Background and aims As a ferroptosis inducer, sorafenib, a first-line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), has a significant antitumor effect. Nonetheless, HCC patients frequently develop sorafenib resistance. Here, we investigated the impacts of progestagen-associated endometrial protein (PAEP), which controls sorafenib resistance and tumorigenesis in HCC. Furthermore, we investigated the function of PAEP and the underlying molecular mechanisms that cause HCC ferroptosis when sorafenib is applied. Methods Western blot analysis, cell proliferation, colony formation and animal experiments were performed to investigate the function of PAEP in sorafenib resistance and tumorigenesis in HCC. We detected the levels of reactive oxygen species, iron, and malondialdehyde and preformed transmission electron microscopy to investigate the relationship between PAEP and ferroptosis. Co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) assay was performed to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms of PAEP that cause HCC ferroptosis. Results PAEP was significantly overexpressed in HCC tissues, and this was associated with a poor clinical prognosis. PAEP silencing dramatically reduced HCC cells’ malignant phenotype. We found that sorafenib-induced ferroptosis was more sensitive to HCC cells with PAEP knockdown. Furthermore, the orthotopic cell line-derived xenograft mouse model results showed that sorafenib sensitivity can be effectively increased in vivo by PAEP knockdown. We determined that transferrin (TF) was a PAEP target using the String database, and we further supported this finding with Co-IP analysis. Additionally, on sorafenib-induced ferroptosis in HCC cells, TF partially reversed the effects of PAEP knockdown. Conclusions Our research indicates that PAEP may be a potential biomarker for predicting sorafenib resistance in HCC and disruption of PAEP expression may be a potential cancer-directed therapeutic option for HCC.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the correlation between variants in the start codon of the α-globin gene and phenotypes of thalassemia, so as to provide a basis for the diagnosis and prevention of α-thalassemia. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 7 patients diagnosed by Yangjiang People's Hospital and Guangzhou Hybribio Co. Ltd., from June 2019 to October 2022. Routine blood tests and hemoglobin electrophoresis were carried out. Potential variants were identified through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) combined with Reverse dot blotting (RDB), Gap-PCR, and Sanger sequencing. This study has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of People's Hospital of Yangjiang (Ethics No: 20240001). RESULTS: For the 7 patients, results of blood routine test of one case was unknown, and that of another was normal. The remaining 5 cases had presented with microcytic hypochromic anemia. The results of hemoglobin electrophoresis showed that one case had normal Hb A and slightly lower Hb A2, whilst another had significantly decreased Hb A and Hb A2, in addition with the appearance of a Hb H band. The content of Hb Bart's in four neonates was ≥ 0.4%. The remaining one case had no result. Genetic testing has identified 4 rare start codon mutations, namely HBA2: c.2delT, HBA2: c.1A>G, HBA2: c.1A>T, and HBA1: c.2T>C. Among these, Patient 1 had harbored compound heterozygous variants of HBA2: c.427T>C (Hb CS) and HBA2: c.2delT. Patient 4 had harbored compound heterozygous variants of HBA2: c.1A>G and Southeast Asian type deletion. CONCLUSION Heterozygotes with HBA start codon variants usually present as silent or mild thalassemia, and the symptoms of anemia may deteriorate when combined with other α-thalassemia variant. The HBA2: c.1A>T start codon variant was unreported previously in China. The detection of start codon variants has helped to clarify the causes of anemia, genetic counseling, and guidance for reproduction.
Humans ; Phenotype ; Codon, Initiator/genetics* ; Female ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; alpha-Globins/genetics* ; alpha-Thalassemia/genetics* ; Hemoglobin A/genetics* ; Adult ; Mutation

Recent studies have shown that shorter periods of ejaculatory abstinence may enhance certain sperm parameters, but the molecular mechanisms underlying these improvements are still unclear. This study explored whether reduced abstinence periods could improve semen quality, particularly for use in assisted reproductive technologies (ART). We analyzed semen samples from men with normal sperm counts ( n = 101) and those with low sperm motility or concentration ( n = 53) after 3-7 days of abstinence and then after 1-3 h of abstinence, obtained from the Reproductive & Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya (Changsha, China). Physiological and biochemical sperm parameters were evaluated, and the dynamics of transfer RNA (tRNA)-derived fragments (tRFs) were analyzed using deep RNA sequencing in five consecutive samples from men with normal sperm counts. Our results revealed significant improvement in sperm motility and a decrease in the DNA fragmentation index after the 1- to 3-h abstinence period. Additionally, we identified 245 differentially expressed tRFs, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway was the most enriched. Further investigations showed significant changes in tRF-Lys-TTT and its target gene mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 2 ( MAP2K2 ), which indicates a role of tRFs in improving sperm function. These findings provide new insights into how shorter abstinence periods influence sperm quality and suggest that tRFs may serve as biomarkers for male fertility. This research highlights the potential for optimizing ART protocols and improving reproductive outcomes through molecular approaches that target sperm function.
Male ; Humans ; Spermatozoa/metabolism* ; RNA, Transfer/genetics* ; Sperm Motility/genetics* ; Adult ; Semen Analysis ; Sexual Abstinence/physiology* ; Sperm Count ; DNA Fragmentation

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) plays a crucial role in regulating many physiological processes. Activating the AhR-CYP1A1 axis has emerged as a novel therapeutic strategy against various inflammatory diseases. Here, a practical in situ cell-based fluorometric assay was constructed to screen AhR-CYP1A1 axis modulators, via functional sensing of CYP1A1 activities in live cells. Firstly, a cell-permeable, isoform-specific enzyme-activable fluorogenic substrate for CYP1A1 was rationally constructed for in-situ visualizing the dynamic changes of CYP1A1 function in living systems, which was subsequently used for discovering the efficacious modulators of the AhR-CYP1A1 axis. Following screening of a compound library, LAC-7 was identified as an efficacious activator of the AhR-CYP1A1 axis, which dose-dependently up-regulated the expression levels of both CYP1A1 and AhR in multiple cell lines. LAC-7 also suppressed macrophage M1 polarization and reduced the levels of inflammatory factors in LPS-induced bone marrow-derived macrophages. Animal tests showed that LAC-7 could significantly mitigate DSS-induced ulcerative colitis and LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice, and markedly reduced the levels of multiple inflammatory factors. Collectively, an optimized fluorometric cell-based assay was devised for in situ functional imaging of CYP1A1 activities in living systems, which strongly facilitated the discovery of efficacious modulators of the AhR-CYP1A1 axis as novel anti-inflammatory agents.

Despite therapy with potent antiviral agents, chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients remain at high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While metabolites have been rediscovered as active drivers of biological processes including carcinogenesis, the specific metabolites modulating HCC risk in CHB patients are largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that baseline plasma from CHB patients who later developed HCC during follow-up exhibits growth-promoting properties in a case-control design nested within a large-scale, prospective cohort. Metabolomics analysis reveals a reduction in long-chain acylcarnitines (LCACs) in the baseline plasma of patients with HCC development. LCACs preferentially inhibit the proliferation of HCC cells in vitro at a physiological concentration and prevent the occurrence of HCC in vivo without hepatorenal toxicity. Uptake and metabolism of circulating LCACs increase the intracellular level of acetyl coenzyme A, which upregulates histone H3 Lys14 acetylation at the promoter region of KLF6 gene and thereby activates KLF6/p21 pathway. Indeed, blocking LCAC metabolism attenuates the difference in KLF6/p21 expression induced by baseline plasma of HCC/non-HCC patients. The deficiency of circulating LCACs represents a driver of HCC in CHB patients with viral control. These insights provide a promising direction for developing therapeutic strategies to reduce HCC risk further in the antiviral era.

Notum, a negative feedback regulator of the Wnt signaling, has emerged as a promising target for treating glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP). This study showcases an efficient strategy for discovering the anti-Notum constituents from herbal medicines (HMs) as novel anti-GIOP agents. Firstly, a rapid-responding near-infrared fluorogenic substrate for Notum was rationally engineered for high-throughput identifying the anti-Notum HMs. The results showed that Bu-Gu-Zhi (BGZ), a known anti-osteoporosis herb, potently inhibited Notum in a competitive-inhibition manner. To uncover the key anti-Notum constituents in BGZ, an efficient strategy was adapted via integrating biochemical, phytochemical, computational, and pharmacological assays. Among all identified BGZ constituents, three furanocoumarins were validated as strong Notum inhibitors, while 5-methoxypsoralen (5-MP) showed the most potent anti-Notum activity and favorable safety profiles. Mechanistically, 5-MP acted as a competitive inhibitor of Notum via creating strong hydrophobic interactions with Trp128 and Phe268 in the catalytic cavity of Notum. Cellular assays showed that 5-MP remarkably promoted osteoblast differentiation and activated Wnt signaling in dexamethasone (DXMS)-challenged MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts. In dexamethasone-induced osteoporotic mice, 5-MP strongly elevated bone mineral density (BMD) and improved cancellous and cortical bone thickness. Collectively, this study constructs a high-efficient platform for discovering key anti-Notum constituents from HMs, while 5-MP emerges as a promising anti-GIOP agent.

Human carboxylesterase 2A (hCES2A) plays pivotal roles in prodrug activation and hydrolytic metabolism of ester-bearing chemicals. Targeted inhibition of intestinal hCES2A represents a feasible strategy to mitigate irinotecan-triggered gut toxicity (ITGT), but the orally active, selective, and efficacious hCES2A inhibitors are rarely reported. Here, a novel drug-like hCES2A inhibitor was developed via three rounds of structure-based drug design (SBDD) and structural optimization. Initially, donepezil was identified as a moderate hCES2A inhibitor from 2000 US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs. Following two rounds of SBDD and structural optimization, a donepezil derivative (B7) was identified as a strong reversible hCES2A inhibitor. Subsequently, nine B7 carbamates were rationally designed, synthesized and biologically assayed. Among all synthesized carbamates, C3 showed the most potent time-dependent inhibition on hCES2A (IC₅₀ = 0.56 nmol/L), excellent specificity and favorable drug-like properties. C3 could covalently modify the catalytic serine of hCES2A with high selectivity, while this agent also showed favorable safety profiles, high intestinal exposure, and impressive effects for ameliorating ITGT in both human intestinal organoids and tumor-bearing mice. Collectively, this study showcases a rational strategy for developing drug-like and serine-targeting covalent inhibitors against target serine hydrolase(s), while C3 emerges as a promising orally active drug candidate for ameliorating ITGT.

Hypoxic injury (HI) in the prenatal period often causes neonatal neurological disabilities. Due to the difficulty in obtaining clinical samples, the molecular and cellular mechanisms remain unclear. Here we use vascularized cerebral organoids to investigate the hypoxic injury phenotype and explore the intercellular interactions between vascular and neural tissues under hypoxic conditions. Our results indicate that fused vascularized cerebral organoids exhibit broader hypoxic responses and larger decreases in panels of neural development-related genes when exposed to low oxygen levels compared to single cerebral organoids. Interestingly, vessels also exhibit neural protective effects on T-box brain protein 2⁺ intermediate progenitors (IPs), which are markedly lost in HI cerebral organoids. Furthermore, we identify the role of bone morphogenic protein signaling in protecting IPs. Thus, this study has established an in vitro organoid system that can be used to study the contribution of vessels to brain injury under hypoxic conditions and provides a strategy for the identification of intervention targets.
Organoids/pathology* ; Animals ; Mice ; Hypoxia, Brain/metabolism* ; Brain/blood supply* ; Neurons/metabolism*

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics, prevalent serum groups, and drug sensitivity test results of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis in children in Shanghai area.Methods:The study was a retrospective case-control study. The children hospitalized for epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis in Children′s Hospital of Fudan University from January 2003 to December 2023 were enrolled. Clinical data were collected, including demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, pathogen detection results, strain typing, and drug sensitivity test results.Results:A total of 77 children with confirmed epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis were hospitalized, including 50 males (64.94%) and 27 females (35.06%). The age was 24(8, 60) months, with 16 cases (20.78%) aged 0 to five months, nine cases (11.69%) aged six to 11 months, 21 cases (27.27%) aged 12 to 35 months, 16 cases (20.78%) aged three to five years, 13 cases (16.89%) aged six to 11 years, and two cases (2.60%) aged 12 years. The highest number of cases was in spring, with 36 cases (46.75%), followed by winter with 25 cases (32.47%). Thirty-three cases (42.86%) had vaccinated with meningococcal vaccine. The clinical symptoms included fever in all 77 cases (100.00%), skin petechiae and ecchymosis in 58 cases (75.32%), vomiting in 56 cases (72.73%), respiratory symptoms in 12 cases (15.58%), convulsions in 17 cases (22.08%), conscious disturbance in 24 cases (31.17%), shock in 38 cases (49.35%), circulatory failure in 13 cases (16.88%), and respiratory failure in seven cases (9.09%). Among the 77 children, fifty-seven cases (74.03%) were common type and 20 cases (25.97%) were fulminant type, with seven deaths (9.09%). Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) was detected in 55 cases (71.43%), with the positive rates of skin petechiae smear and cerebrospinal fluid smear of 23.26%(10/43) and 19.44%(14/72), respectively. The positive rates of cerebrospinal fluid culture and blood culture were 36.51%(23/63) and 31.51% (23/73), respectively. The positive rate of polymerase chain reaction detection was 79.17%(38/48). The serogroups were determined in the 38 Nm strains, including 18 cases (47.37%) of group B, 14 cases (36.84%) of group C, five cases (13.16%) of group A, and one case (2.63%) of group Y. Among the 29 Nm strains tested for antimicrobial susceptibility, one strain (3.45%) was resistant to penicillin, two strains (6.90%) were resistant to cefotaxime, 21 strains (72.41%) were resistant to ciprofloxacin, and 25 strains (86.21%) were resistant to sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim. All strains were sensitive to ceftriaxone, azithromycin, meropenem, rifampicin, chloramphenicol, and minocycline. Conclusions:Epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis presents a low prevalence trend in children in Shanghai area. Infants and toddlers remain the major susceptible individuals. Nm has reduced sensitivity to penicillin, but remains sensitive to ceftriaxone. Ceftriaxone is recommended as the first-line choice for antibiotic therapy. The prevalent serogroups are Group B, Group C, Group A and Group Y in sequence. Immunization plan adjustment should be suggested. Vaccination covering the current epidemic serum population as early as possible should be recommended.