1.Bioengineered miR-148a-3p suppresses glycolysis and amino acid homeostasis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells by regulating multiple solute carrier transporters
Su Guan ; Xin Li ; Yimei Wang ; Mei-Juan Tu ; Ai-Ming Yu
Liver Research 2026;10(2):166-176
Background and aims
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells are metabolically reprogrammed for excessive uptake and metabolism of many nutrients. The tumor suppressive microRNA-148a-3p (miR-148a-3p) is downregulated in HCC, whereas its function in regulating HCC cell metabolism remains obscure. Herein we aimed to delineate the role of miR-148a-3p in HCC cell metabolism by using novel bioengineered miR-148a-3p (BioRNALeu/miR-148a-3p) agent produced in vivo.
Methods
BioRNALeu/miR-148a-3p was designed by using human leucyl transfer RNA fused hsa-pre-miR-34a carrier, overexpressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli), and purified to high homogeneity. After transfection into HCC cells, the released miR-148a-3p levels were assessed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Cell proliferation was determined by CellTiter-Glo assays. Targets were validated by dual-luciferase reporter assays, immunoblotting, and immunofluorescence confocal imaging. Glycolysis capacity was evaluated by Seahorse XF assays, and glucose, lactate, and amino acid levels were quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods.
Results
BioRNALeu/miR-148a-3p was efficiently processed into target miR-148a-3p in HCC cells to effectively inhibit cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Mechanistically, miR-148a-3p suppressed the protein levels of glucose transporter GLUT1/SLC2A1 and L-type amino acid transporter LAT1/SLC7A5 via acting on their 3′-untranslated regions, as well as amino acid transporter ASCT2/SLC1A5. These, in turn, led to a reduction of glucose uptake, lactate production, and glycolytic flux in HCC cells, and alteration of intracellular amino acid metabolome including glutamine, leucine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and methionine.
Conclusions
Reintroduction of miR-148a-3p into HCC cells modulates glucose and amino acid metabolism via regulating multiple SLC transporters, thereby suppressing HCC cell viability. These findings highlight the role of miR-148a-3p in HCC cell metabolism and potential of bioengineered miRNA molecules for functional studies and therapeutic development.
2.Research and Application of Scalp Surface Laplacian Technique
Rui-Xin LUO ; Si-Ying GUO ; Xin-Yi LI ; Yu-He ZHAO ; Chun-Hou ZHENG ; Min-Peng XU ; Dong MING
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):425-438
Electroencephalogram (EEG) is a non-invasive, high temporal-resolution technique for monitoring brain activity. However, affected by the volume conduction effect, EEG has a low spatial resolution and is difficult to locate brain neuronal activity precisely. The surface Laplacian (SL) technique obtains the Laplacian EEG (LEEG) by estimating the second-order spatial derivative of the scalp potential. LEEG can reflect the radial current activity under the scalp, with positive values indicating current flow from the brain to the scalp (“source”) and negative values indicating current flow from the scalp to the brain (“sink”). It attenuates signals from volume conduction, effectively improving the spatial resolution of EEG, and is expected to contribute to breakthroughs in neural engineering. This paper provides a systematic overview of the principles and development of SL technology. Currently, there are two implementation paths for SL technology: current source density algorithms (CSD) and concentric ring electrodes (CRE). CSD performs the Laplace transform of the EEG signals acquired by conventional disc electrodes to indirectly estimate the LEEG. It can be mainly classified into local methods, global methods, and realistic Laplacian methods. The global method is the most commonly used approach in CSD, which can achieve more accurate estimation compared with the local method, and it does not require additional imaging equipment compared with the realistic Laplacian method. CRE employs new concentric ring electrodes instead of the traditional disc electrodes, and measures the LEEG directly by differential acquisition of the multi-ring signals. Depending on the structure, it can be divided into bipolar CRE, quasi-bipolar CRE, tripolar CRE, and multi-pole CRE. The tripolar CRE is widely used due to its optimal detection performance. While ensuring the quality of signal acquisition, the complexity of its preamplifier is relatively acceptable. Here, this paper introduces the study of the SL technique in resting rhythms, visual-related potentials, movement-related potentials, and sensorimotor rhythms. These studies demonstrate that SL technology can improve signal quality and enhance signal characteristics, confirming its potential applications in neuroscientific research, disease diagnosis, visual pathway detection, and brain-computer interfaces. CSD is frequently utilized in applications such as neuroscientific research and disease detection, where high-precision estimation of LEEG is required. And CRE tends to be used in brain-computer interfaces, that have stringent requirements for real-time data processing. Finally, this paper summarizes the strengths and weaknesses of SL technology and envisages its future development. SL technology boasts advantages such as reference independence, high spatial resolution, high temporal resolution, enhanced source connectivity analysis, and noise suppression. However, it also has shortcomings that can be further improved. Theoretically, simulation experiments should be conducted to investigate the theoretical characteristics of SL technology. For CSD methods, the algorithm needs to be optimized to improve the precision of LEEG estimation, reduce dependence on the number of channels, and decrease computational complexity and time consumption. For CRE methods, the electrodes need to be designed with appropriate structures and sizes, and the low-noise, high common-mode rejection ratio preamplifier should be developed. We hope that this paper can promote the in-depth research and wide application of SL technology.
3.Effect of aflatoxin B1 on replication of porcine delta coronavirus infection
Yifan FENG ; Qinghao LI ; Manxi WANG ; Yuqing TANG ; Ming LI ; Qian-qian GUO ; Juan SUN ; Yilei LI ; Xin JIN
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science 2025;45(2):187-194
This study aims to investigate the effects of aflatoxin B1(AFB1)on the infection and replication of porcine delta coronavirus(PDCoV).Porcine small intestinal epithelial cells(IPEC-J2),porcine kidney cells(LLC-PK)and swine testis cells(ST)were used as models,and CCK-8 method was used to detect the safe mass concentration range of AFB1 on the three cell lines.Each cell line was divided into the blank control group,AFB1 treatment group,PDCoV treatment group and AFB1 and the PDCoV co-treatment group.The cells were treated with safe mass concentration of AFB1 for 12 h,and then treated with PDCoV for 20 h.Total RNA and total protein were extrac-ted from the cells.The effects of AFB1 on PDCoV infection and replication were detected by qPCR,Western blot and cell immunofluorescence tests.The results showed that compared with the PDCoV treatment group,the mRNA and N protein of viral S protein in the AFB1 and PDCoV co-treatment group were significantly increased(P<0.05),and a significantly higher fluorescence of PDCoV N protein is also visibly present in the co-treatment group,and there was a significant difference between the two groups.The results showed that AFB1 could promote the infection and replication of PDCoV.It provides important data that AFB1 can promote the infection replication of PDCoV and provides a new idea for the prevention and treatment of PDCoV.
4.Preferences for achievements transformation of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM)Preparation among medical staff in TCM hospitals in Beijing
Yi-xuan CHEN ; Xue-feng SHI ; Wan-jin YANG ; Xin-qi GENG ; Han-lin NIE ; Ming-li MA ; Xiao-wei NIU ; Yao-qi WANG
Chinese Journal of Health Policy 2025;18(11):66-73
Objective:To analyze the preferences of medical staff in TCM hospitals in Beijing regarding the achievements transformation of hospital traditional Chinese medicine preparations,and to provide a reference for formulating incentive policies.Methods:233 medical staff from five TCM hospitals in Beijing were taken as the research objects,and surveyed with a questionnaire designed based on the discrete choice experiment(DCE).Mixed logit models and latent class models were then used to analyze their transformation preferences.Results:The mixed Logit model revealed that seven key attributes significantly influenced medical staff's preferences for the achievements transformation of traditional Chinese medicine preparations(P<0.05).Latent class analysis identified three distinct preference groups among respondents:an organization-dependent group(27.0%),a pro-transformation group(61.4%),and a conservative group(11.6%).Conclusions:Medical Staff preferred transformation conditions that increased monthly income;utilized"human use+re-experimentation";involved the hospital's achievements transformation department as the entity;were funded by the hospital;offered a 70%profit share;enabled promotion three years earlier,and assigned patents to the hospital.The study recommends implementing diverse incentive measures and developing differentiated strategies tailored to the distinct Medical Staff categories to facilitate the transformation of hospital traditional Chinese medicine preparations into new drugs.
5.Administrative burden among primary healthcare professionals and its impact mechanism on job burnout:An exploratory sequential mixed-methods study
Shi-chao ZHAO ; Ming-ze XIN ; Zi-qian TANG ; Ya-fang DONG ; He-xi LI ; Hui-fen MA ; Tao WANG
Chinese Journal of Health Policy 2025;18(9):31-38
Objective:To examine the manifestations and causes of administrative burden among primary healthcare professionals,and to explore its impact on job burnout through the mediating role of role conflict,providing theoretical and empirical support for governance-level burden-reduction strategies.Methods:An exploratory sequential mixed-methods design was employed,focusing on primary healthcare professionals in Shandong Province.In the first phase,in-depth interviews were conducted with 175 participants;in the second phase,a questionnaire survey of 1,096 participants and follow-up interviews with 107 participants were carried out.Results:The proportions of respondents who reported"heavy"or"very heavy"burdens were 62.7%for inspection,54.8%for documentation,51.8%for reporting,and 24.4%for meetings.Structural equation modeling showed that administrative burden had a direct effect on job burnout(0.150)and an indirect effect through role conflict(0.093).Qualitative findings further indicated that administrative burden largely stemmed from public health traceability requirements and medical insurance policies,and operated through both resource-based and value-based conflicts.Conclusions:Primary healthcare professionals face considerable administrative burdens,which may heighten job burnout through role conflict.Governance reforms should optimize inspection and assessment,streamline data reporting,refine record-keeping,and promote collaborative governance to break the chain of institutional pressure leading to burnout.
6.Structural challenges and development pathways of the disease control supervisor system:A SWOT-CLPV integrated analysis
Yan-ling HAN ; Quan WANG ; Si-qi LIU ; Yu-meng LYU ; Yi-xin QIN ; Ying-ming SONG ; Jia-kun WANG ; Li YANG
Chinese Journal of Health Policy 2025;18(6):26-33
Objective:This study applies an integrated SWOT-CLPV framework combined with stakeholder analysis to systematically assess the strengths,weaknesses,opportunities,and threats of China's disease control inspector system,while identifying its control factors,leverage points,key problems,and vulnerabilities.Methods:Drawing on literature review,policy document analysis,and expert interviews with seven public health professionals,we extracted and categorized SWOT elements.A CLPV interaction analysis was conducted alongside stakeholder mapping to evaluate internal dynamics and systemic risks.Results:The inspector system demonstrates strengths in policy innovation and medical-public health integration,with external opportunities stemming from rising public health awareness and digital health advancements.However,the system faces weak endogenous momentum,limited leverage,and prominent control constraints and problem-prone areas,especially among grassroots institutions and inspectors themselves.Cross-sectoral coordination barriers and uneven local implementation contribute to significant institutional vulnerabilities.Conclusion:To enhance implementation and resilience,the system requires capacity building for key actors,improved governance structures,incentive and evaluation reforms,and strengthened coordination mechanisms to support the sustained and adaptive development of public health supervision.
7.Construction of CD8+T cell-associated Risk Model in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on Bulk and Single-cell RNA-seq Data
Xin-Tong ZHANG ; Jian-Jun ZHU ; Jin WU ; Hao WU ; Fan LU ; Wen-Tao ZHANG ; Jing-Jia CHANG ; Ting TANG ; Zhi-Gao OU ; Feng-Feng JIA ; Li LI ; Peng-Fei YU ; Ming LIU
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(10):1511-1528
Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),which is essentially primary liver cancer,is closely related to CD8+T cell immune infiltration and immune suppression.We constructed a CD8+T cells related risk score model to pre-dict the prognosis of HCC patients and provided therapeutic guidance based on the risk score.Using integrated bulk RNA sequencing(RNA-seq)and single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)datasets,we identified stable CD8+T cell signatures.Based on these signatures,a 3-gene risk score model,comprised of KLRB1,RGS2,and TN-FRSF1B was constructed.The risk score model was well validated through an independent external validation co-hort.We divided patients into high-risk and low-risk groups according to the risk score and compared the differ-ences in immune microenvironment between these two groups.Compared with low-risk patients,high-risk patients have higher M2-type macrophage content(P<0.0001)and lower CD8+T cells infiltration(P<0.0001).High-risk patients predict worse response to immunotherapy treatment than low-risk patients(P<0.01).Drug sensitivity a-nalysis shows that PI3K-β inhibitor AZD6482 and TGFβRII inhibitor SB505124 may be suitable therapies for high-risk patients,while the IGF-1R inhibitor BMS-754807 or the novel pyrimidine-based anti-tumor metabolic drug Gemcitabine could be potential therapeutic choices for low-risk patients.Moreover,expression of these 3-gene mod-el was verified by immunohistochemistry.In summary,the establishment and validation of a CD8+T cell-derived risk model can more accurately predict the prognosis of HCC patients and guide the construction of personalized treatment plans.
8.CRISPR/Cas9 Technology:Exploring The Functions of lncRNAs and Their Roles in Cancer Progression
Xin LI ; Ying HU ; Yu-Ming WANG
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(3):364-375
The emergence of CRISPR/Cas system has greatly promoted the progress in the field of gene editing,especially CRISPR/Cas9 system,which has become a core tool in biomedical research.Long noncoding RNAs(lncRNAs)play a key role in gene regulation,cell differentiation and the development of a variety of diseases.Especially in cancer research,lncRNAs have important application prospects as cancer biomarkers and therapeutic targets.However,lncRNAs are generally characterized by low abun-dance and poor conservation,which limits the study of their functions by traditional means.CRISPR/Cas9 technology provides an efficient,flexible and accurate tool for lncRNA research,which significantly accelerates the progress in this field.This paper first reviews the basic principles of CRISPR/Cas9 system and its wide applications in gene editing,including CRISPR knockout,knock-in,interference,activation and other functional systems.These technologies can not only screen key lncRNAs in specific biological processes,but also be used for gene function research to explore their roles in diseases.This article focu-ses on the analysis of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in the study of lncRNA functions,regulatory mecha-nisms,and its key applications in tumor research.In addition,the article also summarizes the methods of genome-wide screening by CRISPR/Cas9 to identify functional lncRNAs,and discusses the roles of these lncRNAs in cancer cell proliferation,migration,invasion and drug resistance.CRISPR/Cas9 knockout system can efficiently knock down lncRNA genes and reveal their specific functions in gene regulation.At the same time,CRISPR activation and interference technology provide a new idea for the research of non-coding genes,and further explore its clinical application in cancer and other diseases by regulating the expression level of lncRNAs.The article also discusses the potential of CRISPR technology in future ln-cRNA research,especially the progress in solving technical problems such as genome complexity,targe-ting efficiency and off-target effects.As mentioned in the review,CRISPR/Cas9 technology not only pro-vides a powerful tool for studying lncRNAs,but also provides new ideas and opportunities for developing new means of cancer diagnosis and treatment in the future.
9.Teaching Practice and Exploration of"Tutorial System"Based on The Cultivation of Scientific Research and Innovation Ability of Medical Students
Qiao ZHANG ; Yin-Feng YANG ; Yue-Li NI ; Zhuo-Ran TENG ; Wen-Jing LIU ; Jing WU ; Yan-Rui WU ; Yu DOU ; Ming HE ; Shu-De LI ; Ping GAN ; Fang YUAN ; Zhe YANG ; Xin-Wang YANG
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(3):470-480
The scientific research and innovation capabilities of medical students are intrinsically linked to the sustained and high-quality development of national healthcare initiatives.Cultivating outstanding medi-cal students with independent scientific capabilities and innovative consciousness is a critical component in the education and training of high-level medical professionals.Our investigation revealed that within the imperfections of the cultivating model,some faculty and students at medical schools have an insufficient understanding of scientific research and innovation and lack motivation for engaging in such activities,which hinder the progression of scientific research activities.Consequently,we initiated a teaching practice and exploratory study on the"tutorial system"aimed at fostering medical students'scientific research and innovation abilities.Based on the principle of"research informing teaching,teaching and research advan-cing together,"this study implements a"tutorial system"coordinated by tutors,supplemented by graduate and undergraduate student mentors,to cultivate innovative thinking,stimulate interest in scientific re-search,and enhance practical and research skills among medical students.Through collaborative efforts within"scientific research innovation teams,"various educational methods—including preliminary re-search,in-class and extracurricular activities,intra-group and inter-group interactions,and theoretical and practical applications—are employed to improve and strengthen the cultivation of medical students'scientif-ic research and innovation abilities.This study aims to provide valuable references for optimizing medical education management systems and enhancing the quality of medical student training.
10.Effect of miR-129-3p mimetic on bone loss in tail-suspended mice
Yi WU ; Zi-dong AN ; Yong-jie PANG ; Li-qiang WANG ; Xin-yang WANG ; Yu-hai GAO ; Xue-yan LI ; Ke-ming CHEN
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(4):703-709
Aim To study whether intravenous injec-tion of miR-129-3p mimetic(agomir)can resist bone loss caused by hind limb disuse,and to provide new i-deas for preventing bone loss in microgravity environ-ment.Methods Forty-eight C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into the control group(CON),tail suspension model group(TS),tail suspension+miR-129-3p agomir administration group(miRNA)and tail suspension+miR-129-3p negative sequence agomir control group(NC).The miRNA group was given 4 mg·kg-1 miR-129-3p agomir by intravenous injection into the medial canthus twice a week.The NC agomir group were consistent with those in the miR-129-3p agomir group,and the CON and TS groups were given only equal volumes of normal saline.After four weeks,all mice were sacrificed and samples were collected.Micro-CT scan of femur,three-point femur bending test,serum bone metabolism index detection,oxidative stress index detection and osteogenesis-related protein expression analysis in bone tissue were per-formed.Results After four weeks,the number of tra-becular bone in the TS group was significantly re-duced,and Tb.BMD,Tb.Th,Tb.N,Tb.BS/TV and Tb.BV/TV were significantly lower than those in the CON group(P<0.01).While Tb.Sp TS group was significantly higher than the CON group(P<0.05),the maximum load and flexural strength of the femur significantly decreased(P<0.01),the content of ser-um bone formation index PINP was significantly lower than that of the CON group(P<0.01),and the con-tent of bone resorption index CTX-I was significantly higher than that of the CON group(P<0.01),the content of serum oxidative damage indexes 8-iso-PGF2α and 8-OHdG significantly increased(P<0.01),and the expression of osteogenesis-related pro-teins in bone tissue markedly decreased(P<0.01).However,the increase or decrease of all indexes in miRNA group was significantly lower than that in TS group.Conclusions miR-129-3p mimetic can signifi-cantly reduce bone loss caused by hind limb disuse.This experiment provides a new idea and method for preventing bone loss in microgravity environment.


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