1.Ginkgo biloba extract alleviates oxygen and glucose deprivation/reperfusion injury in cardiac microvascular endothelial cells by regulating NF-κB and CHOP signaling pathways through SIRT6
Mukaddas ABDURAHMAN ; Zhenyang GUO ; Junbo GE ; Hua LI
Chinese Journal of Clinical Medicine 2025;32(1):46-57
Objective To explore the effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) on cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (CMECs) under oxygen and glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) condition and its molecular mechanisms. Methods An OGD/R-induced injury model was established in CMECs. According to different intervention, CMECs were divided into four groups: normoxia blank control group (WT group), WT + GBE group, OGD/R group, and OGD/R + GBE group. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry technology in each group. The oxidative stress was examined by MitoSox staining. The migration abilities were measured by scratch assay. The expressions of PERK/eIF2α/CHOP, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and endothelial cell function markers were detected by Western blotting. Results Compared with the WT group, the endothelial cell apoptosis level in the OGD/R group significantly increased, with markedly aggravated cellular dysfunction. The expressions of p-NF-κB, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were significantly upregulated (P<0.05), and the activation of the CHOP signaling pathway was notably enhanced (P<0.05). After intervention with GBE, endothelial cell apoptosis caused by OGD/R injury was significantly reduced, oxidative stress and inflammation levels were markedly downregulated, and the expression of p-NF-κB was considerably decreased (P<0.05), while the CHOP signaling pathway was notably inhibited (P<0.05). Furthermore, it was found that GBE could promote expression of SIRT6 to regulate the above molecules, thereby alleviating cardiac microvascular endothelial cell injury under OGD/R condition. On the contrary, when SIRT6 was knocked down, the protective effects were significantly reduced. Conclusions GBE improves endothelial cell dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and endothelial cell apoptosis caused by OGD/R injury by promoting the expression of SIRT6 protein, thus regulating the NF-κB inflammatory pathway and CHOP signaling pathway.
2.Mechanism of Xinnao shutong capsule alleviating cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by regulating ferroptosis
Huani LI ; Changhe LIU ; Xiaoyan GUO ; Xin ZHONG ; Wei ZHANG ; Wenjing GE
China Pharmacy 2025;36(3):306-311
OBJECTIVE To study the mechanism of Xinnao shutong capsule alleviating cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury (CIRI) in rats by regulating the ferroptosis pathway. METHODS SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group, Xinnao shutong low-dose, high-dose group (220, 440 mg/kg), Ginkgo biloba leaves extract group (positive control, 150 mg/kg). Each group of rats was orally administered with the corresponding medication/normal saline for 7 consecutive days. Transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery was adopted to induce the CIRI model; the samples were taken 24 h after the operation; the cerebral infarction area of rats was detected, and the cerebral infarction rate was calculated. The pathological changes of brain tissues were observed, and the levels of lipid peroxide (LPO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) in cerebral tissue were detected; mRNA and protein expressions of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase 1(HO-1) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) were all detected in cerebral tissue of rats. RESULTS Compared with model group, the cerebral infarction rate, the content of total iron in cerebral tissue and serum level of LPO (except for Ginkgo biloba leaves extract group and Xinnao shutong low-dose group) were all decreased significantly in G. biloba leaves extract group and Xinnao shutong groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01); the serum level of GSH, the protein and mRNA expressions of Nrf2, HO-1 and GPX4 were all increased significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The pathological damage to brain tissue was reduced, the number of nerve cells increased, the edema was alleviated, and the nuclear membrane was flattened. CONCLUSIONS Xinnao shutong capsule can inhibit ferroptosis and reduce CIRI, the mechanism of which may be associated with the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1/GPX4 signaling pathway.
3.Clinical Practice of Coronary Microvascular Disease with the Integrated Approach of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine
Aolin LI ; Xinnong CHEN ; Lerong YU ; Jun GE ; Wei ZHOU ; Kangzheng GUO ; Junping ZHANG
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(16):1662-1667
This paper analyzed the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and western medical understanding of coronary microvascular disease (CMVD) from the three dimensions of "disease-syndrome-symptom". In western medicine, by summarizing the suspected diagnosis and understanding of CMVD, it is believed that inflammatory responses and vascular endothelial damage are the key mechanisms of the pathogenesis. From the perspective of TCM, the disease location is at blood, vessels and heart, and the fundamental cause is spleen and kidney depletion, closely realted to phlegm, stasis, toxin, wind and qi. Integrating the understanding of both TCM and western medicine, clinical treatment advocates taking the CMVD pathology as the base, and the TCM understanding of pathogenesis as the main focus. The properties of Chinese herbal medicinals is used as the guidance for medication, and the pharmacological understanding as the assisstance of treatment, with the medical history and the severity of the condition are additionally considered. It is finally proposed that during the acute phase, the methods of nourishing yin and resolving toxins, softening hardness and dissipating masses, dispelling wind and unblocking collaterals should be applied to alleviate the emergency. In the subacute phase, the focus should be on raising and lifting qi promote its movement, with flexible use of medicinals that can unblock yang. In the remission phase, the method of tonifying spleen and fortifying kidney should be used to maintain the stability of the condition.
4.Novel CD19 Fast-CAR-T cells vs. CD19 conventional CAR-T cells for the treatment of relapsed/refractory CD19-positive B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Xu TAN ; Jishi WANG ; Shangjun CHEN ; Li LIU ; Yuhua LI ; Sanfang TU ; Hai YI ; Jian ZHOU ; Sanbin WANG ; Ligen LIU ; Jian GE ; Yongxian HU ; Xiaoqi WANG ; Lu WANG ; Guo CHEN ; Han YAO ; Cheng ZHANG ; Xi ZHANG
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(19):2491-2497
BACKGROUND:
Treatment with chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cells has shown promising effectiveness in patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (R/R B-ALL), although the process of preparing for this therapy usually takes a long time. We have recently created CD19 Fast-CAR-T (F-CAR-T) cells, which can be produced within a single day. The objective of this study was to evaluate and contrast the effectiveness and safety of CD19 F-CAR-T cells with those of CD19 conventional CAR-T cells in the management of R/R B-ALL.
METHODS:
A multicenter, retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 44 patients with R/R B-ALL was conducted. Overall, 23 patients were administered with innovative CD19 F-CAR-T cells (F-CAR-T group), whereas 21 patients were given CD19 conventional CAR-T cells (C-CAR-T group). We compared the rates of complete remission (CR), minimal residual disease (MRD)-negative CR, leukemia-free survival (LFS), overall survival (OS), and the incidence of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) between the two groups.
RESULTS:
Compared with the C-CAR-T group, the F-CAR-T group had significantly higher CR and MRD-negative rates (95.7% and 91.3%, respectively; 71.4% and 66.7%, respectively; P = 0.036 and P = 0.044). No significant differences were observed in the 1-year or 2-year LFS or OS rates between the two groups: the 1-year and 2-year LFS for the F-CAR-T group vs.C-CAR-T group were 47.8% and 43.5% vs. 38.1% and 23.8% (P = 0.384 and P = 0.216), while the 1-year and 2-year OS rates were 65.2% and 56.5% vs. 52.4% and 47.6% (P = 0.395 and P = 0.540). Additionally, among CR patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) following CAR-T-cell therapy, there were no significant differences in the 1-year or 2-year LFS or OS rates: 57.1% and 50.0% vs. 47.8% and 34.8% (P = 0.506 and P = 0.356), 64.3% and 57.1% vs. 65.2% and 56.5% (P = 0.985 and P = 0.883), respectively. The incidence of CRS was greater in the F-CAR-T group (91.3%) than in the C-CAR-T group (66.7%) (P = 0.044). The incidence of ICANS was also greater in the F-CAR-T group (30.4%) than in the C-CAR-T group (9.5%) (P = 0.085), but no treatment-related deaths occurred in the two groups.
CONCLUSION
Compared with C-CAR-T-cell therapy, F-CAR-T-cell therapy has a superior remission rate but also leads to a tolerably increased incidence of CRS/ICANS. Further research is needed to explore the function of allo-HSCT as an intermediary therapy after CAR-T-cell therapy.
5.Integration and innovation of wet granulation and continuous manufacturing technology: a review of on-line detection, modeling, and process scale-up.
Guang-di YANG ; Ge AO ; Yang CHEN ; Yu-Fang HUANG ; Shu CHEN ; Dong-Xun LI ; Wen-Liu ZHANG ; Tian-Tian WANG ; Guo-Song ZHANG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(6):1484-1495
Continuous manufacturing, as an innovative pharmaceutical production model, offers advantages such as high production efficiency and ease of control compared to traditional batch production, aligning with the future trend of drug production moving toward greater efficiency and intelligence. However, the development of continuous manufacturing technology in wet granulation has been slow. On one hand, this is closely related to its high technical complexity, substantial equipment investment costs, and stringent process control requirements. On the other hand, the long-term use of the traditional batch production model has created strong path dependence, and the lack of mature standardized processes further increases the difficulty of technological transformation. To promote the deep integration of wet granulation technology with continuous manufacturing, this review systematically outlines the current application of wet granulation in continuous manufacturing. It focuses on the development of key technologies such as online detection, process modeling, and process scale-up, with the aim of providing a reference for process innovation and application in wet granulation.
Drug Compounding/instrumentation*
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Technology, Pharmaceutical/methods*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry*
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Models, Theoretical
6.Effects of combined use of active ingredients in Buyang Huanwu Decoction on oxygen-glucose deprivation/reglucose-reoxygenation-induced inflammation and oxidative stress of BV2 cells.
Tian-Qing XIA ; Ying CHEN ; Jian-Lin HUA ; Qin SU ; Cun-Yan DAN ; Meng-Wei RONG ; Shi-Ning GE ; Hong GUO ; Bao-Guo XIAO ; Jie-Zhong YU ; Cun-Gen MA ; Li-Juan SONG
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(14):3835-3846
This study aims to explore the effects and action mechanisms of the active ingredients in Buyang Huanwu Decoction(BYHWD), namely tetramethylpyrazine(TMP) and hydroxy-safflor yellow A(HSYA), on oxygen-glucose deprivation/reglucose-reoxygenation(OGD/R)-induced inflammation and oxidative stress of microglia(MG). Network pharmacology was used to screen the effective monomer ingredients of BYHWD and determine the safe concentration range for each component. Inflammation and oxidative stress models were established to further screen the best ingredient combination and optimal concentration ratio with the most effective anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. OGD/R BV2 cell models were constructed, and BV2 cells in the logarithmic growth phase were divided into a normal group, a model group, an HSYA group, a TMP group, and an HSYA + TMP group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the levels of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β(IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), and interleukin-6(IL-6). Oxidative stress markers, including superoxide dismutase(SOD), nitric oxide(NO), and malondialdehyde(MDA), were also measured. Western blot was used to analyze the protein expression of both inflammation-related pathway [Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB)] and oxidative stress-related pathway [nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)]. Immunofluorescence was used to assess the expression of proteins such as inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) and arginase-1(Arg-1). The most effective ingredients for anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in BYHWD were TMP and HSYA. Compared to the normal group, the model group showed significantly increased levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, NO, and MDA, along with significantly higher protein expression of NF-κB, TLR4, Nrf2, and HO-1 and significantly lower SOD levels. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant. Compared to the model group, both the HSYA group and the TMP group showed significantly reduced levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, NO, and MDA, lower expression of NF-κB and TLR4 proteins, higher levels of SOD, and significantly increased protein expression of Nrf2 and HO-1. Additionally, the expression of the M1-type MG marker iNOS was significantly reduced, while the expression of the M2-type MG marker Arg-1 was significantly increased. The results of the HSYA group and the TMP group had statistically significant differences from those of the model group. Compared to the HSYA group and the TMP group, the HSYA + TMP group showed further significant reductions in IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, NO, and MDA levels, along with significant reductions in NF-κB and TLR4 protein expression, an increase in SOD levels, and elevated Nrf2 and HO-1 protein expression. Additionally, the expression of the M1-type MG marker iNOS was reduced, while the M2-type MG marker Arg-1 expression increased significantly in the HSYA + TMP group compared to the TMP or HSYA group. The differences in the results were statistically significant between the HSYA + TMP group and the TMP or HSYA group. The findings indicated that the combined use of HSYA and TMP, the active ingredients of BYHWD, can effectively inhibit OGD/R-induced inflammation and oxidative stress of MG, showing superior effects compared to the individual use of either component.
Oxidative Stress/drug effects*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
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Animals
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Mice
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Glucose/metabolism*
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Cell Line
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Inflammation/genetics*
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Oxygen/metabolism*
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Pyrazines/pharmacology*
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Microglia/metabolism*
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NF-E2-Related Factor 2/immunology*
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NF-kappa B/immunology*
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Toll-Like Receptor 4/immunology*
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology*
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Humans
7.Effects of alcoholic extract of Gnaphalium affine on oxidative stress and intestinal flora in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Da-Huai LIN ; Xiang-Li YE ; Guo-Hong YAN ; Kai-Ge WANG ; Yu-Qin ZHANG ; Huang LI
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(15):4110-4119
The efficacy mechanism of the alcoholic extract of Gnaphalium affine was investigated by observing its influence on oxidative stress and intestinal flora in rats modeled for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD). UPLC-MS was used to evaluate the quality of the alcoholic extract of G. affine, and 72 rats were randomly divided into six groups, with COPD models established in five groups by cigarette smoke combined with airway drip lipopolysaccharide, and the rats were given the positive drug of Danlong Oral Solution, as well as low-, medium-, and high-doses alcoholic extract of G. affine, respectively. After two weeks of continuous gastric gavage, the body weights and general morphology observations were performed; HE staining and Masson staining were used to verify the effects of the alcoholic extract of G. affine on alveolar inflammation and collagen deposition area in COPD rats; the oxidative stress indexes CAT and GSH in serum and SOD and MDA in lung tissue of the rats were measured, and the mRNA expression of HO-1, Nrf2, and NQO1 were determined by qRT-PCR. The protein expressions of HO-1, Nrf2, and NQO1 were determined by the Western blot method, and the mechanism by which the alcoholic extract of G. affine affected oxidative stress in COPD rats was explored. Finally, the influence of G. affine on the changes in intestinal flora caused by COPD was studied by 16S rRNA sequencing. The results showed that a total of 121 chemical components were identified by UPLC-MS, including 70 positive and 51 negative ion modes. In animal experiments, it was found that the alcoholic extracts of G. affine were able to reduce the percentage of collagen deposition, affect the oxidative stress indexes such as CAT, GSH, SOD, MDA, as well as the mRNA and protein expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1. The 16S rRNA sequencing results showed an increase in the level of Lactobacillales and a decrease in the level of Desulfovibrio and Desulfovibrionales, suggesting that the alcoholic extracts of G. affine could reverse the changes in intestinal flora caused by COPD. In conclusion, the alcoholic extracts of G. affine may exert anti-COPD effects by affecting the oxidative stress pathway and modulating the changes in intestinal flora.
Animals
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Oxidative Stress/drug effects*
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Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/genetics*
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Rats
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Male
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Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects*
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage*
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NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism*
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Humans
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Lung/metabolism*
8.Protocol for development of Guideline for Interventions on Cervical Spine Health.
Jing LI ; Guang-Qi LU ; Ming-Hui ZHUANG ; Xin-Yue SUN ; Ya-Kun LIU ; Ming-Ming MA ; Li-Guo ZHU ; Zhong-Shi LI ; Wei CHEN ; Ji-Ge DONG ; Le-Wei ZHANG ; Jie YU
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2025;38(10):1083-1088
Cervical spine health issues not only seriously affect patients' quality of life but also impose a heavy burden on the social healthcare system. Existing guidelines lack sufficient clinical guidance on lifestyle and work habits, such as exercise, posture, daily routine, and diet, making it difficult to meet practical needs. To address this, relying on the China Association of Chinese Medicine, Wangjing Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences took the lead and joined hands with more than ten institutions to form a multidisciplinary guideline development group. For the first time, the group developed the Guidelines for Cervical Spine Health Intervention based on evidence-based medicine methods, strictly following the standardized procedures outlined in the World Health Organization Handbook for Guideline Development and the Guiding Principles for the Formulation/Revision of Clinical Practice Guidelines in China (2022 Edition). This proposal systematically explains the methods and steps for developing the guideline, aiming to make the guideline development process scientific, standardized, and transparent.
Humans
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Practice Guidelines as Topic/standards*
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Cervical Vertebrae
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China
9.Discovery of Yersinia LcrV as a novel biased agonist of formyl peptide receptor 1 to bi-directionally modulate intracellular kinases in triple-negative breast cancer.
Yunjun GE ; Huiwen GUAN ; Ting LI ; Jie WANG ; Liang YING ; Shuhui GUO ; Jinjian LU ; Richard D YE ; Guosheng WU
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(7):3646-3662
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are significant drug targets, but their potential in cancer therapy remains underexplored. Conventional GPCR agonists or antagonists have shown limited effectiveness in cancer treatment, necessitating new GPCR-targeting strategies for more effective therapies. This study discovers that Yersinia pestis LcrV, a crucial linker protein for plague infection, acts as a biased agonist of a GPCR, the formyl peptide receptor 1 (FPR1). The LcrV protein induces unique conformational changes in FPR1, resulting in G proteins being activated in a distinctive state without subunit dissociation. This leads to a biased signaling profile characterized by cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) responses and β-arrestin2 recruitment, but not calcium mobilization. In FPR1-expressing triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells, LcrV bi-directionally modulates intracellular signaling pathways, downregulating extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2) and Akt pathways while upregulating Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 pathways. This dual modulation results in cell cycle arrest and the inhibition of TNBC cell proliferation. In TNBC xenograft mouse models, long-term LcrV treatment inhibits tumor growth more effectively than a conventional FPR1 antagonist. Additionally, LcrV treatment reprograms tumor cells by reducing stemness-associated proteins OCT4 and c-MYC. Our findings highlight the potential of biased GPCR agonists as a novel GPCR-targeting strategy for cancer treatment.
10.Discovery of orally active and serine-targeting covalent inhibitors against hCES2A for ameliorating irinotecan-triggered gut toxicity.
Ya ZHANG ; Yufan FAN ; Yunqing SONG ; Guanghao ZHU ; Xinjuan LI ; Jian HUANG ; Xinrui GUO ; Changhai LUAN ; Dongning KANG ; Lu CHEN ; Zhangping XIAO ; Zhaobin GUO ; Hairong ZENG ; Dapeng CHEN ; Zhipei SANG ; Guangbo GE
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2025;15(10):5312-5326
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.

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