1.Enzyme-directed Immobilization Strategies for Biosensor Applications
Xing-Bao WANG ; Yao-Hong MA ; Yun-Long XUE ; Xiao-Zhen HUANG ; Yue SHAO ; Yi YU ; Bing-Lian WANG ; Qing-Ai LIU ; Li-He ZHANG ; Wei-Li GONG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):374-394
Immobilized enzyme-based enzyme electrode biosensors, characterized by high sensitivity and efficiency, strong specificity, and compact size, demonstrate broad application prospects in life science research, disease diagnosis and monitoring, etc. Immobilization of enzyme is a critical step in determining the performance (stability, sensitivity, and reproducibility) of the biosensors. Random immobilization (physical adsorption, covalent cross-linking, etc.) can easily bring about problems, such as decreased enzyme activity and relatively unstable immobilization. Whereas, directional immobilization utilizing amino acid residue mutation, affinity peptide fusion, or nucleotide-specific binding to restrict the orientation of the enzymes provides new possibilities to solve the problems caused by random immobilization. In this paper, the principles, advantages and disadvantages and the application progress of enzyme electrode biosensors of different directional immobilization strategies for enzyme molecular sensing elements by specific amino acids (lysine, histidine, cysteine, unnatural amino acid) with functional groups introduced based on site-specific mutation, affinity peptides (gold binding peptides, carbon binding peptides, carbohydrate binding domains) fused through genetic engineering, and specific binding between nucleotides and target enzymes (proteins) were reviewed, and the application fields, advantages and limitations of various immobilized enzyme interface characterization techniques were discussed, hoping to provide theoretical and technical guidance for the creation of high-performance enzyme sensing elements and the manufacture of enzyme electrode sensors.
2.Progress on antisense oligonucleotide in the field of antibacterial therapy
Jia LI ; Xiao-lu HAN ; Shi-yu SONG ; Jin-tao LIN ; Zhi-qiang TANG ; Zeng-ming WANG ; Liang XU ; Ai-ping ZHENG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(2):337-347
With the widespread use of antibiotics, drug-resistant bacterial infections have become a significant threat to human health. Finding new antibacterial strategies that can effectively control drug-resistant bacterial infections has become an urgent task. Unlike small molecule drugs that target bacterial proteins, antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) can target genes related to bacterial resistance, pathogenesis, growth, reproduction and biofilm formation. By regulating the expression of these genes, ASO can inhibit or kill bacteria, providing a novel approach for the development of antibacterial drugs. To overcome the challenge of delivering antisense oligonucleotide into bacterial cells, various drug delivery systems have been applied in this field, including cell-penetrating peptides, lipid nanoparticles and inorganic nanoparticles, which have injected new momentum into the development of antisense oligonucleotide in the antibacterial realm. This review summarizes the current development of small nucleic acid drugs, the antibacterial mechanisms, targets, sequences and delivery vectors of antisense oligonucleotide, providing a reference for the research and development of antisense oligonucleotide in the treatment of bacterial infections.
3.Mechanisms of brain damage caused by inorganic fluoride using proteomics-based techniques
Xiao ZHOU ; Wen WAN ; Dewen JIANG ; Fujun AI ; Ling YE ; Minghai LIU ; Yi ZHANG ; Yanjie LIU
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2024;41(1):34-40
Background Chronic excessive exposure to fluoride can cause damage to the central nervous system and a certain degree of learning and memory impairment. However, the associated mechanism is not yet clear and further exploration is needed. Objective Using 4D unlabelled quantitative proteomics techniques to explore differentially expressed proteins and their potential mechanisms of action in chronic excessive fluoride exposure induced brain injury. Methods Twenty-four SPF-grade adult SD rats, half male and half male, were selected and divided into a control group and a fluoride group by random number table method, with 12 rats in each group. Among them, the control group drank tap water (fluorine content<1 mg·L−1), the fluoride group drank sodium fluoride solution (fluorine content 10 mg·L−1), and both groups were fed with ordinary mouse feed (fluoride content<0.6 mg·kg−1). After 180 d of feeding, the SD rats were weighed, and then part of the brain tissue was sampled for pathological examination by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Nissl staining. The rest of the brain tissue was frozen and stored at −80 ℃. Three brain tissue samples from each group were randomly selected for proteomics detection. Differentially expressed proteins were screened and subcellular localization analysis was performed, followed by Gene Ontology (GO) function analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, cluster analysis, and protein-protein interaction analysis. Finally, Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of key proteins extracted from the brain tissue samples. Results After 180 d of feeding, the average weight of the rats in the fluoride group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The brain tissue stained with HE showed no significant morphological changes in the cerebral cortex of the fluoride treated rats, and neuron loss, irregular arrangement of neurons, eosinophilic changes, and cell body pyknosis were observed in the hippocampus. The Nissl staining results showed that the staining of neurons in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of rats exposed to fluoride decreased (Nissl bodies decreased). The proteomics results showed that a total of 6927 proteins were identified. After screening, 206 differentially expressed proteins were obtained between the control group and the fluoride group, including 96 up-regulated proteins and 110 down-regulated proteins. The differential proteins were mainly located in cytoplasm (30.6%), nucleus (27.2%), mitochondria (13.6%), plasma membrane (13.6%), and extracellular domain (11.7%). The GO analysis results showed that differentially expressed proteins mainly participated in biological processes such as iron ion transport, regulation of dopamine neuron differentiation, and negative regulation of respiratory burst in inflammatory response, exercised molecular functions such as ferrous binding, iron oxidase activity, and cytokine activity, and were located in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum membrane, fixed components of the membrane, chloride channel complexes, and other cellular components. The KEGG significantly enriched pathways included biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, carbon metabolism, and microbial metabolism in diverse environments. The results of differential protein-protein interaction analysis showed that the highest connectivity was found in glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (Gpi). The expression level of Gpi in the brain tissue of the rats in the fluoride group was lower than that in the control group by Western blotting (P<0.05). Conclusion Multiple differentially expressed proteins are present in the brain tissue of rats with chronic fluorosis, and their functions are related to biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, carbon metabolism, and microbial metabolism in diverse environments; Gpi may be involved in cerebral neurological damage caused by chronic overdose fluoride exposure.
4.Reversal effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide in combination with oxaliplatin on drug resistance of colon cancer stem cells
Fangfang AI ; Hongyan XIAO ; Fang WANG ; Yongzhao ZHU ; Lijun MA
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(1):74-79
BACKGROUND:Clinical treatment for colon cancer mainly includes fluorouracil,irinotecan and oxaliplatin-based therapy.Studies have shown that membrane transport proteins such as ATP-binding cassette transport protein of G2(ABCG2)mediate the transport of these drugs.However,when patients develop resistance to these chemotherapeutic drugs,the high expression of ABCG2 leads to a significant decrease in the therapeutic effect and raises the problem of drug resistance in colon cancer.New drugs and treatments are urgently needed to improve the efficacy.Lycium barbarum polysaccharide has a wide range of biological activities.It can be used as anti-tumor drug to overcome the damage to normal cells in the process of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in tumor patients. OBJECTIVE:To explore the reversal effect of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide in combination with oxaliplatin on colon cancer drug-resistant cells through in vitro experiments to investigate the possible molecular mechanism of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide reversal on colon cancer drug-resistant cells. METHODS:Colon cancer cell line HCT116 and oxaliplatin-resistant cell line HCT116-OXR were selected for in vitro experiments.The optimal intervention concentration and intervention time of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide and oxaliplatin were determined by CCK8 assay of cell proliferation.Samples were further divided into the HCT116 control group,HCT116-OXR blank treatment group,Lycium barbarum polysaccharide group(2.5 mg/mL Lycium barbarum polysaccharide),and oxaliplatin group(10 μmol/L oxaliplatin),and Lycium barbarum polysaccharide + oxaliplatin group(2.5 mg/mL Lycium barbarum polysaccharide +10 μmol/L oxaliplatin).Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry.The protein expression levels of phosphomannose isomerase(PMI)and ABCG2 were detected by immunofluorescence and western blot assay.Phosphatidylinositol3-kinase(PI3K),protein kinase B(AKT),B-cell lymphoma 2(Bcl-2)and BCL2-Associated X(Bax)were detected by western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)HCT116-OXR was more sensitive to Lycium barbarum polysaccharide compared to HCT116(P<0.05).(2)Compared with the HCT116-OXR blank group,Lycium barbarum polysaccharide + oxaliplatin could promote apoptosis of HCT116-OXR cells(P<0.05).The protein expression of Bcl-2 was significantly down-regulated(P<0.05);the protein expression of Bax was significantly up-regulated(P<0.05);the protein expression of ABCG2,PMI,PI3K and AKT was significantly down-regulated(P<0.05).(3)These results indicate that Lycium barbarum polysaccharide reverses drug resistance in colon cancer by inhibiting PMI/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway,which lays the foundation for studying the molecular mechanism of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide's sensitizing chemotherapeutic effects.
5.Data Mining and Experimental Validation of Total Ginsenosides Ameliorating Alcoholic Hepatitis
Shuling CHEN ; Yitao LIU ; Xiao WU ; Duo ZHANG ; Jinhui AI ; Taohua YUAN ; Jianfei SUN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(21):95-103
ObjectiveTo explore new targets and herbal medicines of total ginsenosides in ameliorating alcoholic hepatitis (AH) by data mining and experimental validation and to provide new directions for the clinical treatment of AH. MethodGSE28619 was selected as the test set from the GEO database and GSE83148 and GSE103580 were selected as the validation sets. The limma package and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were employed to identify the AH-related differentially expressed genes and modular genes, and Venny was used to extract the common genes. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed and the enrichment analysis was carried out. The hub genes were further screened and evaluated for their diagnostic value. After validation with the datasets, new potential targets of AH and traditional Chinese medicine were predicted. Molecular docking between the targets and active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine was performed, and the results were validated by experiments. Eight out of 48 SD rats were randomly selected into a blank group and received an equal amount of normal saline. The rest rats were subjected to modeling with ethanol by gavage and then randomized into low- (10 mg·kg-1), medium- (20 mg·kg-1), and high-dose (40 mg·kg-1) total ginsenosides, model, and positive control (metadoxine, 117 mg·kg-1) groups. After 3 weeks of gavage, serum samples were collected for the measurement of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, and liver samples were collected for hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Western blot and Real-time PCR were employed to determine the protein and mRNA levels, respectively, of potential targets in the liver tissue. ResultData mining predicted the potential genes: Proto-oncogene FOS and collagen type Ⅰ alpha 2 (COL1A2). Experimental validation showed that the liver injury was alleviated after drug administration compared with that after modeling. The serum AST and ALT levels were reduced after drug administration. The protein and mRNA levels of FOS were significantly up-regulated, while those of COL1A2 were down-regulated after drug administration. ConclusionTotal ginsenosides ameliorate HA via FOS and COL1A2.
6.Three-dimensional liver-on-a-chip model for hepatotoxicity screening of traditional Chinese medicine
Yu HOU ; Tian LÜ ; Zhao GAO ; Peng-fei TU ; Xiao-ni AI ; Yong JIANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(6):1787-1793
A high-throughput three-dimensional (3D) hepatocyte culture model is constructed in this study. It is capable of replicating the 3D
7.Mechanism of Guilingji to prevent the mild cognitive impairment in rats based on kidney metabonomics
Jing-chao SHI ; Yu-kun WANG ; Shu-ting YU ; Ai-rong ZHANG ; Xiao-xia GAO ; Xue-mei QIN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(4):1017-1027
This study used kidney metabolomics to investigate the underlying mechanisms of Guilingji (GLJ) on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) rats. The rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (
8.Regulatory Effect and Mechanism of Yichang Sanjie Granules on Intestinal Flora and Immune Function in Mice with Colon Cancer
Ai-Hua HOU ; Ling-Ling DAI ; Peng MENG ; Xiao-Ni ZHANG ; Song TAN ; Ze LIU ; Xiao-Hu ZHAO
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;41(3):719-728
Objective To observe the regulating effect and mechanism of Yichang Sanjie Granules on intestinal flora and immune function in mice with colon cancer.Methods Sixty mice were randomly divided into six groups,i.e.,the normal group,the model group,the low-,medium-and high-dose groups of Yichang Sanjie Granules,and the overexpression of melanoma absent gene 2(AIM2)plasmid(pcDNA-AIM2)intervention group,with 10 mice in each group.Colorectal cancer model was prepared by oxidized azomethine(AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)induction method in all groups except normal group.After drug administration,the survival curves of mice in each group were plotted and the tumor volume was calculated;serum levels of immunoglobulin(Ig)G,IgM,interleukin(IL)-1β and IL-18 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA);peripheral blood levels of CD3+,CD4+,CD8+ T cells were detected by flow cytometry;the splenic index was determined;Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was used to observe the pathological changes in colon tissues;16S-rDNA intestinal flora sequencing was used to detect the α-diversity of intestinal flora and the structure of intestinal flora communities;and protein immunoblotting(Wetsern Blot)was used to detect the protein expressions of AIM2,apoptosis-associated speckled-like protein containing a CARD(ASC),and cystatinase-1(caspase-1)in colon tissues.Results Compared with the normal group,the survival rate,serum levels of IgG and IgM,peripheral blood levels of CD3+ and CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ ratio,protein expression levels of colon tissue AIM2,ASC and caspase-1 in the model group were significantly decreased,and the tumor volume,serum levels of IL-1β and IL-18,peripheral blood level of CD8+,and splenic index were significantly increased(all P<0.05),and the HE staining results showed the characteristic manifestations of colon cancer;compared with the model group,the survival rate,serum levels of IgG and IgM,peripheral blood levels of CD3+ and CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ ratio,protein expression levels of colon tissue AIM2,ASC and caspase-1 in the low-,medium-and high-dose groups of Yichang Sanjie Granules and the pcDNA-AIM2 group were significantly increased,and the tumor volume,serum levels of IL-1β and IL-18,level of peripheral blood CD8+,and splenic index were significantly decreased(all P<0.05),and the HE staining results showed the manifestations of colon cancer were improved.Compared with the normal group,the Observed index,Chao1 index,Shannon index,the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes,Proteobacteria,Muribaculaceae,Lachnospiraceae-NK4A136group,and Ruminiclostridium in the model group were significantly decreased,while the relative abundance of Firmicutes,Actinobacteria,Patescibateria,Lactobacillus,Odoribacter,Alistipes,Ruminococcaceae-uncultured and Bacteroides was increased in the model group(P<0.05);compared with the model group,the Observed index,Chao1 index,Shannon index,the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes,Proteobacteria,Muribaculaceae,Lachnospiraceae-NK4A136group and Ruminiclostridium were significantly increased,and the relative abundance of Firmicutes,Actinobacteria,Patescibateria,Lactobacillus,Odoribacter,Alistipes,Ruminococcaceae-uncultured and Bacteroides was decreased in the low-,medium-and high-dose groups of Yichang Sanjie Granules and the pcDNA-AIM2 group(all P<0.05).Conclusion Yichang Sanjie Granules can increase autoimmunity and improve intestinal flora structure in mice with colon cancer,and its mechanism is related to the activation of AIM2 inflammatory vesicles.
9.Effect of ANAs on hormone response in patients with AIH-PBC overlap syndrome and AIH-only
Qiong LI ; Ai-Ping TIAN ; Yong-Wu MAO ; Fu-Chun WANG ; Xiao-Rong MAO
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2024;49(1):64-69
Objective To investigate the effect of antinuclear antibodies(ANAs)on hormone response in patients with autoimmune hepatitis(AIH)-primary biliary cholangitis(PBC)overlap syndrome(AIH-PBC OS)and AIH-only within half a year.Methods A retrospective analysis of 77 patients with autoimmune liver disease(AILD)admitted to First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University from January 2018 to December 2021,all of whom were confirmed by liver biopsy and receiving glucocorticoid treatment.Among them,46 patients were in AIH-PBC OS group and 31 were in AIH-only group.The general clinical characteristics,liver puncture-related indexes,autoantibodies and immunoglobulin indexes of patients in each group at the time of diagnosis were collected and compared,and the biochemical and immunoglobulin indexes of patients at the time of hormone use and at the time of review within 6 months were also collected,and the hormone response within 6 months was evaluated according to the levels of glutamic transaminase(AST),glutamic alanine transaminase(ALT)and immunoglobulin G(IgG),and the effect of ANAs on hormone response outcomes in both groups over a six-month period was analyzed.Multifactorial ordered logistic analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of ANAs on hormone response between two groups.Results There was no statistically significant difference in the percentage of AIH-PBC OS and AIH-only patients among both ANAs-positive and-negative AILD patients(55.6%vs.44.4%and 65.6%vs.34.4%,P>0.05).Among 46 patients with AIH-PBC OS,there were 25 in ANAs-positive group and 21 in ANAs-negative group.The rate of complete hormone response within 6 months was lower than that of ANAs-negative group(44.0%vs.76.2%),while the rate of hormone non-response was higher than that of ANAs-negative group(20.0%vs.0),and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).There were 20 cases of ANAs-positive and 11 cases of ANAs-negative in the 31 AIH-only patients.There was no statistically significant difference in the results of hormone response within 6 months between the two groups(P>0.05).Multifactorial ordered logistic analysis showed that AIH-PBC OS patients were more likely to have a higher likelihood of 6-month hormone non-response rate in ANAs-positive patients,and the difference was statistically different(P<0.05).And there was no significant effect of ANAs type on hormone response outcome in AIH-only patients(P>0.05).Conclusion AIH-PBC OS ANAs-positive patients have a poor hormone response within half a year.In AIH-only patients,ANAs have no significant effect on hormone response results.
10.Treatment of Polymorphic Light Eruption Using Resolving Toxins and Tranquilizing Collaterals Method
Wei SONG ; Rudi AI ; Mingling CHEN ; Min XIAO
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;65(11):1154-1158
Collateral vessels in cutaneous regions are the channel of qi, blood and body fluids transmission among the skin and striae and interstices, and is also the path of pathogens invasion. It is believed that the key pathogenesis of polymorphic light eruption (PLE) was toxins damaging to the skin, in which the cutaneous collaterals fail to nourish, insecurity of the muscle surface as the basis of disease, the pathogens offending qi collaterals and heat constraint to toxins as the driving factors, gradually affecting fluid collaterals and dryness-dampness coexist as the middle link, and latent pathogens in blood level and waiting for the opportunity to onset as the final stage. It is proposed that the basic treatment is to resolve toxins and tranquilize collaterals, and the internal and external treatments are combined together. The internal treatment is to resolve toxins, strengthen collaterals, and assist in unblocking the collaterals, and the modified self-prescribed Wuteng Decoction (五藤饮) plus Yigong Powder (异功散) were selected as the basic formulas, which promotes the discharge of toxin pathogens and strengthens the power of the cutaneous collaterals to protect against pathogens. For external treatment, according to the performance of skin lesions, scraping, tapping with medicinal solution, ointment were selected to drive away pathogens and resolve toxins, and soothe the cutaneous collaterals. In the early stage, the skin temperature rose with itching, tingling and no rash, scraping with the self-prescribed Yinhuangcao Clearing Oil (银黄草清解油) could be used to activate blood and regulate qi, relieve heat and resolve toxins; if the lesions showed erythema, pimples, itching, tapping with the self-prescribed Qian'ai Xunxi Formula (千艾熏洗方) could be used to diffuse qi and fluid, unblock the collaterals and clean toxins; if the skin lesions thickened with scales, the self-prescribed Yufu Ointment (愈肤膏) for external application could be used to resolve toxins and activate collaterals, moisten skin and heal up sore.

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