1.Mechanism study of SIRT3 alleviating oxidative-stress injury in renal tubular cells by promoting mitochondrial biogenesis via regulating mitochondrial redox balance
Yaojun LIU ; Jun ZHOU ; Jing LIU ; Yunfei SHAN ; Huhai ZHANG ; Pan XIE ; Liying ZOU ; Lingyu RAN ; Huanping LONG ; Lunli XIANG ; Hong HUANG ; Hongwen ZHAO
Organ Transplantation 2026;17(1):86-94
Objective To elucidate the molecular mechanism of sirtuin-3 (SIRT3) in regulating mitochondrial biogenesis in human renal tubular epithelial cells. Methods Cells were stimulated with different concentrations of H2O2 and divided into four groups: control (NC), 50 μmol/L H2O2, 110 μmol/L H2O2 and 150 μmol/L H2O2. SIRT3 protein expression was then measured. SIRT3 was knocked down with siRNA, and cells were further assigned to five groups: control (NC), negative-control siRNA (NCsi), SIRT3-siRNA (siSIRT3), NCsi+H2O2, and siSIRT3+H2O2. After 24 h, cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and mitochondrial superoxide anion (O2•−) levels were determined, together with mitochondrial expression of SIRT3, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1), mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), acetylated-SOD2 and adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase α1 (AMPKα1). Results The 110 and 150 μmol/L H2O2 decreased SIRT3 protein (both P<0.05). ATP and mitochondrial O2•− did not differ between NC and NCsi groups (both P>0.05). Compared to the NCsi group, the siSIRT3 group exhibited elevated O2•− level, decreased SIRT3 protein and increased expression levels of SOD2 and acetylated SOD2 protein (all P<0.05). Compared to the NCsi group, the NCsi+H2O2 group exhibited decreased cellular ATP levels, elevated mitochondrial O2•− levels, and reduced protein expression levels of SIRT3, SOD2, TFAM, AMPKα1, PGC-1α and NRF1 (all P<0.05). Compared with the siSIRT3 group, the siSIRT3+H2O2 group showed a decrease in cellular ATP levels, an increase in mitochondrial O2•− levels, a decrease in SIRT3, SOD2, TFAM, AMPKα1, PGC-1α and NRF1 protein expression levels and a decrease in acetylated SOD2 protein expression levels (all P<0.05). Compared with the NCsi+H2O2 group, the siSIRT3+H2O2 group showed a decrease in cellular ATP levels, an increase in mitochondrial O2•− levels, a decrease in SIRT3, AMPKα1, PGC-1α and NRF1, TFAM protein expression levels, and an increase in SOD2 and acetylated SOD2 protein expression levels (all P<0.05). Conclusions SIRT3 promotes mitochondrial biogenesis in tubular epithelial cells via the AMPK/PGC-1α/NRF1/TFAM axis, representing a key mechanism through which SIRT3 ameliorates oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction.
2.Research advances in autoimmune pancreatitis with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency
Xiang AO ; Chenxiao LIU ; Xianda ZHANG ; Taojing RAN ; Chunhua ZHOU ; Duowu ZOU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(2):395-400
Autoimmune pancreatitis is a special type of chronic pancreatitis that can lead to abnormal pancreatic exocrine function in patients. Autoimmune pancreatitis comorbid with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency has a complex pathogenesis, and there is limited research on this topic, leading to the lack of understanding of such patients in clinical practice. This article introduces the epidemiology of autoimmune pancreatitis, briefly describes the pathogenesis of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency caused by autoimmune pancreatitis, and summarizes the various detection methods for pancreatic exocrine function, nutritional assessments, lifestyle management, and drug therapy, in order to strengthen the understanding of autoimmune pancreatitis comorbid with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency and improve the clinical diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency.
3.Intestinal fibrosis associated with inflammatory bowel disease: Known and unknown.
Yao ZHANG ; Haiming ZHUANG ; Kai CHEN ; Yizhou ZHAO ; Danshu WANG ; Taojing RAN ; Duowu ZOU
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(8):883-893
Intestinal fibrosis is a major complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), leading to a high incidence of surgical interventions and significant disability. Despite its clinical relevance, no targeted pharmacological therapies are currently available. This review aims to explore the underlying mechanisms driving intestinal fibrosis and address unresolved scientific questions, offering insights into potential future therapeutic strategies. We conducted a literature review using data from PubMed up to October 2024, focusing on studies related to IBD and fibrosis. Intestinal fibrosis results from a complex network involving stromal cells, immune cells, epithelial cells, and the gut microbiota. Chronic inflammation, driven by factors such as dysbiosis, epithelial injury, and immune activation, leads to the production of cytokines like interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-17, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. These mediators activate various stromal cell populations, including fibroblasts, pericytes, and smooth muscle cells. The activated stromal cells secrete excessive extracellular matrix components, thereby promoting fibrosis. Additionally, stromal cells influence the immune microenvironment through cytokine production. Future research would focus on elucidating the temporal and spatial relationships between immune cell-driven inflammation and stromal cell-mediated fibrosis. Additionally, investigations are needed to clarify the differentiation origins of excessive extracellular matrix-producing cells, particularly fibroblast activation protein (FAP) + fibroblasts, in the context of intestinal fibrosis. In conclusion, aberrant stromal cell activation, triggered by upstream immune signals, is a key mechanism underlying intestinal fibrosis. Further investigations into immune-stromal cell interactions and stromal cell activation are essential for the development of therapeutic strategies to prevent, alleviate, and potentially reverse fibrosis.
Humans
;
Fibrosis/metabolism*
;
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/pathology*
;
Animals
;
Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism*
;
Intestines/pathology*
4.Avatrombopag for platelet engraftment after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children: a retrospective clinical study.
Xin WANG ; Yuan-Yuan REN ; Xia CHEN ; Chao-Qian JIANG ; Ran-Ran ZHANG ; Xiao-Yan ZHANG ; Li-Peng LIU ; Yu-Mei CHEN ; Li ZHANG ; Yao ZOU ; Fang LIU ; Xiao-Juan CHEN ; Wen-Yu YANG ; Xiao-Fan ZHU ; Ye GUO
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(10):1233-1239
OBJECTIVES:
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of avatrombopag in promoting platelet engraftment after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in children, compared with recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO).
METHODS:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on 53 pediatric patients who underwent allo-HSCT at the Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from April 2023 to August 2024. Based on medications used during the periengraftment period, patients were divided into two groups: the avatrombopag group (n=15) and the rhTPO group (n=38).
RESULTS:
At days 14, 30, and 60 post-transplant, platelet engraftment was achieved in 20% (3/15), 60% (9/15), and 93% (14/15) of patients in the avatrombopag group, and in 39% (15/38), 82% (31/38), and 97% (37/38) in the rhTPO group, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups in platelet engraftment rates at each time point, cumulative incidence of platelet engraftment, overall survival, and relapse-free survival (all P>0.05). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis indicated that acute graft-versus-host disease was an independent risk factor for delayed platelet engraftment (P=0.043).
CONCLUSIONS
In children undergoing allo-HSCT, avatrombopag effectively promotes platelet engraftment, with efficacy and safety comparable to rhTPO, and represents a viable therapeutic option.
Humans
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Child
;
Child, Preschool
;
Infant
;
Adolescent
;
Transplantation, Homologous
;
Blood Platelets/drug effects*
;
Thiazoles/therapeutic use*
;
Thrombopoietin/therapeutic use*
;
Thiophenes
5.Clinical applications and research progress of muscle ultrasound in critically ill patients.
Ling LEI ; Jun QIU ; Tongjuan ZOU ; Yi LI ; Ran ZHOU ; Yao QIN ; Wanhong YIN
Chinese Critical Care Medicine 2025;37(8):785-793
Critically ill patients often experience significant skeletal muscle wasting due to prolonged bed rest, metabolic disorders, inflammatory responses and malnutrition, which affects the patient's mobility and may also lead to increased mortality. Timely and accurate assessment of muscle status is important for optimizing treatment strategies and improving patient prognosis. There are various limitations in the current methods of assessing muscle mass, and muscle ultrasound, as a noninvasive, convenient, low-cost and suitable technique for bedside monitoring, has received increasing attention for its application in muscle assessment of critically ill patients. However, there are still a number of challenges in its practical application, such as the lack of uniform standards for the measurement method, the high dependence on the operation, and the reproducibility of the data that needs to be optimized, and so on. The aim of this article is to systematize the research progress of muscle ultrasound in muscle assessment of critically ill patients, and to discuss the advantages and limitations of its clinical application, in order to provide a scientific basis for future research and clinical practice.
Humans
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Critical Illness
;
Ultrasonography
;
Muscle, Skeletal/diagnostic imaging*
6.Pseudomonas monteilii ZMU-T06 produces 2-substituted quinolines by oxidative dehydroaromatization.
Min YANG ; Lan ZOU ; Huimin RAN ; Lei QIN
Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2025;41(1):288-295
2-substituted quinolines are the building blocks for the synthesis of natural products and pharmaceuticals. In comparison with classical methods, dehydroaromatization of 2-substituted-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines has emerged in recent years as an efficient and straightforward method to synthesize quinolines due to its high atom economy and sustainability. However, existing chemical methods need transition metal catalysts and harsh reaction conditions. Biocatalysis with high efficiency, high selectivity, and mild reaction conditions has become an important method of organic synthesis. We mined a strain Pseudomonas monteilii ZMU-T06 capable of producing monoamine oxidase for the dehydroaromatization of 2-substituted-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines to synthesize 2-substituted quinolines (8 substrates, yields of 45.7%-48.4%) and then hypothesized the catalytic mechanism, providing a new method for green synthesis of 2-substituted quinolines.
Quinolines/chemistry*
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Pseudomonas/classification*
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Oxidation-Reduction
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Monoamine Oxidase/biosynthesis*
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Biocatalysis
7.Clinical Utilization Analysis of Rituximab Biosimilar: A Single-Center Retrospective Study
Yuzhen ZOU ; Ran XIAO ; Shaohong WANG ; Rui DAI ; Xiaoli DU
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(6):1484-1492
To investigate the clinical utilization of Rituximab biosimilar (Rituximab injection) in order to provide references for evaluating its rationality and economic value in clinical application. A retrospective analysis was conducted on medical records of inpatients who received Rituximab injection at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2023. The clinical usage patterns, off-label use, economic benefits compared to the originator drug, and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were analyzed. A total of 725 patients treated with Rituximab injection were included. The majority of patients were from the Department of Nephrology (80.69%), followed by Rheumatology and Immunology (9.24%), Hematology (8.41%), and Dermatology (0.97%). The drug was used for 27 different diseases, with the top five being membranous nephropathy (62.90%), minimal change disease (7.31%), systemic lupus erythematosus (4.41%), anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (3.72%), and granulomatosis with polyangiitis or microscopic polyangiitis (3.59%). The off-label use rate was as high as 96.28% (698/725). The overall incidence of ADRs was 21.24%. The total consumption of Rituximab injection was 1183.2 g, resulting in calculated cost savings of about ¥7.35 million compared to the originator drug. Rituximab injection is widely used in hematologic malignancies and immune-mediated diseases, with a low overall incidence of ADRs and greater cost-effectiveness compared to the originator drug. The extremely high rate of off-label use is supported by corresponding guidelines or clinical studies.
8.Research on the association between immune-related gene expression and panic disorder
Yuqian HE ; Geman WANG ; Rongting RAN ; Xuelian LI ; Yujie LI ; Min DENG ; Zhili ZOU
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(5):392-397
BackgroundGenetic factor plays an important role in the pathogenesis of panic disorder. Previous studies have revealed that immune system dysregulation is closely related to mental disorders such as panic disorder, while the relationship between panic disorder and immune-related gene expression remains unclear. ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between the expression of CXCL8, IL6R, JUN, PTGS2, TGFBR1, TLR2, CCR4 genes and panic disorder, providing references for the diagnosis and treatment of panic disorder. MethodsA total of 52 patients who met the diagnostic criteria for panic disorder according to the Diagnosed and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV) were enrolled at the Psychosomatic Medicine Center of Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2020 to March 2021. Another 72 healthy individuals matched for age and gender from Chengdu were concurrently recruited as control group. The Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS) was used to assess the severity of symptoms in panic disorder patients. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect gene expression levels in two groups. Spearman correlation analysis was adopted to determine the correlation between PDSS score and immune-related gene expression in research group. ResultsThe expression of the JUN, PTGS2 and TGFBR1 genes were significant higher in panic disorder patients than those in control group (Z=-4.172, -2.086, -3.018, P<0.05 or 0.01). After false discovery rate (FDR) correction for multiple testing, the differential expression of JUN and TGFBR1 genes remained statistically significant between two groups (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the expression of CCR4, CXCL8, IL6R and TLR2 genes between two groups (P>0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that the expression of the JUN gene in panic disorder patients was positively correlated with PDSS score (r=0.360, P<0.01), while the CCR4, CXCL8, IL6R, PTGS2, TGFBR1 and TLR2 genes showed no statistically significant correlation with the PDSS score (P>0.05). ConclusionThe expression of the JUN and TGFBR1 genes may be associated with panic disorder, and the expression of the JUN gene correlated with the severity of panic disorder. [Funded by Science and Technology Plan Project of Sichuan Provincial Department of Science and Technology (number, 2021YJ0440)]
9.Comparison of the Prognostic Value of C-Reactive Protein to Albu-min Ratio and Glasgow Prognostic Score in Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Hong-Yan WANG ; Hong DENG ; Mei-Jiao HUANG ; Liang ZHANG ; Tai-Ran CHEN ; Yu LIU ; Xing-Li ZOU
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2024;32(3):742-749
Objective:To compare the prognostic value of two predictive models based on C-reactive protein(CRP)and albumin(ALB),namely the CRP to ALB ratio(CAR)and the Glasgow prognostic score(GPS),in newly diagnosed patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma(DLBCL).Methods:The data of newly diagnosed DLBCL patients admitted to our center from May 2014 to January 2022 were reviewed.A total of 111 patients who completed at least 4 cycles of R-CHOP or R-CHOP-like chemotherapy with detailed clinical,laboratory data and follow-up information were included.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was performed to evaluate the predictive value of pre-treatment CAR on disease progression and survival.Furthermore,the association between CAR and baseline clinical,laboratory characteristics of patients was evaluated,and progression-free survival(PFS)and overall survival(OS)were compared between different CAR and GPS subgroups.Finally,the univariate and multivariate COX propor-tional hazard regression models were used to analyze the factors affecting disease outcomes.Results:ROC curve showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of CAR predicting PFS and OS in DLBCL patients was 0.687(P=0.002)and 0.695(P=0.005),respectively,with the optimal cut-off value of 0.11 for both predicting PFS and OS.Compared with the lower CAR(<0.11)group,the higher CAR(≥0.11)group had more clinical risk factors,including age>60 years(P=0.025),ECOG score ≥2(P=0.004),Lugano stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ(P<0.001),non-germinal center B-cell-like(non-GCB)subtype(P=0.035),elevated lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)(P<0.001),extranodal involved site>1(P=0.004)and IPI score>2(P<0.001).The interim response evaluation of patients showed that the overall response rate(ORR)and complete response rate(CRR)in the lower CAR group were both significantly better than those in the higher CAR group(ORR:96.9%vs 80.0%,P=0.035;CRR:63.6%vs 32.5%,P=0.008).With a median follow-up of 24 months,patients with lower CAR had significantly longer median PFS and OS than those with higher CAR(median PFS:not reached vs 67 months,P=0.0026;median OS:not reached vs 67 months,P=0.002),while there was no statistical difference in PFS(P=0.11)and OS(P=0.11)in patients with GPS of 0,1,and 2.Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that only sex(male)and IPI score>2 were independent risk factors for both PFS and OS.Conclusion:CAR is significantly correlated with disease progression and survival in DLBCL patients;And compared with GPS,CAR has more advantages in predicting disease outcomes in DLBCL patients.
10.Efficacy and Safety of Flumatinib and Imatinib as First-line Treatments for Newly-diagnosed Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Chronic Phase:A Real-world Study
Liang ZHANG ; Hong DENG ; Yu LIU ; Tai-Ran CHEN ; Mei-Jiao HUANG ; Hong-Yan WANG ; Xing-Li ZOU
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2024;32(6):1676-1681
Objective:To compare the efficacy and safety of flumatinib (FM)and imatinib (IM)as first-line treatment in newly-diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP ) in real world. Methods:A total of 84 newly-diagnosed CP-CML patients in our center from December 2019 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.Among them,32 cases received FM as first-line treatment,and 52 cases received IM. Molecular response (MR),disease progression,survival and incidence of adverse events (AEs)were compared between the two groups.Results:At 3 months of treatment,the incidences of early molecular response (EMR ),MR2.0 and MR3.0 were 96.7%,70.0% and 20.0% in FM group,respectively,which were significantly higher than 77.1%,29. 2% and 0 in IM group (all P<0.05 ).At 6,9 and 12 months of treatment,the incidences of major molecular response (MMR)in FM group were 68.2%,85.7% and 90.0%,respectively,which were significantly higher than 22.9%,34.0% and 51.1% in IM group (all P<0.01).The median time to achieve MMR in FM group was 6(6-9)months,which was significantly shorter than 18(12-22)months in IM group (P<0.001 ).The 3-year progression-free survival rate and 3-year event-free survival rate in FM group were 100% and 68.8%,respectively,while in IM group were 98.1% and 55.8%.There were no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). The incidence of grade 3-4 hematologic AEs in FM group was 21 .9%,which was slightly lower than 25.0% in IM group,but the difference was not significant (P>0.05 ).Conclusion:In real clinical practice,FM as first-line treatment achieves MMR earlier than IM,and exhibits good safety profile in newly-diagnosed CML-CP patients,which potentially leads to improved long-term survival and treatment-free remission.

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