The development of an immunosuppressive microenvironment is a critical factor in stomach carcinogenesis. Polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSCs) serve a pivotal function in medi Show more
The development of an immunosuppressive microenvironment is a critical factor in stomach carcinogenesis. Polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSCs) serve a pivotal function in mediating immune suppression. However, the precise mechanisms underlying PMN-MDSCs infiltration into the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and their immunosuppressive functions remain poorly understood. In this investigation, we observed that PMN-MDSCs were up-regulated during stomach carcinogenesis, with gastric cancer (GC) cells secreting CCL26 to promote the infiltration of PMN-MDSCs into the TIME via the CX3CR1 receptor. The infiltrating CX3CR1 Show less
Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by foam cell formation and persistent inflammation as central pathological drivers. Although colchicine (Col) exhibits potent anti Show more
Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by foam cell formation and persistent inflammation as central pathological drivers. Although colchicine (Col) exhibits potent anti-inflammatory activities, its clinical application is limited by a narrow therapeutic window. In the present study, we developed phosphatidylserine-exposing nanovesicles (Col@PSVs) that leverage the innate phagocytic capacity of macrophage-derived foam cells by presenting surface "eat-me" signals, thereby enabling targeted immune modulation. The synergistic collaboration between Col and PSVs allows low-dose Col to retain robust anti-inflammatory efficacy while mitigating dose-dependent toxicity. Mechanistically, Col@PSVs potently suppress CCR7-mediated NF-κB signaling activation in foam cells, leading to a marked downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine and disruption of inflammatory cascades. In ApoE Show less
The Kirgiz, a Turkic-speaking ethnic group with a rich nomadic heritage, represent a pivotal population for understanding human migration and adaptation in Central Asia. However, their genetic origins Show more
The Kirgiz, a Turkic-speaking ethnic group with a rich nomadic heritage, represent a pivotal population for understanding human migration and adaptation in Central Asia. However, their genetic origins and admixture history remain largely unexplored. Here, we present the first comprehensive genomic study of Kirgiz populations from Xinjiang, China (XJ.KGZ, n = 36) and their counterparts in Kyrgyzstan (KRG), integrating genome-wide data of 2,406 global individuals. Our analyses reveal four primary ancestry components in XJ.KGZ: East Asian (41.7%), Siberian (25.6%), West Eurasian (25.2%), and South Asian (7.6%). Despite close genetic affinity (FST = 0.13%), XJ.KGZ and KRG diverged ∼447 years ago, with limited gene flow post-split. A two-wave admixture model elucidates their demographic history: an initial East-West Eurasian mixture ∼2,225 years ago, likely reflecting west-east contacts during the period of the Warring States and the Qin Dynasty, followed by secondary admixture events (∼875 to 425 years ago) linked to historical migrations under Mongol and post-Mongol rule. Local adaptation signatures implicate genes critical for cellular tight junction (e.g. PATJ), pathogen invasion (e.g. OR14I1), and cardiac functions (e.g. RYR2) with allele frequency deviations suggesting ancestry-specific selection. While no classical high-altitude adaptation genes (e.g. EPAS1) showed selection signals, RYR2 and C10orf67-implicated in hypoxia response in Tibetan fauna-displayed Western ancestry bias, hinting at convergent adaptation mechanisms. This study advances our understanding of the genetic makeup and admixture history of the Kirgiz people and provides novel insights into human dispersal in Central Asia. Show less
Mutations in four genes encoding the outer ring complex of nuclear pore complexes (NPCs), NUP85, NUP107, NUP133 and NUP160, cause monogenic steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS). Knockout of NUP Show more
Mutations in four genes encoding the outer ring complex of nuclear pore complexes (NPCs), NUP85, NUP107, NUP133 and NUP160, cause monogenic steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS). Knockout of NUP85, NUP107, or NUP133 in immortalized human podocytes activates CDC42, an important effector of SRNS pathogenesis. However, it is unknown whether or not loss of NUP160 dysregulates CDC42 in the podocytes. Here, we generated a podocyte-specific Nup160 knockout mouse model with double-fluorescent (mT/mG) Cre reporter genes using CRISPR/Cas9 and Cre/loxP technologies. We investigated nephrotic syndrome-associated phenotypes in the Nup160podo-/- mice, and performed single-cell transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of glomerular suspension cells and cultured primary podocytes, respectively. The Nup160podo-/- mice exhibited progressive proteinuria and fusion of podocyte foot processes. We found decreased Cdc42 protein and normal Cdc42 transcriptional level in the podocytes of the Nup160podo-/- mice using analysis of single-cell transcriptomes and proteomes. We subsequently observed that Cdc42 protein decreased in both kidney tissues and cultured primary podocytes of the Nup160podo-/- mice, although Cdc42 mRNA levels were elevated in the cultured primary podocytes of the Nup160podo-/- mice. We also found that Cdc42 activity was significantly reduced in the cultured primary podocytes of the Nup160podo-/- mice. In conclusion, loss of Nup160 dysregulated Cdc42 in the podocytes of the Nup160podo-/- mice with proteinuria and fusion of podocyte foot processes. Our findings suggest that the dysregulation of CDC42 may contribute to the pathogenesis of SRNS in patients with mutations in NUP160. Show less
In recent years, accumulating evidence has highlighted the critical role of miR-627-5p in the occurrence and progression of various cancers. However, its specific role and mechanism in cervical cancer Show more
In recent years, accumulating evidence has highlighted the critical role of miR-627-5p in the occurrence and progression of various cancers. However, its specific role and mechanism in cervical cancer (CC) remain unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism by which miR-627-5p inhibits the malignant progression of CC and assess its potential clinical implications. In C33A cells, the mRNA expression levels of ANGPTL4 and miR-627-5p were analyzed using qRT-PCR. The miR-627-5p mimics and their control (miR-NC) were transfected into C33A cells to determine whether miR-627-5p directly regulates ANGPTL4 expression. A comprehensive suite of assays, including CCK-8, migration, transwell, flow cytometry, and Western blotting, was conducted to evaluate how miR-627-5p modulates the malignant biological behavior of CC cells. Rescue experiments were performed by overexpressing ANGPTL4. In C33A cells, miR-627-5p expression was reduced, whereas ANGPTL4 expression was elevated. Further analysis confirmed that miR-627-5p negatively regulates ANGPTL4 by directly targeting its 3'-UTR. Functional assays demonstrated that miR-627-5p inhibits proliferation, invasion, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) while promoting apoptosis and S-phase arrest in C33A cells, effects that were reversed by ANGPTL4 overexpression. These findings highlight the potential of miR-627-5p as both a biomarker and a therapeutic target for CC. By inhibiting EMT and regulating ANGPTL4 expression, miR-627-5p may provide a novel avenue for improving therapeutic strategies, particularly in advanced or metastatic CC. Moreover, miRNA-based therapies, supported by advanced delivery systems such as nanoparticle carriers, could enhance the stability and precision of miR-627-5p applications. This study lays the groundwork for future research integrating miR-627-5p into precision medicine approaches for CC treatment. Show less
Angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3) is a major regulator of lipoprotein metabolism. ANGPTL3 deficiency results in lower levels of triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), and may Show more
Angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3) is a major regulator of lipoprotein metabolism. ANGPTL3 deficiency results in lower levels of triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), and may protect from cardiovascular disease. ANGPTL3 oligomerizes with ANGPTL8 to inhibit lipoprotein lipase (LPL), the enzyme responsible for plasma triglyceride hydrolysis. Independently of ANGPTL8, oligomers of ANGPTL3 can inhibit endothelial lipase (EL), which regulates circulating HDL-C and LDL-C levels through the hydrolysis of lipoprotein phospholipids. The N-terminal region of ANGPTL3 is necessary for both oligomerization and lipase inhibition. However, our understanding of the specific residues that contribute to these functions is incomplete. In this study, we performed mutagenesis of the N-terminal region to identify residues important for EL inhibition and oligomerization. We also assessed the presence of different ANGPTL3 species in human plasma. We identified a motif important for lipase inhibition, and protein structure prediction suggested that this region interacted directly with EL. We also found that recombinant ANGPTL3 formed a homotrimer and was unable to inhibit EL activity when trimerization was disrupted. Surprisingly, we observed that human plasma contained more monomeric ANGPTL3 than trimeric ANGPTL3. An important implication of these findings is that previous correlations between circulating ANGPTL3 and circulating triglyceride-rich lipoproteins need to be revisited. Show less
Lipid metabolism abnormalities and inflammation have been implicated in gallstone disease (GSD) development, but the causal relationships and potential mediation effects among lipid metabolites, infla Show more
Lipid metabolism abnormalities and inflammation have been implicated in gallstone disease (GSD) development, but the causal relationships and potential mediation effects among lipid metabolites, inflammatory factors, and GSD remain unclear. The aim of this study is to explore the causal relationships among these 3 factors. This study employed 2-sample Mendelian Randomization (TSMR) and 2-step MR to investigate the causal relationships and potential mediation effects among 91 inflammatory factors, 6 lipid metabolism-related molecules (HDL-C, LDL-C, TG, total cholesterol, ApoA1, and ApoB), and GSD. We opted for 4 distinct MR analysis methods including inverse variance weighted method, weighted median method, MR-Egger regression method and MR-PRESSO analysis. Sensitivity analyses included MR-Egger intercept tests, Cochran's Q statistic, Steiger tests, and leave-one-out analyses. Product of coefficients method was used to estimate mediation proportion. TSMR analysis revealed that every 1-unit increase in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), and apolipoprotein B (ApoB), the risk of GSD decreased by 16.5%, 10.2%, 8.4%, and 13.1%, respectively. Inflammatory factors such as Natural killer cell receptor 2B4 (CD244), Macrophage colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1), and interleukin-18 receptor 1 (IL-18R1) were identified as risk factors for GSD, while Fibroblast growth factor 19 levels (FGF19), Interleukin-1-alpha levels (IL-1α), and Interleukin-8 levels (IL-8) were found to be protective. Mediation analysis through 2-step MR identified potential pathways involving ApoA1--IL-8--GSD (P = .084) and IL-1α--ApoB--GSD (P = .117). This study provides robust evidence of causal links between specific lipid metabolites and GSD, as well as suggestive causal associations for several inflammatory factors. However, mediation analysis did not support significant roles for lipids or inflammatory factors as mediators in GSD pathogenesis. Future research could be further pursued in areas such as drug target intervention and mechanistic studies. Show less
Previous experiments have demonstrated that BGM0504, a GLP-1R/GIPR dual agonist drug by molecular dynamics-guided optimization, had enhanced agonistic activity compared to tirzepatide. This study aims Show more
Previous experiments have demonstrated that BGM0504, a GLP-1R/GIPR dual agonist drug by molecular dynamics-guided optimization, had enhanced agonistic activity compared to tirzepatide. This study aims to investigate its safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) in Chinese healthy volunteers. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and dose-escalation Phase I study was conducted as follows: a single dose (2.5 mg) and once-weekly administration for 2 weeks to reach target doses (5, 10 and 15 mg) by titration. A total of 40 volunteers received at least one dose of BGM0504 or placebo. The PK profile of BGM0504 was investigated over a wide dose range and supported once-weekly administration. It was observed that C BGM0504 was generally safe and well tolerated with favourable PK profile and potential role in weight loss was also confirmed. These findings support subsequent development of BGM0504 for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity. Show less
Insulin supply is the golden standard for type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) therapy. Is there a drug-reduction application for reversing glucose metabolism disabled and diabetic neuropathy (DN), and is Show more
Insulin supply is the golden standard for type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) therapy. Is there a drug-reduction application for reversing glucose metabolism disabled and diabetic neuropathy (DN), and is it suitable for the young and elderly populations? Reducing T1DM-associated DN, and maintaining glucose metabolism require using the anti-aging gene Klotho to regulate specific signaling cascades. This study applied five 16:8 intermittent fasting (16-h fasting, 8-h eating; 168if) protocols by different executing times to young and elderly diabetic mice to evaluate whether 168if is age-dependent and how it alters Klotho-related signaling molecules. Blood glucose levels were efficiently reduced when 168if was implemented in the early stage of T1DM onset (DNf group) of young and elderly mice. Another four groups failed to reduce blood sugar. However, the DNf protocol was unsuitable for diabetic elderly mice because it posed a higher mortality risk for this population. Young DNf mice exhibited reduced thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia and reversed Klotho downregulation and protein kinase C epsilon (PKCε) upregulation compared with DN mice. Furthermore, young DNf mice exhibited normalization of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) expression, which is involved in Klotho-related glucose metabolism and anti-inflammation. The expression densities of PKCε, Klotho, FGFR1, and NF-κB were linear to neuropathic manifestations. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of 168if application in the early stage of T1DM onset, a straightforward and convenient dietary control method, as a blood glucose control for achieving pharmaceutical reduction and relieving neuropathic pain in young T1DM patients. Show less
Fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1) is significantly and specifically upregulated following diabetic corneal injury. However, its role in diabetic keratopathy remains unclear. This study aimed to investig Show more
Fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1) is significantly and specifically upregulated following diabetic corneal injury. However, its role in diabetic keratopathy remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of FADS1 on wound healing and functional recovery of the diabetic corneal epithelium and explore its potential mechanisms. Using high-glucose-induced corneal epithelial cells and a streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetic mouse model, FADS1 expression was suppressed via FADS1 small interfering RNA (siRNA). Cell migration was assessed using scratch and transwell assays. Wound healing and functional recovery of the corneal epithelium were evaluated using sodium fluorescein staining, anterior segment optical coherence tomography, hematoxylin and eosin staining, and immunofluorescence staining. FADS1 knockdown promoted wound healing and functional recovery of the diabetic corneal epithelium both in vivo and in vitro. Suppression of FADS1 enhanced high-glucose-induced corneal epithelial cell migration, which was dependent on elevated levels of the upstream metabolite γ-linolenic acid. This effect was mediated through the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway and the accumulation of autophagosomes. After diabetic corneal epithelial injury, FADS1 expression is specifically upregulated. Knockdown of FADS1 promotes wound healing and functional recovery, suggesting a novel therapeutic strategy for diabetic keratopathy. Show less
BackgroundAlthough abnormalities in circulating lipids and lipoproteins are associated with increased cancer risk, their specific impact on lung cancer progression and prognosis is still unclear. This Show more
BackgroundAlthough abnormalities in circulating lipids and lipoproteins are associated with increased cancer risk, their specific impact on lung cancer progression and prognosis is still unclear. This study retrospectively assessed the influence of preoperative lipid and lipoprotein levels on non-small cell lung cancer progression and prognosis, stratified by age.MethodsIn this retrospective study, we analyzed 849 patients to investigate the association between lipid markers and lung cancer progression, and examined postoperative prognosis in a subset of 222 patients. Data was analyzed using restricted cubic spline curves, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, and Cox proportional hazards models.ResultsA significant nonlinear relationship was observed between total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), ApoB, ApoAI, ApoE, and baseline tumor diameter (BSLD) (PTC = 0.025; PHDL < 0.001; PApoB = 0.037; PApoAI =0.001; PApoE < 0.001). In contrast, Lp(a) showed a significant linear relationship with BSLD (P = 0.002). The Cox regression analysis revealed that triglyceride (TG) (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.50, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.28-0.92, P = 0.025) was significantly negatively associated with lung cancer mortality in patients under 58 years. For patients over 58 years, higher ApoB levels were linked to a reduced risk of lung cancer death (HR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.36-0.97, P = 0.038).ConclusionThis study reveals a significant negative correlation between ApoAI and HDL levels with BSLD, while Lp(a) shows a positive correlation. In terms of long-term prognosis, high-serum ApoB are associated with a lower mortality risk in all lung cancer patients, and high-serum TG levels associated with reduced mortality risk in patients aged under 58 while high-serum TC levels associated with reduced mortality risk in patients over 58, with high Lp(a) levels indicating a greater risk of mortality in older patients. Show less
Disrupting liver immune homeostasis drives inflammation. Recent evidence shifts immunoregulatory focus to hepatocytes, though the mechanisms remain poorly defined. Forkhead box O1 (FoxO1) is a critica Show more
Disrupting liver immune homeostasis drives inflammation. Recent evidence shifts immunoregulatory focus to hepatocytes, though the mechanisms remain poorly defined. Forkhead box O1 (FoxO1) is a critical homeostasis regulator, but its function in liver immune homeostasis is unknown. We aimed to clarify the role of hepatocyte FoxO1 in liver immune homeostasis and inflammation. Human liver FoxO1 expression and its association with inflammation were analyzed in patients with various inflammation-related liver diseases. Hepatocyte-specific Foxo1 knockout (FoxO1 △hepa ) mice were established. Hepatocyte-specific gene interference was employed in alcoholic hepatitis and hepatic schistosomiasis murine models. Transcriptomic, single-cell RNA sequencing, and CUT&Tag analyses were performed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Hepatocyte FoxO1 levels in human inflammatory livers declined prevalently and were inversely correlated with inflammation and fibrosis. Around 15-18 weeks after birth, FoxO1 △hepa mice exhibited mild spontaneous hepatic inflammation with natural killer T (NKT) cell and neutrophil accumulation. NKT cell depletion in FoxO1 △hepa mice with alcoholic hepatitis or hepatic schistosomiasis (HS) significantly reduced neutrophil accumulation and protected against liver inflammation and damage. Mechanistically, FoxO1 promoted retinoic acid synthesis to induce hepatocyte CD1d expression, which is necessary for regulating NKT cell apoptosis. Innovatively, decreased JMJD1C expression in hepatocytes caused histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) dimethylation at the Foxo1 promoter, repressing its transcription and disrupting local immune homeostasis. Our findings uncover a hitherto unrecognized mechanism for hepatocyte-based control of liver inflammation, in which hepatocyte FoxO1 maintained by JMJD1C restrains local NKT cells and neutrophils via CD1d induction, providing promising targets for inflammatory liver diseases. Show less
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening vascular disease with no effective pharmacological treatments. The causal role of triglycerides (TGs) in AAA development remains unclear and contr Show more
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening vascular disease with no effective pharmacological treatments. The causal role of triglycerides (TGs) in AAA development remains unclear and controversial. Mendelian randomization was applied to assess causal relationships between lipoproteins, circulating proteins, metabolites, and the risk of AAA. To test the hypothesis that elevated plasma TG levels accelerate AAA development, we used Mendelian randomization analyses integrating genetic, proteomic, and metabolomic data identified causal relationships between elevated TG-rich lipoproteins, TG metabolism-related proteins/metabolites, and AAA risk. In the angiotensin II infusion AAA model, most These findings identify hypertriglyceridemia as a key contributor to AAA pathogenesis and suggest that targeting TG-rich lipoproteins may be a promising therapeutic strategy for AAA. Show less
Autophagy is essential in DNA damage response by limiting damage, but its responsive activation remains unclear. RBM38 (RBM38a), an RNA-binding protein, regulates mRNA metabolism and plays a key role Show more
Autophagy is essential in DNA damage response by limiting damage, but its responsive activation remains unclear. RBM38 (RBM38a), an RNA-binding protein, regulates mRNA metabolism and plays a key role in controlling cell cycle progression, senescence, and cancer. In this study, we uncovered a novel primate-specific isoform, RBM38c, with 32 extra amino acids from exon 2, which imparts a distinct capacity to promote autophagy upon DNA damage. TP53 increases RBM38c expression upon DNA damage, while TRIM21 facilitates its K63-linked ubiquitination at lysine (K) 35. Activated RBM38c enhances its interaction with BECN1, promoting the formation of the ATG14-containing PtdIns3K-C1 complex and thus autophagy initiation. A K35R mutation or TRIM21 deficiency impairs RBM38c ubiquitination, preventing autophagy activation upon DNA damage. Moreover, RBM38c-driven autophagy protects cells from DNA damage-induced apoptosis and promotes survival, with this beneficial effect susceptible to suppression by the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine. Consequently, depleting RBM38c enhances the efficacy of DNA-damaging drugs by impairing autophagy and increasing DNA damage. Clinical lung cancer samples show a positive correlation between RBM38c expression and LC3 expression, and this correlation is linked to chemotherapy resistance. Together, our study reveals a novel mechanism for DNA damage-induced autophagy, involving K63-linked ubiquitination of RBM38c as a critical interactor with BECN1. Show less
Ursolic acid (UA) exhibits antitumor activity; however, its effects and mechanisms on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells are not well understood. The present study aimed to explore the anti- T Show more
Ursolic acid (UA) exhibits antitumor activity; however, its effects and mechanisms on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells are not well understood. The present study aimed to explore the anti- TNBC mechanisms of UA by network pharmacology and experimental validation. TNBC cell lines MDA-MB-231 and BT-549 cells were treated with UA. A CCK-8 assay was performed to detect cell growth, while flow cytometry assessed cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The underlying mechanism and potential targets of UA for TNBC treatment were investigated by network pharmacology, including PharmMapper database, GO, KEGG enrichment, and PPI analysis. The protein expressions and phosphorylation levels of FGFR1, AKT, and ERK were measured by western blot. Pull-down assay, cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), and molecular docking were used to analyze the interaction between UA and FGFR1. Xenograft models were established to examine the effect of UA on TNBC tumor growth. UA effectively reduced cell viability, induced apoptosis, and arrested cell cycle in TNBC cells. Moreover, UA significantly regulated the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax to induce apoptosis. The results of network pharmacology and western blot suggested that UA reduced FGFR1/AKT/ERK pathway. Furthermore, pull-down, CETSA, and molecular docking results revealed that UA directly bound to FGFR1. In the xenograft model, UA inhibited the growth by suppressing FGFR1. In this study, we employed network pharmacology and experimental approaches to elucidate the mechanism of UA on TNBC. The results demonstrated that UA targeted FGFR1 to inhibit TNBC via mediating FGFR1/AKT/ERK pathway. Our findings demonstrate that UA inhibits the FGFR1/AKT/ERK pathway by directly targeting FGFR1, thereby suppressing TNBC progression and supporting its potential as a therapeutic agent for TNBC treatment. Show less
Despite advancements in treatment, coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a significant global health concern. Although lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is recognized as a crucial cardiovascular risk factor asso Show more
Despite advancements in treatment, coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a significant global health concern. Although lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is recognized as a crucial cardiovascular risk factor associated with increased risk, the prognostic value of using Lp(a) levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains debatable. This review aimed to investigate the association between Lp(a) levels and recurrent ischemic events in patients with ACS undergoing PCI. This systematic review included studies with individuals aged ≥18 years diagnosed with ACS who underwent PCI and had Lp(a) measurements. The included studies were sourced from the PubMed database, with a focus on articles published between January 2020 and January 2025. Keywords related to Lp(a) and cardiovascular diseases were used in the search. Data extraction involved a review of titles and abstracts followed by quality assessment using the QUADAS-2 tool. The final analysis included 10 studies with a combined population of 20,896 patients from diverse regions, including Japan, India, Egypt, China, and South Korea. Key findings indicate that elevated Lp(a) levels are significantly associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes, including myocardial infarction and mortality, both in hospital and during long-term follow-up. This review highlights Lp(a) as a critical biomarker for predicting recurrent cardiovascular events in ACS patients post-PCI. The consistent correlation between elevated Lp(a) levels and adverse outcomes underscores the necessity of routine monitoring and targeted management of Lp(a) to mitigate residual cardiovascular risk. Show less
Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors are crucial for the symptomatic management of Alzheimer's disease (AD), with natural products-particularly botanical sources like Yellow Gastrodia elata (YGE)-se Show more
Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors are crucial for the symptomatic management of Alzheimer's disease (AD), with natural products-particularly botanical sources like Yellow Gastrodia elata (YGE)-serving as promising reservoirs of such inhibitors. Nevertheless, comprehensive screening and mechanistic characterization of their inhibitory potential remain limited. This study sought to identify potent AChE inhibitors from YGE, investigate their mechanisms of action, and assess their therapeutic prospects for AD. Methodologically, an integrated approach was employed, combining ultrafiltration-liquid chromatography (UF-LC) for rapid inhibitor screening, molecular docking and dynamics simulations for mechanistic insight, two-stage high-speed countercurrent chromatography for compound isolation, enzyme kinetics to delineate inhibition modalities, and network pharmacology to uncover relevant AD-related targets. The findings identified seven active constituents with notable AChE inhibition, among which parishins A and G were obtained at high purity (98.26% and 97.26%, respectively) and exhibited mixed-type inhibition with low IC Show less
Sepsis, a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by dysregulated host responses to infection, has emerged as a leading cause of mortality in ICU patients. Macrophages, crucial effector cells in inn Show more
Sepsis, a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by dysregulated host responses to infection, has emerged as a leading cause of mortality in ICU patients. Macrophages, crucial effector cells in innate immunity, play pivotal regulatory roles in sepsis pathogenesis. While Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), a key immune checkpoint molecule, is traditionally believed to exert immunosuppressive effects through membrane anchoring, its involvement in macrophage polarization during sepsis remains unclear. This study investigated the spatial distribution of PD-L1 in macrophages and its regulatory effects on inflammatory responses during sepsis. This study investigated PD-L1’s regulatory role in macrophage polarization through RNA sequencing, Immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry, molecular docking, and site-directed mutagenesis, with preliminary validation in C57BL/6 mice. Using GEO database analysis combined with qRT-PCR and Western blotting, we confirmed elevated PD-L1 expression in sepsis and M1-polarized macrophages. Laser scanning confocal microscopy demonstrated dual localization of PD-L1, appearing both on the plasma membrane and intracellularly within M1 macrophages. RNA sequencing revealed PD-L1’s promotion of M1 polarization through enhanced AIM2 expression in the NOD-like receptor pathway. Integrated analyses employing mass spectrometry, molecular docking, site-directed mutagenesis, and Western blotting demonstrated PD-L1 binding to AIM2, which augmented expression of downstream effector molecules (IL-18 and IFN-γ) and potentiated STAT1 activation. Silencing AIM2 by siRNA or IL-18 antagonism reversed PD-L1-induced M1 markers (IL-27, IL-6, iNOS/NO). PD-L1 was further shown to exacerbate pathological progression in septic mouse models. Our study demonstrated that sepsis-induced PD-L1 overexpression in macrophages exacerbates pathological progression by upregulating AIM2 expression, binding to AIM2 to enhance IL-18 production, which activates STAT1 to drive M1 polarization. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12964-025-02578-1. Show less
Prenatal exposure to bisphenol analogs (BPs) may pose hazards to offspring's health; however, their underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. DNA methylation, a major epigenetic mechanism, may be Show more
Prenatal exposure to bisphenol analogs (BPs) may pose hazards to offspring's health; however, their underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. DNA methylation, a major epigenetic mechanism, may be involved in early programming following environmental disturbances. In this prospective study, we investigated associations between prenatal BPs exposure and the placental DNA methylation levels of 14 candidate genes in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway among 205 mother-infant pairs and explored the potential mediating role of the DNA methylation in the association of prenatal BPs exposure with anthropometric measurements of infants aged 1 year. We observed a general pattern that prenatal BPs exposure was associated with the DNA hypomethylation of candidate genes, with associations consistently and notably observed for PPAR α (PPARA), retinoid X receptor α (RXRA), acetyl-CoA acyltransferase 1, and acyl-CoA dehydrogenase medium chain (ACADM) in linear regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression. Both models identified bisphenol F (BPF) as the predominant compound. We found inverse associations between the placental DNA methylation levels of most candidate genes, such as PPARA, RXRA, ACADM, and nuclear receptor subfamily 1 group H member 3 (NR1H3), and the length-for-age z-score, arm circumference-for-age z-score, subscapular skinfold-for-age z-score, and abdominal skinfold thickness of the infants. The DNA methylation levels of RXRA and NR1H3 could mediate the associations between prenatal BPF exposure and increased infant anthropometric measurements, with mediating portions ranging from 23.02% to 30.53%. Our findings shed light on the potential mechanisms underlying the effects of prenatal BPs exposure on infant growth and call for urgent actions for risk assessment and regulation of BPF. Future cohort studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to confirm our findings. Show less
Cardiac hypertrophy is an independent risk factor and the primary predictor of heart failure (HF). Mitochondria are crucial for the shift from hypertrophy to heart failure. The expression of fibroblas Show more
Cardiac hypertrophy is an independent risk factor and the primary predictor of heart failure (HF). Mitochondria are crucial for the shift from hypertrophy to heart failure. The expression of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), a cardioprotective factor, is increased in patients with cardiac hypertrophy but fails to prevent heart failure. Additionally, the molecular mechanism through which FGF21 exerts its beneficial effects on hypertrophic myocardial mitochondria remains unclear. Our study investigated the effect of FGF21 on cardiac hypertrophy, elucidating its mechanism of action through the enhancement of mitophagy-mediated cardioprotection. A transverse aortic constriction (TAC) model and a phenylephrine (PE) model were applied to explore the effect and mechanism of FGF21. P62-mediated mitophagy inducer (PMI) and rapamycin (Rapa) were used to confirm that FGF21-regulated mitophagy under overload pressure conditions. FGF21 knockout markedly exacerbated TAC-induced cardiac function damage, mitochondrial damage, and mitophagy impairment. In vitro, FGF21 knockdown aggravated PE-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and mitophagy dysfunction. FGF21 treatment promoted mitophagy in the TAC and PE models, but this effect was abolished in the absence of PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1). The increase in PINK1 expression induced by Rapa can rescue impaired cardiac function and mitophagy impairment in FGF21-deficient TAC mice. Similarly, PMI enhances mitophagy, which inhibits damage to cardiac functions. A further study revealed that the expression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) and FGF21 was opposite in heart failure. Knockdown of FGFR1 inhibited FGF21-mediated mitophagy. FGF21 promotes PINK1-mediated mitophagy to attenuate cardiac hypertrophy, and mismatched FGFR1 expression may hamper the beneficial effect of FGF21 on cardiac hypertrophy. Show less
Tryptophan (Trp) is an essential amino acid acting as a key nutrition factor regulating animal growth and development. But how Trp modulates food intake in pigs is still not well known. Here, we inves Show more
Tryptophan (Trp) is an essential amino acid acting as a key nutrition factor regulating animal growth and development. But how Trp modulates food intake in pigs is still not well known. Here, we investigated the effect of dietary supplementation of Trp with different levels on food intake of growing pigs. The data showed that dietary Trp supplementation with the standardised ileal digestibility (SID) Trp to lysine (Lys) ratio at both 0·18 and 0·20 significantly increased the food intake by activating the expression of orexigenic gene agouti-related peptide (AgRP) and inhibiting the expression of anorexigenic gene pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) and melanocortin receptor 4 (MC4R) in the hypothalamus. Meanwhile, the level of anorexigenic hormones appetite-regulating peptide YY (PYY) in the duodenum and serum and leptin receptor in the duodenum were also significantly decreased. Importantly, both the kynurenine and serotonin metabolic pathways were activated upon dietary Trp supplementation to downregulate MC4R expression in the hypothalamus. Further mechanistic studies revealed that the reduced MC4R expression activated the hypothalamic AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway, which in turn inhibited the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) activity to stimulate food intake. Together, our study unravels the orexigenic effect of dietary Trp supplementation in pigs and expands its potential application in developing nutrition intervention strategy in pig production. Show less
Detecting early ischemic lesions (EIL) in computed tomography (CT) images is crucial for reducing diagnostic time and minimizing neuron loss due to oxygen deprivation. This paper introduces DCTP-Net, Show more
Detecting early ischemic lesions (EIL) in computed tomography (CT) images is crucial for reducing diagnostic time and minimizing neuron loss due to oxygen deprivation. This paper introduces DCTP-Net, a dual-branch network for segmenting acute ischemic stroke lesions in CT images, consisting of a segmentation branch and a prompt-aware branch. The segmentation branch uses an encoder-decoder network as the backbone to identify lesions, where the encoder fuses CT image features with prompt features from the prompt-aware branch. To enhance semantic feature extraction and reduce the impact of cerebral structural details, we introduce a cross-collaboration dynamic connection (CCDC) module to link the encoder and decoder. The prompt-aware branch includes a learnable prompt (LP) block to incorporate cerebral prior knowledge, and the prompt-aware encoder (PAE) combines the LP block with multi-level features from the segmentation branch for more precise representation. Additionally, we propose a CLIP-enhance textual prompt (CETP) module that utilizes the CLIP text encoder to generate specialized convolutional parameters for the segmentation head. These parameters are tailored to the unique characteristics of each input image, improving segmentation performance. Qualitative and quantitative studies reveal that DCTP-Net outperforms the current state-of-the-art, IS-Net, with Dice score increases of 3.9% on AISD and 3.8% on ISLES2018, demonstrating its superiority in EIL segmentation. Show less
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play key roles in physiology and are central targets for drug discovery and development, yet the design of protein agonists and antagonists has been challenging as Show more
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play key roles in physiology and are central targets for drug discovery and development, yet the design of protein agonists and antagonists has been challenging as GPCRs are integral membrane proteins and conformationally dynamic. Here we describe computational Show less
While previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified multiple risk loci for suicide ideation (SI) and suicide attempt (SA), there is still a limited understanding of the genetic predisposi Show more
While previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified multiple risk loci for suicide ideation (SI) and suicide attempt (SA), there is still a limited understanding of the genetic predisposition underlying suicidal behaviors in diverse populations. This study aimed to conduct a large-scale investigation of the suicidality spectrum (SP) to generate new insights into its biology and epidemiology. Leveraging ancestrally diverse participants (SI N This study provides convergent genetic evidence for both shared and phenotype-specific components of suicidal behaviors and delineates their associated factors spanning from proximal clinical and behavioral traits to more distal social determinants. These findings refine our understanding of the etiology of suicidal behaviors and may inform targeted strategies for suicide prevention in both clinical and public health settings. Show less
The KIT/c-KIT proto-oncogene is frequently over-expressed in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), an aggressive skin cancer commonly caused by Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). Here, we demonstrated that trun Show more
The KIT/c-KIT proto-oncogene is frequently over-expressed in Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), an aggressive skin cancer commonly caused by Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). Here, we demonstrated that truncated MCPyV-encoded large T-antigen (LT) suppressed macroautophagy/autophagy by stabilizing and sequestering KIT in the paranuclear compartment via binding VPS39. KIT engaged with phosphorylated BECN1, thereby enhancing its association with BCL2 while diminishing its interaction with the PIK3C3 complex. This process ultimately resulted in the suppression of autophagy. Depletion of KIT triggered both autophagy and apoptosis, and decreased LT expression. Conversely, blocking autophagy in KIT-depleted cells restored LT levels and rescued apoptosis. Additionally, stimulating autophagy efficiently increased cell death and inhibited tumor growth of MCC xenografts in mice. These insights into the interplay between MCPyV LT and autophagy regulation reveal important mechanisms by which viral oncoproteins are essential for MCC cell viability. Thus, autophagy-inducing agents represent a therapeutic strategy in advanced MCPyV-associated MCC. Show less
Fish oil supplements (FOS) are known to alter circulating levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) but in a heterogeneous manner across individuals. These varied responses may result from unident Show more
Fish oil supplements (FOS) are known to alter circulating levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) but in a heterogeneous manner across individuals. These varied responses may result from unidentified gene-FOS interactions. To identify genetic factors that interact with FOS to alter the circulating levels of PUFAs, we performed a multi-level genome-wide interaction study (GWIS) of FOS on 14 plasma measurements in 200,060 unrelated European-ancestry individuals from the UK Biobank. From our single-variant tests, we identified genome-wide significant interacting SNPs (p < 5 × 10 Show less
Cancer is one of the major diseases threatening human health in the world. According to the latest global cancer statistics from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), there were appr Show more
Cancer is one of the major diseases threatening human health in the world. According to the latest global cancer statistics from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), there were approximately 20 million new cancer cases and 10 million cancer deaths worldwide. Amidst this global health concern, branched chain amino acids have emerged as key players, playing an important role in the occurrence and development of cancer. In certain malignancies like colorectal cancer, the average level of BCAA in tumor tissues is twice that in normal tissues. BCAA metabolism is intricately associated with the progression of multiple tumors and is modulated by diverse enzymes, including BCAT, BCKDH, and BCKDK. The metabolism of BCAA involves multiple enzymes and biochemical processes via signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR and AMPK/mTOR, etc. In addition, mTOR inhibitors show potential value in cancer treatment by regulating the metabolism and signaling pathways of tumor cells, which provides a new direction for anticancer efforts. Simultaneously, BCAAs are closely associated with tumor immunity, including NK cells, CD4 Show less