1.COLEC12high tumor-associated macrophages orchestrate lenvatinib resistance and cancer stemness in hepatocellular carcinoma via paracrine NRG1-HER2/HER3 signaling
Jianxing ZHANG ; Liang QIAO ; Zongfeng WU ; Dinglan ZUO ; Shanshan HUANG ; Shaoru LIU ; Zhenkun HUANG ; Yi ZENG ; Yu LI ; Yichuan YUAN ; Chenwei WANG ; Wei HE ; Jiliang QIU ; Yunfei YUAN ; Yi NIU ; Binkui LI
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2026;32(2):772-786
Background/Aims:
Lenvatinib resistance remains a critical barrier in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapy. However, the underlying mechanisms and strategies for reversing resistance remain incompletely understood.
Methods:
Integrated transcriptomics of lenvatinib-resistant patient tumors and an acquired-resistance murine model identified a novel macrophage subpopulation. Functional validation employed CRISPR-SAM screening, conditioned medium (CM) assays, subcutaneous/orthotopic xenografts, patient-derived organoids (PDOs), and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). Mechanistic studies included ChIP-qPCR, co-immunoprecipitation, and pharmacologic targeting. Clinical relevance was assessed in a retrospective cohort.
Results:
Resistant HCC exhibited significant enrichment of a COLEC12high TAM subset , which correlated with poor survival and treatment response. These TAMs secreted neuregulin-1 (NRG1) , activating HER2/HER3-AKT signaling in tumor cells to drive cancer stemness and lenvatinib resistance. Mechanistically, in TAMs COLEC12 sequestered STAT1 in the cytoplasm, preventing its phosphorylation, and thereby derepressing STAT3-mediated NRG1 transcription. Depletion of NRG1 reversed the stemness phenotypes and resensitized tumors to lenvatinib both in vitro and in vivo. Clinically, high NRG1 expression predicted an inferior lenvatinib response and shorter survival. Crucially, the bispecific anti-HER2/HER3 antibody zenocutuzumab restored lenvatinib efficacy in PDOs, PDXs, and murine models.
Conclusions
Our work establishes the COLEC12high TAM/NRG1 axis as a master regulator of therapeutic resistance and identifies NRG1 as a predictive biomarker, providing a clinically actionable strategy to overcome lenvatinib resistance in HCC.
2.Comparison of sleep EEG power spectral density between depressive episode patients and schizophrenia patients with suicidal behavior
Jingwen LIU ; Yunfei ZHOU ; Jingchu HU ; Jiaoyan ZHOU ; Junwei YANG ; Jie LIANG ; Hong XU ; Yu CANG ; Shimeng MA
Sichuan Mental Health 2026;39(1):50-57
BackgroundPatients with depressive episode and schizophrenia have a high risk of suicide. The sleep electroencephalogram power spectral density characteristics of patients with depressive episode accompanied by suicidal behavior and those with schizophrenia may be different, but there is currently a lack of direct comparative studies on these two groups of patients. ObjectiveTo compare the sleep electroencephalogram power spectral density between depressive episode and schizophrenic patients with suicidal behavior, in order to provide references for exploring predictive indicators of suicidal behavior. MethodsFrom June 2018 to December 2020, 20 patients with depressive episode and 20 patients with schizophrenia who had committed suicide within the past month and were treated at the outpatient department of Shenzhen Kangning Hospital were selected. All of them met the diagnostic criteria for depressive episode or schizophrenia as defined in the International Classification of Diseases, tenth edition (ICD-10). Using a random sampling method, 20 volunteers with matching gender and age to the patient groups were selected from the Cuiping community in Shenzhen as the control group. The subjective sleep of the patients was evaluated using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the Dysfunctional Belief and Attitude about Sleep (DBAS), the Disturbing Dreams and Nightmare Severity Index (DDNSI), and the Epworth Somnolence Scale (ESS). The objective sleep of the patients was assessed using polysomnography. The sleep electroencephalogram was filtered and the power spectral density of the brain wave was analyzed and processed for all the subjects. The subjective and objective sleep conditions of the two patient groups were compared, and the sleep electroencephalogram power spectral density of the patient groups and the control group were also compared. ResultsA comparison of subjective and objective sleep conditions between patients with depressive episode accompanied by suicidal behavior and patients with schizophrenia accompanied by suicidal behavior showed no statistically significant differences (P>0.05). Comparisons of sleep electroencephalogram power spectral density in the W stage (average power of α wave, total power of δ wave, average power of δ wave, average power of θ wave), N1 stage (average power of β wave, total power of α wave, total power of δ wave), N2 stage (total power of α wave, average power of α wave, total power of δ wave, average power of δ wave), N3 stage (average power of α wave, average power of δ wave), and R stage (total power of α wave, average power of α wave, total power of δ wave, average power of δ wave) between patients with depressive episode accompanied by suicidal behavior, patients with schizophrenia accompanied by suicidal behavior, and the control group showed statistically significant differences (P<0.05 or 0.01). The total power of δ wave in the W stage and the average power of β wave and δ wave in the N1 stage were higher in two patient groups were higher than those of the control group. The total power of α wave and the average power of α wave in the N2 stage were lower than those of the control group, while the average power of δ wave was higher than that of the control group. The average power of α wave in the N3 stage of both patient groups were lower than that of the control group, while the average power of δ wave was higher than that of the control group. The total power and average power of α wave in the R stage were lower than those of the control group, while the total power and average power of δ wave were higher than those of the control group. All the differences were statistically significant. Patients with depressive episode accompanied by suicidal behavior had higher average powers of α wave, δ wave, and θ wave in the W stage compared with the control group, while the total power of α wave in the N1 stage was lower in the former group. All these differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). ConclusionThe depressive episode patients accompanied by suicidal behavior have highly overlapping sleep electroencephalogram abnormal patterns with those of schizophrenia patients, mainly manifested as a general decrease in α wave power (N2, N3, R stage) and a general increase in δ wave power (W, N1, N2, N3, R stage) as well as β wave power in N1 stage. At the same time, patients with depressive episode accompanied by suicidal behavior also show specific changes, including an increase in the average power of α and θ waves during the wakefulness period (W stage), and a decrease in the total power of α wave in N1 stage. [Funded by Guangdong Province High-level Clinical Key Specialty (with supporting funds from Shenzhen City) (number, SZGSP013); Shenzhen Key Medical Discipline (number, SZXK041); Shenzhen Clinical Medicine Research Center Project (number, 20210617155253001)]
3.Mechanism study of SIRT3 alleviating oxidative-stress injury in renal tubular cells by promoting mitochondrial biogenesis via regulating mitochondrial redox balance
Yaojun LIU ; Jun ZHOU ; Jing LIU ; Yunfei SHAN ; Huhai ZHANG ; Pan XIE ; Liying ZOU ; Lingyu RAN ; Huanping LONG ; Lunli XIANG ; Hong HUANG ; Hongwen ZHAO
Organ Transplantation 2026;17(1):86-94
Objective To elucidate the molecular mechanism of sirtuin-3 (SIRT3) in regulating mitochondrial biogenesis in human renal tubular epithelial cells. Methods Cells were stimulated with different concentrations of H2O2 and divided into four groups: control (NC), 50 μmol/L H2O2, 110 μmol/L H2O2 and 150 μmol/L H2O2. SIRT3 protein expression was then measured. SIRT3 was knocked down with siRNA, and cells were further assigned to five groups: control (NC), negative-control siRNA (NCsi), SIRT3-siRNA (siSIRT3), NCsi+H2O2, and siSIRT3+H2O2. After 24 h, cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and mitochondrial superoxide anion (O2•−) levels were determined, together with mitochondrial expression of SIRT3, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1), mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), acetylated-SOD2 and adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase α1 (AMPKα1). Results The 110 and 150 μmol/L H2O2 decreased SIRT3 protein (both P<0.05). ATP and mitochondrial O2•− did not differ between NC and NCsi groups (both P>0.05). Compared to the NCsi group, the siSIRT3 group exhibited elevated O2•− level, decreased SIRT3 protein and increased expression levels of SOD2 and acetylated SOD2 protein (all P<0.05). Compared to the NCsi group, the NCsi+H2O2 group exhibited decreased cellular ATP levels, elevated mitochondrial O2•− levels, and reduced protein expression levels of SIRT3, SOD2, TFAM, AMPKα1, PGC-1α and NRF1 (all P<0.05). Compared with the siSIRT3 group, the siSIRT3+H2O2 group showed a decrease in cellular ATP levels, an increase in mitochondrial O2•− levels, a decrease in SIRT3, SOD2, TFAM, AMPKα1, PGC-1α and NRF1 protein expression levels and a decrease in acetylated SOD2 protein expression levels (all P<0.05). Compared with the NCsi+H2O2 group, the siSIRT3+H2O2 group showed a decrease in cellular ATP levels, an increase in mitochondrial O2•− levels, a decrease in SIRT3, AMPKα1, PGC-1α and NRF1, TFAM protein expression levels, and an increase in SOD2 and acetylated SOD2 protein expression levels (all P<0.05). Conclusions SIRT3 promotes mitochondrial biogenesis in tubular epithelial cells via the AMPK/PGC-1α/NRF1/TFAM axis, representing a key mechanism through which SIRT3 ameliorates oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction.
4.Immunological features of a patient with CHARGE syndrome caused by the CHD7 gene c.5122C>T nonsense mutation
Chenlin LI ; Xin CHEN ; Qing LIU ; Ran CHEN ; Wenli HE ; Lin TONG ; Yulin LI ; Zhengxia PAN ; Yunfei AN ; Lu ZHAO
Immunological Journal 2025;41(2):97-102,122
Objective To analyze the clinical and immunological characteristics of a rare case of CHARGE syndrome,we summarize the genotype and phenotype in the Chinese patient population,and explore the underlying immunopathogenic mechanisms.Methods Clinical data from a pediatric patient with CHARGE syndrome were collected and analyzed.A comprehensive analysis of the Chinese patient population was conducted.Gene analysis and immunological characterization were performed using flow cytometry,deep sequencing,and quantitative PCR.Results The proband was a premature female infant whose primary clinical manifestations included congenital heart disease,recurrent respiratory infections,respiratory failure,airway dysplasia,hearing impairment,and bilateral choroidal coloboma.Whole-exome sequencing revealed a de novo heterozygous nonsense mutation in the CHD7 gene,c.5122C>T(p.Gln1708Ter),classified as pathogenic according to ACMG criteria.Immunological studies indicated impaired thymic output of T cells,significant alterations in the number and proportion of CD8+T cell subsets,increased apoptosis,and defective activation and production of key effector cytokines such as IFN-γ by CD8+T cells.However,no significant abnormalities were observed in peripheral lymphocyte proliferation.Conclusion CHARGE syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disorder primarily caused by mutations in the CHD7 gene.The main clinical features include ocular defects,cardiac disease,choanal atresia/cleft lip and palate,growth retardation,gonadal hypoplasia,and ear anomalies.This case study suggests that CHARGE syndrome is associated with abnormalities in the development,apoptosis,and effector functions of immune cells.
5.Application of High-intensity focused ultrasound combined with chemotherapy as neoadjuvant and conversion therapy for advanced pancreatic cancer based on a multidisciplinary treatment model:a report of 4 cases
Yunfei LIU ; Dong LUO ; Hongwei ZHU ; Pei XU ; Qiongqiong XIE ; Jichun SUN ; Xiao YU ; Lang CHEN ; Zhiqiang LI
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2025;34(9):1996-2006
Pancreatic cancer is highly aggressive and often diagnosed at an advanced stage,leaving most patients ineligible for radical resection.This study retrospectively analyzed four patients with locally advanced or advanced pancreatic cancer to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of high-intensity focused ultrasound(HIFU)ablation combined with chemotherapy as a neoadjuvant and conversion therapy.All cases were reviewed and individualized treatment plans were formulated through a multidisciplinary team evaluation.All patients received HIFU plus gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel chemotherapy,with assessments of tumor volume,vascular involvement,surgical conversion,symptom relief,and adverse events.Three patients achieved marked tumor shrinkage and reduction of vascular invasion,enabling successful R0 resection without recurrence during follow-up.The remaining patient achieved disease stability,significant pain relief,and maintained good quality of life under repeated HIFU therapy.All treatments were well tolerated,and no severe adverse reactions occurred.The combination of HIFU and chemotherapy demonstrated synergistic local and systemic effects,effectively achieving tumor downstaging,improving resectability,and alleviating symptoms.As a safe,noninvasive,and repeatable therapeutic approach,this strategy offers a promising option for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.Further large-scale prospective studies are warranted to validate its long-term efficacy and elucidate underlying mechanisms.
6.Individualized intervention strategies for diffuse infected necrotizing pancreatitis:a comparative study of minimally invasive step-up and direct open surgery
Zhiqiang LI ; Jihaoran QU ; Guangping TU ; Lang CHEN ; Xiao YU ; Yunfei LIU
Chinese Journal of General Surgery 2025;34(9):1909-1922
Background and Aims:Infected necrotizing pancreatitis(INP),particularly with diffuse distribution,is a life-threatening condition.The optimal initial intervention-minimally invasive step-up therapy vs.direct open necrosectomy-remains controversial.Moreover,the impact of necrosis morphology("wet"or"dry")and the presence of severe acute pancreatitis(SAP)on treatment selection has not been fully clarified.This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of these two approaches in diffuse INP and to evaluate the guiding value of CT-based necrosis type and SAP status in clinical decision-making.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 458 patients with diffuse INP admitted to the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from January 2012 to March 2023.Patients were divided into a minimally invasive step-up group(n=256)and a direct open surgery group(n=202).SAP was defined according to the determinant-based classification,and necrosis was categorized as"wet"or"dry"based on CT features.The primary endpoint was a composite of death or major complications,while secondary endpoints included mortality,length of hospital stay,and incision-related complications,were compared between the two groups,with subgroup analyses performed accordingly.Results:Overall,the open surgery group had higher rates of the primary endpoint(62.4%vs.48.1%,P=0.003)and mortality(27.2%vs.16.8%,P=0.008)compared with the step-up group.Among SAP patients,the step-up approach resulted in a significantly lower primary endpoint rate(66.7%vs.97.7%,P=0.003).In non-SAP patients,the primary endpoint rates were similar,but open surgery was associated with a shorter hospital stay[(36.5±10.4)d vs.(45.6±18.6)d,P<0.001]and higher incidences of wound infection and incisional hernia(both P<0.001).Multivariate analysis identified infection onset time,effusion characteristics,gas bubbles,and necrosis location as independent predictors of prolonged hospitalization in the step-up group(all P<0.05).Patients with"wet"necrosis benefited more from the step-up approach,whereas those with"dry"necrosis experienced shorter hospitalization following open surgery.Conclusion:For diffusely distributed INP,treatment strategies should be individualized based on SAP status and necrosis liquefaction/imaging characteristics.The step-up minimally invasive approach is preferred for SAP patients and those with"wet"necrosis on CT,while direct open necrosectomy may be advantageous for"dry"necrosis(particularly with limited liquefaction)by shortening hospital stay and reducing certain major outcomes,though at the cost of increased incision infection and incision herina.CT imaging features and SAP classification can serve as valuable tools for risk stratification and guiding individualized timing and modality of intervention.
7.Integrated multiomics analysis and artificial neural network reveal patient stratification and prognosis of adrenocortical carcinoma in the Chinese population
Yunfei YU ; Sikui SHEN ; Xin YAN ; Zhihong LIU ; Shengzhuo LIU ; Yuchun ZHU ; Qiang DONG
Journal of Modern Urology 2025;30(11):988-1005
Objective To explore the biological characteristics associated with different subtypes and the response to immunotherapy by integrating multiomics analysis and artificial neural networks(ANN)to delineate the precise molecular subtypes of adrenocortical carcinoma(ACC)and establish a prognostic prediction model,in order to provide reference for the accurate prognosis assessment and individualized treatment of ACC.Methods The multiomics data of 44 Chinese ACC patients admitted to the Department of Urology,West China Hospital of Sichuan University during Jan.1,2012 and Dec.31,2022 were integrated,including genomic,transcriptomic and clinical features.Ten different clustering algorithms were employed for consensus clustering to identify robust molecular subtypes.The results were then incorporated into an ANN model to construct an ANN-driven prognostic index(ANPI)for patient stratification and survival prediction.Results Three distinct molecular subtypes(cancer subtypes,CS1-3)with significantly different prognoses were identified,among which CS1 exhibited the poorest survival outcomes.A set of 20 core genes was selected to form the basis of the ANPI model.ANPI effectively stratified patients into high-and low-risk groups:patients in the low-ANPI group had significantly better overall survival and exhibited"hot tumor"immune phenotypes,suggesting greater benefits from immunotherapy.In contrast,high-ANPI patients had worse prognoses and displayed"cold tumor"characteristics with weaker immunotherapy responses.Conclusion Our integrative multiomics analysis illustrated the molecular landscape of ACC in the Chinese population and uncovered the key immune-related features linked to clinical outcomes.The ANPI model demonstrated strong performance in prognostic prediction and immunotherapy response assessment,offering a valuable tool for precision oncology and clinical decision-making.
8.The mechanism and application prospects of mitochondrial quality control in osteoarthritis
Liang WANG ; Yinshuan DENG ; Tao QU ; Chaoming DA ; Yunfei HE ; Rui LIU ; Weimin NIU ; Weishun YAN ; Zhen CHEN ; Shuo LI ; Zhiyun YANG ; Binbin GUO ; Xueqian LAI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2025;30(2):282-288
Osteoarthritis(OA)is a common joint disease in clinical practice,and cartilage damage is a typical pathological change.The pathogenesis of OA is complex,and various adverse factors can lead to the occurrence of OA.Mitochondria are im-portant organelles within cells and play important roles in cellular physiological and pathological activ-ities.Mitochondrial quality control is an important regulatory mechanism in the body to maintain nor-mal mitochondrial structure and function,mainly including mitochondrial biogenesis,mitochondrial dynamics,mitochondrial autophagy,mitochondrial oxidative stress,and other forms.The imbalance of mitochondrial quality control in chondrocytes is closely related to the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis,and regulating the balance of mi-tochondrial quality control is a potential therapeu-tic point for osteoarthritis.The author reviewed rel-evant research literature in recent years to provide a review of the relationship between mitochondrial quality control and the occurrence and develop-ment of osteoarthritis,in order to provide new ideas and directions for the research and diagnosis and treatment strategies of osteoarthritis.
9.Establishment of outcome indicators for the implementation of comprehensive inter-vention for multimorbidity of myopia and obesity among children and adolescents based on the RE-AIM framework
Yihang ZHANG ; Shan CAI ; Ziyue CHEN ; Yunfei LIU ; Jiajia DANG ; Di SHI ; Jiaxin LI ; Tianyu HUANG ; Yi SONG
Journal of Peking University(Health Sciences) 2025;57(3):436-441
Objective:To develop outcome indicators for the implementation of comprehensive inter-ventions targeting the multimorbidity of myopia and obesity in children and adolescents,providing a basis for the co-prevention of multimorbidity and the outcome measurement of implementation research in children and adolescents.Methods:Based on the RE-AIM framework,a preliminary set of indicators was constructed.The Delphi method was employed,with experts scoring and providing feedback on the proposed indicators via questionnaires.After each round of consultation,expert enthusiasm index,authority coefficient,coordination degree,and consensus level were calculated.Expert opinions were col-lected and analyzed to modify,delete,or add indicators based on consultation results and screening crite-ria.Two Delphi rounds were conducted until consensus was achieved.Results:A total of 28 experts par-ticipated actually in both rounds.The Kendall's W coefficients for the two rounds of expert consultation were0.352(x2=413.952,P<0.001)and 0.499(x2=405.044,P<0.001),both statistically sig-nificant.The final outcome indicators for implementation research on comprehensive interventions for myopia and obesity comorbidity in children and adolescents included five primary dimensions with 13 secondary and 20 tertiary indicators.The dimension of reach included the number of children and adoles-cents involved,participant representativeness,and full-course participation representativeness.The di-mension of effectiveness included multimorbidity incidence,myopia incidence,spherical equivalent,body mass index(BMI),overweight and obesity prevalence,waist-to-height ratio,comprehensive health knowledge score,and comprehensive health behavior score.The dimension of adoption covered school representativeness and representativeness of school nurses and teachers involved in implementation.The dimension of implementation included fidelity,content modification,and cost.The dimension of mainte-nance included individual health outcomes and organizational sustainment.Conclusion:This study developed implementation outcome indicators for comprehensive interventions targeting multimorbidity of myopia and obesity among the children and adolescents based on the RE-AIM framework.These indica-tors can serve as a reference for optimizing intervention research strategies related to common multimor-bidity among children and adolescents in China.
10.Characteristics of Serum Immunoglobulin in Cronkhite-Canada Syndrome:A Single Center Retrospective Study
Shuang LIU ; Chengzhu OU ; Muhan LI ; Qiushi XU ; Yunfei ZHI ; Xingfang ZHANG ; Hao TANG ; Tianming XU ; Gechong RUAN ; Ji LI
JOURNAL OF RARE DISEASES 2025;4(2):194-201
Objective To investigate the characteristics and clinical significance of serum immunoglob-ulins in patients with Cronkhite-Canada syndrome(CCS).Methods This retrospective study included CCS patients admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital from December 2009 to September 2024 who under-went serum immunoglobulin testing.Clinical manifestations and ancillary examination results were analyzed ret-rospectively.Results Fifty-two patients were included(male:36[69.2%],female:16[30.8%]),with median onset age of 60(54-64)years and median diagnostic delay of 5(3-12)months.Common manifesta-tions included diarrhea(86.5%),abdominal pain(40.4%),hematochezia(19.2%),weight loss(86.5%),nail malnutrition(100.0%),pigmentation(88.5%),hair loss(84.6%),and hypogeusia(69.2%).Serum IgG reduction occurred in 21 patients(50.0%),while total IgE elevation was observed in 20(71.4%).Elevated serum IgG4 levels were noted in 11 patients(23.4%),with no significant clinical differences between IgG4-elevated and normal groups.IgG4 levels showed no statistical difference between active(n=43)and remission(n=27)groups.The hair loss rate was significantly higher in the total IgE-ele-vated group than that in the normal total IgE group(P=0.0383).Conclusions CCS patients exhibit periph-eral blood immunoglobulin disorders,with elevated IgE levels correlating with hair loss.This suggests an im-mune-mediated mechanism may underlie hair loss in CCS.

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