According to General Chapter 1145 of Division IV in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 Edition), the test for depressor substances is a common method for drug testing. It determines whether the level of depressor substances in a test sample complies with the specified standards by comparing the extent of blood pressure reduction in anesthetized cats induced by the histamine reference substance and the test sample. If an out-of-specification (OOS) result occurs in the test for depressor substances, it may be caused by inherent quality issues of the drug or errors in the testing process. Therefore, analyzing the causes of OOS is particularly important for confirming the test results and evaluating drug quality. Cats are used as experimental animals in the test for depressor substances. Compared with conventional laboratory animals, they are less stable, surgery procedures are more challenging, and the testing process is more complex. These factors make it more difficult to investigate the causes of OOS in this test. Based on a review of the literature and practical work experience, this article analyzes the causes of OOS in the test for depressor substances from the following five aspects: (1) an analysis of the impact of drug standards on OOS from three aspects: standard determination, standard content, and standard drafting; (2) personnel qualifications, including pre-employment training, compliance with standard operating procedures during experimental operations, and the ability to operate instruments; (3) factors related to cats, used as experimental animals in the test for depressor substances, including physiological characteristics, genetic background, and abnormal conditions during the experiment; (4) reference substances, reagents, test samples, and key instruments such as the multi-channel physiological signal instrument; (5) experimental operations including animal anesthesia, arterial and venous catheterization, drug administration, and data processing. This article aims to provide reference approaches for professionals engaged in the testing of pharmaceuticals and biological products when analyzing the causes of OOS in the test for depressor substances.

According to General Chapter 1145 of Division IV in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 Edition), the test for depressor substances is a common method for drug testing. It determines whether the level of depressor substances in a test sample complies with the specified standards by comparing the extent of blood pressure reduction in anesthetized cats induced by the histamine reference substance and the test sample. If an out-of-specification (OOS) result occurs in the test for depressor substances, it may be caused by inherent quality issues of the drug or errors in the testing process. Therefore, analyzing the causes of OOS is particularly important for confirming the test results and evaluating drug quality. Cats are used as experimental animals in the test for depressor substances. Compared with conventional laboratory animals, they are less stable, surgery procedures are more challenging, and the testing process is more complex. These factors make it more difficult to investigate the causes of OOS in this test. Based on a review of the literature and practical work experience, this article analyzes the causes of OOS in the test for depressor substances from the following five aspects: (1) an analysis of the impact of drug standards on OOS from three aspects: standard determination, standard content, and standard drafting; (2) personnel qualifications, including pre-employment training, compliance with standard operating procedures during experimental operations, and the ability to operate instruments; (3) factors related to cats, used as experimental animals in the test for depressor substances, including physiological characteristics, genetic background, and abnormal conditions during the experiment; (4) reference substances, reagents, test samples, and key instruments such as the multi-channel physiological signal instrument; (5) experimental operations including animal anesthesia, arterial and venous catheterization, drug administration, and data processing. This article aims to provide reference approaches for professionals engaged in the testing of pharmaceuticals and biological products when analyzing the causes of OOS in the test for depressor substances.

Immune checkpoint blockade therapy has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in treating various malignancies; however, its clinical application remains challenged by low response rates and immune-related adverse events. Immunoglobulin superfamily member 11 (IGSF11), an inhibitory immune checkpoint molecule, serves as a specific ligand for the V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA). Through the IGSF11/VISTA axis, it suppresses T cell function and represents a promising novel target for cancer immunotherapy. IGSF11 is widely expressed across multiple tumor types, though its regulatory mechanisms vary depending on the malignancy. Studies have confirmed that blocking the IGSF11-VISTA interaction or specifically inhibiting IGSF11 exerts antitumor effects. While IGSF11 is closely associated with patient prognosis, its prognostic significance differs among cancer types. This review systematically summarizes the structural characteristics of IGSF11, its regulatory mechanisms, interaction with VISTA, and functional role within the tumor microenvironment.
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Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Neoplasms/metabolism* ; B7 Antigens/chemistry* ; Animals ; Molecular Targeted Therapy ; Tumor Microenvironment

Myocardial fibrosis is a serious cause of heart failure and even sudden cardiac death. However, the mechanisms underlying myocardial ischemia-induced cardiac fibrosis remain unclear. Here, we identified that the expression of sterile alpha and TIR motif containing 1 (SARM1), was increased significantly in the ischemic cardiomyopathy patients, dilated cardiomyopathy patients (GSE116250) and fibrotic heart tissues of mice. Additionally, inhibition or knockdown of SARM1 can improve myocardial fibrosis and cardiac function of myocardial infarction (MI) mice. Moreover, SARM1 fibroblasts-specific knock-in mice had increased deposition of extracellular matrix and impaired cardiac function. Mechanically, elevated expression of SARM1 promotes the deposition of extracellular matrix by directly modulating P4HA1. Notably, by using the Click-iT reaction, we identified that the increased expression of ZDHHC17 promotes the palmitoylation levels of SARM1, thereby accelerating the fibrosis process. Based on the fibrosis-promoting effect of SARM1, we screened several drugs with anti-myocardial fibrosis activity. In conclusion, we have unveiled that palmitoylated SARM1 targeting P4HA1 promotes collagen deposition and myocardial fibrosis. Inhibition of SARM1 is a potential strategy for the treatment of myocardial fibrosis. The sites where SARM1 interacts with P4HA1 and the palmitoylation modification sites of SARM1 may be the active targets for anti-fibrosis drugs.

Gene regulation relies on the precise binding of transcription factors (TFs) at regulatory elements, but simultaneously detecting hundreds of TFs on chromatin is challenging. We developed cFOOT-seq, a cytosine deaminase-based TF footprinting assay, for high-resolution, quantitative genome-wide assessment of TF binding in both open and closed chromatin regions, even with small cell numbers. By utilizing the dsDNA deaminase SsdAtox, cFOOT-seq converts accessible cytosines to uracil while preserving genomic integrity, making it compatible with techniques like ATAC-seq for sensitive and cost-effective detection of TF occupancy at the single-molecule and single-cell level. Our approach enables the delineation of TF footprints, quantification of occupancy, and examination of chromatin influences on TF binding. Notably, cFOOT-seq, combined with FootTrack analysis, enables de novo prediction of TF binding sites and tracking of TF occupancy dynamics. We demonstrate its application in capturing cell type-specific TFs, analyzing TF dynamics during reprogramming, and revealing TF dependencies on chromatin remodelers. Overall, cFOOT-seq represents a robust approach for investigating the genome-wide dynamics of TF occupancy and elucidating the cis-regulatory architecture underlying gene regulation.
Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Humans ; Chromatin/genetics* ; Animals ; Binding Sites ; Mice ; DNA Footprinting/methods*

Objective:To investigate the effect of armadillo repeat containing X-linked 3(ARMCX3)on the proliferation,migration,and invasion of breast cancer cells and its potential molecular mechanism.Methods:Immunohistochemistry was used to measure the expression of ARMCX3 in breast cancer tissue and adjacent tissue,and Western blot was used to measure the expression of ARMCX3 in breast cancer cells.Breast cancer cells were transfected with lentivirus to establish a model of breast cancer cells with low expres-sion of ARMCX3,and flow cytometry,colony formation assay,scratch assay,and Transwell assay were used to observe the effect of ARMCX3 on the proliferation,migration,and invasion of breast cancer cells.TCGA and GTEx databases were used to analyze the ex-pression of SRY-box transcription factor 9(SOX9)in breast cancer tissue,and GEO database was used to analyze the correlation be-tween SOX9 and ARMCX3.Western blot was used to measure the expression levels of E-cadherin,N-cadherin,vimentin,and SOX9 in breast cancer cells.Results:Compared with adjacent tissue and human normal breast epithelial cells,there was a significant in-crease in the expression level of ARMCX3 in breast cancer tissue and most breast cancer cell lines(P<0.05).Compared with the con-trol group,the low expression of ARMCX3 inhibited the prolifera-tion,migration,and invasion of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells,promoted the expression of E-cadherin,and inhibited the expres-sion of N-cadherin and vimentin(P<0.05).Compared with the nor-mal tissue,there was a significant increase in the expression level of SOX9 in breast cancer tissue(P<0.001),which was correlated with ARMCX3,and the low expression of ARMCX3 also significantly in-hibited the expression of SOX9.Conclusion:ARMCX3 is highly ex-pressed in breast cancer tissue and breast cancer cells,and it may regulate the proliferation,migration,and invasion of breast cancer cells through SOX9.

Objective This study utilizes bioinformatics methods to analyze differentially expressed genes(DEGs)between Alzheimer's disease(AD)and vascular dementia(VD)compared to normal controls.The aim is to identify key genes and validate their relevance to both types of dementia.Methods Gene chip dataset GSE122063 were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database.Using the GEO2R tool,DEGs in AD,VD,and normal control group were screened.We constructed a protein-protein interaction network using the STRING database and identified key genes through Cytoscape.Subsequently,DAVID database were used to analyze gene ontology(GO)enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathways associated with interconnected DEGs,predicting their biological functions.Finally,diagnostic performance were validated and assessed by using receiver operating characteristic curves.Results In the AD and VD groups,we identified 1099 and 505 DEGs,respectively,with 69 genes showing associations in the protein-protein interaction network.GO analysis revealed that DEGs are primarily located in the extracellular matrix,cell surface,and plasma membrane.They influence biological processes such as signal transduction and inflammatory responses,with functions related to receptor binding and signal receptor activity,collectively contributing to dementia development.KEGG analysis indicated significant enrichment of DEGs in immune-related signaling pathways,including microbial infections,rheumatoid arthritis,systemic lupus erythematosus,and inflammatory bowel disease.Four key genes—CCR5,CCL2,FCGR2A,and ITGB2—with significantly elevated expression in both AD and VD groups were indentifiied.The area under the curve suggests their potential diagnostic value for dementia.Conclusion Through bioinformatics analysis of AD and VD,the enriched signaling pathways and key genes associated with immunity and inflammation were discovered.These findings may play a crucial role in dementia progression and provide new insights for early diagnosis.

Active physical exercise can effectively alleviate the pathological process of chronic cerebral ischemia(CCH)and improve learning and memory ability.This paper reviews the possible biological mechanisms of aerobic exercise to delay the pathological process of chronic cerebral ischemia and improve learning and memory.Previous studies have found that aerobic exercise can improve the neuroprotective effect,enhance the plasticity of hippocampal synapses,improve the activity of the upper and lower pathways of hippocampal tissue,and improve learning and memory ability.However,the intervention effect of aerobic exercise on chronic cerebral ischemia should be fully considered at the intervention time,and the intervention effect is also different.

Objective To investigate the clinical features of Menkes disease(MD)caused by ATP7A gene mutation.Methods Clinical data of one MD patient was retrospectively analyzed,and the literature on the MD cases was reviewed.Results The patient was a 7-month-old male.The initial symptoms were epilepsy,feeding difficulties and psychomotor retardation,followed by distinctive facial appearance,hair abnormality,pectus excavatum and hypotonia.Biochemical tests revealed reduced serum ceruloplasmin and copper.Brain MRI showed diffuse cerebral atrophy,cerebral dysplasia and subdural effusion.Genetic testing showed that there was a new hemizygous mutation c.2916+2(IVS14)T＞C in the ATP7A gene splicing site on the X chromosome,which verified that the mother was a heterozygous carrier with a normal phenotype.Conclusions MD often starts in infancy and childhood.MD may involve multi-system such as the nervous system and connective tissues,and should be diagnosed with genetic testing.

Alkaloids are a class of naturally occurring bioactive compounds that are widely distributed in various food sources and Traditional Chinese Medicine. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of alkaloid extract from Codonopsis Radix (ACR) in ameliorating hepatic lipid accumulation in a mouse model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). The results revealed that ACR treatment effectively mitigated the abnormal weight gain and hepatic injury associated with HFD. Furthermore, ACR ameliorated the dysregulated lipid metabolism in NAFLD mice, as evidenced by reductions in serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein levels, accompanied by a concomitant increase in the high-density lipoprotein level. ACR treatment also demonstrated a profound anti-oxidative effect, effectively alleviating HFD-induced oxidative stress and promoting ATP production. These effects were achieved through the up-regulation of the activities of mitochondrial electron transfer chain complexes I, II, IV, and V, in addition to the activation of the AMPK/PGC-1α pathway, suggesting that ACR exhibits therapeutic potential in alleviating the HFD-induced dysregulation of mitochondrial energy metabolism. Moreover, ACR administration mitigated HFD-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and suppressed the overexpression of ubiquitin-specific protease 14 (USP14) in NAFLD mice. In summary, the present study provides compelling evidence supporting the hepatoprotective role of ACR in alleviating lipid deposition in NAFLD by improving energy metabolism and reducing oxidative stress and ER stress. These findings warrant further investigation and merit the development of ACR as a potential therapeutic agent for NAFLD.
Mice ; Animals ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/metabolism* ; Codonopsis ; Liver ; Lipid Metabolism ; Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology* ; Alkaloids/pharmacology* ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; Energy Metabolism ; Lipids ; Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL