1.PANoptosis: a New Target for Cardiovascular Diseases
Xin-Nong CHEN ; Ying-Xi YANG ; Xiao-Chen GUO ; Jun-Ping ZHANG ; Na-Wen LIU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(5):1113-1125
The innate immune system detects cellular stressors and microbial infections, activating programmed cell death (PCD) pathways to eliminate intracellular pathogens and maintain homeostasis. Among these pathways, pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis represent the most characteristic forms of PCD. Although initially regarded as mechanistically distinct, emerging research has revealed significant crosstalk among their signaling cascades. Consequently, the concept of PANoptosis has been proposed—an inflammatory cell death pathway driven by caspases and receptor-interacting protein kinases (RIPKs), and regulated by the PANoptosome, which integrates key features of pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis. The core mechanism of PANoptosis involves the assembly and activation of the PANoptosome, a macromolecular complex composed of three structural components: sensor proteins, adaptor proteins, and effector proteins. Sensors detect upstream stimuli and transmit signals downstream, recruiting critical molecules via adaptors to form a molecular scaffold. This scaffold activates effectors, triggering intracellular signaling cascades that culminate in PANoptosis. The PANoptosome is regulated by upstream molecules such as interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1), transforming growth factor beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), and adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1), which function as molecular switches to control PANoptosis. Targeting these switches represents a promising therapeutic strategy. Furthermore, PANoptosis is influenced by organelle functions, including those of the mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and lysosomes, highlighting organelle-targeted interventions as effective regulatory approaches. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the leading global cause of morbidity and mortality, are profoundly impacted by PCD. Extensive crosstalk among multiple cell death pathways in CVDs suggests a complex regulatory network. As a novel cell death modality bridging pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis, PANoptosis offers fresh insights into the complexity of cell death and provides innovative strategies for CVD treatment. This review summarizes current evidence linking PANoptosis to various CVDs, including myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, myocardial infarction, heart failure, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy, cardiotoxic injury, atherosclerosis, abdominal aortic aneurysm, thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection, and vascular toxic injury, thereby providing critical clinical insights into CVD pathophysiology. However, the current understanding of PANoptosis in CVDs remains incomplete. First, while PANoptosis in cardiomyocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells has been implicated in CVD pathogenesis, its role in other cell types—such as vascular endothelial cells and immune cells (e.g., macrophages)—warrants further investigation. Second, although pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) are known to activate the PANoptosome in infectious diseases, the stimuli driving PANoptosis in CVDs remain poorly defined. Additionally, methodological challenges persist in identifying PANoptosome assembly in CVDs and in establishing reliable PANoptosis models. Beyond the diseases discussed, PANoptosis may also play a role in viral myocarditis and diabetic cardiomyopathy, necessitating further exploration. In conclusion, elucidating the role of PANoptosis in CVDs opens new avenues for drug development. Targeting this pathway could yield transformative therapies, addressing unmet clinical needs in cardiovascular medicine.
2.Clinical trial of tislelizumab combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of patients with stage Ⅲb-Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer
Xiao-Xue LI ; Yi ZHANG ; Shu-Yang YAO ; Jing-Ying NONG
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(3):335-339
Objective To analyze the effect of tislelizumab combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of stage Ⅲb-Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)and its influence on T lymphocyte immunity and survival prognosis.Methods Patients with NSCLC were divided into control group and treatment group according to different treatment methods.The control group was treated with platinum-containing dual-drug combined chemotherapy regimen(PC regimen:intravenous drip of pemetrexed 500 mg·m-2 on the 1st day and intravenous drip of carboplatin with area under plasma concentration-time curve(AUC)=5 mg·mL-1·min-1 on the 1st day;TP regimen:intravenous drip of taxol 135 mg·m-2 on the 1st day,and intravenous drip of carboplatin with AUC=5 mg·mL-1·min-1 on the 1st day to 3rd day).The treatment group was given tislelizumab 200 mg intravenously once every 3 weeks on the basis of the control group.Both groups were treated for 2 cycles by taking 3 weeks as 1 treatment cycle.The clinical efficacy,serum tumor markers levels,T lymphocyte immune function,progression-free survival(PFS)and overall survival(OS)and occurrence of adverse drug reactions during treatment were compared between the two groups.Results There were 40 cases in control group and 40 cases in treatment group.After treatment,the total effective rates in control group and treatment group were 40.00%(16 cases/40 cases)and 62.50%(25 cases/40 cases),the disease control rates were 70.00%(28 cases/40 cases)and 90.00%(36 cases/40 cases),carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)levels were(9.21±2.03)and(5.42±1.36)ng·mL-1,carbohydrate antigen 125(CA125)levels were(72.53±8.16)and(31.95±5.08)U·mL-1,carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA19-9)levels were(25.79±3.31)and(10.38±2.04)U·mL-1,cytokeratin19 fragment antigen 21-1(CYFRA21-1)levels were(6.47±1.34)and(4.26±0.91)ng·mL-1,CD3+levels were(54.36±5.81)%and(61.85±4.96)%,CD4+levels were(31.28±2.93)%and(43.08±3.15)%,CD4+/CD8+were 1.43±0.40 and 1.91±0.46,survival rates were 47.37%(18 cases/38 cases)and 67.57%(25 cases/37 cases),PFS were 7.73 months(95%CI:6.42-9.03)and 9.75 months(95%CI:8.68-10.82),and OS were 8.96 months(95%CI:7.94-9.97)and 10.52 months(95%CI:9.78-11.27)respectively(all P<0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of gastrointestinal reactions,liver dysfunction,bone marrow suppression,hypothyroidism and non-infectious pneumonia between both groups(all P>0.05).Conclusion Tislelizumab combined with chemotherapy has a good effect in the treatment of stage Ⅲb-Ⅳ NSCLC,and it can effectively reduce the levels of serum tumor markers,improve the T lymphocyte immune function,and prolong the survival time of patients,with good safety.
3.Achievements of the national malaria control and elimination program in the People's Republic of China: the Atlas of Malaria Transmission in China.
Jun FENG ; Li ZHANG ; Zhigui XIA ; Shuisen ZHOU ; Ning XIAO ; Xiao-Nong ZHOU
Frontiers of Medicine 2023;17(1):85-92
In 2017, China achieved the target of zero indigenous malaria case for the first time, and has been certified as malaria free by World Health Organization in 2021. To further summarize the historical achievements and technical experiences of the elimination program, a project on the Roadmap Analysis and Verification for Malaria Elimination in China was carried out. Results of the project were compiled and published as the Atlas of Malaria Transmission in China (The Atlas). The Atlas using modern digital information technologies, has been supported by various data from 24 malaria endemic provinces of China since 1950, to assess the changes in malaria epidemic patterns from 1950 to 2019 at national and provincial levels. The Atlas is designed as two volumes, including a total of 1850 thematic maps and more than 130 charts, consisting of introductory maps, thematic maps of malaria epidemic and control at national and provincial levels. It objectively and directly shows the epidemic history, evolution process, and great achievements of the national malaria control and elimination program in China. The Atlas has important reference value for summing up historical experience in the national malaria elimination program of China, and malaria control and elimination in other endemic countries in the world.
Humans
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Malaria/prevention & control*
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China/epidemiology*
4.CRISPR-assisted transcription activation by phase-separation proteins.
Jiaqi LIU ; Yuxi CHEN ; Baoting NONG ; Xiao LUO ; Kaixin CUI ; Zhan LI ; Pengfei ZHANG ; Wenqiong TAN ; Yue YANG ; Wenbin MA ; Puping LIANG ; Zhou SONGYANG
Protein & Cell 2023;14(12):874-887
The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 system has been widely used for genome engineering and transcriptional regulation in many different organisms. Current CRISPR-activation (CRISPRa) platforms often require multiple components because of inefficient transcriptional activation. Here, we fused different phase-separation proteins to dCas9-VPR (dCas9-VP64-P65-RTA) and observed robust increases in transcriptional activation efficiency. Notably, human NUP98 (nucleoporin 98) and FUS (fused in sarcoma) IDR domains were best at enhancing dCas9-VPR activity, with dCas9-VPR-FUS IDR (VPRF) outperforming the other CRISPRa systems tested in this study in both activation efficiency and system simplicity. dCas9-VPRF overcomes the target strand bias and widens gRNA designing windows without affecting the off-target effect of dCas9-VPR. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of using phase-separation proteins to assist in the regulation of gene expression and support the broad appeal of the dCas9-VPRF system in basic and clinical applications.
Humans
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Transcriptional Activation
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RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems
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Gene Expression Regulation
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CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics*
5.Correlation between food-specific IgG antibodies and phenotypes of chronic spontaneous urticaria
Xin TONG ; Jian WU ; Liming ZHANG ; Xinghua GAO ; Shi LIAN ; Haiping ZHANG ; Wei ZHU ; Zaipei GUO ; Jingyi LI ; Mengmeng LI ; Li HE ; Xiang NONG ; Xiongming PU ; Shirong YU ; Hongduo CHEN ; Ting XIAO
Chinese Journal of Dermatology 2023;56(2):130-135
Objective:To investigate the correlation between food-specific IgG (sIgG) antibodies and phenotypes of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) .Methods:Serum samples were collected from outpatients with active CSU, symptomatic dermographism (SD) , or acute urticaria (AU) , and healthy controls from 5 third-grade class-A hospitals such as the First Hospital of China Medical University between April 2014 and March 2015. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was conducted to detect serum levels of 90 food-sIgG antibodies and total IgE, Western blot analysis to detect levels of 20 allergen-specific IgE antibodies, and chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay to detect levels of anti-thyroid peroxidase IgG antibodies and anti-thyroglobulin IgG antibodies. Comparisons of normally distributed quantitative data between two groups and among several groups were performed by t test and one-way analysis of variance, respectively; comparisons of non-normally distributed quantitative data between two groups were performed by Mann-Whitney U test; for comparisons of proportions, chi-square test and Fisher′s exact test were used. Results:A total of 248 patients with CSU, 22 with SD, 15 with AU and 13 healthy controls were recruited. The cut-off level for sIgG positivity was 100 U/ml (at least 2+) , and the positive rate of food-sIgG antibodies was slightly higher in the patients with CSU (176/248, 70.97%) , SD (15/22, 68.18%) and AU (11/15) than in the healthy controls (7/13; χ2 = 1.80, P = 0.615) . Among the 248 CSU patients, the proportion of patients with family history of allergic diseases was significantly higher in the sIgG-positive group (71/176, 40.34%) than in the sIgG-negative group (19/72, 26.39%; χ2 = 4.30, P = 0.042) , while no significant difference was observed in the 1-day urticaria activity score (UASday) between the two groups ( Z = 0.18, P = 0.859) . Totally, 177 CSU patients completed 12- to 40-week treatment; their condition could be completely controlled by second-generation H1-antihistamines, and there was no significant difference in the required dosage of second-generation H1-antihistamines between the sIgG-positive group (128 cases) and sIgG-negative group (49 cases; Z = -1.06, P = 0.298) . Conclusions:The prevalence of family history of allergic diseases was relatively high in food-sIgG-positive patients with CSU. However, food-sIgG could not be used as an indicator to reflect the disease activity of CSU and treatment response.
6.Functional and prognostic assessment of children with severe disorders of consciousness using convalescent somatosensory evoked potentials
Ying FENG ; Xiaoling DUAN ; Li LIN ; Liang TAO ; Mingqiang ZHANG ; Qiuyi HUANG ; Nong XIAO
Chinese Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2023;45(11):986-991
Objective:To explore the value of convalescent somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) in formulating a prognosis for children with severe disorders of consciousness (DOC) caused by brain trauma, infection or hypoxia.Methods:This was a retrospective cohort study of 286 children with DOC children treated between 2013 and 2021. They were divided into a trauma group ( n=103), an intracranial infection group ( n=101), a hypoxia group ( n=42) and an other-causes group ( n=40). Their consciousness status and functional recovery were obtained in follow-up appointments, and their functional condition 1 year after discharge was assessed using the modified Glasgow Outcome scale (GOS). Results:During 8-year follow-up, 16 had died, with 4 deaths within 1 year. Among the 191 cases followed up to 1 year, children with a bilateral N20 SEP had significantly better functional outcomes than those with unilateral or bilateral N20 absence. For the trauma group, the presence of a bilateral N20 signal was a strong indicator of good functional outcome at the 1-year follow-up, with a specificity of 90.9%, sensitivity of 55.6%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 92.6%, negative predictive value (NPV) of 50% and a positive likelihood rate (PLR) of 6.111. However, for the intracranial infection group, the presence of N20 had a low specificity for predicting good outcomes, though the absence of an N20 potential predicted poor functional outcome at 1 year with a specificity of 82.4%, sensitivity of 62.1%, PPV of 75%, and PLR of 3.517. For the hypoxic group, bilateral N20 could not predict a good prognosis, though its absence meant a poor outcome, with a specificity of 87.5%, sensitivity of 63.6%, PPV of 93.3%, and PLR of 5.818.Conclusion:SEPs during the recovery period can help to formulate a prognosis for children with severe DOC. Traumatic brain injury and the presence of bilateral N20 potentials can be used as a good prognostic indicator. For intracranial infection and hypoxic-ischemic brain injury, the absence of an N20 potential indicates a poor prognosis.
7.Progress of schistosomiasis control in People’s Republic of China in 2021
Li-juan ZHANG ; Zhi-min XU ; Fan YANG ; Jun-yi HE ; Hui DANG ; Yin-long LI ; Chun-li CAO ; Jing XU ; Shi-zhu LI ; Xiao-nong ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control 2022;34(4):329-336
This report presented the endemic status of schistosomiasis and analyzed the data collected from the national schistosomiasis prevention and control system and national schistosomiasis surveillance sites in the People’s Republic of China at a national level in 2021. Among the 12 provinces (municipality and autonomous region) endemic for schistosomiasis in China, Shanghai Municipality, Zhejiang Province, Fujian Province, Guangdong Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region continued to consolidate the achievements of schistosomiasis elimination, and Sichuan and Jiangsu provinces maintained the criteria of transmission interruption, while Yunnan, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangxi and Hunan provinces maintained the criteria of transmission control by the end of 2021. A total of 451 counties (cites, districts) were found to be endemic for schistosomiasis in China in 2021, with 27 571 endemic villages covering 73 250 600 people at risk of infections. Among the 451 endemic counties (cities, districts), 75.17% (339/451), 22.17% (100/451) and 2.66% (12/451) achieved the criteria of elimination, transmission interruption and transmission control of schistosomiasis, respectively. By the end of 2021, 29 037 cases with advanced schistosomiasis were documented in China. In 2021, 4 405 056 individuals received serological tests and 72 937 were sero-positive. A total of 220 629 individuals received stool examinations and 3 were positive. In 2021, snail survey was performed in 19 291 endemic villages in China and Oncomelania snails were found in 7 026 villages, accounting for 36.42% of all surveyed villages, with 12 villages identified with emerging snail habitats. Snail survey was performed at an area of 686 574.46 hm2 and 191 159.91 hm2 snail habitats were found, including 1 063.08 hm2 emerging snail habitats and 5 113.87 hm2 reemerging snail habitats. In 2021, 525 878 bovines were raised in the schistosomiasis endemic areas of China, and 115 437 received serological examinations, with 231 positives detected. Among the 128 719 bovines received stool examinations, no positives were identified. In 2021, there were 19 927 schistosomiasis patients receiving praziquantel chemotherapy, and 729 113 person-time individuals and 256 913 herd-time bovines were given expanded chemotherapy. In 2021, snail control with chemicals was performed in 117 372.74 hm2 snail habitats, and the actual area of chemical treatment was 65 640.50 hm2, while environmental improvements were performed in snail habitats covering an area of 1 244.25 hm2. Data from the national schistosomiasis surveillance sites of China showed that the mean prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum infections were both zero in humans and bovines in 2021, and no S. japonicum infection was detected in snails. The results demonstrate that the overall endemic status of schistosomiasis remained at a low level in China in 2021; however, the progress towards schistosomiasis elimination was slowed and the areas of snail habitats rebounded mildly. Strengthening researches on snail diffusion and control, and improving schistosomiasis surveillance and forecast are recommended to prevent reemerging schistosomiasis.
9.Analysis of the new WHO guideline to accelerate the progress towards elimination of schistosomiasis in China.
Zhao Yu GUO ; Jia Xin FENG ; Li Juan ZHANG ; Yi Biao ZHOU ; Jie ZHOU ; Kun YANG ; Yang LIU ; Dan Dan LIN ; Jian Bing LIU ; Yi DONG ; Tian Ping WANG ; Li Yong WEN ; Min Jun JI ; Zhong Dao WU ; Qing Wu JIANG ; Song LIANG ; Jia Gang GUO ; Chun Li CAO ; Jing XU ; Shan LÜ ; Shi Zhu LI ; Xiao Nong ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control 2022;34(3):217-222
On February 2022, WHO released the evidence-based guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis, with aims to guide the elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem in disease-endemic countries by 2030 and promote the interruption of schistosomiasis transmission across the world. Based on the One Health concept, six evidence-based recommendations were proposed in this guideline. This article aims to analyze the feasibility of key aspects of this guideline in Chinese national schistosomiasis control program and illustrate the significance to guide the future actions for Chinese national schistosomiasis control program. Currently, the One Health concept has been embodied in the Chinese national schistosomiasis control program. Based on this new WHO guideline, the following recommendations are proposed for the national schistosomiasis control program of China: (1) improving the systematic framework building, facilitating the agreement of the cross-sectoral consensus, and building a high-level leadership group; (2) optimizing the current human and livestock treatments in the national schistosomiasis control program of China; (3) developing highly sensitive and specific diagnostics and the framework for verifying elimination of schistosomiasis; (4) accelerating the progress towards elimination of schistosomiasis and other parasitic diseases through integrating the national control programs for other parasitic diseases.
China/epidemiology*
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Disease Eradication
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Humans
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Public Health
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Schistosomiasis/prevention & control*
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World Health Organization
10.Decoding the evolution of preventive chemotherapy schemes for schistosomiasis in China to improve the precise implementation of the WHO guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis.
Jing XU ; Yi Feng LI ; Yi DONG ; Zheng Yuan ZHAO ; Li Yong WEN ; Shi Qing ZHANG ; Dan Dan LIN ; Jie ZHOU ; Song LIANG ; Jia Gang GUO ; Shi Zhu LI ; Xiao Nong ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Schistosomiasis Control 2022;34(3):223-229
Preventive chemotherapy is one of the pivotal interventions for the control and elimination of schistosomiasis, which is effective to reduce the morbidity and prevalence of schistosomiasis. In order to promote the United Nations' sustainable development goals and the targets set for schistosomiasis control in the Ending the neglect to attain the Sustainable Development Goals: a road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021-2030, WHO released the guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis in 2022, with major evidence-based updates of the current preventive chemotherapy strategy for schistosomiasis. In China where great success has been achieved in schistosomiasis control, the preventive chemotherapy strategy for schistosomiasis has been updated several times during the past seven decades. This article reviews the evolution of the WHO guidelines on preventive chemotherapy and Chinese national preventive chemotherapy schemes, compares the current Chinese national preventive chemotherapy scheme and the recommendations for preventive chemotherapy proposed in the 2022 WHO guideline on control and elimination of human schistosomiasis, and proposes recommendations for preventive chemotherapy during the future implementation of the 2022 WHO guideline, so as to provide insights into schistosomiasis control among public health professionals engaging in healthcare foreign aid.
China/epidemiology*
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Humans
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Prevalence
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Public Health
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Schistosomiasis/prevention & control*
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World Health Organization

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