1.Reshaping Intercellular Interactions: Empowering the Exploration of Disease Mechanisms and Therapies Using Organoid Co-Culture Models
Dengxu TAN ; Yifan MA ; Ke LIU ; Yanying ZHANG ; Changhong SHI
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2025;45(3):309-317
The organoid co-culture model, as a novel tool for recreating a three-dimensional microenvironment to study cell-cell interactions, has demonstrated significant application potential in biomedical research in recent years. By simulating the in vivo tissue microenvironment, this model provides a more precise experimental platform for investigating complex cellular interactions, particularly in areas such as tumor immune evasion mechanisms, drug sensitivity testing, and the pathological characterization of neurodegenerative diseases, where it has demonstrated significant value. However, the organoid co-culture model still faces several challenges in terms of standardized procedures, large-scale cultivation, ethical guidelines, and future development. In particular, in the field of laboratory animal science, how to effectively combine organoids with traditional animal models, and how to select the most appropriate model for different research needs while exploring its potential for replacement, remain pressing issues. In the context of ethical approval and the replacement of animal experiments, the organoid co-culture model offers an experimental approach that better aligns with the "3R" principle (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement), potentially becoming an important tool for replacing traditional animal models. To this end, this paper reviews the latest advances and key challenges in this field, providing a detailed description of the construction methods for organoid co-culture models and discussing their applications in disease mechanism research and drug screening. The paper also systematically compares the organoid co-culture models with traditional animal models, exploring the criteria for selecting the appropriate model for specific applications. Furthermore, this paper discusses the potential value of organoid co-culture models as alternatives to animal experiments and anticipates future development trends of this technology. Through these discussions, the paper aims to promote the innovation and development of organoid co-culture technology and provide new perspectives and scientific evidence for future research.
2.Reshaping Intercellular Interactions: Empowering the Exploration of Disease Mechanisms and Therapies Using Organoid Co-Culture Models
Dengxu TAN ; Yifan MA ; Ke LIU ; Yanying ZHANG ; Changhong SHI
Laboratory Animal and Comparative Medicine 2025;45(3):309-317
The organoid co-culture model, as a novel tool for recreating a three-dimensional microenvironment to study cell-cell interactions, has demonstrated significant application potential in biomedical research in recent years. By simulating the in vivo tissue microenvironment, this model provides a more precise experimental platform for investigating complex cellular interactions, particularly in areas such as tumor immune evasion mechanisms, drug sensitivity testing, and the pathological characterization of neurodegenerative diseases, where it has demonstrated significant value. However, the organoid co-culture model still faces several challenges in terms of standardized procedures, large-scale cultivation, ethical guidelines, and future development. In particular, in the field of laboratory animal science, how to effectively combine organoids with traditional animal models, and how to select the most appropriate model for different research needs while exploring its potential for replacement, remain pressing issues. In the context of ethical approval and the replacement of animal experiments, the organoid co-culture model offers an experimental approach that better aligns with the "3R" principle (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement), potentially becoming an important tool for replacing traditional animal models. To this end, this paper reviews the latest advances and key challenges in this field, providing a detailed description of the construction methods for organoid co-culture models and discussing their applications in disease mechanism research and drug screening. The paper also systematically compares the organoid co-culture models with traditional animal models, exploring the criteria for selecting the appropriate model for specific applications. Furthermore, this paper discusses the potential value of organoid co-culture models as alternatives to animal experiments and anticipates future development trends of this technology. Through these discussions, the paper aims to promote the innovation and development of organoid co-culture technology and provide new perspectives and scientific evidence for future research.
3.Association of T helper cells and cytokines with abdominal obesity in Hashimoto's thyroiditis
ZYNAT JAZYRA ; Suli LI ; Kaidi ZHANG ; Fuhui MA ; Guoying MA ; Yanying GUO
Basic & Clinical Medicine 2024;44(8):1120-1125
Objective To investigate the correlation between abdominal obesity and autoimmune thyroid disease in the view point of helper T cells and cytokines.Methods Clinical and laboratory data were collected from 108 pa-tients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis(HT)plus abdominal obesity and 122 patients of Hashimoto's thyroiditis without abdominal obesity who visited the People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and also from the control population.Abdominal circumference was measured,and patients in the HT patients were grouped according to whether they were abdominally obese or not.The thyroglobulin antibody(TgAb)and thyroid peroxidase antibody(TPOAb)were detected,and the ratio of helper T cells and related cytokines were detected by flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results The abdominal circumference of the TgAb-positive group was higher than that of the TgAb-negative group(P<0.05).Correlation analysis suggested that abdominal circumference was significantly and positively correlated with TgAb and IL-4 but negatively correlated with Th1.After correcting for gender and age,and abdominal obesity and IL-4 were risk factors for TgAb antibody positivity OR=3.080(95%CI:1.022-9.284)and OR=1.296(95%CI:1.022-9.284),both with P<0.05.Conclusions Abdominal obesity may be an influential factor in TgAb antibody positivity,with larger abdominal circumference having higher TgAb antibody titers,lower Th1 levels,and higher IL-4 levels.Visceral adiposity may exacerbate autoimmune dam-age of thyroid tissue by disruption of helper T cell pathway.
4.Efficacy and Safety of KRASG12C Inhibitors in Advanced Solid Tumors with KRASG12C-mutated: A Single-arm Meta-analysis
Dengxu TAN ; Ke LIU ; Yifan MA ; Yongfeng WANG ; Yanying ZHANG ; Changhong SHI
Cancer Research on Prevention and Treatment 2023;50(7):688-693
Objective To systematically study the efficacy and safety of KRASG12C inhibitors in advanced solid tumors with KRASG12C-mutated. Methods Computer searches from PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI, and CBM databases were conducted to collect clinical studies on KRASG12C inhibitors in advanced solid tumors with KRASG12C-mutated, with a search time from inception to October 12, 2022. Then, two investigators independently screened the literature, extracted information, assessed the risk of bias in included studies, and performed meta-analyses using RevMan 5.4 software. Results There were four publications included, all of which were single-arm clinical studies. The KRASG12C inhibitors that completed clinical phase Ⅰ and Ⅱ trials were sotorasib and adagrasib, with two publications each. A total of 388 and 394 patients were included in the efficacy evaluation and safety evaluation, respectively. Resultsof the Meta-analysis showed that the patients had objective response rate, overall disease control, and disease stabilization rates of 35%, 82%, and 45%, respectively. In addition, the rate of serious adverse events, general adverse events, and all adverse events in patients was 2%, 28%, and 79%, respectively. Moreover, the rate of partial remission of disease in NSCLC patients was 38%. Conclusion The KRASG12C inhibitors sotorasib and adagrasib exhibited good efficacy and high safety in advanced solid tumors.
5.Effects of ginkgo biloba extract on oxidative stress and the balance of excitation/inhibition of pyramidal neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex of depressive model mice
Chuanan ZHU ; Xianhua ZHANG ; Jindong CHEN ; Yuping XIA ; Zhiyuan HUANG ; Zengming MA ; Bin XIE ; Yanying XIE ; Yibin XIE ; Guiwen LI
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2023;32(3):210-217
Objective:To investigate the effect of ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) on oxidative stress in medial prefrontal cortex and excitatory/inhibitory balance of pyramidal neurons in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depressive model mice.Methods:Totally 48 SPF grade 7-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were divided into 4 groups according to random number table method: control+ saline group (CTRL+ Veh), control+ GBE group (CTRL+ GBE), model+ saline group (CUMS+ Veh), model+ GBE group (CUMS+ GBE), with 12 mice in each group.Mice in CUMS+ Veh group and CUMS+ GBE group were established by CUMS method, and mice in CTRL+ GBE group and CUMS+ GBE group were intraperitoneally injected with GBE (70 mg/kg) once a day, and mice in CTRL+ Veh group and CUMS+ Veh group were injected intraperitoneally with 0.9% sodium chloride solution.Then, the sucrose preference test, forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) were performed to evaluate the depressive-like behavior of mice, and open field test (OFT) was performed to evaluate the autonomous locomotion and exploration ability and anxiety-like behavior.The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in mPFC were determined by ELISA.Spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSC) and spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSC) were detected by whole-cell recording.SPSS 23.0 was used for data analysis and two-factor analysis of variance(whether to get GBE, whether to mold, show as GBE×CUMS) was used for statistical analysis.Results:(1) Behavioral results: the the time spent in center and total distance of OFT and sugar preference rate of the four groups of mice were compared, and the interaction of GBE×CUMS was significant( F=24.90, 4.82, 3.91, all P<0.05). The results of simple effect analysis showed that the time spent in center ((47.15±3.58) s), the total distance((19.33±0.86) m) and the sugar preference rate((59.11±8.79)%) of the mice in CUMS+ Veh group were lower than those in the CTRL+ Veh group((61.55±2.49) s, (23.24±1.21) m, (84.02±7.45) %) (all P<0.01), and the above indexes in CUMS+ GBE group ((56.51±3.53) s, (20.75±1.31) m, (70.80±11.79)%) were higher than those in CUMS+ Veh group (all P<0.05). In the immobility time of FST and TST of mice in the 4 groups, the interaction of GBE×CUMS were significant( F=85.53, 83.39, both P<0.01). The immobility time of FST and TST in CUMS+ Veh group were higher than those in CTRL+ Veh group (both P<0.01 ), and the above indexes in CUMS+ GBE group were lower than CUMS+ Veh group(both P<0.05). (2)The results of ELISA showed that the interaction of GBE×CUMS of SOD level of mice in the 4 groups was not significant ( F=3.52, P=0.07), but the main effects of GBE factor and CUMS factor were both significant ( F=4.69, 46.93, both P<0.05). The interaction of GBE×CUMS of MDA level was significant( F=16.61, P<0.01). The level of SOD in the CUMS+ Veh group was lower than that in the CTRL+ Veh group ( P<0.01), and the level of SOD in the CUMS+ GBE group was higher than that in the CUMS+ Veh group ( P<0.05). The level of MDA in the CUMS+ Veh group was higher than that of the CTRL+ Veh group ( P<0.01), and the level of MDA in CUMS+ GBE group was lower than that of the CUMS+ Veh group ( P<0.01). (3) The results of whole-cell recording showed that the interaction of GBE×CUMS of frequency and quantification of sEPSC in the four groups were significant ( F=5.45, 6.94, both P<0.05). The sEPSC frequency and quantification in the CUMS+ Veh group were lower than those in the CTRL+ Veh group (both P<0.01), and the sEPSC frequency and quantification in CUMS+ GBE group were higher than those of CUMS+ Veh group (both P<0.05). The interaction of GBE×CUMS of frequency and quantification of sIPSC in the four groups were significant ( F=7.78, 8.96, both P<0.01). The sIPSC frequency and quantification of the CUMS+ Veh group were higher than those of CTRL+ Veh group (both P<0.01), and the above indexes of CUMS+ GBE group were lower than those of CUMS+ Veh group (both P<0.01). As for the sEPSC/sIPSC ratio, GBE×CUMS interaction was significant ( F=5.45, P=0.02). The sEPSC/sIPSC ratio of CUMS+ Veh group (0.09±0.01) was lower than that of CTRL+ Veh group (0.28±0.04) ( P<0.01), and the sEPSC/sIPSC ratio of CUMS+ GBE group (0.14±0.03) was higher than that of CUMS+ Veh group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Ginkgo biloba extract can improve the depression-like behavior of mice induced by CUMS, reduce the oxidative stress of mPFC and improve the excitation/inhibition balance of pyramidal neurons in depressive model mice.
6.Structural and functional cardiac changes in the elderly patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and atrial fibrillation and an analysis on its two phenotypes
Xiaoyan JIA ; Yongming LIU ; Keling PENG ; Jinggang YANG ; Yanying LIU ; Chunli GOU ; Lili XUE ; Sumei MA ; Quan ZOU
Chinese Journal of Geriatrics 2023;42(10):1153-1160
Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and structural and functional cardiac changes in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction(HFpEF)complicated with atrial fibrillation(AF)in elderly patients.Methods:As a cross-sectional study, 835 patients with HFpEF aged ≥60 years admitted to the Department of Geriatric Cardiovascular Medicine of the First Hospital of Lanzhou University between April 2009 and December 2020 were divided into an HFpEF+ AF group(267 cases)and an HFpEF group(568 cases)according to whether they had AF in addition to HFpEF, and their cardiac structure and function were evaluated.The optimal cutoff point of the ratio of the peak early diastolic velocity(E)to the maximum early diastolic velocity(e')of the mitral annulus(E/e')was analysed using the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.The HFpEF+ AF group was divided into two subgroups, E/e'>11 and E/e'≤11, and differences in their clinical presentation, cardiac structural and function, and the relationship between the left and right heart were compared.Results:Compared with the HFpEF group, the left atrial volume index(LAVi)was larger[(60.0±23.3)ml/m 2vs.(43.9±19.0)ml/m 2, t=10.130, P<0.01]and the left ventricular ejection fraction(EF), mitral annular septal systolic velocity(s' S)and E/e' were smaller than in the HFpEF+ AF group(all P<0.01), whereas the right ventricular diameter(RVD), right atrial diameter(RAD)and area(RAA), tricuspid regurgitation velocity(TRv), and pulmonary arterial systolic pressure(PASP)in the HFpEF+ AF group were all greater than those in the HFpEF group(all P<0.05).In the E/e'>11 subgroup of HFpEF+ AF, the prevalence of hypertension, coronary heart disease and diabetes were higher, AF courses were shorter, and the decline of s' was more severe(all P<0.05).Furthermore, E/e' was independently correlated with LAVi, as was LAVi with PASP( t=2.114, 1.963, P=0.034, 0.042).The above-mentioned features were similar to those in the HFpEF group.The E/e'≤11 subgroup had a higher proportion of women, longer duration of AF than the E/e'>11 subgroup(median: 5 years vs.1 year, P=0.003), more noticeable enlargement of the right ventricle and right atrium, higher TRv and PASP( P<0.05). Conclusions:In elderly patients with HFpEF complicated with AF, the left atrial volume is increased further, and left ventricular systolic function and right heart morphology show serious deterioration, suggesting there might be two phenotypes of HFpEF+ AF with different pathophysiological mechanisms.
7.Analysis of a patient with Kallmann syndrome and a 45,X/46,XY karyotype.
Fuhui MA ; Xinling WANG ; Wusiman REZIWANGULI ; Yuan CHEN ; Yanying GUO
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2022;39(11):1275-1278
OBJECTIVE:
To explore the etiology of a patient with Kallmann syndrome (congenital hypogonadism and anosmia) and a 45,X/46,XY karyotype.
METHODS:
Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from the proband and his parents and subjected to whole exome sequencing. Candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing.
RESULTS:
The proband was found to harbor compound heterozygous variants of the PROKR2 gene, namely c.533G>C (p.W178S) and c.308C>T (p.A103V), which were inherited from his father and mother, respectively. The two variants were respectively predicted to be likely pathogenic and variant of unknown significance, respectively.
CONCLUSION
The reduced chromosomal mosaicism might have caused no particular clinical manifestations in this patient. For patients with features of Kallmann syndrome, genetic testing is conducive to early diagnosis and can provide a basis for genetic counseling and clinical treatment.
Humans
;
Genetic Testing
;
Hypogonadism/genetics*
;
Kallmann Syndrome/genetics*
;
Karyotype
;
Mutation
;
Exome Sequencing
;
Chromosomes, Human, X/genetics*
;
Chromosomes, Human, Y/genetics*
8.Incidence and influencing factors of hemorrhage after cesarean section in puerpera with diabetes
Menglin ZHOU ; Hua GAO ; Yanying MA ; Qianyong ZHU
Chinese Journal of Modern Nursing 2021;27(9):1210-1214
Objective:To explore the incidence of hemorrhage after cesarean section in puerpera with gestational diabetes and its influencing factors.Methods:From October 2015 to October 2019, the convenience sampling method was used to retrospectively select the case data of 305 puerpera with gestational diabetes who underwent cesarean section in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University. The self-designed questionnaire was adopted to collect general data of gestational diabetic puerpera undergoing cesarean section. Binomial Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of hemorrhage after cesarean section in puerpera with gestational diabetes.Results:Among 305 puerpera with gestational diabetes who underwent cesarean section, 30 had postpartum hemorrhage, the incidence was 9.84%, and the amount of bleeding was (1 635.02±235.74) ml. Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) , scarred uterus, abnormal placenta, blood coagulation dysfunction, and uterine inertia were the influencing factors of hemorrhage after cesarean section in puerpera with gestational diabetes with a statistical difference ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:The incidence of hemorrhage after cesarean section in puerpera with diabetes is high. Pre-pregnancy BMI, scarred uterus, abnormal placenta, blood coagulation dysfunction, and uterine inertia are the influencing factors of hemorrhage after cesarean section in gestational diabetic puerpera.
9.Clinicopathological features and prognosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor with PDGFRA-D842V mutation
Xiaoqi LI ; Lin TU ; Ming WANG ; Xinli MA ; Linxi YANG ; Yanying SHEN ; Chun ZHUANG ; Wenyi ZHAO ; Jiangfeng QIU ; Gang ZHAO ; Hui CAO
Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2020;23(9):872-879
Objective:Platelet-derived growth factor alpha (PDGFRA) mutations are respectively rare in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Most GIST with PDGFRA exon 18 mutations including D842V mutation are highly resistant to imatinib. The treatment of GIST harboring PDGFRA primary drug-resistant mutation is a major challenge. This article aims to investigate clinicopathologic features of GIST with PDGFRA-D842V mutation and the efficacy of comprehensive treatment, providing a reference for clinical practice. Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to collect the clinicopathological and follow-up data of patients with GIST harboring PDGFRA mutation who were diagnosed and treated in the GIST Clinic of Renji Hospital from January 2005 to May 2020. According to the mutation site, the enrolled patients were divided into D842V mutation group and non-D842V mutation group. The differences of clinicopathologic characteristics between the two groups were compared. Furthermore, overall survival and prognostic factors were analyzed. Results:A total of 71 patients with PDGFRA-mutant GIST were included in this study, including 47 cases of D842V mutation (66.2%) and 24 cases of non-D842V mutation (33.8%). There were 28 male patients and 19 female patients in D842V mutation group, with a median age of 60 (36-82) years. There were 16 male patients and 8 female patients in non-D842V mutation group, with a median age of 62 (30-81) years. There were no significant differences in age, gender, primary location, surgical procedure, tumor size, mitotic count, expression of CD117 and DOG1, Ki-67 proliferation index and modified NIH grade between the two groups (all P>0.05). The positive rate of CD34 was 89.4% (42/47) and 62.5% (15/24) in the D842V mutation group and the non-D842V mutation group, respectively, with a statistically significant difference (χ 2=5.644, P=0.018). Among all the cases, 66 cases underwent R0 resection without preoperative treatment; two cases underwent emergency operation with R1 resection because of tumor rupture; 2 cases were not operated after the pathological and mutation types were confirmed by biopsy (one case received avapritinib treatment and obtain partial remission). One case was diagnosed as wild-type GIST per needle biopsy in another institute, and underwent R0 resection after preoperative imatinib treatment for 6 months. After surgery, 5 high-risk GIST patients with D842V mutation and 5 high-risk GIST patients with non-D842V mutation were treated with imatinib for more than one year. The median follow-up time was 37 (1-153) months. As of the last follow-up among the patients who received R0 resection, 4 patients with D842V mutation had relapse, of whom 1 was in the period of imatinib administration, and the 3-year relapse-free survival rate was 94.2%; none of the patients with non-D842V mutation had relapse. There was no statistically significant difference in relapse-free surivval between two groups ( P=0.233). Univariate analysis revealed that mitotic count ( P=0.002), Ki-67 proliferation index ( P<0.001) and modified NIH grade ( P=0.025) were the factors associated with relapse-free survival of patients with D842V mutation after R0 resection (all P<0.05). However, the above factros were not testified as independant prognostic facors in multivariate Cox analysis (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Clinicopathologic features and the efficacy of radical resection in patients with PDGFRA-D842V mutation are similar to those in patients with non-D842V mutation.
10.Clinicopathological features and prognosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor with PDGFRA-D842V mutation
Xiaoqi LI ; Lin TU ; Ming WANG ; Xinli MA ; Linxi YANG ; Yanying SHEN ; Chun ZHUANG ; Wenyi ZHAO ; Jiangfeng QIU ; Gang ZHAO ; Hui CAO
Chinese Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2020;23(9):872-879
Objective:Platelet-derived growth factor alpha (PDGFRA) mutations are respectively rare in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Most GIST with PDGFRA exon 18 mutations including D842V mutation are highly resistant to imatinib. The treatment of GIST harboring PDGFRA primary drug-resistant mutation is a major challenge. This article aims to investigate clinicopathologic features of GIST with PDGFRA-D842V mutation and the efficacy of comprehensive treatment, providing a reference for clinical practice. Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to collect the clinicopathological and follow-up data of patients with GIST harboring PDGFRA mutation who were diagnosed and treated in the GIST Clinic of Renji Hospital from January 2005 to May 2020. According to the mutation site, the enrolled patients were divided into D842V mutation group and non-D842V mutation group. The differences of clinicopathologic characteristics between the two groups were compared. Furthermore, overall survival and prognostic factors were analyzed. Results:A total of 71 patients with PDGFRA-mutant GIST were included in this study, including 47 cases of D842V mutation (66.2%) and 24 cases of non-D842V mutation (33.8%). There were 28 male patients and 19 female patients in D842V mutation group, with a median age of 60 (36-82) years. There were 16 male patients and 8 female patients in non-D842V mutation group, with a median age of 62 (30-81) years. There were no significant differences in age, gender, primary location, surgical procedure, tumor size, mitotic count, expression of CD117 and DOG1, Ki-67 proliferation index and modified NIH grade between the two groups (all P>0.05). The positive rate of CD34 was 89.4% (42/47) and 62.5% (15/24) in the D842V mutation group and the non-D842V mutation group, respectively, with a statistically significant difference (χ 2=5.644, P=0.018). Among all the cases, 66 cases underwent R0 resection without preoperative treatment; two cases underwent emergency operation with R1 resection because of tumor rupture; 2 cases were not operated after the pathological and mutation types were confirmed by biopsy (one case received avapritinib treatment and obtain partial remission). One case was diagnosed as wild-type GIST per needle biopsy in another institute, and underwent R0 resection after preoperative imatinib treatment for 6 months. After surgery, 5 high-risk GIST patients with D842V mutation and 5 high-risk GIST patients with non-D842V mutation were treated with imatinib for more than one year. The median follow-up time was 37 (1-153) months. As of the last follow-up among the patients who received R0 resection, 4 patients with D842V mutation had relapse, of whom 1 was in the period of imatinib administration, and the 3-year relapse-free survival rate was 94.2%; none of the patients with non-D842V mutation had relapse. There was no statistically significant difference in relapse-free surivval between two groups ( P=0.233). Univariate analysis revealed that mitotic count ( P=0.002), Ki-67 proliferation index ( P<0.001) and modified NIH grade ( P=0.025) were the factors associated with relapse-free survival of patients with D842V mutation after R0 resection (all P<0.05). However, the above factros were not testified as independant prognostic facors in multivariate Cox analysis (all P<0.05). Conclusion:Clinicopathologic features and the efficacy of radical resection in patients with PDGFRA-D842V mutation are similar to those in patients with non-D842V mutation.

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