1.Structure and Function of GPR126/ADGRG6
Ting-Ting WU ; Si-Qi JIA ; Shu-Zhu CAO ; De-Xin ZHU ; Guo-Chao TANG ; Zhi-Hua SUN ; Xing-Mei DENG ; Hui ZHANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):299-309
GPR126, also known as ADGRG6, is one of the most deeply studied aGPCRs. Initially, GPR126 was thought to be a receptor associated with muscle development and was primarily expressed in the muscular and skeletal systems. With the deepening of research, it was found that GPR126 is expressed in multiple mammalian tissues and organs, and is involved in many biological processes such as embryonic development, nervous system development, and extracellular matrix interactions. Compared with other aGPCRs proteins, GPR126 has a longer N-terminal domain, which can bind to ligands one-to-one and one-to-many. Its N-terminus contains five domains, a CUB (complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, Bmp1) domain, a PTX (Pentraxin) domain, a SEA (Sperm protein, Enterokinase, and Agrin) domain, a hormone binding (HormR) domain, and a conserved GAIN domain. The GAIN domain has a self-shearing function, which is essential for the maturation, stability, transport and function of aGPCRs. Different SEA domains constitute different GPR126 isomers, which can regulate the activation and closure of downstream signaling pathways through conformational changes. GPR126 has a typical aGPCRs seven-transmembrane helical structure, which can be coupled to Gs and Gi, causing cAMP to up- or down-regulation, mediating transmembrane signaling and participating in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation and migration. GPR126 is activated in a tethered-stalk peptide agonism or orthosteric agonism, which is mainly manifested by self-proteolysis or conformational changes in the GAIN domain, which mediates the rapid activation or closure of downstream pathways by tethered agonists. In addition to the tethered short stem peptide activation mode, GPR126 also has another allosteric agonism or tunable agonism mode, which is specifically expressed as the GAIN domain does not have self-shearing function in the physiological state, NTF and CTF always maintain the binding state, and the NTF binds to the ligand to cause conformational changes of the receptor, which somehow transmits signals to the GAIN domain in a spatial structure. The GAIN domain can cause the 7TM domain to produce an activated or inhibited signal for signal transduction, For example, type IV collagen interacts with the CUB and PTX domains of GPR126 to activate GPR126 downstream signal transduction. GPR126 has homology of 51.6%-86.9% among different species, with 10 conserved regions between different species, which can be traced back to the oldest metazoans as well as unicellular animals.In terms of diseases, GPR126 dysfunction involves the pathological process of bone, myelin, embryo and other related diseases, and is also closely related to the occurrence and development of malignant tumors such as breast cancer and colon cancer. However, the biological function of GPR126 in various diseases and its potential as a therapeutic target still needs further research. This paper focuses on the structure, interspecies differences and conservatism, signal transduction and biological functions of GPR126, which provides ideas and references for future research on GPR126.
2.In situ Analytical Techniques for Membrane Protein Interactions
Zi-Yuan KANG ; Tong YU ; Chao LI ; Xue-Hua ZHANG ; Jun-Hui GUO ; Qi-Chang LI ; Jing-Xing GUO ; Hao XIE
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(5):1206-1218
Membrane proteins are integral components of cellular membranes, accounting for approximately 30% of the mammalian proteome and serving as targets for 60% of FDA-approved drugs. They are critical to both physiological functions and disease mechanisms. Their functional protein-protein interactions form the basis for many physiological processes, such as signal transduction, material transport, and cell communication. Membrane protein interactions are characterized by membrane environment dependence, spatial asymmetry, weak interaction strength, high dynamics, and a variety of interaction sites. Therefore, in situ analysis is essential for revealing the structural basis and kinetics of these proteins. This paper introduces currently available in situ analytical techniques for studying membrane protein interactions and evaluates the characteristics of each. These techniques are divided into two categories: label-based techniques (e.g., co-immunoprecipitation, proximity ligation assay, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, resonance energy transfer, and proximity labeling) and label-free techniques (e.g., cryo-electron tomography, in situ cross-linking mass spectrometry, Raman spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance, nuclear magnetic resonance, and structure prediction tools). Each technique is critically assessed in terms of its historical development, strengths, and limitations. Based on the authors’ relevant research, the paper further discusses the key issues and trends in the application of these techniques, providing valuable references for the field of membrane protein research. Label-based techniques rely on molecular tags or antibodies to detect proximity or interactions, offering high specificity and adaptability for dynamic studies. For instance, proximity ligation assay combines the specificity of antibodies with the sensitivity of PCR amplification, while proximity labeling enables spatial mapping of interactomes. Conversely, label-free techniques, such as cryo-electron tomography, provide near-native structural insights, and Raman spectroscopy directly probes molecular interactions without perturbing the membrane environment. Despite advancements, these methods face several universal challenges: (1) indirect detection, relying on proximity or tagged proxies rather than direct interaction measurement; (2) limited capacity for continuous dynamic monitoring in live cells; and (3) potential artificial influences introduced by labeling or sample preparation, which may alter native conformations. Emerging trends emphasize the multimodal integration of complementary techniques to overcome individual limitations. For example, combining in situ cross-linking mass spectrometry with proximity labeling enhances both spatial resolution and interaction coverage, enabling high-throughput subcellular interactome mapping. Similarly, coupling fluorescence resonance energy transfer with nuclear magnetic resonance and artificial intelligence (AI) simulations integrates dynamic structural data, atomic-level details, and predictive modeling for holistic insights. Advances in AI, exemplified by AlphaFold’s ability to predict interaction interfaces, further augment experimental data, accelerating structure-function analyses. Future developments in cryo-electron microscopy, super-resolution imaging, and machine learning are poised to refine spatiotemporal resolution and scalability. In conclusion, in situ analysis of membrane protein interactions remains indispensable for deciphering their roles in health and disease. While current technologies have significantly advanced our understanding, persistent gaps highlight the need for innovative, integrative approaches. By synergizing experimental and computational tools, researchers can achieve multiscale, real-time, and perturbation-free analyses, ultimately unraveling the dynamic complexity of membrane protein networks and driving therapeutic discovery.
3.Aberrant fragmentomic features of circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA enable early detection and prognosis prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma
Yang LIU ; Fan PENG ; Siyuan WANG ; Huanmin JIAO ; Kaixiang ZHOU ; Wenjie GUO ; Shanshan GUO ; Miao DANG ; Huanqin ZHANG ; Weizheng ZHOU ; Xu GUO ; Jinliang XING
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(1):196-212
Background/Aims:
Early detection and effective prognosis prediction in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) provide an avenue for survival improvement, yet more effective approaches are greatly needed. We sought to develop the detection and prognosis models with ultra-sensitivity and low cost based on fragmentomic features of circulating cell free mtDNA (ccf-mtDNA).
Methods:
Capture-based mtDNA sequencing was carried out in plasma cell-free DNA samples from 1168 participants, including 571 patients with HCC, 301 patients with chronic hepatitis B or liver cirrhosis (CHB/LC) and 296 healthy controls (HC).
Results:
The systematic analysis revealed significantly aberrant fragmentomic features of ccf-mtDNA in HCC group when compared with CHB/LC and HC groups. Moreover, we constructed a random forest algorithm-based HCC detection model by utilizing ccf-mtDNA fragmentomic features. Both internal and two external validation cohorts demonstrated the excellent capacity of our model in distinguishing early HCC patients from HC and highrisk population with CHB/LC, with AUC exceeding 0.983 and 0.981, sensitivity over 89.6% and 89.61%, and specificity over 98.20% and 95.00%, respectively, greatly surpassing the performance of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and mtDNA copy number. We also developed an HCC prognosis prediction model by LASSO-Cox regression to select 20 fragmentomic features, which exhibited exceptional ability in predicting 1-year, 2-year and 3-year survival (AUC=0.8333, 0.8145 and 0.7958 for validation cohort, respectively).
Conclusions
We have developed and validated a high-performing and low-cost approach in a large clinical cohort based on aberrant ccf-mtDNA fragmentomic features with promising clinical translational application for the early detection and prognosis prediction of HCC patients.
4.Aberrant fragmentomic features of circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA enable early detection and prognosis prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma
Yang LIU ; Fan PENG ; Siyuan WANG ; Huanmin JIAO ; Kaixiang ZHOU ; Wenjie GUO ; Shanshan GUO ; Miao DANG ; Huanqin ZHANG ; Weizheng ZHOU ; Xu GUO ; Jinliang XING
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(1):196-212
Background/Aims:
Early detection and effective prognosis prediction in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) provide an avenue for survival improvement, yet more effective approaches are greatly needed. We sought to develop the detection and prognosis models with ultra-sensitivity and low cost based on fragmentomic features of circulating cell free mtDNA (ccf-mtDNA).
Methods:
Capture-based mtDNA sequencing was carried out in plasma cell-free DNA samples from 1168 participants, including 571 patients with HCC, 301 patients with chronic hepatitis B or liver cirrhosis (CHB/LC) and 296 healthy controls (HC).
Results:
The systematic analysis revealed significantly aberrant fragmentomic features of ccf-mtDNA in HCC group when compared with CHB/LC and HC groups. Moreover, we constructed a random forest algorithm-based HCC detection model by utilizing ccf-mtDNA fragmentomic features. Both internal and two external validation cohorts demonstrated the excellent capacity of our model in distinguishing early HCC patients from HC and highrisk population with CHB/LC, with AUC exceeding 0.983 and 0.981, sensitivity over 89.6% and 89.61%, and specificity over 98.20% and 95.00%, respectively, greatly surpassing the performance of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and mtDNA copy number. We also developed an HCC prognosis prediction model by LASSO-Cox regression to select 20 fragmentomic features, which exhibited exceptional ability in predicting 1-year, 2-year and 3-year survival (AUC=0.8333, 0.8145 and 0.7958 for validation cohort, respectively).
Conclusions
We have developed and validated a high-performing and low-cost approach in a large clinical cohort based on aberrant ccf-mtDNA fragmentomic features with promising clinical translational application for the early detection and prognosis prediction of HCC patients.
5.The Valvular Heart Disease-specific Age-adjusted Comorbidity Index (VHD-ACI) score in patients with moderate or severe valvular heart disease.
Mu-Rong XIE ; Bin ZHANG ; Yun-Qing YE ; Zhe LI ; Qing-Rong LIU ; Zhen-Yan ZHAO ; Jun-Xing LV ; De-Jing FENG ; Qing-Hao ZHAO ; Hai-Tong ZHANG ; Zhen-Ya DUAN ; Bin-Cheng WANG ; Shuai GUO ; Yan-Yan ZHAO ; Run-Lin GAO ; Hai-Yan XU ; Yong-Jian WU
Journal of Geriatric Cardiology 2025;22(9):759-774
BACKGROUND:
Based on the China-VHD database, this study sought to develop and validate a Valvular Heart Disease- specific Age-adjusted Comorbidity Index (VHD-ACI) for predicting mortality risk in patients with VHD.
METHODS & RESULTS:
The China-VHD study was a nationwide, multi-centre multi-centre cohort study enrolling 13,917 patients with moderate or severe VHD across 46 medical centres in China between April-June 2018. After excluding cases with missing key variables, 11,459 patients were retained for final analysis. The primary endpoint was 2-year all-cause mortality, with 941 deaths (10.0%) observed during follow-up. The VHD-ACI was derived after identifying 13 independent mortality predictors: cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary artery hypertension, low body weight, anaemia, hypoalbuminaemia, renal insufficiency, moderate/severe hepatic dysfunction, heart failure, cancer, NYHA functional class and age. The index exhibited good discrimination (AUC, 0.79) and calibration (Brier score, 0.062) in the total cohort, outperforming both EuroSCORE II and ACCI (P < 0.001 for comparison). Internal validation through 100 bootstrap iterations yielded a C statistic of 0.694 (95% CI: 0.665-0.723) for 2-year mortality prediction. VHD-ACI scores, as a continuous variable (VHD-ACI score: adjusted HR (95% CI): 1.263 (1.245-1.282), P < 0.001) or categorized using thresholds determined by the Yoden index (VHD-ACI ≥ 9 vs. < 9, adjusted HR (95% CI): 6.216 (5.378-7.184), P < 0.001), were independently associated with mortality. The prognostic performance remained consistent across all VHD subtypes (aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, mitral stenosis, mitral regurgitation, tricuspid valve disease, mixed aortic/mitral valve disease and multiple VHD), and clinical subgroups stratified by therapeutic strategy, LVEF status (preserved vs. reduced), disease severity and etiology.
CONCLUSION
The VHD-ACI is a simple 13-comorbidity algorithm for the prediction of mortality in VHD patients and providing a simple and rapid tool for risk stratification.
6.Validation and Reproducibility of an Iodine-specific Food Frequency Questionnaire for Evaluating Dietary Iodine Intake in the Elderly Population of Gansu Province, China.
Qi JIN ; Tao WANG ; Mei Na JI ; Ji Zun WANG ; Xing MA ; Xin Yi WANG ; Jia Qi WANG ; He Xi ZHANG ; Yan Ling WANG ; Wen Xing GUO ; Wan Qi ZHANG
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(9):1168-1172
7.Expert consensus on local anesthesia application in pediatric dental therapies.
Yan WANG ; Jing ZOU ; Yang JI ; Jun WANG ; Bin XIA ; Wei ZHAO ; Li'an WU ; Guangtai SONG ; Yuan LIU ; Xu CHEN ; Jiajian SHANG ; Qin DU ; Qingyu GUO ; Beizhan JIANG ; Hongmei ZHANG ; Xianghui XING ; Yanhong LI
West China Journal of Stomatology 2025;43(4):455-461
Dental treatments for children and adolescents have unique clinical characteristics that differ from dental care for adults in terms of children's physiology, psychology, and behavior. These differences impose specific requirements on the application of local anesthesia in pediatric dental procedures. This article presents expert consensus on the principles of local anesthesia techniques in pediatric dental therapies, including the use of common anesthetic drugs and dosage control, safety and efficacy evaluation, and prevention and management of complications. The aim is to improve the safety and quality of pediatric dental treatments and offer guidance for clinical application by dentists.
Humans
;
Child
;
Anesthesia, Local/methods*
;
Consensus
;
Anesthesia, Dental/methods*
;
Adolescent
;
Anesthetics, Local/administration & dosage*
;
Dental Care for Children
8.Effects of Total Intravenous Anesthesia and Inhalational Anesthesia on Postoperative Recovery in Patients Undergoing Transsphenoidal Pituitary Surgery:A Systematic Review.
Yun-Ying FENG ; Yu-Pei ZHANG ; Yue-Lun ZHANG ; Bing XING ; Wei LIAN ; Xiao-Peng GUO ; Lu-Lu MA ; Yu-Guang HUANG
Acta Academiae Medicinae Sinicae 2025;47(3):434-440
Objective To systematically evaluate the effects of total intravenous anesthesia and inhalational anesthesia on postoperative recovery in patients undergoing transsphenoidal pituitary tumor resection.Methods A comprehensive search was conducted in international biomedical databases including Ovid Medline,Embase,CINAHL(EBSCO),Cochrane Library,and Web of Science,from inception to July 4,2023.Additionally,ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform were searched for ongoing and completed trials.The randomized controlled trials(RCT)comparing total intravenous anesthesia and inhalational anesthesia in patients undergoing transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary tumors were included.The methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated by the Cochrane Collaboration tool.Relevant data were extracted and synthesized for analysis.Results A total of 327 records were identified,of which eight RCTs met the inclusion criteria.Four studies showed that the patients receiving desflurane or sevoflurane anesthesia experienced faster emergence from anesthesia than those receiving propofol.Two studies indicated that patients in the propofol group had lower levels of emergence agitation and a lower incidence of early postoperative nausea and vomiting.The results on postoperative cognitive function were inconsistent across studies.No differences were found between the groups in terms of postoperative complications or overall recovery quality during hospitalization.Conclusions Inhalational anesthesia appears to provide an advantage in promoting faster emergence following transsphenoidal pituitary surgery,whereas total intravenous anesthesia may contribute to smoother and more stable recovery.Further high-quality studies are needed to clarify the effects of different anesthetic techniques on both short- and long-term postoperative recovery.
Humans
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Anesthesia, Intravenous
;
Pituitary Neoplasms/surgery*
;
Anesthesia, Inhalation
;
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
;
Anesthesia Recovery Period
;
Pituitary Gland/surgery*
;
Postoperative Period
9.Different Types of Obesity Play a Modifying Role in the Association Between Physical Activity and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease
Yang CHANG ; Jiawei LI ; Gonghua WU ; Juying ZHANG ; Bing GUO ; Xing ZHAO
Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences) 2025;56(1):149-155
Objective To explore the association between physical activity levels and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)and the modifying effects of different types of obesity.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 19925 participants recruited from the Chengdu sub-cohort of the Southwest China Natural Population Cohort.The participants were recruited between 2018 and 2019.The association between physical activity and MAFLD prevalence was examined using the inverse probability weighting(IPW)method based on the generalized propensity score(GPS).The odds ratios(OR)and the 95%confidence interval(CI)for moderate and vigorous physical activity were calculated using the mild physical activity group as a reference.A restricted cubic spline function was used to model the exposure-response relationship between physical activity and MAFLD risk.The potential modifying effects of obesity types on the association between physical activity and MAFLD were evaluated in male and female populations.Results The prevalence of MAFLD was 17.30%.Compared to those engaging in mild physical activity,individuals participating in vigorous and moderate physical activities had a lower risk of MAFLD,with OR(95%CI)being 0.76(0.67,0.86)and 0.85(0.76,0.94),respectively.The exposure-response relationship showed a nonlinear association between physical activity and MAFLD risks(Pnonlinearity=0.005).The protective effect of physical activity against MAFLD was observed when physical activity reached approximately 20 METs-h/d.However,when physical activity exceeded 70 METs-h/d,no significant effect on MAFLD risk was observed.Among the female population,obesity type significantly modified the association between physical activity and MAFLD(P<0.05).In females with central obesity,the protective effect of physical activity on MAFLD showed a threshold effect,with the lowest disease risk observed at approximately 25 METs-h/d.However,physical activity exceeding 37.5 METs-h/d showed no statistically significant association with MAFLD risk.In contrast,for females with peripheral obesity,high levels of physical activity had limited effects on reducing MAFLD risks.Conclusion Moderate physical activity can significantly reduce the risk of MAFLD,and the obesity types can modify this association.It is recommended that individuals engage in approximately 20-70 METs-h/d of physical activity.For females with central obesity,physical activity should not exceed 37.5 METs-h/d,while for females with peripheral obesity,it should not exceed 30 METs-h/d.
10.Association Between Surrogate Markers of Insulin Resistance and Incident Cardiovascular Disease in a Population With Stages 0-3 Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome:A Prospective Cohort Study
Yajie ZHAO ; Lele WANG ; Jiawei LI ; Bing GUO ; Juying ZHANG ; Xiaolin GUO ; Yuying LUO ; Gonghua WU ; Xing ZHAO
Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences) 2025;56(2):495-505
Objective To investigate the association between 8 insulin resistance(IR)surrogate markers and incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease(ASCVD)in population with cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome(CKM)of stages 0-3,and to identify the surrogate marker with the best predictive performance.Methods A study was conducted on 20121 community residents classified as CKM stages 0-3 from the Chengdu cohort of the China Multi-Ethic Cohort.A Cox proportional hazards model was used to calculate hazard ratios(HRs)between each IR surrogate marker and incident ASCVD.Cubic spline regression was employed to explore the dose-response relationships between these markers and incident ASCVD.The relative relationships between different markers and incident ASCVD were examined through the ratio of HRs(RHRs).Time-dependent area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(TDAUC)and Uno's C-statistic were calculated to compare the predictive performance of each marker for incident ASCVD.Based on the PREVENT equation components and the 8 surrogate markers under analysis,random forest feature selection was used to determine the contribution of each marker to accurate prediction.Results During a follow-up period of82 741.93 person-years,1447 incident cases of ASCVD were recorded,with an incidence density of 17.49 per 1000 person-years.Association analyses indicated that the triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio(TG/HDL)and the TyG/(TG/HDL)index were not associated with incident ASCVD(P>0.05).The TyG index combined with obesity measurement parameters emerged as a reliable predictor of ASCVD incidence.The most promising indicator,TyG index with waist-to-height ratio(TyG_WHtR),exhibited an inverted J-shaped association with incident ASCVD(P for nonlinearity=0.045;TDAUC=0.640;C=0.634),while the TyG index with body mass index(TyG_BMI),waist circumference(TyG_WC),and waist-to-hip ratio(TyG_WHR)showed positive linear associations(all P for trend<0.05),with relatively lower predictive performance(C=0.564,0.588,and 0.598,respectively).Although both the TyG index and the metabolic score for insulin resistance(METS-IR)were associated with increased ASCVD risk(TyG:Q2 vs.Q1,HR=1.23 and Q4 vs.Q1,HR=1.24;METS-IR:P for non-linearity=0.045),they exhibited poor predictive performance for incident ASCVD.Conclusion The TyG index combined with obesity measurement parameters is an ideal IR surrogate marker for predicting incident ASCVD in populations with stages 0-3 CKM.Monitoring these markers will facilitate the prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases in CKM populations.

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