1.Integrated molecular characterization of sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma
Rong-Qi SUN ; Yu-Hang YE ; Ye XU ; Bo WANG ; Si-Yuan PAN ; Ning LI ; Long CHEN ; Jing-Yue PAN ; Zhi-Qiang HU ; Jia FAN ; Zheng-Jun ZHOU ; Jian ZHOU ; Cheng-Li SONG ; Shao-Lai ZHOU
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(2):426-444
Background:
s/Aims: Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare histological subtype of HCC characterized by extremely poor prognosis; however, its molecular characterization has not been elucidated.
Methods:
In this study, we conducted an integrated multiomics study of whole-exome sequencing, RNA-seq, spatial transcriptome, and immunohistochemical analyses of 28 paired sarcomatoid tumor components and conventional HCC components from 10 patients with sarcomatoid HCC, in order to identify frequently altered genes, infer the tumor subclonal architectures, track the genomic evolution, and delineate the transcriptional characteristics of sarcomatoid HCCs.
Results:
Our results showed that the sarcomatoid HCCs had poor prognosis. The sarcomatoid tumor components and the conventional HCC components were derived from common ancestors, mostly accessing similar mutational processes. Clonal phylogenies demonstrated branched tumor evolution during sarcomatoid HCC development and progression. TP53 mutation commonly occurred at tumor initiation, whereas ARID2 mutation often occurred later. Transcriptome analyses revealed the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and hypoxic phenotype in sarcomatoid tumor components, which were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, we identified ARID2 mutations in 70% (7/10) of patients with sarcomatoid HCC but only 1–5% of patients with non-sarcomatoid HCC. Biofunctional investigations revealed that inactivating mutation of ARID2 contributes to HCC growth and metastasis and induces EMT in a hypoxic microenvironment.
Conclusions
We offer a comprehensive description of the molecular basis for sarcomatoid HCC, and identify genomic alteration (ARID2 mutation) together with the tumor microenvironment (hypoxic microenvironment), that may contribute to the formation of the sarcomatoid tumor component through EMT, leading to sarcomatoid HCC development and progression.
2.Integrated molecular characterization of sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma
Rong-Qi SUN ; Yu-Hang YE ; Ye XU ; Bo WANG ; Si-Yuan PAN ; Ning LI ; Long CHEN ; Jing-Yue PAN ; Zhi-Qiang HU ; Jia FAN ; Zheng-Jun ZHOU ; Jian ZHOU ; Cheng-Li SONG ; Shao-Lai ZHOU
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(2):426-444
Background:
s/Aims: Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare histological subtype of HCC characterized by extremely poor prognosis; however, its molecular characterization has not been elucidated.
Methods:
In this study, we conducted an integrated multiomics study of whole-exome sequencing, RNA-seq, spatial transcriptome, and immunohistochemical analyses of 28 paired sarcomatoid tumor components and conventional HCC components from 10 patients with sarcomatoid HCC, in order to identify frequently altered genes, infer the tumor subclonal architectures, track the genomic evolution, and delineate the transcriptional characteristics of sarcomatoid HCCs.
Results:
Our results showed that the sarcomatoid HCCs had poor prognosis. The sarcomatoid tumor components and the conventional HCC components were derived from common ancestors, mostly accessing similar mutational processes. Clonal phylogenies demonstrated branched tumor evolution during sarcomatoid HCC development and progression. TP53 mutation commonly occurred at tumor initiation, whereas ARID2 mutation often occurred later. Transcriptome analyses revealed the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and hypoxic phenotype in sarcomatoid tumor components, which were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, we identified ARID2 mutations in 70% (7/10) of patients with sarcomatoid HCC but only 1–5% of patients with non-sarcomatoid HCC. Biofunctional investigations revealed that inactivating mutation of ARID2 contributes to HCC growth and metastasis and induces EMT in a hypoxic microenvironment.
Conclusions
We offer a comprehensive description of the molecular basis for sarcomatoid HCC, and identify genomic alteration (ARID2 mutation) together with the tumor microenvironment (hypoxic microenvironment), that may contribute to the formation of the sarcomatoid tumor component through EMT, leading to sarcomatoid HCC development and progression.
3.Integrated molecular characterization of sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma
Rong-Qi SUN ; Yu-Hang YE ; Ye XU ; Bo WANG ; Si-Yuan PAN ; Ning LI ; Long CHEN ; Jing-Yue PAN ; Zhi-Qiang HU ; Jia FAN ; Zheng-Jun ZHOU ; Jian ZHOU ; Cheng-Li SONG ; Shao-Lai ZHOU
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(2):426-444
Background:
s/Aims: Sarcomatoid hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a rare histological subtype of HCC characterized by extremely poor prognosis; however, its molecular characterization has not been elucidated.
Methods:
In this study, we conducted an integrated multiomics study of whole-exome sequencing, RNA-seq, spatial transcriptome, and immunohistochemical analyses of 28 paired sarcomatoid tumor components and conventional HCC components from 10 patients with sarcomatoid HCC, in order to identify frequently altered genes, infer the tumor subclonal architectures, track the genomic evolution, and delineate the transcriptional characteristics of sarcomatoid HCCs.
Results:
Our results showed that the sarcomatoid HCCs had poor prognosis. The sarcomatoid tumor components and the conventional HCC components were derived from common ancestors, mostly accessing similar mutational processes. Clonal phylogenies demonstrated branched tumor evolution during sarcomatoid HCC development and progression. TP53 mutation commonly occurred at tumor initiation, whereas ARID2 mutation often occurred later. Transcriptome analyses revealed the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and hypoxic phenotype in sarcomatoid tumor components, which were confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. Moreover, we identified ARID2 mutations in 70% (7/10) of patients with sarcomatoid HCC but only 1–5% of patients with non-sarcomatoid HCC. Biofunctional investigations revealed that inactivating mutation of ARID2 contributes to HCC growth and metastasis and induces EMT in a hypoxic microenvironment.
Conclusions
We offer a comprehensive description of the molecular basis for sarcomatoid HCC, and identify genomic alteration (ARID2 mutation) together with the tumor microenvironment (hypoxic microenvironment), that may contribute to the formation of the sarcomatoid tumor component through EMT, leading to sarcomatoid HCC development and progression.
4.Study on mechanism of Tibetan medicine Rhodiola crenulata in treatment of cerebral microcirculatory disorders based on network pharmacology and experimental validation in rats
Si-Qing MA ; Yu-Jing SHI ; Yuan-Bai LI ; Yang YANG ; Meng LI ; Yu DU ; Yi-Hao LI ; Fang-Zhou LIU
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(9):1781-1791
Aim To explore the core target,key com-ponents and mechanism of Tibetan medicine Rhodiola crenulata in improving cerebral microcirculation based on literature research,network pharmacology,molecu-lar docking and experimental verification.Methods The chemical components of Rhodiola were collected through literature and database,and the potential tar-gets of Rhodiola crenulata were predicted by reverse pharmacophore matching.The related targets of cere-bral microcirculation disorder were obtained and targets were mapping with Rhodiola crenulata.PPI network was constructed and the core targets were screened.The regulatory network of"herb-component-target-dis-ease"was constructed and key components were screened.GO and KEGG enrichment analysis were conducted,and a"Core target-Pathway-Biological Process"network was constructed.Finally,molecular docking validation was carried out,and RT-qPCR and Western blot were used for animal experiments to fur-ther confirm the results of network pharmacology analy-sis.Results A total of 76 active components of Rhodiola crenulata were obtained and corresponding to 285 targets.Altogether 1074 related targets related to cerebral microcirculation disorder were obtained.A-mong them,there were 97 common targets and the main core targets were 6.The key components were 6.The results of molecular docking showed that the bind-ing activity of three key components to the core target was greater than that of the core target protein and its original ligand.The result of RT-qPCR and Western blot demonstrated that Tibetan medicine Rhodiola cre-nulata could significantly reduce the expression of core target CASP3 and AKT1(P<0.01).Conclusions Tibetan medicine Rhodiola crenulata can improve the cerebral microcirculation disorder through multi compo-nents,multi targets and multi pathways.This study provides an experimental basis for clinical application of Tibetan medicine Rhodiola crenulata to treat cerebral microcirculation disorder.
5.Targeting mitochondria:a vital therapeutic strategy for ischemic stroke
Li-Yuan MA ; Si-Yin CHEN ; Shao-Ping YIN ; Kai-Pei LUO ; Xian-Li MENG ; Lu YANG
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(11):2025-2030
Ischemic stroke(IS)is a devastating neurological disease commonly around the world.Although modern medicine has recognized the confined mechanisms in the pathological process of cerebral ischemia,it has never been enough for the treatment of IS.Recent studies have confirmed the vital role of mitochondrial dysfunction in neuronal injury after cerebral ische-mia,thereby exerting a potential target for prevention and treat-ment of IS.Herein,we review the main molecular mechanisms of neuronal injury and death by mitochondrial dyshomeostasis under the condition of ischemia/hypoxia,especially mitochon-drial permeability transition pore opening,oxidative stress and apoptotic signaling.Given remodeling of mitochondrial function as a new idea for the management of IS,some emerging strate-gies containing mitochondrial antioxidant,mitophagy regulation and mitochondrial transfer also raise concern in this paper.
6.Study on inhibitory effect of alisol B on non-small cell lung cancer based on network pharmacology and its mechanism
Liu-Yan XIANG ; Wen-Xuan WANG ; Si-Meng GU ; Xiao-Qian ZHANG ; Lu-Yao LI ; Yu-Qian LI ; Yuan-Ru WANG ; Qi-Qi LEI ; Xue YANG ; Ya-Jun CAO ; Xue-Jun LI
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(12):2375-2384
Aim To explore the potential genes and mechanism of alisol B in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods The proliferation and migration of NSCLC cells were detected by CCK-8 and Transwell.Genes of NSCLC and alisol B were col-lected through TCGA and compound gene prediction database,and their intersection genes were obtained.The network of protein-protein interaction(PPI)was constructed by using String database,and the top 20 key nodes were screened out,and the prognosis-related proteins related to the prognosis of NSCLC were screened out by using R language,and the intersection of them was obtained.The potential mechanism of ali-sol B on NSCLC was explored by KEGG and GO en-richment analysis and the relationship between related genes and immune cells,which was verified by cell-lev-el experiments.Results Alisol B inhibited the cell activity and migration ability of NSCLC cells.Five im-portant genes were identified by network pharmacologi-cal analysis:CCNE1,CDK1,COL1A1,COL1A2 and COL3A1.The results of cell experiment showed that al-isol B down-regulated the expression of Cyclin E1,CDK1 and COL1A2 in NSCLC cells.In addition,alisol B could inhibit the expression of COL1A2 and M2 macrophage marker CD206 in macrophages.Conclu-sions Alisol B may inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells by down-regulating CDK1 and Cyclin E1,and may affect the function of macrophages by inhibiting COL1A2,thus regulating the tumor immune microenvi-ronment and inhibiting NSCLC.
7.Comparative study of total knee arthroplasty assisted by robot and remote sensing navigation system
Hai TANG ; Hong-Mei ZHANG ; Peng-Cheng SHAN ; Pei-Yan HU ; Lin JING ; Qi YAN ; Yuan-Yuan LI ; Xin-Yue WANG ; Si-Ye LIU ; Ming-Jiang HE
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2024;37(9):862-869
Objective To compare clinical efficacy of robot-assisted(RA)and remote sensing navigation alignment(RSNA)system-assisted total knee arthroplasty(TKA).Methods From March 2023 to June 2023,60 patients who underwent the first unilateral TKA due to severe knee osteoarthritis(KOA)were admitted and divided into RSNA group and RA group according to different treatment methods,with 30 patients in each group.There were 5 males and 25 females in RSNA group,aged from 56 to 81 years old with an average of(66.33±7.16)years old;body mass index(BM1)ranged from 19.87 to 38.54 kg·m-2 with an average of(28.40±6.18)kg·m-2;the courses of disease ranged from 5 to 36 months with an average of(18.20±8.98)months;RSNA system was used to assist the positioning of osteotomy.There were 7 males and 23 females in RA group,aged from 55 to 82 years old with an average of(67.83±8.61)years old;BMI ranged from 19.67 to 37.25 kg·m-2 with an aver-age of(28.01±4.89)kg·m-2;the courses of disease ranged from 3 to 33 months with an average of(17.93±9.20)months;RA was performed.Operation time,incision length,latent blood loss at 2 weeks after operation and incidence of lower extremity thrombosis were compared between two groups.Hip-knee ankle angle(HKAA),HKAA deviation,lateral distal femoral angle(LDFA),medial proximal tibial angle(MPTA)and posterior tibial slope(PTS)were compared between two groups;Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC)and Knee Society score(KSS)were used to evaluate functional recovery before operation,3 and 6 months after operation.Results The operation was performed successfully in both groups,and there were no serious complications such as vascular and nerve injury during operation.The wound healed well at stage Ⅰafter operation,and the follow-up time was 6 months.The operation time,latent blood loss at 2 weeks after operation and inci-sion length in RSNA group were(94.35±5.75)min,(130.54±17.53)mland(14.73±2.14)cm,respectively;while(102.57±6.88)min,(146.33±19.47)ml and(16.78±2.32)cm in RA group,respectively.RSNA group was better than RA group(P<0.05).No deep vein thrombosis occurred in both groups at 2 weeks after operation,5 patients occurred intermuscular vein throm-bosisin in RSNA group and 8 patients in RA group,the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).In RSNA group,HKAA,LDFA and MPTA were(173.00±5.54)°,(86.96±3.45)°,(82.79±3.35)° before operation,and(178.34±1.85)°,(89.92±0.42)°,(89.84±0.73)° at 1 week after operation,respectively.In RA group,HKAA,LDFA and MPTA were(173.31±6.48)°,(87.15±3.40)° and(82.99±3.05)° before operation,and(178.52±1.79)°,(90.03±0.39)° and(90.15±0.47)° at 1 week after operation,respectively.HKAA,LDFA and MPTA were significantly improved in both groups at 1 week after oper-ation(P<0.05).There were no significant difference in HKAA,LDFA,MPTA and PTS between two groups before operation and 1 week after operation(P>0.05).There was no significant difference in deviation distribution of HKAA at 1 week after op-eration(x2=2.61 1,P=0.456).There were no significant difference in WOMAC and KSS between two groups before operation,3 and 6 months after operation(P>0.05),and postoperative WOMAC and KSS at 3 and 6 months between two groups were im-proved compared with those before operation(P<0.05).Conclusion Both RA and RSNA system assisted TKA could obtain ac-curate osteotomy,RA has higher surgical accuracy,RSNA system assisted operation has less trauma,and operation is simpler.
8.Application of remote sensing navigation system in total knee arthroplasty
Yuan-Yuan LI ; Ming-Jiang HE ; Peng-Cheng SHAN ; Pei-Yan HU ; Lin JING ; Qi YAN ; Hai TANG ; Xin-Yue WANG ; Si-Ye LIU ; Hong-Mei ZHANG
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2024;37(9):878-885
Objective To explore clinical accuracy of remote sensing navigation alignment(RSNA)system in total knee arthroplasty(TKA)and its influence on postoperative clinical efficacy.Methods From May 2021 to May 2022,60 knee os-teoarthritis(KOA)patients with Kellgren-Lawrence(K-L)grade Ⅲ to Ⅳ treated by unilateral primary TKA were selected and divided into RSNA group and traditional operation group according to treatment methods,and 30 patients in each group.There were 6 males and 24 females in RSNA group,aged from 55 to 86 years old with an average of(68.06±8.23)years old;body mass index(BMI)ranged from 22.15 to 34.58 kg·m-2 with an average of(28.20±3.01)kg·m-2;the courses of disease ranged from 2 to 60 months with an average of(18.80±14.80)months;13 patients with grade Ⅲ and 17 patients with grade Ⅳaccording to K-L grading.In traditional operation group,there were 8 males and 22 females,aged from 57 to 85 years old with an average of(67.26±6.32)years old;BMI ranged from 23.94 to 34.55 kg·m-2 with an average of(27.49±2.32)kg·m-2;the courses of disease ranged from 3 to 60 months with an average of(21.30±16.44)months;14 patients with grade Ⅲ and 16 pa-tients with grade Ⅳ according to K-L grading.Western Ontario and McMaster Universities(WOMAC)osteoarthritis index and Knee Society score(KSS)were used to evaluate functional recovery of patients.Hip-knee-ankle angle(HKAA),distal femoral valgus angle(FVA)and distal fermoral flexion angle(DFFA)were measured before operation.HKAA and HKAA deviation angle were measured at 1 week after operation,and defective rate of lower limb force line,femur prosthesis valgus angle(FP-VA)and femoral prosthesis flexion angle(FPFA),respectively,were calculated.Results There were no serious complications such as vascular and nerve injury during operation,and wound healed at stage Ⅰ.Both groups were followed up for 6 months.There were no significant difference in WOMAC index,KSS,HKAA,FVA and DFFA between two groups before operation(P>0.05).The force line defect rate,HKAA,HKAA deviation angle,FPVA deviation angle and FPFA of RSNA group were 6.7%,(178.74±1.56)°,(1.25±1.56)°,(1.84±0.16)° and(4.85±2.46)°,respectively;while in traditional operation group were 20%,(176.73±3.46)°,(3.27±3.46)°,(2.44±0.26)°,(6.60±1.86)°;the difference between two groups were statistically sig-nificant(P<0.05).There were no significant difference in WOMAC index and KSS between two groups at 3 and 6 months after operation(P>0.05).Conclusion RSNA system could reduce defective rate of lower limb force line,FPVA deviation angle and FPFA after TKA,which is more accurate and easy to operate than traditional intramedullary localization surgery while ensuring postoperative efficacy.
9.Molecular epidemiological analysis of plague at the border area of Yunnan Province
Feng-Yi YANG ; Rong YANG ; Si-Ru LI ; Jin-Jiao KONG ; Hong-Li TAN ; Hai-Peng ZHANG ; Peng WANG ; You-Hong ZHONG ; Li-Yuan SHI ; Zhi-Zhong SONG
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2024;40(5):401-407
This study was aimed at exploring the epidemiological characteristics of plague,and the evolutionary relation-ships among the isolated plague strains in the Yunnan border area,to provide clues for further studying epidemic causes and ep-idemiological patterns.Plague epidemic data in the border area during the second epidemic period(1982-2007)were collected and analyzed with descriptive epidemiological methods.Whole genome sequences of 262 strains of Yersinia pestis in the border area were obtained for phylogenetic analysis.Plague outbreaks occurred in 17 counties(cities)among 25 border counties(cit-ies);a total of 552 epidemic foci and 123 human cases were identified.The 1.ORI2,1.ORI3,1.IN3,2.ANT and 2.MED geno-types were identified among Yersinia pestis isolated from the Yunnan border area,among which the 1.ORI2 population was dominant.A total of 258 strains of Yersinia pestis from the 1.OR12 population belonged to four subclusters.The Myanmar and Vietnam clade was embedded within the Yunnan clade in the overall phylogeny.The above results indicated that during the sec-ond period of the epidemic,the intensity of plague epidemics in Yunnan's border areas was high,showing a trend of devel-opment from west to south and east.Our findings indicated a risk of cross-border transmission of plague between Yunnan and neighboring countries;therefore,the surveillance,pre-vention,and control of plague in border areas should be strengthened.
10.Simultaneous content determination of fifteen constituents in Binglang Sixiao Pills by HPLC
Yuan WANG ; Yuan-Shuo YANG ; Si-Zhi LI ; Jia-Meng ZHAO
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2024;46(8):2493-2498
AIM To establish an HPLC method for the simultaneous content determination of gallic acid,catechin,epicatechin,rhein 8-O-β-D-glucoside,chlorogenic acid,chrysophanol 8-O-β-D-glucoside,emodin-8-O-β-D-glucoside,emodin-3-methyl ether-8-O-β-D-glucoside,aloe emodin,rhein,cyperotundone,luteolin,α-cyperone,emodin,chrysophanol and emodin-3-methyl ether in Binglang Sixiao Pills.METHODS The analysis was performed on a 30℃thermostatic Kromasil C18 column(250 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm),with the mobile phase comprising of methanol-0.1%formic acid flowing at 1.0 mL/min in a gradient elution manner,and the detection wavelength was set at 260 nm.Subsequently,cluster analysis and principal component analysis were made.RESULTS Fifteen constituents showed good linear relationships within their own ranges(r>0.999 0),whose average recoveries were 96.00%-101.00%%with the RSDs of 0.50%-1.50%.Various batches of samples were clustered into two categories,and four principal components demonstrated the accumulative variance contribution rate of 90.004%.CONCLUSION This simple,accurate and reproducible method can be used for the quality control of Binglang Sixiao Pills.

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