1.Heterogeneity of Adipose Tissue From a Single-cell Transcriptomics Perspective
Yong-Lang WANG ; Si-Si CHEN ; Qi-Long LI ; Yu GONG ; Xin-Yue DUAN ; Ye-Hui DUAN ; Qiu-Ping GUO ; Feng-Na LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(4):820-835
Adipose tissue is a critical energy reservoir in animals and humans, with multifaceted roles in endocrine regulation, immune response, and providing mechanical protection. Based on anatomical location and functional characteristics, adipose tissue can be categorized into distinct types, including white adipose tissue (WAT), brown adipose tissue (BAT), beige adipose tissue, and pink adipose tissue. Traditionally, adipose tissue research has centered on its morphological and functional properties as a whole. However, with the advent of single-cell transcriptomics, a new level of complexity in adipose tissue has been unveiled, showing that even under identical conditions, cells of the same type may exhibit significant variation in morphology, structure, function, and gene expression——phenomena collectively referred to as cellular heterogeneity. Single-cell transcriptomics, including techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq), enables in-depth analysis of the diversity and heterogeneity of adipocytes at the single-cell level. This high-resolution approach has not only deepened our understanding of adipocyte functionality but also facilitated the discovery of previously unidentified cell types and gene expression patterns that may play key roles in adipose tissue function. This review delves into the latest advances in the application of single-cell transcriptomics in elucidating the heterogeneity and diversity within adipose tissue, highlighting how these findings have redefined the understanding of cell subpopulations within different adipose depots. Moreover, the review explores how single-cell transcriptomic technologies have enabled the study of cellular communication pathways and differentiation trajectories among adipose cell subgroups. By mapping these interactions and differentiation processes, researchers gain insights into how distinct cellular subpopulations coordinate within adipose tissues, which is crucial for maintaining tissue homeostasis and function. Understanding these mechanisms is essential, as dysregulation in adipose cell interactions and differentiation underlies a range of metabolic disorders, including obesity and diabetes mellitus type 2. Furthermore, single-cell transcriptomics holds promising implications for identifying therapeutic targets; by pinpointing specific cell types and gene pathways involved in adipose tissue dysfunction, these technologies pave the way for developing targeted interventions aimed at modulating specific adipose subpopulations. In summary, this review provides a comprehensive analysis of the role of single-cell transcriptomic technologies in uncovering the heterogeneity and functional diversity of adipose tissues.
2.Correlation Analysis between Immune Cells in Graft and Early Immune Reconstitution after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.
Shan WANG ; Fan LIU ; Qiu-Juan ZHU ; Tao WANG ; Rong GONG ; Wei-Wei TIAN ; Zhi-Lin GAO
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(4):1173-1180
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the correlation between the types and quantities of immune cells in the graft and early immune reconstitution after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and their influence on clinical prognosis.
METHODS:
The clinical data of 83 patients with hematological diseases who received allo-HSCT in Shanxi Bethune Hospital from September 2020 to June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The number of mononuclear cells (MNC), CD34+ cells and lymphocyte subsets (including CD3+T, CD3+CD4+T(Th), CD3+CD8+T(Ts), NK cells and B cells) infused into the recipients was counted, and the peripheral blood lymphocytes were detected before conditioning and on days 14, 30, 60 and 100 post-HSCT.
RESULTS:
Multivariate analysis showed that the number of MNC in the graft affected the recovery of CD4+T lymphocytes after HSCT, and the number of CD4+T lymphocytes in the graft affected the recovery of NK cells and B cells after HSCT. The patient age, donor sex, stem cell source, degree of HLA matching, use of ATG before HSCT, the occurrence of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) after HSCT, and viral infection all affect the early cellular immune reconstitution post-HSCT. The number of infused cells had no significant impact on the median engraftment time for neutrophils and platelets after HSCT. Patients with lower numbers of CD3+T, CD4+T and B cells in the graft were more prone to viral infection after HSCT. However, the cells in the graft had no significant effect on disease recurrence or mortality.
CONCLUSION
The recovery rate of lymphocyte count after allo-HSCT varies. The numbers of MNC and CD4+T cells in the graft may be related to the cellular immune reconstitution after HSCT, while the numbers of CD34+,CD3+T,CD8+T,NK and B cells have no significant effect on the cellular immune reconstruction. The numbers of CD3+T,CD4+T and B cells in the graft were negatively correlated with viral infection after HSCT, but the cellular components of the graft have no obvious influence on hematopoietic reconstitution, disease recurrence, death, recurrence-free survival(RFS) and overall survival(OS) after HSCT.
Humans
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Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
;
Immune Reconstitution
;
Transplantation, Homologous
;
Retrospective Studies
;
Graft vs Host Disease/immunology*
;
Male
;
Female
;
Killer Cells, Natural/immunology*
;
Adult
;
Middle Aged
;
B-Lymphocytes/immunology*
;
Prognosis
;
Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology*
;
Adolescent
3.Identification of a JAK-STAT-miR155HG positive feedback loop in regulating natural killer (NK) cells proliferation and effector functions.
Songyang LI ; Yongjie LIU ; Xiaofeng YIN ; Yao YANG ; Xinjia LIU ; Jiaxing QIU ; Qinglan YANG ; Yana LI ; Zhiguo TAN ; Hongyan PENG ; Peiwen XIONG ; Shuting WU ; Lanlan HUANG ; Xiangyu WANG ; Sulai LIU ; Yuxing GONG ; Yuan GAO ; Lingling ZHANG ; Junping WANG ; Yafei DENG ; Zhaoyang ZHONG ; Youcai DENG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(4):1922-1937
The Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT) control natural killer (NK) cells development and cytotoxic functions, however, whether long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in this pathway remains unknown. We found that miR155HG was elevated in activated NK cells and promoted their proliferation and effector functions in both NK92 and induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)-derived NK (iPSC-NK) cells, without reliance on its derived miR-155 and micropeptide P155. Mechanistically, miR155HG bound to miR-6756 and relieved its repression of JAK3 expression, thereby promoting the JAK-STAT pathway and enhancing NK cell proliferation and function. Further investigations disclosed that upon cytokine stimulation, STAT3 directly interacts with miR155HG promoter and induces miR155HG transcription. Collectively, we identify a miR155HG-mediated positive feedback loop of the JAK-STAT signaling. Our study will also provide a power target regarding miR155HG for improving NK cell generation and effector function in the field of NK cell adoptive transfer therapy against cancer, especially iPSC-derived NK cells.
4.Prediction of Pharmacoresistance in Drug-Naïve Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Using Ictal EEGs Based on Convolutional Neural Network.
Yiwei GONG ; Zheng ZHANG ; Yuanzhi YANG ; Shuo ZHANG ; Ruifeng ZHENG ; Xin LI ; Xiaoyun QIU ; Yang ZHENG ; Shuang WANG ; Wenyu LIU ; Fan FEI ; Heming CHENG ; Yi WANG ; Dong ZHOU ; Kejie HUANG ; Zhong CHEN ; Cenglin XU
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(5):790-804
Approximately 30%-40% of epilepsy patients do not respond well to adequate anti-seizure medications (ASMs), a condition known as pharmacoresistant epilepsy. The management of pharmacoresistant epilepsy remains an intractable issue in the clinic. Its early prediction is important for prevention and diagnosis. However, it still lacks effective predictors and approaches. Here, a classical model of pharmacoresistant temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) was established to screen pharmacoresistant and pharmaco-responsive individuals by applying phenytoin to amygdaloid-kindled rats. Ictal electroencephalograms (EEGs) recorded before phenytoin treatment were analyzed. Based on ictal EEGs from pharmacoresistant and pharmaco-responsive rats, a convolutional neural network predictive model was constructed to predict pharmacoresistance, and achieved 78% prediction accuracy. We further found the ictal EEGs from pharmacoresistant rats have a lower gamma-band power, which was verified in seizure EEGs from pharmacoresistant TLE patients. Prospectively, therapies targeting the subiculum in those predicted as "pharmacoresistant" individual rats significantly reduced the subsequent occurrence of pharmacoresistance. These results demonstrate a new methodology to predict whether TLE individuals become resistant to ASMs in a classic pharmacoresistant TLE model. This may be of translational importance for the precise management of pharmacoresistant TLE.
Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe/diagnosis*
;
Animals
;
Drug Resistant Epilepsy/drug therapy*
;
Electroencephalography/methods*
;
Rats
;
Anticonvulsants/pharmacology*
;
Neural Networks, Computer
;
Male
;
Humans
;
Phenytoin/pharmacology*
;
Adult
;
Disease Models, Animal
;
Female
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Young Adult
;
Convolutional Neural Networks
5.Transverse sinus blood flow characteristics of pulsatile tinnitus with dehiscent sigmoid plate based on 4D flow MRI
Chihang DAI ; Heyu DING ; Han LYU ; Xiaoyu QIU ; Xiaoshuai LI ; Rong ZENG ; Guopeng WANG ; Zhenghan YANG ; Shusheng GONG ; Zhenchang WANG ; Pengfei ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 2024;59(9):897-901
Objective:To investigate the hemodynamic characteristics of transverse sinus with sigmoid sinus wall dehiscence (SSWD) of pulsatile tinnitus (PT) based on 4D flow MRI.Methods:Retrospective analysis was performed on all patients admitted to Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2019 to January 2021 for dehiscent sigmoid plate pulsatile tinnitus. A total of 26 patients (sides) who met the criteria and underwent 4D flow MRI were included. A total of 26 subjects (46 sides), matched 1∶1 according to gender and age, were included in the normal healthy control group. Nonparametric rank sum test, Student′s t test, and ANOVA were performed by SPSS 19.0 software. Binary Logistic regression was applied to the data with statistical significance. Results:There were more patients with dominant drainage on the affected side in PT group than in control group (73.1% vs. 42.3%). The incidence of transverse with a focal intraluminal filling defect and tapered stenosis was higher than that in control group (21.7% vs. 69.2%; 17.4% vs. 42.3%). Average through-plane velocity and maximum through-plane velocity in PT group were higher than those in control group [(33.75±13.88) cm/s vs. (15.84±7.21) cm/s; (93.19±33.55) cm/s vs. (40.40±14.40) cm/s]. The middle part and proximal end of Flow avg (ml/s) in PT group were larger than those in control group [4.69 (2.87; 5.62) ml/s vs. 2.76 (1.67; 4.99) ml/s; 3.41 (2.16; 5.47) ml/s vs. 2.67 (1.68; 4.41) ml/s]. In control group, the velocity of transverse sinus changed relatively gently, while in PT group, the velocity of proximal sinus increased significantly. Binary Logistic regression showed that SSWD PT was independently correlated with proximal maximum flow velocity [ OR=1.086(1.029-1.146), P=0.003]. Conclusion:4D flow MRI showed that the dominant drainage and higher velocity at the proximal end of the transverse sinus might be an important hemodynamic characteristics of dehiscent sigmoid plate pulsatile tinnitus.
6.Rapid on-site evaluation combined with endobronchial ultrasound for the diagnosis of pulmonary/mediastinal lesions: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Zhengneng TANG ; Jie GE ; Liming GONG ; Dongkun WANG ; Hao QIU
Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 2024;31(07):1043-1049
Objective To systematically review the value of rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) for diagnosing pulmonary and mediastinal lesions with endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS). Methods PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP databases were searched by computer to collect the studies of ROSE and EBUS in the diagnosis of pulmonary and mediastinal lesions from inception to August 2022. Two researchers independently screened the literature, extracted the data, and evaluated the risk of bias in the included studies. Meta-analysis was implemented by RevMan 5.4 and Stata 12.0 software. Results A total of 15 studies (9 retrospective studies and 6 prospective studies) with 3 577 patients were included. The meta-analysis results of main outcomes showed that the adequacy of the sample (RD=0.10, 95%CI 0.05 to 0.15, P<0.000 1), overall diagnosis rate (RD=0.07, 95%CI 0.04 to 0.10, P<0.000 1) and the diagnosis rate of the malignant lesion (RD=0.06, 95%CI 0.02 to 0.09, P=0.004) of the ROSE combined with EBUS group were significantly higher than those of the EBUS group. Subgroup analysis showed that the diagnosis rates of pulmonary lesions (RD=0.12, 95%CI 0.08 to 0.17, P<0.000 01) and mediastinal lesions (RD=0.06, 95%CI 0.01 to 0.12, P=0.02) in the ROSE group was significantly higher than those in the EBUS group. The overall diagnosis rate and malignant diagnosis rate of ROSE combined with EBUS were 90% and 92%. The meta-analysis results of secondary outcomes showed that the number of lesions punctures (MD=–1.16, 95%CI –1.89 to –0.43, P=0.002) in the ROSE combined with EBUS group were significantly less than that in the EBUS group; there was no statistical difference in operation time (MD=0.09, 95%CI –5.22 to 5.39, P=0.97) or incidence of complications (RD=–0.06, 95%CI –0.13 to 0.01, P=0.1) between the two groups. Conclusion ROSE can improve the diagnostic efficiency of EBUS in pulmonary and mediastinal lesions, and has the value of the clinical application.
7.Comparison of the antiplatelet effects between vicagrel and clopidogrel in patients with different cytochrome P450 2C19 genotypes
Yinan CAO ; Zizhao QI ; Ling REN ; Jing LI ; Miaohan QIU ; Kexin WANG ; Hongbin SUN ; Yanchun GONG ; Yi LI ; Yaling HAN
Chinese Journal of Cardiology 2024;52(5):493-499
Objective:To compare the antiplatelet effects of vicagrel and clopidogrel in patients with different cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C19 genotypes.Methods:This is a post-hoc analysis of a phase Ⅱ clinical trial of vicagrel, which included patients with coronary heart disease who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention from August 2018 to June 2019 in 18 centers. Patients were categorized based on the presence of CYP 2C19 *2 or *3 loss-of-function (LOF) alleles into LOF carrier group ( n=111) and non-LOF carrier group ( n=90). Each group included patients received vicagrel 5 mg, 6 mg, 7.5 mg, or clopidogrel 75 mg for 28 days per study protocol. P2Y 12 reaction units (PRU) were measured using VerifyNow at baseline, 6 to 8 hours after loading dose, 7 to 10 days after randomization, and 28 days after randomization and the percentage inhibition of platelet aggregation (%IPA) was calculated. The primary endpoint was %IPA on day 28. Within the patients from the General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, 8 to 12 patients in each study arms were enrolled in a prespecified pharmacokinetic sub-study, measuring the time to reach maximum plasma concentration (T max), peak plasma concentration (C max), and area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC). Results:Among 201 patients, the age was (58.8±8.5) years, and 139 (69.2%) were male. In non-LOF carriers, there was no significant differences in PRU values and %IPA between the vicagrel 5 mg, 6 mg, 7 mg, and clopidogrel groups at all time points (all P>0.05). In LOF carriers, %IPA was significantly higher in the vicagrel-treated groups than in the clopidogrel group at 6-8 hours after loading dose (22.9 (14.2, 31.5)% vs. 19.8 (11.0, 28.6)% vs. 29.5 (20.9, 38.0)% vs. 12.9 (3.9, 21.9)%, P=0.038) and 7-10 days after randomization (22.4 (14.2, 30.5)% vs. 34.4 (26.1, 42.6)% vs. 39.8 (31.8, 47.9)% vs. 24.7 (16.3, 33.2)%, P=0.001), with a trend towards higher %IPA in the vicagrel-treated groups at day 28 (30.4 (21.3, 39.6)% vs. 36.5 (27.2, 45.7)% vs. 40.8 (31.8, 49.8)% vs. 30.7(21.2, 40.2)%, P=0.056). Pharmacokinetic results of 35 patients showed that the C max and AUC of the active metabolite M15-2 of vicagrel was similar to that of clopidogrel in non-LOF carriers, but AUC between vicagrel 5 mg, 6 mg, 7 mg and clopidogrel were significantly different in LOF carriers ((5.6±0.6) h·μg -1·L -1 vs. (6.8±2.7) h·μg -1·L -1 vs. (9.2±3.3) h·μg -1·L -1 vs. (4.2±1.9) h·μg -1·ml -1, P=0.020). Conclusion:Vicagrel and clopidogrel have similar antiplatelet effects in non-LOF carriers, but vicagrel exhibits superior antiplatelet effects in LOF carriers.
8.Construction of recombinant CVI988 vector vaccine integrating IBDV-VP2 gene
Lele GONG ; Xinxiang HUANG ; Yunzhe KANG ; Lele WANG ; Xiangqi QIU ; Yuanyuan ZHANG ; Meijie GAO ; Wenhui ZHU ; Yulin ZHANG ; Guoqing ZHUANG ; Aijun SUN
Chinese Journal of Veterinary Science 2024;44(9):1865-1871
The emergence of high virulent mutant strains of infectious bursal disease virus(IBDV)becomes a serious threat to the poultry industry.However,the live attenuated IBDV vaccine can potentially revert to a virulent strain.Therefore,it is a necessary to develop safe and effective IB-DV-associated vaccines.The construction of a recombinant Marek's disease(MD)vaccine strain,CVI988,expressing the IBDV VP2 protein,can protect against disease induced by both IBDV and Marek's disease virus(MDV).Here,the IBDV-VP2 gene was integrated into the UL55 locus of CVI988 by bacterial artificial chromosome(BAC)technique,resulting in the recombinant virus CVI988 BAC-VP2.The recombinant virus was characterized by PCR,IFA and subsequently the bi-ological properties of the recombinant virus were investigated.The results showed that the recom-binant virus CVI988 BAC-VP2 was successfully rescued.The VP2 protein stably expressed in chick-en embryo fibroblasts(CEF).The growth kinetics and plague size assays showed that there was comparable replication ability between recombinant virus and parental virus.This study provides the basis for the development of a low-cost vaccine against both IBDV and MDV infections.
9.Research progress of inducing ferroptosis of cancer stem cells against colorectal cancer
Li-Na GONG ; Meng-Ling YUAN ; Xue-Ying CHENG ; Chen-Yang XU ; Jun PAN ; Qiu-Tong CHEN ; Ling WANG ; Zi-Li ZHANG ; Mei GUO
Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2024;40(6):1030-1034
Cancer stem cell(CSC)are the"seed"cells in the occurrence,development,metastasis and recurrence of colorectal cancer.Targeted killing of CSC provides a new target for anti-colorectal cancer therapy.Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent cell death mode due to the abnormal accumulation of intracellular i-ron ions,which results in the massive reactive oxygen species(ROS)and lipid peroxides,leading to cell death.Studies have shown that cancer stem cells are more enriched in iron ions than non-CSC,which provides a new perspective for targeting ferropto-sis in cancer stem cells against colorectal cancer.This article re-views the research progress of inducing CSC ferroptosis in the treatment of colorectal cancer,such as targeted regulation of SLC7A11 expression in CSC,chelating iron in CSC lysosomes,targeting CSC phenotypic plasticity,reversing CSC iron homeo-stasis,and targeting CSC lipid droplet metabolism induce CSC ferroptosis,which provides new ideas for anti-tumor therapy.
10.Expression of collagen and salvage treatment for recurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after radical chemoradiotherapy
Ning LU ; Hangjia ZHU ; Zhen HUANG ; Jing WANG ; Wei SHI ; Yi GONG ; Hu QIU ; Shaobo KE ; Yongshun CHEN
Chinese Journal of Radiation Oncology 2024;33(7):614-619
Objective:To investigate the change of collagen fibers in locally recurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after radical chemoradiotherapy and the discrepancy of adverse effects and survival outcomes among groups with different salvage treatments, provide references for the options of salvage therapy.Methods:Medical records of 137 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who received radical chemoradiotherapy and had local recurrence admitted to Cancer Center of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from January 2015 to September 2022 were retrospectively collected. The expression of collagen fibers in paraffin samples of cases with different recurrence time was determined by Masson staining, and the differences of the average optical density were calculated. According to the salvage treatment after local recurrence, all cases were divided into the salvage surgery group, second-course chemoradiotherapy group and immunochemotherapy group. The differences of survival outcomes and incidence rates of esophageal tracheal fistula, hemorrhage, pericardial effusion, radiation pneumonitis, radiation esophagitis were analyzed among the three groups. The differences of survival rates were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method and compared by log-rank test among groups.Results:The expression of collagen fibers in recurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was significantly higher than that in primary esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Collagen fiber expression was gradually down-regulated with the prolongation of recurrence time. The expression of collagen fibers in recurrent cases after 7 years was similar to that of primary esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rates of patients in the salvage surgery group, the second-course chemoradiotherapy group and the immunochemotherapy group were 47%, 30%, 20%; 50%, 27%, 15% and 72.5%, 50%, 50%, respectively; Immunochemotherapy was more effective in salvage treatment for recurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, but there was no statistical difference.Conclusions:Collagen fibers are abundant in recurrent esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after radical chemoradiotherapy. With prolongation of recurrent interval, the expression of collagen fibers is down-regulated. The survival outcomes of patients in the immunochemotherapy group, salvage surgery group and second-course chemoradiotherapy group were comparable.

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