Homo- or heterodimeric compounds that affect dimeric protein function through interaction between monomeric moieties and protein subunits can serve as valuable sources of potent and selective drug candidates. Here, we screened an in-house dimeric natural product collection, and panepocyclinol A (PecA) emerged as a selective and potent STAT3 inhibitor with profound anti-tumor efficacy. Through cross-linking C712/C718 residues in separate STAT3 monomers with two distinct Michael receptors, PecA inhibits STAT3 DNA binding affinity and transcription activity. Molecular dynamics simulation reveals the key conformation changes of STAT3 dimers upon the di-covalent binding with PecA that abolishes its DNA interactions. Furthermore, PecA exhibits high efficacy against anaplastic large T cell lymphoma in vitro and in vivo, especially those with constitutively activated STAT3 or STAT3^Y640F. In summary, our study describes a distinct and effective di-covalent modification for the dimeric compound PecA to disrupt STAT3 function.

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the primary fibrogenic cells in the liver, and their activation plays a crucial role in the development and progression of hepatic fibrosis. Here, we report that retinoid X receptor-alpha (RXRα), a unique member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is a key modulator of HSC activation and liver fibrosis. RXRα exerts its effects by modulating calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase β (CaMKKβ)-mediated activation of AMP-activated protein kinase-alpha (AMPKα). In addition, we demonstrate that K-80003, which binds RXRα by a unique mechanism, effectively suppresses HSC activation, proliferation, and migration, thereby inhibiting liver fibrosis in the CCl₄ and amylin liver NASH (AMLN) diet animal models. The effect is mediated by AMPKα activation, promoting mitophagy in HSCs. Mechanistically, K-80003 activates AMPKα by inducing RXRα to form condensates with CaMKKβ and AMPKα via a two-phase process. The formation of RXRα condensates is driven by its N-terminal intrinsic disorder region and requires phosphorylation by CaMKKβ. Our results reveal a crucial role of RXRα in liver fibrosis regulation through modulating mitochondrial activities in HSCs. Furthermore, they suggest that K-80003 and related RXRα modulators hold promise as therapeutic agents for fibrosis-related diseases.

Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is an inherited disease caused by a deficiency of the enzyme arylsulfatase A (ARSA). Lentivirus-modified autologous hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy (HSCGT) has recently been approved for clinical use in pre and early symptomatic children with MLD to increase ARSA activity. Unfortunately, this advanced therapy is not available for most patients with MLD who have progressed to more advanced symptomatic stages at diagnosis. Patients with late-onset juvenile MLD typically present with a slower neurological progression of symptoms and represent a significant burden to the economy and healthcare system, whereas those with early onset infantile MLD die within a few years of symptom onset. We conducted a pilot study to determine the safety and benefit of HSCGT in patients with postsymptomatic juvenile MLD and report preliminary results. The safety profile of HSCGT was favorable in this long-term follow-up over 9 years. The most common adverse events (AEs) within 2 months of HSCGT were related to busulfan conditioning, and all AEs resolved. No HSCGT-related AEs and no evidence of distorted hematopoietic differentiation during long-term follow-up for up to 9.6 years. Importantly, to date, patients have maintained remarkably improved ARSA activity with a stable disease state, including increased Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score and decreased magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesion score. This long-term follow-up pilot study suggests that HSCGT is safe and provides clinical benefit to patients with postsymptomatic juvenile MLD.
Humans ; Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic/genetics* ; Pilot Projects ; Genetic Therapy/methods* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Male ; Follow-Up Studies ; Female ; Lentivirus/genetics* ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Cerebroside-Sulfatase/metabolism* ; Adolescent

The incomplete degradation of tumour cells by macrophages (Mϕ) is a contributing factor to tumour progression and metastasis, and the degradation function of Mϕ is mediated through phagosomes and lysosomes. In our preliminary experiments, we found that overactivation of NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) reduced the ability of Mϕ to degrade engulfed tumour cells. Above this, we screened out liquiritin from Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch, which can significantly inhibit NOX2 activity and inhibit tumours, to elucidate that suppressing NOX2 can enhance the ability of Mϕ to degrade tumour cells. We found that the tumour environment could activate the NOX2 activity in Mϕ phagosomes, causing Mϕ to produce excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), thus prohibiting the formation of phagolysosomes before degradation. Conversely, inhibiting NOX2 in Mϕ by liquiritin can reduce ROS and promote phagosome-lysosome fusion, therefore improving the enzymatic degradation of tumour cells after phagocytosis, and subsequently promote T cell activity by presenting antigens. We further confirmed that liquiritin down-regulated the expression of the NOX2 specific membrane component protein gp91 phox, blocking its binding to the NOX2 cytoplasmic component proteins p67 phox and p47 phox, thereby inhibiting the activity of NOX2. This study elucidates the specific mechanism by which Mϕ cannot degrade tumour cells after phagocytosis, and indicates that liquiritin can promote the ability of Mϕ to degrade tumour cells by suppressing NOX2.

Background: Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) due to variants of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1-beta (HNF1β) (MODY5) has not been well studied in the Chinese population. This study aimed to estimate its prevalence and evaluate the application of a clinical screening method (Faguer score) in Chinese early-onset diabetes (EOD) patients. Methods: Among 679 EOD patients clinically diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (age at diagnosis ≤40 years), the exons of HNF1β were sequenced. Functional impact of rare variants was evaluated using a dual-luciferase reporter system. Faguer scores ≥8 prompted multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) for large deletions. Pathogenicity of HNF1β variants was assessed following the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines. Results: Two rare HNF1β missense mutations (E105K and G454R) were identified by sequencing in five patients, showing functional impact in vitro. Another patient was found to have a whole-gene deletion by MLPA in 22 patients with the Faguer score above 8. Following ACMG guidelines, six patients carrying pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant were diagnosed with MODY5. The estimated prevalence of MODY5 in Chinese EOD patients was approximately 0.9% or higher. Conclusion MODY5 is not uncommon in China. The Faguer score is helpful in deciding whether to perform MLPA analysis on patients with negative sequencing results.

Objective:To understand the pathogenic composition and epidemiological characteristics of febrile respiratory syndrome (FRS) in elderly people aged 60 and above in China, and to provide a reference basis for the scientific and precise prevention and control of FRS in the elderly.Methods:Based on FRS cases surveillance data from information management system of National Technical Platform for Infectious Disease Surveillance, National Science and Technology Major Project of China, the surveillance pathogens included 8 viruses, including influenza virus (IFV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus (HAdV), parainfluenza virus (HPIV), metapneumovirus (HMPV), coronavirus (HCoV), bocavirus and rhinovirus (HRV); 7 bacterias, namely Streptococcus pneumoniae ( S.pneumoniae), Staphylococcus aureus ( S.aureus), Klebsiella pneumoniae ( K.pneumoniae), Pseudomonas aeruginosa ( P.aeruginosa), Group A Streptococcus ( GAS), Haemophilus influenzae ( H.influenzae) and Legionella pneumophila ( L. pneumophila), in addition to Chlamydia pneumoniae ( C. pneumoniae) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae ( M. pneumoniae). A descriptive epidemiological approach was used to analyze the pathogenic composition and major epidemiological characteristics of FRS cases aged 60 years and older nationwide from 2009 to 2021. Results:The predominant viruses of FRS cases aged≥60 years accounted for 87.93% of the pathogen spectrum in China, including IFV (42.42%), HRV (16.71%), HPIV (11.53%), HCoV (9.52%), and RSV (7.75%), while the pathogen spectrum of the major bacteria accounted for 94.60%, including S. pneumoniae (25.71%), P. aeruginosa (24.97%), K. pneumoniae (22.47%), H. influenzae (12.23%), and S. aureus (9.22%). Influenza viruses have always been at the top of the viral pathogen spectrum, and P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae and S. pneumoniae, ranked high in the bacterial pathogen spectrum. Among them, the proportions of HRV, HPIV, RSV, K. pneumoniae, and H. influenzae fluctuated and increased during the 13 years of observation. The positive rate of any pathogen in FRS cases was higher in out patient emergencies (32.83%) than in hospitalized cases (27.26%) ( χ2 =125.89, P<0.001). The positive rate of IFV was higher in cases aged 60-74 years (13.66%). The positive rate of P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae were higher in cases aged ≥90 years (10.71%, 9.40%) and in northern regions (8.32%, 7.30%). The positive rate of any pathogen in FRS cases was higher in winter (33.82%) than in other seasons ( χ2=212.03, P<0.001). The positive rate of IFV and HRV were higher in winter (22.87%) and autumn (5.98%) and the positive rate of P.aeruginosa (8.11%) and K.pneumoniae (8.30%) were higher in summer. Conclusions:IFV, HRV, HPIV, S. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa and K. pneumoniae were respectively the top three pathogens in the viral and bacterial pathogen spectrum of FRS cases aged 60 years and above in China from 2009 to 2021, and the positive rate of these main pathogens showed differences between age groups, seasons, and geographic regions. In the future, the dynamic surveillance of various pathogens in the elderly with respiratory tract infections should be continuously strengthened.

Turning to critical illness is a common stage of various diseases and injuries before death. Patients usually have complex health conditions, while the treatment process involves a wide range of content, along with high requirements for doctor′s professionalism and multi-specialty teamwork, as well as a great demand for time-sensitive treatments. However, this is not matched with critical care professionals and the current state of medical care in China. Telemedicine, which shortens the distance of medical professionals and the gap of disease diagnosis and treatments in various regions through electronic information, can effectively solve the current problem. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a standardized, high-quality visualization telemedicine round system .Therefore, experts have been organized to search domestic and foreign literature on telemedicine round for critically ill patients and to form this consensus based on clinical experiences so as to further improve the level of critical care treatments in regions.

Sarin(GB)is a typical representative of nerve agents with high toxicity,and very low amount can cause death.GB can cause water and atmospheric environment poisoning,so the detection of GB in water and air is of great significance.In this work,a colorimetric sensor array(CSA)based on GB inhibition of cholinesterase activity was constructed to detect GB with high selectivity.A 4×4 colorimetric array was constructed using acetylcholinesterase(AChE),butyryl cholinesterase(BuChE)and the corresponding substrate acetylthiocholine iodide(S-ACh),butyryl thiocholine iodide(S-BCh),acetylcholine chloride(ACh),butyryl choline chloride(BCh)and 2,6-dichloroindophenol ethyl ester(DCIE).The linear curve of the sensor was Y=131.3×lgC+271.6(R2=0.997),where Y was the array response Euclidean distance,C was the concentration of GB(mg/L),the linear range was 0.03?0.32 mg/L,and the detection limit was 27.6 μg/L.The method could effectively distinguish chemical warfare agents(CWA)such as VX,Soman(GD),mustard gas(HD),Louie reagent(L),and had high anti-interference ability,sensitivity and good repeatability.It was successfully applied to the detection of GB in simulated water and simulated air samples,and the sample recovery rate was 97.2% ?100.9%.This method would be potentially applied to the field rapid detection of nerve agents.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic mechanism of Dingkun Dan(DKD)in polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)by examining the effects of microRNA-30d-5p on ovarian granulosa cells(GCs).Methods A PCOS rat model was established using dehydroepiandrosterone(DHEA).Normal rat GCs and PCOS rat GCs were cultured in vitro and divided into four groups:blank control group,model group,low-dose DKD group,and high-dose DKD group.After grouping,GCs viability was assessed using the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT)assay,GCs apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry,and the gene expression of transforming growth factor β1(TGF-β1),Smad2,Smad3,and microRNA-30d-5p in GCs was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR),protein expression of TGF-β1,Smad2,and Smad3 in GCs was detected by Western Blot.Results Compared with the blank control group,the model group exhibited significantly decreased GCs viability,increased GCs apoptosis,upregulated mRNA and protein expression of TGF-β1,Smad2,and Smad3,and downregulated microRNA-30d-5p expression,the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,both low-and high-dose DKD groups showed increased GCs viability,reduced GCs apoptosis,downregulated mRNA and protein levels of TGF-β1 Smad2 and Smad3,elevated microRNA-30d-5p expression,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Conclusion DKD promotes GCs proliferation by targeting Smad2 via microRNA-30d-5p,suggesting a potential therapeutic role in PCOS-related ovulatory dysfunction.

The incomplete degradation of tumour cells by macrophages(Mφ)is a contributing factor to tumour progression and metastasis,and the degradation function of Mφ is mediated through phagosomes and lysosomes.In our preliminary experiments,we found that overactivation of NADPH oxidase 2(NOX2)reduced the ability of Mφ to degrade engulfed tumour cells.Above this,we screened out liquiritin from Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch,which can significantly inhibit NOX2 activity and inhibit tumours,to elucidate that suppressing NOX2 can enhance the ability of Mφ to degrade tumour cells.We found that the tumour environment could activate the NOX2 activity in Mφ phagosomes,causing Mφ to produce excessive reactive oxygen species(ROS),thus prohibiting the formation of phagolysosomes before degradation.Conversely,inhibiting NOX2 in Mφ by liquiritin can reduce ROS and promote phagosome-lysosome fusion,therefore improving the enzymatic degradation of tumour cells after phagocytosis,and subse-quently promote T cell activity by presenting antigens.We further confirmed that liquiritin down-regulated the expression of the NOX2 specific membrane component protein gp91 phox,blocking its binding to the NOX2 cytoplasmic component proteins p67 phox and p47 phox,thereby inhibiting the activity of NOX2.This study elucidates the specific mechanism by which Mφ cannot degrade tumour cells after phagocytosis,and indicates that liquiritin can promote the ability of Mφ to degrade tumour cells by suppressing NOX2.