1.Role of SPINK in Dermatologic Diseases and Potential Therapeutic Targets
Yong-Hang XIA ; Hao DENG ; Li-Ling HU ; Wei LIU ; Xiao TAN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(2):417-424
Serine protease inhibitor Kazal-type (SPINK) is a skin keratinizing protease inhibitor, which was initially found in animal serum and is widely present in plants, animals, bacteria, and viruses, and they act as key regulators of skin keratinizing proteases and are involved in the regulation of keratinocyte proliferation and inflammation, primarily through the inhibition of deregulated tissue kinin-releasing enzymes (KLKs) in skin response. This process plays a crucial role in alleviating various skin problems caused by hyperkeratinization and inflammation, and can greatly improve the overall condition of the skin. Specifically, the different members of the SPINK family, such as SPINK5, SPINK6, SPINK7, and SPINK9, each have unique biological functions and mechanisms of action. The existence of these members demonstrates the diversity and complexity of skin health and disease. First, SPINK5 mutations are closely associated with the development of various skin diseases, such as Netherton’s syndrome and atopic dermatitis, and SPINK5 is able to inhibit the activation of the STAT3 signaling pathway, thereby effectively preventing the metastasis of melanoma cells, which is important in preventing the invasion and migration of malignant tumors. Secondly, SPINK6 is mainly distributed in the epidermis and contains lysine and glutamate residues, which can act as a substrate for epidermal transglutaminase to maintain the normal structure and function of the skin. In addition, SPINK6 can activate the intracellular ERK1/2 and AKT signaling pathways through the activation of epidermal growth factor receptor and protease receptor-2 (EphA2), which can promote the migration of melanoma cells, and SPINK6 further deepens its role in stimulating the migration of malignant tumor cells by inhibiting the activation of STAT3 signaling pathway. This process further deepens its potential impact in stimulating tumor invasive migration. Furthermore, SPINK7 plays a role in the pathology of some inflammatory skin diseases, and is likely to be an important factor contributing to the exacerbation of skin diseases by promoting aberrant proliferation of keratinocytes and local inflammatory responses. Finally, SPINK9 can induce cell migration and promote skin wound healing by activating purinergic receptor 2 (P2R) to induce phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor and further activating the downstream ERK1/2 signaling pathway. In addition, SPINK9 also plays an antimicrobial role, preventing the interference of some pathogenic microorganisms. Taken as a whole, some members of the SPINK family may be potential targets for the treatment of dermatological disorders by regulating multiple biological processes such as keratinization metabolism and immuno-inflammatory processes in the skin. The development of drugs such as small molecule inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies has great potential for the treatment of dermatologic diseases, and future research on SPINK will help to gain a deeper understanding of the physiopathologic processes of the skin. Through its functions and regulatory mechanisms, the formation and maintenance of the skin barrier and the occurrence and development of inflammatory responses can be better understood, which will provide novel ideas and methods for the prevention and treatment of skin diseases.
2.Role of Innate Trained Immunity in Diseases
Chuang CHENG ; Yue-Qing WANG ; Xiao-Qin MU ; Xi ZHENG ; Jing HE ; Jun WANG ; Chao TAN ; Xiao-Wen LIU ; Li-Li ZOU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):119-132
The innate immune system can be boosted in response to subsequent triggers by pre-exposure to microbes or microbial products, known as “trained immunity”. Compared to classical immune memory, innate trained immunity has several different features. Firstly, the molecules involved in trained immunity differ from those involved in classical immune memory. Innate trained immunity mainly involves innate immune cells (e.g., myeloid immune cells, natural killer cells, innate lymphoid cells) and their effector molecules (e.g., pattern recognition receptor (PRR), various cytokines), as well as some kinds of non-immune cells (e.g., microglial cells). Secondly, the increased responsiveness to secondary stimuli during innate trained immunity is not specific to a particular pathogen, but influences epigenetic reprogramming in the cell through signaling pathways, leading to the sustained changes in genes transcriptional process, which ultimately affects cellular physiology without permanent genetic changes (e.g., mutations or recombination). Finally, innate trained immunity relies on an altered functional state of innate immune cells that could persist for weeks to months after initial stimulus removal. An appropriate inducer could induce trained immunity in innate lymphocytes, such as exogenous stimulants (including vaccines) and endogenous stimulants, which was firstly discovered in bone marrow derived immune cells. However, mature bone marrow derived immune cells are short-lived cells, that may not be able to transmit memory phenotypes to their offspring and provide long-term protection. Therefore, trained immunity is more likely to be relied on long-lived cells, such as epithelial stem cells, mesenchymal stromal cells and non-immune cells such as fibroblasts. Epigenetic reprogramming is one of the key molecular mechanisms that induces trained immunity, including DNA modifications, non-coding RNAs, histone modifications and chromatin remodeling. In addition to epigenetic reprogramming, different cellular metabolic pathways are involved in the regulation of innate trained immunity, including aerobic glycolysis, glutamine catabolism, cholesterol metabolism and fatty acid synthesis, through a series of intracellular cascade responses triggered by the recognition of PRR specific ligands. In the view of evolutionary, trained immunity is beneficial in enhancing protection against secondary infections with an induction in the evolutionary protective process against infections. Therefore, innate trained immunity plays an important role in therapy against diseases such as tumors and infections, which has signature therapeutic effects in these diseases. In organ transplantation, trained immunity has been associated with acute rejection, which prolongs the survival of allografts. However, trained immunity is not always protective but pathological in some cases, and dysregulated trained immunity contributes to the development of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Trained immunity provides a novel form of immune memory, but when inappropriately activated, may lead to an attack on tissues, causing autoinflammation. In autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis, trained immunity may lead to enhance inflammation and tissue lesion in diseased regions. In Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, trained immunity may lead to over-activation of microglial cells, triggering neuroinflammation even nerve injury. This paper summarizes the basis and mechanisms of innate trained immunity, including the different cell types involved, the impacts on diseases and the effects as a therapeutic strategy to provide novel ideas for different diseases.
3. Determination of docusate sodium by ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography
Lirong CAI ; Haiping SHU ; Sha XIAO ; Yue TAN ; Jinfeng ZHENG ; Changliang LI ; Yanming LIU
Journal of China Pharmaceutical University 2025;56(2):183-187
To reduce the dependency on high-carbon-load chromatographic columns,a new method has been established for the determination of the content of docusate sodium using ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography (IP-HPLC). Tetrapropylammonium chloride was used as the ion-pair reagent with a mobile phase, composition of acetonitrile:10 mmol/L tetrapropylammonium chloride solution = 66∶34, adjusting pH to 6.5 with 0.1% phosphoric acid solution,flow rate of 1.5 mL/min, detection wavelength of 214 nm,column temperature of 35 °C, and an injection volume of 25 μL,and quantified by an external standard method. The main peak of docusate sodium exhibited a tailing factor of 1.34. The method showed good linearity within the range of 0.02 mg/mL to 0.40 mg/mL, with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.999 9. It also demonstrated good repeatability, with recovery ranging from 97.0% to 98.2% (n=6). The quantification limit was 3.31 μg/mL, and the detection limit was 2.76 μg/mL.In summary,the new method shows good durability, a wide linear range, and high sensitivity, it is suitable for the determination of docusate sodium.
4.Protective Effects of Danmu Extract Syrup on Acute Lung Injury Induced by Lipopolysaccharide in Mice through Endothelial Barrier Repair.
Han XU ; Si-Cong XU ; Li-Yan LI ; Yu-Huang WU ; Yin-Feng TAN ; Long CHEN ; Pei LIU ; Chang-Fu LIANG ; Xiao-Ning HE ; Yong-Hui LI
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2024;30(3):243-250
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the effects of Danmu Extract Syrup (DMS) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice and explore the mechanism.
METHODS:
Seventy-two male Balb/C mice were randomly divided into 6 groups according to a random number table (n=12), including control (normal saline), LPS (5 mg/kg), LPS+DMS 2.5 mL/kg, LPS+DMS 5 mL/kg, LPS+DMS 10 mL/kg, and LPS+Dexamethasone (DXM, 5 mg/kg) groups. After pretreatment with DMS and DXM, the ALI mice model was induced by LPS, and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were collected to determine protein concentration, cell counts and inflammatory cytokines. The lung tissues of mice were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, and the wet/dry weight ratio (W/D) of lung tissue was calculated. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1 β in BALF of mice were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The expression levels of Claudin-5, vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), phospho-protein kinase B (p-Akt) and Akt were detected by Western blot analysis.
RESULTS:
DMS pre-treatment significantly ameliorated lung histopathological changes. Compared with the LPS group, the W/D ratio and protein contents in BALF were obviously reduced after DMS pretreatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The number of cells in BALF and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity decreased significantly after DMS pretreatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01). DMS pre-treatment decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1 β (P<0.01). Meanwhile, DMS activated the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) pathway and reversed the expressions of Claudin-5, VE-cadherin and VEGF (P<0.01).
CONCLUSIONS
DMS attenuated LPS-induced ALI in mice through repairing endothelial barrier. It might be a potential therapeutic drug for LPS-induced lung injury.
Mice
;
Male
;
Animals
;
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism*
;
Lipopolysaccharides
;
Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism*
;
Interleukin-1beta/metabolism*
;
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism*
;
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*
;
Claudin-5/metabolism*
;
Acute Lung Injury/chemically induced*
;
Lung/pathology*
;
Interleukin-6/metabolism*
;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal
5.Exosomes and skin wound healing
Ziteng XIAO ; Tingyu WANG ; Wenwen ZHANG ; Fengyi TAN ; Haiwei SU ; Siting LI ; Yahui WU ; Yanfang ZHOU ; Xinsheng PENG
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2024;28(19):3104-3110
BACKGROUND:Exosomes play a role in all stages of wound repair,and there is currently a large body of research on exosomes in skin wound repair,which has been shown to have great potential for clinical applications. OBJECTIVE:To summarize and discuss the main mechanisms and clinical applications of exosomes in the treatment of skin wounds,in order to promote the clinical translation of exosomes. METHODS:PubMed,clinicaltrials.gov,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,Food and Drug Administration database,and Chinese Clinical Trial Register were searched from inception to March 2023.The English search terms were"exosomes,wound healing,stem cells,chronic wound,immunoregulation,inflammation,skin,therapeutic use,isolation,characterization,infections".The Chinese search terms were"exosomes,wound healing,stem cells,immunomodulation,clinical applications".A total of 79 articles were included for the summary. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Exosomes can improve and accelerate wound healing through inflammation regulation,immune protection,angiogenesis,cell proliferation and migration,and collagen remodeling.(2)Exosomes derived from stem cells have mature preparation techniques and related mechanism research,which is currently the mainstream research direction.Non-stem cell-derived exosomes have the advantages of convenience,economy,and easy production,and can be used as a supplement for clinical applications.(3)The clinical application of exosomes is still in its infancy,but has great potential for application.Various exosome modification techniques have laid the foundation for the future development of clinically personalized services and require further research.(4)The clinical translation of exosomes faces many challenges,such as low yield,high heterogeneity,lack of unified standards for isolation,purification,and quality control,and difficulties in storage.
6.Discussion on the managing mode for suspected illegal and irregular acts in occupational medical examination institutions
Xiaoyi LI ; Ruiyan HUANG ; Minghui XIAO ; Xiwen TAN ; Leyi XU ; Aichu YANG ; Jiabin CHEN ; Shijie HU
China Occupational Medicine 2024;51(1):43-48
ObjectiveTo establish a managing mode for illegal and irregular acts of occupational medical examination (OME) institutions to the requirements of the new situation. Methods The OME institutions from the “Guangdong Province Key Occupational Disease Monitoring and Management Platform” were selected as the study subjects using the judgment sampling method. The clues of suspected illegal and irregular acts of OME institutions were found and submitted to the local health commission for investigation and managed according to the case information monitoring and on-site quality assessment. The OME institutions found to have illegal and irregular acts were filed and investigated according to the national law after investigation and verification. A “follow-up inspection” was conducted on five OME institutions for closed loop management. Results A total of 12 OME institutions were found to have suspected illegal and irregular acts, including seven institutions that did not meet the filing requirements for effective personnel, five institutions that conducted projects beyond the scope without filing to the provincial health authorities within 15 work days from the start of the project, and two institutions that failed to fulfill the obligation of informing and reporting to the health authorities, employers, and workers as required. After submitting relevant clues and evidence to the local health commission for investigation and management, seven institutions were not given penalty, and five institutions were given administrative penalties including two institutions were fined and warned, and three institutions were warned. No illegal or irregular acts were found in the five institutions inspected during the “follow-up inspection”. Conclusion It is beneficial to explore the managing mode of “clue discovery, clue submission, investigation and disposal, follow-up inspection” for OME institutions suspected of illegal and irregular acts, which helps urge OME institutions to work in accordance with laws and regulations and effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of workers' occupational health.
7.Compliance and correctness of hand hygiene of health care workers in intensive care units of a tertiary first-class hospital
Ming-Jun ZOU ; Li TAN ; Min XU ; Chuan XU ; Kun TAN ; Xiao WANG
Chinese Journal of Infection Control 2024;23(3):298-304
Objective To study the compliance and correctness of hand hygiene(HH)of staff in intensive care units(ICUs)of a tertiary first-class hospital,and provide theoretical basis for HH intervention.Methods In April 2023,staff in 17 ICUs of this hospital were performed on-site survey by infection control staff,and monitoring forms about HH compliance and correctness were filled out.Results A total of 874 HH opportunities were ob-served with the concealed observation method,501 HH opportunities were implemented,the compliance rate was 57.32%,273 HH opportunities were correctly implemented,with an correct rate of 54.49%.The compliance and correct rate of HH among staff in different ICUs varied significantly.Compliance and correct rates of HH among staff with different jobs were statistically different:HH compliance rate of cleaners(31.97%)was lower than that of nurses(63.83%),doctors(58.77%)and other personnel(58.14%);HH correct rate of cleaners(30.77%)was lower than that of nurses(58.17%).The causes for not implementing HH among staff with different jobs and at different HH opportunities were statistically different:the rate of not implementing any HH measures after con-tact with patients(84.75%)was higher than before contact with patients(41.27%),before clean and sterile ma-nipulation(30.00%),as well as after contact with blood and body fluid(45.45%).The rate of not implementing any HH measures after contact with the patient's surrounding environment(66.67%)was higher than before con-tact with patient as well as before clean and sterile manipulation.The rates of incomplete HH steps and insufficient HH time among staff with different jobs were statistically different:The rates of incomplete HH steps of other per-sonnel(82.35%)was higher than that of doctors(52.63%).The rates of insufficient HH time of doctors(82.46%)and nurses(78.18%)were higher than that of cleaners(51.85%).Conclusion The implementation of HH among different occupational groups and at different HH implementation opportunities in ICU is significantly different,which should be intervened based on their characteristics.
8.Pharmacokinetics of JS026 and JS026-JS016 for single intravenous administration in healthy volunteers
Yan TIAN ; Hui-Jing YE ; Jing-Jing WANG ; Nan-Yang LI ; Juan MA ; Xi TAN ; Fan WU ; Jie WANG ; Shu-Yan YU ; Xiao-Jie WU ; Jin-Jie HE ; Jing ZHANG ; Wen-Hong ZHANG
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(15):2251-2255
Objective To evaluate tolerability,safety and pharmacokinetics of JS026 and JS026-JS016 single dose intravenous infusion in healthy adults.Methods This phase 1,randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled,dose-escalation study totally included 48 participants:32 healthy subjects were enrolled in JS026 single intravenous infusion groups and 16 healthy subjects were enrolled in JS026-JS016 groups.JS026 was sequentially administered from low dose to high dose(30-1 000 mg),with intravenous infusion of JS026 or placebo in JS026 single-dose groups,and intravenous infusion of JS026-JS016 or placebo in the combination drug groups.Blood was collected according to the time point designed for trial.Serum concentrations of JS026 and JS016 were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbnent assay(ELISA),and pharmacokinetics parameters were calculated by WinNonlin 8.2.The power model method was used to evaluate the linear analysis of dose and drug exposure.Results 47 subjects completed trial and 1 subject lost to follow-up.After a single intravenous injection of JS026 of 30 mg,100 mg,300 mg,600 mg,and 1 000 mg,mean Cmax were(9.47±1.53),(33.20±4.95),(96.10±13.70),(177.00±22.20)and(353.00±56.70)μg·mL-1,respectively;mean AUC0-∞ were(4 225.00±607.00),(1.78 × 104±3 268.00),(5.83 × 104±1 038.00),(1.07 × 105±152.00),(1.66 × 105±327.00)μg·h·mL-1,respectively;mean t1/2 of JS026 were 563-709 h.The Cmax and AUC0-∞ of JS026 were basically similar alone or in combination with JS016.The results of Power model showed that Cmax and AUC0-∞ increased approximately linearly with the increasing dose of JS026.Treatment emergent adverse event was not increasing when dose increased and most of adverse event associated with drugs were abnormal on laboratory tests and haematuria,thus JS026 and JS016 was well tolerated in all groups.Conclusion The single intravenous infusion of JS026 can almost be thought to be a linear relationship between the doses and drug serum exposure.JS016 had no significant effect on serum concentration of JS026 and JS026 was well tolerated and safe in healthy subjects within 30-1 000 mg.
9.Salidroside Ameliorates Lung Injury Induced by PM2.5 by Regulating SIRT1-PGC-1α in Mice
Hong Xiao LI ; Mei Yu LIU ; Hui SHAN ; Feng Jin TAN ; Jian ZHOU ; Jin Yuan SONG ; Qi Si LI ; Chen LIU ; Qun Dong XU ; Li YU ; Wei Wan LI
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2024;37(4):367-376
Objective This study aimed to clarify the intervention effect of salidroside(SAL)on lung injury caused by PM2.5 in mice and illuminate the function of SIRT1-PGC-1ɑ axis. Methods Specific pathogen-free(SPF)grade male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to the following groups:control group,SAL group,PM2.5 group,SAL+PM2.5 group.On the first day,SAL was given by gavage,and on the second day,PM2.5 suspension was given by intratracheal instillation.The whole experiment consist of a total of 10 cycles,lasting 20 days.At the end of treatment,blood samples and lung tissues were collected and analyzed.Observation of pathological changes in lung tissue using inverted microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.The expression of inflammatory,antioxidants,apoptosis,and SIRT1-PGC-1ɑ proteins were detected by Western blotting. Results Exposure to PM2.5 leads to obvious morphological and pathologica changes in the lung of mice.PM2.5 caused a decline in levels of antioxidant-related enzymes and protein expressions of HO-1,Nrf2,SOD2,SIRT1 and PGC-1ɑ,and an increase in the protein expressions of IL-6,IL-1β,Bax,caspase-9 and cleaved caspase-3.However,SAL reversed the aforementioned changes caused by PM2.5 by activating the SIRT1-PGC-1α pathway. Conclusion SAL can activate SIRT1-PGC-1ɑ to ameliorate PM2.5-induced lung injury.
10.Analysis of the on-site quality assessment of occupational medical examination institutions in Guangdong Province in 2023
Xiaoyi LI ; Ruiyan HUANG ; Minghui XIAO ; Xiwen TAN ; Leyi XU ; Aichu YANG ; Jiabin CHEN
China Occupational Medicine 2024;51(3):308-314
Objective To analyze the problems found in the on-site quality assessment of occupational medical examination (OME) institutions in Guangdong Province. Methods A total of 150 OME institutions were selected as the research subjects from Guangdong Province in 2023 using a random number table method. The on-site quality assessment was conducted by listening to reports, meeting discussion, on-site inspection, data review and human-machine assessment. The relevant assessment results were analyzed. Results Occupational disease prevention and treatment institutes (institutes, centers) and disease control and prevention centers (hereinafter referred to as "occupational prevention institutions"), public hospitals, and private institutions accounted for 8.7%, 51.3%, and 40.0% respectively. The top three categories of registered inspections were physical factors, chemical factors and dust, accounted for 98.0%, 96.7% and 96.0%, respectively, among the 150 OME institutions. A total of 1 063 rectification items were identified, and the average number of rectification items identified per occupational prevention institutions, public hospitals and private institutions was four, six and nine, respectively. The rectification rates of the four modules of quality assessment from high to low were OME work quality control, quality management system, organizational structure, and OME information reporting, accounted for 53.2%, 23.3%, 13.7% and 9.7%, respectively. The coincidence rate from high to low of occupational reporting of noise-exposure, dust-exposure, and other hazard-exposure was 92.5%, 91.1%, and 93.4%, respectively. The on-site failure rate of quality control director, technical director, chief physician, pneumoconiosis film reader, audiometry reader and pulmonary function examination operator accounted for 15.3%, 12.7%, 8.0%, 6.7%, 6.0% and 2.7%, respectively. Institutions capable of conducting registered and partially registered OME accounted for 90.7% and 6.0%, respectively. The five institutions that were unable to conduct registered OME were private institutions. A total of five private institutions were found to be suspected of illegal and irregular activities. Conclusion The problems of OME in the on-site quality assessment of OME institutions in Guangdong Province were mainly quality control. Private institutions had more prominent problems in various aspects. It is necessary to strengthen the training of key personnel such as technical directors, quality control directors, and chief physicians.

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