1.Research progress on extrahepatic targeted delivery of mRNA-LNP
Lei LI ; Cai-li ZHAO ; Ning ZHANG ; Chun-lei LI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(2):359-368
Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) is a promising therapeutic drug with great potential in the fields of immunology, oncology, vaccines and inborn metabolic diseases. However, due to its instability and susceptibility to nuclease degradation, efficient delivery vectors are required. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are recognized as the most mature delivery vectors due to their advantages of easy formulation, high stability, efficient cell uptake and endosomal escape. However, the accumulation of LNPs in the liver severely limits the targeting and treatment of mRNA-LNP technology beyond the liver. To overcome this obstacle, researchers have been focusing on various means to achieve precise delivery of extrahepatic tissues and organs. This article mainly expounds the research progress of LNP-specific delivery mRNA from three aspects: endogenous targeting, active targeting and selection of administration route, in order to provide ideas and directions for the design of new mRNA-LNP delivery systems in the future.
2.The Adoption of Non-invasive Photobiomodulation in The Treatment of Epilepsy
Ao-Yun LI ; Zhan-Chuang LU ; Li CAO ; Si CHEN ; Hui JIANG ; Chang-Chun CHEN ; Lei CHEN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(4):882-898
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease caused by abnormal synchronous discharge of the brain, which is characterized by recurrent and transient neurological abnormalities, mainly manifested as loss of consciousness and limb convulsions, and can occur in people of all ages. At present, anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) are still the main means of treatment, but their efficacy is limited by the problem of drug resistance, and long-term use can cause serious side effects, such as cognitive dysfunction and vital organ damage. Although surgical resection of epileptic lesions has achieved certain results in some patients, the high cost and potential risk of neurological damage limit its scope of application. Therefore, the development of safe, accurate and personalized non-invasive treatment strategies has become one of the key directions of epilepsy research. In recent years, photobiomodulation (PBM) has gained significant attention as a promising non-invasive therapeutic approach. PBM uses light of specific wavelengths to penetrate tissues and interact with photosensitive molecules within cells, thereby modulating cellular metabolic processes. Research has shown that PBM can enhance mitochondrial function, promote ATP production, improve meningeal lymphatic drainage, reduce neuroinflammation, and stimulate the growth of neurons and synapses. These biological effects suggest that PBM not only holds the potential to reduce the frequency of seizures but also to improve the metabolic state and network function of neurons, providing a novel therapeutic avenue for epilepsy treatment. Compared to traditional treatment methods, PBM is non-invasive and avoids the risks associated with surgical interventions. Its low risk of significant side effects makes it particularly suitable for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, offering new therapeutic options for those who have not responded to conventional treatments. Furthermore, PBM’s multi-target mechanism enables it to address a variety of complex etiologies of epilepsy, demonstrating its potential in precision medicine. In contrast to therapies targeting a single pathological mechanism, PBM’s multifaceted approach makes it highly adaptable to different types of epilepsy, positioning it as a promising supplementary or alternative treatment. Although animal studies and preliminary clinical trials have shown positive outcomes with PBM, its clinical application remains in the exploratory phase. Future research should aim to elucidate the precise mechanisms of PBM, optimize light parameters, such as wavelength, dose, and frequency, and investigate potential synergistic effects with other therapeutic modalities. These efforts will be crucial for enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of PBM and ensuring its safety and consistency in clinical settings. This review summarizes the types of epilepsy, diagnostic biomarkers, the advantages of PBM, and its mechanisms and potential applications in epilepsy treatment. The unique value of PBM lies not only in its multi-target therapeutic effects but also in its adaptability to the diverse etiologies of epilepsy. The combination of PBM with traditional treatments, such as pharmacotherapy and neuroregulatory techniques, holds promise for developing a more comprehensive and multidimensional treatment strategy, ultimately alleviating the treatment burden on patients. PBM has also shown beneficial effects on neural network plasticity in various neurodegenerative diseases. The dynamic remodeling of neural networks plays a critical role in the pathogenesis and treatment of epilepsy, and PBM’s multi-target mechanism may promote brain function recovery by facilitating neural network remodeling. In this context, optimizing optical parameters remains a key area of research. By adjusting parameters such as wavelength, dose, and frequency, researchers aim to further enhance the therapeutic effects of PBM while maintaining its safety and stability. Looking forward, interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly in the fields of neuroscience, optical engineering, and clinical medicine, will drive the development of PBM technology and facilitate its transition from laboratory research to clinical application. With the advancement of portable devices, PBM is expected to provide safer and more effective treatments for epilepsy patients and make a significant contribution to personalized medicine, positioning it as a critical component of precision therapeutic strategies.
3.Structural and Spatial Analysis of The Recognition Relationship Between Influenza A Virus Neuraminidase Antigenic Epitopes and Antibodies
Zheng ZHU ; Zheng-Shan CHEN ; Guan-Ying ZHANG ; Ting FANG ; Pu FAN ; Lei BI ; Yue CUI ; Ze-Ya LI ; Chun-Yi SU ; Xiang-Yang CHI ; Chang-Ming YU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(4):957-969
ObjectiveThis study leverages structural data from antigen-antibody complexes of the influenza A virus neuraminidase (NA) protein to investigate the spatial recognition relationship between the antigenic epitopes and antibody paratopes. MethodsStructural data on NA protein antigen-antibody complexes were comprehensively collected from the SAbDab database, and processed to obtain the amino acid sequences and spatial distribution information on antigenic epitopes and corresponding antibody paratopes. Statistical analysis was conducted on the antibody sequences, frequency of use of genes, amino acid preferences, and the lengths of complementarity determining regions (CDR). Epitope hotspots for antibody binding were analyzed, and the spatial structural similarity of antibody paratopes was calculated and subjected to clustering, which allowed for a comprehensively exploration of the spatial recognition relationship between antigenic epitopes and antibodies. The specificity of antibodies targeting different antigenic epitope clusters was further validated through bio-layer interferometry (BLI) experiments. ResultsThe collected data revealed that the antigen-antibody complex structure data of influenza A virus NA protein in SAbDab database were mainly from H3N2, H7N9 and H1N1 subtypes. The hotspot regions of antigen epitopes were primarily located around the catalytic active site. The antibodies used for structural analysis were primarily derived from human and murine sources. Among murine antibodies, the most frequently used V-J gene combination was IGHV1-12*01/IGHJ2*01, while for human antibodies, the most common combination was IGHV1-69*01/IGHJ6*01. There were significant differences in the lengths and usage preferences of heavy chain CDR amino acids between antibodies that bind within the catalytic active site and those that bind to regions outside the catalytic active site. The results revealed that structurally similar antibodies could recognize the same epitopes, indicating a specific spatial recognition between antibody and antigen epitopes. Structural overlap in the binding regions was observed for antibodies with similar paratope structures, and the competitive binding of these antibodies to the epitope was confirmed through BLI experiments. ConclusionThe antigen epitopes of NA protein mainly ditributed around the catalytic active site and its surrounding loops. Spatial complementarity and electrostatic interactions play crucial roles in the recognition and binding of antibodies to antigenic epitopes in the catalytic region. There existed a spatial recognition relationship between antigens and antibodies that was independent of the uniqueness of antibody sequences, which means that antibodies with different sequences could potentially form similar local spatial structures and recognize the same epitopes.
4.The mechanism and clinical application value of interleukin-10 family in anti-hepatic fibrosis
Qi LUO ; Biyu ZENG ; Rong ZHANG ; Liangjiang HUANG ; Lei FU ; Chun YAO
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(4):748-754
The interleukin-10 (IL-10) family is expressed in various types of cells and has a wide range of biological functions, and it plays an important role in the development and progression of hepatic fibrosis. Hepatic fibrosis is a chronic liver disease characterized by abnormal repair of hepatic tissues after injury, activation of hepatic stellate cells, and excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix. The IL-10 family members include IL-10, IL-19, IL-20, IL-22, IL-24, IL-26, IL-28, IL-29, and IL-35, with similarities in structure and function, and changes in their expression levels are closely associated with the progression of hepatic fibrosis. Moderate upregulation of the expression of IL-10 family members can help maintain the quiescent state of hepatic stellate cells, promote the transformation of macrophages to anti-inflammatory phenotype, and regulate the activity of natural killer cells, thereby inhibiting inflammatory response, regulating cell apoptosis and autophagy, and finally reversing the progression of hepatic fibrosis. This article discusses the mechanism of action of IL-10 family members and their application in traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine therapies, in order to provide new thoughts for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis.
5.Immunomodulatory effect of short-chain fatty acids in hepatic encephalopathy and its potential diagnostic value
Weiyu CHEN ; Dewen MAO ; Han WANG ; Yang DU ; Wenqian FENG ; Lei FU ; Chun YAO
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(5):954-962
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a common complication of severe liver disease in the end stage, and it is urgently needed to improve the rate of effective treatment and clarify the pathogenesis of HE. The liver is a crucial hub for immune regulation, and disruption of immune homeostasis is a key factor in the pathological mechanisms of HE. As the main metabolites of intestinal flora, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) play a vital role in the biological processes of both innate and adaptive immunity and can regulate the proliferation and differentiation of immune cells maintain the homeostasis of intestinal microenvironment and the integrity of barrier function. Studies have shown that SCFAs participate in bidirectional and dynamic interactions with the liver-gut-brain axis through immunomodulatory pathways, thereby playing an important role in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognostic evaluation of HE. Starting from the immunoregulatory effect of SCFAs, this article summarizes and analyzes the crosstalk relationship between SCFAs and the liver-gut-brain axis and the significance of SCFAs in the diagnosis and treatment of HE, in order to provide new ideas for optimizing clinical prevention and treatment strategies.
6.Efficacy and Safety of Blinatumomab in Adult Patients with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Ya-Lei HU ; Yong-Feng SU ; Yang LI ; Xuan ZHENG ; An WANG ; Yi-Zhi WANG ; Lei XU ; Chun-Ji GAO ; Liang-Ding HU ; Dai-Hong LIU ; Xiao-Ning GAO
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(6):1571-1576
Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of blinatumomab in adult patients with relapsed/refractory(R/R)or measurable residual disease(MRD)positive B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia(B-ALL)in the real world.Methods:The clinical data of 30 B-ALL patients received at least 1 course of blinatumomab therapy in the Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 1st,2021 to December 31st,2023 were retrospectively analyzed,including pre-treatment baseline clinical feature,post-treatment complete response(CR),CR with partial hematologic recovery(CRh),CR with incomplete hematologic recovery(CRi),complete MRD response rate,MRD response rate(MRD<10-4),overall survival(OS),and disease-free survival(DFS),as well as drug-related adverse reactions.Results:Among 5 patients who were not assessed 4 were MRD negative and 1 did not receive bone marrow biopsy.In the R/R B-ALL group(13 cases),11 patients achieved CR/CRh/CRi and 10 patients achieved complete MRD response.In MRD+group(12 cases),9 patients achieved overall MRD response and 7 patients achieved complete MRD response.The median follow-up time was 8.4(95%CI:6.3-10.4)months.The median OS was 15.5(95%CI:0.7-30.3)months in the R/R group,while not reached in the MRD+group.The median DFS of the two groups were not reached.Drug-related adverse reactions occurred in 22 patients,and pyrexia was the most common(13 cases).Grade ≥3 adverse reactions occurred in 15 patients,and neutropenia was the most common(9 cases).Cytokine release syndrome occurred in 6 patients,including 5 cases with grade 1 and 1 case with grade 3.No patients interrupted therapy or died due to drug-related adverse reactions.Conclusion:Blinatumomab is effective in the treatment of R/R or continuous MRD+B-ALL with acceptable adverse reactions.
7.Clinical significance of postoperative recurrence pattern and prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Lei ZHU ; Meng-xin LUO ; Hai-chun ZHAO ; Zi-cheng GUO
Chinese Journal of Current Advances in General Surgery 2025;28(9):673-679
Objective:This study aimed was to analyze the disease progression of postoperative recurrence/me-tastasis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC)and provide clinical evidence for evaluating the difference in prog-nosis between site and pattern of recurrence/metastasis.Methods:The clinical data of 167 patients with PDAC who underwent pancreatectomy in Panjin Liao-Oil Gem Flower Hospital from January 2011 to June 2019 were retrospec-tively analyzed.Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox-regression analyses were applied to assess survival outcomes.Results:In this study,96 patients(57.5%)recurred within 12 months after surgery,and the median recurrence time was 10.9 months.Compared to patients without recurrence,patients with recurrence/metastasis had higher baseline CA19-9>100 IU/mL and were treated more often with neoadjuvant chemotherapy(P<0.05).In the no recurrence group,patients had histopathological analyses yielded lower less poorly differentiated tumors,less positive margin,less pT3+4 stages and pN1+2 stages(P<0.05).In a multivariate Cox regression analysis,receipt of neoadjuvant chemotherapy,poor tumor differ-entiation and positive margin were independent predictors for recurrence/metastasis within 12 months after surgery(P<0.05).Neoadjuvant treated patients had less pT1+2 stages(P=0.015),a lower lymph node ratio,less perineural invasion,less positive margin,and were less likely to be treated with adjuvant chemotherapy compared to upfront surgery treated patients(P<0.05).Recurrence/metastasis rates were higher in the neoadjuvant treated cohort versus the upfront surgery cohort(P=0.014).There was no statistical difference in the recurrence/metastasis rate distribution between neoadjuvant therapy and upfront surgery,and neoadjuvant therapy exhibited no significant impact on recurrence/metastasis patterns in PDAC(P>0.05).The overall survival period of patients without recurrence/metastasis within 12 months was signifi-cantly longer than that of patients with recurrence/metastasis after PDAC resection(P<0.001).Conclusion:The varying site recurrence/metastasis rates and time to recurrence/metastasis,underline the inherent heterogeneity of PDAC and the specific interactions in the tumor microenvironments at the recurrence/metastasis sites.Further research is essential to establish optimal personalized treatment strategies for patients with recurrent PDAC.
8.Chinese expert consensus on standardized assessment of severe coagulopathy(2025 edition)
Jing-Chun SONG ; Jun GUO ; Lei ZHANG ; Ren-Yu DING ; Gang WANG ; Wei ZHANG ; Jing ZHOU ; Lu KE ; Jin-Hua ZHANG
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2025;50(9):1055-1069
Over 40%of critically ill patients will develop coagulopathy.Once critically ill patients are complicated with coagulopathy,the incidence of bleeding and mortality can increase by more than 4 times.Early identification of coagulopathy and accurate evaluation of coagulation function are essential for correcting coagulopathy as soon as possible.Therefore,Chinese Society of Thrombosis,Hemostasis and Critical Care,Chinese Medicine Education Association,together with Chinese People's Liberation Army Professional Committee of Critical Care Medicine updated the"Chinese expert consensus on standardized assessment of severe coagulopathy(2025 Edition)"on the basis of the"Consensus of Chinese experts on standardized evaluation of coagulation dysfunction in severe patients"formulated in 2022.This consensus includes four parts:classification and typing,etiology and mechanism,assessment methods,and diagnostic criteria of severe coagulopathy,with a total of 14 recommendations,aiming to provide corresponding guidance for clinical practice.
9.Impact of altitude on NIH-CPSI scores in patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome
Qiang ZHANG ; Qian TANG ; Xu-zhen SU ; Rui-jun XIANG ; Chun-lei ZHANG ; Bin ZHANG ; De-hui CHANG
National Journal of Andrology 2025;31(7):619-624
Objective:To analyze the effect of altitude on NIH-CPSI score in patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome(CP/CPPS)Methods:Clinical data and the results of NIH-CPSI Questionnaire of the 321 patients with CP/CPPS at different altitudes were collected from March 2021 to March 2022.And the influence of altitudes on NIH-CPSI score of CP/CPPS was analyzed.Result:The NIH-CPSI score of patients living at an altitude of 4 300 m was significantly higher than that of patients living at an altitude of 1 500 m and 2 200 m.The CP/CPPS patients who lived in the higher altitude had more severe symptoms of pain and urination as well as lower scores of life quality(P<0.05).Conclusion:NIH-CPSI score increased significantly with higher alti-tude,indicating more severe symptoms and decreased quality of life in CP/CPPS patients.These findings highlight the need for man-agement strategies for specific heights in patients with CP/CPPS.
10.Value of serum free light chain in the prognosis evaluation of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Hui WANG ; Rong WANG ; Erfu XIE ; Xiaojiao SHI ; Lei FAN ; Chun QIAO ; Hairong QIU ; Yan WANG
Chinese Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2025;48(1):142-148
Objective:To explore the prognostic value of serum free light chain in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients.Methods:Retrospective cohort study was conducted. One hundred and fifty-six newly diagnosed chronic lymphocytic leukemia(CLL) patients in the first affiliated hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2016 to December 2020 were included in the retrospective analysis. Among them, there were 106 males and 50 females, with a median age of 60.7 (53.4, 66.0) years old.Serum sample was collected, serum free light chains were detected, and patients were divided into a treatment group (106 cases) and a follow-up group (50 cases) based on the presence of treatment indications.The threshold of serum free light chain(sFLC) was defined by the reference range of the instruction manual and ROC curve. Three indicators were used, including sFLCR, sFLC(κ+λ) and sFLC(κ-λ). Patients were divided into normal sFLCR group ( n=61)and abnormal group( n=95), as well as sFLC (κ+λ) low value group ( n=88) and high value group ( n=68), and sFLC (κ-λ) low value group ( n=64) and high value group ( n=92).The abnormal group and high value group were enrolled as the experimental group, while the normal group and low value group were enrolled as control group. Chi-square test and Fisher′s exact test were used to compare the clinical data, cytogenetics, and molecular biology characteristics of patients in two groups, Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the median treatment-free survival (TFS) of the patients, and Cox regression was used to screen the prognostic factors of the patients. Results:The proportion of Rai stage Ⅰ-Ⅳ ( χ2=8.16, P<0.05 and χ2=7.63, P<0.05 and χ2=5.45, P<0.05), Binet stage B-C( χ2=4.11, P<0.05 and χ2=9.43, P<0.05 and χ2=7.34, P<0.05), β 2-microglobulin>3.5 mg/L( χ2=5.13, P<0.05 and χ2=18.3, P<0.05 and χ2=12, P<0.05), ATM gene mutation rate( χ2=6.21, P<0.05 and χ2=4.88, P<0.05 and χ2=5.19, P<0.05), and immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (IGHV) mutation free rate ( χ2=18.9, P<0.05 and χ2=24.6, P<0.05 and χ2=10.4, P<0.05)in the experimental group were significantly higher than that in control group 1 ( P<0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated that sFLC(κ+λ) ( HR=1.615,95% CI 1.012-2.576, P=0.044), β 2-microglobulin>3.5 mg/L( HR=2.103,95% CI 1.356-3.262, P=0.001) and TP53 deletion and/or mutation( HR=1.892,95% CI 1.082-3.308, P=0.025) were independent prognostic factors affecting the patients time to first treatment(TFT). Conclusions:Serum free light chains can predict the risk of early treatment and have good prognostic significance in newly diagnosed CLL patients.

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