1.Strategic Optimization of CHO Cell Expression Platforms for Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing
Rui-Ming ZHANG ; Meng-Lin LI ; Hong-Wei ZHU ; Xing-Xiao ZHANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(2):327-341
Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are the most established and versatile mammalian expression system for the large-scale production of recombinant therapeutic proteins, owing to their genetic stability, adaptability to serum-free suspension culture, and ability to perform human-like post-translational modifications. More than 70% of biologics approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration rely on CHO-based production platforms, underscoring their central role in modern biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Despite these advantages, CHO systems continue to face three persistent bottlenecks that limit their potential for high-yield, reproducible, and cost-efficient production: excessive metabolic burden during high-density culture, heterogeneity of glycosylation patterns, and progressive loss of long-term expression stability. This review provides an integrated analysis of recent advances addressing these challenges and proposes a forward-looking framework for constructing intelligent and sustainable CHO cell factories. In terms of metabolic regulation, excessive lactate and ammonia accumulation disrupts energy balance and reduces recombinant protein synthesis efficiency. Optimization of culture parameters such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, osmolarity, and glucose feeding can effectively alleviate metabolic stress, while supplementation with modulators including sodium butyrate, baicalein, and S-adenosylmethionine promotes specific productivity (qP) by modulating apoptosis and chromatin structure. Furthermore, genetic engineering strategies—such as overexpression of MPC1/2, HSP27, and SIRT6 or knockout of Bax, Apaf1, and IGF-1R—have demonstrated significant improvements in cell viability and product yield. The combination of multi-omics metabolic modeling with artificial intelligence (AI)-based prediction offers new opportunities for building self-regulating CHO systems capable of dynamic adaptation to environmental stress. Regarding glycosylation uniformity, which determines therapeutic efficacy and immunogenicity, gene editing-based glycoengineering (e.g., FUT8 knockdown or ST6Gal1 overexpression) has enabled the humanization of CHO glycan profiles, minimizing non-human sugar residues and enhancing drug stability. Process-level strategies such as galactose or manganese co-feeding and fine control of temperature or osmolarity further allow rational regulation of glycosyltransferase activity. Additionally, in vitro chemoenzymatic remodeling provides a complementary route to construct human-type glycans with defined structures, though industrial applications remain constrained by cost and scalability. The integration of model-driven process design and AI feedback control is expected to enable real-time prediction and correction of glycosylation deviations, ensuring batch-to-batch consistency in continuous biomanufacturing. Long-term expression stability, another critical challenge, is often impaired by promoter silencing, chromatin condensation, and random genomic integration. Molecular optimization—such as the use of improved promoters (CMV, EF-1α, or CHO endogenous promoters), Kozak and signal peptide refinement, and incorporation of chromatin-opening elements (UCOE, MAR, STAR)—helps maintain durable transcriptional activity, while site-specific integration systems including Cre/loxP, Flp/FRT, φC31, and CRISPR/Cas9 can enable single-copy, position-independent gene insertion at genomic safe-harbor loci, ensuring stable, predictable expression. Collectively, this review highlights a paradigm shift in CHO system optimization driven by the convergence of genome editing, synthetic biology, and artificial intelligence. The transition from empirical optimization to rational, data-driven design will facilitate the development of programmable CHO platforms capable of autonomous regulation of metabolic flux, glycosylation fidelity, and transcriptional activity. Such intelligent cell factories are expected to accelerate the transformation from laboratory-scale research to industrial-scale, high-consistency, and economically sustainable biopharmaceutical manufacturing, thereby supporting the next generation of efficient and customizable biologics manufacturing.
2.Strategic Optimization of CHO Cell Expression Platforms for Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing
Rui-Ming ZHANG ; Meng-Lin LI ; Hong-Wei ZHU ; Xing-Xiao ZHANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(2):327-341
Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are the most established and versatile mammalian expression system for the large-scale production of recombinant therapeutic proteins, owing to their genetic stability, adaptability to serum-free suspension culture, and ability to perform human-like post-translational modifications. More than 70% of biologics approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration rely on CHO-based production platforms, underscoring their central role in modern biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Despite these advantages, CHO systems continue to face three persistent bottlenecks that limit their potential for high-yield, reproducible, and cost-efficient production: excessive metabolic burden during high-density culture, heterogeneity of glycosylation patterns, and progressive loss of long-term expression stability. This review provides an integrated analysis of recent advances addressing these challenges and proposes a forward-looking framework for constructing intelligent and sustainable CHO cell factories. In terms of metabolic regulation, excessive lactate and ammonia accumulation disrupts energy balance and reduces recombinant protein synthesis efficiency. Optimization of culture parameters such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, osmolarity, and glucose feeding can effectively alleviate metabolic stress, while supplementation with modulators including sodium butyrate, baicalein, and S-adenosylmethionine promotes specific productivity (qP) by modulating apoptosis and chromatin structure. Furthermore, genetic engineering strategies—such as overexpression of MPC1/2, HSP27, and SIRT6 or knockout of Bax, Apaf1, and IGF-1R—have demonstrated significant improvements in cell viability and product yield. The combination of multi-omics metabolic modeling with artificial intelligence (AI)-based prediction offers new opportunities for building self-regulating CHO systems capable of dynamic adaptation to environmental stress. Regarding glycosylation uniformity, which determines therapeutic efficacy and immunogenicity, gene editing-based glycoengineering (e.g., FUT8 knockdown or ST6Gal1 overexpression) has enabled the humanization of CHO glycan profiles, minimizing non-human sugar residues and enhancing drug stability. Process-level strategies such as galactose or manganese co-feeding and fine control of temperature or osmolarity further allow rational regulation of glycosyltransferase activity. Additionally, in vitro chemoenzymatic remodeling provides a complementary route to construct human-type glycans with defined structures, though industrial applications remain constrained by cost and scalability. The integration of model-driven process design and AI feedback control is expected to enable real-time prediction and correction of glycosylation deviations, ensuring batch-to-batch consistency in continuous biomanufacturing. Long-term expression stability, another critical challenge, is often impaired by promoter silencing, chromatin condensation, and random genomic integration. Molecular optimization—such as the use of improved promoters (CMV, EF-1α, or CHO endogenous promoters), Kozak and signal peptide refinement, and incorporation of chromatin-opening elements (UCOE, MAR, STAR)—helps maintain durable transcriptional activity, while site-specific integration systems including Cre/loxP, Flp/FRT, φC31, and CRISPR/Cas9 can enable single-copy, position-independent gene insertion at genomic safe-harbor loci, ensuring stable, predictable expression. Collectively, this review highlights a paradigm shift in CHO system optimization driven by the convergence of genome editing, synthetic biology, and artificial intelligence. The transition from empirical optimization to rational, data-driven design will facilitate the development of programmable CHO platforms capable of autonomous regulation of metabolic flux, glycosylation fidelity, and transcriptional activity. Such intelligent cell factories are expected to accelerate the transformation from laboratory-scale research to industrial-scale, high-consistency, and economically sustainable biopharmaceutical manufacturing, thereby supporting the next generation of efficient and customizable biologics manufacturing.
3.Exon Sequencing of HNF1β in Chinese Patients with Early-Onset Diabetes
Siqian GONG ; Hong LIAN ; Yating LI ; Xiaoling CAI ; Wei LIU ; Yingying LUO ; Meng LI ; Si-min ZHANG ; Rui ZHANG ; Lingli ZHOU ; Yu ZHU ; Qian REN ; Xiuying ZHANG ; Jing CHEN ; Jing WU ; Xianghai ZHOU ; Xirui WANG ; Xueyao HAN ; Linong JI
Diabetes & Metabolism Journal 2025;49(2):321-330
Background:
Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) due to variants of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-beta (HNF1β) (MODY5) has not been well studied in the Chinese population. This study aimed to estimate its prevalence and evaluate the application of a clinical screening method (Faguer score) in Chinese early-onset diabetes (EOD) patients.
Methods:
Among 679 EOD patients clinically diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (age at diagnosis ≤40 years), the exons of HNF1β were sequenced. Functional impact of rare variants was evaluated using a dual-luciferase reporter system. Faguer scores ≥8 prompted multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) for large deletions. Pathogenicity of HNF1β variants was assessed following the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines.
Results:
Two rare HNF1β missense mutations (E105K and G454R) were identified by sequencing in five patients, showing functional impact in vitro. Another patient was found to have a whole-gene deletion by MLPA in 22 patients with the Faguer score above 8. Following ACMG guidelines, six patients carrying pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant were diagnosed with MODY5. The estimated prevalence of MODY5 in Chinese EOD patients was approximately 0.9% or higher.
Conclusion
MODY5 is not uncommon in China. The Faguer score is helpful in deciding whether to perform MLPA analysis on patients with negative sequencing results.
4.Guidelines for the Digital Ancient Books of TCM Indexing
Weina ZHANG ; Bing LI ; Bin LI ; Jing XIE ; Yan DONG ; Wei LONG ; Chuchu ZHANG ; Tong WEI ; Sihong LIU ; Yang WU ; Hongtao LI ; Lin TONG ; Guangkun CHEN ; Fei DONG ; Rui WANG ; He LU ; Meng LI ; Jingpeng DENG ; Tengfei WANG ; Xiaoying LI ; Di ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;32(3):1-11
Guidelines for Digital Ancient Books of TCM Indexing(T/CIATCM 119-2024)is based on the theoretical knowledge,disciplinary methods,and practical applications of TCM classical cataloging.Taking digital ancient books of TCM as the object,it systematically reveals the content of TCM knowledge,which is an essential indexing processing standard for building an intelligent retrieval system for TCM ancient books,and can provide support for the deep development and innovative utilization of TCM knowledge.It can not only promote the co-construction and sharing of ancient book resources in the TCM industry,but also promote the standardization construction and application of TCM information.This standard specifies the principles,methods,and examples of free indexing of digital ancient books of TCM based on their original content.It is applicable to the indexing and processing of digital ancient books of TCM for TCM professional libraries and related institutions,and to the data processing and construction of various types of TCM ancient book databases.
5.Effect of ezetimibe combined with atorvastatin on therapeutic effect,blood lipids,carotid ultrasound indicators in patients with coronary heart disease and its safety
Yi-rui WANG ; Xue-sen ZHANG ; Meng-di ZHOU ; Shi-xian PI ; Ran CHENG
Chinese Journal of cardiovascular Rehabilitation Medicine 2025;34(3):368-373
Objective:To explore the effect of ezetimibe combined with atorvastatin on the efficacy,blood lipids,ca-rotid ultrasound indicators in patients with coronary heart disease(CHD)and its safety.Methods:This randomized controlled study enrolled 98 CHD patients admitted to 945th Hospital of the PLA Joint Logistic Support Force be-tween June 2021 and June 2023.Patients were divided into intervention group and control group with 49 cases in each group.Patients in the control group was treated with atorvastatin-bascd routine medication comparing to those in intervention group receiving additional ezetimibe,both groups were treated for 90 d.Clinical efficacy,blood lipids,carotid ultrasound indicators,endothelial function indicators,and incidence of adverse reactions were compared between two groups.Results:Compared with patients in the control group,those in the intervention group had significant higher total effective rate(91.83%vs.73.47%,P=0.016).Compared with patients in the control group after treatment,those in intervention group had significant lower levels of low density lipoprotein cho-lesterol(LDL-C)[(2.74±0.61)mmol/L vs.(3.42±0.66)mmol/L],total cholesterol(TC)[(3.80±0.89)mmol/L vs.(4.69±1.02)mmol/L],triglyceride(TG)[(1.79±0.53)mmol/L vs.(2.35±0.62)mmol/L],re-sistance index(RI)[(52.02±6.32)%vs.(57.95±6.02)%],carotid intima-media thickness(IMT)[(0.91±0.17)mm vs.(1.08±0.24)mm],von Willebrand factor(vWF)[(19.03±3.76)mg/L vs.(23.41±4.42)mg/L],angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ)[(45.83±5.87)ng/L vs.(52.87±6.01)ng/L](P<0.001 all);and significant high-er high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)[(1.63±0.32)mmol/L vs.(1.35±0.27)mmol/L],peak systol-ic velocity(PSV)[(47.93±5.26)cm/s vs.(41.32±4.98)cm/s],end-diastolic velocity(EDV)[(36.14±5.10)cm/s vs.(30.73±4.48)cm/s],pulse index(PI)[(85.98±9.03)%vs.(78.42±8.82)%],vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1(VEGFR1)[(289.14±32.98)ng/L vs.(258.34±29.32)ng/L](P<0.001 all).There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(P=0.538).Conclusion:Ezetimibe combined with atorvastatin possesses significant therapeutic effect on CHD patients,which could signifi-cantly reduce blood lipids,improve the carotid blood flow velocity and vascular endothelial function with good safety.
6.Dynamic changes of serum exosome miR-552 and miR-653 levels be-fore and after chemotherapy in gastric cancer and their relationship with clinical benefit
Xiao-rui ZHAO ; Run-chun HAO ; Meng-jing HE ; Shan-shan SU ; Bing-xin YANG ; Wen-zhong ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Current Advances in General Surgery 2025;28(3):208-212
Objective:To analyze the dynamic changes of serum exosome miR-552 and miR-653 levels in pa-tients with gastric cancer before and after chemotherapy and their relationship with clinical benefit.Methods:IA total of 128 patients with gastric cancer received chemotherapy from January 2022 to January 2024.According to the chemo-therapy effect,the two groups were divided into disease progression group and disease remission group.The levels of serum exosome miR-552 and miR-653 before and after chemotherapy were detected in the two groups,the risk fac-tors affecting the chemotherapy effect of gastric cancer patients were screened,the risk nomogram model was con-structed,and the efficacy was evaluated.Results:The proportion of TNM stage(Ⅲ+Ⅳ),lymph node metastasis,dis-tant metastasis,tumor size(>5 cm),invasion depth(T3/T4)and tumor growth pattern(invasive type)in disease progres-sion group was higher than that in disease remission group(P<0.05).The levels of serum exosomes miR-552 and miR-653 in disease progression group were higher than those in remission group before and after chemotherapy(P<0.05).Compared with before chemotherapy,miR-552 and miR-653 levels in both groups decreased(P<0.05).Logistic regres-sion analysis showed that TNM stage,lymph node metastasis,distant metastasis,tumor size,invasion depth,miR-552 and miR-653 were all risk factors affecting the chemotherapy efficacy of gastric cancer(P<0.05).ROC curve results showed that the AUC,95%CI,sensitivity and specificity of risk nomogram model to predict chemotherapy efficacy of gastric cancer were 0.867,0.672~0.991,92.80%and 80.40%,respectively(P<0.001).Calibration curve results showed that both predicted and actual predicted values were near the ideal curve,and the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit curve test χ2=1.869,P=0.782.Conclusion:The levels of serum exosomes miR-552 and miR-653 are closely related to the chemotherapy efficacy of gastric cancer,and dynamic monitoring of the above indexes is helpful for the evaluation of the disease and prognosis of gastric cancer.In this study,the risk nomogram model constructed based on the above indexes and other risk factors has high predictive value and clinical practicability for chemotherapy efficacy in patients with gastric cancer.
7.Expert consensus on the basic research and clinical application of circadian clock for the precision diagnosis and treatment of oral and maxillofacial squamous cell carcinoma
Kai YANG ; Moyi SUN ; Longjiang LI ; Zhangui TANG ; Wei GUO ; Guoxin REN ; Zhiwei ZHANG ; Hong TANG ; Jie ZHANG ; Zhijun SUN ; Qing XI ; Chunjie LI ; Xin HUANG ; Heming WU ; Wei SHANG ; Jian MENG ; Jichen LI ; Hong MA ; Guiquan ZHU ; Yi LI ; Yaoxu LI ; Haitao HE ; Fugui ZHANG ; Jie ZHANG ; Dan ZHAO ; Deping SUN ; Xiaoqiang LV ; Dan CHEN ; Fujun ZHANG ; Rui CHEN ; Yadong LI ; Jinsong ZHANG ; Xiaojuan FU ; Li XIANG ; Shouyi LI ; Shilin YIN
Journal of Practical Stomatology 2025;41(2):149-156
Recent studies have shown that the physiological homeostasis of oral mucosal cells is regulated by the circadian clock.Dis-ruption or dysfunction of the circadian clock is closely associated with the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC).Research based on the circadian clock offers a novel perspective on the pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies for OSCC.However,there is current-ly limited research on this topic,and people generally have insufficient understanding and recognition of the circadian clock.Given the complexity and challenges of circadian clock which is the fourth dimension of medical research,we organize relevant experts based on summarizing the current research results of circadian clock in the pathogenesis and precision diagnosis and treatment of OSCC,combining the scientific principles of the circadian clock's role and their long-term research experience,then summarizes and recommends the con-sensus opinions for the research of circadian clock in the pathogenesis mechanism and precision diagnosis and treatment of human OSCC,with the hope of providing guidance for the basic research and clinical application of circadian clock or circadian rhythm in the pathogene-sis mechanism and precision diagnosis and treatment of oral and maxillofacial squamous cell carcinoma.
8.The effects of nonthermal plasma treatment of different duration on the bonding strength of zirconia
Yannan ZHANG ; Min LIU ; Fanhao MENG ; Rui GAO ; Jianfeng CHEN
Journal of Practical Stomatology 2025;41(2):222-226
Objective:To study the surface characterization and bonding strength of zirconia ceramic following nonthermal argon plasma(NTAP)treatment for different times.Methods:Zirconia ceramics were cut into 2 sizes of specimens(Ⅰ:10 mm×10 mm ×2 mm,Ⅱ:3 mm3 mm×2 mm),which were respectively subdivided into 5 groups:blank control group(A),sandblasting group(B)and NTAP treatment for 60,90 and 120 s groups(C,D and E respectively).The changes in surface morphology,roughness,C and O elements and contact angle of the sample surfaces were tested with Type Ⅰ specimens.Type Ⅱ specimens were applied to the uniform surface treatments and were cemented to isolated teeth using the RelyX U200 cement,the samples were submitted to a shear bond strength(SBS)test.Results:SEM and AFM show that NTAP treatment does not alter the surface morphology and roughness of zirconia ceramics.C element decreased and O element increased,and the contact angle became smaller after NTAP treatment.Among the 5 groups,group D showed the most extensive changes.And the result of SBS was as follows of NTAP treat-ment time:0 s<60 s<90 s=120 s(among 0,60 and 90 s groups,P<0.05).Conclusion:NTAP treatment can improve the bond strength of zirconia ceramic by increasing its surface energy and wettability,and NTAP treatment for 90 s may be a suitable surface treatment method for zirconia ceramics.
9.Assay for detection of toxigenic Clostridioides difficile with combined microfluidic chip and immunochromatography technology
Hong-rui CHENG ; Xiao-jun SONG ; Yu CHEN ; Meng ZHANG ; Meng-ting CAI ; Kun ZHU ; Yu-lei TAI ; Shi-bo YING ; Da-zhi JIN
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(2):142-149
An assay was established for detection of toxigenic Clostridioides difficile by combining microfluidic chip analysis with immunochromatography,and its performance was evaluated and compared with those of the Xpert C.difficile/Epi and VIDAS CD AB tests.Primer pairs were designed according to the tcdB and tpi genes in C.difficile.The specificity,limit of detection,reproducibility,and stability were evaluated.A total of 215 stool samples from patients with diarrhea were collected and tested in parallel with the Xpert C.difficile/Epi,VIDAS CDAB,and our assay.C.difficile was isolated from samples,and the tcdB gene was identified when discrepant results were obtained from the three above assays.Our assay showed no cross-reaction with other diarrhea-associated pathogens.Its reproducibility was 100%in testing of two standard plasmids containing tcdB and tpi genes at two concentrations(105 and 102 copies/μL).Two standard plasmids were detected after the PCR and immunochromatography reagents had been stored for 3,6,9,and 12 months,and all the results were posi-tive.The limit of detection was 10 copies/μL for toxigenic C.difficile.Testing of 33 samples positive for C.difficile with our assay(33/215,15.3%)yielded findings statistically coherent with those of the Xpert C.difficile/Epi test(kappa value=0.965).The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,and negative predictive value of our assay,with respect to Xpert C.difficile/Epi as the standard,were 94.3%,100.0%,100.0%,and 98.9%;these values were significantly higher than those of VIDAS CDAB(60.0%,98.9%,91.3%,and 92.7%)(Kappa=0.714,OR=157.50,95%CI:62.03-847.28,P=0.013).In conclusion,our newly developed assay is specific,stable,and reproducible,and may be used for rapid and accu-rate detection of toxigenic C.difficile.The assay could be used for C.difficile infection screening in outpatient and emergen-cy,community medical service center,and epidemiological settings.
10.Clinical outcomes and risk factors analysis on infection in patients with bullous pemphigoid
Xiao LI ; Li WANG ; Wen WU ; Rui WANG ; Aiying ZHANG ; Shuo ZHANG ; Rujia JIANG ; Yaning MENG
Journal of Jilin University(Medicine Edition) 2025;51(5):1312-1317
Objective:To discuss the infection status and clinical outcomes in the patients with bullous pemphigoid(BP),and to analyze the risk factors for infection in hospitalized BP patients,as well as to construct and evaluate the risk prediction model.Methods:A total of 126 patients first diagnosed with BP were selected.According to the occurrence of infection,the patients were divided into infection group(52 cases)and non-infection group(74 cases).The infection status and outcomes of the patients in two groups were recorded;statistical analysis was performed on the general data,laboratory examination results,FRAIL scale scores for frailty screening,NRS2002 scores,and skin lesion severity of the patients in two groups;multivariate Logistic regression model was used to identify the risk factors for infection in the patients;the goodness-of-fit test was used to evaluate the model;receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of the model for infection.Results:Among the 126 hospitalized BP patients,52 cases had infection,with an infection rate of 41.27%.The mortality rate of the patients in infection group was higher than that in non-infection group(P<0.05),and the remission rate of the patients in non-infection group was higher than that in infection group(P<0.05).The FRAIL scale score for frailty screening,NRS2002 score,serum albumin level,prealbumin level,number of hospitalization,skin lesion severity,and time of hospital stay of the patients in infection group were significantly higher than those in non-infection group(P<0.05).The multivariate Logistic regression analysis results derived the regression equation:Logistic(P)=-7.63+0.922× skin lesion severity+2.565×FRAIL scale score for frailty screening+1.214×NRS2002 score.The area under the curve of the Logistic regression model was 0.916.Conclusion:The FRAIL scale score for frailty screening,NRS2002 score,and skin lesion severity are the risk factors for infection in the hospitalized BP patients.The constructed infection risk prediction model based on these factors has good predictive value and may provide new ideas for the prevention and control of infection in the hospitalized BP patients.

Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail