1.Effects of MAGED4 overexpression on proliferation, migration, and adhesion of hepatocellular carcinoma
Sheng ZHANG ; Zhibi ZHANG ; Xiaoqing YU ; Xiaoqiong ZOU ; Yuhang LIU ; Hao LÜ ; Feng LI ; Yanjing WANG ; Bin LUO ; Xiaoxun XIE ; Qingmei ZHANG
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(9):1558-1567
ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of melanoma-associated antigen D4 (MAGED4) on the malignant biological behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), providing experimental evidence for its evaluation as a potential therapeutic target in HCC. MethodsGenes positively correlated with MAGED4 expression in HCC were screened using the LinkedOmics database, followed by GO functional and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses. Endogenously low-expressing SMMC-7721 and Huh7 cells were selected, with normal hepatic LO2 cells serving as controls. Stable overexpression cell lines were established via lentiviral infection (MAGED4 overexpression group), with RT-PCR and Western blot validating overexpression efficiency. The effects of MAGED4 overexpression on cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution, migration, and adhesion were systematically analyzed using CCK-8 assays, flow cytometry, scratch healing assays, Transwell migration assays, and cell adhesion assays. ResultsBioinformatics analysis indicated that MAGED4 co-expressed genes were significantly enriched in biological processes closely associated with tumor proliferation and metastasis, including cell-cell adhesion, extracellular matrix organization, and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. A stable MAGED4 overexpression cell model was successfully established. In vitro functional assays demonstrated that MAGED4-overexpressing SMMC-7721 and Huh7 cells exhibited a mesenchymal-like morphology, whereas LO2 cells maintained an epithelial-like morphology. Compared with the empty-virus control groups, the MAGED4-overexpressing groups showed significantly increased proliferative activity (48 h: t=3.887, 22.070, 8.866, all P<0.05; 72 h: t=3.231, 23.840, 9.848, all P<0.05; 96 h: t=5.123, 49.800, 5.909, P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.05), wound healing rates (12 h: F=40.90, 44.00, 200.50, all P<0.001; 24 h: F=112.00, 34.89, 249.20, all P<0.001), and numbers of migrated cells (F=239.20, 59.79, 132.80, all P<0.001), along with significantly decreased numbers of adherent cells (F=73.65, 85.91, 138.00, all P<0.001), while no significant differences were observed in cell cycle phase distribution in all three cell lines. ConclusionMAGED4 enhances proliferation and migration while suppressing adhesion in both HCC and normal hepatocytes, however, induces mesenchymal-like morphological changes exclusively in HCC cells, suggesting that MAGED4 is capable of driving HCC progression and may serve as a potential therapeutic target for HCC.
2.Evolution-guided design of mini-protein for high-contrast in vivo imaging.
Nongyu HUANG ; Yang CAO ; Guangjun XIONG ; Suwen CHEN ; Juan CHENG ; Yifan ZHOU ; Chengxin ZHANG ; Xiaoqiong WEI ; Wenling WU ; Yawen HU ; Pei ZHOU ; Guolin LI ; Fulei ZHAO ; Fanlian ZENG ; Xiaoyan WANG ; Jiadong YU ; Chengcheng YUE ; Xinai CUI ; Kaijun CUI ; Huawei CAI ; Yuquan WEI ; Yang ZHANG ; Jiong LI
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(10):5327-5345
Traditional development of small protein scaffolds has relied on display technologies and mutation-based engineering, which limit sequence and functional diversity, thereby constraining their therapeutic and application potential. Protein design tools have significantly advanced the creation of novel protein sequences, structures, and functions. However, further improvements in design strategies are still needed to more efficiently optimize the functional performance of protein-based drugs and enhance their druggability. Here, we extended an evolution-based design protocol to create a novel minibinder, BindHer, against the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). It not only exhibits super stability and binding selectivity but also demonstrates remarkable properties in tissue specificity. Radiolabeling experiments with 99mTc, 68Ga, and 18F revealed that BindHer efficiently targets tumors in HER2-positive breast cancer mouse models, with minimal nonspecific liver absorption, outperforming scaffolds designed through traditional engineering. These findings highlight a new rational approach to automated protein design, offering significant potential for large-scale applications in therapeutic mini-protein development.
3.Hyaluronan-mediated motility receptor-mediated aerobic glycolysis enhances stem-like properties and chemoresistance in lung adenocarcinoma
Wenwen YU ; Yubo SHI ; Xiaoqiong BAO ; Xiangxiang CHEN ; Yangyang NI ; Jincong WANG ; Hua YE
The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology 2025;29(3):337-347
Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a global malignancy with significant chemoresistance impacting patient prognosis. The pro-tumorigenic role of hyaluronan-mediated motility receptor (HMMR) in LUAD is recognized. This study was designed to investigate the underlying mechanisms by which HMMR affects chemoresistance in LUAD. Bioinformatics presented the expression patterns of HMMR in LUAD patients and the association between HMMR levels and patient survival, followed by qRT-PCR to verify HMMR expression in LUAD tissues and cells. Further, bioinformatics was leveraged to identify the signaling pathways enriched by HMMR and its relevance to glycolytic genes, we also analyzed changes in the glycolytic activity of LUAD cells by manipulating HMMR expression. Stemness was evaluated through cell aggregation assays and Western blot, and drug responsiveness was gauged using CCK-8 assays, alongside flow cytometry for apoptosis analysis. HMMR was highly expressed in LUAD tissues and cells, and this overexpression correlated with poorer prognoses in patients. GSEA showed that HMMR was notably enriched in the glycolysis and gluconeogenesis pathways, correlating positively with the expression of key glycolytic genes. Cellular experiments confirmed that HMMR knockdown notably suppressed aerobic glycolysis in LUAD cells. Moreover, overexpression of HMMR could further enhance the stemness and cisplatin resistance of LUAD cells by stimulating glycolysis. In brief, this study has validated that high levels of HMMR in LUAD are predictive of poor patient prognosis, and that overexpression of HMMR can catalyze aerobic glycolysis, thus promoting stemness and chemoresistance in LUAD cells. Thus, HMMR could be a target for improving chemosensitivity in LUAD.
4.Analysis of a Chinese pedigree with hereditary spherocytosis caused by intron variation of SPTB gene
Min HE ; Rongfei LIU ; Xiaoqiong WANG ; Man XU ; Zhigang LIU
Chinese Journal of Pediatrics 2025;63(4):411-417
Objective:To analyze a novel intronic variant in the SPTB gene and explore its effect on SPTB mRNA splicing.Methods:Clinical data of a child diagnosed with hereditary spherocytosis (HS) and admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi′an Jiaotong University in February 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. Whole genome sequencing was used to identify disease-causing variantions and the results were validated with Sanger sequencing, mRNA sequencing was used to determine the SPTB gene′s mRNA expression level, and bioinformatics tools were used for splicing site prediction and analysis.Results:The proband is a 2-month-old Han male child, clinically presenting with anemia and jaundice. In the past, jaundice appeared early and was severe during the neonatal period, with significantly elevated indirect bilirubin (203.5 μmol/L), accompanied by moderate anemia. This family consisted of four generations, eight of whom suffered from splenomegaly, jaundice, and anemia. In their peripheral blood, the percentage of microglobular erythrocytes was between 5% and 10%. Under scanning electron microscopy analysis of the proband's father's peripheral red blood cells, about 6% exhibited a mouth-shaped morphology, about 4% were spherical, and about 3% were oval. Following the splenectomy, the father′s anemia and jaundice recovered to normal level. Whole genome sequencing analysis of the proband identified a heterozygous variant in the SPTB gene (NM_ 001355436.2 (SPTB):c.6022+4_6022+18delinsTGGCTCCTCCGTGAAGGGACAGTCCTGC), which was verified to be co-segregating with the disease in this family line by Sanger sequencing. The results of the SPTB gene mRNA expression level detection showed that the expression levels of the SPTB variant gene were statistically increased in the proband and affected family members (father, grandmother, cousin, second cousin, great-grandmother, great-aunt) (all P<0.05). The SPTB gene′s intron can undergo selective splicing, as demonstrated by analysis using the bioinformatics program ESE Finder. Additionally, predictions from the SpliceAI and SpliceTool software indicated that activation of a new covert splicing donor can result in a code-shift variantion that introduces an early termination codon and nonsense-mediated degradation of the mRNA, which prevents the synthesis of proteins. Conclusion:A new variantion site c.6022+4_6022+18delinsTGGCTCCTCCGTGAAGGGACAGTCCTGC was found in SPTB gene. This variantion was the pathogenic factor of HS. By affecting the splicing process, this variantion triggers the nonsense mediated mRNA degradation pathway, resulting in inactivation of gene function.
5.Hyaluronan-mediated motility receptor-mediated aerobic glycolysis enhances stem-like properties and chemoresistance in lung adenocarcinoma
Wenwen YU ; Yubo SHI ; Xiaoqiong BAO ; Xiangxiang CHEN ; Yangyang NI ; Jincong WANG ; Hua YE
The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology 2025;29(3):337-347
Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a global malignancy with significant chemoresistance impacting patient prognosis. The pro-tumorigenic role of hyaluronan-mediated motility receptor (HMMR) in LUAD is recognized. This study was designed to investigate the underlying mechanisms by which HMMR affects chemoresistance in LUAD. Bioinformatics presented the expression patterns of HMMR in LUAD patients and the association between HMMR levels and patient survival, followed by qRT-PCR to verify HMMR expression in LUAD tissues and cells. Further, bioinformatics was leveraged to identify the signaling pathways enriched by HMMR and its relevance to glycolytic genes, we also analyzed changes in the glycolytic activity of LUAD cells by manipulating HMMR expression. Stemness was evaluated through cell aggregation assays and Western blot, and drug responsiveness was gauged using CCK-8 assays, alongside flow cytometry for apoptosis analysis. HMMR was highly expressed in LUAD tissues and cells, and this overexpression correlated with poorer prognoses in patients. GSEA showed that HMMR was notably enriched in the glycolysis and gluconeogenesis pathways, correlating positively with the expression of key glycolytic genes. Cellular experiments confirmed that HMMR knockdown notably suppressed aerobic glycolysis in LUAD cells. Moreover, overexpression of HMMR could further enhance the stemness and cisplatin resistance of LUAD cells by stimulating glycolysis. In brief, this study has validated that high levels of HMMR in LUAD are predictive of poor patient prognosis, and that overexpression of HMMR can catalyze aerobic glycolysis, thus promoting stemness and chemoresistance in LUAD cells. Thus, HMMR could be a target for improving chemosensitivity in LUAD.
6.Hyaluronan-mediated motility receptor-mediated aerobic glycolysis enhances stem-like properties and chemoresistance in lung adenocarcinoma
Wenwen YU ; Yubo SHI ; Xiaoqiong BAO ; Xiangxiang CHEN ; Yangyang NI ; Jincong WANG ; Hua YE
The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology 2025;29(3):337-347
Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a global malignancy with significant chemoresistance impacting patient prognosis. The pro-tumorigenic role of hyaluronan-mediated motility receptor (HMMR) in LUAD is recognized. This study was designed to investigate the underlying mechanisms by which HMMR affects chemoresistance in LUAD. Bioinformatics presented the expression patterns of HMMR in LUAD patients and the association between HMMR levels and patient survival, followed by qRT-PCR to verify HMMR expression in LUAD tissues and cells. Further, bioinformatics was leveraged to identify the signaling pathways enriched by HMMR and its relevance to glycolytic genes, we also analyzed changes in the glycolytic activity of LUAD cells by manipulating HMMR expression. Stemness was evaluated through cell aggregation assays and Western blot, and drug responsiveness was gauged using CCK-8 assays, alongside flow cytometry for apoptosis analysis. HMMR was highly expressed in LUAD tissues and cells, and this overexpression correlated with poorer prognoses in patients. GSEA showed that HMMR was notably enriched in the glycolysis and gluconeogenesis pathways, correlating positively with the expression of key glycolytic genes. Cellular experiments confirmed that HMMR knockdown notably suppressed aerobic glycolysis in LUAD cells. Moreover, overexpression of HMMR could further enhance the stemness and cisplatin resistance of LUAD cells by stimulating glycolysis. In brief, this study has validated that high levels of HMMR in LUAD are predictive of poor patient prognosis, and that overexpression of HMMR can catalyze aerobic glycolysis, thus promoting stemness and chemoresistance in LUAD cells. Thus, HMMR could be a target for improving chemosensitivity in LUAD.
7.Hyaluronan-mediated motility receptor-mediated aerobic glycolysis enhances stem-like properties and chemoresistance in lung adenocarcinoma
Wenwen YU ; Yubo SHI ; Xiaoqiong BAO ; Xiangxiang CHEN ; Yangyang NI ; Jincong WANG ; Hua YE
The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology 2025;29(3):337-347
Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a global malignancy with significant chemoresistance impacting patient prognosis. The pro-tumorigenic role of hyaluronan-mediated motility receptor (HMMR) in LUAD is recognized. This study was designed to investigate the underlying mechanisms by which HMMR affects chemoresistance in LUAD. Bioinformatics presented the expression patterns of HMMR in LUAD patients and the association between HMMR levels and patient survival, followed by qRT-PCR to verify HMMR expression in LUAD tissues and cells. Further, bioinformatics was leveraged to identify the signaling pathways enriched by HMMR and its relevance to glycolytic genes, we also analyzed changes in the glycolytic activity of LUAD cells by manipulating HMMR expression. Stemness was evaluated through cell aggregation assays and Western blot, and drug responsiveness was gauged using CCK-8 assays, alongside flow cytometry for apoptosis analysis. HMMR was highly expressed in LUAD tissues and cells, and this overexpression correlated with poorer prognoses in patients. GSEA showed that HMMR was notably enriched in the glycolysis and gluconeogenesis pathways, correlating positively with the expression of key glycolytic genes. Cellular experiments confirmed that HMMR knockdown notably suppressed aerobic glycolysis in LUAD cells. Moreover, overexpression of HMMR could further enhance the stemness and cisplatin resistance of LUAD cells by stimulating glycolysis. In brief, this study has validated that high levels of HMMR in LUAD are predictive of poor patient prognosis, and that overexpression of HMMR can catalyze aerobic glycolysis, thus promoting stemness and chemoresistance in LUAD cells. Thus, HMMR could be a target for improving chemosensitivity in LUAD.
8.Hyaluronan-mediated motility receptor-mediated aerobic glycolysis enhances stem-like properties and chemoresistance in lung adenocarcinoma
Wenwen YU ; Yubo SHI ; Xiaoqiong BAO ; Xiangxiang CHEN ; Yangyang NI ; Jincong WANG ; Hua YE
The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology 2025;29(3):337-347
Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a global malignancy with significant chemoresistance impacting patient prognosis. The pro-tumorigenic role of hyaluronan-mediated motility receptor (HMMR) in LUAD is recognized. This study was designed to investigate the underlying mechanisms by which HMMR affects chemoresistance in LUAD. Bioinformatics presented the expression patterns of HMMR in LUAD patients and the association between HMMR levels and patient survival, followed by qRT-PCR to verify HMMR expression in LUAD tissues and cells. Further, bioinformatics was leveraged to identify the signaling pathways enriched by HMMR and its relevance to glycolytic genes, we also analyzed changes in the glycolytic activity of LUAD cells by manipulating HMMR expression. Stemness was evaluated through cell aggregation assays and Western blot, and drug responsiveness was gauged using CCK-8 assays, alongside flow cytometry for apoptosis analysis. HMMR was highly expressed in LUAD tissues and cells, and this overexpression correlated with poorer prognoses in patients. GSEA showed that HMMR was notably enriched in the glycolysis and gluconeogenesis pathways, correlating positively with the expression of key glycolytic genes. Cellular experiments confirmed that HMMR knockdown notably suppressed aerobic glycolysis in LUAD cells. Moreover, overexpression of HMMR could further enhance the stemness and cisplatin resistance of LUAD cells by stimulating glycolysis. In brief, this study has validated that high levels of HMMR in LUAD are predictive of poor patient prognosis, and that overexpression of HMMR can catalyze aerobic glycolysis, thus promoting stemness and chemoresistance in LUAD cells. Thus, HMMR could be a target for improving chemosensitivity in LUAD.
9.Association between body roundness index and hyperuricemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Fanfan LI ; Lu NIU ; Jingjuan LI ; Yuanyuan LIU ; Ruifei YANG ; Xiaoqiong CHENG ; Binbin AN ; Zhenya WU ; Hongmei MA ; Lijuan WANG ; Shengnan LIU ; Jinyang WANG
Chinese Journal of Diabetes 2025;33(6):419-423
Objective To investigate the association between body roundness index(BRI)and hyperuricemia(HUA)in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods 555 T2DM inpatients were selected from July 2022 to October 2023 in Gansu Province People's Hospital Endocrinology.According to BRI,the T2DM patients were divided into four group:low BRI(L-BRI,BRI≤3.579,n=140)group,moderate BRI(M-BRI,3.579
10.Association between body roundness index and hyperuricemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Fanfan LI ; Lu NIU ; Jingjuan LI ; Yuanyuan LIU ; Ruifei YANG ; Xiaoqiong CHENG ; Binbin AN ; Zhenya WU ; Hongmei MA ; Lijuan WANG ; Shengnan LIU ; Jinyang WANG
Chinese Journal of Diabetes 2025;33(6):419-423
Objective To investigate the association between body roundness index(BRI)and hyperuricemia(HUA)in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods 555 T2DM inpatients were selected from July 2022 to October 2023 in Gansu Province People's Hospital Endocrinology.According to BRI,the T2DM patients were divided into four group:low BRI(L-BRI,BRI≤3.579,n=140)group,moderate BRI(M-BRI,3.579

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