1.Molecular Mechanisms of RNA Modification Interactions and Their Roles in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
Jia-Wen FANG ; Chao ZHE ; Ling-Ting XU ; Lin-Hai LI ; Bin XIAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(9):2252-2266
RNA modifications constitute a crucial class of post-transcriptional chemical alterations that profoundly influence RNA stability and translational efficiency, thereby shaping cellular protein expression profiles. These diverse chemical marks are ubiquitously involved in key biological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and metastatic potential, and they exert precise regulatory control over these functions. A major advance in the field is the recognition that RNA modifications do not act in isolation. Instead, they participate in complex, dynamic interactions—through synergistic enhancement, antagonism, competitive binding, and functional crosstalk—forming what is now termed the “RNA modification interactome” or “RNA modification interaction network.” The formation and functional operation of this interactome rely on a multilayered regulatory framework orchestrated by RNA-modifying enzymes—commonly referred to as “writers,” “erasers,” and “readers.” These enzymes exhibit hierarchical organization within signaling cascades, often functioning in upstream-downstream sequences and converging at critical regulatory nodes. Their integration is further mediated through shared regulatory elements or the assembly into multi-enzyme complexes. This intricate enzymatic network directly governs and shapes the interdependent relationships among various RNA modifications. This review systematically elucidates the molecular mechanisms underlying both direct and indirect interactions between RNA modifications. Building upon this foundation, we introduce novel quantitative assessment frameworks and predictive disease models designed to leverage these interaction patterns. Importantly, studies across multiple disease contexts have identified core downstream signaling axes driven by specific constellations of interacting RNA modifications. These findings not only deepen our understanding of how RNA modification crosstalk contributes to disease initiation and progression, but also highlight its translational potential. This potential is exemplified by the discovery of diagnostic biomarkers based on interaction signatures and the development of therapeutic strategies targeting pathogenic modification networks. Together, these insights provide a conceptual framework for understanding the dynamic and multidimensional regulatory roles of RNA modifications in cellular systems. In conclusion, the emerging concept of RNA modification crosstalk reveals the extraordinary complexity of post-transcriptional regulation and opens new research avenues. It offers critical insights into the central question of how RNA-modifying enzymes achieve substrate specificity—determining which nucleotides within specific RNA transcripts are selectively modified during defined developmental or pathological stages. Decoding these specificity determinants, shaped in large part by the modification interactome, is essential for fully understanding the biological and pathological significance of the epitranscriptome.
2.Efficacy,metabolic characteristics,safety and immunogenicity of AK-HER2 compared with reference trastuzumab in patients with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer:a multicenter,randomized,double-blind phase Ⅲ equivalence trial
Yang LUO ; Tao SUN ; Zhimin SHAO ; Jiuwei CUI ; Yueyin PAN ; Qingyuan ZHANG ; Ying CHENG ; Huiping LI ; Yan YANG ; Changsheng YE ; Guohua YU ; Jingfen WANG ; Yunjiang LIU ; Xinlan LIU ; Yuhong ZHOU ; Yuju BAI ; Yuanting GU ; Xiaojia WANG ; Binghe XU ; Lihua SONG
China Oncology 2024;34(2):161-175
Background and purpose:For patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2)-positive metastatic breast cancer,trastuzumab treatment can prolong the overall survival and significantly improve the prognosis of patients.However,the reference original research trastuzumab(Herceptin?)is more expensive.Biosimilars have comparable efficacy and safety profiles while increasing patient access to treatment.This clinical trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy,pharmacokinetics,safety and immunogenicity of the trastuzumab biosimilar AK-HER2 compared to trastuzumab(Herceptin?)in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.Methods:This multi-center,randomised,double-blind phase Ⅲ clinical trial was conducted in 43 subcenters in China.This study complied with the research protocol,the ethical principles stated in the Declaration of Helsinki and the quality management standards for drug clinical trials.It was approved by the hospital's medical ethics committee.The clinical trial registration agency is the State Food and Drug Administration(clinical trial approval number:2015L04224;clinical trial registration number:CTR20170516).Written informed consent was obtained from subjects before enrollment.Enrolled patients were randomly assigned to the AK-HER2 group and the control group,respectively receiving AK-HER2 or trastuzumab(initial loading dose 8 mg/kg,maintenance dose 6 mg/kg,every 3 weeks as a treatment cycle,total treatment time is 16 cycles)in combination with docetaxel(75 mg/m2,treatment duration is at least 9 cycles).The primary endpoint of this clinical trial was the objective response rate(ORR9)between the AK-HER2 group and the control group in the 9th cycle.Secondary efficacy endpoints included ORR16,disease control rate(DCR),clinical benefit rate(CBR),progression-free survival(PFS)and 1-year survival rate.In this study,100 subjects(AK-HER2 group to control group=1:1)were randomly selected for blood sample collection after the 6th cycle of medication,The collection time points were 45 minutes after infusion(the end of administration),4,8,24,72,120,168,336,and 504 hours after the end of administration.After collection,blood samples were analyzed by PK parameter set(PKPS).Other evaluation parameters included safety and immunogenicity assessment.Results:A total of 550 patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer were enrolled in this clinical trial between Sep.2017 and Mar.2021.In the AK-HER2 group(n=237),129 subjects in the experimental group achieved complete response(CR)or partial response(PR),and the ORR9 was 54.4%.There were 134 subjects in the control group(n=241)who achieved CR or PR,and the ORR9 was 55.6%.The ORR9 ratio between the AK-HER2 group and the control group was 97.9%[90%confidence interval(CI):85.4%-112.2%,P=0.784],which was not statistically significant.In all secondary efficacy endpoints,no statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups.We conducted a mean ratio analysis of pharmacokinetics(PK)parameters between the AK-HER2 group and the control group,and the results suggested that the pharmacokinetic characteristics of the two drugs are similar.The incidence of treatment emergent adverse event(TEAE)leading to drug reduction or suspension during trastuzumab treatment was 3.6%(10 cases)in the AK-HER2 group and 8.1%(22 cases)in the control group.There was statistically significant difference between the two groups(P=0.027).The incidence rate was significantly lower in the AK-HER2 group than in the control group,and there was no statistically significant difference among the other groups.The differences in the positive rates of anti-drug antibodies(ADA)and neutralizing antibodies(NAB)between groups were of no statistical significance(P=0.385 and P=0.752).Conclusion:In patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer,AK-HER2 was comparable to the trastuzumab(Herceptin?)in terms of drug efficacy,pharmacokinetics,safety and immunogenicity.
3.Research on the diagnostic value of pulmonary artery diameter characteristics and combined TNF-α in patients with HIV associated pulmonary hypertension
Qingyuan XU ; Weifeng YUAN ; Mu CHEN ; Xia-Oneng MO
The Journal of Practical Medicine 2024;40(13):1869-1873
Objective To investigate the characteristics of pulmonary artery diameter in patients with human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)infection-associated pulmonary hypertension(PAH),and to explore the clinical significance of pulmonary artery diameter correlation indices combined with tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)for early screening and diagnosis of HIV-associated pulmonary hypertension,aiming to provide valuable clinical insights.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 65 HIV-infected patients admitted to the Eighth Hospital Affiliated to Guangzhou Medical University between May 2017 and December 2023.Based on echocardiog-raphy findings,the patients were categorized into an observation group(23 cases with PAH)and a control group(42 cases without PAH).Measurements of pulmonary artery diameter(PA),distal pulmonary artery diameter(dPA),and aortic diameter were obtained in both groups,and the ratio of dPA to aortic diameter(rPA)was cal-culated.Additionally,serum TNF-α levels were recorded.The clinical significance of each index in early screening and diagnosis of HIV-related pulmonary hypertension was analyzed.Results The PA,dPA,rPA,and TNF-α levels in the observation group were significantly higher compared to those in the control group.Pearson linear correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between TNF-α and both dPA and rPA.Two-column correlation analysis demonstrated a significant association between HIV-PAH and PA,dPA,rPA,as well as TNF-α(P<0.05).The combined measurement of serum TNF-α with dPA and rPA exhibited an area under the curve(AUC)of 0.891 for diagnosing HIV-APAH,with a sensitivity of 0.870 and specificity of 0.881.Conclusion The combination of pulmonary artery diameter and TNF-α provides a more accurate indication of the presence of HIV-PAH,enabling early screening,follow-up,or intervention in high-risk patients.This finding holds significant implications for enhancing patient prognosis.
4.MSCs-derived apoptotic extracellular vesicles promote muscle regeneration by inducing Pannexin 1 channel-dependent creatine release by myoblasts.
Qingyuan YE ; Xinyu QIU ; Jinjin WANG ; Boya XU ; Yuting SU ; Chenxi ZHENG ; Linyuan GUI ; Lu YU ; Huijuan KUANG ; Huan LIU ; Xiaoning HE ; Zhiwei MA ; Qintao WANG ; Yan JIN
International Journal of Oral Science 2023;15(1):7-7
Severe muscle injury is hard to heal and always results in a poor prognosis. Recent studies found that extracellular vesicle-based therapy has promising prospects for regeneration medicine, however, whether extracellular vesicles have therapeutic effects on severe muscle injury is still unknown. Herein, we extracted apoptotic extracellular vesicles derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs-ApoEVs) to treat cardiotoxin induced tibialis anterior (TA) injury and found that MSCs-ApoEVs promoted muscles regeneration and increased the proportion of multinucleated cells. Besides that, we also found that apoptosis was synchronized during myoblasts fusion and MSCs-ApoEVs promoted the apoptosis ratio as well as the fusion index of myoblasts. Furthermore, we revealed that MSCs-ApoEVs increased the relative level of creatine during myoblasts fusion, which was released via activated Pannexin 1 channel. Moreover, we also found that activated Pannexin 1 channel was highly expressed on the membrane of myoblasts-derived ApoEVs (Myo-ApoEVs) instead of apoptotic myoblasts, and creatine was the pivotal metabolite involved in myoblasts fusion. Collectively, our findings firstly revealed that MSCs-ApoEVs can promote muscle regeneration and elucidated that the new function of ApoEVs as passing inter-cell messages through releasing metabolites from activated Pannexin 1 channel, which will provide new evidence for extracellular vesicles-based therapy as well as improving the understanding of new functions of extracellular vesicles.
Creatine/metabolism*
;
Extracellular Vesicles
;
Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism*
;
Myoblasts/metabolism*
;
Regeneration
;
Connexins/metabolism*
5.Entinostat, a class I selective histone deacetylase inhibitor, plus exemestane for Chinese patients with hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial.
Binghe XU ; Qingyuan ZHANG ; Xichun HU ; Qing LI ; Tao SUN ; Wei LI ; Quchang OUYANG ; Jingfen WANG ; Zhongsheng TONG ; Min YAN ; Huiping LI ; Xiaohua ZENG ; Changping SHAN ; Xian WANG ; Xi YAN ; Jian ZHANG ; Yue ZHANG ; Jiani WANG ; Liang ZHANG ; Ying LIN ; Jifeng FENG ; Qianjun CHEN ; Jian HUANG ; Lu ZHANG ; Lisong YANG ; Ying TIAN ; Hongyan SHANG
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2023;13(5):2250-2258
Entinostat plus exemestane in hormone receptor-positive (HR+) advanced breast cancer (ABC) previously showed encouraging outcomes. This multicenter phase 3 trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of entinostat plus exemestane in Chinese patients with HR + ABC that relapsed/progressed after ≥1 endocrine therapy. Patients were randomized (2:1) to oral exemestane 25 mg/day plus entinostat (n = 235) or placebo (n = 119) 5 mg/week in 28-day cycles. The primary endpoint was the independent radiographic committee (IRC)-assessed progression-free survival (PFS). The median age was 52 (range, 28-75) years and 222 (62.7%) patients were postmenopausal. CDK4/6 inhibitors and fulvestrant were previously used in 23 (6.5%) and 92 (26.0%) patients, respectively. The baseline characteristics were comparable between the entinostat and placebo groups. The median PFS was 6.32 (95% CI, 5.30-9.11) and 3.72 (95% CI, 1.91-5.49) months in the entinostat and placebo groups (HR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.58-0.98; P = 0.046), respectively. Grade ≥3 adverse events (AEs) occurred in 154 (65.5%) patients in the entinostat group versus 23 (19.3%) in the placebo group, and the most common grade ≥3 treatment-related AEs were neutropenia [103 (43.8%)], thrombocytopenia [20 (8.5%)], and leucopenia [15 (6.4%)]. Entinostat plus exemestane significantly improved PFS compared with exemestane, with generally manageable toxicities in HR + ABC (ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT03538171).
6.Progress of gene alterations and molecular typing of peripheral T-cell lymphoma
Yue XU ; Qingyuan ZHANG ; Shu ZHAO
Journal of Leukemia & Lymphoma 2023;32(5):317-320
Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is a group of heterogeneous malignant tumors with poor prognosis, with a lack of standard treatment regimen and poor efficacy of traditional chemotherapy. Therefore, finding new and more effective therapeutic targets to improve the efficacy of PTCL is an urgent clinical problem. In recent years, as the exploration of PTCL at the genetic and molecular levels has intensified, novel therapeutic targets based on gene alterations and molecular typing have been identified. This article summarizes the research progress of main gene alterations and molecular typing of PTCL in recent years.
7.Clinical factors associated with composition of lung microbiota and important taxa predicting clinical prognosis in patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia.
Sisi DU ; Xiaojing WU ; Binbin LI ; Yimin WANG ; Lianhan SHANG ; Xu HUANG ; Yudi XIA ; Donghao YU ; Naicong LU ; Zhibo LIU ; Chunlei WANG ; Xinmeng LIU ; Zhujia XIONG ; Xiaohui ZOU ; Binghuai LU ; Yingmei LIU ; Qingyuan ZHAN ; Bin CAO
Frontiers of Medicine 2022;16(3):389-402
Few studies have described the key features and prognostic roles of lung microbiota in patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP). We prospectively enrolled consecutive SCAP patients admitted to ICU. Bronchoscopy was performed at bedside within 48 h of ICU admission, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was applied to the collected bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The primary outcome was clinical improvements defined as a decrease of 2 categories and above on a 7-category ordinal scale within 14 days following bronchoscopy. Sixty-seven patients were included. Multivariable permutational multivariate analysis of variance found that positive bacteria lab test results had the strongest independent association with lung microbiota (R2 = 0.033; P = 0.018), followed by acute kidney injury (AKI; R2 = 0.032; P = 0.011) and plasma MIP-1β level (R2 = 0.027; P = 0.044). Random forest identified that the families Prevotellaceae, Moraxellaceae, and Staphylococcaceae were the biomarkers related to the positive bacteria lab test results. Multivariable Cox regression showed that the increase in α-diversity and the abundance of the families Prevotellaceae and Actinomycetaceae were associated with clinical improvements. The positive bacteria lab test results, AKI, and plasma MIP-1β level were associated with patients' lung microbiota composition on ICU admission. The families Prevotellaceae and Actinomycetaceae on admission predicted clinical improvements.
Acute Kidney Injury/complications*
;
Bacteria/classification*
;
Chemokine CCL4/blood*
;
Community-Acquired Infections/microbiology*
;
Humans
;
Lung
;
Microbiota/genetics*
;
Pneumonia, Bacterial/diagnosis*
;
Prognosis
;
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics*
8.Analysis of risk factors in acute lymphoblastic leukemia complicated with acute pancreatitis in children
Ying WU ; Qingyuan XU ; Ruidong ZHANG ; Yongquan LIU ; Huyong ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Applied Clinical Pediatrics 2022;37(11):825-830
Objective:To analyze the early risk warning factors of clinical characteristics in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) complicated with acute pancreatitis (AP).Methods:Retrospective study.A total of 39 children with ALL complicated with AP admitted to the Hematology Center of Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capi-tal Medical University from May 2018 to December 2020 were selected as the case group, and 78 ALL patients were randomly selected as the control group according to the exact matching of 1∶2 of the same age and sex.The measurment data and counting data were analyzed by Rank sum test ( Mann Whitney U test) and χ2 test between the 2 groups, respectively, and further multivariate Logistic regression analysis was performed to find out the risk factors of ALL complicated with pancreatitis.At the same time, the relationship between each index and severity was explored. Results:The incidence of ALL complicated with AP was 8.55% (39/456 cases). The high incidence age was 3-10 years old.Sixty-four point nine percent (24/37 cases) of the pancreatitis occurred in the early stage of chemotherapy, and 66.7% (26/39 cases) was associated with asparaginase.There were significant differences in ALL risk stratification ( χ2=21.404, P<0.001), C-reactive protein (CRP)( U=232.000, P<0.001), procalcitonin (PCT)( t=3.950, P<0.001), hematocrit( t=3.981, P<0.001), serum calcium( t=-9.609, P<0.001), indirect bilirubin( U=1 142.000, P<0.05), triglyceride( t=3.600, P=0.001) and albumin( t=-6.296, P<0.001) between the 2 groups.The sensitivity of abdominal CT, abdominal ultrasound and pancreatic magnetic resonance imaging in the case group were 70.8%, 81.6% and 100.0%, respectively.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that differences between albumin( OR=11.444, 95% CI: 3.240-40.423), triglyceride( OR=18.047, 95% CI: 5.020-65.074) and risk stra-tification( OR=8.894, 95% CI: 1.889-41.885) were statistically significant, and there were obvious differences in PCT( U=3.000, 2.000, all P<0.05) and serum calcium( U=4.500, 8.500, all P<0.05) between patients with severe pancreatitis and patients with mild or moderate severe pancreatitis. Conclusions:ALL complicated with AP often occurs in the early stage of chemotherapy, mainly caused by asparaginase.In imaging examination, the sensitivity of pancreatic magnetic resonance imaging is the highest, followed by abdominal ultrasound.Risk stratification, decreased albumin and elevated triglyceride are risk factors of ALL complicated with AP, which are helpful for early identification of high-risk patients with ALL complicated with AP.PCT and serum calcium may play an important role in severe pancreatitis.
9.Myelosuppression complicated with infection after chemotherapy in children with acute myeloid leukemia
International Journal of Pediatrics 2022;49(9):587-591
The overall survival rate of children with acute myeloid leukemia(AML) is significantly lower than that of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.The main causes of death include primary disease-related death and treatment-related death.Most of the treatment-related deaths are caused by infection, bleeding and organ failure.Infection is the most common complication of pediatric AML during the myelosuppression period after chemotherapy, and it is also the main cause of early death in AML.Based on the analysis of pathogens, laboratory tests and risk factors, this paper reviews the clinical characteristics and research progress of infection in myelosuppression following chemotherapy for AML, so as to provide a basis for early identification, clinical management and condition judgment, and further improve the survival rate of children with AML.
10.A trial of arbidol hydrochloride in adults with COVID-19
Jingya ZHAO ; Jinnong ZHANG ; Yang JIN ; Zhouping TANG ; Ke HU ; Hui SUN ; Mengmeng SHI ; Qingyuan YANG ; Peiyu GU ; Hongrong GUO ; Qi LI ; Haiying ZHANG ; Chenghong LI ; Ming YANG ; Nian XIONG ; Xuan DONG ; Juanjuan XU ; Fan LIN ; Tao WANG ; Chao YANG ; Bo HUANG ; Jingyi ZHANG ; Shi CHEN ; Qiong HE ; Min ZHOU ; Jieming QU
Chinese Medical Journal 2022;135(13):1531-1538
Background::To date, there is no effective medicine to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and the antiviral efficacy of arbidol in the treatment for COVID-19 remained equivocal and controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of arbidol tablets in the treatment of COVID-19.Methods::This was a prospective, open-label, controlled and multicenter investigator-initiated trial involving adult patients with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Patients were stratified 1:2 to either standard-of-care (SOC) or SOC plus arbidol tablets (oral administration of 200 mg per time, three times a day for 14 days). The primary endpoint was negative conversion of SARS-CoV-2 within the first week. The rates and 95% confidential intervals were calculated for each variable.Results::A total of 99 patients with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were enrolled; 66 were assigned to the SOC plus arbidol tablets group, and 33 to the SOC group. The negative conversion rate of SARS-CoV-2 within the first week in patients receiving arbidol tablets was significantly higher than that of the SOC group (70.3% [45/64] vs. 42.4% [14/33]; difference of conversion rate 27.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 7.7%-48.1%; P = 0.008). Compared to those in the SOC group, patients receiving arbidol tablets had a shorter duration of clinical recovery (median 7.0 days vs. 12.0 days; hazard ratio [HR]: 1.877, 95% CI: 1.151-3.060, P = 0.006), symptom of fever (median 3.0 days vs. 12.0 days; HR: 18.990, 95% CI: 5.350-67.410, P < 0.001), as well as hospitalization (median 12.5 days vs. 20.0 days; P < 0.001). Moreover, the addition of arbidol tablets to SOC led to more rapid normalization of declined blood lymphocytes (median 10.0 days vs. 14.5 days; P > 0.05). The most common adverse event in the arbidol tablets group was the elevation of transaminase (5/200, 2.5%), and no one withdrew from the study due to adverse events or disease progression. Conclusions::SOC plus arbidol tablets significantly increase the negative conversion rate of SARS-CoV-2 within the first week and accelerate the recovery of COVID-19 patients. During the treatment with arbidol tablets, we find no significant serious adverse events.Trial registration::Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, NCT04260594, www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04260594?term= NCT04260594&draw=2&rank=1

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