1.Oxymatrine,a novel TLR2 agonist,promotes megakaryopoiesis and thrombopoiesis through the STING/NF-κB pathway
Chengyang NI ; Ling ZHOU ; Shuo YANG ; Mei RAN ; Jiesi LUO ; Kui CHENG ; Feihong HUANG ; Xiaoqin TANG ; Xiang XIE ; Dalian QIN ; Qibing MEI ; Long WANG ; Juan XIAO ; Jianming WU
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(1):208-229
Radiation-induced thrombocytopenia(RIT)faces a perplexing challenge in the clinical treatment of cancer patients,and current therapeutic approaches are inadequate in the clinical settings.In this research,oxy-matrine,a new molecule capable of healing RIT was screened out,and the underlying regulatory mecha-nism associated with magakaryocyte(MK)differentiation and thrombopoiesis was demonstrated.The capacity of oxymatrine to induce MK differentiation was verified in K-562 and Meg-01 cells in vitro.The ability to induce thrombopoiesis was subsequently demonstrated in Tg(cd41:enhanced green fluorescent protein(eGFP))zebrafish and RIT model mice.In addition,we carried out network pharmacological pre-diction,drug affinity responsive target stability assay(DARTS)and cellular thermal shift assay(CETSA)analyses to explore the potential targets of oxymatrine.Moreover,the pathway underlying the effects of oxymatrine was determined by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analyses,Western blot(WB),and immunofluorescence.Oxymatrine markedly promoted MK differentiation and maturation in vitro.Moreover,oxymatrine induced thrombopoiesis in Tg(cd41:eGFP)zebrafish and accelerated thrombopoiesis and platelet function recovery in RIT model mice.Mechanistically,oxymatrine directly binds to toll-like receptor 2(TLR2)and further regulates the downstream pathway stimulator of interferon genes(STING)/nuclear factor-kappaB(NF-κB),which can be blocked by C29 and C-176,which are specific inhibitors of TLR2 and STING,respectively.Taken together,we demonstrated that oxymatrine,a novel TLR2 agonist,plays a critical role in accelerating MK differentiation and thrombopoiesis via the STING/NF-κB axis,suggesting that oxymatrine is a promising candidate for RIT therapy.
2.Association between insulin resistance and idiopathic central precocious puberty in girls and the diagnostic value of insulin resistance
Jin-Bo LI ; Ya XIAO ; Shu-Qin JIANG ; Xiang-Yang LUO ; Hong-Ru ZHANG ; Jun SUN ; Wen-Hui SHI ; Ying YANG ; Wei WANG
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(12):1487-1492
Objective To explore the relationship between insulin resistance and idiopathic central precocious puberty(ICPP)in girls and the diagnostic value of insulin resistance.Methods Clinical data of 245 girls aged 4 to 7.5 years with low luteinizing hormone(LH)levels(0.2-0.83 IU/L),normal body weight(body mass index standard deviation score between-2 and+2),and early breast development who visited the Department of Pediatric Endocrinology,Henan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital from January 2022 to March 2025 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Central Precocious Puberty(2022),patients were assigned to an ICPP group(n=123)or a control group(n=122).Correlations between the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance(HOMA-IR)and selected indices were assessed.Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between HOMA-IR and ICPP,and the diagnostic performance of various indices for ICPP was evaluated.Results HOMA-IR was higher in the ICPP group than in the control group(P<0.001)and was positively correlated with LH peak(rs=0.467,P<0.05)and the LH peak/FSH peak ratio(rs=0.444,P<0.05).The multivariable logistic regression model including age,BMI,and basal LH showed that HOMA-IR was closely associated with ICPP(OR=2.756,95%CI:1.940-3.913).Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the areas under the curve for basal LH,HOMA-IR,and their combination in diagnosing ICPP were 0.735,0.735,and 0.805,respectively(P<0.05),and the combined model had a greater area under the curve than either basal LH or HOMA-IR alone(both P<0.05).Conclusions HOMA-IR is closely associated with ICPP in girls with low LH and normal body weight,and combining HOMA-IR with basal LH improves early identification and diagnostic efficiency in this population.
3.Association between insulin resistance and idiopathic central precocious puberty in girls and the diagnostic value of insulin resistance
Jin-Bo LI ; Ya XIAO ; Shu-Qin JIANG ; Xiang-Yang LUO ; Hong-Ru ZHANG ; Jun SUN ; Wen-Hui SHI ; Ying YANG ; Wei WANG
Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics 2025;27(12):1487-1492
Objective To explore the relationship between insulin resistance and idiopathic central precocious puberty(ICPP)in girls and the diagnostic value of insulin resistance.Methods Clinical data of 245 girls aged 4 to 7.5 years with low luteinizing hormone(LH)levels(0.2-0.83 IU/L),normal body weight(body mass index standard deviation score between-2 and+2),and early breast development who visited the Department of Pediatric Endocrinology,Henan Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital from January 2022 to March 2025 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Central Precocious Puberty(2022),patients were assigned to an ICPP group(n=123)or a control group(n=122).Correlations between the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance(HOMA-IR)and selected indices were assessed.Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between HOMA-IR and ICPP,and the diagnostic performance of various indices for ICPP was evaluated.Results HOMA-IR was higher in the ICPP group than in the control group(P<0.001)and was positively correlated with LH peak(rs=0.467,P<0.05)and the LH peak/FSH peak ratio(rs=0.444,P<0.05).The multivariable logistic regression model including age,BMI,and basal LH showed that HOMA-IR was closely associated with ICPP(OR=2.756,95%CI:1.940-3.913).Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the areas under the curve for basal LH,HOMA-IR,and their combination in diagnosing ICPP were 0.735,0.735,and 0.805,respectively(P<0.05),and the combined model had a greater area under the curve than either basal LH or HOMA-IR alone(both P<0.05).Conclusions HOMA-IR is closely associated with ICPP in girls with low LH and normal body weight,and combining HOMA-IR with basal LH improves early identification and diagnostic efficiency in this population.
4.The Icarian flight of antibody-drug conjugates: target selection amidst complexity and tackling adverse impacts.
Han LIU ; Hongye ZENG ; Xiaojing QIN ; Wenjing NING ; Lin XU ; Shiting YANG ; Xue LIU ; Wenxin LUO ; Ningshao XIA
Protein & Cell 2025;16(7):532-556
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) represent a promising class of targeted cancer therapeutics that combine the specificity of monoclonal antibodies with the potency of cytotoxic payloads. Despite their therapeutic potential, the use of ADCs faces significant challenges, including off/on-target toxicity and resistance development. This review examines the current landscape of ADC development, focusing on the critical aspects of target selection and antibody engineering. We discuss strategies to increase ADC efficacy and safety, including multitarget approaches, pH-dependent antibodies, and masked peptide technologies. The importance of comprehensive antigen expression profiling in both tumor and normal tissues is emphasized, highlighting the role of advanced technologies, such as single-cell sequencing and artificial intelligence, in optimizing target selection. Furthermore, we explore combination therapies and innovations in linker‒payload chemistry, which may provide approaches for expanding the therapeutic window of ADCs. These advances pave the way for the development of more precise and effective cancer treatments, potentially extending ADC applications beyond oncology.
Humans
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Immunoconjugates/adverse effects*
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Neoplasms/immunology*
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Animals
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Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use*
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Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use*
5.Oxymatrine, a novel TLR2 agonist, promotes megakaryopoiesis and thrombopoiesis through the STING/NF-κB pathway.
Chengyang NI ; Ling ZHOU ; Shuo YANG ; Mei RAN ; Jiesi LUO ; Kui CHENG ; Feihong HUANG ; Xiaoqin TANG ; Xiang XIE ; Dalian QIN ; Qibing MEI ; Long WANG ; Juan XIAO ; Jianming WU
Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis 2025;15(1):101054-101054
Radiation-induced thrombocytopenia (RIT) faces a perplexing challenge in the clinical treatment of cancer patients, and current therapeutic approaches are inadequate in the clinical settings. In this research, oxymatrine, a new molecule capable of healing RIT was screened out, and the underlying regulatory mechanism associated with magakaryocyte (MK) differentiation and thrombopoiesis was demonstrated. The capacity of oxymatrine to induce MK differentiation was verified in K-562 and Meg-01 cells in vitro. The ability to induce thrombopoiesis was subsequently demonstrated in Tg (cd41:enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP)) zebrafish and RIT model mice. In addition, we carried out network pharmacological prediction, drug affinity responsive target stability assay (DARTS) and cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) analyses to explore the potential targets of oxymatrine. Moreover, the pathway underlying the effects of oxymatrine was determined by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses, Western blot (WB), and immunofluorescence. Oxymatrine markedly promoted MK differentiation and maturation in vitro. Moreover, oxymatrine induced thrombopoiesis in Tg (cd41:eGFP) zebrafish and accelerated thrombopoiesis and platelet function recovery in RIT model mice. Mechanistically, oxymatrine directly binds to toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and further regulates the downstream pathway stimulator of interferon genes (STING)/nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), which can be blocked by C29 and C-176, which are specific inhibitors of TLR2 and STING, respectively. Taken together, we demonstrated that oxymatrine, a novel TLR2 agonist, plays a critical role in accelerating MK differentiation and thrombopoiesis via the STING/NF-κB axis, suggesting that oxymatrine is a promising candidate for RIT therapy.
6.The Role of Mechanical Sensitive Ion Channel Piezo in Digestive System Diseases
Si-Qi WANG ; Xiang-Yun YAN ; Yan-Qiu LI ; Fang-Li LUO ; Jun-Peng YAO ; Pei-Tao MA ; Yu-Jun HOU ; Hai-Yan QIN ; Yun-Zhou SHI ; Ying LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(8):1883-1894
The Piezo protein is a non-selective mechanosensitive cation channel that exhibits sensitivity to mechanical stimuli such as pressure and shear stress. It converts mechanical signals into bioelectric activity within cells, thus triggering specific biological responses. In the digestive system, Piezo protein plays a crucial role in maintaining normal physiological activities, including digestion, absorption, metabolic regulation, and immune modulation. However, dysregulation in Piezo protein expression may lead to the occurrence of several pathological conditions, including visceral hypersensitivity, impairment of intestinal mucosal barrier function, and immune inflammation.Therefore, conducting a comprehensive review of the physiological functions and pathological roles of Piezo protein in the digestive system is of paramount importance. In this review, we systematically summarize the structural and dynamic characteristics of Piezo protein, its expression patterns, and physiological functions in the digestive system. We particularly focus on elucidating the mechanisms of action of Piezo protein in digestive system tumor diseases, inflammatory diseases, fibrotic diseases, and functional disorders. Through the integration of the latest research findings, we have observed that Piezo protein plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of various digestive system diseases. There exist intricate interactions between Piezo protein and multiple phenotypes of digestive system tumors such as proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis. In inflammatory diseases, Piezo protein promotes intestinal immune responses and pancreatic trypsinogen activation, contributing to the development of ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and pancreatitis. Additionally, Piezo1, through pathways involving co-action with the TRPV4 ion channel, facilitates neutrophil recruitment and suppresses HIF-1α ubiquitination, thereby mediating organ fibrosis in organs like the liver and pancreas. Moreover, Piezo protein regulation by gut microbiota or factors like age and gender can result in increased or decreased visceral sensitivity, and alterations in intestinal mucosal barrier structure and permeability, which are closely associated with functional disorders like irritable bowel sydrome (IBS) and functional consitipaction (FC). A thorough exploration of Piezo protein as a potential therapeutic target in digestive system diseases can provide a scientific basis and theoretical support for future clinical diagnosis and treatment strategies.
7.Correlation between Combined Urinary Metal Exposure and Grip Strength under Three Statistical Models: A Cross-sectional Study in Rural Guangxi
Jian Yu LIANG ; Hui Jia RONG ; Xiu Xue WANG ; Sheng Jian CAI ; Dong Li QIN ; Mei Qiu LIU ; Xu TANG ; Ting Xiao MO ; Fei Yan WEI ; Xia Yin LIN ; Xiang Shen HUANG ; Yu Ting LUO ; Yu Ruo GOU ; Jing Jie CAO ; Wu Chu HUANG ; Fu Yu LU ; Jian QIN ; Yong Zhi ZHANG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2024;37(1):3-18
Objective This study aimed to investigate the potential relationship between urinary metals copper (Cu), arsenic (As), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), iron (Fe), lead (Pb) and manganese (Mn) and grip strength. Methods We used linear regression models, quantile g-computation and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) to assess the relationship between metals and grip strength.Results In the multimetal linear regression, Cu (β=-2.119), As (β=-1.318), Sr (β=-2.480), Ba (β=0.781), Fe (β= 1.130) and Mn (β=-0.404) were significantly correlated with grip strength (P < 0.05). The results of the quantile g-computation showed that the risk of occurrence of grip strength reduction was -1.007 (95% confidence interval:-1.362, -0.652; P < 0.001) when each quartile of the mixture of the seven metals was increased. Bayesian kernel function regression model analysis showed that mixtures of the seven metals had a negative overall effect on grip strength, with Cu, As and Sr being negatively associated with grip strength levels. In the total population, potential interactions were observed between As and Mn and between Cu and Mn (Pinteractions of 0.003 and 0.018, respectively).Conclusion In summary, this study suggests that combined exposure to metal mixtures is negatively associated with grip strength. Cu, Sr and As were negatively correlated with grip strength levels, and there were potential interactions between As and Mn and between Cu and Mn.
8.Effects of Acupuncture at Zusanli-Zhongwan Combined Matching Points on Gastric Mucosal Function,Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Response in Rats with Exercise-Induced Stress Gastric Ulcer
Ya-Qin YANG ; Su-Hong LU ; Hua-Shan PAN ; Chun-Xiang JING ; Min-Yi LUO ; Chun LIN ; Jia-Zhou LI
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;41(9):2401-2409
Objective To observe the therapeutic effect and mechanism of acupuncture at Zusanli-Zhongwan combined matching points on rats with exercise-induced stress gastric ulcer.Methods Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into blank group,model group,acupuncture group and Omeprazole group,with 10 rats in each group.Except for the blank group,the rats in the other groups were used to construct the model of exercise stress gastric ulcer by daily exhaustive swimming.After successful modeling,the acupuncture group was intervened by acupuncture at Zusanli(ST36)and Zhongwan(RN12),once a day,10 minutes each time.Rats in the Omeprazole group were given Omeprazole Enteric-Coated Tablets distilled water suspension by gavage two hours before daily swimming.After continuous 7-day intervention,the overall state and behavior of rats were observed,the gastric mucosal injury index was calculated by Guth method,the pathological morphology of gastric mucosa was observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining,the contents of superoxide dismutase(SOD),glutathione peroxidase(GSH-PX)and malondialdehyde(MDA)in serum were correspondingly determined by WST-1 method,colorimetry and TBA method,respectively,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect the contents of gastrin(GAS),somatostatin(SS),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-1 β(IL-1β),interleukin-6(IL-6)and interleukin-10(IL-10)in serum,the expression levels of epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),matrix metalloproteinase 3(MMP3),nuclear factor erythroid-related factor 2(NRF2),heme oxygenase 1(HO-1)and mitochondrial SOD2,TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6 and IL-10 mRNA in gastric mucosa were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR).Results Compared with the blank group,the body mass of rats in the model group was increased slowly,the activity distance and activity in the open field test were decreased,the gastric mucosal ulcer index was increased significantly,the gastric mucosal function indexes involving GAS level was increased and SS level was decreased in serum,the mRNA expression level of EGFR in gastric mucosa was decreased and the mRNA expression level of MMP3 in gastric mucosa was increased.The serum levels of antioxidant substances SOD and GSH-PX were decreased significantly,and the serum level of oxidation product MDA was increased significantly.The mRNA expression levels of antioxidant genes NRF2,HO-1 and SOD2 in gastric mucosa were significantly decreased.The serum contents and the gastric mucosa mRNA levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α,IL-1α,IL-6 were significantly increased,while the serum content and the gastric mucosa mRNA level of IL-10 were significantly decreased.The differences were statistically significant(P<0.05 or P<0.01 or P<0.001).HE staining showed obvious gastric mucosal injury.Compared with the model group,the above indexes in the acupuncture group and the Omeprazole group were significantly improved(P<0.05 or P<0.01 or P<0.001).HE staining showed that the gastric mucosal injury was significantly reduced.Conclusion Acupuncture at Zusanli-Zhongwan combined matching points can reduce the local oxidative stress and inflammatory response in rats with exercise-induced stress gastric ulcer,reduce gastric mucosal injury,improve the emotional state of rats,and maintain the overall vitality of rats.
9.Urine Metabolites Changes in Acute Myocardial Infarction Rats via Metabolomic Analysis
Nian-Nian CHEN ; Jiao-Fang YU ; Peng WU ; Li LUO ; Ya-Qin BAI ; Li-Kai WANG ; Xiao-Qian LI ; Zhan-Peng LI ; Cai-Rong GAO ; Xiang-Jie GUO
Journal of Forensic Medicine 2024;40(3):227-236
Objective To screen biomarkers for forensic identification of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) by non-targeted metabolomic studies on changes of urine metabolites in rats with AMI.Methods The rat models of the sham surgery group,AMI group and hyperlipidemia+acute myocardial infarction (HAMI) group were established.Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) was used to analyze the changes of urine metabolic spectrometry in AMI rats.Principal compo-nent analysis,partial least squares-discriminant analysis,and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis were used to screen differential metabolites.The MetaboAnalyst database was used to analyze the metabolic pathway enrichment and access the predictive ability of differential metabolites.Results A total of 40 and 61 differential metabolites associated with AMI and HAMI were screened,respec-tively.Among them,22 metabolites were common in both rat models.These small metabolites were mainly concentrated in the niacin and nicotinamide metabolic pathways.Within the 95% confidence in-terval,the area under the curve (AUC) values of receiver operator characteristic curve for N8-acetyl-spermidine,3-methylhistamine,and thymine were greater than 0.95.Conclusion N8-acetylspermidine,3-methylhistamine,and thymine can be used as potential biomarkers for AMI diagnosis,and abnormal metabolism in niacin and nicotinamide may be the main causes of AMI.This study can provide reference for the mechanism and causes of AMI identification.
10.Effects of Zuogui Jiangtang Tongmai Recipe on necroptosis pathway in a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated with cerebral infarction
Yu-Zhe CAI ; Ding-Xiang LI ; Yi-Xuan LIU ; Zheng LUO ; Jing-Jing YANG ; Han-Lin LEI ; Ya-Nan ZHANG ; Qin WU ; Jing CHEN ; Yi-Hui DENG
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2024;46(9):2936-2942
AIM To investigate the effects of Zuogui Jiangtang Tongmai Recipe on necroptosis pathway in a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)complicated with cerebral infarction(CI).METHODS The SD rats were randomly divided into the sham operation group,the model group,the metformin group(0.045 g/kg),and the low,medium and high dose Zuogui Jiangtang Tongmai Recipe groups(6.5,13,26 g/kg),with 9 rats in each group.In contrast to rats of the sham operation group,rats of the other groups were given 4 weeks feeding of high-sugar and high-fat diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin to establish a T2DM rat model with one week stable blood glucose,followed by gavage of corresponding drugs 3 days before the establishment of the middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)model.After 7 days of administration,the rats had their CI injury assessed by mNSS method and TTC staining;their level of blood glucose detected by blood glucose meter;their levels of glycated serum protein,serum TNF-α and IL-1β detected by ELISA;their cerebral mRNA expressions of FADD,RIPK1,RIPK3 and MLKL detected by RT-qPCR;and their cerebral protein expressions of FADD,p-RIPK1,p-RIPK3 and p-MLKL detected by Western blot.RESULTS Compared with the sham operation group,the model group displayed increased levels of blood glucose value,glycosylated serum protein,neurological function score,cerebral infarction volume,cerebral FADD,RIPK1,RIPK3 and MLKL mRNA expressions,cerebral FADD,p-RIPK1,p-RIPK3 and p-MLKL protein expressions,serum TNF-α and IL-1β levels(P<0.01);and more disordered and morphologically diverse neurons with smaller nucleus.Compared with the model group,the groups intervened with medium or high dose Zuogui Jiangtang Tongmai Recipe,or metformin shared improvement in terms of the aforementioned indices(P<0.05,P<0.01);and more neurons with regular morphology neat arrangement,and reduced cell gap.CONCLUSION Zuogui Jiangtang Tongmai Recipe can improve the neurological dysfunction of the rat model of T2DM complicated with CI,which may associate with the inhibited activation of necroptosis signaling pathway.

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