1.Construction of Saikosaponin D Multifunctional Liposomes and Evaluation of Its Anti-liver Cancer Efficacy and Targeting
Kun YU ; Guochun YANG ; Yaliang JIANG ; Yunting XIAO ; Congxian WANG ; Qionge SUN ; Ziyue LI ; Yikun SHANG ; Yu MAO ; Xin CHENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(9):205-216
ObjectiveTo construct a multifunctional liposomal delivery system by replacing cholesterol(Chol) in conventional liposomes with saikosaponin D(SSD) and modifying with poloxamer 407(P407) for co-delivery of curcumin(Cur). The system was evaluated for in vivo tumor targeting and inhibitory effects on mouse subcutaneous solid tumors. MethodsSingle-factor and orthogonal tests combined with information entropy weighting were used to optimize the formulation process of the liposome with encapsulation efficiency and absolute Zeta potential as indexes, and validation studies and liposomal characterization were performed. A subcutaneous solid tumor model was established by injecting H22 hepatocellular carcinoma cells subcutaneously into the dorsal surface of the right forelimb of mice. DiR-loaded traditional Chol liposomes(P407-DiR-Chol-LPs, PDCL) and novel SSD-based liposomes(P407-DiR-SSD-LPs, PDSL) were prepared by the optimized formulation process, and tail vein injection was performed to investigate the impact of SSD on liposome tumor targeting with small animal in vivo imaging. Mice were randomly divided into eight groups, including blank group, model group, free doxorubicin(DOX) group(2 mg·kg-1), free Cur group(8 mg·kg-1), free SSD group(10 mg·kg-1), P407-Cur-Chol-LPs(PCCL) group, P407-SSD-LPs(PSL) group, and P407-Cur-SSD-Lps(PCSL) group. Treatments were administered intraperitoneally every other day for seven doses. Antitumor efficacy and biocompatibility were evaluated by monitoring body weight change, organ indices, tumor volume and mass, relative tumor proliferation rate(T/C), and tumor growth inhibition rate(TGI). Histopathological analysis of liver, kidney, and tumor tissues was performed using hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. Serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen(BUN), and creatinine(Crea)in mice were quantified by fully automated biochemical analyzer. ResultsOrthogonal test yielded optimal ratios of Cur, SSD, and P407 to soybean phosphatidylcholine(SPC) as 1∶25, 1∶20, and 1∶4. The optimized PCSL exhibited spherical morphology with a particle size of 179.15 nm, a Zeta potential of -47.25 mV, and an encapsulation efficiency of 96.40%. Its in vitro release profile conformed to first-order kinetics, demonstrating excellent storage stability and hemocompatibility. In vivo imaging revealed that the fluorescence signal in tumor tissues and the fluorescence intensity ratio between tumors and organs were significantly higher in the PDSL group than in the PDCL group(P<0.05, P<0.01). Among the treatment groups, PCSL group showed superior efficacy over free Cur group, free SSD group, PCCL group, and PSL group, with TGI>40% and T/C<60%, indicating pronounced anti-hepatocellular carcinoma effects(P<0.05, P<0.01). Histopathology and serum biochemistry indicated minimal hepatorenal toxicity and improved hepatic and renal function in PCSL-treated mice. ConclusionReplacing Chol with SSD in preparing multifunctional drug delivery systems not only stabilizes liposomes but also yields superior anti-hepatocellular carcinoma efficacy, achieving the effect of drug-excipient integration. Co-delivery of Cur via this system can be used for treating subcutaneous solid tumors in hepatocellular carcinoma, providing new insights and technical approaches for anti-hepatocellular carcinoma research and the meridian-guiding and messenger-directing theory in traditional Chinese medicine.
2.Improvement effect and mechanism of Dendrobium officinale on skin damage in mice with xeroderma
Penglong YU ; Jianqing DENG ; Shanhong SUN ; Kun GAO ; Jianghua HU
China Pharmacy 2026;37(7):914-919
OBJECTIVE To study the improvement effect and mechanism of Dendrobium officinale on skin damage in mice with xeroderma. METHODS The mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, and D. officinale group, with 5 mice in each group. Except for the control group (which only underwent shaving treatment), the mice in all other groups were induced to develop a xeroderma model using an acetone-ether mixture for five consecutive days. The mice in D. officinale group were treated with 200 μL of D. officinale suspension (0.2 mg/mL) two hours after the first modeling each day. Mice in the control group and the model group were applied with an equal volume of pure water; once a day, until the end of the modeling process. After last medication, skin lesions and pathological morphology of the mice were observed. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expressions of Filaggrin, Loricrin and Ki67 proteins in skin tissue of the mice. The core pathways through which D. officinale improves skin damage in xeroderma were screened using 16S rRNA sequencing combined with gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses, and subsequent validation was conducted. RESULTS Compared with the control group, the mice in the model group exhibited obvious scratching behavior, with a large amount of scale on the skin, excessive epidermal keratinization, and thickened stratum spinosum. The skin scale score, epidermal thickness, and the expression levels of Ki67, Filaggrin, and Loricrin proteins in the skin tissue were significantly increased/elevated ( P <0.05). Compared with model group, the mice in the D. officinale group exhibited reduced scratching behavior and scaling, along with a mitigated degree of skin keratinization. The aforementioned quantitative indicators were significantly decreased/reduced ( P <0.05). The results of core pathway screening revealed that the KEGG pathways involving differentially expressed genes included signaling pathways such as interleukin-17 (IL-17) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Further validation experim ents found that after intervention with D. officinale , mRNA expression of downstream effector molecules CCN1, Hbegf, Tnfrsf12a, and Thbs1 genes in skin tissues were all significantly reduced ( P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS D. officinale can repair skin damage in mice with xeroderma, and its mechanism of action is related to restoring the balance of proliferation and differentiation in keratinocytes and down-regulating the mRNA expressions of CCN1, Hbegf, Tnfrsf12a, and Thbs1.
3.Endoplasmic reticulum stress in the occurrence and development of common degenerative bone diseases
Kun QIAN ; Ziqing LI ; Shui SUN
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(6):1285-1295
BACKGROUND:The specific molecular mechanisms underlying common degenerative bone diseases,such as osteoarthritis,osteoporosis,and intervertebral disc degeneration,are currently unclear and may involve endoplasmic reticulum stress.At present,research on the systematic role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in the pathogenesis of these common skeletal diseases and related therapeutic progress is relatively limited. OBJECTIVE:To review the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in common degenerative bone diseases,explore the molecular mechanisms of these diseases in depth,and provide new ideas and perspectives for prevention and treatment of these diseases. METHODS:Relevant literature from 2000 to 2024 was searched in CNKI,WanFang,VIP,PubMed and Web of Science databases using the search terms of"endoplasmic reticulum stress,bone disease,unfolded protein response,osteoarthritis,osteoporosis,intervertebral disc degeneration,autophagy,apoptosis,ferroptosis,pyroptosis"in Chinese and English.After removal of duplicates and older literature,a total of 115 articles met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Endoplasmic reticulum stress has a dual effect in regulating cell physiology.Mild endoplasmic reticulum stress promotes osteogenic differentiation and extracellular matrix synthesis;however,persistent excessive endoplasmic reticulum stress leads to cell death.Endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced cell autophagy and apoptosis are closely related to osteoarthritis,osteoporosis,and intervertebral disc degeneration.Aging,drug side effects,metabolic disorders,calcium imbalance,poor lifestyle habits and other reasons may lead to long-term activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress,which causes bone remodeling disorders,cartilage damage,nucleus pulposus cell death and other pathological manifestations,ultimately leading to the occurrence of osteoarthritis,osteoporosis and intervertebral disc degeneration.Intervention in the relevant mechanisms triggering endoplasmic reticulum stress is expected to play a role in the prevention and treatment of common degenerative bone diseases,such as osteoarthritis,osteoporosis and intervertebral disc degeneration.
4.Identifying Trends in Oncology Research through a Bibliographic Analysis of Cancer Research and Treatment
Choong-kun LEE ; Jeong Min CHOO ; Yong Chan AHN ; Jin KIM ; Sun Young RHA ; Chai Hong RIM ;
Cancer Research and Treatment 2025;57(1):11-18
During the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Korean Cancer Association, articles published in Cancer Research and Treatment from 2004 to 2023 were assessed based on the subject and design of each study. Based on this analysis, trends in domestic cancer research were inferred and directions were suggested for the future development of Cancer Research and Treatment.
5.Identifying Trends in Oncology Research through a Bibliographic Analysis of Cancer Research and Treatment
Choong-kun LEE ; Jeong Min CHOO ; Yong Chan AHN ; Jin KIM ; Sun Young RHA ; Chai Hong RIM ;
Cancer Research and Treatment 2025;57(1):11-18
During the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Korean Cancer Association, articles published in Cancer Research and Treatment from 2004 to 2023 were assessed based on the subject and design of each study. Based on this analysis, trends in domestic cancer research were inferred and directions were suggested for the future development of Cancer Research and Treatment.
6.Real-world efficacy and safety of azvudine in hospitalized older patients with COVID-19 during the omicron wave in China: A retrospective cohort study.
Yuanchao ZHU ; Fei ZHAO ; Yubing ZHU ; Xingang LI ; Deshi DONG ; Bolin ZHU ; Jianchun LI ; Xin HU ; Zinan ZHAO ; Wenfeng XU ; Yang JV ; Dandan WANG ; Yingming ZHENG ; Yiwen DONG ; Lu LI ; Shilei YANG ; Zhiyuan TENG ; Ling LU ; Jingwei ZHU ; Linzhe DU ; Yunxin LIU ; Lechuan JIA ; Qiujv ZHANG ; Hui MA ; Ana ZHAO ; Hongliu JIANG ; Xin XU ; Jinli WANG ; Xuping QIAN ; Wei ZHANG ; Tingting ZHENG ; Chunxia YANG ; Xuguang CHEN ; Kun LIU ; Huanhuan JIANG ; Dongxiang QU ; Jia SONG ; Hua CHENG ; Wenfang SUN ; Hanqiu ZHAN ; Xiao LI ; Yafeng WANG ; Aixia WANG ; Li LIU ; Lihua YANG ; Nan ZHANG ; Shumin CHEN ; Jingjing MA ; Wei LIU ; Xiaoxiang DU ; Meiqin ZHENG ; Liyan WAN ; Guangqing DU ; Hangmei LIU ; Pengfei JIN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(1):123-132
Debates persist regarding the efficacy and safety of azvudine, particularly its real-world outcomes. This study involved patients aged ≥60 years who were admitted to 25 hospitals in mainland China with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between December 1, 2022, and February 28, 2023. Efficacy outcomes were all-cause mortality during hospitalization, the proportion of patients discharged with recovery, time to nucleic acid-negative conversion (T NANC), time to symptom improvement (T SI), and time of hospital stay (T HS). Safety was also assessed. Among the 5884 participants identified, 1999 received azvudine, and 1999 matched controls were included after exclusion and propensity score matching. Azvudine recipients exhibited lower all-cause mortality compared with controls in the overall population (13.3% vs. 17.1%, RR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.67-0.90; P = 0.001) and in the severe subgroup (25.7% vs. 33.7%; RR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.66-0.88; P < 0.001). A higher proportion of patients discharged with recovery, and a shorter T NANC were associated with azvudine recipients, especially in the severe subgroup. The incidence of adverse events in azvudine recipients was comparable to that in the control group (2.3% vs. 1.7%, P = 0.170). In conclusion, azvudine showed efficacy and safety in older patients hospitalized with COVID-19 during the SARS-CoV-2 omicron wave in China.
7.Anti-SARS-CoV-2 prodrug ATV006 has broad-spectrum antiviral activity against human and animal coronaviruses.
Tiefeng XU ; Kun LI ; Siyao HUANG ; Konstantin I IVANOV ; Sidi YANG ; Yanxi JI ; Hanwei ZHANG ; Wenbin WU ; Ye HE ; Qiang ZENG ; Feng CONG ; Qifan ZHOU ; Yingjun LI ; Jian PAN ; Jincun ZHAO ; Chunmei LI ; Xumu ZHANG ; Liu CAO ; Deyin GUO
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(5):2498-2510
Coronavirus-related diseases pose a significant challenge to the global health system. Given the diversity of coronaviruses and the unpredictable nature of disease outbreaks, the traditional "one bug, one drug" paradigm struggles to address the growing number of emerging crises. Therefore, there is an urgent need for therapeutic agents with broad-spectrum anti-coronavirus activity. Here, we provide evidence that ATV006, an anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleoside analog targeting RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), has broad antiviral activity against human and animal coronaviruses. Using mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) and human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63) as a model, we show that ATV006 has potent prophylactic and therapeutic activity against murine coronavirus infection in vivo. Remarkably, ATV006 successfully inhibits viral replication in mice even when administered 96 h after infection. Due to its oral bioavailability and potency against multiple coronaviruses, ATV006 has the potential to become a useful antiviral agent against SARS-CoV-2 and other circulating and emerging coronaviruses in humans and animals.
8.Targeting copper homeostasis: Akkermansia-derived OMVs co-deliver Atox1 siRNA and elesclomol for cancer therapy.
Muhammad HAMZA ; Shuai WANG ; Hao WU ; Jiayi SUN ; Yang DU ; Chuting ZENG ; Yike LIU ; Kun LI ; Xili ZHU ; Huiying LIU ; Lin CHEN ; Motao ZHU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(5):2640-2654
Cuproptosis, a recently identified form of regulated cell death triggered by excess intracellular copper, has emerged as a promising cytotoxic strategy for cancer therapy. However, the therapeutic efficacy of copper ionophores such as elesclomol (ES) is often hindered by cellular copper homeostasis mechanisms that limit copper influx and cuproptosis induction. To address this challenge, we developed a nanoagent utilizing outer membrane vesicle (OMV) derived from Akkermansia muciniphila (Akk) for co-delivery of antioxidant 1 copper chaperone (Atox1)-targeting siRNA and ES (siAtox1/ES@OMV) to tumors. In vitro, we demonstrated that Atox1 knockdown via siRNA significantly disrupted copper export mechanisms, resulting in elevated intracellular copper levels. Simultaneously, ES facilitated efficient copper influx and mitochondrial transport, leading to Fe-S cluster depletion, increased proteotoxic stress, and robust cuproptosis. In vivo, siAtox1/ES@OMV achieved targeted tumor delivery and induced pronounced cuproptosis. Furthermore, leveraging the immunomodulatory properties of OMVs, siAtox1/ES@OMV promoted T-cell infiltration and the activation of tumor-reactive cytotoxic T cells, enhancing tumor immune responses. The combination of siAtox1/ES-induced cuproptosis and immunogenic cell death synergistically suppressed tumor growth in both subcutaneous breast cancer and orthotopic rectal cancer mouse models. This study highlights the potential of integrating copper homeostasis disruption with a copper ionophore using an immunomodulatory OMV-based vector, offering a promising combinatorial strategy for cancer therapy.
9.USP51/GRP78/ABCB1 axis confers chemoresistance through decreasing doxorubicin accumulation in triple-negative breast cancer cells.
Yang OU ; Kun ZHANG ; Qiuying SHUAI ; Chenyang WANG ; Huayu HU ; Lixia CAO ; Chunchun QI ; Min GUO ; Zhaoxian LI ; Jie SHI ; Yuxin LIU ; Siyu ZUO ; Xiao CHEN ; Yanjing WANG ; Mengdan FENG ; Hang WANG ; Peiqing SUN ; Yi SHI ; Guang YANG ; Shuang YANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(5):2593-2611
Recent studies have indicated that the expression of ubiquitin-specific protease 51 (USP51), a novel deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) that mediates protein degradation as part of the ubiquitin‒proteasome system (UPS), is associated with tumor progression and therapeutic resistance in multiple malignancies. However, the underlying mechanisms and signaling networks involved in USP51-mediated regulation of malignant phenotypes remain largely unknown. The present study provides evidence of USP51's functions as the prominent DUB in chemoresistant triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. At the molecular level, ectopic expression of USP51 stabilized the 78 kDa Glucose-Regulated Protein (GRP78) protein through deubiquitination, thereby increasing its expression and localization on the cell surface. Furthermore, the upregulation of cell surface GRP78 increased the activity of ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1), the main efflux pump of doxorubicin (DOX), ultimately decreasing its accumulation in TNBC cells and promoting the development of drug resistance both in vitro and in vivo. Clinically, we found significant correlations among USP51, GRP78, and ABCB1 expression in TNBC patients with chemoresistance. Elevated USP51, GRP78, and ABCB1 levels were also strongly associated with a poor patient prognosis. Importantly, we revealed an alternative intervention for specific pharmacological targeting of USP51 for TNBC cell chemosensitization. In conclusion, these findings collectively indicate that the USP51/GRP78/ABCB1 network is a key contributor to the malignant progression and chemotherapeutic resistance of TNBC cells, underscoring the pivotal role of USP51 as a novel therapeutic target for cancer management.
10.ALKBH3-regulated m1A of ALDOA potentiates glycolysis and doxorubicin resistance of triple negative breast cancer cells.
Yuhua DENG ; Zhiyan CHEN ; Peixian CHEN ; Yaming XIONG ; Chuling ZHANG ; Qiuyuan WU ; Huiqi HUANG ; Shuqing YANG ; Kun ZHANG ; Tiancheng HE ; Wei LI ; Guolin YE ; Wei LUO ; Hongsheng WANG ; Dan ZHOU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(6):3092-3106
Chemotherapy is currently the mainstay of systemic management for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), but chemoresistance significantly impacts patient outcomes. Our research indicates that Doxorubicin (Dox)-resistant TNBC cells exhibit increased glycolysis and ATP generation compared to their parental cells, with this metabolic shift contributing to chemoresistance. We discovered that ALKBH3, an m1A demethylase enzyme, is crucial in regulating the enhanced glycolysis in Dox-resistant TNBC cells. Knocking down ALKBH3 reduced ATP generation, glucose consumption, and lactate production, implicating its involvement in mediating glycolysis. Further investigation revealed that aldolase A (ALDOA), a key enzyme in glycolysis, is a downstream target of ALKBH3. ALKBH3 regulates ALDOA mRNA stability through m1A demethylation at the 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR). This methylation negatively affects ALDOA mRNA stability by recruiting the YTHDF2/PAN2-PAN3 complex, leading to mRNA degradation. The ALKBH3/ALDOA axis promotes Dox resistance both in vitro and in vivo. Clinical analysis demonstrated that ALKBH3 and ALDOA are upregulated in breast cancer tissues, and higher expression of these proteins is associated with reduced overall survival in TNBC patients. Our study highlights the role of the ALKBH3/ALDOA axis in contributing to Dox resistance in TNBC cells through regulation of ALDOA mRNA stability and glycolysis.

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