like dyspnea and cyanosis due to the use of lienal polypeptide injection.There were no obvious changes in blood routine,liver function,myocardial enzymes,renal function,electrocardiogram,and urine routine values before and after medication compared with the baseline. Conclusion:The combined use of lienal polypeptide injection in the treatment of MPP in children can reduce the probability of the transformation from mild cases to SMPP/RMPP,reduce the rate of aggravation of the image findings,promote the absorption of lung inflammation,reduce the rate of PB found under bronchoscopy,and has good safety.
9.Serum β 2-microglobulin and pro-inflammatory cytokines predict post-stroke depression in patients with acute ischemic stroke
Jing LIU ; Zhi QI ; Hailing MA ; Qing HE ; Shi WANG
International Journal of Cerebrovascular Diseases 2025;33(3):186-191
Objective:To investigate the predictive value of serum β 2-microglobulin (β 2M) and pro-inflammatory cytokines for post-stroke depression (PSD) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods:Patients with AIS admitted to the Department of Neurology, the Affiliated Municipal Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2020 to May 2023 were included retrospectively. At the 6-month outpatient follow-up, the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) was used to assess depression. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent influencing factors of PSD. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of individual and combined independent influencing factors on PSD. Results:A total of 161 patients were enrolled, including 82 males (50.93%), aged 61.78±11.95 years; 47 patients (29.20%) developed PSD. Univariate analysis showed that the proportion of males, serum β 2M, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level, and baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score in the PSD group were significantly different from those in the non-PSD group (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that serum β 2M (odds ratio [ OR] 4.257, 95% confidence interval [ CI]1.441-12.574; P=0.009), IL-1β ( OR 1.415, 95% CI 1.116-1.793; P=0.004), IL-6 ( OR 1.262, 95% CI 1.020-1.561; P=0.032), and TNF-α ( OR 1.246, 95% CI 1.021-1.521; P=0.030) were the independent influencing factors of PSD. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of serum β 2M for predicting PSD was 0.753 (95% CI 0.668-0.838), with an optimal cutoff value of 2.255 mg/L. The sensitivity and specificity were 59.6% and 80.7%, respectively. When serum β 2M was combined with IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α for prediction, the area under the curve increased to 0.893 (95% CI 0.837-0.948). Conclusion:The serum β 2M in combination with pro-inflammatory cytokines has good predictive value for PSD.
10.Effect of HER2 on bladder cancer by regulating PI3K-Akt signaling pathway via YWHAE and its mechanism
Long YANG ; Jing CUI ; Fan WANG ; Dan LI ; Qi ZHANG ; Yanlei LI
International Journal of Biomedical Engineering 2025;48(4):365-376
Objective:To investigate the effect of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) on bladder cancer by regulating phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway via tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein epsilon peptide (YWHAE) and to examine its mechanism.Methods:The gene expression profiling interactive analysis (GEPIA) database was used to analyze HER2 expression in 408 bladder cancer tissues and 19 adjacent normal tissues. HER2 expression was then compared between 215 tumor protein 53 ( TP53) mutant and 193 TP53 non-mutant bladder cancer tissues. Tissue samples were obtained from patients who underwent surgical resection for bladder cancer in Tianjin Medical University General Hospital between June 2010 and March 2015. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were performed to validate HER2 and p53 protein expression, as well as analyze their correlation. Bladder cancer T24 cells were transfected with short hairpin RNA targeting HER2 (shHER2) control (shCon) or shHER2, designated as shCon and shHER2 groups. Bladder cancer UMUC3 cells were transfected with overexpression control (oeCon), HER2 overexpression (oeHER2), oeYWHAE, or short hairpin RNA targeting murine double minute 2 (MDM2) (shMDM2), and were designated as the oeCon, oeHER2, oeYWHAE and shMDM2 groups, respectively. UMUC3 cells were then treated with either 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide or 100 mmol/L dihydrotestosterone and designated as the solvent control and dihydrotestosterone groups, respectively. Additionally, oeCon and oeYWHAE UMUC3 cells were treated with the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 (25 μmol/L), designated as the LY294002 and LY294002+oeYWHAE groups. On this basis, shHER2 was transfected into the oeCon and oeYWHAE groups, which were then designated as the shHER2-2 and shHER2-2+oeYWHAE groups. The relative expression levels of HER2, YWHAE mRNA, and HER2, p53, YWHAE, MDM2, phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt), and Akt proteins were determined using quantitative reverse transcription PCR and Western blotting. Cell Counting Kit-8, Transwell, and wound-healing assays were performed to evaluate the impact of HER2 on the proliferation, invasion, and migration of bladder cancer cells. Mass spectrometry and co-immunoprecipitation assays were performed to confirm the interaction between YWHAE and HER2, and immunofluorescence was used to detect p53 expression. BALB/c nude mice were subcutaneously injected with 5×10 6 UMUC3 cells in the scapular region. According to the random number table method, they were divided into negative the control group and the transfection group, with 3 mice in each group, and transfected with oeCon and oeHER2, respectively. Tumor volume and weight were measured and calculated, and HER2 and p53 protein expression in bladder cancer tissues was validated by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Independent sample t test or Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the two groups. One-way analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis test was used for comparison of multiple groups. Results:GEPIA database analysis demonstrated significantly higher levels of HER2 expression in bladder cancer tissues and in TP53 mutant bladder cancers compared with adjacent normal tissues (both P<0.01). HER2 expression was inversely correlated with p53 expression ( r=?0.6). Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting confirmed that p53 expression level in the bladder cancer tissues (5.32±0.11) was higher than that in the adjacent normal tissues (2.00±0.01), while HER2 expression level in the bladder cancer tissues (1.13±0.02) was lower than that in the adjacent normal tissues (6.20±0.06) (both P<0.01). HER2 mRNA and protein expression, absorbance at 450 nm wavelength ( A450) values, and cell invasion number and cell migration distance in the shHER2 group were all lower than those in the shCon group [0.25±0.01 vs 1.00±0.05, 1.00± 0.01 vs 3.26±0.09, 1.36±0.04 vs 1.65±0.06, (107.00±5.51) vs (202.70±11.61) cells, and (298.70±6.94) vs (454.30±7.84) μm] ( P<0.05, 0.01). HER2 mRNA and protein expression, absorbance ( A450) values, and cell invasion number and cell migration distance in the oeHER2 group were all higher than those in the oeCon group [0.78±0.02 vs 0.46±0.01, 2.05±0.02 vs 1.00±0.00, 1.23±0.06 vs 0.78±0.03, (136.30±5.24) vs (59.00±5.51) cells, and (153.70±7.27) vs (66.33±33.84) μm] ( P<0.05, 0.01). HER2 protein expression level in the dihydrotestosterone group was higher than that in the solvent control (1.83±0.19 vs 1.00±0.00), while p53 protein expression level in the dihydrotestosterone group was lower than that in the solvent control group (1.10±0.10 vs 1.53±0.15) (both P<0.01). The differentially expressed protein between the dihydrotestosterone group and solvent control group was YWHAE. The expression levels of YWHAE mRNA and protein in the dihydrotestosterone group (1.10±0.12 and 3.05±0.03) were higher than those in the solvent control group (0.30±0.12 and 1.00±0.00) (both P<0.01). YWHAE protein expression level in the oeHER2 group was higher than that in the oeCon group (1.37±0.08 vs 1.00±0.00) ( P<0.01) and YWHAE expression level in the bladder cancer tissues was higher than that in the adjacent normal tissues ( P<0.01). YWHAE expression positively correlated with HER2 expression ( r=0.4). Co-immunoprecipitation confirmed direct binding between HER2 and YWHAE. Overexpression of YWHAE significantly reduced p53 expression. The relative expression level of MDM2 protein in the oeYWHAE group (2.73±0.09) was lower than that in the oeCon group (3.43±0.12) ( P<0.01). The relative expression level of MDM2 protein in the shMDM2 group (1.00±0.00) was lower than that in the oeYWHAE group, and the relative expression level of p53 protein (2.00±0.00) was higher than that in the oeYWHAE group (1.07±0.07) (both P<0.01). The relative expression levels of YWHAE and p-Akt protein in the oeYWHAE group (1.23±0.09, 3.00±0.06) were higher than those in the oeCon group (1.00±0.00, 1.13±0.03) ( P<0.05, 0.01). The relative expression level of p-Akt protein in LY294002 group (2.20±0.06) was lower than that in the oeCon group (3.30±0.10), and the relative expression level of p53 protein (2.10±0.06) was higher than that in the oeCon group (1.00±0.00) (both P<0.01). The relative expression level of p-Akt protein in LY294002+oeYWHAE group (2.00±0.06) was lower than that in the oeYWHAE group (3.53±0.14), and the relative expression level of p53 protein (2.10±0.06) was higher than that in the oeYWHAE group (1.00±0.06) (both P<0.01). The relative expression levels levels of YWHAE, p-Akt and MDM2 protein in the shHER2-2 group (1.60±0.15, 1.70±0.06, 0.80±0.06) were lower than those in the oeCon group (2.30±0.06, 2.30±0.06, 1.13±0.09), and the relative expression level of p53 protein (1.83±0.12) was higher than that in the oeCon group (1.00±0.00) ( P<0.05, 0.01). The relative expression level of YWHAE protein in the shHER2-2+oeYWHAE group (2.00±0.06) was lower than that in the oeCon group ( P<0.01), and the relative expression levels of MDM2 and p53 protein (2.63±0.15, 1.13±0.03) were higher than those in the oeCon group ( P<0.05, 0.01). The tumor volume, tumor weight, and relative expression levels of HER2, YWHAE, p-Akt, and MDM2 proteins on day 28 in the transfection group [(5 133.0±185.6) mm 3, (0.65±0.12) g, 2.23±0.02, 4.00±0.12, 3.33±0.06 and 2.24±0.02] were higher than those in the negative control group [(2 633.0±88.2) mm 3, (0.33±0.07) g, 0.98±0.02, 1.27±0.03, 1.29±0.02 and 1.46±0.06] (all P<0.01). The relative expression level of p53 protein (1.21±0.04) was lower than that in the negative control group (3.29±0.04) ( P<0.01). Conclusions:HER2 may promote the malignant progression of bladder cancer by regulating the PI3K-Akt pathway via YWHAE, thereby facilitating MDM2 nuclear translocation and p53 degradation. This ultimately enhances the proliferative, migratory, and invasive capacities of bladder cancer cells.

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