1.Progress in mechanistic research on traditional Chinese medicine interventions for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea based on omics technologies
Shanxue GAO ; Jiale MA ; Long PENG ; Jie CHEN
China Pharmacy 2026;37(3):401-406
Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D), as a prototypical disorder involving the microbiota-gut-brain axis, remains poorly understood in terms of its pathogenesis, posing ongoing challenges for clinical diagnosis. Omics technologies, leveraging their high-throughput detection and systematic analysis advantages, has emerged as a critical tool for deciphering the complex mechanisms underlying traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment of IBS-D. This systematic review summarizes the research progress of transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, microbiomics, and multi-omics integration techniques in TCM interventions for IBS-D. In single-omics studies, transcriptomics using techniques like RNA-seq, reveals the regulatory mechanisms of TCM on IBS-related signaling pathways. Proteomics, leveraging quantitative technologies such as 2D-difference gel electrophoresis and tandem mass tag, identifies differentially expressed proteins and elucidates the action targets of TCM in treating IBS-D. Metabolomics, employing methods like UPLC-Q-TOF-MS and LC-MS/MS, discovers metabolic pathways regulated by TCM to improve metabolic disturbances in IBS-D. Microbiomics, based on 16S rRNA sequencing, confirms that TCM can reshape the gut microbiota structure and restore the intestinal microecological balance, thereby improving IBS-D. Multi-omics integration further overcomes the limitations of single-omics approaches by synthesizing information from transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and microbiomics, enabling a more comprehensive and systematic elucidation of the complex mechanisms underlying TCM treatment for IBS-D. In the future, research related to IBS-D should be advanced from three aspects: stratified clinical research based on TCM syndrome types, multi-omics integration verification mechanisms, and emerging omics to explore new mechanisms, providing more innovative ideas for the precise diagnosis and treatment of this disease.
2.Reactive and Enzyme-activated Probe Strategies for Imaging Acute Kidney Injury
Ru-Long CHEN ; Ting-Fei XIE ; Jin-Xin ZHANG ; Jia-Ting CHEN ; Jie LI ; Peng-Fei ZHANG ; Ji-Hong CHEN ; Lin-Tao CAI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(6):1622-1637
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a prevalent and life-threatening clinical syndrome characterised by a rapid decline in renal function and diverse pathological etiologies. The condition has been demonstrated to be associated with elevated mortality rates and an increased risk of progression to chronic kidney disease. At present, clinicians depend heavily on conventional functional markers, such as serum creatinine and urine output, for the diagnosis and staging of the disease. It is evident that these conventional indicators characteristically manifest a considerable temporal delay and only undergo modification subsequent to considerable tissue damage. This severely restricts the timeframe for early detection and timely therapeutic intervention. Furthermore, standard markers fail to provide specific biological information regarding the underlying cellular injury mechanisms. The utilisation of advanced probe technologies in molecular imaging offers a robust alternative to overcome these inherent diagnostic limitations.This comprehensive review systematically evaluates recent progress in the design and application of two primary categories of molecular imaging tools for acute kidney disease, specifically reactive probes and enzyme-activated probes. Reactive probes are engineered to specifically interact with redox-active chemical species, including hydrogen peroxide, peroxynitrite, hypochlorous acid, and sulfur dioxide. Because oxidative stress constitutes a primary early event in acute renal tubular damage, these probes enable researchers and clinicians to visualize early cellular injury and radical accumulation well before global renal functional decline becomes evident. We discuss the application of these reactive probes across multiple imaging modalities including fluorescence imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and photoacoustic techniques. Photoacoustic imaging combines high spatial resolution with deep tissue penetration and has successfully demonstrated the ability to provide diagnostic alerts up to 12 h before any detectable rise in serum creatinine levels. Additionally, specific reactive probes have shown promising translational potential when tested by high-throughput screening in clinical human urine samples. Enzyme-activated probes target the specific catalytic activity of disease-relevant enzymes. These include well-documented renal tubular structural biomarkers such as NAG, GGT, and ALP, along with apoptosis-related caspases and specific nitroreductases. By responding only to enzymatic cleavage, these tools provide highly specific and pathology-directed imaging readouts. Recent structural design strategies in this field have advanced significantly beyond single-enzyme detection. Researchers are now focusing on sophisticated dual-target recognition to minimize background noise, multimodal integration to cross-validate imaging signals, and theranostic applications where probes simultaneously deliver diagnostic feedback and therapeutic agents to injured tissues. Nanotechnology serves as a fundamental enabler for realizing these advanced probe functions. By precisely optimizing nanoparticle parameters such as hydrodynamic size, surface charge, and targeting ligands, researchers can achieve amplified signal output, highly precise kidney delivery, and protection against premature degradation in the systemic circulation. For example, modifying surface charges can significantly enhance the active uptake of nanoprobes by damaged renal tubular epithelial cells.While preclinical probe development has progressed rapidly, moving these technologies into routine clinical practice remains a major challenge. We analyze the translational feasibility and current obstacles from biological, technological, and regulatory perspectives. Although biological targets such as KIM-1, FAP, and ALP have been validated in extensive patient cohorts, practical barriers severely limit their immediate clinical application. These obstacles involve complex changes in in vivo pharmacokinetics. During an acute injury episode, the extreme drop in the glomerular filtration rate alters probe clearance and can cause unwanted systemic accumulation or confusing background imaging signals. Other major hurdles include a lack of comprehensive long-term toxicity data and the absence of standardized manufacturing protocols to ensure batch-to-batch consistency. Future successful translation will require rigorous multi-center clinical studies to confirm the true diagnostic value of these probes over traditional markers. Researchers must also establish strict standardization of imaging procedures and comprehensive safety evaluations. Ultimately, this review provides a thorough reference framework for designing clinically translatable molecular probes and building a precision diagnostic imaging system for acute kidney injury.
3.Echocardiographic features of critically ill patients with concurrent infections and their predictive value for 28-day mortality and cardiac injury
Peng GUO ; Yushan ZHOU ; Yibing WANG ; Zhihua ZHANG ; Jie SHEN ; Weichun MO
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2026;33(3):414-423
Objective To explore the echocardiographic features of critically ill patients with infection, and to evaluate the predictive value of echocardiographic parameters for 28-day mortality and myocardial injury. Methods Using a single-center prospective cohort design, 120 critically ill patients with infection admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, Jinshan Hospital of Fudan University from January 2024 to January 2025 were enrolled consecutively. According to the severity of infection, patients were divided into the sepsis group (n=75) and the non-sepsis group (n=45). Cox proportional hazards models and modified Poisson regression were used to analyze risk factors of 28-day all-cause mortality and myocardial injury. Kaplan-Meier survival curve and log-rank test were used to assess prognosis differences among patients with different ultrasound parameters. ROC curve and area under the curve (AUC) were applied to evaluate the predictive performance of ultrasound parameters, and restricted cubic spline (RCS) model was used to explore nonlinear relationships. Results The E/e′ ratio was significantly higher in the sepsis group than in the non-sepsis group (P<0.001), while left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) were lower in the sepsis group (P<0.05). The Cox proportional hazards model found no association between ultrasound parameters and 28-day all-cause mortality. Modified Poisson regression showed that, after adjusting for confounding factors, elevated E/e′ was an independent risk factor of myocardial injury (RR=1.12, 95% CI 1.07–1.17, P<0.001). Survival analysis demonstrated that patients with E/e′ >10.9 had lower 28-day survival rates (P=0.02), and the AUC for E/e′ predicting myocardial injury was 0.835. RCS analysis suggested a nonlinear relationship between E/e′ and myocardial injury risk (P<0.001). Conclusions E/e′, LVEF, and LVFS have no significant predictive value for 28-day mortality risk in critically ill patients with infections. Elevated E/e′ is an independent risk factor of myocardial injury in such patients, with a nonlinear relationship.
4.Polydatin Delays Progression of Colitis-associated Colorectal Cancer by Modulating IL-17A/Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway
Jie LIU ; Mengmeng LYU ; Yanfei HONG ; Xinmei NAN ; Jialong SU ; Huachen LIU ; Qing WANG ; Guiying PENG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(13):144-154
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of polydatin in delaying the progression of colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) by constructing an azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced CAC mouse model and conducting in vitro experiments. MethodsFifty-four male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into normal, model, and polydatin groups (0.045 g·kg-1). The CAC mouse model was established using AOM/DSS, and samples were collected at 4, 7, and 10 weeks. Body weight change rate, disease activity index (DAI), and tumor formation were assessed. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe pathological injury in intestinal tissues. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to detect zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) expression in colonic tissues, and Western blot was used to detect the expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and Vimentin in colonic epithelial cells. Real-time PCR was used to measure mRNA expression of interleukin-17A (IL-17A), Wnt3a, β-catenin, T cell factor 1 (Tcf1), E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and Vimentin in colonic tissues. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the proportion of CD8+T cells and the expression of exhaustion-related molecules in tumors. Human colon cancer DLD-1 cells were cultured in a polydatin-containing medium, and wound healing assays were performed to observe migration changes. Real-time PCR was used to detect mRNA expression of interleukin-17 receptor A (IL-17RA), Wnt3a, β-catenin, Tcf1, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and Vimentin in DLD-1 cells. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the model group at all three time points showed significantly decreased body weight change rate (P<0.01), significantly shortened colon length (P<0.01), and markedly increased DAI scores (P<0.01). HE staining revealed significant inflammatory cell infiltration in the submucosa of the colon in the model group, accompanied by epithelial dysplasia. ZO-1 expression in colonic tissues was significantly reduced (P<0.01). The mRNA expression of the pro-inflammatory factor IL-17A and key molecules of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway (Wnt3a, β-catenin, Tcf1) was significantly elevated (P<0.05). The mRNA and protein expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers N-cadherin and Vimentin was significantly upregulated (P<0.05), while E-cadherin expression was significantly downregulated (P<0.05). The proportion of tumor-infiltrating CD8+T cells expressing immunosuppressive molecules (TIM-3, LAG-3, PD-1) was significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the polydatin group showed significant improvement in body weight and DAI score (P<0.01), as well as recovery of colon length and tissue injury. ZO-1 expression in colonic tissue was significantly increased (P<0.01), while IL-17A, Wnt3a, β-catenin, Tcf1, N-cadherin, and Vimentin expression levels were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and E-cadherin expression was significantly increased (P<0.01). Tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells expressing immunosuppressive molecules were significantly reduced (P<0.05). In vitro experiments showed that polydatin significantly inhibited migration of DLD-1 cells (P<0.01) and reversed the upregulation of IL-17RA, Wnt3a, β-catenin, N-cadherin, and Vimentin mRNA, as well as the downregulation of E-cadherin mRNA (P<0.05). ConclusionPolydatin inhibits IL-17A secretion and IL-17RA expression, improves the immune microenvironment, blocks activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, suppresses EMT markers (N-cadherin and Vimentin), and restores tight junction protein expression in intestinal epithelial cells, thereby delaying the progression from colitis to colorectal cancer in mice.
5.Evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of the magnolol ester derivative YW and investigate its mechanism of action on chondrocyte senescence
Haochen XU ; Jie PENG ; Pingting YANG ; Meihua ZHANG ; Weiwen HU ; Xulei WANG ; Wei WEI ; Chun WANG ; Shangxue YAN
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(5):845-854
ObjectiveTo evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of the novel magnolol ester derivative YW and to investigate its effects on chondrocyte senescence and preliminary mechanisms. MethodsMagnolol and p-methylbenzoic acid were used as raw materials to synthesize the magnolol ester derivative YW (Molecular Formula: C26H24O3, Molecular Weight: 384.17, HPLC Purity >96%) via DCC/DMAP-catalyzed esterification. Cytotoxicity was assessed using the CCK-8 assay. A lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophage activation model and an interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-induced rat primary chondrocyte model were established. The release and mRNA expression of inflammatory factors including nitric oxide (NO), IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and IL-6 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Griess reagent method, and quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). The expression of senescence markers such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), pro-interleukin-1β (pro-IL-1β), lysine acetyltransferase 7 (KAT7), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (p21), and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (p16), as well as proteins related to chondrocyte extracellular matrix synthesis and catabolism, were analyzed by Western blot (WB). Molecular docking was performed using Discovery Studio 2019 to validate target binding. ResultsYW exhibited no significant cytotoxicity at concentrations ≤20 μmol/L. YW concentration-dependently inhibited LPS-induced macrophage inflammatory cytokine release, significantly downregulated iNOS, Pro-IL-1β protein, and inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression (P<0.01). YW stably bound to KAT7 protein (binding energy: -94.2 kcal/mol); YW downregulated KAT7 and aging marker protein expression in naturally aged and IL-1β-induced chondrocyte models (P<0.01); YW regulated chondrocyte matrix synthesis and catabolic protein expression in IL-1β-induced chondrocytes (P<0.01). ConclusionYW inhibits macrophage activation and inflammatory cytokine release while downregulating KAT7 and senescence marker protein expression in chondrocytes, thereby blocking chondrocyte senescence.
6.Risk Assessment for Ramadan Fasting in People With Diabetes in Hospital-Based Diabetes Clinics Using the Updated 2026 IDF-DAR Risk Calculator
Raja Nurazni Raja Azwan ; Chin Voon Tong ; Lisa Mohamed Nor ; Marisa Khatijah Borhan ; Syarifah Syahirah Syed Abas ; Poh Shean Wong ; Ying Jie Tan ; Shartiyah Ismail ; Eunice Yi Chwen Lau ; Yueh Chien Kuan ; Noor Hafis Md Tob ; Shu Teng Chai ; Pei Lin Chan ; Xe Hui Lee ; Wei Wei Ng ; Jin Hui Ho ; Miza Hiryanti Zakaria ; Rabeah Md Zuki ; Wan Mohd Hafez Wan Hamzah ; Melissa Vergis ; Choon Peng Sun ; Vanusha Devaraja Pillai ; Chee Koon Low ; Shazatul Reza Mohd Redzuan ; Xin-Yi Ooi ; Siti Sanaa Wan Azman ; Deviga Lachumanan ; Saiful Shahrizal Shudim ; Zanariah Hussein
Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies 2026;41(S1):42-43
Introduction:
The 2021 IDF-DAR risk calculator had been previously
evaluated in multiple studies and subsequently widely
accepted and applied in clinical practice as a practical
standardized tool for patient risk stratification. Recently
updated, the 2026 IDF-DAR Risk calculator enables a more individualized, evidence-related evaluation of patientrelated and disease-related risk factors, incorporating
modern diabetes technologies, including continuous
glucose monitoring (CGM), automated insulin delivery
(AID) systems, and advanced insulin formulations to
enhance risk stratification. This tool allows medical
professionals to tailor Ramadan practices based on overall
factors toward promoting safe fasting.
Methodology:
This prospective multicentre observational study recruited
adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes attending public
hospitals nationwide. People with diabetes (PwD) intending
to perform Ramadan fasting were invited to participate
and assessed using the 2026 IDF-DAR Risk Calculator in
the 6-week pre-Ramadan period between 30th January and
19th March 2026.
Results:
A total of 458 PwD were evaluated and stratified into low
(15.7%), moderate (41%), and high risk (43.3%) categories.
Most participants had Type 2 diabetes (83.6%), with 60.3%
having a disease duration exceeding 10 years and 43%
exhibiting poor glycemic control (hemoglobin A1c >9%).
Insulin therapy was used by 76.4% of participants, including
two individuals with Type 1 diabetes using AID systems.
Most participants reported no recent hypoglycemia (76.4%),
81.0% performed glucose monitoring, and 3.3% used CGM.
Severe comorbidities were uncommon, with 1.1% having
unstable macrovascular disease and 4.4% advanced chronic
kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate <30).
Notably, 72.2% received structured Ramadan education.
Conclusion
Majority of PwD attending tertiary diabetes clinics were
in the moderate- to high-risk category and intended to
fast despite medical advice against fasting in some cases.
Although most participants were on insulin therapy,
hypoglycemia was low in the pre-Ramadan period.
Integration of modern technologies, advanced insulin
therapies, and structured education may support safer
fasting practices.
Risk Assessment
;
Diabetes Mellitus
;
Hospitals
;
Fasting
7.Study on the effect and mechanism of magnolol derivative on cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury
Rui SHI ; Haochen XU ; Jie PENG ; Wanghui LIN ; Xulei WANG ; Wei WEI ; Chun WANG ; Bingfa XU
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(6):1103-1110
ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect of magnolol ester derivative YW against cisplatin (Cis)-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) and to explore its effect and preliminary mechanisms on Cis-induced AKI. MethodsThe research group designed and synthesized the magnolol ester derivative YW using magnolol as the parent core. Molecular docking was employed to predict the binding interaction between YW and lysine acetyltransferase 7 (KAT7). A Cis-induced AKI model was established in C57BL/6J mice. Mice were divided into the normal control group, model group, YW low/medium/high dose groups (17.5, 35, 70 mg/kg), and the positive control amifostine group. Renal function was assessed by measuring serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. Pathological changes were evaluated via HE staining and scoring of kidney tissues. Protein expression levels of kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1), lysine acetyltransferase 7 (KAT7), and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (p21) in kidney tissues were detected by Western blot (WB). HK-2 cells were treated with different concentrations of YW; cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay. WB was used to detect the expression levels of the renal injury marker KIM-1, KAT7, and its downstream protein p21. Cellular senescence was assessed by senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) staining. ResultsYW could stably bind to KAT7. In vivo experiments showed that, compared with the model group, all YW dose groups, especially the medium and high doses, significantly reduced the elevated levels of Scr and BUN in AKI mice (P<0.001) and effectively ameliorated renal histopathological damage. YW significantly downregulated the protein expression levels of KIM-1, KAT7, and p21 in kidney tissues (P<0.05). Concentrations of YW≤10 μmol/L had no significant effect on HK-2 cell viability. YW inhibited the Cis-induced decline in HK-2 cell viability (P<0.05), suppressed the Cis-induced upregulation of KIM-1, KAT7, and p21 proteins (P<0.05), and significantly decreased the percentage of SA-β-Gal-positive cells (P<0.01). ConclusionYW suppresses the expression of KAT7 and p21 proteins and inhibits the decline in HK-2 cell viability in cisplatin-induced AKI, significantly mitigates HK-2 cell senescence, and improves renal function, providing preliminary experimental evidence for developing AKI treatment strategies based on structural optimization of natural products.
8.Analysis of preventive treatment and related factors among students with latent tuberculosis infection in Guizhou Province
HE Yuying, YANG Jie, CHEN Pu, ZHAO Peng, WANG Bingping, LI Jinlan
Chinese Journal of School Health 2026;47(9):1335-1338
Objective:
To explore the completion status and related factors of preventive anti tuberculosis therapy among close contacts of pulmonary tuberculosis cases in schools across Guizhou Province, so as to provide scientific evidence for optimizing preventive treatment strategies and raising the treatment completion rate among student close contacts.
Methods:
Demographic, epidemiological and preventive treatment related data were extracted from the Guizhou Disease Prevention and Control Cloud Platform-School Tuberculosis Management System. Totally 3 044 student subjects with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) who received the 3HR regimen and had final treatment outcomes between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2025 were enrolled in the study. The χ 2 test, Mann Whitney U- test and binary Logistic regression model were adopted to analyze factors associated with the completion of preventive treatment among the student LTBI population.
Results:
The overall completion rate of preventive treatment was 74.24%. The prevention treatment completion rate declined with prolonged medication duration( χ 2 trend =252.09, P <0.01). Binary Logistic regression analysis indicated that students from private schools had higher odds of incomplete treatment compared with those from public schools ( OR =1.32, P <0.05). Compared with college students, students in primary school and below, junior high school, senior high school, secondary vocational school exhibited lower odds of incomplete treatment ( OR =0.35, 0.31, 0.59, 0.17,all P <0.05). Compared with contacts exposed in dormitories, classroom exposed and same floor or others exposed contacts showed higher odds of incomplete treatment ( OR =4.28, 8.59, both P <0.05). Participants with an interval exceeding 2 weeks from screening to treatment initiation were more likely to complete preventive treatment ( OR =0.80, P <0.05).
Conclusions
The overall completion rate of preventive treatment remains unsatisfactory among students with LTBI in Guizhou Province. Multiple interventions are recommended to improve treatment adherence and completion rates in the population, including implementing diversified medication supervision measures, strengthening public health management and supervision for private schools, establishing efficient referral and management mechanisms to enhance students treatment completion.
9.Pollution characteristics, source apportionment, and health risk assessment of PM2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Guangzhou City from 2016 to 2024
Yan WU ; Zhi LI ; Jiayun LYU ; Jie SHI ; Yongquan PENG ; Wenru FENG
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2026;43(9):1116-1122
Background Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are significant organic components of PM2.5 and exhibit carcinogenic and mutagenic properties. Long-term exposure to high level of atmospheric particulate matter and particle-bound PAHs may contribute to the burden of environmentally related diseases in China. Objective To characterize PM2.5 concentrations and PM2.5-bound PAHs in three districts of Guangzhou from 2016 to 2024, and to assess the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) associated with inhalation exposure to PAHs among different population groups. Methods PM2.5 samples were collected monthly from the 10th to the 16th day of each month at rooftop monitoring sites on office buildings in Yuexiu, Conghua, and Panyu districts between 2016 and 2024. PM2.5 concentrations were measured, and 16 priority PAHs were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Seasonal and regional variations in PM2.5 and PAH concentrations were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Potential PAH sources were identified using diagnostic ratio analysis and principal component analysis (PCA). The ILCR model was employed to estimate inhalation-related cancer risks for different population groups. Results From 2016 to 2024, the annual median PM2.5 concentrations in Guangzhou were 51.0, 46.0, 45.0, 41.5, 31.0, 32.0, 30.0, 26.0, and 37.5 μg·m−3, respectively, showing an overall declining trend. PM2.5 concentrations varied significantly by season, following the order of winter > spring/autumn > summer (H=475.341, P < 0.001). Spatially, PM2.5 concentrations were highest in Yuexiu, followed by Panyu and Conghua (H=36.226, P < 0.001). The annual median PAH concentrations were 3.95, 4.22, 3.73, 3.13, 2.54, 2.16, 2.78, 2.36, and 1.75 ng·m−3, respectively. PAH concentrations showed a similar seasonal pattern (winter > spring/autumn > summer; H=320.392, P < 0.001). However, their spatial distribution differed from that of PM2.5: Conghua > Panyu > Yuexiu (H=55.938, P < 0.001). Diagnostic ratios and PCA indicated that the major sources of PAHs were traffic-related emissions (gasoline and diesel combustion) and coal combustion, with additional contributions from petroleum volatilization and biomass burning. Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) toxic equivalent concentrations declined over time and remained below the Chinese standard limit of 1 ng·m−3 after 2018. The median inhalation-related ILCRs were 0.094×10−6 for children, 0.035×10−6 for adolescents, and 0.293×10−6 for adults. Conclusion From 2016 to 2024, PM2.5 and PM2.5-bound PAH pollution levels in Guangzhou generally declined. Suburban areas had the lowest PM2.5 concentrations but the highest PAHs concentrations. Both PM2.5 and PM2.5-bound PAHs exhibited significant seasonal variations, with the highest levels in winter and the lowest levels in summer. The primary sources of PAHs were vehicular emissions and coal combustion, and PAHs posed no significant carcinogenic risk to the study population.
10.MTAP Orchestrates Stemenss and 5-Fluorouracil Resistance in Liver Cancer via PRMT5/SOX2 Signaling
Yu-Bo ZHANG ; Zhao-Xiong FANG ; Yun LI ; Jie DONG ; Xiao-Peng HONG ; Hui LUO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(10):2797-2807
ObjectiveMethylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) is found to be frequently deleted in malignant cancers, but the role of MTAP underlying metastasis and stemness of liver cancer remains far from clear. 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) is clinically used in treating advanced liver cancer, however, chemoresistance is one of the major barriers impeding its efficacy. Liver cancer stem cells are considered to be the reservoir for tumor progression and chemoresistance. This study aims to explore the role of MTAP in regulating stemness and chemoresistance of 5-Fu in liver cancer. It is designed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying MTAP-manipulated stemness. How MTAP influences metastasis and chemoresistance against 5-Fu in liver cancer is also elaborated. MethodsThe correlation of MTAP expression with stemness marker CD133 was evaluated by flow cytometry. Colony formation assays were conducted to analyze the tumorigenic ability. Western blot assays were applied to delineate the molecular mechanisms underlying MTAP-regulated stemness. Trans-well assays were conducted to analyze the metastatic potential of liver cancer cells.In vivo experiments were performed using subcutaneous xenograft and lung metastasis model on nude mice. Tumor size and weight were analyzed upon 5-Fu treatment. Metastatic nodules on lungs were evaluated. Immunohistochemical and TUNNEL assays were performed on slides obtained from tumor tissues. ResultsMTAP overexpression inhibited expression of CD133 and colony formation, which is further ablated by MTAP inhibitor. MTAP deprivation augmented stemness and colony formation, which is reversed by protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) overexpression but not its catalytically inactive counterparts. Critically, SRY-box transcription factor 2 (SOX2) was found to be a downstream regulator of MTAP/PRMT5, leading to stemness of liver cancer cells. MTAP overexpression suppressed SOX2 expression, while MTAP inhibition augmented expression of SOX2. Critically, MTAP overexpression inhibited migration and invasion of liver cancer cells. In vivo experiments in animal model found that MTAP deprivation promotes tumor growth and metastatic nodules of liver cancer. Additionally, MTAP overexpression inhibits tumor growth. Moreover, MTAP deprivation contributes to chemoresistance shown by increased tumor size and weight treated by 5-Fu. In contrast, MTAP overexpression led to further decline in tumor size and weight elicited by 5-Fu treatment. Accordingly, SOX2 was inhibited in tumor tissues after MTAP overexpression. Marker of proliferation Ki67 (Ki67) expression was dampened while apoptosis was found in MTAP-overexpressed tumor tissues. ConclusionIn this study, plethora of experimental studies collectively demonstrated that MTAP deprivation enhances stemness of liver cancer by regulating SOX2, exerting anti-cancer and chemoresistant role against 5-Fu in liver cancer. It is also worth noting that MTAP inhibition promoted metastasis of liver cancer. MTAP overexpression augmented tumor shrinking elicited by 5-Fu and SOX2 was involved in this process. These results concluded that MTAP/PRMT5/SOX2 signaling axis was involved in regulating stemness and chemoresistance of liver cancer. These findings help to exploit novel therapies by targeting stemness in MTAP-depleted liver cancer. It shed novel light on unveiling MTAP-regulated stemness in antagonizing 5-Fu treatment in liver cancer. It also adds mounting evidence to the theoretical basis for accomplishing personalized chemotherapy of liver cancer patients by targeting MTAP or its downstream PRMT5/SOX2.


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