1.The Ferroptosis-inducing Compounds in Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Xin-Die WANG ; Da-Li FENG ; Xiang CUI ; Su ZHOU ; Peng-Fei ZHANG ; Zhi-Qiang GAO ; Li-Li ZOU ; Jun WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(4):804-819
Ferroptosis, a programmed cell death modality discovered and defined in the last decade, is primarily induced by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. At present, it has been found that ferroptosis is involved in various physiological functions such as immune regulation, growth and development, aging, and tumor suppression. Especially its role in tumor biology has attracted extensive attention and research. Breast cancer is one of the most common female tumors, characterized by high heterogeneity and complex genetic background. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a special type of breast cancer, which lacks conventional breast cancer treatment targets and is prone to drug resistance to existing chemotherapy drugs and has a low cure rate after progression and metastasis. There is an urgent need to find new targets or develop new drugs. With the increase of studies on promoting ferroptosis in breast cancer, it has gradually attracted attention as a treatment strategy for breast cancer. Some studies have found that certain compounds and natural products can act on TNBC, promote their ferroptosis, inhibit cancer cells proliferation, enhance sensitivity to radiotherapy, and improve resistance to chemotherapy drugs. To promote the study of ferroptosis in TNBC, this article summarized and reviewed the compounds and natural products that induce ferroptosis in TNBC and their mechanisms of action. We started with the exploration of the pathways of ferroptosis, with particular attention to the System Xc--cystine-GPX4 pathway and iron metabolism. Then, a series of compounds, including sulfasalazine (SAS), metformin, and statins, were described in terms of how they interact with cells to deplete glutathione (GSH), thereby inhibiting the activity of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and preventing the production of lipid peroxidases. The disruption of the cellular defense against oxidative stress ultimately results in the death of TNBC cells. We have also our focus to the realm of natural products, exploring the therapeutic potential of traditional Chinese medicine extracts for TNBC. These herbal extracts exhibit multi-target effects and good safety, and have shown promising capabilities in inducing ferroptosis in TNBC cells. We believe that further exploration and characterization of these natural compounds could lead to the development of a new generation of cancer therapeutics. In addition to traditional chemotherapy, we discussed the role of drug delivery systems in enhancing the efficacy and reducing the toxicity of ferroptosis inducers. Nanoparticles such as exosomes and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) can improve the solubility and bioavailability of these compounds, thereby expanding their therapeutic potential while minimizing systemic side effects. Although preclinical data on ferroptosis inducers are relatively robust, their translation into clinical practice remains in its early stages. We also emphasize the urgent need for more in-depth and comprehensive research to understand the complex mechanisms of ferroptosis in TNBC. This is crucial for the rational design and development of clinical trials, as well as for leveraging ferroptosis to improve patient outcomes. Hoping the above summarize and review could provide references for the research and development of lead compounds for the treatment for TNBC.
2.Impairment of Autophagic Flux After Hypobaric Hypoxia Potentiates Oxidative Stress and Cognitive Function Disturbances in Mice.
Shuhui DAI ; Yuan FENG ; Chuanhao LU ; Hongchen ZHANG ; Wenke MA ; Wenyu XIE ; Xiuquan WU ; Peng LUO ; Lei ZHANG ; Fei FEI ; Zhou FEI ; Xia LI
Neuroscience Bulletin 2024;40(1):35-49
Acute hypobaric hypoxic brain damage is a potentially fatal high-altitude sickness. Autophagy plays a critical role in ischemic brain injury, but its role in hypobaric hypoxia (HH) remains unknown. Here we used an HH chamber to demonstrate that acute HH exposure impairs autophagic activity in both the early and late stages of the mouse brain, and is partially responsible for HH-induced oxidative stress, neuronal loss, and brain damage. The autophagic agonist rapamycin only promotes the initiation of autophagy. By proteome analysis, a screen showed that protein dynamin2 (DNM2) potentially regulates autophagic flux. Overexpression of DNM2 significantly increased the formation of autolysosomes, thus maintaining autophagic flux in combination with rapamycin. Furthermore, the enhancement of autophagic activity attenuated oxidative stress and neurological deficits after HH exposure. These results contribute to evidence supporting the conclusion that DNM2-mediated autophagic flux represents a new therapeutic target in HH-induced brain damage.
Mice
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Animals
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Hypoxia
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Oxidative Stress
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Autophagy
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Cognition
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Sirolimus/therapeutic use*
3.The value of high-throughput sequencing data reanalysis in identifying ERBB2 amplification in colorectal cancer patients
Min-Na SHEN ; Li ZHANG ; Xin-Ning CHEN ; Fei HUANG ; Chao-Gang BAI ; Li-Meng CHEN ; Hai-Xiang PENG ; Yan ZHOU ; Bei-Li WANG ; Bai-Shen PAN ; Wei GUO
Fudan University Journal of Medical Sciences 2024;51(2):166-171
Objective To evaluate the value of high-throughput sequencing(HTS)data reanalysis that does not include ERBB2 copy number variation(CNV)analysis,in identifying ERBB2 amplification in patients with colorectal cancer.Methods The HTS data of 252 cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed by pathological biopsy who received peripheral blood cfDNA HTS detection samples were retrospectively analyzed.According to the HTS data of ERBB2 non-amplified samples judged by immunohistochemistry(IHC)and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH),the number of chromosome 17(Chr17)reads in the total number of reads was calculated the range of the ratio was initially determined as the threshold for prompting ERBB2 amplification.Suspected positive samples were screened according to thresholds and verified by digital PCR,IHC and FISH.Results The proportion of the number of Chr17 reads accounts for the number of total reads in the 89 cases of ERBB2 non-amplified samples determined by IHC and/or FISH ranged from 0.188 to 0.299(0.239±0.192).Using 0.298(1.25 times the mean)as the threshold indicating ERBB2 amplification,the data of 163 samples were analyzed,of which 7 cases were suspected to be positive,and the ratio ranged from 0.302 to 0.853.Among them,5 cases were determined to be positive by IHC and/or FISH,and 6 cases were confirmed to be positive by digital PCR.The ratio of the number of Chr17 reads to the number of total reads was positively correlated with the ratio of ERBB2/EIF2C1,and the correlation was good(r2=0.909).Conclusion The high-throughput sequencing data that does not cover the ERBB2 CNV analysis has a certain hint value for ERBB2 amplification in patients with colorectal cancer.
4.Feasibility Evaluation of using PAX1/JAM3 methylation markers as cervical cancer screening for female self-collected samples
Furong YU ; Jiezhi MA ; Xi ZHOU ; Genlin LI ; Jiaqi PENG ; Ping LI ; Fei ZENG ; Xiaobing XIE ; Weilei DONG
Chinese Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2024;47(4):419-427
Objective:To explore the application value of PAX1/JAM3 methylation detection by cervical self-collected specimen in cervical cancer screening and the management of premenopausal and postmenopausal women.Method:This study is a single center cross-sectional study. From January 2023 to November 2023, cervical self-collected and physician-collected specimens at the colposcopy clinic were detected the PAX1/JAM3 methylation (PAX1 m/JAM3 m) testing. The consistency between self-collected and physician-collected specimens for PAX1 m/JAM3 m detection were compared based on histopathology. In addition, the clinical efficacy of methylation detection with high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV), liquid-based cytology (LBC), and their combination for cervical cancer screening were compared in the study. Results:A total of 301 women were recruited to undergo referral colposcopy examination, and statistical analysis was conducted on 272 women with pathological and diagnostic information. Among them, 102 cases (37.5%) were diagnosed as normal cervical tissue or chronic cervicitis, 72 cases (26.4%) were cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1 (CIN1), 43 cases (15.8%) were CIN2, 29 cases (10.7%) were CIN3, and 26 cases (9.6%) were cervical cancer. According to the minimum quantity formula, they were divided into a consistency cohort of 81 participants and a validation cohort of 191 participants. The consistency between cervical self-collected and physician-collected specimens for detecting PAX1 m/JAM3 m. Results from spearman correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the self-collected and physician-collected results of PAX1 m/JAM3 m detection, and the correlation coefficient R values are 0.858 ( P<0.001) and 0.828 ( P<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of PAX1 m/JAM3 m detection for diagnosing CIN2 or more severe lesions (CIN2+) were 77.6% [95% confidence interval ( CI) 65.3%-86.4%] and 87.2% (95% CI 80.5%-91.9%), respectively. In clinical performance comparison, the sensitivity of PAX1 m/JAM3 m combined with HPV16/18 detection, 89.7% (95% CI 79.2%-95.2%), was the same as that of hrHPV detection in CIN2+and 96.0% (95% CI 80.4%-99.3%) in CIN3+, which is higher than 92.0% (95% CI 75.0%-97.8%) of hrHPV and 82.6% (95% CI 62.9%-93.0%) of LBC or the combination of sPAX1 m/JAM3 m and LBC low-grade and higher squamous intraepithelial lesion testing [87.0% (95% CI 67.9%-95.5%)]. Conclusions:Self-collected specimens by women for detection of PAX1 and JAM3 methylation as a promising screening tool for cervical cancer has operational and clinical feasibility. The methylation test can optimize the current cervical cancer screening plan, reduce the number of referral women with false positive diagnosis to colposcopy, and is of great significance for reducing fertility protection and preventing missed diagnosis in women of childbearing age.
5.Intervention effect of low temperature plasma air purifier in highway toll booths
Songrong LIU ; Shijun ZHOU ; Yanping XIAO ; Peng ZHOU ; Zhitao YAN ; Fei MA ; Yongli ZHONG ; Jiao CAI ; Wei LIU
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2024;41(5):474-481
Background The serious air pollution of highway toll booths poses a high occupational exposure risk to toll collectors. It is urgent to develop purification methods suitable for airborne particles and microbial pathogens in highway toll booths. Objective To verify the purification effect of low temperature plasma air purifiers on airborne particles and microbes in highway toll booths. Methods Based on controlled-intervention design, we selected three toll booths in an expressway toll station as on-site experimental locations for 6 d (no-intervention period: the low-temperature plasma purifier was turned off in the first three days; intervention period: the purifier was turned on from 9:00 to 17:00 in the following three days). The indoor and outdoor PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations were continuously monitored during the study. At 9:00, 12:00, and 17:00 of every day during the experiment, indoor and outdoor air samples were collected to analyze the concentration of airborne culturable colonies with a plankton sampler. Airborne particle samples were collected in the outermost exit continuously from 9:00 to 17:00 every day during the experiment using a medium flow particulate sampler, and the species and relative abundance of fungi and bacteria contained in the samples were analyzed by gene sequencing. Independent-sample t test was used to compare the concentration of indoor PM2.5, PM10, and culturable colonies between the intervention period and the non-intervention period. α diversity analysis, β diversity analysis, and t test were used to compare the diversity and relative abundance of specific species of bacteria and fungi, as well as typical pathogenic bacteria and fungi in the samples between the non-intervention period and the intervention period to reflect the purification effect of low temperature plasma air purifier on airborne PM2.5, PM10, and microorganisms. Results During the intervention period, the mean indoor concentrations of PM2.5, PM10, and culturable colonies were lower than those of the no-intervention period (P<0.01 or P<0.001). The ratios of indoor to outdoor concentration (I/O) of PM2.5 and PM10 during the intervention period were significantly lower than those of the no-intervention period (P<0.001), except the I/O of culturable colonies. Compared with the average concentration at 9:00, the average cleaning rates at 12:00 and 17:00 for PM2.5 were 49.0% and 46.1%, for PM10 were 49.7% and 45.4%, for airborne culturable colonies were 50.8% and 49.9%, respectively. The β diversity analysis showed that there were significant differences in composition at the level of species of bacteria, and at the levels of genus and species of fungi between the intervention and the no-intervention periods. The relative abundances of 10 species of bacteria such as Lactobacillus and 7 species of fungi such as Torula in the intervention period were significantly lower than those in the non-intervention period, but the relative abundances of fungi such as unclassified_f_cladosporiaceae, trichomerium, and cercospora were higher (P<0.05). For typical pathogenic bacteria, the relative abundances of Lactobacillus and Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1 during the intervention period were 73.5% and 86.9% lower than those in the no-intervention period, and the relative abundance of Talaromyces was 53.5% lower (P<0.05). Conclusion Low temperature plasma air purifier has a good purification effect on indoor PM2.5, PM10, and culturable colonies in highway toll booths, and likely a limited effect on some fungi.
6.The underlying logic, innovative thinking and research paradigm of antiviral medicinal chemistry
Shuo WANG ; Bao-hu LI ; Shu-jing XU ; Yang ZHOU ; Jin-fei YANG ; Xin-yong LIU ; Peng ZHAN
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica 2024;59(7):1916-1931
Antiviral drug research and development is an important research direction in the current and future biomedical field. The research and development of antiviral drugs not only requires the application of new strategies and new technologies, but also requires the complementary advantages and close cooperation of project teams. Based on the latest progress in this field and the author's drug research practice, this paper summarizes the underlying logic, innovative thinking and research paradigm of antiviral medicinal chemistry.
7.Nanomaterial-based Therapeutics for Biofilm-generated Bacterial Infections
Zhuo-Jun HE ; Yu-Ying CHEN ; Yang ZHOU ; Gui-Qin DAI ; De-Liang LIU ; Meng-De LIU ; Jian-Hui GAO ; Ze CHEN ; Jia-Yu DENG ; Guang-Yan LIANG ; Li WEI ; Peng-Fei ZHAO ; Hong-Zhou LU ; Ming-Bin ZHENG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(7):1604-1617
Bacterial biofilms gave rise to persistent infections and multi-organ failure, thereby posing a serious threat to human health. Biofilms were formed by cross-linking of hydrophobic extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), such as proteins, polysaccharides, and eDNA, which were synthesized by bacteria themselves after adhesion and colonization on biological surfaces. They had the characteristics of dense structure, high adhesiveness and low drug permeability, and had been found in many human organs or tissues, such as the brain, heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and skeleton. By releasing pro-inflammatory bacterial metabolites including endotoxins, exotoxins and interleukin, biofilms stimulated the body’s immune system to secrete inflammatory factors. These factors triggered local inflammation and chronic infections. Those were the key reason for the failure of traditional clinical drug therapy for infectious diseases.In order to cope with the increasingly severe drug-resistant infections, it was urgent to develop new therapeutic strategies for bacterial-biofilm eradication and anti-bacterial infections. Based on the nanoscale structure and biocompatible activity, nanobiomaterials had the advantages of specific targeting, intelligent delivery, high drug loading and low toxicity, which could realize efficient intervention and precise treatment of drug-resistant bacterial biofilms. This paper highlighted multiple strategies of biofilms eradication based on nanobiomaterials. For example, nanobiomaterials combined with EPS degrading enzymes could be used for targeted hydrolysis of bacterial biofilms, and effectively increased the drug enrichment within biofilms. By loading quorum sensing inhibitors, nanotechnology was also an effective strategy for eradicating bacterial biofilms and recovering the infectious symptoms. Nanobiomaterials could intervene the bacterial metabolism and break the bacterial survival homeostasis by blocking the uptake of nutrients. Moreover, energy-driven micro-nano robotics had shown excellent performance in active delivery and biofilm eradication. Micro-nano robots could penetrate physiological barriers by exogenous or endogenous driving modes such as by biological or chemical methods, ultrasound, and magnetic field, and deliver drugs to the infection sites accurately. Achieving this using conventional drugs was difficult. Overall, the paper described the biological properties and drug-resistant molecular mechanisms of bacterial biofilms, and highlighted therapeutic strategies from different perspectives by nanobiomaterials, such as dispersing bacterial mature biofilms, blocking quorum sensing, inhibiting bacterial metabolism, and energy driving penetration. In addition, we presented the key challenges still faced by nanobiomaterials in combating bacterial biofilm infections. Firstly, the dense structure of EPS caused biofilms spatial heterogeneity and metabolic heterogeneity, which created exacting requirements for the design, construction and preparation process of nanobiomaterials. Secondly, biofilm disruption carried the risk of spread and infection the pathogenic bacteria, which might lead to other infections. Finally, we emphasized the role of nanobiomaterials in the development trends and translational prospects in biofilm treatment.
8.Physicochemical Processes of Biofilm Formation on The Surface of Structures in Water
Kai SHEN ; Fei GAO ; Xu-Qiang HUANG ; Xiao-Peng LU ; Hui-Min ZHOU ; Wei-Rong LI ; Di TIE
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(1):145-157
Microorganisms can form biofilms, complex, heterogeneous, multicellular communities that adhere to surfaces. Biofilm formation on the surface of structures in water will accelerate structures’ corrosion, seriously affect their service efficiency and life, and significantly impact the growth of animals, plants, and human life. Hence, clarifying the mechanism of biofilm formation contributes to developing new strategies to control biofilm formation on surface and then reduce infections, biofouling, and contaminations. Biofilm-targeting strategies include the regulation of established biofilms or the modulation of single-cell attachment. In most studies, physicochemical mechanism is frequently applied to explain the initial bacterial adhesion phenomena but rarely to explain other stages of biofilm formation. This review presents a five-step comprehensive description of the physicochemical process from film formation to biofilm maturation: (1) period of film formation; (2) period of bacterial adhesion; (3) period of extracellular-polymeric-substances (EPSs) membrane formation; (4) period of regulating biofilm by quorum sensing (QS); (5) period of biofilm maturation. We first clarify how the film formed by compound molecules affects the surface’s physicochemical properties and initial adhesion, summarizing many factors that affect bacterial adhesion. We then review the types of EPSs and signal molecules secreted by bacteria after irreversible adhesion, as well as their role and QS mechanism in biofilm maturation. Finally, we discuss how bacteria or microcolonies separate from the mature biofilm by physicochemical action and summarize the morphology and adhesion characterization methods after the biofilm matures. This review redefines the role of physicochemical in the whole process of biofilm formation and provides a theoretical basis for the prevention, removal, and utilization of biofilm and other related research fields.
9.Construction of enteral nutrition nursing scheme for patients with abdominal hypertension in ICU based on intra-abdominal pressure classification
Meimei WANG ; Anhua QIAO ; Yin′e WANG ; Bingmei ZHOU ; Wenfang LI ; Fei PENG
Chinese Journal of Practical Nursing 2024;40(15):1133-1141
Objective:To construct the enteral nutrition nursing scheme of ICU patients with abdominal hypertension based on internal abdominal pressure classification, and provide reference for effectively preventing enteral nutrition intolerance of ICU patients with abdominal hypertension.Methods:According to the "6S" evidence pyramid model, searched from top to bottom for relevant literature on enteral nutrition support for ICU patients with abdominal hypertension in databases such as BMJ Best Practice, Cochrane Library, Guidelines International Network, Medlive, UpToDate, PubMed, Ovid, Web of Science, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP, Wanfang Medicine, Chinese Biomedical Literature. Developed an enteral nutrition care plan for ICU patients with abdominal hypertension based on intra-abdominal pressure grading, with a search date from database establishment to January 25, 2023. The Delphi expert letter consultation method was used to conduct two rounds of letter consultation with 20 experts to solicit expert opinions and determine the intervention plan.Results:The age of 20 experts was (43.75 ± 5.28) years old, with a working experience of (22.00 ± 6.98) years. The effective recovery rates of the two rounds of Delphi expert correspondence questionnaires were 100%(20/20), the expert judgment basis coefficients were 0.945 and 0.970, the familiarity coefficients were 0.865 and 0.895, and the authority coefficients were 0.905 and 0.932, respectively. Kendall coordination coefficient of importance of the first, second and third level items in the two rounds of expert correspondence were 0.100, 0.093, 0.098 and 0.200, 0.165, 0.119. The Kendall coordination coefficients of operability for the first, second and third level items were 0.117, 0.130, 0.115 and 0.200, 0.184, 0.154, respectively. Finally, an enteral nutrition nursing scheme for patients with abdominal hypertension in ICU was formed, which included 5 primary items, 30 secondary items and 51 tertiary items.Conclusions:The Delphi method in this study has a high degree of authority and enthusiasm of experts, and a good degree of coordination of expert opinions. The established enteral nutrition nursing scheme for ICU patients with abdominal hypertension based on intra-abdominal pressure classification is reliable and scientific, and can provide reference for clinical nursing practice of enteral nutrition for ICU patients with abdominal hypertension.
10.Influencing factors and the Nomogram model to predict early hematoma expansion of intracranial hemorrhage
Fa WU ; Yu-Lin YANG ; Ting-Ting WU ; Rui JIANG ; Jie WU ; Peng WANG ; Fei-Zhou DU ; Hong-Mei YU ; Jian-Hao LI
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army 2024;49(5):504-510
Objective To investigate factors influencing the occurrence of early haematoma expansion(HE)in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage(sICH),to develop a predictive model and evaluate its predictive efficacy.Methods A retrospective cohort of 238 patients with sICH,admitted to General Hospital of Western Theater Command between January 2017 and December 2022,was analyzed.Patients were categorized into two groups based on the criteria of HE exceeding 33%in relative volume or 6 ml in absolute volume:HE group(n=62)and non-haematoma expansion(NHE)group(n=176).Clinical characteristics,laboratory findings,Non-contrast Computed Tomography(NCCT)imaging,and Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS)scores were compared between the two groups.Multifactorial logistic regression analysis was employed to identify risk factors for HE and to model the probability of its occurrence.The R language rms package was utilized to construct a nomogram model for predicting HE in sICH patients,Additionally,the related clinical,NCCT,and GCS models were constructed.The predictive efficacy of each model for HE in sICH patients was evaluated using area under Receive Operative Characteristic(ROC)curve(AUC),and the clinical application value of each model was assessed using accuracy,sensitivity,specificity,and Jordon's index.The Delong test was applied to analyze differences in the predictive values of the models.Results Significant differences in satellite sign,vortex sign,and history of anticoagulant treatment were observed between two groups(P<0.05).Multifactorial logistic regression analysis revealed independent risk factors for HE in sICH patients,including the first CT examination time,homogeneity,history of anticoagulant medication,volume,maximal diameter,hypodensity sign,island sign,satellite sign,and vortex sign(P<0.05).The AUCs for the constructed clinical model,NCCT model,GCS model and nomogram model in predicting the occurrence of HE in sICH patients were 0.672,0.706,0.518 and 0.754,respectively.The nomogram model demonstrated higher accuracy,sensitivity,Jordon's index and AUC compared with those in the clinical and NCTT models.Conclusions The first CT examination time,homogeneity,history of anticoagulant treatment,volume,maximum diameter,hypodensity sign,island sign,satellite sign,and vortex sign are independent predictors of early HE in sICH patients.The nomogram model,constructed with the above parameters,demonstrated high predictive efficacy for HE and holds potential for clinical application.

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