1.Interpretation and thoughts on the formulation and revision of the standards for exogenous harmful residues in traditional Chinese medicinal materials in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2025 Edition
WANG Ying ; SHEN Mingrui ; LIU Yuanxi ; ZUO Tiantian ; WANG Dandan ; HE Yi ; CHENG Xianlong ; JIN Hongyu ; LIU Yongli ; WEI Feng ; MA Shuangcheng
Drug Standards of China 2025;26(1):083-092
As people’s attention to health continues to increase, the market demand for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is growing steadily. The quality and safety of Chinese medicinal materials have attracted unprecedented social attention. In particular, the issue of exogenous harmful residue pollution in TCM has become a hot topic of concern for both regulatory authorities and society. The Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2025 Edition further refines the detection methods and limit standards for exogenous harmful residues in TCM. This not only reflects China’s high-level emphasis on the quality and safety of TCM but also demonstrates the continuous progress made by China in the field of TCM safety supervision. Basis on this study, by systematically reviewing the development history of the detection standards for exogenous harmful residues in TCM and analyzing the revisions and updates of these detection standards in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2025 Edition, deeply explores the key points of the changes in the monitoring standards for exogenous harmful residues in TCM in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2025 Edition. Moreover, it interprets the future development directions of the detection of exogenous residues in TCM, aiming to provide a reference for the formulation of TCM safety supervision policies.
2.Research progress on strategies to target intestinal microbiota to improve drug resistance in tumor immunotherapy
Hui-ling LI ; Bi-qing LIU ; Ying-nan FENG ; Xin HU ; Lan ZHANG ; Xian-zhe DONG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2025;60(2):260-268
A growing body of research points out that gut microbiota plays a key role in tumor immunotherapy. By optimizing the composition of intestinal microbiota, it is possible to effectively improve immunotherapy resistance and enhance its therapeutic effect. This article comprehensively analyzes the mechanism of intestinal microbiota influencing tumor immunotherapy resistance, expounds the current strategies for targeted regulation of intestinal microbiota, such as traditional Chinese medicine and plant components, fecal microbiota transplantation, probiotics, prebiotics and dietary therapy, and explores the potential mechanisms of these strategies to improve patients' resistance to tumor immunotherapy. At the same time, the article also briefly discusses the prospects and challenges of targeting intestinal microbiota to improve tumor immunotherapy resistance, which provides a reference for related research to help the strategy research of reversing tumor immunotherapy resistance.
3.Status of Clinical Practice Guideline Information Platforms
Xueqin ZHANG ; Yun ZHAO ; Jie LIU ; Long GE ; Ying XING ; Simeng REN ; Yifei WANG ; Wenzheng ZHANG ; Di ZHANG ; Shihua WANG ; Yao SUN ; Min WU ; Lin FENG ; Tiancai WEN
Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital 2025;16(2):462-471
Clinical practice guidelines represent the best recommendations for patient care. They are developed through systematically reviewing currently available clinical evidence and weighing the relative benefits and risks of various interventions. However, clinical practice guidelines have to go through a long translation cycle from development and revision to clinical promotion and application, facing problems such as scattered distribution, high duplication rate, and low actual utilization. At present, the clinical practice guideline information platform can directly or indirectly solve the problems related to the lengthy revision cycles, decentralized dissemination and limited application of clinical practice guidelines. Therefore, this paper systematically examines different types of clinical practice guideline information platforms and investigates their corresponding challenges and emerging trends in platform design, data integration, and practical implementation, with the aim of clarifying the current status of this field and providing valuable reference for future research on clinical practice guideline information platforms.
4.Biosynthesis of ganoderic acid and its derivatives.
Hong-Yan SONG ; Wan YANG ; Li-Wei LIU ; Xia-Ying CHENG ; Dong-Feng YANG ; Zong-Qi YANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(5):1155-1163
Ganoderic acid is a class of lanostane-type triterpenoids found in Ganoderma species, and is one of the most important pharmacologically active components in G. lucidum, exhibiting antioxidant, anti-neuropsychiatric, anti-tumor, and immune-enhancing properties. The content of ganoderic acid in G. lucidum is very low, and the traditional extraction process is complex, yielding minimal amounts at high cost. The biosynthetic pathway of G. lucidum triterpenoids(GLTs), including the synthesis of different structural forms of ganoderic acid from lanosterol, as well as the molecular regulatory mechanisms involving key regulatory enzyme genes and their functions, are not yet fully understood. With the continuous development of synthetic biology technologies, there has been a deeper understanding of the biosynthesis and metabolic regulation pathways of ganoderic acid and its derivatives at the molecular level. Research has explored the key regulatory enzyme genes related to ganoderic acid biosynthesis and their functions. Moreover, through the optimization of synthetic biology and culture conditions, large-scale production and preparation of GLTs at the cellular level have been achieved. This paper reviews and analyzes the latest research progress on the biosynthesis pathways and metabolic regulation of GLTs, focusing on the configuration of ganoderic acid and its derivatives, the biosynthetic pathways, key enzyme genes, transcription factors related to ganoderic acid biosynthesis, signal transduction mechanisms, and factors affecting triterpenoid biotransformation. This review is expected to provide a theoretical basis and technical reference for improving the efficient production of triterpenoid pharmacological components and the exploitation and utilization of G. lucidum resources.
Triterpenes/chemistry*
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Reishi/chemistry*
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Biosynthetic Pathways
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Lanosterol
5.Metabolomics and pharmacokinetics of Corni Fructus in ameliorating myocardial ischemic injury.
Xiang-Feng LIU ; Yu WU ; Chao-Yan YANG ; Hua-Wei LIAO ; Yan-Fen CHEN ; Xin HE ; Ying-Fang WANG ; Jin-Ru LIANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(5):1363-1376
This study aims to investigate the ameliorating effect of Corni Fructus(CF) on the myocardial ischemic injury and the pharmacokinetic properties of characteristic components of CF. The mouse model of isoproterenol-induced myocardial ischemia was established and administrated with the aqueous extract of CF. The general efficacy of CF in ameliorating the myocardial ischemic injury was evaluated based on the cardiac histopathology and the levels of myocardial injury markers: creatine kinase isoenzyme(CK-MB) and cardiac troponin I(cTn-I). The metabolomics analysis was carried out for the heart and serum samples of mice to screen the biomarkers of CF in ameliorating the myocardial ischemic injury and then the predicted biomarkers were submitted to metabolic pathway enrichment. The pharmacokinetic analysis was performed for morroniside, loganin, and cornuside Ⅰ in mouse heart and serum samples to obtain the pharmacokinetic parameters of these components. The pharmacokinetic parameters were then integrated on the basis of self-defined weighting coefficients to simulate an integrated pharmacokinetic profile of CF iridoid glycosides in the heart and serum of the mouse model of myocardial ischemia. The results indicated that CF reduced the pathological damage to cardiac cells and tissue(hematoxylin-eosin staining) and lowered the levels of CK-MB and cTn-I in the serum of the mouse model of myocardial ischemia(P<0.01). Metabolomics analysis screed out 31 endogenous metabolites in the heart and 35 in the serum as biomarkers of CF in ameliorating the myocardial ischemic injury. These biomarkers were altered by modeling and restored by CF. Six metabolic pathways in the heart and 5 in the serum were enriched based on these metabolic markers. The main integrated pharmacokinetic parameters of CF iridoid glycosides were T_(max)=1 h, t_(1/2)=(1.52±0.05) h in the heart and T_(max)=1 h, t_(1/2)=(1.56±0.50) h in the serum. Both concentration-time curves showed a double-peak phenomenon. In conclusion, CF demonstrated the cardioprotective effect by regulating metabolic pathways such as taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, and pantothenic acid and coenzyme A biosynthesis. The integrated pharmacokinetics reflect the general pharmacokinetic properties of characteristic components in CF.
Animals
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Cornus/chemistry*
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Mice
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Metabolomics
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Male
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Myocardial Ischemia/metabolism*
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Humans
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Troponin I/metabolism*
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Myocardium/pathology*
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Disease Models, Animal
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Biomarkers/metabolism*
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Creatine Kinase, MB Form/metabolism*
6.Buyang Huanwu Decoction promotes angiogenesis after oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation injury of bEnd.3 cells by regulating YAP1/HIF-1α signaling pathway via caveolin-1.
Bo-Wei CHEN ; Yin OUYANG ; Fan-Zuo ZENG ; Ying-Fei LIU ; Feng-Ming TIAN ; Ya-Qian XU ; Jian YI ; Bai-Yan LIU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(14):3847-3856
This study aims to explore the mechanism of Buyang Huanwu Decoction(BHD) in promoting angiogenesis after oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation(OGD/R) of mouse brain microvascular endothelial cell line(brain-derived Endothelial cells.3, bEnd.3) based on the caveolin-1(Cav1)/Yes-associated protein 1(YAP1)/hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α) signaling pathway. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) was used to analyze the blood components of BHD. The cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) method was used to detect the optimal intervention concentration of drug-containing serum of BHD after OGD/R injury of bEnd.3. The lentiviral transfection method was used to construct a Cav1 silent stable strain, and Western blot and polymerase chain reaction(PCR) methods were used to verify the silencing efficiency. The control bEnd.3 cells were divided into a normal group(sh-NC control group), an OGD/R model + blank serum group(sh-NC OGD/R group), and an OGD/R model + drug-containing serum group(sh-NC BHD group). Cav1 silent cells were divided into an OGD/R model + blank serum group(sh-Cav1 OGD/R group) and an OGD/R model + drug-containing serum group(sh-Cav1 BHD group). The cell survival rate was detected by the CCK-8 method. The cell migration ability was detected by a cell migration assay. The lumen formation ability was detected by an angiogenesis assay. The apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry, and the expression of YAP1/HIF-1α signaling pathway-related proteins in each group was detected by Western blot. Finally, co-immunoprecipitation was used to verify the interaction between YAP1 and HIF-1α. The results showed astragaloside Ⅳ, formononetin, ferulic acid, and albiflorin in BHD can all enter the blood. The drug-containing serum of BHD at a mass fraction of 10% may be the optimal intervention concentration for OGD/R-induced injury of bEnd.3 cells. Compared with the sh-NC control group, the sh-NC OGD/R group showed significantly decreased cell survival rate, cell migration rate, mesh number, node number, and lumen length, significantly increased cell apoptotic rate, significantly lowered phosphorylation level of YAP1 at S127 site, and significantly elevated nuclear displacement level of YAP1 and protein expression of HIF-1α, vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2(VEGFR2). Compared with the same type of OGD/R group, the sh-NC BHD group and sh-Cav1 BHD group had significantly increased cell survival rate, cell migration rate, mesh number, node number, and lumen length, a significantly decreased cell apoptotic rate, a further decreased phosphorylation level of YAP1 at S127 site, and significantly increased nuclear displacement level of YAP1 and protein expression of HIF-1α, VEGF, and VEGFR2. Compared with the sh-NC OGD/R group, the sh-Cav1 OGD/R group exhibited significantly decreased cell survival rate, cell migration rate, mesh number, node number, and lumen length, a significantly increased cell apoptotic rate, a significantly increased phosphorylation level of YAP1 at S127 site, and significantly decreased nuclear displacement level of YAP1 and protein expression of HIF-1α, VEGF, and VEGFR2. Compared with the sh-NC BHD group, the sh-Cav1 BHD group showed significantly decreased cell survival rate, cell migration rate, mesh number, node number, and lumen length, a significantly increased cell apoptotic rate, a significantly increased phosphorylation level of YAP1 at the S127 site, and significantly decreased nuclear displacement level of YAP1 and protein expression of HIF-1α, VEGF, and VEGFR2. YAP1 protein was present in the protein complex precipitated by the HIF-1α antibody, and HIF-1α protein was also present in the protein complex precipitated by the YAP1 antibody. The results confirmed that the drug-containing serum of BHD can increase the activity of YAP1/HIF-1α pathway in bEnd.3 cells damaged by OGD/R through Cav1 and promote angiogenesis in vitro.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
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Animals
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Mice
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
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Glucose/metabolism*
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Caveolin 1/genetics*
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Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/genetics*
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YAP-Signaling Proteins
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Oxygen/metabolism*
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Endothelial Cells/metabolism*
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Cell Line
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Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics*
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Neovascularization, Physiologic/drug effects*
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Cell Hypoxia/drug effects*
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Angiogenesis
7.Mechanism of Jianpi Bushen Yiqi Decoction in promoting AChR clustering and improving neuromuscular junction function in EAMG mice based on Agrin/LRP4/MuSK signaling pathway.
Jia-Hui WANG ; Ru-Ge LIU ; Han-Bin LIU ; Jia-Hao WEI ; Jie ZHANG ; Xue-Ying LIU ; Feng GAO ; Jun-Hong YANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(15):4325-4332
This study investigated the mechanism by which Jianpi Bushen Yiqi Decoction promotes acetylcholine receptor(AChR) clustering in myasthenia gravis through the Agrin/low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4(LRP4)/muscle-specific receptor tyrosine kinases(MuSK) signaling pathway. A total of 114 female C57BL/6J mice were divided into the normal group, modeling group, and solvent control group. The normal group and the solvent control group were immunized with phosphate-buffered saline(PBS), while the modeling group was established as an experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis(EAMG) model using the murine-derived AChR-α subunit R97-116 peptide fragment. After successful modeling, the mice were randomly assigned to the model group, the low-, medium-, and high-dose Jianpi Bushen Yiqi Decoction groups, and the prednisone group. After four weeks of continuous treatment, muscle strength was assessed using Lennon scores and grip strength tests. Immunofluorescence staining was conducted on differentiated C2C12 myotubes incubated with a drug-containing serum to observe the number of AChR clusters. The integrity of AChR on myofilaments in mouse gastrocnemius muscles was further assessed by immunofluorescence staining. Hematoxylin-Eosin(HE)staining was applied to examine pathological changes in the gastrocnemius muscles of EAMG mice treated with Jianpi Bushen Yiqi Decoction. Western blot was utilized to detect the expression of key proteins in the Agrin/LRP4/MuSK signaling pathway in both C2C12 myotubes and mouse gastrocnemius muscles. The results demonstrated that compared to the model group, the prednisone group exhibited a significant decrease in the body weights of mice, whereas no significant differences in the body weights of mice were observed among the low-, medium-, and high-dose Jianpi Bushen Yiqi Decoction groups. All treatment groups showed significantly improved grip strength and Lennon scores. Additionally, the formula promoted AChR clustering on myotubes and enhanced AChR integrity in gastrocnemius myofilaments and reduced inflammatory infiltration between muscle tissue and fibrous hyperplasia. Furthermore, Jianpi Bushen Yiqi Decoction upregulated the protein expression of AChRα1, Agrin, and p-MuSK in C2C12 myotubes and increased the protein expression of AChRα1, Agrin, MuSK, p-MuSK, LRP4, and docking protein 7(Dok-7)in gastrocnemius tissue. In conclusion, Jianpi Bushen Yiqi Decoction may promote AChR clustering by targeting key proteins in the Agrin/LRP4/MuSK signaling pathway, thereby improving neuromuscular junction function and enhancing muscle strength.
Animals
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Agrin/genetics*
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Mice
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
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Receptors, Cholinergic/genetics*
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Female
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/genetics*
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Neuromuscular Junction/metabolism*
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Myasthenia Gravis, Autoimmune, Experimental/physiopathology*
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Humans
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LDL-Receptor Related Proteins
8.Cost-effectiveness analysis between sodium valproate and levetiracetam in the treatment of childhood epilepsy
Wei SHAO ; Ni YUAN ; Ye LIU ; Fei YU ; Ying LIU ; Feng WANG
Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice and Service 2025;43(8):410-413
Objective To compare the cost-effectiveness between sodium valproate and levetiracetam in the treatment of childhood epilepsy and provide an economic basis for clinical medication choices. Methods A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted using a decision tree model to compare the effectiveness and drug costs of sodium valproate and levetiracetam in treating childhood epilepsy. Single-factor sensitivity analysis and probabilistic sensitivity analysis were used to assess the impact of parameter variations on the study results. Results The treatment cost of levetiracetam was significantly higher than that of sodium valproate. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of levetiracetam compared to sodium valproate was ¥8 628.43. Sensitivity analysis results were consistent with the base-case analysis. The probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed that, over a 6-month treatment period, levetiracetam became a more cost-effective option when the willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold was ¥9,000 or higher. One-way sensitivity analysis revealed that the price of levetiracetam was the most influential factor affecting the ICER. Conclusion When the WTP per effective pediatric epilepsy case is ¥9,000 or higher, levetiracetam demonstrates a cost-effectiveness advantage.
9.Impact of anticentromere antibody on the clinical features and prognosis of patients with primary biliary cholangitis
Shengzhu HE ; Guiqin ZHOU ; Kexin QIAO ; Yaxing LIU ; Bin LI ; Ying FENG ; Xianbo WANG
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(5):872-877
ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of anticentromere antibody (ACA) on the clinical features and prognosis of patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) by comparing clinical classification, ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) response, GLOBE score, and UK-PBC score between ACA-positive PBC patients and ACA-negative PBC patients. MethodsA total of 749 patients who were admitted to Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, from August 2013 to December 2022 and were diagnosed with PBC were enrolled and divided into ACA-positive group with 147 patients and ACA-negative group with 602 patients. According to their conditions on admission, the two groups were compared in terms of the distribution of clinical types, i.e., chronic progression-type PBC, portal hypertension-type PBC, and standard jaundice/liver failure-type PBC. There were 261 patients with complete data after 1-year follow-up, among whom there were 53 patients with positive ACA and 208 with negative ACA. A statistical analysis was performed, and propensity score matching was performed based on sex and age at a ratio of 1∶2. The two groups were compared in terms of 1-year UDCA response rate, GLOBE score, and UK-PBC score before and after matching. The independent-samples t test or the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups, and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. ResultsCompared with the ACA-negative group, the ACA-positive group had a significantly higher age (61.28±10.35 years vs 56.74±12.17 years, t=4.164, P<0.001), a significantly higher proportion of female patients (93.9% vs 77.6%, χ2=20.221, P<0.001), a significantly higher proportion of patients with portal hypertension (48.3% vs 27.6%, χ2=23.289, P<0.001), and a significantly lower proportion of patients with jaundice/liver failure (24.5% vs 38.5%, χ2=10.205, P<0.001). After 1-year follow-up, for the 261 PBC patients with complete data, there was no significant difference in UDCA response rate before propensity score matching between the ACA-positive group and the ACA-negative group (41.5% vs 41.8%, P>0.05), and there was a significant difference in the proportion of patients with a GLOBE score of >0.3 between the ACA-positive group and the ACA-negative group (92.5% vs 80.3%, χ2=3.935, P=0.047). There were 53 patients in the ACA-positive group and 106 patients in the ACA-negative group after propensity score matching, and there were no significant differences between the two groups in UDCA response rate, GLOBE score, and UK-PBC score (all P>0.05). ConclusionACA-positive patients tend to have an older age, with a higher proportion of female patients or patients with portal hypertension, while there is a relatively low proportion of patients with jaundice/liver failure. Positive ACA has no significant impact on UDCA response rate, GLOBE score, and UK-PBC score.
10.THBS4 in Disease: Mechanisms, Biomarkers, and Therapeutic Opportunities
De-Ying HUANG ; Yan-Hong LI ; Xiu-Feng BAI ; Yi LIU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(9):2217-2232
Thrombospondin 4 (THBS4; TSP4), a crucial component of the extracellular matrix (ECM), serves as an important regulator of tissue homeostasis and various pathophysiological processes. As a member of the evolutionarily conserved thrombospondin family, THBS4 is a multidomain adhesive glycoprotein characterized by six distinct structural domains that mediate its diverse biological functions. Through dynamic interactions with various ECM components, THBS4 plays pivotal roles in cell adhesion, proliferation, inflammation regulation, and tissue remodeling, establishing it as a key modulator of microenvironmental organization. The transcription and translation of THBS4 gene, as well as the activity of the THBS4 protein, are tightly regulated by multiple signaling pathways and extracellular cues. Positive regulators of THBS4 include transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), interferon-γ (IFNγ), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP12/13), and other regulatory factors (such as B4GALNT1, ITGA2/ITGB1, PDGFRβ, etc.), which upregulate THBS4 at the mRNA and/or protein level. Conversely, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OXLDL) acts as a potent negative regulator of THBS4. This intricate regulatory network ensures precise spatial and temporal control of THBS4 expression in response to diverse physiological and pathological stimuli. Functionally, THBS4 acts as a critical signaling hub, influencing multiple downstream pathways essential for cellular behavior and tissue homeostasis. The best-characterized pathways include: (1) the PI3K/AKT/mTOR axis, which THBS4 modulates through both direct and indirect interactions with integrins and growth factor receptors; (2) Wnt/β-catenin signaling, where THBS4 functions as either an activator or inhibitor depending on the cellular context; (3) the suppression of DBET/TRIM69, contributing to its diverse regulatory roles. These signaling connections position THBS4 as a master regulator of cellular responses to microenvironmental changes. Substantial evidence links aberrant THBS4 expression to a range of pathological conditions, including neoplastic diseases, cardiovascular disorders, fibrotic conditions, neurodegenerative diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, and atopic dermatitis. In cancer biology, THBS4 exhibits context-dependent roles, functioning either as a tumor suppressor or promoter depending on the tumor type and microenvironment. In the cardiovascular system, THBS4 contributes to both adaptive remodeling and maladaptive fibrotic responses. Its involvement in fibrotic diseases arises from its ability to regulate ECM deposition and turnover. The diagnostic and therapeutic potential of THBS4 is particularly promising in oncology and cardiovascular medicine. As a biomarker, THBS4 expression patterns correlate significantly with disease progression and patient outcomes. Therapeutically, targeting THBS4-mediated pathways offers novel opportunities for precision medicine approaches, including anti-fibrotic therapies, modulation of the tumor microenvironment, and enhancement of tissue repair. This comprehensive review systematically explores three key aspects of THBS4 research(1) the fundamental biological functions of THBS4 in ECM organization; (2) its mechanistic involvement in various disease pathologies; (3) its emerging potential as both a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target. By integrating recent insights from molecular studies, animal models, and clinical investigations, this review provides a framework for understanding the multifaceted roles of THBS4 in health and disease. The synthesis of current knowledge highlights critical research gaps and future directions for exploring THBS4-targeted interventions across multiple disease contexts. Given its unique position at the intersection of ECM biology and cellular signaling, THBS4 represents a promising frontier for the development of novel diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies in precision medicine.

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