1.Discovery of a potential hematologic malignancies therapy: Selective and potent HDAC7 PROTAC degrader targeting non-enzymatic function.
Yuheng JIN ; Xuxin QI ; Xiaoli YU ; Xirui CHENG ; Boya CHEN ; Mingfei WU ; Jingyu ZHANG ; Hao YIN ; Yang LU ; Yihui ZHOU ; Ao PANG ; Yushen LIN ; Li JIANG ; Qiuqiu SHI ; Shuangshuang GENG ; Yubo ZHOU ; Xiaojun YAO ; Linjie LI ; Haiting DUAN ; Jinxin CHE ; Ji CAO ; Qiaojun HE ; Xiaowu DONG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(3):1659-1679
HDAC7, a member of class IIa HDACs, plays a pivotal regulatory role in tumor, immune, fibrosis, and angiogenesis, rendering it a potential therapeutic target. Nevertheless, due to the high similarity in the enzyme active sites of class IIa HDACs, inhibitors encounter challenges in discerning differences among them. Furthermore, the substitution of key residue in the active pocket of class IIa HDACs renders them pseudo-enzymes, leading to a limited impact of enzymatic inhibitors on their function. In this study, proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology was employed to develop HDAC7 drugs. We developed an exceedingly selective HDAC7 PROTAC degrader B14 which showcased superior inhibitory effects on cell proliferation compared to TMP269 in various diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. Subsequent investigations unveiled that B14 disrupts BCL6 forming a transcriptional inhibition complex by degrading HDAC7, thereby exerting proliferative inhibition in DLBCL. Our study broadened the understanding of the non-enzymatic functions of HDAC7 and underscored the importance of HDAC7 in the treatment of hematologic malignancies, particularly in DLBCL and AML.
2.Antioxidants from different sources and osteoarthritis:a genome-wide association analysis in European populations
Xiaowu LIU ; Jinping LIU ; Ting WU ; Xian HE ; Jianxiong CAI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(32):7015-7027
BACKGROUND:Currently,numerous observational studies have frequently associated dietary antioxidant intake and circulating antioxidant levels with osteoarthritis.Nevertheless,the underlying causal mechanisms remain unclear.Therefore,this study employs publicly available genome-wide association data to investigate the causal associations between antioxidant intake,circulating levels,and osteoarthritis,offering evidence for the prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis.OBJECTIVE:To assess the potential causal associations between dietary antioxidants(including vitamins A,C,E,and carotenoids)and circulating antioxidants(such as Glutathione S-transferase,glutathione peroxidase,catalase,superoxide dismutase,ascorbic acid,α-tocopherol,γ-tocopherol,albumin,uric acid,bilirubin,zinc,and selenium)with osteoarthritis through Mendelian randomization.METHODS:Data from genome-wide association studies on four dietary antioxidants and twelve circulating antioxidants were employed as exposure variables.The outcome variable was the osteoarthritis consortium dataset,which comprised 77 052 osteoarthritis cases and 378 169 healthy controls.Causal effects were evaluated using the inverse variance-weighted method,MR-Egger regression,and the weighted median approach.Stability and reliability of the findings were assessed through horizontal pleiotropy tests and sensitivity analyses.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)These results demonstrated that dietary vitamin C intake was inversely associated with knee osteoarthritis risk(OR=0.83,95%CI:0.71-0.96,P=0.015).Conversely,vitamin E intake was positively associated with knee osteoarthritis(OR=1.20,95%CI:1.05-1.34,P=0.004)and both knee and hip osteoarthritis(OR=1.15,95%CI:1.03-1.27,P=0.008).(2)Circulating antioxidant albumin levels were negatively associated with knee(OR=0.94,95%CI:0.91-0.97,P=0.001),hip(OR=0.95,95%CI:0.91-0.99,P=0.03),and knee or hip osteoarthritis(OR=0.95,95%CI:0.92-0.98,P=0.01).Uric acid levels were positively associated with knee osteoarthritis(OR=1.10,95%CI:1.03-1.17,P=0.003).(3)Sensitivity analyses yielded consistent results without evidence of horizontal pleiotropy.(4)European genome-wide data indicated that vitamin C intake was associated with a decreased risk of knee osteoarthritis,and lower serum albumin levels were associated with reduced risks of knee and hip osteoarthritis.In contrast,vitamin E intake and higher serum uric acid were associated with an increased risk of knee osteoarthritis.These findings support public health education and osteoarthritis interventions,indicating that serum albumin could be a potential biomarker for risk assessment.(5)The study underscores the role of certain antioxidants in osteoarthritis prevention and provides evidence to inform nutritional guidelines and public health strategies for the Chinese population.Furthermore,it contributes to biomarker research in arthritis,facilitating the development of early diagnostic tools and risk assessment strategies for the Chinese population.
3.Antioxidants from different sources and osteoarthritis:a genome-wide association analysis in European populations
Xiaowu LIU ; Jinping LIU ; Ting WU ; Xian HE ; Jianxiong CAI
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2025;29(32):7015-7027
BACKGROUND:Currently,numerous observational studies have frequently associated dietary antioxidant intake and circulating antioxidant levels with osteoarthritis.Nevertheless,the underlying causal mechanisms remain unclear.Therefore,this study employs publicly available genome-wide association data to investigate the causal associations between antioxidant intake,circulating levels,and osteoarthritis,offering evidence for the prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis.OBJECTIVE:To assess the potential causal associations between dietary antioxidants(including vitamins A,C,E,and carotenoids)and circulating antioxidants(such as Glutathione S-transferase,glutathione peroxidase,catalase,superoxide dismutase,ascorbic acid,α-tocopherol,γ-tocopherol,albumin,uric acid,bilirubin,zinc,and selenium)with osteoarthritis through Mendelian randomization.METHODS:Data from genome-wide association studies on four dietary antioxidants and twelve circulating antioxidants were employed as exposure variables.The outcome variable was the osteoarthritis consortium dataset,which comprised 77 052 osteoarthritis cases and 378 169 healthy controls.Causal effects were evaluated using the inverse variance-weighted method,MR-Egger regression,and the weighted median approach.Stability and reliability of the findings were assessed through horizontal pleiotropy tests and sensitivity analyses.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)These results demonstrated that dietary vitamin C intake was inversely associated with knee osteoarthritis risk(OR=0.83,95%CI:0.71-0.96,P=0.015).Conversely,vitamin E intake was positively associated with knee osteoarthritis(OR=1.20,95%CI:1.05-1.34,P=0.004)and both knee and hip osteoarthritis(OR=1.15,95%CI:1.03-1.27,P=0.008).(2)Circulating antioxidant albumin levels were negatively associated with knee(OR=0.94,95%CI:0.91-0.97,P=0.001),hip(OR=0.95,95%CI:0.91-0.99,P=0.03),and knee or hip osteoarthritis(OR=0.95,95%CI:0.92-0.98,P=0.01).Uric acid levels were positively associated with knee osteoarthritis(OR=1.10,95%CI:1.03-1.17,P=0.003).(3)Sensitivity analyses yielded consistent results without evidence of horizontal pleiotropy.(4)European genome-wide data indicated that vitamin C intake was associated with a decreased risk of knee osteoarthritis,and lower serum albumin levels were associated with reduced risks of knee and hip osteoarthritis.In contrast,vitamin E intake and higher serum uric acid were associated with an increased risk of knee osteoarthritis.These findings support public health education and osteoarthritis interventions,indicating that serum albumin could be a potential biomarker for risk assessment.(5)The study underscores the role of certain antioxidants in osteoarthritis prevention and provides evidence to inform nutritional guidelines and public health strategies for the Chinese population.Furthermore,it contributes to biomarker research in arthritis,facilitating the development of early diagnostic tools and risk assessment strategies for the Chinese population.
4.AKT inhibitor Hu7691 induces differentiation of neuroblastoma cells.
Shaowei BING ; Senfeng XIANG ; Zhimei XIA ; Yilong WANG ; Zhonghai GUAN ; Jinxin CHE ; Aixiao XU ; Xiaowu DONG ; Ji CAO ; Bo YANG ; Jinhu WANG ; Qiaojun HE ; Meidan YING
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2023;13(4):1522-1536
While neuroblastoma accounts for 15% of childhood tumor-related deaths, treatments against neuroblastoma remain scarce and mainly consist of cytotoxic chemotherapeutic drugs. Currently, maintenance therapy of differentiation induction is the standard of care for neuroblastoma patients in clinical, especially high-risk patients. However, differentiation therapy is not used as a first-line treatment for neuroblastoma due to low efficacy, unclear mechanism, and few drug options. Through compound library screening, we accidently found the potential differentiation-inducing effect of AKT inhibitor Hu7691. The protein kinase B (AKT) pathway is an important signaling pathway for regulating tumorigenesis and neural differentiation, yet the relation between the AKT pathway and neuroblastoma differentiation remains unclear. Here, we reveal the anti-proliferation and neurogenesis effect of Hu7691 on multiple neuroblastoma cell lines. Further evidence including neurites outgrowth, cell cycle arrest, and differentiation mRNA marker clarified the differentiation-inducing effect of Hu7691. Meanwhile, with the introduction of other AKT inhibitors, it is now clear that multiple AKT inhibitors can induce neuroblastoma differentiation. Furthermore, silencing AKT was found to have the effect of inducing neuroblastoma differentiation. Finally, confirmation of the therapeutic effects of Hu7691 is dependent on inducing differentiation in vivo, suggesting that Hu7691 is a potential molecule against neuroblastoma. Through this study, we not only define the key role of AKT in the progression of neuroblastoma differentiation but also provide potential drugs and key targets for the application of differentiation therapies for neuroblastoma clinically.
5.Prevalence and prognostic impact of hepatopulmonary syndrome in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing transarterial chemoembolization: a prospective cohort study.
He ZHAO ; Jiaywei TSAUO ; Xiaowu ZHANG ; Huaiyuan MA ; Ningna WENG ; Zhengqiang YANG ; Xiao LI
Chinese Medical Journal 2022;135(17):2043-2048
BACKGROUND:
To determine the prevalence and prognostic impact of hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).
METHODS:
Fifty-four patients with unresectable HCC undergoing TACE between December 2014 and December 2015 were prospectively screened for HPS and were followed up for a maximum of 2 years or until the end of this prospective study.
RESULTS:
Nineteen of the 54 (35.2%) patients were considered to have HPS, including one (5.3%) with severe HPS, nine (47.4%) with moderate HPS, and nine (47.4%) with mild HPS. The median overall survival (OS) was 10.1 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.9-16.3) months for patients with HPS and 15.1 (95% CI, 7.3-22.9) months for patients without HPS, which is not a significant difference ( P = 0.100). The median progression-free survival was also not significantly different between patients with and without HPS (5.2 [95% CI, 0-12.8] vs. 8.4 [95% CI, 3.6-13.1] months; P = 0.537). In the multivariable Cox regression analyses, carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.033 [95% CI, 1.003-1.064]; P = 0.028) and Child-Pugh class (HR = 1.815 [95% CI, 1.011-3.260]; P = 0.046) were identified to be the independent prognostic factors of OS.
CONCLUSION
Mild or moderate HPS is common in patients with unresectable HCC undergoing TACE, but it does not seem to have a significant prognostic impact.
Humans
;
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology*
;
Chemoembolization, Therapeutic
;
Prospective Studies
;
Liver Neoplasms/pathology*
;
Prognosis
;
Hepatopulmonary Syndrome/therapy*
;
Prevalence
;
Treatment Outcome
;
Retrospective Studies
6.Effect of hydrogen sulfide on TGF⁃ β1mediated epithelial⁃mesench ymal transformation in bleomycin⁃induced pulmonary fibrosis rats
Rongfang Tu ; Saili Zeng ; Zhenhua He ; Xiaowu Tan ; Zhe Chen ; Yezhou Xia ; Xuehua Li
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2022;57(1):77-83
Objective :
To observe the effect of hydrogen sulfide( H2 S) on the expression of transforming growth factor⁃β1(TGF⁃ β1) , E ⁃cadherin (E⁃CAD) , Vimentin (VIM) , alpha⁃smooth muscle actin ( α ⁃SMA) during epithelial⁃mesenchymal transformation(EMT) , and to explore the anti⁃fibrosis mechanism of it.
Methods :
Sixty rats ( male SD) were randomly divided into control group, bleomycin group, NaHS + bleomycin group and prednisolone + bleomycin group , 15 rats per group. 5 rats of each group were sacrificed at random in 7th , 14th and 28th day. The degree of alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis was observed . The expression of protein and mRNA of TGF⁃ β1 , E ⁃cad , VIM , α ⁃SMA were determined by Immunohistochemi stry and RT⁃PCR.
Results :
① HE and Masson staining showed that the lung tissue of fibrosis had the lowest degree in control group. and the most severe in bleomycin group. The lung tissue of NaHS + bleomycin group and prednisolone + bleomycin group also had alveolitis and fibrosis changes , but the degree Were significantly less than bleomycin group. ② The mRNA and protein expression levels of TGF⁃ β1 , VIM and α ⁃SMA in bleomycin group, NaHS + bleomycin group and prednisolone + bleomycin group were all higher than that in control group at 7th , 14th and 28th day ( P < 0. 05 ) , while the expression levels of them in NaHS + bleomycin group and prednisolone + bleomycin group were all lower than that in bleomycin groupat each time (P < 0. 05) , which was significant at 28th day in NaHS + bleomycin. ③ The mRNA and protein expression levels of E ⁃Cad in bleomycin group, NaHS + bleomycin group and prednisolone + bleomycin group were all lower than that in control group at 7th , 14th and 28th day(P < 0. 05) , but the expression levels of E ⁃Cad in⁃NaHS + bleomycin group and prednisolone + bleomycin group were higher than that in bleomycin group at each time(P < 0. 05) , which was significant at 28th day in NaHS + bleomycin.
Conclusion
H2 S can reduce the degree of pulmonary fibrosis in rats , its mechanism may be related to the down⁃regulation of TGF⁃ β1and the inhibition of the EMT , which can enhance the expression of E ⁃cad and reduce the expression of TGF⁃ β1 , VIM and α ⁃SMA.
7.Perioperative diagnosis and treatment strategies of liver transplantation for liver cancer in precision medicine era
Jian ZHOU ; Yifeng HE ; Xiaowu HUANG ; Xinrong YANG
Chinese Journal of Digestive Surgery 2022;21(2):205-209
Tumor recurrence and metastasis after liver transplantation (LT) remains one of the most important factors that affect the outcome of LT for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The diagnosis and treatment strategies in the era of precision medicine, including utilizing multi-omics, high-throughput gene sequencing analysis, big data and artificial intelligence to select the biomarkers which can accurately predict the prognosis after LT, evaluating the immune status comprehensively, inducing immune tolerance, providing effective prevention for patients at a high risk of recurrence with sensitive antitumor drugs and attaching importance to individualized treatment for recurrence and metastasis, may further improve the outcome of LT. Combined with experience and review of relevant research articles, the authors elaborate perioperative diagnosis and treatment strategies of LT for HCC, aiming to promote the application of precision medicine in the field of LT.
8.Deubiquitinase JOSD2 stabilizes YAP/TAZ to promote cholangiocarcinoma progression.
Meijia QIAN ; Fangjie YAN ; Weihua WANG ; Jiamin DU ; Tao YUAN ; Ruilin WU ; Chenxi ZHAO ; Jiao WANG ; Jiabin LU ; Bo ZHANG ; Nengming LIN ; Xin DONG ; Xiaoyang DAI ; Xiaowu DONG ; Bo YANG ; Hong ZHU ; Qiaojun HE
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2021;11(12):4008-4019
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) has emerged as an intractable cancer with scanty therapeutic regimens. The aberrant activation of Yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) are reported to be common in CCA patients. However, the underpinning mechanism remains poorly understood. Deubiquitinase (DUB) is regarded as a main orchestrator in maintaining protein homeostasis. Here, we identified Josephin domain-containing protein 2 (JOSD2) as an essential DUB of YAP/TAZ that sustained the protein level through cleavage of polyubiquitin chains in a deubiquitinase activity-dependent manner. The depletion of JOSD2 promoted YAP/TAZ proteasomal degradation and significantly impeded CCA proliferation
9.Clinical study of peripheral vascular intervention via radial artery
Yawei LI ; Jiawei CAO ; Xiaowu ZHANG ; He ZHAO ; Tao GONG ; Jingui LI ; Xiao LI
Chinese Journal of Oncology 2021;43(1):143-146
Objective:To discuss the safety and feasibility of transradial access (TRA) in performing peripheral arterial intervention.Methods:The clinical data of the patients underwent peripheral vascular intervention via TRA in our hospital from September 2017 to March 2019 were reviewed. The success rate of radial artery puncture and subsequent operation after puncture, and related postoperative complications within 30 days were analyzed.Results:The clinical data of 112 peripheral arterial intervention procedures via TRA performed on 106 patients were reviewed, including transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in 83 cases, bronchial arterial infusion in 4 cases, pelvic tumor embolization in 11 cases and 14 other cases. The success rate of all interventional punctures was 97.3% (109/112), the operative success rate of interventional procedures was 98.2% (107/109). The TRA operation was failed in 5 patients, who were then converted to receive the femoral artery puncture and complete successfully. The severe complication of the operation was aortic dissection (2 cases). Minor complications included 2 cases of radial artery occlusion, radial artery spasm, arm pain and puncture point hematoma for each case. The severe complication and the minor complication rates were 1.8% (2/112) and 4.5% (5/112), respectively. Sixteen emergency operations were performed successfully, and no complication occurred.Conclusion:The TRA is a clinically safe and feasible approach for peripheral arterial interventional procedure.
10.Clinical study of peripheral vascular intervention via radial artery
Yawei LI ; Jiawei CAO ; Xiaowu ZHANG ; He ZHAO ; Tao GONG ; Jingui LI ; Xiao LI
Chinese Journal of Oncology 2021;43(1):143-146
Objective:To discuss the safety and feasibility of transradial access (TRA) in performing peripheral arterial intervention.Methods:The clinical data of the patients underwent peripheral vascular intervention via TRA in our hospital from September 2017 to March 2019 were reviewed. The success rate of radial artery puncture and subsequent operation after puncture, and related postoperative complications within 30 days were analyzed.Results:The clinical data of 112 peripheral arterial intervention procedures via TRA performed on 106 patients were reviewed, including transcatheter arterial chemoembolization in 83 cases, bronchial arterial infusion in 4 cases, pelvic tumor embolization in 11 cases and 14 other cases. The success rate of all interventional punctures was 97.3% (109/112), the operative success rate of interventional procedures was 98.2% (107/109). The TRA operation was failed in 5 patients, who were then converted to receive the femoral artery puncture and complete successfully. The severe complication of the operation was aortic dissection (2 cases). Minor complications included 2 cases of radial artery occlusion, radial artery spasm, arm pain and puncture point hematoma for each case. The severe complication and the minor complication rates were 1.8% (2/112) and 4.5% (5/112), respectively. Sixteen emergency operations were performed successfully, and no complication occurred.Conclusion:The TRA is a clinically safe and feasible approach for peripheral arterial interventional procedure.


Result Analysis
Print
Save
E-mail