1.The Role of Lysosomal Dysfunction in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: From Pathogenesis to Targeted Therapies
Yue-Yan WU ; Xin CHEN ; Ce-Fan ZHOU ; Jing-Feng TANG ; Rui ZHANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(3):609-622
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a lethal cancer with high morbidity rates worldwide. It is a major threat to public health in China, due to the combination of known and new risk factors, such as endemic hepatitis B virus (HBV), dietary aflatoxin exposure, and the occurrence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Although many methods for surveillance and multimodal therapies, such as surgery, local ablation, transarterial therapy, and new systemic agents, have been available, the survival rates of HCC remains poor. They have very limited durable responses, long post-treatment recurrence rates, and high resistance to treatment. This reflects an imperfect picture of the biological cause of the disease and a need for new mechanistic or targeted techniques. A significant characteristic of HCC, in common with other aggressive cancers, is the presence of reprogrammed, hyperactive cell metabolism. Tumor cells hijack metabolic pathways to promote their uncontrolled growth, stress survival, invasion and metastasis. While classical mechanisms such as the Warburg effect, lipid metabolism and glutamine utilization have been understood, the lysosome, which was once viewed as a static “waste disposal unit” to remove old organelles and proteins, is instead a dynamic signaling and metabolic core. The lysosomes incorporate nutrients, energy and stress signals by master regulators such as mTORC1 (activated on its surface) that balance anabolic growth and catabolic recycling to the cellular demands. In HCC, lysosomes are not passive, but are highly active and dysregulated. HCC cells upregulate lysosomes, which scavenge intracellular components via enhanced autophagy and engulf extracellular proteins via macropinocytosis, crucial for survival in the nutrient-poor, hypoxic tumor microenvironment. In addition to metabolism, lysosomes exhibit pro-invasive functions by secreting hydrolases to remodel the extracellular matrix, promote angiogenesis, and suppress stromal immune cells to foster a pro-tumor microenvironment. In a clinical context, lysosomes play an important role in therapeutic resistance: they sequester and inactivate chemotherapeutics via lysosomal sequestration, and enhanced autophagic flux protects the cell from therapy-induced damage, contributing to relapse, as lysosomal dysfunction is a key cause of treatment failure. This makes lysosomes promising yet challenging therapeutic targets in HCC. Recent preclinical and early clinical studies investigate multiple strategies to exploit the susceptibility of lysosomes: lysosome-specific agents, alkalinizing the lysosome lumen or inducing membrane permeabilization and lysosome-dependent cell death; pharmacological inhibition of key lysosomal enzymes or autophagy to impair nutrient recycling and stress adaptation; smart nanotherapeutic agents or antibody-drug conjugates, specifically activated in the acidic lysosomal environment or utilizing lysosomal pathways for efficient intracellular drug release; and combination strategies of lysosome-targeting agents with tyrosine kinase inhibitors or immunotherapy to overcome resistance and achieve synergistic antitumor effects. In summary, our review systematically presents the role of lysosomes in HCC, from metabolic reprogramming and microenvironmental adaptation to therapeutic resistance. By synthesizing the latest mechanistic insights and preclinical advances, this review highlights the indispensable role of lysosomes in the complex HCC biological network, emphasizing that an in-depth understanding of this dynamic organelle holds great promise for developing innovative, targeted therapies, offering new hope for improving the poor prognosis of global HCC patients.
2.PRMT1-mediated asymmetric dimethylation of arginine residue 602 in DDX1 promotes cholangiocarcinoma progression
Wenzheng LIU ; Yangwei LIAO ; Yiyang KUAI ; Xin GAO ; Xingmin YAN ; Jingjing LI ; Junsheng CHEN ; Jukun SU ; Jingcong ZHOU ; Yizhu KONG ; Siqin HUANG ; Zhiwei ZHANG ; Feng PENG ; Bing WANG ; Yongjun CHEN
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2026;32(2):843-865
Background/Aims:
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a primary malignant neoplasm with an extremely poor prognosis. While combined chemoradiotherapy has been demonstrated to delay CCA progression to a certain extent, the absence of specific molecular biomarkers or targets significantly hinders the diagnosis and treatment of CCA.
Methods:
Through cross-analysis of proteomics and ADMA modificationomics, we identified DDX1 overexpressed in CCA with elevated R602-ADMA modifications. HPLC-MS/MS identified PRMT1 as the methyltransferase and USP10 as the deubiquitinating enzyme for DDX1. Immunofluorescence and nuclear-cytoplasmic partitioning experiments confirmed DDX1’s nuclear localization. GO and KEGG analyses clarify the biological functions of DDX1 in response to hypoxia. RNA-seq transcriptomics analyzed key pathways influenced by DDX1. A hydrodynamic in situ CCA mouse model was established to validate the chemopreventive effects of the PRMT1-specific inhibitor GSK715 on CCA development.
Results:
DDX1 promotes CCA progression both in vivo and in vitro and can be inhibited by GSK715. Mechanistically, PRMT1 mediates ADMA modification at position R602 of DDX1. This modification promotes DDX1 nuclear localization by recruiting USP10 to deubiquitinate DDX1, while simultaneously inhibiting PRMT1 degradation. DDX1 promotes the transcription of PRMT1 and USP10 by binding to the mRNA 3’UTR region, establishing a positive feedback regulatory pathway. This mechanism promotes the occurrence and development of CCA and can serve as a target for the inhibitor GSK715 to suppress CCA progression.
Conclusions
Our study identified DDX1-R602-ADMA modification as a novel ADMA modification in CCA. It further confirmed its pivotal role in CCA progression. Targeting the USP10-PRMT1-DDX1 axis may represent a significant therapeutic approach for CCA.
3.Comprehensive analysis of an m6A regulator-based prognostic model and its associations with immune infiltration, drug sensitivity, and intercellular communication in cervical cancer
JIANG Bengui ; ZHOU Teng ; LU Qunfang ; TONG Lin ; ZHOU Xin ; LI Yan ; ZHI Shuang
Chinese Journal of Cancer Biotherapy 2026;33(6):678-689
[摘 要] 目的:探讨m6A调控因子在宫颈癌预后评估、免疫微环境特征及治疗反应中的作用,构建基于m6A调控因子的预后风险模型,并分析其与免疫浸润、药物敏感性及细胞间通信的关系。方法:基于TCGA和GEO数据库中宫颈鳞癌及腺癌(CESC)转录组数据,分析22个m6A调控因子的表达与突变情况;采用LASSO‑Cox回归构建m6A相关预后风险模型,并依据风险评分将患者分为高、低风险组。利用CIBERSORT和ESTIMATE算法评估两组免疫细胞浸润及微环境特征;通过oncoPredict预测抗肿瘤药物敏感性。整合单细胞转录组数据(E-MTAB-12305),采用CellChat分析细胞间通信网络。结果:共鉴定出12个在宫颈癌中差异表达的m6A调控因子。高风险组患者总生存期缩短(P < 0.05),免疫评分降低,且对紫杉醇、氟尿嘧啶、多柔比星等抗肿瘤药物敏感性较差(IC50较高)。单细胞分析显示宫颈癌组织中细胞间通信网络发生改变,其中T细胞与内皮/上皮细胞间的相互作用可能主要由CCL5‑ACKR1和MIF‑(CD74 + CXCR4)配体‑受体介导。在临床样本中,对关键的m6A调控因子进行mRNA和蛋白水平的验证,结果显示部分调控因子在宫颈癌组织中的表达水平高于正常宫颈组织(P < 0.05)。结论:m6A调控因子特征可有效预测宫颈癌患者预后,其风险评分与肿瘤免疫浸润、药物敏感性及细胞通信密切相关,为宫颈癌的预后分层及个体化治疗提供了新的分子依据。
4.Chemical constituents from Gymnema tingens and their in vitro hypoglycemic activity
Mei-yu LIU ; Xin ZHAN ; Guang-feng LIAO ; Jin-yan ZHANG ; Xin-zhou YANG ; Ru-mei LU
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2025;47(6):1892-1900
AIM To study the chemical constituents from Gymnema tingens Spreng.and their in vitro hypoglycemic activity.METHODS The 70%ethanol extract was isolated and purified by macroporous resin,silica gel,sephadex LH-20,and semi-preparative HPLC,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical propeties and spectral data.The in vitro hypoglycemic activity was evaluated by glucose uptake test in L6 cells.RESULTS Seventeen compounds were isolated and identified as 7-desoxyneocynapanogenin A(1),glaucogenin(2),cynatratoside A(3),atratcynoside F(4),(+)-lyoniresinol(5),(+)-lyoniresinol 3-O-α-D-rhamnopyranoside-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside(6),fernandoside(7),3,4-dimethoxy-phenyl-1-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside(8),khaephuoside A(9),khaephuoside B(10),3,4,5-trimethoxy-phenyl-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(11),liquiritigenin(12),7,3'-dihydroxy-flavanone-4'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(13),pinoresinol(14),syringaldehyde(15),(+)-1-hydroxy-pinoresinol-1-β-D-glucopyranoside(16),β-amyrin(17).Compounds 2-5、7、9、10、12、17 could promote the glucose uptake in L6 cells.CONCLUSION Compound 1 is a new compound,and 2-9、11-13、15-17 are isolated from this plant for the first time.Compounds 2-5、7、9、10、12、17 have good hypoglycemic activity.
5.Machine learning model for prediction of bloodstream infections established based on routine test indexes and its predictive efficiency
Yan WANG ; Xin HE ; Yufang LIANG ; Gaixian WANG ; Ruifeng BAI ; Rui ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(10):1542-1548
OBJECTIVE To explore and evaluate the machine learning model for prediction of bacterial bloodstream infections established based on routine test data.METHODS By means of retrospective survey,a total of 5 421 pa-tients who were hospitalized in 3 medical institutions from Jan.2015 to Dec.2022 were recruited as the research subjects,1 914 of whom were assigned as the bloodstream infection group,and 3 507 were assigned as the non-bloodstream infection group.The baseline data including gender and age and the results of routine laboratory tests were collected from the enrolled patients.The 3 types of machine learning algorithms,logistic regression,support vector machine and random forest,were respectively used for the screening of the optimal prediction model;the contribution of feature variables to the predictive capability of the model was interpreted through SHAP.The fea-ture variables of the model were optimized by using recursive feature elimination method,and the predictive effi-ciency of the model was evaluated by the area under the curve(AUC)of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves.RESULTS Totally 26 variables involving age,gender and blood routine test indexes were included.The random forest was chosen as the optimal machine learning algorithm for the establishment of prediction model for bloodstream infections,and the accuracy of the model was 0.709,with the AUC 0.706.The result of SHAP ex-planation indicated that the age,hematokrit and erythrocyte volume distribution width-CV had remarkable effect on the model's making right decisions.17 variables of the prediction model showed more remarkable effect than 26 variable on distinguishing from the gram-positive bacteria bloodstream infections from the gram-negative bacteria bloodstream infections,with the AUC 0.715,the sensitivity 0.701,the specificity 0.632.CONCLUSIONS The prediction model that is established based on the blood routine test indexes by machine learning algorithm can pre-dict the bacterial bloodstream infection.Meanwhile,the feature selection strategy can further improve the predic-tive efficiency of the model on basis of lowering the dimensionality.
6.The Role of Platelet-Derived Zyxin in Promoting Tumor Migration
Meng-Nan YANG ; Shuang CHEN ; Li-Li ZHAO ; Kang-Xi ZHOU ; Rong YAN ; Ke-Sheng DAI ; Xin-Xin GE
Journal of Experimental Hematology 2025;33(6):1708-1713
Objective:To investigate the role of platelet-derived zyxin in promoting tumor migration by platelets.Methods:The gene expression profile of platelets was analyzed from cancer patients by using the GEO database.Isolated platelets from wild-type(WT)and Zyx-/-mice were co-cultured with B16F10 cells labeled with green fluorescence to investigate the influence of zyxin deficiency on tumor cell migration,invasion,and wound healing.Optical microscopy was employed to evaluate the impact of zyxin deficiency on epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)in B16F10 cells induced by platelets.Employing specific markers to label platelets,fluorescence confocal microscopy was utilized to investigate the impact of platelet-derived zyxin on the binding between tumor cells and platelets.And an aggregometer was employed to observe the influence of zyxin deficiency on tumor cell-induced platelet aggregation.Results:Compared to platelets from healthy volunteers,zyxin was upregulated in platelets from cancer patients.Zyx-/-mouse platelets exhibited a significant reduction in tumor cell invasion and migration,impaired wound healing,and delayed tumor cell EMT compared to WT mouse platelets.Additionally,zyxin deficiency attenuated the interaction between platelets and tumor cells,and diminished the capacity for tumor cell-induced platelet aggregation.Conclusion:Platelet-derived zyxin deficiency diminishes platelet-tumor cell interactions and weakens the ability of tumor cell-induced platelet aggregation,ultimately suppressing tumor cell migration.
7.Risk factors and their diagnostic efficacy of perioperative lower limb deep venous thrombosis in polytrauma patients with predominant severe limb trauma
Xiao YANG ; Jimin CAI ; Xin GE ; Yan WANG ; Weiya ZHOU ; Yongjun RUI
Chinese Journal of Trauma 2025;41(8):764-772
Objective:To investigate the risk factors and their diagnostic efficacy of perioperative lower limb deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in polytrauma patients with predominant severe limb trauma.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 155 polytrauma patients with predominant severe trauma who were admitted to Wuxi Ninth People′s Hospital from January 2021 to December 2024, including 64 males and 91 females, aged 13-95 years [(52.1±16.9)years]. Abbreviated injury scale (AIS) was 5-15 points [(7.4±2.1)points] and injury severity score (ISS) was 17-59 points [(21.3±6.5)points]. Based on the occurrence of DVT in the perioperative period, the patients were divided into preoperative DVT group with 17 patients (11.0%) and non-preoperative DVT group with 138 patients (89.0%) as well as postoperative DVT group with 24 patients (15.5%) and non-postoperative DVT group with 131 patients (84.5%). Basic clinical data were collected, including gender, age, body mass index (BMI), underlying diseases (hypertension, diabetes mellitus), hemoglobin level (Hb), platelet count (PLT), D-dimer, ISS, trauma site [cranial and brain trauma, thoracic and abdominal trauma, upper limb trauma, lower limb trauma (femoral fracture, patellar fracture, tibial or fibular fracture, foot fracture, vascular injury), and pelvic fracture], preoperative waiting time for surgery, surgical site (pelvis and lower limb, other areas), surgical protocols (pelvic and lower limb internal fixation, external fixation of lower limb, lower limb amputation), operation duration less or more than 2 hours, amount of intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative blood transfusion requirement, venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis (pharmacological and mechanical modalities) and length of hospital stay. Univariate analysis and multivariate binary Logistic regression analysis were conducted to investigate the correlation between the aforementioned indicators and incidence of perioperative lower limb DVT in polytrauma patients with predominant severe limb trauma and determine the independent risk factors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the curve (AUC) of the relevant risk factors were analyzed to evaluate and compare the diagnostic efficacy of the risk factors for perioperative lower limb DVT in polytrauma patients with predominant severe limb trauma.Results:Univariate analysis results showed that age, history of hypertension, D-dimer, thoracic and abdominal trauma, pelvic fracture, preoperative waiting time for surgery, and length of hospital stay were significantly correlated with preoperative of DVT of the lower limbs in the patients ( P<0.05). The results of multivariate binary Logistic regression analysis showed that age ( OR=1.05, 95% CI 1.00, 1.10, P<0.05), pelvic fracture ( OR=5.03, 95% CI 1.09, 23.20, P<0.05), preoperative waiting time for surgery ( OR=1.10, 95% CI 1.00, 1.22, P<0.05) and length of hospital stay ( OR=0.89,95% CI 0.81,0.98, P<0.05) were highly correlated with preoperative DVT of the lower limbs in the patients ( P<0.05). Univariate analysis results showed that age, D-dimer, ISS, foot fracture, and length of hospital stay were significantly correlated with postoperative DVT of the lower limbs in the patients ( P<0.05). The results of multivariate binary Logistic regression analysis showed that age ( OR=1.05, 95% CI 1.01, 1.08, P<0.01), D-dimer ( OR=1.05, 95% CI 1.00, 1.10, P<0.05), ISS ( OR=1.09, 95% CI 1.01, 1.17, P<0.05), and foot fracture ( OR=3.51 , 95% CI 1.25 , 9.87 , P<0.05) were significantly correlated with postoperative DVT of the lower limbs in the patients ( P<0.05). The results of the ROC curve analysis indicated that preoperative waiting time for surgery (AUC=0.83, 95% CI 0.75, 0.91) had the highest diagnostic efficacy for preoperative DVT of the lower limbs in the patients, with the diagnostic efficacies of pelvic fracture (AUC=0.75, 95% CI 0.65, 0.85) and age (AUC=0.70, 95% CI 0.59, 0.82) decreasing successively. For postoperative DVT of the lower limbs in the patients, D-dimer (AUC=0.71, 95% CI 0.61, 0.81) exhibited the highest diagnostic efficacy, followed by age (AUC=0.70, 95% CI 0.59, 0.81), ISS (AUC=0.64, 95% CI 0.51, 0.76) and foot fracture (AUC=0.62, 95% CI 0.49, 0.74), with diagnostic efficacy decreased successively. Conclusions:For polytrauma patients with predominant severe limb trauma, age, pelvic fracture and preoperative waiting time for surgery are independent risk factors for preoperative DVT, while age, D-dimer, ISS and foot fracture are independent risk factors for postoperative DVT. Additionally, preoperative waiting time for surgery has the best diagnostic efficacy for preoperative DVT, followed by pelvic fracture and age. D-dimer has the best diagnostic efficacy for postoperative DVT, followed by age, ISS and foot fracture.
8.circHERC4_041 Inhibits the Fibrotic Phenotype of Cardiac Fibroblasts by Encoding Protein
Yuan GAO ; Chuan-Meng ZHOU ; Hua-Yan WU ; Ya WANG ; Ru-Shi WU ; Pei-Ying GUAN ; Jun-Tao FANG ; Jin-Dong XU ; Yu-Peng LIU ; Zhi-Qin HU ; Zhi-Xin SHAN
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2025;41(3):393-403
A mounting body of research suggests that circRNAs significantly contribute to the develop-ment of myocardial fibrosis.The microarray results of human circular RNA expression profile indicated that circHERC4_041 expression increased in the myocardium of patients with heart failure,RT-qPCR a-nalysis confirmed that the myocardial expression level of circHERC4_041 in individuals with heart failure were considerably elevated compared to that in healthy organ donors.Fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH)confirmed that circHERC4_041 was abundant in the cytoplasm of human cardiomyocyte AC16.Overexpression of circHERC4_041 in mouse myocardial fibroblasts(mCFs)mediated by adenovirus in-hibited the expression of fibrosis-related proteins in mCFs.Experiments involving cell proliferation,wound healing,and Transwell assays demonstrated that overexpression of circHERC4_041 suppressed the growth and mobility of mCFs(P<0.001).Sequence analysis results suggested that circHERC4_041 con-tains potential ribosome entry sequence(IRES)and open reading frame(ORF).Western blot confirmed that circHERC4_041 could translate the 516 amino acid HERC4-516aa protein,which was mainly located in the cytoplasm of the cell.Cell functional experiments confirmed that circHERC4_041 inhibited the fi-brotic phenotype of mCFs by specifically translating HERC4-516aa(P<0.05).The specific interaction between HERC4-516aa and transglutaminase 2(TGM2)was confirmed by IP-MS screening and Co-IP i-dentification.Further results found that the degradation of TGM2 was promoted through proteasome path-way.The overexpression of TGM2 in mCFs facilitated by adenoviral vectors could counteract the suppres-sive effects of HERC4-516aa on the fibrotic phenotype of mCFs.Therefore,this study confirmed that the HERC4-516aa protein translated by circHERC4_041 can specifically bind to TGM2 to inhibit the fibrotic phenotype of myocardial fibroblasts.
9.Risk factors for adverse outcomes in atrial fibrillation patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation:a prospective cohort study
Jin BAI ; Peng-xin XIE ; Yan-guang LI ; Ran JING ; Zong-shi LI ; Gong-bu ZHOU ; Shu-wang LIU
Chinese Journal of Interventional Cardiology 2025;33(3):121-127
Objective To explore the factors that influence major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)in atrial fibrillation(AF)patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation(RFA),as well as to compare the prognosis of patients with advanced AF to that of the general population.Methods We prospectively recruited AF patients who underwent RFA treatment at Peking University Third Hospital between January 2021 and March 2023.General patient data were collected through the hospital's inpatient system,and MACE were tracked through outpatient visits and telephone follow-ups.Patients were categorized into three age groups:Group 1(under 65 years),Group 2(65 to 75 years),and Group 3(over 75 years).In this study,MACE was defined as include cardiovascular death,all-cause death,readmission for heart failure,acute coronary syndrome(ACS),grade 2 or higher bleeding and stroke.Results A total of 431 patients were included in this study,with an average age of(66.17±12.22)years.Among these patients,259 were male(60.09%),and the mean of CHA2DS2-VASc score was(1.79±1.30).The median follow-up period was 16.0(11.3,21.3)months,during which 28(6.50%)patients experienced MACE,with ACS and stroke being the most common events.Variables were selected using LASSO regression,and a LASSO-Cox regression model was constructed.Age(HR 1.06,95%CI 1.02-1.10,P=0.006)and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HR 3.70,95%CI 1.27-8.68,P=0.008)were identified as independent predictors of MACE after RFA for AF.Subgroup analysis revealed that patients under 65 had significantly better prognoses compared to older AF patients(P=0.030 compared with group 2;P=0.021 compared with group 3).Conclusions Age and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are independent risk factors for MACE in AF patients undergoing RFA.The prognosis for younger patients is better than that for older patients,while the prognosis for advanced patients is comparable to that of patients aged 65-75 years.
10.Chemical constituents from Gymnema tingens and their in vitro hypoglycemic activity
Mei-yu LIU ; Xin ZHAN ; Guang-feng LIAO ; Jin-yan ZHANG ; Xin-zhou YANG ; Ru-mei LU
Chinese Traditional Patent Medicine 2025;47(6):1892-1900
AIM To study the chemical constituents from Gymnema tingens Spreng.and their in vitro hypoglycemic activity.METHODS The 70%ethanol extract was isolated and purified by macroporous resin,silica gel,sephadex LH-20,and semi-preparative HPLC,then the structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical propeties and spectral data.The in vitro hypoglycemic activity was evaluated by glucose uptake test in L6 cells.RESULTS Seventeen compounds were isolated and identified as 7-desoxyneocynapanogenin A(1),glaucogenin(2),cynatratoside A(3),atratcynoside F(4),(+)-lyoniresinol(5),(+)-lyoniresinol 3-O-α-D-rhamnopyranoside-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside(6),fernandoside(7),3,4-dimethoxy-phenyl-1-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside(8),khaephuoside A(9),khaephuoside B(10),3,4,5-trimethoxy-phenyl-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(11),liquiritigenin(12),7,3'-dihydroxy-flavanone-4'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside(13),pinoresinol(14),syringaldehyde(15),(+)-1-hydroxy-pinoresinol-1-β-D-glucopyranoside(16),β-amyrin(17).Compounds 2-5、7、9、10、12、17 could promote the glucose uptake in L6 cells.CONCLUSION Compound 1 is a new compound,and 2-9、11-13、15-17 are isolated from this plant for the first time.Compounds 2-5、7、9、10、12、17 have good hypoglycemic activity.

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