1.Effect Analysis of Different Interventions to Improve Neuroinflammation in The Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
Jiang-Hui SHAN ; Chao-Yang CHU ; Shi-Yu CHEN ; Zhi-Cheng LIN ; Yu-Yu ZHOU ; Tian-Yuan FANG ; Chu-Xia ZHANG ; Biao XIAO ; Kai XIE ; Qing-Juan WANG ; Zhi-Tao LIU ; Li-Ping LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):310-333
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a central neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive decline and memory impairment in clinical. Currently, there are no effective treatments for AD. In recent years, a variety of therapeutic approaches from different perspectives have been explored to treat AD. Although the drug therapies targeted at the clearance of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) had made a breakthrough in clinical trials, there were associated with adverse events. Neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the onset and progression of AD. Continuous neuroinflammatory was considered to be the third major pathological feature of AD, which could promote the formation of extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. At the same time, these toxic substances could accelerate the development of neuroinflammation, form a vicious cycle, and exacerbate disease progression. Reducing neuroinflammation could break the feedback loop pattern between neuroinflammation, Aβ plaque deposition and Tau tangles, which might be an effective therapeutic strategy for treating AD. Traditional Chinese herbs such as Polygonum multiflorum and Curcuma were utilized in the treatment of AD due to their ability to mitigate neuroinflammation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and indomethacin had been shown to reduce the level of inflammasomes in the body, and taking these drugs was associated with a low incidence of AD. Biosynthetic nanomaterials loaded with oxytocin were demonstrated to have the capability to anti-inflammatory and penetrate the blood-brain barrier effectively, and they played an anti-inflammatory role via sustained-releasing oxytocin in the brain. Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells could reduce neuroinflammation and inhibit the activation of microglia. The secretion of mesenchymal stem cells could not only improve neuroinflammation, but also exert a multi-target comprehensive therapeutic effect, making it potentially more suitable for the treatment of AD. Enhancing the level of TREM2 in microglial cells using gene editing technologies, or application of TREM2 antibodies such as Ab-T1, hT2AB could improve microglial cell function and reduce the level of neuroinflammation, which might be a potential treatment for AD. Probiotic therapy, fecal flora transplantation, antibiotic therapy, and dietary intervention could reshape the composition of the gut microbiota and alleviate neuroinflammation through the gut-brain axis. However, the drugs of sodium oligomannose remain controversial. Both exercise intervention and electromagnetic intervention had the potential to attenuate neuroinflammation, thereby delaying AD process. This article focuses on the role of drug therapy, gene therapy, stem cell therapy, gut microbiota therapy, exercise intervention, and brain stimulation in improving neuroinflammation in recent years, aiming to provide a novel insight for the treatment of AD by intervening neuroinflammation in the future.
2.Expression and functional study of FKBP10 in oral squamous cell carcinoma
FANG Zhikai ; JIN Hui ; YANG Shan ; JIANG Nan ; ZHANG Mingyu ; ZHOU Shuang ; LI Chang ; LI Lili
Journal of Prevention and Treatment for Stomatological Diseases 2025;33(7):529-541
Objective:
To investigate the expression and functional role of FK506 binding protein 10 (FKBP10) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and to provide a research basis for the estimated prognosis and targeted therapy of OSCC.
Methods:
A total of 284 OSCC samples and 19 normal samples were selected from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and diagnostic analysis was performed to determine mRNA expression. Survival analysis for FKBP10 and OSCC was conducted on a gene expression profile interaction analysis website. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western Blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of FKBP10 in four OSCC cell lines and SAS and SCC9 cells transfected with siRNA. The cell proliferation ability of FKBP10-silenced cells was detected using the CCK8 method, and the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry. Cell migration and invasion ability were detected through wound healing and invasion experiments. The expression changes of total protein and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-serine/threonine kinase (AKT) after FKBP10 silencing were analyzed by proteomics and Western Blot.
Results:
According to the analysis of gene expression levels, the mRNA expression level of FKBP10 in OSCC was significantly higher than that in normal tissues (P < 0.001). In terms of diagnosis, the expression level of FKBP10 has unique diagnostic value for OSCC (P < 0.05). The survival analysis of FKBP10 and OSCC showed that a high expression of FKBP10 led to a decrease in patient survival and poor prognosis (P < 0.05). The expression of FKBP10 mRNA and protein in OSCC cell lines was higher than that in normal oral keratinocytes (P < 0.001). Silencing FKBP10 can reduce the proliferation, invasion, and migration ability of SAS and SCC9 (P < 0.001), and also block their cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase (P < 0.001), with a significant increase in apoptosis (P < 0.05). Protein mass spectrometry and Western blot analysis revealed that FKBP10 silencing significantly downregulated the expression of multiple proteins in the RAP1 signaling pathway, mainly RAP guanine nucleotide exchange factor 1 (RAPGEF1) (P < 0.05) and the phosphorylation of PI3K-AKT proteins (P < 0.05).
Conclusion
FKBP10 is highly expressed in OSCC, leading to poor prognosis for patients. Downregulated FKBP10 expression can inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of OSCC cells, hinder cell cycle progression, and promote apoptosis via the RAP1-PI3K-AKT axis. FKBP10 is a potential therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker for OSCC.
3.Human ESC-derived vascular cells promote vascular regeneration in a HIF-1α dependent manner.
Jinghui LEI ; Xiaoyu JIANG ; Daoyuan HUANG ; Ying JING ; Shanshan YANG ; Lingling GENG ; Yupeng YAN ; Fangshuo ZHENG ; Fang CHENG ; Weiqi ZHANG ; Juan Carlos Izpisua BELMONTE ; Guang-Hui LIU ; Si WANG ; Jing QU
Protein & Cell 2024;15(1):36-51
Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α), a core transcription factor responding to changes in cellular oxygen levels, is closely associated with a wide range of physiological and pathological conditions. However, its differential impacts on vascular cell types and molecular programs modulating human vascular homeostasis and regeneration remain largely elusive. Here, we applied CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing of human embryonic stem cells and directed differentiation to generate HIF-1α-deficient human vascular cells including vascular endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as a platform for discovering cell type-specific hypoxia-induced response mechanisms. Through comparative molecular profiling across cell types under normoxic and hypoxic conditions, we provide insight into the indispensable role of HIF-1α in the promotion of ischemic vascular regeneration. We found human MSCs to be the vascular cell type most susceptible to HIF-1α deficiency, and that transcriptional inactivation of ANKZF1, an effector of HIF-1α, impaired pro-angiogenic processes. Altogether, our findings deepen the understanding of HIF-1α in human angiogenesis and support further explorations of novel therapeutic strategies of vascular regeneration against ischemic damage.
Humans
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism*
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Endothelial Cells/metabolism*
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Transcription Factors/metabolism*
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Gene Expression Regulation
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Hypoxia/metabolism*
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Cell Hypoxia/physiology*
4.Recent advances in small-molecule inhibitors targeting influenza virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase
Hui-nan JIA ; Rui-fang JIA ; Ji-wei ZHANG ; Yuan-min JIANG ; Chuan-feng LIU ; Ying ZHANG ; Xin-yong LIU ; Peng ZHAN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(1):43-60
Influenza virus causes serious threat to human life and health. Due to the inherent high variability of influenza virus, clinically resistant mutant strains of currently approved anti-influenza virus drugs have emerged. Therefore, it is urgent to develop antiviral drugs with new targets or mechanisms of action. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase is directly responsible for viral RNA transcription and replication, and plays key roles in the viral life cycle, which is considered an important target of anti-influenza drug design. From the point of view of medicinal chemistry, this review summarizes current advances in diverse small-molecule inhibitors targeting influenza virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, hoping to provide valuable reference for development of novel antiviral drugs.
5.Factors affecting osteoporosis among people aged 60 years and above
ZHANG Lu ; JIANG Liu ; CAO Hui ; LIN Fang
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2024;36(3):235-238
Objective:
To investigate the prevalence of osteoporosis (OP) and its influencing factors among people aged 60 years and above, so as to provide insights into OP prevention and treatment among the elderly.
Methods:
People aged 60 years and above who underwent physical examinations were selected from Hangzhou First People's Hospital from January to October 2023. Demographic information, lifestyle and physical examination data were collected through field surveys and hospital information systems. Bone density was measured by dual-energy X-ray densitometer, and OP was diagnosed with reference to the Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Osteoporosis (2022). Factors affecting the OP were identified using a multivariable logistic regression model.
Results:
A total of 482 participants were included and had a mean age of (69.10±6.52) years. There were 217 men (45.02%) and 265 women (54.98%). The prevalence of OP was 43.36%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified gender (women, OR=3.791, 95%CI: 1.726-8.314), age (70 to 79 years, OR=1.260, 95%CI: 1.018-1.559; 80 years and above, OR=3.083, 95%CI: 1.546-6.147), body mass index (≥24 kg/m2, OR=0.358, 95%CI: 0.205-0.626), family history of fracture (OR=1.475, 95%CI: 1.073-2.030), diabetes (OR=1.626, 95%CI: 1.109-2.382), regular exercise (OR=0.457, 95%CI: 0.287-0.726), intake of milk products (OR=0.511, 95%CI: 0.335-0.780), intake of calcium supplements (OR=0.473, 95%CI: 0.287-0.778) and vitamin D deficiency (OR=2.132, 95%CI: 1.309-3.473) as factors affecting OP.
Conclusion
The prevalence of OP is associated with gender, age, body mass index, family history of fracture, diabetes, diet and vitamin D deficiency.
6.Application Study of Enzyme Inhibitors and Their Conformational Optimization in The Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease
Chao-Yang CHU ; Biao XIAO ; Jiang-Hui SHAN ; Shi-Yu CHEN ; Chu-Xia ZHANG ; Yu-Yu ZHOU ; Tian-Yuan FANG ; Zhi-Cheng LIN ; Kai XIE ; Shu-Jun XU ; Li-Ping LI
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(7):1510-1529
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a central neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive dysfunction and behavioral impairment, and there is a lack of effective drugs to treat AD clinically. Existing medications for the treatment of AD, such as Tacrine, Donepezil, Rivastigmine, and Aducanumab, only serve to delay symptoms and but not cure disease. To add insult to injury, these medications are associated with very serious adverse effects. Therefore, it is urgent to explore effective therapeutic drugs for AD. Recently, studies have shown that a variety of enzyme inhibitors, such as cholinesterase inhibitors, monoamine oxidase (MAO)inhibitors, secretase inhibitors, can ameliorate cholinergic system dysfunction, Aβ production and deposition, Tau protein hyperphosphorylation, oxidative stress damage, and the decline of synaptic plasticity, thereby improving AD symptoms and cognitive function. Some plant extracts from natural sources, such as Umbelliferone, Aaptamine, Medha Plus, have the ability to inhibit cholinesterase activity and act to improve learning and cognition. Isochromanone derivatives incorporating the donepezil pharmacophore bind to the catalytic active site (CAS) and peripheral anionic site (PAS) sites of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which can inhibit AChE activity and ameliorate cholinergic system disorders. A compound called Rosmarinic acid which is found in the Lamiaceae can inhibit monoamine oxidase, increase monoamine levels in the brain, and reduce Aβ deposition. Compounds obtained by hybridization of coumarin derivatives and hydroxypyridinones can inhibit MAO-B activity and attenuate oxidative stress damage. Quinoline derivatives which inhibit the activation of AChE and MAO-B can reduce Aβ burden and promote learning and memory of mice. The compound derived from the combination of propargyl and tacrine retains the inhibitory capacity of tacrine towards cholinesterase, and also inhibits the activity of MAO by binding to the FAD cofactor of monoamine oxidase. A series of hybrids, obtained by an amide linker of chromone in combine with the benzylpiperidine moieties of donepezil, have a favorable safety profile of both cholinesterase and monoamine oxidase inhibitory activity. Single domain antibodies (such as AAV-VHH) targeted the inhibition of BACE1 can reduce Aβ production and deposition as well as the levels of inflammatory cells, which ultimately improve synaptic plasticity. 3-O-trans-p-coumaroyl maslinic acid from the extract of Ligustrum lucidum can specifically inhibit the activity of γ-secretase, thereby rescuing the long-term potentiation and enhancing synaptic plasticity in APP/PS1 mice. Inhibiting γ-secretase activity which leads to the decline of inflammatory factors (such as IFN-γ, IL-8) not only directly improves the pathology of AD, but also reduces Aβ production. Melatonin reduces the transcriptional expression of GSK-3β mRNA, thereby decreasing the levels of GSK-3β and reducing the phosphorylation induced by GSK-3β. Hydrogen sulfide can inhibitGSK-3β activity via sulfhydration of the Cys218 site of GSK-3β, resulting in the suppression of Tau protein hyperphosphorylation, which ameliorate the motor deficits and cognitive impairment in mice with AD. This article reviews enzyme inhibitors and conformational optimization of enzyme inhibitors targeting the regulation of cholinesterase, monoamine oxidase, secretase, and GSK-3β. We are hoping to provide a comprehensive overview of drug development in the enzyme inhibitors, which may be useful in treating AD.
7.The Mechanism of miR-124 in Depression
Yan XUE ; De-Zhu LI ; Hui-Ying XIE ; Chuan-Miao JIANG ; Jun-Fang ZHANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(6):1316-1326
Depression is a prevalent mental illness worldwide, its multifaceted pathogenesis is still in the exploratory stage. MicroRNA (miRNA), as a crucial epigenetic regulator, plays an important role in depression. miR-124 is one of the most abundant miRNAs in the central nervous system including neurons and microglia, and involved in various biological events like neuron development and differentiation, synaptic and axonal growth, neural plasticity, inflammation and autophagy. Recent studies have reported abnormal expression of miR-124 in both depression patients and animal models. Most of the studies showed that miR-124 is upregulated in the hippocampus or prefrontal cortex in stress-induced rodent depression animal models such as CUMS, CSDS, CORT, CRS and LH but some evidence for divergence. Upregulation of miR-124 expression may be involved in depression-like behavior via CREB/BDNF/TrkB pathway, GR pathway, SIRT1 pathway, apoptosis and autophagy pathways by directly targeting these genes including Creb, Bdnf, Sirt1, Nr3c1, Ezh2 and Stat3. The downregulation of miR-124 expression in neurons is mainly involved in the neurogenesis and neuroplasticity impairments in depression by targeting the Notch signaling pathway and DDIT4/TSC1/2/mTORC1 pathway. The downregulation of miR-124 expression also was found in the activated microglia in the stress-induced models, and resulted in neuroinflammation. In summary, the abnormal expression of miR-124 in the brain of depression-related models and its related mechanisms are complex and even contradictory, and still need further research. This review provides a summary of the research progress of miR-124 in depression.
8.The ninth edition of TNM staging for lung cancer: precise staging for precise diagnosis and treatment
Hanyue LI ; Yiyang WANG ; Hui LIU ; Hongxu LIU ; Liyan JIANG ; Yuchen HAN ; Wenyong ZHOU ; Teng MAO ; Wentao FANG
Chinese Journal of Surgery 2024;62(6):537-542
The ninth edition of TNM staging for lung cancer has been announced at the 2023 World Lung Cancer Congress and implemented from January 1, 2024. The focus of the ninth TNM staging change is dividing N2 into N2a and N2b, as well as M1c into M1c1 and M1c2. Although the T staging has not changed, it has played an important role in verifying the eighth edition of the T staging. The subdivision of stage N2 has led some patients with ⅢA of the eighth edition to experience ascending or descending stages, which will more accurately help to assess the condition and prognosis of patients with mediastinal lymph node metastasis, as well as the design of related clinical studies. Modifying the M1c staging will help define oligometastasis and explore new treatment models in the future. The ninth edition of the TNM staging system provides a more detailed division of different tumor loads, but there is no clear explanation for the staging of lung cancer after neoadjuvant therapy. Further data analysis is needed, and it is expected to be answered in the tenth edition of TNM staging.
9.circMYO9A_006 inhibits expression of cardiac hypertrophy-related pro-teins in cardiomyocytes by translating protein MYO9A-208aa
Jiaxue JIANG ; Jinfeng SU ; Ya WANG ; Tao OU ; Hui LI ; Jindong XU ; Yupeng LIU ; Xianhong FANG ; Zhixin SHAN
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology 2024;40(1):1-8
AIM:To investigate the effect of circular RNA MYO9A-006(circMYO9A_006)on hypertrophic phenotype of cardiomyocytes and the underlying mechanism.METHODS:The effect of adenovirus-mediated overexpres-sion of circMYO9A_006 on the expression of hypertrophy-related proteins,including β-myosin heavy chain(β-MHC),skeletal muscle actin alpha 1(ACTA1)and atrial natriuretic peptide(ANP),was evaluated in neonatal mouse ventricular cardiomyocytes(NMVCs).Moreover,a neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocyte(NRVC)model of phenylephrine(PE)-in-duced hypertrophy was established.The effect of circMYO9A_006 overexpression on NRVC size was ascertained using Phalloidin-iFluor 647 staining method.Dual-luciferase reporter assay was employed to measure the activity of potential in-ternal ribosome entry sites(IRES)in circMYO9A_006.The translation and intracellular location of the circMYO9A_006-translated protein,MYO9A-208aa,were verified using Western blot.To investigate the role of MYO9A-208aa in the ef-fect of circMYO9A_006 on the cardiomyocyte hypertrophic phenotype,we prepared and used the following adenoviruses:the recombinant circMYO9A_006-ORF adenovirus to express MYO9A-208aa,the recombinant circMYO9A_006-ATG-mut adenovirus that does not express MYO9A-208aa,the recombinant circMYO9A_006 adenovirus,and the adenovirus vector control.These were then employed to infect NRVCs.RESULTS:Successful adenovirus-mediated overexpression of circMYO9A_006 was observed in NMVCs.The increased expression of circMYO9A_006 notably reduced the expres-sion of hypertrophy-related proteins in NMVCs(P<0.01).Concurrently,overexpression of circMYO9A_006 substantially reduced the expression of hypertrophy-associated proteins and diminished the size of PE-induced NRVCs(P<0.05).Dual-luciferase reporter assay identified the activity of 2 IRES in circMYO9A_006.Western blot results indicated that circ-MYO9A_006 could produce the MYO9A-208aa protein with an anticipated molecular weight of 28 kD in NRVCs,primari-ly found in the cytoplasm.Elevated expression of both circMYO9A_006 and MYO9A-208aa consistently reduced the ex-pression of hypertrophy-associated proteins(P<0.01),and counteracted the enlarged size of PE-induced NRVCs(P<0.05).However,increased expression of circMYO9A_006-ATG-mut did not counteract the PE-induced hypertrophic phe-notype of NRVCs.CONCLUSION:circMYO9A_006 attenuates the hypertrophic phenotype of cardiomyocytes by synthe-sizing the MYO9A-208aa protein.
10.A multicenter retrospective cohort study on the attributable risk of patients with Acinetobacter baumannii sterile body fluid infection
Lei HE ; Dao-Bin JIANG ; Ding LIU ; Xiao-Fang ZHENG ; He-Yu QIU ; Shu-Mei WU ; Xiao-Ying WU ; Jin-Lan CUI ; Shou-Jia XIE ; Qin XIA ; Li HE ; Xi-Zhao LIU ; Chang-Hui SHU ; Rong-Qin LI ; Hong-Ying TAO ; Ze-Fen CHEN
Chinese Journal of Infection Control 2024;23(1):42-48
Objective To investigate the attributable risk(AR)of Acinetobacter baumannii(AB)infection in criti-cally ill patients.Methods A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted among adult patients in inten-sive care unit(ICU).Patients with AB isolated from sterile body fluid and confirmed with AB infection in each cen-ter were selected as the infected group.According to the matching criteria that patients should be from the same pe-riod,in the same ICU,as well as with similar APACHE Ⅱ score(±5 points)and primary diagnosis,patients who did not infect with AB were selected as the non-infected group in a 1:2 ratio.The AR was calculated.Results The in-hospital mortality of patients with AB infection in sterile body fluid was 33.3%,and that of non-infected group was 23.1%,with no statistically significant difference between the two groups(P=0.069).The AR was 10.2%(95%CI:-2.3%-22.8%).There is no statistically significant difference in mortality between non-infected pa-tients and infected patients from whose blood,cerebrospinal fluid and other specimen sources AB were isolated(P>0.05).After infected with AB,critically ill patients with the major diagnosis of pulmonary infection had the high-est AR.There was no statistically significant difference in mortality between patients in the infected and non-infec-ted groups(P>0.05),or between other diagnostic classifications.Conclusion The prognosis of AB infection in critically ill patients is highly overestimated,but active healthcare-associated infection control for AB in the ICU should still be carried out.


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