1.Enhanced radiotheranostic targeting of integrin α5β1 with PEGylation-enabled peptide multidisplay platform (PEGibody): A strategy for prolonged tumor retention with fast blood clearance.
Siqi ZHANG ; Xiaohui MA ; Jiang WU ; Jieting SHEN ; Yuntao SHI ; Xingkai WANG ; Lin XIE ; Xiaona SUN ; Yuxuan WU ; Hao TIAN ; Xin GAO ; Xueyao CHEN ; Hongyi HUANG ; Lu CHEN ; Xuekai SONG ; Qichen HU ; Hailong ZHANG ; Feng WANG ; Zhao-Hui JIN ; Ming-Rong ZHANG ; Rui WANG ; Kuan HU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(2):692-706
Peptide-based radiopharmaceuticals targeting integrin α5β1 show promise for precise tumor diagnosis and treatment. However, current peptide-based radioligands that target α5β1 demonstrate inadequate in vivo performance owing to limited tumor retention. The use of PEGylation to enhance the tumor retention of radiopharmaceuticals by prolonging blood circulation time poses a risk of increased blood toxicity. Therefore, a PEGylation strategy that boosts tumor retention while minimizing blood circulation time is urgently needed. Here, we developed a PEGylation-enabled peptide multidisplay platform (PEGibody) for PR_b, an α5β1 targeting peptide. PEGibody generation involved PEGylation and self-assembly. [64Cu]QM-2303 PEGibodies displayed spherical nanoparticles ranging from 100 to 200 nm in diameter. Compared with non-PEGylated radioligands, [64Cu]QM-2303 demonstrated enhanced tumor retention time due to increased binding affinity and stability. Importantly, the biodistribution analysis confirmed rapid clearance of [64Cu]QM-2303 from the bloodstream. Administration of a single dose of [177Lu]QM-2303 led to robust antitumor efficacy. Furthermore, [64Cu]/[177Lu]QM-2303 exhibited low hematological and organ toxicity in both healthy and tumor-bearing mice. Therefore, this study presents a PEGibody-based radiotheranostic approach that enhances tumor retention time and provides long-lasting antitumor effects without prolonging blood circulation lifetime. The PEGibody-based radiopharmaceutical [64Cu]/[177Lu]QM-2303 shows great potential for positron emission tomography imaging-guided targeted radionuclide therapy for α5β1-overexpressing tumors.
2.Fibroblast activation protein targeting radiopharmaceuticals: From drug design to clinical translation.
Yuxuan WU ; Xingkai WANG ; Xiaona SUN ; Xin GAO ; Siqi ZHANG ; Jieting SHEN ; Hao TIAN ; Xueyao CHEN ; Hongyi HUANG ; Shuo JIANG ; Boyang ZHANG ; Yingzi ZHANG ; Minzi LU ; Hailong ZHANG ; Zhicheng SUN ; Ruping LIU ; Hong ZHANG ; Ming-Rong ZHANG ; Kuan HU ; Rui WANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(9):4511-4542
The activation proteins released by fibroblasts in the tumor microenvironment regulate tumor growth, migration, and treatment response, thereby influencing tumor progression and therapeutic outcomes. Owing to the proliferation and metastasis of tumors, fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is typically highly expressed in the tumor stroma, whereas it is nearly absent in adult normal tissues and benign lesions, making it an attractive target for precision medicine. Radiolabeled agents targeting FAP have the potential for targeted cancer diagnosis and therapy. This comprehensive review aims to describe the evolution of FAPI-based radiopharmaceuticals and their structural optimization. Within its scope, this review summarizes the advances in the use of radiolabeled small molecule inhibitors for tumor imaging and therapy as well as the modification strategies for FAPIs, combined with insights from structure-activity relationships and clinical studies, providing a valuable perspective for radiopharmaceutical clinical development and application.
3.Predictive values of combined detection of Lp-PLA2,PAR-2 and AOPP for in-stent restenosis after PCI
Xiao-Dong HOU ; Peng ZHANG ; Xin-Kuan WANG ; Fan DING ; Kang YI ; Tao YOU
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(18):2695-2698
Objective To investigate the relationship between the combined detection of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2(Lp-PLA2),protease activated receptor 2(PAR-2),and advanced oxidation protein products(AOPP)and the occurrence of in-stent restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI),as well as its predictive value.Methods Patients with coronary heart disease after PCI were selected as the study objects.Group Ⅰ was the group without in-stent restenosis and group Ⅱ was the group with in-stent restenosis.The expressions of Lp-PLA2,PAR-2 and AOPP were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),and the predictive value and independent risk factors of these gene expression changes and the risk of in-stent restenosis were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)analysis and binary logistic regression analysis.Results The blood Lp-PLA2 levels in group Ⅰ and group Ⅱ after 1 year follow-up after stenting were(190.24±33.67)and(256.14±37.68)ng·mL-1;PAR-2 levels were(1.41±0.38)and(1.95±0.43)ng·L-1,respectively;the AOPP levels were(47.25±4.62)and(58.76±4.86)μmol·L-1,respectively,and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.001).ROC analysis results showed that the truncation values of Lp-PLA2,PAR-2 and AOPP were 201.32 ng·mL-1,1.50 ng·mL-1 and 49.37 μmol·L-1,respectively.The area under the curve(AUC)was significantly higher than that detected alone(all P<0.001).Binary logistic regression analysis shows that the independent risk factors for in-stent restenstenosis after PCI were Lp-PLA2 ≥ 201.32 ng·mL-1,PAR-2≥1.50 ng·L-1,AOPP ≥49.37 μmol·L-1 and LDL-C≥3.03 mmol·L-1,respectively(all P<0.05).Conclusion The occurrence of in-stent restenosis after PCI is closely related to the increase in Lp-PLA2,PAR-2 and AOPP expression.
4.Progress on the role of N-end rule pathways in protein degradation.
Na-Xin XU ; Yong LIU ; Yi WANG ; Shu-Kuan LING
Acta Physiologica Sinica 2024;76(6):987-1000
The N-end rule pathway is a protein degradation pathway mediated by the ubiquitin-proteasome system, which specifically targets and degrades target proteins by recognizing specific residues at the N-terminus of the proteins. The residues which play a crucial role in the N-end rule pathway are called degrons, also known as N-degrons, as they are usually unstable at the N-terminal end of the protein. Currently, several N-end rule pathways have been identified in the eukaryotes, including the Arg/N-end rule, Ac/N-end rule, and Pro/N-end rule pathways, as well as the recently discovered Gly/N-end rule pathway. The Ac/N-end rule pathway targets proteins containing N-terminal acetylation (Nt-acetylation) residues. The Arg/N-end rule pathway, on the other hand, targets certain unacetylated residues and involves N-terminal arginylation. For proteins with N-terminal proline (Pro) and glycine (Gly) residues, they are neither modified by acetylation nor recognized through the Arg/N-end rule pathway. Therefore, these proteins are primarily recognized and degraded through the Pro/N-end rule pathway and the Gly/N-end rule pathway. The regulation of specific proteins through N-end rule pathway-mediated degradation plays an important role in numerous physiological and pathological processes, such as cardiovascular development, neurogenesis, meiosis, spermatogenesis, HPV infection, and cell apoptosis. In this review, we summarize the role and mechanisms of several known N-end rule pathways and discuss their relationship with certain diseases. As an independent protein degradation system, the N-end rule pathways still hold countless biological secrets waiting for exploring. The comprehensive understanding of these pathways could potentially uncover novel therapeutic targets for various diseases.
Humans
;
Proteolysis
;
Animals
;
Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex/physiology*
;
Acetylation
;
Proteins/metabolism*
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Protein Processing, Post-Translational
;
Ubiquitin/metabolism*
5.Differences in components and anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of two phase states of Wuzhuyu Decoction.
Qi WANG ; Mei-Jing LI ; Xiao-Meng GUO ; Ze-Kuan ZHANG ; Nan ZHANG ; Zhi-Min WANG ; Mu-Xin GONG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2024;49(21):5865-5876
This study rapidly identified and quantified the chemical components of the Wuzhuyu Decoction nanophase(WZYD-N) and suspension phase(WZYD-S) using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry(UPLC-QQQ-MS/MS). Based on preliminary pharmacodynamic experiments and network pharmacology analysis, the differential anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of WZYD-N and WZYD-S were explored to understand their pharmacodynamic basis. WZYD-N and WZYD-S were separated by differential centrifugation-dialysis, and their particle size, Zeta potential, PDI, and morphology were characterized by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. A method was established to quantify 23 representative components of WZYD using UPLC-QQQ-MS/MS, clarifying the differences in component content between the two phases. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of WZYD-N and WZYD-S were preliminarily investigated using the acetic acid-induced enhanced capillary permeability inflammation model and the acetic acid writhing pain model. Network pharmacology was applied to screen the key anti-inflammatory and analgesic targets and active components of WZYD, and the relationship between the components and pharmacodynamics of WZYD-N and WZYD-S was analyzed based on quantitative results. The results showed that WZYD-N primarily consisted of spherical self-assembled aggregates around 200 nm, with a PDI of approximately 0.299 and a zeta potential of-22.1 mV. With an equivalent amount of crude drugs, obacunone and dihydroevocarpine were quantified in equal amounts in WZYD-N and WZYD-S. The content of rutaecarpine, evocarpine, rutaevine, limonin, and ginsenoside Ro was higher in WZYD-S, while 15 other components, including evodiamine, dehydroevodiamine, ginsenoside Re, 6-gingerol, and ginsenoside Rg_1, were higher in WZYD-N. Moreover, 6-dehydrogingerdione was low in both WZYD-N and WZYD-S. Preliminary pharmacodynamic experiments showed that WZYD-N could reduce the number of writhing responses and inhibit pain responses induced by acetic acid in mice, exhibiting analgesic effects similar to the WZYD group. WZYD-S could reduce the absorbance value of the intraperitoneal lavage fluid in mice, exhibiting anti-inflammatory effects comparable to the WZYD group. Network pharmacology analysis indicated that dehydroevodiamine, rutaecarpine, 6-gingerol, and ginsenoside Rg_1 might be the analgesic active components of WZYD, and limonin, rutaevine, and ginsenoside Ro might be the anti-inflammatory active components of WZYD. This study proposed a novel strategy for elucidating the pharmacodynamic basis of WZYD and innovating classical formulas.
Animals
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Analgesics/pharmacology*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
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Mice
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology*
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Male
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Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
;
Tandem Mass Spectrometry
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Pain/drug therapy*
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Humans
6.Chemical composition analysis and value evaluation of stems and leaves of Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus.
Qiang-Xiong WANG ; Sheng GUO ; Ke-Xin SHEN ; Hui-Wei LI ; Hao-Kuan ZHANG ; Yi-Jun XIE ; Er-Xin SHANG ; Jin-Ao DUAN
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2023;48(24):6600-6612
This study aimed to provide data support for resource utilization of the stems and leaves of Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus(SLAM) by analyzing and evaluating the chemical constituents. The crude protein, crude fiber, and soluble saccharide of SLAM were analyzed by Kjeldahl method, filtration method, and UV-Vis spectrophotometry, respectively. The nucleosides, amino acids, flavonoids, and saponins of SLAM were analyzed by ultraperformance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry(UPLC-TQ-MS). Combined with principal component analysis(PCA), the quality difference of resource components of SLAM was comprehensively evaluated. The results showed that the average content of crude protein, crude fiber, total polysaccharide, and redu-cing sugar in SLAM was 5.11%, 30.33%, 11.03 mg·g~(-1), and 31.90 mg·g~(-1), respectively. Six nucleosides, 15 amino acids, 22 flavonoids, and one saponin were detected, with an average content of 1.49 mg·g~(-1), 6.00 mg·g~(-1), 1.86 mg·g~(-1), and 35.67 μg·g~(-1), respectively. The content of various types of chemical components in SLAM differed greatly in different harvesting periods and growing years. The results of PCA showed that the quality of SLAM produced in Ningxia was superior. The results can provide references for the utilization of SLAM.
Astragalus propinquus/chemistry*
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Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
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Flavonoids/analysis*
;
Plant Leaves/chemistry*
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Amino Acids
;
Saponins/analysis*
7.Establishment of a reporter system for estimating activation of human hepatic stellate cells based on COL1A1 promoter and enhanced green fluorescent protein.
Lei WANG ; Xiang Shu JIN ; Hui Jun DONG ; Guo Min OU ; Xin Yuan LAI ; Hui ZHUANG ; Tong LI ; Kuan Hui XIANG
Journal of Peking University(Health Sciences) 2023;55(5):876-885
OBJECTIVE:
To establish a visual reporting system for evaluating the activity of collagen Ⅰ α 1 chain (COL1A1) gene promoter in immortalized human hepatic stellate cells, so as to estimate the activation status of the cells and provide a new cell model for the screening and study of anti-hepatic fibrosis drugs.
METHODS:
The promoter sequence of human COL1A1 was amplified from the genomic DNA of human hepatocarcinoma cell line HepG2. Based on the pLVX-AcGFP1-N1 plasmid, the recombinant plasmid pLVX-COL1A1-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) was constructed, in which the enhanced green fluorescent protein gene expression was regulated by the COL1A1 promoter. The monoclonal cell line was acquired by stably transfecting pLVX-COL1A1-EGFP into the immortalized human hepatic stellate cell line LX-2 by the lentivirus packaging system and screening. The cell line was treated with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) or co-treated with TGF-β1 and drugs with potential anti-hepatic fibrosis effects. The EGFP fluorescence intensity in cells was analyzed by the fluorescence microscope and ImageJ 1.49 software using a semi-quantitative method. The COL1A1 and EGFP mRNA were detected by reverse transcription real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), and corresponding proteins were detected by Western blot.
RESULTS:
The recombinant plasmid pLVX-COL1A1-EGFP with the expression of EGFP regulated by COL1A1 promoter was successfully constructed. Kozak sequence was added to enhance the expression of EGFP, which was identified by double digestion and sequencing. The LX-2 monoclonal cell line LX-2-CE stably transfected with pLVX-COL1A1-EGFP was obtained. After co-treatment with TGF-β1 and 5 μmol/L dihydrotanshinone Ⅰ with potential anti-hepatic fibrosis effect for 24 h, the total fluorescence intensity and the average fluorescence intensity of LX-2-CE were lower than those in TGF-β1 single treatment group (P < 0.05), the intracellular mRNA and protein levels of COL1A1 and EGFP were also lower than those in the TGF-β1 single treatment group (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
A reporter system for estimating activation of hepatic stellate cells based on COL1A1 promoter regulated EGFP expression is successfully constructed, which could visually report the changes in COL1A1 expression, one of the activation-related markers of hepatic stellate cells, in vitro. It provides a new cell model for the screening and study of anti-hepatic fibrosis drugs.
Humans
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Transforming Growth Factor beta1/pharmacology*
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Hepatic Stellate Cells/pathology*
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Liver Cirrhosis/genetics*
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Collagen Type I/pharmacology*
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RNA, Messenger/metabolism*
8.Clinical Safety of NK Cell in the Prevention of Leukemia Relapse Post-transplantation and in Treatment of the Elderly Leukemia Patients.
Jing LIU ; Xiao-Li ZHENG ; Mei XUE ; Ling ZHU ; Li DING ; Dong-Mei HAN ; Hong-Min YAN ; Sheng LI ; Ji-Dong MA ; Xi-Tong TAN ; Jie-Xin ZHOU ; Zi-Kuan GUO ; Heng-Xiang WANG
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2022;30(4):1267-1271
OBJECTIVE:
To observe the safety of donor NK cell infusions in the settings of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and after consolidation chemotherapy in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
METHODS:
Forty patients with AML were included, in which 21 patients aged over 60 years were at the stage of complete remission (CR) and 19 patients that received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Mononucleated cells were isolated from peripheral blood from the donors (for allo-HSCT) or healthy immediate family members (elderly AML). The cells were seeded into the flasks pre-coated with NK cell specific activators, and expanded in media containing recombinant human IL-15 and IL-2 for 14 days. The cells were transfused intravenously after the identification of quality control. Trypan blue exclusion test was used for the determination of cell viability and counting. Flow cytometry analysis was performed to assess the surface antigenic profile. Seventy-eight infusions of the cell products were received by the elderly patients with AML after consolidation chemotherapy, 11 infusions were received by the patients during allo-HSCT and 32 infusions 3 moths after transplantation. The safety of cell therapy, body temperature, blood pressure and other indexes were observe during and 48 hours after cell transfusion. Meanwhile, the occurrence and severity of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) were documented.
RESULTS:
Flow cytometry analysis showed that the proportion of NK cells (CD3-CD56+) in the mononucleated cells before culture was (14.10±4.22)% (n=121), and the proportion increased dramatically up to (87.29±8.75)% (n=121) after culture for 14 days, the number of NK cells increased to 753.47±140.13 times (n=121). The doses of the infused NK cells was (7.58±2.50)×107/kg per infusion. Moderate fever occurred in three cases after multiple infusions, and the temperature restored to normal on the same day after treatment. Fever was observed in one patient after every infusion of four times in total. The temperature reached to 38.5-39.0 ℃ and returned to normal within 1-2 hours after adequate antipyretic treatment, and then there was no discomfort. No GVHD was observed in the elderly AML patients, while 6 cases that received allo-HSCT developed moderate acute GVHD, among them grade I in 5 cases and grade II in 1 case. No other severe toxicities were observed.
CONCLUSION
NK cell products with a high-purity could be obtained by ex vivo expansion with this protocol. The transfusion of these expanded cells is generally safe in the elderly patients with AML that have received chemotherapy or patients that received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Aged
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Graft vs Host Disease/prevention & control*
;
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
;
Humans
;
Killer Cells, Natural
;
Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/therapy*
;
Middle Aged
;
Recurrence
9.Research on the mode of rural village-level health resource allocation under the concept of regional integration
Kuan YI ; Dan HAN ; Hongxia GAO ; Yingchun CHEN ; Jingjing CHANG ; Dong WANG ; Xin XU
Chinese Journal of Hospital Administration 2021;37(11):903-906
The in-depth advancement of the new era reforms such as new urbanization and rural revitalization strategies has transformed the characteristics and resource structure of rural villages. The traditional village health resources allocation models based on administrative divisions needed to evolve and achieve fair allocation and higher efficiency, and better meet the needs of rural primary health services. The authors sorted out the current status of village health resources allocation models. Based on such concepts as regional integration, and such key elements as demographics, population, health needs and information technology, the authors proposed the village-level health resources allocation model and selection strategy, under the three regional integration theories of township-village integration, village-area integration, and village leadership assistance. Their efforts aim at providing new perspectives for better protection and promotion of health of rural residents.
10.Multidimensional Analysis of Risk Factors Associated with Breast Cancer in Beijing, China: A Case-Control Study.
Ai Hua LI ; Yan YE ; Jun CHEN ; Zhi Feng SUN ; Shui Ying YUN ; Xing Kuan TIAN ; Zai Fang HU ; Sarah Robbins SCOTT ; Gui Xin YU ; Li HU ; Zi Huan WANG ; Li Geng SUN ; Zhuang SHEN
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2020;33(10):785-790

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