1.Role of SPINK in Dermatologic Diseases and Potential Therapeutic Targets
Yong-Hang XIA ; Hao DENG ; Li-Ling HU ; Wei LIU ; Xiao TAN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):417-424
Serine protease inhibitor Kazal-type (SPINK) is a skin keratinizing protease inhibitor, which was initially found in animal serum and is widely present in plants, animals, bacteria, and viruses, and they act as key regulators of skin keratinizing proteases and are involved in the regulation of keratinocyte proliferation and inflammation, primarily through the inhibition of deregulated tissue kinin-releasing enzymes (KLKs) in skin response. This process plays a crucial role in alleviating various skin problems caused by hyperkeratinization and inflammation, and can greatly improve the overall condition of the skin. Specifically, the different members of the SPINK family, such as SPINK5, SPINK6, SPINK7, and SPINK9, each have unique biological functions and mechanisms of action. The existence of these members demonstrates the diversity and complexity of skin health and disease. First, SPINK5 mutations are closely associated with the development of various skin diseases, such as Netherton’s syndrome and atopic dermatitis, and SPINK5 is able to inhibit the activation of the STAT3 signaling pathway, thereby effectively preventing the metastasis of melanoma cells, which is important in preventing the invasion and migration of malignant tumors. Secondly, SPINK6 is mainly distributed in the epidermis and contains lysine and glutamate residues, which can act as a substrate for epidermal transglutaminase to maintain the normal structure and function of the skin. In addition, SPINK6 can activate the intracellular ERK1/2 and AKT signaling pathways through the activation of epidermal growth factor receptor and protease receptor-2 (EphA2), which can promote the migration of melanoma cells, and SPINK6 further deepens its role in stimulating the migration of malignant tumor cells by inhibiting the activation of STAT3 signaling pathway. This process further deepens its potential impact in stimulating tumor invasive migration. Furthermore, SPINK7 plays a role in the pathology of some inflammatory skin diseases, and is likely to be an important factor contributing to the exacerbation of skin diseases by promoting aberrant proliferation of keratinocytes and local inflammatory responses. Finally, SPINK9 can induce cell migration and promote skin wound healing by activating purinergic receptor 2 (P2R) to induce phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor and further activating the downstream ERK1/2 signaling pathway. In addition, SPINK9 also plays an antimicrobial role, preventing the interference of some pathogenic microorganisms. Taken as a whole, some members of the SPINK family may be potential targets for the treatment of dermatological disorders by regulating multiple biological processes such as keratinization metabolism and immuno-inflammatory processes in the skin. The development of drugs such as small molecule inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies has great potential for the treatment of dermatologic diseases, and future research on SPINK will help to gain a deeper understanding of the physiopathologic processes of the skin. Through its functions and regulatory mechanisms, the formation and maintenance of the skin barrier and the occurrence and development of inflammatory responses can be better understood, which will provide novel ideas and methods for the prevention and treatment of skin diseases.
2.Impact of hepatocellular carcinoma on the prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis undergoing emergency endoscopic therapy due to esophagogastric variceal bleeding
Xiaoqin ZHU ; Na WEI ; Yong XIAO ; Baoping YU
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(2):277-283
ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on the prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis undergoing emergency endoscopic therapy for esophagogastric variceal bleeding, as well as independent influencing factors for the prognosis of liver cirrhosis patients without HCC after emergency endoscopic therapy for esophagogastric variceal bleeding. MethodsA total of 117 liver cirrhosis patients without HCC and 119 liver cirrhosis patients with HCC who underwent emergency endoscopic therapy for esophagogastric variceal bleeding in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from January 2017 to July 2023 were enrolled. Basic information including age and sex was collected from all patients, as well as the presence or absence of chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and coronary heart disease, the time of emergency endoscopy after admission, and liver function parameters including international normalized ratio, albumin, creatinine, sodium, total bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous variables between two groups, and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous variables between two groups; the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical variables between groups. The covariance analysis and the multivariate logistic regression analysis were used for comparison of outcome variables after control of baseline variables, and the Kaplan-Meier survival curve was plotted for each group. The univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed for survival time in the non-HCC group to investigate the independent influencing factors for survival time, and then the Kaplan-Meier curve analysis and the log-rank test were performed to validate such independent influencing factors and analyze the independent influencing factors for secondary outcomes. ResultsCompared with the non-HCC group, the HCC group had significantly higher red blood cell transfusion units (6.00[2.00~9.00] vs 4.00[1.75~7.00], Z=-2.050, P=0.040, F=4.869, adjusted P=0.028), a significantly shorter survival time (29.77±16.01 days vs 38.07±11.43 days, t=4.574, P<0.001, F=17.294, adjusted P<0.001), and a significantly higher 5-day rebleeding rate (22.69% vs 6.84%, χ2=11.736, P<0.001, adjusted P=0.021). The Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that the risk of 42-day mortality in the HCC group was 3.897 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.338 — 6.495, P<0.001) times that in the non-HCC group. The multivariate Cox regression analysis of the non-HCC group showed that the total length of hospital stay (hazard ratio [HR]=0.793, 95%CI: 0.644 — 0.976, P=0.029) was an independent protective factor for 42-day survival. The Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that a length of hospital stay of >9 days was beneficial for the prognosis of patients (HR=4.302, 95%CI: 1.439 — 12.870, P=0.037). Blood sodium level (odds ratio [OR]=0.523, 95%CI: 0.289 — 0.945, P=0.032) and MELD-Na score (OR=0.495, 95%CI: 0.257 — 0.954, P=0.036) were independent protective factors against 5-day rebleeding, while AST level was an independent risk factor for 5-day rebleeding (OR=1.023, 95%CI: 1.002 — 1.043, P=0.028) and in-hospital death (OR=1.036, 95%CI: 1.001— 1.073, P=0.045). ConclusionLiver cirrhosis patients with variceal bleeding and HCC tend to have a worse prognosis, and for the non-HCC group, in-hospital mortality rate increases with the increase in AST level. The total length of hospital stay is an independent protective factor for survival time in the non-HCC group, and it is recommended to appropriately prolong the length of hospital stay for such patients.
3.Annual review of global liver transplantation research in 2024: technological breakthroughs, precision management and future challenges
Yong JIANG ; Xiao FENG ; Wei LIU ; Yang YANG
Organ Transplantation 2025;16(3):350-358
In recent years, significant progress has been made in the field of liver transplantation in terms of donor expansion, technological innovation and perioperative management. Machine perfusion technology, through dynamic repair and assessment of donor liver quality, can effectively reduce postoperative complications and increase the utilization rate of marginal donor livers. The optimization of split liver transplantation technology combined with normothermic perfusion further alleviates the shortage of donors, but its promotion is still limited by technical barriers. Xenotransplantation has achieved preclinical breakthroughs in the field of genetically modified pig livers, but ethical and immune barrier issues need to be urgently resolved. In the field of liver cancer liver transplantation, the focus is on neoadjuvant treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors and the development of recurrence prediction models, which promotes precise treatment. For perioperative management, the optimization of individualized immunosuppressive regimens, artificial liver support, and strategies for the prevention and control of vascular complications has significantly improved patients’ survival rates. Personalized treatment for children, elderly recipients, and recipients with multiple comorbidities provides new ideas for liver transplantation in special populations. In the future, liver transplantation research may focus on the integration of multidisciplinary approaches, individualized treatment and emerging technologies to advance the global liver transplantation cause to new heights.
4.Progress in preclinical studies of xenogeneic lung transplantation and single-center technical experience
Xiaoting TAO ; Xinzhong NING ; Yong LIU ; Guimei ZHANG ; He XIAO ; Shiyu LIN ; Zizi ZHOU ; Taiyun WEI ; Chunxiao HU ; Hongjiang WEI ; Kun QIAO
Organ Transplantation 2025;16(6):874-880
Lung transplantation is the ultimate therapeutic option for end-stage pulmonary diseases such as interstitial pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pneumoconiosis. Currently, the shortage of allogeneic lung donors significantly limits the opportunity for end-stage lung disease patients to receive lung transplantation. In recent years, with the rapid development of biomedical engineering technologies, especially the major breakthroughs in genetic modification and cloning, xenogeneic lung transplantation has shown important potential for clinical translation. Among them, genetically modified pigs have become the most promising xenogeneic lung source due to the close similarity of organ size and physiological characteristics to humans, and the ability to perform targeted gene knockouts (such as α-Gal antigen knockout) to reduce the occurrence of hyperacute rejection. This article focuses on the research progress of porcine xenogeneic lung transplantation, systematically reviews the latest achievements and challenges in animal experiments and human trials, and introduces the technical experience accumulated by Shenzhen Third People's Hospital in the porcine-to-monkey xenogeneic lung transplantation model, in the hope of providing practical references for future research in this field.
5.Expert Consensus on Clinical Diseases Responding Specifically to Traditional Chinese Medicine: Pulmonary Nodules
Mingwei YU ; Huairui ZHANG ; Xinghan ZHANG ; Xiao LI ; Rengui WANG ; Zhiqiang LONG ; Zhen WANG ; Bo PANG ; Jianwei HUO ; Wei CHEN ; Yong ZHU ; Baoli LIU ; Yanni LOU ; Ganlin ZHANG ; Jiayun NIAN ; Mei MO ; Xiaoxiao ZHANG ; Guowang YANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(6):238-245
In recent years, the incidence of pulmonary nodules has kept rising. To give full play to the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of pulmonary nodules and identify the breakthrough points of integrating TCM with Western medicine, the China Association of Chinese Medicine organized medical experts in TCM and western medicine to carry out in-depth discussion regarding this disease. The discussion encompassed the modern medical advances, TCM theories of etiology and pathogenesis, the role and advantages of TCM in the whole course management of pulmonary nodules, contents and methods of research on pulmonary nodules, and science popularization work, aiming to provide a reference for clinical practice and scientific research. After discussion, the experts concluded that the occurrence of pulmonary nodules was rooted in the deficiency of the lung and spleen and triggered by phlegm dampness, blood stasis, and Qi stagnation. TCM can treat pulmonary nodules by controlling and reducing nodules, improving physical constitution, ameliorating multi-system nodular diseases, reducing anxiety and avoiding excessive diagnosis and treatment, and serving as an alternative for patients who are unwilling or unfit for surgical treatment. At present, the optimal diagnosis and treatment strategy for pulmonary nodules has not been formed, which needs to be further studied from multiple perspectives such as clinical epidemiology, biology, and evidence-based medicine. The primary task of current research is to find out the advantages, effective prescriptions, and target populations and determine the effective outcomes of TCM in the treatment of pulmonary nodules. At the same time, basic research should be carried out to explore the etiology and biological behaviors of pulmonary nodules. The expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary nodules with integrated TCM and Western medicine needs to be continuously revised to guide clinicians to conduct standardized, scientific, and accurate effective diagnosis and treatment.
6.Clinical trial of halperidol combined with ondansetron in postoperative controlled intravenous analgesia
Zhen-Yong CHENG ; Er-Wei GU ; Hong XIE ; Xiao-Yan WANG ; Bo HU ; Long-Ni CHENG ; Fei YANG
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(5):649-653
Objective To investigate the efficacy of flupentixol combined with ondansetron in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting(PONV)in patients receiving sufentanil and dezocine patient-controlled intravenous analgesia(PCIA).Methods Surgical patients receiving sufentanil and dezocine PCIA were randomly divided into treatment and control groups using a random number table.The control group received sufentanil 150 μg,dezocine 20 mg,and ondansetron 8 mg for PCIA,while the treatment group received sufentanil 150 μg,dezocine 20 mg,flupentixol 5 mg,and ondansetron 8 mg for PCIA.The incidence of PONV,severity of PONV,heart rate(HR),mean arterial pressure(MAP),blood oxygen saturation(SPO2)levels at different time points after surgery,surgery-related indicators,visual analogue scale(VAS)scores,Ramsay scores,PCIA pressing times,and incidence of adverse drug reactions were compared between the two groups.Results The incidence of PONV in the treatment group and the control group at 2,12,24,36 and 48 hours after surgery were 1.64%,4.84%,6.56%,3.28%,0 and 14.75%,18.03%,19.67%,16.39%,9.84%,respectively.The HR at 24 hours after surgery in the treatment group and the control group were(91.42±8.75)and(98.13±9.62)beat·min-1,respectively;the MAP were(91.98±4.56)and(99.05±4.17)mmHg;SPO2 were(98.13±1.65)%and(98.95±1.82)%;VAS scores were 2.68±0.49 and 2.97±0.63;Ramsay scores were 2.27±0.65 and 2.05±0.32;PCIA pressing times were(2.14±0.37)and(4.36±0.78)times,respectively.The differences in the above indicators between the treatment group and the control group were statistically significant(all P<0.05).The incidence of total adverse drug reactions after surgery in the treatment group and the control group were 13.12%and 8.20%,respectively,with no statistically significant difference(P>0.05).Conclusion Flupentixol combined with ondansetron can reduce the risk of PONV caused by sufentanil combined with dezocine PCIA after surgery,ensuring good analgesic effects and safety.
7.Effects of rifampicin pretreatment on linezolid pharmacokinetics
Yong-Cheng XU ; Xiao-Xia YU ; Ying WANG ; Wei-Bin XIAO ; Chen YANG ; Bo JI
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(10):1492-1496
Objective To explore the effect of rifampicin on the pharmacokinetics of linezolid in mice and provide pharmacokinetic evidence for the formulation of safe drugs for clinical use of pulmonary tuberculosis.Methods Fifty male KM mice were randomly divided into 2 groups:Control group,rifampicin group;the control group was given 15 mg·kg-1 linezolid;the rifampicin group was given 100 mg·mL-1 rifampicin,continuous administration for 7 days,followed by gavage,administration of 15 mg·kg-1 linezolid;blood and lung tissue were collected from mouse at different time points after administration.High performance liquid mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS)was used to determine plasma concentration of linezolid and compared the pharmacokinetics between groups.Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using DAS 2.0 software.Results Main pharmacokinetic parameters of plasma linezolid in control group,rifampicin group were as follows:AUC0_t were(23.88±1.16)and(19.06±2.56)pg·mL-1·h,respectively;t1/2 were((1.15±0.11)and(1.11±0.10)h,respectively;Cmax were(9.93±0.46)and(7.74±1.17)μg·mL-1,respectively.The main pharmacokinetic parameters of the lungs in the control group and the rifampicin group were as follows:AUC0_t were(18.76±4.29)and(14.90±1.52)μg·mL-1·h,respectively;t1/2 were(1.94±0.50)and(1.44±0.07)h,respectively;Cmax were(8.28±2.67)and(6.82±1.57)μg·mL-1,respectively.AUC0_t and Cmax in plasma and AUC0_t in lung tissue of control group were significantly different from those of rifampicin group(all P<0.05).Conclusion After the combination of rifampicin,linezolid plasma and lung tissue exposure decreased significantly,and attention should be paid to monitoring linezolid trough concentration when the two drugs were combined to avoid treatment failure caused by low effective concentration.
8.Pharmacokinetics of single-dose of Etripamil nasal spray in healthy adult Chinese subjects
Wei LIU ; Guo-Ying CAO ; Shu-Yan YU ; Yue-Wen XI ; Jing-Hui LUO ; Bo LIU ; Yu HE ; Tong-Yong FANG ; Xiao-Wen CHEN ; Yuan LI ; Jing ZHANG
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(13):1948-1952
Objective To evaluate the pharmacokinetics characteristics of single-dose of Etripamil nasal spray 70 mg in healthy adult Chinese subjects.Methods This was a single-center,randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled study.Twelve healthy adult Chinese subjects were randomized to receive single-dose of Etripamil nasal spray 70 mg(n=10)or placebo nasal spray(n=2).Blood and urine samples were collected prior and post dose.Etripamil in plasma and urine were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by WinNonlin non-compartmental model.Results Following the single-dose of Etripamil nasal spray 70 mg in healthy adult Chinese subjects,the peak concentration of Etripamil in plasma was quickly attained,with a Cmax of(66.76±56.61)ng·mL-1 and a median(range)tmax of 4.00(3.00-5.00)min.The plasma concentrations of Etripamil had fallen approximately 65%from peak value at 25 min after dosing,and close to 80%within 50 min.The AUC0-last and AUC0-∞ were(3 104.16±2 654.46)and(4 048.77±2 682.38)ng·min·mL-1,respectively.The urine excretion percentage of Etripamil during 24 h was(0.01±0.01)%.Among the 12 subjects who were treated with Etripamil or placebo,10 subjects reported a total of 29 treatment-emergent adverse events(TEAEs).All of the TEAEs were mild in severity.The most common TEAEs were rhinorrhoea and lacrimation increased.Conclusion Etripamil was quickly absorbed after intranasal administration,followed by rapid distribution and elimination(not primarily excreted by renal);Etripamil 70 mg was safe and well tolerated by the healthy Chinese adult subjects.
9.Effects of template and pore-forming agent method on the structure and drug delivery of porous maltodextrin
Zhe LI ; Xiao-sui LUO ; Wei-feng ZHU ; Qiong LI ; Yong-mei GUAN ; Zheng-ji JIN ; Li-hua CHEN ; Liang-shan MING
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(8):2381-2395
This study using maltodextrin as raw material, 1%-5% polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 as template agent, 1%-5% ammonium bicarbonate as pore-forming agent, curcumin and ibuprofen as model drugs. Porous maltodextrin was prepared by template and pore-forming agent methods, respectively. The structure and drug delivery behavior of porous maltodextrin prepared by different technologies were comprehensively characterized. The results showed that the porous maltodextrin prepared by pore-forming agent method had larger specific surface area (6.449 4 m2·g-1) and pore size (32.804 2 nm), which was significantly better than that by template agent method (3.670 2 m2·g-1, 15.278 5 nm). The adsorption kinetics between porous maltodextrin prepared by pore-forming agent method and curcumin were suitable for quasi-first order adsorption kinetic model, and that between porous maltodextrin and ibuprofen were suitable for quasi-second order adsorption kinetic model. While the adsorption kinetics between porous maltodextrin prepared by template agent method and two model drugs were both suitable for the quasi-first order adsorption kinetic model. In addition, the dissolution behavior analysis showed that the porous maltodextrin prepared by the two technologies can significantly improve the dissolution behavior of insoluble drugs, and the drug release was both carried out by diffusion mechanism, which suitable for the Peppas kinetic release model, but the porous maltodextrin prepared by template agent method had a faster release rate. The change of nozzle diameter had no significant effect on the adsorption process and drug release behavior of porous maltodextrin. In conclusion, the porous maltodextrins prepared by two different technologies were both beneficial to the delivery of insoluble drugs, and the template agent method was the best for delivery of insoluble drugs. This study can provide theoretical basis for the preparation of porous particles, promote the application of porous particles in insoluble drugs, and improve the bioavailability of insoluble drugs.
10.Research on the regulation of ferroptosis in hepatic stellate cells line LX2 by recombinant cytoglobin
Xun-wei DUAN ; Gui-qing XIAO ; Huai-yu CHEN ; Yong ZHANG ; Wen-lin WU ; Yi GAO ; Yong DIAO
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(8):2237-2244
Intracellular overexpression of cytoglobin (Cygb) has been shown to reduce extracellular matrix deposition and promote liver fibrosis recovery, but its mechanism is not yet clear. This study constructed and expressed a fusion protein (TAT-Cygb) of cell penetrating peptide TAT and Cygb, to investigate the effect of fusion protein TAT-Cygb on regulating hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) ferroptosis. Cultured human hepatic stellate cells line (LX2) were treated with TAT-Cygb and erastin

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