Quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) modeling is an emerging computational medicine approach with growing applications and significance in modern drug development. QSP models are generally formulated based on multiscale disease mechanisms and drug-target interactions, which makes them capable of integrating multimodal data from the preclinical and clinical space. This also enables them to generate quantitative characterization of the dynamic disease progression as well as high-throughput predictions of drug-induced efficacy and toxicity signals. Therefore, QSP modeling and model-based virtual clinical trials have been widely implemented to guide drug development, in scenarios such as target identification and assessment, clinical trial design, evaluation of combination therapy and biomarkers, and personalized medicine. In US and Europe, QSP modeling has been developing rapidly in the past 10 years and is now an integral part of the model-informed drug development paradigm; however, in China it is still a nascent field. Here we will present a comprehensive review of the recent advancements of QSP and its impact in modern drug development through a number of case studies. This review will provide guidance for the future drug development efforts and the growth of QSP practice in China.

Morphine is a frequently used analgesic that activates the mu-opioid receptor(MOR),which has prominent side effects of tolerance.Although the inefficiency of morphine in inducing the endocytosis of MOR underlies the development of morphine tolerance,currently,there is no effective therapy to treat morphine tolerance.In the current study,we aimed to develop a monoclonal antibody(mAb)precisely targeting MOR and to determine its therapeutic efficacy on morphine tolerance and the underlying molecular mechanisms.We successfully prepared a mAb targeting MOR,named 3A5C7,by hybridoma technique using a strategy of deoxyribonucleic acid immunization combined with cell immunization,and identified it as an immunoglobulin G mAb with high specificity and affinity for MOR and binding ability to antigens with spatial conformation.Treatment of two cell lines,HEK293T and SH-SY5Y,with 3A5C7 enhanced morphine-induced MOR endocytosis via a G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2(GRK2)/β-arrestin2-dependent mechanism,as demonstrated by immunofluorescence staining,flow cytometry,Western blotting,coimmunoprecipitation,and small interfering ribonucleic acid(siRNA)-based knock-down.This mAb also allowed MOR recycling from cytoplasm to plasma membrane and attenuated morphine-induced phosphorylation of MOR.We established an in vitro morphine tolerance model using differentiated SH-SY5Y cells induced by retinoic acid.Western blot,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays,and siRNA-based knockdown revealed that 3A5C7 mAb diminished hyperactivation of adenylate cyclase,the in vitro biomarker of morphine tolerance,via the GRK2/β-arrestin2 pathway.Furthermore,in vivo hotplate test demonstrated that chronic intrathecal administration of 3A5C7 significantly alle-viated morphine tolerance in mice,and withdrawal jumping test revealed that both chronic and acute 3A5C7 intrathecal administration attenuated morphine dependence.Finally,intrathecal electroporation of silencing short hairpin RNA illustrated that the in vivo anti-tolerance and anti-dependence efficacy of 3A5C7 was mediated by enhanced morphine-induced MOR endocytosis via GRK2/β-arrestin2 pathway.Collectively,our study provided a therapeutic mAb,3A5C7,targeting MOR to treat morphine tolerance,mediated by enhancing morphine-induced MOR endocytosis.The mAb 3A5C7 demonstrates promising translational value to treat clinical morphine tolerance.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of mulberry twig alkaloids (Sangzhi alkaloids, SZ-A) for treatment of type 2 diabetes in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter clinical trial. METHODS: A total of 200 patients were randomized to receive SZ-A (n=100) or placebo (n=100) for 16 weeks. The data analysis system for electronic data capture clinical trial central randomization system was used for randomization and dispensing of drugs. The primary outcome was the change in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level. The secondary outcome included the proportions of cases with HbA1c <7.0% and HbA1c <6.5%, fasting blood glucose (FBG), postprandial blood glucose (PBG), area under curve for the PBG (AUC_0-2h), body weight, and body mass index (BMI). Adverse events (AEs), severe adverse events (SAEs), treatment-related adverse events (TAEs), gastrointestinal disorders (GDs), blood pressure, routine blood tests, and liver and kidney function were monitored. RESULTS: Compared with baseline, the change of HbA1c at week 16 was -0.80% (95% CI: -0.98% to -0.62%) and -0.09% (95% CI: -0.27% to 0.09%) in SZ-A group and placebo group, respectively. The proportion of patients with HbA1c <7% and <6.5% was higher in the SZ-A group than in the placebo group (46.8% vs. 21.6% and 29.9% vs. 10.8%). The observed values and changes in FBG, 1 h-PBG, 2 h-PBG, and AUC_0-2h differed significantly between groups (P<0.001), but differences were not significant in body weight and BMI (P>0.05). The incidence rates of AEs, TAEs, and GDs differed significantly between groups (P=0.010, P=0.005, and P=0.006, respectively), whereas the incidence rates of SAEs showed no significant differences between groups (P=1.000). CONCLUSION SZ-A are effective and safe for treatment of type 2 diabetes. The protocol was registered in http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=60117 (ChiCTR2000038550).
Alkaloids ; Blood Glucose ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy* ; Double-Blind Method ; Glycated Hemoglobin A ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Morus ; Tablets/therapeutic use* ; Treatment Outcome

TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), a core kinase of antiviral pathways, activates the production of interferons (IFNs). It has been reported that deacetylation activates TBK1; however, the precise mechanism still remains to be uncovered. We show here that during the early stage of viral infection, the acetylation of TBK1 was increased, and the acetylation of TBK1 at Lys241 enhanced the recruitment of IRF3 to TBK1. HDAC3 directly deacetylated TBK1 at Lys241 and Lys692, which resulted in the activation of TBK1. Deacetylation at Lys241 and Lys692 was critical for the kinase activity and dimerization of TBK1 respectively. Using knockout cell lines and transgenic mice, we confirmed that a HDAC3 null mutant exhibited enhanced susceptibility to viral challenge via impaired production of type I IFNs. Furthermore, activated TBK1 phosphorylated HDAC3, which promoted the deacetylation activity of HDAC3 and formed a feedback loop. In this study, we illustrated the roles the acetylated and deacetylated forms of TBK1 play in antiviral innate responses and clarified the post-translational modulations involved in the interaction between TBK1 and HDAC3.

BACKGROUND: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a promising biomarker for non-invasive epidermal growth factor receptor mutations (EGFRm) detection in lung cancer patients, but existing methods have limitations in sensitivity and availability. In this study, we used the ΔCt value (mutant cycle threshold [Ct] value-internal control Ct value) generated during the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to convert super-amplification-refractory mutation system (superARMS) from a qualitative method to a semi-quantitative method named reformed-superARMS (R-superARMS), and evaluated its performance in detecting EGFRm in plasma ctDNA in patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma. METHODS: A total of 41 pairs of tissues and plasma samples were obtained from lung adenocarcinoma patients who had known EGFRm in tumor tissue and were previously untreated. EGFRm in ctDNA was identified by using superARMS. Through making use of ΔCt value generated during the detection process of superARMS, we indirectly transform this qualitative detection method into a semi-quantitative PCR detection method, named R-superARMS. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses of the data were performed. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to estimate the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Fisher exact test was used for categorical variables. RESULTS: The concordance rate of EGFRm in tumor tissues and matched plasma samples was 68.3% (28/41). At baseline, EGFRm-positive patients were divided into two groups according to the cut-off ΔCt value of EGFRm set at 8.11. A significant difference in the median OS (mOS) between the two groups was observed (EGFRm ΔCt ≤8.11 vs. >8.11: not reached vs. 11.0 months; log-rank P = 0.024). Patients were divided into mutation clearance (MC) group and mutation incomplete clearance (MIC) group according to whether the ΔCt value of EGFRm test turned negative after 1 month of treatment. We found that there was also a significant difference in mOS (not reached vs. 10.4 months; log-rank P = 0.021) between MC group and MIC group. Although there was no significant difference in PFS between the two groups, the two curves were separated and the PFS of MC group tended to be higher than the MIC group (not reached vs. 27.5 months; log-rank P = 0.088). Furthermore, EGFRm-positive patients were divided into two groups according to the cut-off of the changes in ΔCt value of EGFRm after 1 month of treatment, which was set at 4.89. A significant difference in the mOS between the two groups was observed (change value of ΔCt >4.89 vs. ≤4.89: not reached vs. 11.0 months; log-rank P = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS Detecting EGFRm in ctDNA using R-superARMS can identify patients who are more likely sensitive to targeted therapy, reflect the molecular load of patients, and predict the therapeutic efficacy and clinical outcomes of patients.
Adenocarcinoma of Lung/genetics* ; Circulating Tumor DNA/genetics* ; ErbB Receptors/genetics* ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/genetics* ; Mutation/genetics* ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors

OBJECTIVE: Plant-derived cytotoxic transgene expression, such as trichosanthin (tcs), regulated by recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vector is a promising cancer gene therapy. However, the cytotoxic transgene can hamper the vector production in the rAAV producer cell line, human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells. Here, we explored microRNA-122 (miR122) and its target sequence to limit the expression of the cytotoxic gene in the rAAV producer cells. METHODS: A miR122 target (122T) sequence was incorporated into the 3' untranslated region of the tcs cDNA sequence. The firefly luciferase (fluc) transgene was used as an appropriate control. Cell line HEK293-mir122 was generated by the lentiviral vector-mediated genome integration of the mir122 gene in parental HEK293 cells. The effects of miR122 overexpression on cell growth, transgene expression, and rAAV production were determined. RESULTS: The presence of 122T sequence significantly reduced transgene expression in the miR122-enriched Huh7 cell line (in vitro), fresh human hepatocytes (ex vivo), and mouse liver (in vivo). Also, the normal liver physiology was unaffected by delivery of 122T sequence by rAAV vectors. Compared with the parental cells, the miR122-overexpressing HEK293-mir122 cell line showed similar cell growth rate and expression of transgene without 122T, as well as the ability to produce liver-targeting rAAV vectors. Fascinatingly, the yield of rAAV vectors carrying the tcs-122T gene was increased by 77.7-fold in HEK293-mir122 cells. Moreover, the tcs-122T-containing rAAV vectors significantly reduced the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells without affecting the normal liver cells. CONCLUSION HEK293-mir122 cells along with the 122T sequence provide a potential tool to attenuate the cytotoxic transgene expression, such as tcs, during rAAV vector production.
Animals ; Dependovirus/genetics* ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors/genetics* ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Mice ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Trichosanthin

OBJECTIVETo detect the JAK2, CALR and MPL gene mutations in patients with BCR/ABL1 negative chronic myeloproliferative diseases（BCR/ABL1-CMPD）and to evaluate their diagnostic value.

METHODSTwo hundred and eight cases of BCR/ABL1-CMPD comprising of 146 cases of essential thrombocythemia（ET）, 37 cases of polycythemia vera（PV）and 25 cases of primary myelofibrosis（PMF）from March 2012 to December 2015 were enrolled in the BCR/ABL1-CMPD, while 124 cases of secondary thrombocythemia and 73 cases of secondary polycythemia were enrolled in the control group. The genomic DNA and total RNA Were isolated from bone marrow or peripheral blood, then the exons 12 to 20 of JAK2 gene, exon 10 of MPL gene and exons 3 to 9 of CALR gene were analyzed by using DNA sequencing.

RESULTSamong 146 ET patients, the JAK2, CALR or MPL mutations were found in: 138 cases（94.5%）including 86 cases with JAK2V617F mutation（58.9%）and 2 cases（1.4%）with exon 12 of JAK2 mutations. CALR mutations were detected in 41 cases（28.1%）, among them type 1（c.1092_1143del）in 22 cases, type 2（c.1154_1155insTTGTC）in 11 cases, and type 5（c. 1091_1142del）, type 8（c.1104_1137del）, type 41(c.1107_1137del）, type 42(c.1125_1125del）in one case respectively. In addition, 4 cases were detected withother mutations of the CALR gene（c.1107_1115del, c.1111_1144 del, c.1101 A>C, c.1112_1117del）. Moreover, 9 cases harbored MPL mutations（6.2%）. Secondly, 31 patients were detected with JAK2V617F mutation（83.8%）in 37 cases of PV, and JAK2 exon 12 mutations were found in 2 cases（5.4%）. Besides, CALR mutations were detected in 2 cases（5.4%）, including 1 case of type I, the other of novel mutation of CALR. Thirdly, 19 in 25 cases of PMF were detected with JAK2V617F mutation（76%）, 2 cases with CALR mutations（8%）. 4 patients（16%）, JAK2, CALR or MPL mutations were not detected, but among them 3 cases were found harboring other genetic abnormalities. Fourthly, no mutations of JAK2, MPL and CALR genes were detected in 124 patients with secondary thrombocytosis and 73 cases with secondary polycythemia.

CONCLUSIONCombined detection of JAK2, CALR and MPL gene mutations can cover the vast majority of patients with BCR/ABL1-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms. For higher frequencies of the mutations of CALR in ET patients, CALR mutation can be used as a new diagnostic marker in ET patients with JAK2 and MPL wild type.

Calreticulin ; Humans ; Janus Kinase 2 ; Mutation ; Myeloproliferative Disorders ; Polycythemia Vera ; Receptors, Thrombopoietin ; Thrombocythemia, Essential

BackgroundRecent advances in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) have led to increasing interest in its use during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). However, decisions regarding extracorporeal CPR (ECPR) in children are difficult as a result of limited studies, especially in Asia Pacific. The objective of this study was to investigate trends in survival and demographic details for children with ECPR in Asia Pacific recorded in the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) registry from 1999 to 2016 and identify the risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality.

MethodsThe data of children younger than 18 years of age who received ECPR over the past 18 years in Asia Pacific were retrospectively analyzed. The data were extracted from the ELSO registry and divided into two 9-year groups (Group 1: 1999-2007 and Group 2: 2008-2016) to assess temporal changes using univariate analysis. Then, univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed between survivors and nonsurvivors to identify factors independently associated with in-hospital mortality.

ResultsA total of 321 children were included in final analysis, with an overall survival rate of 50.8%. Although survival rates were similar between Group 1 and Group 2 (43.1% vs. 52.5%, χ = 1.67, P = 0.196), the median age (1.7 [0.3, 19.2] months for Group 1 vs. 5.6 [0.8, 64.9] months for Group 2, t = -2.93, P = 0.003) and weight (3.7 [3.0, 11.5] kg for Group 1 vs. 6.0 [3.4, 20.3] kg for Group 2, t = -3.14, P = 0.002) of children increased over time, while the proportion of congenital heart disease (75.9% for Group 1 vs. 57.8% for Group 2, χ = 6.52, P = 0.011) and cardiogenic shock (36.2% for Group 1 vs. 7.2% for Group 2, χ = 36.59, P < 0.001) decreased. Patient conditions before ECMO were worse, while ECMO complications decreased across time periods, especially renal complications. Multiple logistic regression analysis of ECMO complications showed that disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), myocardial stunning, and neurological complications were independently associated with increased odds of hospital mortality.

ConclusionsThe broader indications and decreased complication rates make EPCR to be applicated more and more extensive in children in Asia Pacific region. ECMO complications such as myocardial stunning are independently associated with decreased survival.

Asia ; Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; methods ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Registries ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate ; Time Factors

The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical significance of CD37 expression in B cells from B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL). The expression level of CD37 on B cells from bone marrow samples of normal controls (n = 19), B-ALL patients [including untreated cases (n = 5) and cases with minimal residual disease (MRD, n = 15)] and B-NHL patients (n = 25) whose bone marrow was involved by lymphoma cells, was detected by multiple parameter flow cytometry. The results indicated that the B cells from both untreated cases and cases with MRD lowly expressed CD37 (1.04 ± 0.24 and 1.50 ± 0.89), the normal precursor B cells (control cases) also lowly expressed CD37 (1.64 ± 0.52). There was no difference of CD37 expression level between 3 groups of cases(P > 0.05). Meanwhile the normal mature B cells and B-NHL cells highly expressed CD37 (14.23 ± 7.84 and 14.53 ± 10.93), but there was no difference of CD37 expression between them (P > 0.05). The comparison of CD37 expression level in normal B cells of development stages showed that the progenitor B cells lowly expressed CD37 (0.88 ± 0.17), the CD37 expression of precursor B cells was enhanced (2.44 ± 0.69), while the CD37 expression level of mature B cells was highest. It is concluded that the low expression of CD37 is not the characteristic of B- ALL cells. The expression level of CD37 increases gradually during the mature process of B cells, i.e, the expression level of CD37 does not associate with benignity or malignancy of B cells.
Antigens, Neoplasm ; metabolism ; Bone Marrow Cells ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tetraspanins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the distribution laws of TCM syndrome types and to analyze the distribution of dynamic blood pressure curve, atherosclerosis, and age in senile hypertension patients.

METHODSTotally 1 131 senile hypertension patients were recruited from 7 provinces and municipal cities. Features of TCM syndromes, classification and distribution curves, and syndrome distribution laws were observed. The distribution curves of dynamic blood pressure, carotid atherosclerosis, and age were compared in each TCM syndrome types.

RESULTSThere were four main syndrome types in 736 cases (56.15%), i.e., excessive accumulation of phlegm-dampness syndrome (210 cases, 16.02%), yin deficiency and hyperactivity of yang syndrome (177 cases, 13.50%), Gan-Shen yin deficiency syndrome (79 cases, 6.03%), and deficiency of qi and yin syndrome (252 cases, 19.22%). Besides, there were two more sub-types, i.e., collateral obstruction by blood stasis syndrome and collateral obstruction by phlegm and stasis. Circadian blood pressure monitor was completed in 211 cases. Of them, abnormal circadian blood pressure occurred in 152 cases (accounting for 72. 38%); yin deficiency and hyperactivity of yang syndrome, excessive accumulation of phlegm-dampness syndrome, deficiency of qi and yin syndrome plus collateral obstruction by blood stasis syndrome were most often seen. Color ultrasound of carotid artery was performed in 660 patients of main syndromes. The incidence was quite higher in those of excessive accumulation of phlegm-dampness syndrome (182 cases, 27. 58%), deficiency of qi and yin syndrome plus collateral obstruction by blood stasis syndrome or collateral obstruction by phlegm and stasis (322 cases, 48.79%). Yin deficiency and hyperactivity of yang syndrome was dominant in patients 60 -79 years old, while deficiency of qi and yin syndrome and Gan-Shen yin deficiency syndrome were dominant in patients older than 80 years.

CONCLUSIONSExcessive accumulation of phlegm-dampness syndrome, yin deficiency and hyperactivity of yang syndrome, Gan-Shen yin deficiency syndrome, and deficiency of qi and yin syndrome were main syndrome types in senile hypertension patients. There was statistical difference in the distribution curves of blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and age of various TCM syndrome types.

Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Atherosclerosis ; epidemiology ; Biomedical Research ; Blood Pressure ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Qi ; Research Design ; Risk Factors ; Yin Deficiency ; epidemiology