1.Nucleic Acid-driven Protein Degradation: Frontiers of Lysosomal Targeted Degradation Technology
Han YIN ; Yu LI ; Yu-Chuan FAN ; Shuai GUO ; Yuan-Yu HUANG ; Yong LI ; Yu-Hua WENG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):5-19
Distinct from the complementary inhibition mechanism through binding to the target with three-dimensional conformation of small molecule inhibitors, targeted protein degradation technology takes tremendous advantage of endogenous protein degradation pathway inside cells to degrade plenty of “undruggable” target proteins, which provides a novel route for the treatment of many serious diseases, mainly including proteolysis-targeting chimeras, lysosome-targeting chimeras, autophagy-targeting chimeras, antibody-based proteolysis-targeting chimeras, etc. Unlike proteolysis-targeting chimeras first found in 2001, which rely on ubiquitin-proteasome system to mainly degrade intracellular proteins of interest, lysosome-targeting chimeras identified in 2020, which was act as the fastly developing technology, utilize cellular lysosomal pathway through endocytosis mediated by lysosome-targeting receptor to degrade both extracellular and membrane proteins. As an emerging biomedical technology, nucleic acid-driven lysosome-targeting chimeras utilize nucleic acids as certain components of chimera molecule to replace with ligand to lysosome-targeting receptor or protein of interest, exhibiting broad application prospects and potential clinical value in disease treatment and drug development. This review mainly introduced present progress of nucleic acid-driven lysosome-targeting chimeras technology, including its basic composition, its advantages compared with antibody or glycopeptide-based lysosome-targeting chimeras, and focused on its chief application, in terms of the type of lysosome-targeting receptors. Most research about the development of nucleic acid-driven lysosome-targeting chimeras focused on those which utilized cation-independent mannose-6-phosphonate receptor as the lysosome-targeting receptor. Both mannose-6-phosphonate-modified glycopeptide and nucleic aptamer targeting cation-independent mannose-6-phosphonate receptor, even double-stranded DNA molecule moiety can be taken advantage as the ligand to lysosome-targeting receptor. The same as classical lysosome-targeting chimeras, asialoglycoprotein receptor can also be used for advance of nucleic acid-driven lysosome-targeting chimeras. Another new-found lysosome-targeting receptor, scavenger receptor, can bind dendritic DNA molecules to mediate cellular internalization of complex and lysosomal degradation of target protein, suggesting the successful application of scavenger receptor-mediated nucleic acid-driven lysosome-targeting chimeras. In addition, this review briefly overviewed the history of lysosome-targeting chimeras, including first-generation and second-generation lysosome-targeting chimeras through cation-independent mannose-6-phosphonate receptor-mediated and asialoglycoprotein receptor-mediated endocytosis respectively, so that a clear timeline can be presented for the advance of chimera technique. Meantime, current deficiency and challenge of lysosome-targeting chimeras was also mentioned to give some direction for deep progress of lysosome-targeting chimeras. Finally, according to faulty lysosomal degradation efficiency, more cellular mechanism where lysosome-targeting chimeras perform degradation of protein of interest need to be deeply explored. In view of current progress and direction of nucleic acid-driven lysosome-targeting chimeras, we discussed its current challenges and development direction in the future. Stability of natural nucleic acid molecule and optimized chimera construction have a great influence on the biological function of lysosome-targeting chimeras. Discovery of novel lysosome-targeting receptors and nucleic aptamer with higher affinity to the target will greatly facilitate profound advance of chimera technique. In summary, nucleic acid-driven lysosome-targeting chimeras have many superiorities, such as lower immunogenicity, expedient synthesis of chimera molecules and so on, in contrast to classical lysosome-targeting chimeras, making it more valuable. Also, the chimera technology provides new ideas and methods for biomedical research, drug development and clinical treatment, and can be used more widely through further research and optimization.
2.Stress distribution on the maxilla when wearing the Twin-block appliance for Class Ⅱ malocclusion
Shuai LI ; Hua LIU ; Yonghui SHANG ; Yicong LIU ; Qihang ZHAO ; Wen LIU
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(5):881-887
BACKGROUND:The Twin-block orthodontic appliance is commonly used for the correction of Class Ⅱ malocclusion.Its mechanism of action in stimulating mandibular growth has been confirmed in many studies,but its impact on maxillary growth is not very clear. OBJECTIVE:By establishing a finite element model to analyze the stress distribution of the maxillary complex,surrounding bone sutures,and maxillary dentition in patients with Class Ⅱ malocclusion wearing Twin-block orthodontic appliances. METHODS:One patient with Class Ⅱ malocclusion who underwent orthodontic treatment at Qingdao Hospital/Qingdao Municipal Hospital of Shandong Rehabilitation University was selected.The bite force data of the patient when wearing the Twin-block orthodontic appliance was measured,and CBCT data were collected.A finite element model was established,including the maxillary complex,peripheral sutures,Twin-block orthodontic appliance,and maxillary dentition.ABAQUS software was used to simulate the stress distribution in the maxilla and maxillary dentition when the patient was wearing the Twin-block appliance. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The equivalent stress on the maxillary anterior teeth was significantly smaller than that on the posterior teeth,and the maximum equivalent stress on both sides of the teeth were 4.797 5 Mpa and 8.716 1 Mpa,respectively,which were located at the first premolar.The maximum displacements were presented at the maxillary incisors on both sides of the teeth,which were 0.080 5 mm and 0.081 0 mm,respectively.The maximum equivalent stress on the bone suture was 1.284 Mpa,which was mainly concentrated in the pterygopalatine suture and the frontal-maxillary suture on both sides,and there was almost no difference in the force of the rest of bone sutures;the maximum displacement of the bone suture was 0.07 mm,with the pterygopalatine suture having the largest displacement,followed by the frontal-maxillary suture.The maximal equivalent stress on the maxillary complex was 27.18 Mpa,which was mainly concentrated on both sides of the anterior pyriform foramen of the maxilla,around the nasofrontal suture and around the pterygopalatine suture at the posterior part of the jaws.The maximal displacement of the maxilla was 0.07 mm,which was mainly concentrated on the maxillary alveolar bone.All these findings show that the occlusal force acts on the maxillary complex through the Twin-block appliance,resulting in clockwise rotation of the maxilla and steepening of the dentition plane.Measures should be taken to compensate for this tendency,for example,by considering maxillary molar elongation and intrusion in the process of occlusion,which are not only able to flatten the occlusal plane,but facilitate the mandibular protraction,thereby further improving Class Ⅱ malocclusion orthodontic treatment.
3.Multi-omics Analysis of NUDT19 Across Cancer Types and Its Functional Role in Leukemia
Xiao-Jin LI ; Shuai FENG ; Zhong-Tao YUAN ; Tong-Hua YANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(10):2627-2649
ObjectiveRecent studies have highlighted the critical role of NUDT19 in the initiation, progression, and prognosis of specific cancer types. However, its involvement in pan-cancer analysis has not been fully characterized. This study aims to systematically explore the expression patterns, clinical significance, and immune-related functions of NUDT19 in various cancer types through multi-omics analysis, further revealing its potential role in cancer, particularly its functional and therapeutic target value in leukemia. MethodsTo achieve this goal, various bioinformatics approaches were employed to evaluate the expression patterns, clinical significance, and immune-related functions of NUDT19 in tumors and normal tissues. Additionally, we analyzed the mutation characteristics of NUDT19 and its relationship with epigenetic modifications. Using the single-cell analysis tool SingleCellBase, we explored the distribution of NUDT19 across different cell subpopulations in tumors. To validate these findings, qRT-PCR was used to measure NUDT19 expression levels in specific tumor cell lines, and we established acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines (HL-60 and THP-1) to conduct NUDT19 knockdown and overexpression experiments, assessing its effects on leukemia cell proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion. ResultsPan-cancer analysis revealed the dysregulated expression of NUDT19 across multiple cancer types, which was closely associated with poor prognosis, clinical staging, and diagnostic markers. Furthermore, NUDT19 was significantly correlated with tumor biomarkers, immune-related genes, and immune cell infiltration in different cancers. Mutation analysis showed that multiple mutations in NUDT19 were significantly associated with epigenetic changes. Single-cell analysis revealed the heterogeneity of NUDT19 expression in cancer cells, suggesting its potentially diverse functional roles in different cell subpopulations. qRT-PCR experiments confirmed the significant upregulation of NUDT19 in various tumor cell lines. In AML cell lines, NUDT19 knockdown led to reduced cell proliferation and invasion, with increased apoptosis, while NUDT19 overexpression significantly enhanced cell proliferation and invasion while reducing apoptosis. ConclusionThis study demonstrates the diverse roles of NUDT19 in various cancer types, with a particularly prominent functional role in leukemia. NUDT19 is not only associated with tumor initiation and progression but may also influence cancer progression through the regulation of immune microenvironment and epigenetic mechanisms. Our research highlights the potential of NUDT19 as a therapeutic target, particularly for targeted therapies in malignancies such as leukemia, with significant clinical application prospects.
4.Epidemiological characteristics of respiratory syncytial virus infection in children in Hebei Province.
Xuan WANG ; Su-Kun LU ; Jian-Hua LIU ; Jin-Feng SHUAI ; Kun-Ling HUANG ; Bo NIU ; Li-Jie CAO ; Xiao-Wei CUI
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(10):1199-1204
OBJECTIVES:
To study the epidemiological characteristics of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in hospitalized children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Hebei Province.
METHODS:
Hospitalized children with CAP who tested positive for RSV and were admitted to Hebei Children's Hospital from various cities and counties across Hebei Province between January 2019 and December 2023 were included in the study. Clinical data were collected and analyzed to assess epidemiological characteristics.
RESULTS:
The clinical data of 43 978 children with CAP were collected, with an overall RSV detection rate of 25.98%. The detection rate was higher during the implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) (30.60%) than in the non-NPIs period. Winter and spring were the primary epidemic seasons for RSV each year except in 2022. The detection rate in males (26.62%) was higher than in females (25.06%) (P<0.001). The highest detection rate (59.18%) was found in infants aged 29 days to <1 year. Single RSV infection was more common, with rhinovirus being the most frequent co-infection.
CONCLUSIONS
The overall RSV detection rate in Hebei Province is influenced by NPIs, being higher during their implementation. RSV predominantly circulates in winter and spring. The detection rate of RSV is higher in males and infants. RSV infection is primarily single, most often co-occurring with rhinovirus.
Humans
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Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/epidemiology*
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Female
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Male
;
Infant
;
Child, Preschool
;
Seasons
;
China/epidemiology*
;
Infant, Newborn
;
Community-Acquired Infections/epidemiology*
;
Child
5.The 5-HT Descending Facilitation System Contributes to the Disinhibition of Spinal PKCγ Neurons and Neuropathic Allodynia via 5-HT2C Receptors.
Xiao ZHANG ; Xiao-Lan HE ; Zhen-Hua JIANG ; Jing QI ; Chen-Chen HUANG ; Jian-Shuai ZHAO ; Nan GU ; Yan LU ; Qun WANG
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(7):1161-1180
Neuropathic pain, often featuring allodynia, imposes significant physical and psychological burdens on patients, with limited treatments due to unclear central mechanisms. Addressing this challenge remains a crucial unsolved issue in pain medicine. Our previous study, using protein kinase C gamma (PKCγ)-tdTomato mice, highlights the spinal feedforward inhibitory circuit involving PKCγ neurons in gating neuropathic allodynia. However, the regulatory mechanisms governing this circuit necessitate further elucidation. We used diverse transgenic mice and advanced techniques to uncover the regulatory role of the descending serotonin (5-HT) facilitation system on spinal PKCγ neurons. Our findings revealed that 5-HT neurons from the rostral ventromedial medulla hyperpolarize spinal inhibitory interneurons via 5-HT2C receptors, disinhibiting the feedforward inhibitory circuit involving PKCγ neurons and exacerbating allodynia. Inhibiting spinal 5-HT2C receptors restored the feedforward inhibitory circuit, effectively preventing neuropathic allodynia. These insights offer promising therapeutic targets for neuropathic allodynia management, emphasizing the potential of spinal 5-HT2C receptors as a novel avenue for intervention.
Animals
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Neuralgia/physiopathology*
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Protein Kinase C/metabolism*
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Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C/metabolism*
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Hyperalgesia/physiopathology*
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Mice, Transgenic
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Mice
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Spinal Cord/metabolism*
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Serotonin/metabolism*
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Male
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Neurons/metabolism*
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
6.Profiling the chemical differences of diterpenoid alkaloids in different processed products of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata by UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometry combined with untargeted metabolomics and mass spectrometry imaging.
Yang YU ; Changliang YAO ; Jianqing ZHANG ; Yong HUANG ; Shuai YAO ; Hua QU ; Tong ZHANG ; Dean GUO
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2025;23(8):1009-1015
Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata (Fuzi) represents a significant traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that exhibits both notable pharmacological effects and toxicity. Various processing methods are implemented to reduce the toxicity of raw Fuzi by modifying its toxic and effective components, primarily diterpenoid alkaloids. To comprehensively analyze the chemical variations between different Fuzi products, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-linear ion trap quadrupole Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS) was employed to systematically characterize Shengfuzi, Heishunpian and Baifupian. A total of 249 diterpenoid alkaloids present in Shengfuzi were identified, while only 111 and 61 in Heishunpian and Baifupian were detected respectively, indicating substantial differences among these products. An untargeted metabolomics approach combined with multivariate statistical analysis revealed 42 potential chemical markers. Through subsequent validation using 52 batches of commercial Heishunpian and Baifupian samples, 8 robust markers distinguishing these products were identified, including AC1-propanoic acid-3OH, HE-glucoside, HE-hydroxyvaleric acid-2OH, dihydrosphingosine, N-dodecoxycarbonylvaline and three unknown compounds. Additionally, the MS imaging (MSI) technique was utilized to visualize the spatial distribution of chemical constituents in raw Fuzi, revealing how different processing procedures affect the chemical variations between Heishunpian and Baifupian. The distribution patterns of different diterpenoid alkaloid subtypes partially explained the chemical differences among products. This research provides valuable insights into the material basis for future investigations of different Fuzi products.
Diterpenes/chemistry*
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Alkaloids/chemistry*
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Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods*
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Aconitum/chemistry*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*
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Metabolomics
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Mass Spectrometry/methods*
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Plant Roots/chemistry*
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Molecular Structure
7.Construction of a Prognostic Model for Lysosome-dependent Cell Death in Gastric Cancer Based on Single-cell RNA-seq and Bulk RNA-seq Data.
Peng NI ; Kai Xin GUO ; Tian Yi LIANG ; Xin Shuang FAN ; Yan Qiao HUA ; Yang Ye GAO ; Shuai Yin CHEN ; Guang Cai DUAN ; Rong Guang ZHANG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(4):416-432
OBJECTIVE:
To identify prognostic genes associated with lysosome-dependent cell death (LDCD) in patients with gastric cancer (GC).
METHODS:
Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using The Cancer Genome Atlas - Stomach Adenocarcinoma. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis was performed to identify the key module genes associated with LDCD score. Candidate genes were identified by DEGs and key module genes. Univariate Cox regression analysis, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed for the selection of prognostic genes, and risk module was established. Subsequently, key cells were identified in the single-cell dataset (GSE183904), and prognostic gene expression was analyzed. Cell proliferation and migration were assessed using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and the wound healing assay.
RESULTS:
A total of 4,465 DEGs, 95 candidate genes, and 4 prognostic genes, including C19orf59, BATF2, TNFAIP2, and TNFSF18, were identified in the analysis. Receiver operating characteristic curves indicated the excellent predictive power of the risk model. Three key cell types (B cells, chief cells, and endothelial/pericyte cells) were identified in the GSE183904 dataset. C19orf59 and TNFAIP2 exhibited predominant expression in macrophage species, whereas TNFAIP2 evolved over time in endothelial/pericyte cells and chief cells. Functional experiments confirmed that interfering with C19orf59 inhibited proliferation and migration in GC cells.
CONCLUSION
C19orf59, BATF2, TNFAIP2, and TNFSF18 are prognostic genes associated with LDCD in GC. Furthermore, the risk model established in this study showed robust predictive power.
Stomach Neoplasms/pathology*
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Humans
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Prognosis
;
Lysosomes/physiology*
;
RNA-Seq
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Cell Death
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Single-Cell Analysis
;
Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
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Cell Proliferation
;
Single-Cell Gene Expression Analysis
8.Expert consensus on the evaluation and rehabilitation management of shoulder syndrome after neek dissection for oral and maxillofacial malignancies
Jiacun LI ; Moyi SUN ; Jiaojie REN ; Wei GUO ; Longjiang LI ; Zhangui TANG ; Guoxin REN ; Zhijun SUN ; Jian MENG ; Wei SHANG ; Shaoyan LIU ; Jie ZHANG ; Jicheng LI ; Yue HE ; Chunjie LI ; Kai YANG ; Zhongcheng GONG ; Qing XI ; Bing HAN ; Huaming MAI ; Yanping CHEN ; Jie ZHANG ; Yadong WU ; Chao LI ; Changming AN ; Chuanzheng SUN ; Hua YUAN ; Fan YANG ; Haiguang YUAN ; Dandong WU ; Shuai FAN ; Fei LI ; Chao XU ; Wei WEI
Journal of Practical Stomatology 2024;40(5):597-607
Neck dissection(ND)is one of the main treatment methods for oral and maxillofacial malignancies.Although ND type is in con-stant improvement,but intraoperative peal-pull-push injury of the accessory nerve,muscle,muscle membrane,fascia and ligament induced shoulder syndrome(SS)is still a common postoperative complication,combined with the influence of radiochemotherapy,not only can cause pain,stiffness,numbness,limited dysfunction of shoulder neck and arm,but also may have serious impact on patient's life quality and phys-ical and mental health.At present,there is still a lack of a systematic evaluation and rehabilitation management program for postoperative SS of oral and maxillofacial malignant tumors.Based on the previous clinical practice and the current available evidence,refer to the relevant lit-erature at home and abroad,the experts in the field of maxillofacial tumor surgery and rehabilitation were invited to discuss,modify and reach a consenusus on the etiology,assessment diagnosis,differential diagnosis,rehabilitation strategy and prevention of SS,in order to provide clinical reference.
9. Effect of menthol on hypobaric hypoxia-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension in mice and its mechanism
Wu-Shuai WANG ; Ying-Rong HE ; Xi YANG ; Qing-Hua DUAN ; Qiang WANG ; Wu-Shuai WANG ; Tao HU ; Ying-Rong HE ; Xi YANG ; Qing-Hua DUAN ; Xuan DU ; Qiang WANG ; Yao YANG ; Xuan DU
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(1):62-69
Aim To study the effect of menthol on hypobaric hypoxia-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension and explore the underlying mechanism in mice. Methods 10 to 12 weeks old wild type (WT) mice and TRPM8 gene knockout (TRPM8
10. Effects of metabolites of eicosapentaenoic acid on promoting transdifferentiation of pancreatic OL cells into pancreatic β cells
Chao-Feng XING ; Min-Yi TANG ; Qi-Hua XU ; Shuai WANG ; Zong-Meng ZHANG ; Zi-Jian ZHAO ; Yun-Pin MU ; Fang-Hong LI
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(1):31-38
Aim To investigate the role of metabolites of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in promoting the transdifferentiation of pancreatic α cells to β cells. Methods Male C57BL/6J mice were injected intraperitoneally with 60 mg/kg streptozocin (STZ) for five consecutive days to establish a type 1 diabetes (T1DM) mouse model. After two weeks, they were randomly divided into model groups and 97% EPA diet intervention group, 75% fish oil (50% EPA +25% DHA) diet intervention group, and random blood glucose was detected every week; after the model expired, the regeneration of pancreatic β cells in mouse pancreas was observed by immunofluorescence staining. The islets of mice (obtained by crossing GCG

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