1.Role of SWI/SNF Chromatin Remodeling Complex in Tumor Drug Resistance
Gui-Zhen ZHU ; Qiao YE ; Yuan LUO ; Jie PENG ; Lu WANG ; Zhao-Ting YANG ; Feng-Sen DUAN ; Bing-Qian GUO ; Zhu-Song MEI ; Guang-Yun WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):20-31
Tumor drug resistance is an important problem in the failure of chemotherapy and targeted drug therapy, which is a complex process involving chromatin remodeling. SWI/SNF is one of the most studied ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes in tumorigenesis, which plays an important role in the coordination of chromatin structural stability, gene expression, and post-translation modification. However, its mechanism in tumor drug resistance has not been systematically combed. SWI/SNF can be divided into 3 types according to its subunit composition: BAF, PBAF, and ncBAF. These 3 subtypes all contain two mutually exclusive ATPase catalytic subunits (SMARCA2 or SMARCA4), core subunits (SMARCC1 and SMARCD1), and regulatory subunits (ARID1A, PBRM1, and ACTB, etc.), which can control gene expression by regulating chromatin structure. The change of SWI/SNF complex subunits is one of the important factors of tumor drug resistance and progress. SMARCA4 and ARID1A are the most widely studied subunits in tumor drug resistance. Low expression of SMARCA4 can lead to the deletion of the transcription inhibitor of the BCL2L1 gene in mantle cell lymphoma, which will result in transcription up-regulation and significant resistance to the combination therapy of ibrutinib and venetoclax. Low expression of SMARCA4 and high expression of SMARCA2 can activate the FGFR1-pERK1/2 signaling pathway in ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma cells, which induces the overexpression of anti-apoptosis gene BCL2 and results in carboplatin resistance. SMARCA4 deletion can up-regulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by activating YAP1 gene expression in triple-negative breast cancer. It can also reduce the expression of Ca2+ channel IP3R3 in ovarian and lung cancer, resulting in the transfer of Ca2+ needed to induce apoptosis from endoplasmic reticulum to mitochondria damage. Thus, these two tumors are resistant to cisplatin. It has been found that verteporfin can overcome the drug resistance induced by SMARCA4 deletion. However, this inhibitor has not been applied in clinical practice. Therefore, it is a promising research direction to develop SWI/SNF ATPase targeted drugs with high oral bioavailability to treat patients with tumor resistance induced by low expression or deletion of SMARCA4. ARID1A deletion can activate the expression of ANXA1 protein in HER2+ breast cancer cells or down-regulate the expression of progesterone receptor B protein in endometrial cancer cells. The drug resistance of these two tumor cells to trastuzumab or progesterone is induced by activating AKT pathway. ARID1A deletion in ovarian cancer can increase the expression of MRP2 protein and make it resistant to carboplatin and paclitaxel. ARID1A deletion also can up-regulate the phosphorylation levels of EGFR, ErbB2, and RAF1 oncogene proteins.The ErbB and VEGF pathway are activated and EMT is increased. As a result, lung adenocarcinoma is resistant to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs). Although great progress has been made in the research on the mechanism of SWI/SNF complex inducing tumor drug resistance, most of the research is still at the protein level. It is necessary to comprehensively and deeply explore the detailed mechanism of drug resistance from gene, transcription, protein, and metabolite levels by using multi-omics techniques, which can provide sufficient theoretical basis for the diagnosis and treatment of poor tumor prognosis caused by mutation or abnormal expression of SWI/SNF subunits in clinical practice.
2.Analysis of Common Causes of Out-of-Specification Results in the Test for Depressor Substances
Xiyang TONG ; Changtian QUE ; Feng ZHANG ; Lu ZHAO ; Hongping WANG
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2025;45(3):331-339
According to General Chapter 1145 of Division IV in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 Edition), the test for depressor substances is a common method for drug testing. It determines whether the level of depressor substances in a test sample complies with the specified standards by comparing the extent of blood pressure reduction in anesthetized cats induced by the histamine reference substance and the test sample. If an out-of-specification (OOS) result occurs in the test for depressor substances, it may be caused by inherent quality issues of the drug or errors in the testing process. Therefore, analyzing the causes of OOS is particularly important for confirming the test results and evaluating drug quality. Cats are used as experimental animals in the test for depressor substances. Compared with conventional laboratory animals, they are less stable, surgery procedures are more challenging, and the testing process is more complex. These factors make it more difficult to investigate the causes of OOS in this test. Based on a review of the literature and practical work experience, this article analyzes the causes of OOS in the test for depressor substances from the following five aspects: (1) an analysis of the impact of drug standards on OOS from three aspects: standard determination, standard content, and standard drafting; (2) personnel qualifications, including pre-employment training, compliance with standard operating procedures during experimental operations, and the ability to operate instruments; (3) factors related to cats, used as experimental animals in the test for depressor substances, including physiological characteristics, genetic background, and abnormal conditions during the experiment; (4) reference substances, reagents, test samples, and key instruments such as the multi-channel physiological signal instrument; (5) experimental operations including animal anesthesia, arterial and venous catheterization, drug administration, and data processing. This article aims to provide reference approaches for professionals engaged in the testing of pharmaceuticals and biological products when analyzing the causes of OOS in the test for depressor substances.
3.Analysis of Common Causes of Out-of-Specification Results in the Test for Depressor Substances
Xiyang TONG ; Changtian QUE ; Feng ZHANG ; Lu ZHAO ; Hongping WANG
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2025;45(3):331-339
According to General Chapter 1145 of Division IV in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 Edition), the test for depressor substances is a common method for drug testing. It determines whether the level of depressor substances in a test sample complies with the specified standards by comparing the extent of blood pressure reduction in anesthetized cats induced by the histamine reference substance and the test sample. If an out-of-specification (OOS) result occurs in the test for depressor substances, it may be caused by inherent quality issues of the drug or errors in the testing process. Therefore, analyzing the causes of OOS is particularly important for confirming the test results and evaluating drug quality. Cats are used as experimental animals in the test for depressor substances. Compared with conventional laboratory animals, they are less stable, surgery procedures are more challenging, and the testing process is more complex. These factors make it more difficult to investigate the causes of OOS in this test. Based on a review of the literature and practical work experience, this article analyzes the causes of OOS in the test for depressor substances from the following five aspects: (1) an analysis of the impact of drug standards on OOS from three aspects: standard determination, standard content, and standard drafting; (2) personnel qualifications, including pre-employment training, compliance with standard operating procedures during experimental operations, and the ability to operate instruments; (3) factors related to cats, used as experimental animals in the test for depressor substances, including physiological characteristics, genetic background, and abnormal conditions during the experiment; (4) reference substances, reagents, test samples, and key instruments such as the multi-channel physiological signal instrument; (5) experimental operations including animal anesthesia, arterial and venous catheterization, drug administration, and data processing. This article aims to provide reference approaches for professionals engaged in the testing of pharmaceuticals and biological products when analyzing the causes of OOS in the test for depressor substances.
4.Expert Consensus on Clinical Diseases Responding Specifically to Traditional Chinese Medicine: Threatened Abortion
Xinchun YANG ; Shuyu WANG ; Huilan DU ; Songping LUO ; Zhe JIN ; Rong LI ; Xiangyan RUAN ; Qin ZHANG ; Xiaoling FENG ; Shicai CHEN ; Fengjie HE ; Shaobin WEI ; Qun LU ; Yanqin WANG ; Yang LIU ; Qingwei MENG ; Zengping HAO ; Ying LI ; Mei MO ; Xiaoxiao ZHANG ; Ruihua ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(7):241-246
Threatened abortion is a common disease of obstetrics and gynecology and one of the diseases responding specifically to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The China Association of Chinese Medicine organized experts in TCM obstetrics and gynecology, Western medicine obstetrics and gynecology, and pharmacology to deeply discuss the advantages of TCM and integrated Chinese and Western medicine treatment as well as the medication plans for threatened abortion. After discussion, the experts concluded that chromosome, endocrine, and immune abnormalities were the key factors for the occurrence of threatened abortion, and the Qi and blood disorders in thoroughfare and conception vessels were the core pathogenesis. In the treatment of threatened abortion, TCM has advantages in preventing miscarriages, alleviating clinical symptoms and TCM syndromes, relieving anxiety, regulating reproductive endocrine and immune abnormalities, personalized and diversified treatment, enhancing efficiency and reducing toxicity, and preventing the disease before occurrence. The difficulty in diagnosis and treatment of threatened abortion with traditional Chinese and Western medicine lies in identifying the predictors of abortion caused by maternal factors and the treatment of thrombophilia. Recurrent abortion is the breakthrough point of treatment with integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine. It is urgent to carry out high-quality evidence-based medicine research in the future to improve the modern diagnosis and treatment of threatened abortion with TCM.
5.Two new dalbergiphenols from Zhuang medicine Dalbergia rimosa Roxb
Cheng-sheng LU ; Wei-yu WANG ; Min ZHU ; Si-si QIN ; Zhao-hui LI ; Chen-yan LIANG ; Xu FENG ; Jian-hua WEI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(2):418-423
Twelve compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of the 80% aqueous ethanol extract of the roots and stems of
6.Influence of Modified Shashen Maidong Decoction Combined with Camrelizumab Immunotherapy Plus Chemotherapy on the Efficacy,Survival Status,and Serum CYFRA21-1 and NSE Levels in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Hai-Feng WANG ; Yi-Qun ZHAO ; Xiao-Li DU ; Lu LIU ; Bao-Song HOU ; Wen-Yan ZHAN
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;41(3):606-611
Objective To investigate the influence of modified Shashen Maidong Decoction combined with Camrelizumab immunotherapy plus chemotherapy on the efficacy,survival status and serum cytokeratin 19 fragment(CYFRA21-1)and neuron-specific enolase(NSE)levels in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods Forty patients with advanced NSCLC of lung-stomach yin deficiency with intense heat-toxin type were randomly divided into a control group and a study group,with 20 patients in each group.The patients in the control group were given Camrelizumab immunotherapy plus chemotherapy,and the patients in the study group were given modified Shashen Maidong Decoction combined with Camrelizumab immunotherapy plus chemotherapy,with 21 days as a course of treatment and for a total of 4 courses of treatment.The changes of serum NSE and CYFRA21-1 levels in the two groups before and after treatment were observed,and the clinical efficacy,survival status and the incidence of toxic and side effects were compared between the two groups.Results(1)After 4 courses of treatment,the total effective rate of the study group was 70.00%(14/20),which was significantly higher than that of the control group(9/20,45.00%),but the intergroup comparison(tested by chi-square test)showed that the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).(2)After 2 years of follow-up,the overall survival(OS),time to progression(TTP),and progression-free survival(PFS)of the patients in the study group were significantly prolonged compared with those in the control group(P<0.01).(3)After treatment,the serum NSE and CYFRA21-1 levels of the patients in the two groups were decreased compared with those before treatment(P<0.05),and the decrease of serum NSE and CYFRA21-1 levels in the study group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P<0.01).(4)The incidence of toxic and side effects in the study group was 25.00%(5/20),which was significantly lower than that of 65.00%(13/20)in the control group,and the intergroup comparison showed that the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion Modified Shashen Maidong Decoction combined with Camrelizumab immunotherapy plus chemotherapy has satisfactory therapeutic effect on patients with advanced NSCLC,which can reduce the toxic and side effects of chemotherapy,lower the level of serum tumor markers,and prolong the survival period and time to progression(TTP)of the patients.
7.Application of MXenes in Tumor Therapy
Mei-Qing LIU ; Lu ZHAO ; Yun-Feng BAI ; Feng FENG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(2):328-344
MXenes is an emerging two-dimensional (2D) material, which was composed of layered transition metal carbides and/or nitrides, have attracted enormous attention in the past decade since their innovative discovery by Gogotsi and Barsoum in 2011. The general formula of MXenes is Mn+1XnTx (n=1-4), where M represents transition metal elements (such as Ti, Nb, Ta, etc.), X represents carbon and/or nitrogen, and Tx represents surface terminations (such as —OH, —F, =O, etc.). In recent years, MXenes have been widely applied in the biological field due to their high biocompatibility, abundant surface groups, good conductivity and photothermal properties. Due to the strong absorption of laser in the near infrared region, strong X-ray attenuation ability and surface easily modified by various molecules or nanoparticles, MXenes have been used as photothermal agents and contrast agents in the tumor therapy and tumor diagnosis. This paper reviews the application of MXenes and MXenes-based composites in tumor therapy and active targeting tumor therapy. According to the modal of action on tumor cells, it was divided into monotherapy, bimodal therapy and trimodal therapy. Among them, the monotherapy mainly used the photothermal properties of MXenes for photothermal therapy, studies have found that MXenes QDs can be used for chemodynamic therapy. In addition, sonodynamic therapy can also be achieved by loading the sonosensitizers on the surface of MXenes. Bimodal therapy and trimodal therapy are mainly used to load anticancer drugs, photosensitizers, metal particles and other substances on the surface of MXenes to achieve combination therapy. In contrast to the limited treatment efficacy and possible side effects arising from monotherapy, the development of bimodal therapy and trimodal therapy may harbor the collective merits of respective individual treatments and give rise to much higher anticancer efficacy at lower dosage of therapeutic agents administered, thus avoiding high-dose-induced side effects. The combined use of multiple treatments displayed superior advantages over monotherapy in producing an improved therapy outcome. According to the modal of entry into tumor cells, it was divided into passive targeting and active targeting. Active targeting therapy was mainly divided into homologous targeting therapy and targeting agents targeting therapy. The strategy of homologous targeting therapy was to coat MXenes with tumor cell membrane and increased the uptake of MXenes by tumor cells. Targeting agents targeting therapy used targeting agents to specifically bind to the receptors on the surface of tumor cells, subsequently, the precise uptake of MXenes by tumor cells was achieved. Finally, the current challenges and future development trends of MXenes in preparation technology and tumor therapy are discussed.
8.Clinical guidelines for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis combined with lower cervical fracture in adults (version 2024)
Qingde WANG ; Yuan HE ; Bohua CHEN ; Tongwei CHU ; Jinpeng DU ; Jian DONG ; Haoyu FENG ; Shunwu FAN ; Shiqing FENG ; Yanzheng GAO ; Zhong GUAN ; Hua GUO ; Yong HAI ; Lijun HE ; Dianming JIANG ; Jianyuan JIANG ; Bin LIN ; Bin LIU ; Baoge LIU ; Chunde LI ; Fang LI ; Feng LI ; Guohua LYU ; Li LI ; Qi LIAO ; Weishi LI ; Xiaoguang LIU ; Hongjian LIU ; Yong LIU ; Zhongjun LIU ; Shibao LU ; Yong QIU ; Limin RONG ; Yong SHEN ; Huiyong SHEN ; Jun SHU ; Yueming SONG ; Tiansheng SUN ; Yan WANG ; Zhe WANG ; Zheng WANG ; Hong XIA ; Guoyong YIN ; Jinglong YAN ; Wen YUAN ; Zhaoming YE ; Jie ZHAO ; Jianguo ZHANG ; Yue ZHU ; Yingjie ZHOU ; Zhongmin ZHANG ; Wei MEI ; Dingjun HAO ; Baorong HE
Chinese Journal of Trauma 2024;40(2):97-106
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) combined with lower cervical fracture is often categorized into unstable fracture, with a high incidence of neurological injury and a high rate of disability and morbidity. As factors such as shoulder occlusion may affect the accuracy of X-ray imaging diagnosis, it is often easily misdiagnosed at the primary diagnosis. Non-operative treatment has complications such as bone nonunion and the possibility of secondary neurological damage, while the timing, access and choice of surgical treatment are still controversial. Currently, there are no clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of AS combined with lower cervical fracture with or without dislocation. To this end, the Spinal Trauma Group of Orthopedics Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts to formulate Clinical guidelines for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis combined with lower cervical fracture in adults ( version 2024) in accordance with the principles of evidence-based medicine, scientificity and practicality, in which 11 recommendations were put forward in terms of the diagnosis, imaging evaluation, typing and treatment, etc, to provide guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of AS combined with lower cervical fracture.
9.Application of a deep learning-based three-phase CT image models for the automatic segmentation of gross tumor volumes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Guorong YAO ; Kai SHEN ; Feng ZHAO ; Siyuan WANG ; Zhongjie LU ; Kejie HUANG ; Senxiang YAN
Chinese Journal of Radiological Medicine and Protection 2024;44(2):111-118
Objective:To investigate the effectiveness and feasibility of a 3D U-Net in conjunction with a three-phase CT image segmentation model in the automatic segmentation of GTVnx and GTVnd in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.Methods:A total of 645 sets of computed tomography (CT) images were retrospectively collected from 215 nasopharyngeal carcinoma cases, including three phases: plain scan (CT), contrast-enhanced CT (CTC), and delayed CT (CTD). The dataset was grouped into a training set consisting of 172 cases and a test set comprising 43 cases using the random number table method. Meanwhile, six experimental groups, A1, A2, A3, A4, B1, and B2, were established. Among them, the former four groups used only CT, only CTC, only CTD, and all three phases, respectively. The B1 and B2 groups used phase fine-tuning CTC models. The Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and 95% Hausdorff distance (HD95) served as quantitative evaluation indicators.Results:Compared to only monophasic CT (group A1/A2/A3), triphasic CT (group A4) yielded better result in the automatic segmentation of GTVnd (DSC: 0.67 vs. 0.61, 0.64, 0.64; t = 7.48, 3.27, 4.84, P < 0.01; HD95: 36.45 vs. 79.23, 59.55, 65.17; t = 5.24, 2.99, 3.89, P < 0.01), with statistically significant differences ( P < 0.01). However, triphasic CT (group A4) showed no significant enhancement in the automatic segmentation of GTVnx compared to monophasic CT (group A1/A2/A3) (DSC: 0.73 vs. 0.74, 0.74, 0.73; HD95: 14.17 mm vs. 8.06, 8.11, 8.10 mm), with no statistically significant difference ( P > 0.05). For the automatic segmentation of GTVnd, group B1/B2 showed higher automatic segmentation accuracy compared to group A1 (DSC: 0.63, 0.63 vs. 0.61, t = 4.10, 3.03, P<0.01; HD95: 58.11, 50.31 mm vs. 79.23 mm, t = 2.75, 3.10, P < 0.01). Conclusions:Triphasic CT scanning can improve the automatic segmentation of the GTVnd in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Additionally, phase fine-tuning models can enhance the automatic segmentation accuracy of the GTVnd on plain CT images.
10.Zinc finger protein-36 deficiency inhibits osteogenic differentiation of mouse bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and preosteoblasts by activating the ERK/MAPK pathway
Shengwei RONG ; Hongfang LI ; Yiran WEI ; Zihang FENG ; Lu GAN ; Zhonghao DENG ; Liang ZHAO
Journal of Southern Medical University 2024;44(4):697-705
Objective To explore the role of zinc finger protein 36 (ZFP36) in regulating osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and preosteoblasts. Methods ZFP36 expression was observed in primary mouse BMSCs and mouse preosteoblasts (MC3T3-E1 cells) during induced osteogenic differentiation. Zfp36-deficient cell models were constructed in the two cells using RNA interference technique and the changes in differentiation capacities of the transfected cells into osteoblasts were observed. Transcriptome sequencing was used to investigate the potential mechanisms of ZFP36 for regulating osteoblast differentiation of the two cells. U0126, a ERK/MAPK signal suppressor, was used to verify the regulatory mechanism of Zfp36 in osteogenic differentiation of Zfp36-deficient cells. Results During the 14-day induction of osteogenic differentiation, both mouse BMSCs and MC3T3-E1 cells exhibited increased expression of ZFP36, and its mRNA expression reached the peak level on Day 7 (P<0.0001). The Zfp36-deficient cell models showed reduced intensity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and alizarin red staining with significantly lowered expressions of the osteogenic marker genes including Alpl, Sp7, Bglap and Ibsp (P<0.01). Transcriptome sequencing verified the reduction of bone mineralization-related gene expressions in Zfp36-deficient cells and indicated the involvement of ERK signaling in the potential regulatory mechanism of Zfp36. Immunoblotting showed that pERK protein expression increased significantly in Zfp36-deficient cells compared with the control cells. In Zfp36-deficient MC3T3-E1 cells, inhibition of activated ERK/MAPK signaling with U0126 resulted in obviously enhanced ALP staining and significantly increased expressions of osteoblast differentiation markers Runx2 and Bglap (P<0.05). Conclusions ZFP36 is involved in the regulation of osteoblast differentiation of mouse BMSCs and preosteoblasts, and ZFP36 deficiency causes inhibition of osteoblast differentiation of the cells by activating the ERK/MAPK signaling pathway.

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