1.Lysosomes as Regulators of Cancer Stemness and Drug Resistance
Fa-Xiao ZHOU ; Di-Ping YU ; Si-Qi TAN ; Hong-Yu DUAN ; Xiao-Ming WU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(4):951-967
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a distinct subpopulation of cells characterized by self-renewal capacity, differentiation potential, and critical roles in driving tumor progression, therapeutic resistance, recurrence, and maintenance of the tumor microenvironment. Targeting CSCs has emerged as a pivotal direction in cancer research, offering novel strategies to overcome drug resistance and prevent metastasis and relapse. Lysosomes, traditionally recognized as central organelles for intracellular degradation and recycling, are indispensable for cellular homeostasis. Dysregulation of lysosomal function is intimately linked to various diseases, including cancer. In tumors, aberrant lysosomal activity can promote malignant progression through mechanisms such as altering metabolic pathways, enhancing lysosomal exocytosis, modulating drug resistance, and interfering with autophagy-lysosomal pathways. Recent studies have underscored the involvement of lysosomes in regulating CSC properties. This review synthesizes findings on lysosomal regulation of CSCs through the following aspects. (1) Lysosomes exert complex and critical bidirectional control over CSC stemness maintenance through three degradation pathways that are dependent on their degradative function. (i) The lysophagy pathway. This pathway exhibits dual roles. Activation can sustain CSC functions; for instance, in glioblastoma, hypoxia upregulates Gal-8 via the STAT3/HIF1α signaling axis to induce autophagy, supporting stem cell survival. In head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, degradation of GSK3β activates the Wnt pathway, enhancing stemness. Conversely, this pathway can suppress stemness by degrading stemness-related proteins such as BMI-1 and OCT4A, thereby impairing CSC self-renewal capacity. (ii) Mitophagy pathway. In non-small cell lung cancer stem cells, mitophagy-related mechanisms, such as the accumulation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) activating the TLR9-Notch1-AMPK signaling axis, have been shown to promote CSC proliferation. (iii) Autophagosome-dependent lysosomal degradation pathway. This pathway directly regulates stemness-related proteins in a bidirectional manner. Enhanced degradative function can promote CSC properties, exemplified by the degradation of NUMB to activate Notch signaling. Conversely, attenuated degradative function can also enhance stemness by stabilizing oncoproteins (e.g., protecting Frizzled-1 from degradation to sustain Wnt signaling) or preventing the degradation of tumor suppressors (e.g., inhibiting Notch degradation). (2) Constituent proteins of lysosomes, including membrane proteins and luminal acid hydrolases, participate in regulating CSC stemness. Regarding membrane proteins, LAMP2A facilitates chaperone-mediated autophagy to maintain stemness in glioblastoma and ovarian cancer. V-ATPase, by maintaining an acidic luminal environment, promotes proliferation and drug resistance in glioma stem cells. Among hydrolases, cathepsins B and L are highly expressed in pancreatic and ovarian cancers and correlate with poor prognosis. Furthermore, targeting lysosomes to induce lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) triggers lysosome-mediated cell death, presenting a potential therapeutic strategy for eradicating CSCs.(3) The acidic luminal environment, single-membrane structure, and the presence of transmembrane transporters (e.g., ABCA3) enable lysosomes to passively trap or actively uptake and sequester chemotherapeutic drugs. Subsequent drug extrusion via exocytosis confers drug resistance. In CSCs, this lysosome-mediated drug sequestration, often cooperating with autophagy, establishes multimodal drug resistance. Therefore, targeting lysosomal function represents a potential strategy to overcome therapy resistance. The central role of lysosomes in regulating CSC stemness and resistance positions them as highly promising therapeutic targets. Strategies aimed at disrupting lysosomal function to selectively eliminate CSCs include: inhibiting the lysosome-autophagy system using agents like IITZ or lovastatin; inducing lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) with compounds such as hexamethylene amiloride to compromise membrane stability; and disrupting the acidic luminal environment using drugs like siramesine or the K/H transport compound 2. In conclusion, lysosomes critically regulate CSC stemness maintenance and drug resistance through degradative pathways, membrane protein functions, luminal hydrolase activities, and drug sequestration mechanisms. This redefines the lysosome from a traditional “waste disposal unit” to a “signal integration center” in CSCs. The duality and context-dependency of lysosomal function in CSCs offer novel insights into the heterogeneity observed across different tumors. Targeting lysosomal vulnerabilities—such as inducing LMP, disrupting acidity, or blocking autophagic flux—provides a strategy to bypass canonical CSC resistance mechanisms and directly trigger cell death. This establishes the lysosome as a key target to overcome CSC-mediated therapy resistance, paving the way for developing diverse candidate drugs and innovative combination therapies in oncology.
2.Response to Comments on “Pretreatment 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT to Predict the Response to Treatment With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Plus Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma”
Shao-Hao CHEN ; Xiao-Hui WU ; Qian-Ren-Shun QIU ; Shao-Ming CHEN ; Jie ZANG ; Jun-Ming ZHU ; Cheng-Long ZENG ; Wei-Bing MIAO ; Xue-Yi XUE ; Ning XU
Korean Journal of Radiology 2026;27(2):188-190
3.Differences in deltamethrin resistance and kdr gene mutation in Culex tritaeniorhynchus population in and outside the Yellow Sea wetland
Xiao-er ZHANG ; Zhi-ming WU ; Ye TIAN ; Qian CUI ; Yu-qian JI ; Huan WANG ; Shu-juan YANG ; Yi-chao ZHAO ; Yu WANG ; Hua-yu YIN ; Yu DING ; Guo-jin YAN ; Min-sen ZHAO ; Shou-gang ZHANG ; Bing-dong SONG ; Hong-na CHEN ; Jian GAO ; Wei-fang YANG ; Yu-fu ZHANG ; Hui LIU ; Hong-liang CHU
Acta Parasitologica et Medica Entomologica Sinica 2026;33(2):101-107
Objective To gain insights into the biological characteristics of different populations of Culex tritaeniorhynchus within and around the Yellow Sea wetland from the perspective of the occurrence of resistance, we investigated the levels of resistance to deltamethrin and kdr gene mutation in the wetland and its peripheral areas. Methods Specimens were collected from Cx. tritaeniorhynchus populations at two monitoring sites in the Rare Bird National Nature Reserve and Tiaozi Ni Wetland Scenic Area, and also from two populations in Yancheng City and the Liuhe District of Nanjing, and the resistance of these mosquitoes to deltamethrin was determined using the CDC biotest bottle method. For each concentration of deltamethrin assessed, a random subset of exposed specimens was selected for amplification of the kdr gene fragment, followed by Sanger sequencing to identify and analyze resistance-associated mutations. Results The LC50 levels of deltamethrin among mosquitoes from the four populations in Luhe, Yancheng, the Rare Bird National Nature Reserve and the Tiaozi Ni Wetland Scenic Area were 2.048 5, 7.798 2, 3.473 3, and 17.695 5 mg/mL, respectively, with corresponding concentrations of deltamethrin ranging from 0.005 to 5.000,0.050 to 50.000,0.050 to 25.000 and 0.050 to 50.000 mg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the ranges of the KT50 values were 11.76-107.43, 67.05-216.30,29.77-107.43 and 28.40-329.51 min; the 1-h knockdown rates were 34.58%-99.15%, 9.52%-43.80%, 55.09%-73.01%, and 10.09%-68.07%; and the 24-h mortality rates were 12.15%-67.52%,9.52%-79.56%,13.17%-82.21%, and 11.01%-78.99%, respectively. With respect to kdr gene mutation, we assayed a total of 63,70,59, and 57 mosquitoes for the four populations, for which we detected L1014F mutation frequencies of 14.29%, 35.00%, 20.34%, and 31.58%, respectively, with a majority of these mutations being heterozygous for resistance. In addition, five adult mosquitoes were identified has having synonymous mutations at site 1011[i. e. , AAT(asparagine)mutation to AAC(asparagine)]. Conclusions Our findings revealed the clear resistance of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus to deltamethrin in the Yancheng region of the Yellow Sea wetland, and the resistance phenotype and kdr frequency of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus in the wetland environment were comparable to those of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus in the wetland environment, thereby indicating that the resistance of different populations of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus was homogeneous under the pressure of different insecticide selection within and around the wetland. However, the underlying mechanisms need to be further studied.
4.Effectiveness of Xuanshen Yishen Decoction on Intensive Blood Pressure Control: Emulation of a Randomized Target Trial Using Real-World Data.
Xiao-Jie WANG ; Yuan-Long HU ; Jia-Ming HUAN ; Shi-Bing LIANG ; Lai-Yun XIN ; Feng JIANG ; Zhen HUA ; Zhen-Yuan WANG ; Ling-Hui KONG ; Qi-Biao WU ; Yun-Lun LI
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(8):677-684
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the effectiveness of Xuanshen Yishen Decoction (XYD) in the treatment of hypertension.
METHODS:
Hospital electronic medical records from 2019-2023 were utilized to emulate a randomized pragmatic clinical trial. Hypertensive participants were eligible if they were aged ⩾40 years with baseline systolic blood pressure (BP) ⩾140 mm Hg. Patients treated with XYD plus antihypertensive regimen were assigned to the treatment group, whereas those who followed only antihypertensive regimen were assigned to the control group. The primary outcome assessed was the attainment rate of intensive BP control at discharge, with the secondary outcome focusing on the 6-month all-cause readmission rate.
RESULTS:
The study included 3,302 patients, comprising 2,943 individuals in the control group and 359 in the treatment group. Compared with the control group, a higher proportion in the treatment group achieved the target BP for intensive BP control [8.09% vs. 17.5%; odds ratio (OR)=2.29, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.68 to 3.13; P<0.001], particularly in individuals with high homocysteine levels (OR=3.13; 95% CI=1.72 to 5.71; P<0.001; P for interaction=0.041). Furthermore, the 6-month all-cause readmission rate in the treatment group was lower than in the control group (hazard ratio=0.58; 95% CI=0.36 to 0.91; P=0.019), and the robustness of the results was confirmed by sensitivity analyse.
CONCLUSIONS
XYD could be a complementary therapy for intensive BP control. Our study offers real-world evidence and guides the choice of complementary and alternative therapies. (Registration No. ChiCTR2400086589).
Adult
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Aged
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Antihypertensive Agents/pharmacology*
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Blood Pressure/drug effects*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
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Hypertension/physiopathology*
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Patient Readmission
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Treatment Outcome
5.Surveillance results of common diseases among primary and secondary school students in Yichang City in 2019 - 2022
Yi LIANG ; Zaoxia WANG ; Chi HU ; Xiaoyan MING ; Man XIAO ; Qian WU ; Zhongcheng YANG
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine 2025;36(4):98-101
Objective To investigate the prevalence of common diseases among primary and secondary school students in Yichang City from 2019 to 2022, and to provide a scientific basis for formulating effective intervention measures in the future. Methods By random cluster sampling , 7 schools in urban areas and 5 schools in suburban counties were selected to screen common diseases such as myopia, dental caries, obesity and abnormal spinal curvature. Descriptive epidemiological methods were employed for statistical analysis. Results A total of 17 023 primary and secondary school students were screened from 2019 to 2022. The overall detection rate of common diseases from high to low was myopia (54.12%), caries (36.75%), overweight (15.17%), obesity (11.88%), malnutrition (5.80%), and abnormal spinal curvature (3.49%). The detection rates of myopia and abnormal curvature of the spine showed an increasing trend with years and school stages, while the detection rates of malnutrition and dental caries showed a decreasing trend with years and school stages. The detection rates of overweight and obesity showed no trend difference with years, and the detection rates of obesity showed a decreasing trend with school stages. The rates of myopia, overweight and obesity were higher in urban areas than those in suburban counties, and the rate of dental caries was higher in suburban counties than that in urban areas. The prevalence of overweight, obesity, and malnutrition in boys was higher than that in girls. The prevalence of myopia and dental caries in girls was higher than that in boys. The above differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusion Myopia, dental caries, obesity, and abnormal curvature of the spine are the current focus of the prevention and treatment of common diseases in students. There are great differences between different regions, school stages, and genders. The “tripartite linkage” of schools, families, and communities should be achieved with the joint efforts of the education and health departments to actively take targeted intervention measures to reduce the prevalence.
6.Golgi apparatus stress and its role in infectious diseases:a review of recent advances
Qi FAN ; Yao WU ; Xiao-Mei ZHU ; Yong-Ming YAO
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2025;50(1):83-91
The Golgi apparatus(GA),an essential membrane organelle in eukaryotes positioned between the endoplasmic reticulum and the plasma membrane,is responsible for transporting and modifying proteins and lipids generated by the endoplasmic reticulum.The homeostasis of the endoplasmic reticulum and GA plays a crucial role in regulating cellular life.When GA is unable to bear the load of protein or lipid processing and transportation,it enters a state of stress.Cells sense this and activate Golgi-related quality control mechanisms.By regulating the structure and function of GA,it provides important protection for the cell or induces programmed cell death,known as the GA stress response.Understanding the mechanisms and outcomes of cellular GA stress is of great significance for exploring Golgi dynamics and its impact on human diseases.This review summarizes the structure and function of GA under physiological conditions,the phenomenon of GA stress under pathological conditions,and the role of GA in infectious diseases,aiming to provide a basis for the clinical study of new strategies for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.
7.Research progress on mechanism and interventional measure of mitochondrial fusion-mediated neural repair after spinal cord injury
Yun-Peng LI ; Ming-Li WU ; Xiao-Dong FENG
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2025;50(8):1015-1021
Spinal cord injury(SCI)is a serious central nervous system traumatic disease that usually leads to severe neurological dysfunction below the site of injury.Studies have shown that SCI is closely related to oxidative stress,inflammatory responses,and mitochondrial dynamic imbalance.Mitochondrial dysfunction,such as accumulation of mitochondrial DNA damage,depletion of ATP,and impairment of oxidative stress regulation,can lead to dysfunction or death of neurons.Mitochondrial fusion plays a key role in maintaining energy balance and promoting neurological recovery after SCI.This review summarizes the changes in mitochondrial dynamics after SCI and the neuroprotective mechanisms mediated by mitochondrial fusion,with aim to provide new ideas on the treatment of SCI.
8.TRACKING EVALUATION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF"DIAGNOSIS OF ASCARIASIS"(WS/T 565-2017)IN ANHUI AND SICHUAN PROVINCES
Wei JIN ; Dao-Hua LIU ; Yang LIU ; Xiao-Hong WU ; Cheng-Hang YU ; Bin ZHENG ; Guang-Ming ZHANG ; Zhi-Guo CAO
Acta Parasitologica et Medica Entomologica Sinica 2025;32(2):73-77,111
Objective To understand the implementation status of"Diagnosis of Ascariasis"(WS/T 565-2017)and provide a scientific basis for promoting,revising,and improving the Standard.Methods Using the convenient sampling method,the investigation targeted professional and technical personnel at the provincial,city,county,and township levels engaged in parasitic disease prevention,control,or diagnosis and treatment in Anhui and Sichuan provinces.No less than 150 individuals were included in each province.The implementation survey of Diagnosis of Ascariasis(WS/T 565-2017)was conducted by the subjects completing a questionnaire by themselves.Results The response rate to the questionnaire was 91.90%(386/420).The awareness and utilization rates of the Standard were 81.87%and 49.22%,respectively and both increased with age(χ2 trend=7.977 and 19.016,respectively,P<0.01).Respondents with college degrees(90.72%)had a higher awareness rate(χ2=8.619,P<0.05).In terms of utilization rate,males(58.38%),those with college degrees(67.01%),staff members of provincial-level units(77.78%),and personnel in medical institutions(71.43%)had higher utilization rates(χ2=13.486,17.166,8.426,and 5.956,respectively,all P<0.05).The survey indicated that 57.77%of the work units of respondents have conducted promotional activities,and 53.89%of the work units of respondents have sent personnel to participate in training.Moreover,this proportion tended to increase as the unit level decreased(χ2 trend=9.403 and 14.729,P<0.01).The level of participation in publicity and training by medical institutions(89.29%)was significantly higher than that of disease control institutions(55.31%and 51.12%,respectively,χ2=12.290 and 15.225,P<0.01).Furthermore,training participation is a crucial factor in enhancing awareness rates.A total of 368 respondents(95.34%)reported that their work units have conducted testing for ascariasis.Additionally,378 individuals(97.92%)believe that the Standard is"applicable"or"basically applicable,"while 369(95.60%)felt that no revisions were needed.Conclusions The results indicated that"Diagnosis of Ascariasis"(WS/T 565-2017)remains applicable to the diagnostic needs of ascariasis and it is recommended to strengthen its promotion and implementation.
9.Guideline for diagnosis and treatment of infection after internal fixation of closed lower limb fractures in adults (version 2025)
Bobin MI ; Faqi CAO ; Weixian HU ; Wu ZHOU ; Chenchen YAN ; Hui LI ; Yun SUN ; Yuan XIONG ; Jinmi ZHAO ; Qikai HUA ; Xinbao WU ; Xieyuan JIANG ; Dianying ZHANG ; Zhongguo FU ; Dankai WU ; Guangyao LIU ; Guodong LIU ; Tengbo YU ; Jinhai TAN ; Xi CHEN ; Fengfei LIN ; Zhangyuan LIN ; Dongfa LIAO ; Aiguo WANG ; Shiwu DONG ; Gaoxing LUO ; Zhao XIE ; Dong SUN ; Dehao FU ; Yunfeng CHEN ; Changqing ZHANG ; Kun LIU ; Deye SONG ; Yongjun RUI ; Fei WU ; Ximing LIU ; Junwen WANG ; Meng ZHAO ; Biao CHE ; Bing HU ; Chengjian HE ; Guanglin WANG ; Xiao CHEN ; Guandong DAI ; Shiyuan FANG ; Wenchao SONG ; Ming CHEN ; Guanghua GUO ; Yongqing XU ; Lei YANG ; Wenqian ZHANG ; Kun ZHANG ; Xin TANG ; Hua CHEN ; Weiguo XU ; Shuquan GUO ; Yong LIU ; Xiaodong GUO ; Zhewei YE ; Liming XIONG ; Tian XIA ; Hongbin WU ; Qisheng ZHOU ; Mengfei LIU ; Yiqiang HU ; Yanjiu HAN ; Hang XUE ; Kangkang ZHA ; Wei CHEN ; Zhiyong HOU ; Bin YU ; Jiacan SU ; Peifu TANG ; Baoguo JIANG ; Guohui LIU
Chinese Journal of Trauma 2025;41(5):421-432
Postoperative infection of internal fixation of closed fractures the lower limbs in adults represents a devastating complication, characterized by diagnostic challenges, prolonged treatment duration and high disability rates. Current management of these infections faces multiple challenges, such as difficulties in early accurate diagnosis, and various controversies about the treatment plan, leading to poor overall diagnosis and treatment results. To address these issues, based on evidence-based medicine and principles with emphasis on scientific rigor, clinical applicability and innovation, the Trauma Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, Orthopedic Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, Orthopedics Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, and Trauma Orthopedics and Polytrauma Group of the Resuscitation and Emergency Committee of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association have collaboratively organized a panel of relevant experts to develop the Guideline for diagnosis and treatment of infection after internal fixation of closed lower limb fractures in adults ( version 2025). The guideline proposed 10 recommendations, aiming to provide a foundation for standardized diagnosis and treatment of postoperative infection in adults with closed lower limb fractures.
10."Component-effect" correlations in traditional Chinese medicine from holistic view: taking discovery of gintonin from ginseng as an example.
Xin-Ming YU ; Chen-Yu YU ; Hua-Ying WANG ; Wei-Sheng YUE ; Zhu-Bin ZHANG ; Wei WU ; Xiao-Bin JIA ; Bing YANG ; Liang FENG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(7):2001-2012
The holistic view is the key in the study of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). The component structure theory is based on the holistic view to investigate the correlation between material basis and efficiency, which enriches the holistic "component-effect" research of TCM. Gintonin is a newly isolated non-saponin component of ginseng. Compared to ginsenosides, gintonin has many different pharmacological activities, and it provides new knowledge for the holistic research of ginseng. Thus, taking the discovery of gintonin from ginseng as an example, this paper explored the linkage between ginsenosides and gintonin from the perspective of "component-effect" correlations and systematically sorted out the similarities and differences between them in terms of structural characteristics, modes of action, and pharmacological activities. Starting from the collaborative interaction of TCM compounds, the study discussed the application and value of the holistic view in TCM "component-effect" research in the light of the component structure theory to provide new thoughts for the development of modern TCM research.
Panax/chemistry*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
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Medicine, Chinese Traditional
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Humans
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Ginsenosides/pharmacology*
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Animals


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