1.Strategic Optimization of CHO Cell Expression Platforms for Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing
Rui-Ming ZHANG ; Meng-Lin LI ; Hong-Wei ZHU ; Xing-Xiao ZHANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(2):327-341
Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are the most established and versatile mammalian expression system for the large-scale production of recombinant therapeutic proteins, owing to their genetic stability, adaptability to serum-free suspension culture, and ability to perform human-like post-translational modifications. More than 70% of biologics approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration rely on CHO-based production platforms, underscoring their central role in modern biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Despite these advantages, CHO systems continue to face three persistent bottlenecks that limit their potential for high-yield, reproducible, and cost-efficient production: excessive metabolic burden during high-density culture, heterogeneity of glycosylation patterns, and progressive loss of long-term expression stability. This review provides an integrated analysis of recent advances addressing these challenges and proposes a forward-looking framework for constructing intelligent and sustainable CHO cell factories. In terms of metabolic regulation, excessive lactate and ammonia accumulation disrupts energy balance and reduces recombinant protein synthesis efficiency. Optimization of culture parameters such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, osmolarity, and glucose feeding can effectively alleviate metabolic stress, while supplementation with modulators including sodium butyrate, baicalein, and S-adenosylmethionine promotes specific productivity (qP) by modulating apoptosis and chromatin structure. Furthermore, genetic engineering strategies—such as overexpression of MPC1/2, HSP27, and SIRT6 or knockout of Bax, Apaf1, and IGF-1R—have demonstrated significant improvements in cell viability and product yield. The combination of multi-omics metabolic modeling with artificial intelligence (AI)-based prediction offers new opportunities for building self-regulating CHO systems capable of dynamic adaptation to environmental stress. Regarding glycosylation uniformity, which determines therapeutic efficacy and immunogenicity, gene editing-based glycoengineering (e.g., FUT8 knockdown or ST6Gal1 overexpression) has enabled the humanization of CHO glycan profiles, minimizing non-human sugar residues and enhancing drug stability. Process-level strategies such as galactose or manganese co-feeding and fine control of temperature or osmolarity further allow rational regulation of glycosyltransferase activity. Additionally, in vitro chemoenzymatic remodeling provides a complementary route to construct human-type glycans with defined structures, though industrial applications remain constrained by cost and scalability. The integration of model-driven process design and AI feedback control is expected to enable real-time prediction and correction of glycosylation deviations, ensuring batch-to-batch consistency in continuous biomanufacturing. Long-term expression stability, another critical challenge, is often impaired by promoter silencing, chromatin condensation, and random genomic integration. Molecular optimization—such as the use of improved promoters (CMV, EF-1α, or CHO endogenous promoters), Kozak and signal peptide refinement, and incorporation of chromatin-opening elements (UCOE, MAR, STAR)—helps maintain durable transcriptional activity, while site-specific integration systems including Cre/loxP, Flp/FRT, φC31, and CRISPR/Cas9 can enable single-copy, position-independent gene insertion at genomic safe-harbor loci, ensuring stable, predictable expression. Collectively, this review highlights a paradigm shift in CHO system optimization driven by the convergence of genome editing, synthetic biology, and artificial intelligence. The transition from empirical optimization to rational, data-driven design will facilitate the development of programmable CHO platforms capable of autonomous regulation of metabolic flux, glycosylation fidelity, and transcriptional activity. Such intelligent cell factories are expected to accelerate the transformation from laboratory-scale research to industrial-scale, high-consistency, and economically sustainable biopharmaceutical manufacturing, thereby supporting the next generation of efficient and customizable biologics manufacturing.
2.Strategic Optimization of CHO Cell Expression Platforms for Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing
Rui-Ming ZHANG ; Meng-Lin LI ; Hong-Wei ZHU ; Xing-Xiao ZHANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(2):327-341
Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are the most established and versatile mammalian expression system for the large-scale production of recombinant therapeutic proteins, owing to their genetic stability, adaptability to serum-free suspension culture, and ability to perform human-like post-translational modifications. More than 70% of biologics approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration rely on CHO-based production platforms, underscoring their central role in modern biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Despite these advantages, CHO systems continue to face three persistent bottlenecks that limit their potential for high-yield, reproducible, and cost-efficient production: excessive metabolic burden during high-density culture, heterogeneity of glycosylation patterns, and progressive loss of long-term expression stability. This review provides an integrated analysis of recent advances addressing these challenges and proposes a forward-looking framework for constructing intelligent and sustainable CHO cell factories. In terms of metabolic regulation, excessive lactate and ammonia accumulation disrupts energy balance and reduces recombinant protein synthesis efficiency. Optimization of culture parameters such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, osmolarity, and glucose feeding can effectively alleviate metabolic stress, while supplementation with modulators including sodium butyrate, baicalein, and S-adenosylmethionine promotes specific productivity (qP) by modulating apoptosis and chromatin structure. Furthermore, genetic engineering strategies—such as overexpression of MPC1/2, HSP27, and SIRT6 or knockout of Bax, Apaf1, and IGF-1R—have demonstrated significant improvements in cell viability and product yield. The combination of multi-omics metabolic modeling with artificial intelligence (AI)-based prediction offers new opportunities for building self-regulating CHO systems capable of dynamic adaptation to environmental stress. Regarding glycosylation uniformity, which determines therapeutic efficacy and immunogenicity, gene editing-based glycoengineering (e.g., FUT8 knockdown or ST6Gal1 overexpression) has enabled the humanization of CHO glycan profiles, minimizing non-human sugar residues and enhancing drug stability. Process-level strategies such as galactose or manganese co-feeding and fine control of temperature or osmolarity further allow rational regulation of glycosyltransferase activity. Additionally, in vitro chemoenzymatic remodeling provides a complementary route to construct human-type glycans with defined structures, though industrial applications remain constrained by cost and scalability. The integration of model-driven process design and AI feedback control is expected to enable real-time prediction and correction of glycosylation deviations, ensuring batch-to-batch consistency in continuous biomanufacturing. Long-term expression stability, another critical challenge, is often impaired by promoter silencing, chromatin condensation, and random genomic integration. Molecular optimization—such as the use of improved promoters (CMV, EF-1α, or CHO endogenous promoters), Kozak and signal peptide refinement, and incorporation of chromatin-opening elements (UCOE, MAR, STAR)—helps maintain durable transcriptional activity, while site-specific integration systems including Cre/loxP, Flp/FRT, φC31, and CRISPR/Cas9 can enable single-copy, position-independent gene insertion at genomic safe-harbor loci, ensuring stable, predictable expression. Collectively, this review highlights a paradigm shift in CHO system optimization driven by the convergence of genome editing, synthetic biology, and artificial intelligence. The transition from empirical optimization to rational, data-driven design will facilitate the development of programmable CHO platforms capable of autonomous regulation of metabolic flux, glycosylation fidelity, and transcriptional activity. Such intelligent cell factories are expected to accelerate the transformation from laboratory-scale research to industrial-scale, high-consistency, and economically sustainable biopharmaceutical manufacturing, thereby supporting the next generation of efficient and customizable biologics manufacturing.
3.Treatment Principles and Paradigm of Diabetic Microvascular Complications Responding Specifically to Traditional Chinese Medicine
Anzhu WANG ; Xing HANG ; Lili ZHANG ; Xiaorong ZHU ; Dantao PENG ; Ying FAN ; Min ZHANG ; Wenliang LYU ; Guoliang ZHANG ; Xiai WU ; Jia MI ; Jiaxing TIAN ; Wei ZHANG ; Han WANG ; Yuan XU ; .LI PINGPING ; Zhenyu WANG ; Ying ZHANG ; Dongmei SUN ; Yi HE ; Mei MO ; Xiaoxiao ZHANG ; Linhua ZHAO
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(5):272-279
To explore the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and integrative TCM-Western medicine approaches in the treatment of diabetic microvascular complications (DMC), refine key pathophysiological insights and treatment principles, and promote academic innovation and strategic research planning in the prevention and treatment of DMC. The 38th session of the Expert Salon on Diseases Responding Specifically to Traditional Chinese Medicine, hosted by the China Association of Chinese Medicine, was held in Beijing, 2024. Experts in TCM, Western medicine, and interdisciplinary fields convened to conduct a systematic discussion on the pathogenesis, diagnostic and treatment challenges, and mechanism research related to DMC, ultimately forming a consensus on key directions. Four major research recommendations were proposed. The first is addressing clinical bottlenecks in the prevention and control of DMC by optimizing TCM-based evidence evaluation systems. The second is refining TCM core pathogenesis across DMC stages and establishing corresponding "disease-pattern-time" framework. The third is innovating mechanism research strategies to facilitate a shift from holistic regulation to targeted intervention in TCM. The fourth is advancing interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance the role of TCM in new drug development, research prioritization, and guideline formulation. TCM and integrative approaches offer distinct advantages in managing DMC. With a focus on the diseases responding specifically to TCM, strengthening evidence-based support and mechanism interpretation and promoting the integration of clinical care and research innovation will provide strong momentum for the modernization of TCM and the advancement of national health strategies.
4.Blood management strategy for massive transfusion patients in frigid plateau region
Haiying WANG ; Jinjin ZHANG ; Lili CHEN ; Xiaoli SUN ; Cui WEI ; Yongli HUANG ; Yingchun ZHU ; Chong CHEN ; Yanchao XING
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(2):268-273
[Objective] To explore the strategy of blood management in patients with massive transfusion in the frigid plateau region. [Methods] The treatment process of a patient with liver rupture in the frigid plateau region was analyzed, and the blood management strategy of the frigid plateau region was discussed in combination with the difficulties of blood transfusion and literature review. [Results] The preoperative complete blood count (CBC) test results of the patient were as follows: RBC 3.14×1012/L, Hb 106 g/L, HCT 30.40%, PLT 115.00×109/L; coagulation function: PT 18.9 s, FiB 1.31 g/L, DD > 6 μg/mL, FDP 25.86 μg/mL; ultrasound examination and imaging manifestations suggested liver contusion and laceration / intraparenchymal hematoma, splenic contusion and laceration, and massive blood accumulation in the abdominal cavity; it was estimated that the patient's blood loss was ≥ 2 000 mL, and massive blood transfusion was required during the operation; red blood cell components were timely transfused during the operation, and the blood component transfusion was guided according to the patient's CBC and coagulation function test results, providing strong support and guarantee for the successful treatment of the patient. The patient recovered well after the operation, and the CBC test results were as follows: RBC 4.32×1012/L, Hb 144 g/L, HCT 39.50%, PLT 329.00×109/L; coagulation function: APTT 29.3 s, PT 12.1 s, FiB 2.728 g/L, DD>6 μg/mL, FDP 25.86 μg/mL. The patient was discharged after 20 days, and regular follow-up reexamination showed no abnormal results. [Conclusion] Individualized blood management strategy should comprehensively consider the patient’s clinical symptoms, the degree of hemoglobin decline, dynamic coagulation test results and existing treatment conditions. Efficient and reasonable patient blood management strategies can effectively improve the clinical outcomes of massive transfusion patients in the frigid plateau region.
5.Detection and risk factors of psycho-cardiological diseases in civil aviation aircrews
Xing LI ; Ting LI ; Wei JIANG ; Ye ZHU
Chinese Journal of Aerospace Medicine 2025;36(3):200-204
Objective:To investigate the detection rates of and risk factors for psycho-cardiological diseases in civil aviation aircrews.Methods:A total of 134 civil aviation aircrews with cardiovascular diseases detected during annual physical examinations at the Aviation Health Center of China Southern Airlines Co., Ltd. in 2023 were selected. Psychological evaluation was conducted using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depression screening and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 for anxiety screening. The results of psychological assessments were compared across civil aviation aircrews with cardiovascular diseases and of different types. Multiple Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors to psycho-cardiological diseases.Results:Among the 134 aircrews with cardiovascular diseases, 30 were found to suffer from depression, 71 from anxiety, and 9 from both. The detection rate of psycho-cardiological diseases was 68.66% (92/134) and significantly different between crews who were different in age ( P=0.013), flying hours ( χ2=9.68, P=0.035), jobs ( χ2=16.33, P=0.008), and exercise habits ( χ2=11.35, P=0.042). No significant differences were observed in detection rates between genders or between those with a family history of disease and those without (both P>0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that ages 40-49 (compared to ages <30, OR=2.450, 95% CI: 1.324-4.563), flying hours of 10 000-20 000 h (compared to <5 000 h, OR=2.865, 95% CI: 1.452-5.683), pilots (compared to flight attendants, OR=3.123, 95% CI: 1.671-5.832), and inactivity (compared to regular physical activity, OR=2.156, 95% CI: 1.179-3.924) were risk factors for psycho-cardiological diseases. Conclusions:The detection rate of psycho-cardiological diseases is notably high among civil aviation aircrews, with a number of risk factors.
6.Chemical constituents from dichloromethane fraction of Dalbergia odorifera heartwood
Wei-xin XU ; Qing ZHU ; Xing DAI ; Lan-ying CHEN ; Rong-hua LIU
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2025;47(10):3297-3305
AIM To study the chemical constituents from dichloromethane fraction of Dalbergia odorifera T.Chen heartwood.METHODS Separation and purification were performed using silica gel,Sephadex LH-20,thin-layer chromatography,and semi-preparative HPLC,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.RESULTS Twenty-four compounds were isolated and identified as 7,2′-dihydroxy-4′-methoxy-isoflavanol(1),vanillin(2),2,2′-oxybis-(1,4-di-tert-butylbenzene)(3),7-hydroxy-6-methoxyflavone(4),sativan(5),5-hydroxy-4′,7-dimethoxyisoflavone(6),2-hydroxy-4,4′-dimethoxychalcone(7),7,2′,3′,4′-tetramethoxydihydroisoflavone(8),2,4,2′-trihydroxy-4′-methoxybenzil(9),ethyl-3-hydroxy-3-phenyl-2-propenoate(10),6,7-dimethoxy-2,3-dihydr-ochromen-4-one(11),sophorophenolone(12),apocynin(13),ethyl-2,4-dihydroxybenzoate(14),ethylparaben(15),methyl-2,4-dihydroxybenzoate(16),5,7-dihydroxy-6-methoxyflavanone(17),7-hydroxyflavanone(18),mimosifoliol(19),7-hydroxy-4′-methoxyisoflavane(20),virolane(21),5-hydroxy-7-methoxychromone(22),3-hydroxyl-5-methoxy-stilbene(23),2′,4′-dihydroxydihydrochalcone(24).CONCLUSION Compound 8 is new natural product,2-6,15,17-18 are isolated from this plant for the first time,7,9-14,16,20-24 are first isolated from genus Dalbergia.
7.Regulatory effect and molecular mechanism of circ_0044556 targeting the miR-338-3p/BRD4 axis on the malignant biological behavior of triple negative breast cancer cells
Xing-Juan DONG ; Ya-Li ZHANG ; Wei XING ; Ying-Ying ZHU ; Yong-Li CHENG ; Ping YU
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2025;50(9):1146-1153
Objective To investigate the regulatory effect and molecular mechanism of circ_0044556 on the malignant biological behavior of triple negative breast cancer(TNBC)cells by targeting the miR-338-3p/bromodomain-containing protein 4(BRD4)axis.Methods The TargetScan online website was used to predict the binding sites of circ_0044556 with miR-338-3p and miR-338-3p with BRD4.Dual-luciferase reporter gene assays were performed to determine the relationship among circ_0044556,miR-338-3p,and BRD4 in MDA-MB-231 cells.Quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR)and Western blotting were employed to detect the expression of circ_0044556,miR-338-3p,and BRD4 protein in human TNBC cell line MDA-MB-231 and human normal breast epithelial cells MCF-10A.MDA-MB-231 cells were divided into NC group,si-NC group(transfected with si-NC),si-circ_0044556 group(transfected with si-circ_0044556),si-circ_0044556+inhibitor NC group(transfected with si-circ_0044556 and inhibitor NC),and si-circ_0044556+miR-338-3p inhibitor group(transfected with si-circ_0044556 andmiR-338-3p inhibitor).qRT-PCR was applied to detect the expression of circ_0044556 and miR-338-3p;Western blotting was used to detect the expression of BRD4,E-cadherin,N-cadherin and Vimentin;the CCK-8 assay was applied to detect cell proliferation;flow cytometry was applied to detect cell apoptosis;and Transwell assays were used to detect cell invasion and migration.Thirty nude mice were randomly divided into NC group(tail vein injection of normal saline),si-NC group(tail vein injection of LV-NC),si-circ_0044556 group(tail vein injection of LV-circ_0044556),si-circ_0044556+inhibitor NC group(tail vein injection of LV-circ_0044556 and antiagomir NC),and si-circ_0044556+miR-338-3p inhibitor group(tail vein injection of LV-circ_0044556 and antiagomir miR-338-3p),with 6 mice per group.A xenograft tumor model was constructed by subcutaneous injection of MDA-MB-231 cells into nude mice,and tumor volume and weight were measured.Results TargetScan prediction results showed that the downstream miRNA of circ_0044556 was miR-338-3p,and the downstream target gene of miR-338-3p might be BRD4.Compared with transfecting mimic NC,transfection with miR-338-3p mimic significantly reduced the luciferase activities of WT-circ_0044556(0.34±0.03 vs.1.00±0.15,P<0.05)and WT-BRD4(0.41±0.05 vs.1.05±0.13,P<0.05)in MDA-MB-231 cells.Compared with MCF-10A cells,the expression levels of circ_0044556 and BRD4 protein in MDA-MB-231 cells were significantly increased,while the expression level of miR-338-3p was significantly decreased(P<0.05).Compared with NC group and si-NC group,the expression levels of circ_0044556,the protein expression levels of BRD4,N-cadherin,and Vimentin,and the OD450 value in MDA-MB-231 cells of si-circ_0044556 group and si-circ_0044556+inhibitor NC group were significantly decreased(P<0.05),the number of migrated and invaded cells was significantly reduced(P<0.05),and the expression level of miR-338-3p,the protein expression level of E-cadherin,and the cell apoptosis rate in MDA-MB-231 cells were significantly increased(P<0.05);downregulation of miR-338-3p rescued the inhibitory effect of circ_0044556 knockdown on invasion,migration,and proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells.Compared with NC group and si-NC group,the tumor volume and weight in si-circ_0044556 group and si-circ_0044556+inhibitor NC group were significantly decreased(P<0.05);compared with si-circ_0044556 group and si-circ_0044556+inhibitor NC group,the tumor volume and weight in si-circ_0044556+miR-338-3p inhibitor group were significantly increased(P<0.05).Conclusion circ_0044556 may promote the malignant biological behaviors of TNBC cells through the miR-338-3p/BRD4 axis.
8.Expression and validation of the neurotrophin neuritin in human tissues
Pingping MENG ; Jingling ZHU ; Jian CAO ; Yu WEI ; Xing LUO
Journal of China Medical University 2025;54(6):505-509
Objective To examine the expression and validate the localization of the neurotrophin neuritin(NRN1)in human tissues using bioinformatics and experimental methods.Methods The tissue-specific expression of NRN1 was analyzed using the Human Pro-tein Atlas(HPA)database.NRN1 mRNA and protein expression were experimentally validated using real-time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry,respectively.A pEGFP-C1-NRN1 green fluorescent protein fusion vector was transfected into 293 cells,and NRN1 localization was assessed using immunofluorescence.Endogenous NRN1 localization was also examined in hippocampal HT22 cells.Results According to the HPA database,NRN1 expression was enriched in the cerebral cortex,parathyroid gland,adipose tissue,and placenta.Experimental validation confirmed NRN 1 expression in all the aforementioned tissues,with highest levels observed in the brain and spleen.Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that NRN 1 was predominantly localized to the membrane in HT22 cells and to the cyto-plasm in 293 cells.Conclusion NRN 1 is expressed in various human tissues,with notably high expression in the brain.It is primarily localized to the cell membrane and cytoplasm.
9.Supramolecular prodrug inspiried by the Rhizoma Coptidis-Fructus Mume herbal pair alleviated inflammatory diseases by inhibiting pyroptosis
Wenhui QIAN ; Bei ZHANG ; Ming GAO ; Yuting WANG ; Jiachen SHEN ; Dongbing LIANG ; Chao WANG ; Wei WEI ; Xing PAN ; Qiuying YAN ; Dongdong SUN ; Dong ZHU ; Haibo CHENG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(2):411-424
Sustained inflammatory responses are closely related to various severe diseases,and inhibiting the excessive activation of inflammasomes and pyroptosis has significant implications for clinical treatment.Natural products have garnered considerable concern for the treatment of inflammation.Huanglian-Wumei decoction(HLWMD)is a classic prescription used for treating inflammatory diseases,but the necessity of their combination and the exact underlying anti-inflammatory mechanism have not yet been elucidated.Inspired by the supramolecular self-assembly strategy and natural drug compatibility theory,we successfully obtained berberine(BBR)-chlorogenic acid(CGA)supramolecular(BCS),which is an herbal pair from HLWMD.Using a series of characterization methods,we confirmed the self-assembly mechanism of BCS.BBR and CGA were self-assembled and stacked into amphiphilic spherical supra-molecules in a 2:1 molar ratio,driven by electrostatic interactions,hydrophobic interactions,and π-πstacking;the hydrophilic fragments of CGA were outside,and the hydrophobic fragments of BBR were inside.This stacking pattern significantly improved the anti-inflammatory performance of BCS compared with that of single free molecules.Compared with free molecules,BCS significantly attenuated the release of multiple inflammatory mediators and lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced pyroptosis.Its anti-inflammatory mechanism is closely related to the inhibition of intracellular nuclear factor-kappaB(NF-κB)p65 phosphorylation and the noncanonical pyroptosis signalling pathway mediated by caspase-11.
10.Supramolecular prodrug inspiried by the Rhizoma Coptidis - Fructus Mume herbal pair alleviated inflammatory diseases by inhibiting pyroptosis.
Wenhui QIAN ; Bei ZHANG ; Ming GAO ; Yuting WANG ; Jiachen SHEN ; Dongbing LIANG ; Chao WANG ; Wei WEI ; Xing PAN ; Qiuying YAN ; Dongdong SUN ; Dong ZHU ; Haibo CHENG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(2):101056-101056
Sustained inflammatory responses are closely related to various severe diseases, and inhibiting the excessive activation of inflammasomes and pyroptosis has significant implications for clinical treatment. Natural products have garnered considerable concern for the treatment of inflammation. Huanglian-Wumei decoction (HLWMD) is a classic prescription used for treating inflammatory diseases, but the necessity of their combination and the exact underlying anti-inflammatory mechanism have not yet been elucidated. Inspired by the supramolecular self-assembly strategy and natural drug compatibility theory, we successfully obtained berberine (BBR)-chlorogenic acid (CGA) supramolecular (BCS), which is an herbal pair from HLWMD. Using a series of characterization methods, we confirmed the self-assembly mechanism of BCS. BBR and CGA were self-assembled and stacked into amphiphilic spherical supramolecules in a 2:1 molar ratio, driven by electrostatic interactions, hydrophobic interactions, and π-π stacking; the hydrophilic fragments of CGA were outside, and the hydrophobic fragments of BBR were inside. This stacking pattern significantly improved the anti-inflammatory performance of BCS compared with that of single free molecules. Compared with free molecules, BCS significantly attenuated the release of multiple inflammatory mediators and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pyroptosis. Its anti-inflammatory mechanism is closely related to the inhibition of intracellular nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) p65 phosphorylation and the noncanonical pyroptosis signalling pathway mediated by caspase-11.

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