All forms of diabetes result from insufficient functional β-cell mass. Thus, achieving the therapeutic goal of expanding β-cell mass requires a better mechanistic understanding of how β-cells prolifer Show more
All forms of diabetes result from insufficient functional β-cell mass. Thus, achieving the therapeutic goal of expanding β-cell mass requires a better mechanistic understanding of how β-cells proliferate. Glucose is a natural β-cell mitogen that mediates its effects in part through the glucose-responsive transcription factor, carbohydrate response element binding protein (ChREBP) and the anabolic transcription factor, MYC. However, mechanistic details by which glucose activates Myc at the transcriptional level are poorly understood. Here, siRNA was used to test the role of ChREBP in the glucose response of MYC, ChIP and ChIPseq to identify potential regulatory binding sites, chromatin conformation capture to identify DNA/DNA interactions, and an adenovirus was constructed to expresses x-dCas9 and an sgRNA that specifically disrupts the recruitment of ChREBP to a specific targeted ChoRE. We found that ChREBP is essential for glucose-mediated transcriptional induction of Myc, and for increases in Myc mRNA and protein abundance. Further, ChIPseq revealed that the carbohydrate response element (ChoRE) nearest to the Myc transcriptional start site (TSS) is immediately upstream of the gene encoding the lncRNA, Pvt1, 60,000 bp downstream of the Myc gene. Chromatin Conformation Capture (3C) confirmed a glucose-dependent interaction between these two sites. Transduction with an adenovirus expressing x-dCas9 and an sgRNA specifically targeting the highly conserved Pvt1 ChoRE, attenuates ChREBP recruitment, decreases Myc-Pvt1 DNA/DNA interaction, and decreases expression of the Pvt1 and Myc genes in response to glucose. Importantly, isolated and dispersed rat islet cells transduced with the ChoRE-disrupting adenovirus also display specific decreases in ChREBP-dependent, glucose-mediated expression of Pvt1 and Myc, as well as decreased glucose-stimulated β-cell proliferation. The mitogenic glucose response of Myc is mediated via glucose-dependent recruitment of ChREBP to the promoter of the Pvt1 gene and subsequent DNA looping with the Myc promoter. Show less
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with the hallmark of aggregation of beta-amyloid (Aβ) into extracellular fibrillar deposition. Accumulating evidence suggests that s Show more
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with the hallmark of aggregation of beta-amyloid (Aβ) into extracellular fibrillar deposition. Accumulating evidence suggests that soluble toxic Aβ oligomers exert diverse roles in neuronal cell death, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and the eventual pathogenesis of AD. Aβ is derived from the sequential cleavage of amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) by β-secretase (BACE1) and γ-secretase. The current effect of single targeting is not ideal for the treatment of AD. Therefore, developing multipotent agents with multiple properties, including anti-Aβ generation and anti-Aβ aggregation, is attracting more attention for AD treatment. Previous studies indicated that Quercetin was able to attenuate the effects of several pathogenetic factors in AD. Here, we showed that naturally synthesized Quercetin-3-O-glc-1-3-rham-1-6-glucoside (YCC31) could inhibit Aβ production by reducing β-secretase activity. Further investigations indicated that YCC31 could suppress toxic Aβ oligomer formation by directly binding to Aβ. Moreover, YCC31 could attenuate Aβ-mediated neuronal death, ROS and NO production, and pro-inflammatory cytokines release. Taken together, YCC31 targeting multiple pathogenetic factors deserves further investigation for drug development of AD. Show less
Bis-chalcone compounds with symmetrical structures, either isolated from natural products or chemically synthesized, have multiple pharmacological activities. Asymmetric Bis-chalcone compounds have no Show more
Bis-chalcone compounds with symmetrical structures, either isolated from natural products or chemically synthesized, have multiple pharmacological activities. Asymmetric Bis-chalcone compounds have not been reported before, which might be attributed to the synthetic challenges involved, and it remains unknown whether these compounds possess any potential pharmacological activities. The aim of this study is to investigate the synthesis route of asymmetric bis-chalcone compounds and identify potential candidates with efficient anti-tumor activity. The two-step structural optimization of the bis-chalcone compounds was carried out sequentially, guided by the screening of the compounds for their growth inhibitory activity against gastric cancer cells by MTT assay. The QSAR model of compounds was established through random forest (RF) algorithm. The activities of the optimal compound J3 on growth inhibition, apoptosis, and apoptosis-inducing protein expression in gastric cancer cells were investigated sequentially by colony formation assay, flow cytometry, and western blotting. Further, the inhibitory effects of J3 on the FGFR1 signaling pathway were explored by Western Blotting, shRNA, and MTT assays. Finally, the 27 asymmetric bis-chalcone compounds, including two types (N and J) were sequentially designed and synthesized. Some N-class compounds have good inhibitory activity on the growth of gastric cancer cells. The vast majority of J-class compounds optimized on the basis of N3 exhibit excellent inhibitory activity on gastric cancer cell growth. We established a QSAR model (R In summary, this study outlines a viable method for the synthesis of novel asymmetric bischalcone compounds. Furthermore, the compound J3 demonstrates substantial promise as a potential candidate for an anti-tumor drug. Show less
It is crucial to understand the glucose control within our bodies. Bariatric/metabolic surgeries, including laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), provide an avenue Show more
It is crucial to understand the glucose control within our bodies. Bariatric/metabolic surgeries, including laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), provide an avenue for exploring the potential key factors involved in maintaining glucose homeostasis since these surgeries have shown promising results in improving glycemic control among patients with severe type 2 diabetes (T2D). For the first time, a markedly altered population of serum proteins in patients after LSG was discovered and analyzed through proteomics. Apolipoprotein A-IV (apoA-IV) was revealed to be increased dramatically in diabetic obese patients following LSG, and a similar effect was observed in patients after RYGB surgery. Moreover, recombinant apoA-IV protein treatment was proven to enhance insulin secretion in isolated human islets. These results showed that apoA-IV may play a crucial role in glycemic control in humans, potentially through enhancing insulin secretion in human islets. ApoA-IV was further shown to enhance energy expenditure and improve glucose tolerance in diabetic rodents, through stimulating glucose-dependent insulin secretion in pancreatic β cells, partially via Gαs-coupled GPCR/cAMP (G protein-coupled receptor/cyclic adenosine monophosphate) signaling. Furthermore, T55-121, truncated peptide 55-121 of apoA-IV, was discovered to mediate the function of apoA-IV. These collective findings contribute to our understanding of the relationship between apoA-IV and glycemic control, highlighting its potential as a biomarker or therapeutic target in managing and improving glucose regulation. Show less
To evaluate the potential of zinc finger protein 1 (ZPR1) as a diagnostic biomarker and explore the underlying role for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). A human proteome microarray was custo Show more
To evaluate the potential of zinc finger protein 1 (ZPR1) as a diagnostic biomarker and explore the underlying role for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). A human proteome microarray was customized to identify anti-ZPR1 autoantibody, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was adopted to assess the diagnostic performance of anti-ZPR1 autoantibody in 294 patients with ESCC and 294 normal controls. The expression of ZPR1 protein was measured by immunohistochemistry. The effect of ZPR1 on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ESCC cells was investigated through CCK-8, wound healing, and Transwell assays. The expression level of anti-ZPR1 autoantibody (fold change = 2.77) in ESCC patients was higher than that in normal controls. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis manifested anti-ZPR1 autoantibody achieved area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.726 and 0.734 to distinguish ESCC from normal controls with sensitivity of 50.0% and 42.3%, and specificity of 91.0% and 92.0% in the test group and validation group, respectively. The positive rate of ZPR1 protein was significantly higher in ESCC tissues (75.5%, 80/106) than paracancerous tissues (9.4%, 5/53). Compared with the human normal esophageal cell line, the expression level of ZPR1 mRNA and protein in ESCC lines (KYSE150, Eca109, and TE1) had an increased trend. The knockdown or overexpression of ZPR1 reduced and enhanced the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ESCC cell, respectively. ZPR1 was a potential immunodiagnostic biomarker for noninvasive detection and could be a promotional factor in tumor progression of ESCC. Show less
Chemotherapy is an important treatment option for advanced prostate cancer, especially for metastatic prostate cancer (PCa). Resistance to first-line chemotherapeutic drugs such as docetaxel often acc Show more
Chemotherapy is an important treatment option for advanced prostate cancer, especially for metastatic prostate cancer (PCa). Resistance to first-line chemotherapeutic drugs such as docetaxel often accompanies prostate cancer progression. Attempts to overcome resistance to docetaxel by combining docetaxel with other biological agents have been mostly unsuccessful. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying docetaxel resistance may provide new avenues for the treatment of advanced PCa. We have previously found that the fatty acid-binding protein 12 (FABP12)-PPARγ pathway modulates lipid-related bioenergetics and PCa metastatic transformation through induction of Slug, a master driver of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here, we report that the FABP12-Slug axis also underlies chemoresistance in PCa cells. Cell sensitivity to docetaxel is markedly suppressed in FABP12-expressing cells, along with induction of Survivin, a typical apoptosis inhibitor, and inhibition of cleaved PARP, a hallmark of programmed cell death. Importantly, Slug depletion down-regulates Survivin and restores cell sensitivity to docetaxel in FABP12-expressing cells. Finally, we also show that high levels of Survivin are associated with poor prognosis in PCa patients, with FABP12 status determining its prognostic significance. Our research identifies a FABP12-Slug-Survivin pathway driving docetaxel resistance in PCa cells, suggesting that targeting FABP12 may be a precision approach to improve chemodrug efficacy and curb metastatic progression in PCa. Show less
Interleukin-27 receptor (IL-27R) is expressed in a variety of immune cells and structural cells, including dendritic cells. The mechanism of IL-27 in asthma has not been fully elucidated. This study a Show more
Interleukin-27 receptor (IL-27R) is expressed in a variety of immune cells and structural cells, including dendritic cells. The mechanism of IL-27 in asthma has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to examine whether IL-27 regulated the CD39/ATP axis of dendritic cells in asthma. Our results showed that in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma mouse model, IL-27Rα Show less
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide that can lead to serious injury and death. Although polysaccharides are widely recognized as having antitumor activity, there has Show more
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide that can lead to serious injury and death. Although polysaccharides are widely recognized as having antitumor activity, there has been little research on the role of barley polysaccharides (BP) Show less
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly lethal malignancy with limited therapy options. Aberrant metabolism, a key hallmark of human cancers, plays a crucial role in tumor progression, therap Show more
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly lethal malignancy with limited therapy options. Aberrant metabolism, a key hallmark of human cancers, plays a crucial role in tumor progression, therapeutic responses and TNBC-related death. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we delineate a previously unrecognized role of aberrant glucose metabolism in regulating the turnover of Snail1, which is a key transcriptional factor of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and critically contributes to the acquisition of stemness, metastasis and chemo-resistance. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), when activated in response to glucose deprivation, directly phosphorylates Snail1 at Ser11. Such a phosphorylation modification of Snail1 facilitates its recruitment of the E3 ligase FBXO11 and promotes its degradation, thereby suppressing stemness, metastasis and increasing cellular sensitivity to chemotherapies in vitro and in vivo. Clinically, histological analyses reveal a negative correlation between p-AMPKα and Snail1 in TNBC specimens. Taken together, our findings establish a novel mechanism and functional significance of AMPK in linking glucose status to Snail1-dependent malignancies and underscore the potential of AMPK agonists as a promising therapeutic strategy in the management of TNBC. Show less
Infigratinib, an FGFR1-3 selective oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has shown clinical activity in cancers with FGFR alterations. The pharmacokinetics (PK) of infigratinib and its major metabolites hav Show more
Infigratinib, an FGFR1-3 selective oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has shown clinical activity in cancers with FGFR alterations. The pharmacokinetics (PK) of infigratinib and its major metabolites have been characterized in global populations. This study examined the PK profile of infigratinib and its metabolites in Chinese patients. In this phase II, open-label, single-arm study in China, patients with advanced gastric cancer (GC) or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (GEJ) harboring FGFR2 gene amplification received 125 mg infigratinib orally once daily in a "3 weeks on, 1 week off" schedule for 28-day cycles. Plasma PK parameters were calculated with a non-compartmental model. Data were available from 21 patients (19 GC and two GEJ). After a single dose, peak infigratinib plasma concentration was reached at a median time of 3.1 h, with geometric mean C Show less
Purinergic signaling plays a causal role in the modulation of immune inflammatory response in the course of psoriasis, but its regulatory mechanism remains unclear. As a member of purinoceptors, P2Y
W G Gan, X C Liu, F Liu · 2024 · Zhonghua er bi yan hou tou jing wai ke za zhi = Chinese journal of otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery · added 2026-04-24
This work clarified the positive effects of pullulan on dough structure and application properties varied with its molecular weight. Pullulan with different molecular weights were introduced into doug Show more
This work clarified the positive effects of pullulan on dough structure and application properties varied with its molecular weight. Pullulan with different molecular weights were introduced into dough system to explore their intervention effects on structural and technological properties of dough as well as physical and digestion properties of biscuits. Results showed that HPL (pullulan with molecule weight of 100- 300 kDa) could increase the intermolecular collisions, prompt the protein aggregation and limit the water migration in dough system, resulting in an integrate, continuous and dense network structure of the gel with strengthened elasticity and weakened extensibility, which caused an increase in biscuit thickness, hardness and crispness. On the contrary, LPL (pullulan with molecule weight of 3- 100 kDa) could go against the formation of stable and elastic dough through breaking down cross-linkage between protein and starch so as to provide biscuits with decreased hardness and crispness during baking. Both HPL and LPL delayed starch pasting and retrogradation process while HPL had the stronger retarding effect on starch digestibility of biscuits than LPL. These findings dedicated to a better understanding of pullulan function in dough system and provide suggestions for fractionation applications of pullulan in food field. Show less
The lion-head goose is the only large goose species in China, and it is one of the largest goose species in the world. Lion-head geese have a strong tolerance for massive energy intake and show a prio Show more
The lion-head goose is the only large goose species in China, and it is one of the largest goose species in the world. Lion-head geese have a strong tolerance for massive energy intake and show a priority of fat accumulation in liver tissue through special feeding. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the impact of high feed intake compared to normal feeding conditions on the transcriptome changes associated with fatty liver development in lion-head geese. In this study, 20 healthy adult lion-head geese were randomly assigned to a control group (CONTROL, n = 10) and high-intake-fed group (CASE, n = 10). After 38 d of treatment, all geese were sacrificed, and liver samples were collected. Three geese were randomly selected from the CONTROL and CASE groups, respectively, to perform whole-transcriptome analysis to analyze the key regulatory genes. We identified 716 differentially expressed mRNAs, 145 differentially expressed circRNAs, and 39 differentially expressed lncRNAs, including upregulated and downregulated genes. GO enrichment analysis showed that these genes were significantly enriched in molecular function. The node degree analysis and centrality metrics of the mRNA-lncRNA-circRNA triple regulatory network indicate the presence of crucial functional nodes in the network. We identified differentially expressed genes, including Show less
The kidding traits of goats are an important index of production. However, the molecular regulatory mechanisms of kidding traits in goats have not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigat Show more
The kidding traits of goats are an important index of production. However, the molecular regulatory mechanisms of kidding traits in goats have not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the molecular regulatory network of kidding traits in goats. Multi-omics revealed the enrichment of 10 signaling pathways, with fatty acid biosynthesis, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, and steroid hormone biosynthesis pathways being closely related to reproduction. Interestingly, the key rate-limiting enzymes, fatty acid synthase (FASN), stearoyl-CoA desaturase 5 (SCD5), fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase (3BHSD), and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STAR) enriched in these pathways regulate changes in reproduction-related metabolites. In interference experiments, it was observed that suppressing these key rate-limiting enzymes inhibited the expression of CYP19A1, ESR2, and FSHR. Furthermore, interference inhibited granulosa cell proliferation, caused cell cycle arrest, and promoted apoptosis. Thus, these results suggest that the specific markers of nanny goats with multiple kids are the key rate-limiting enzymes FASN, SCD5, FADS1, 3BHSD, and STAR. These findings may greatly enhance the understanding of regulatory mechanisms that govern goat parturition. Show less
Age at first egg (AFE) has consistently garnered interest as a crucial reproductive indicator within poultry production. Previous studies have elucidated the involvement of the hypothalamic-pituitary- Show more
Age at first egg (AFE) has consistently garnered interest as a crucial reproductive indicator within poultry production. Previous studies have elucidated the involvement of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axes in regulating poultry sexual maturity. Concurrently, there was evidence suggesting a potential co-regulatory relationship between these 2 axes. However, as of now, no comprehensive exploration of the key pathways and genes responsible for the crosstalk between the HPO and HPT axes in the regulation of AFE has been reported. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of morphological differences and performed transcriptomic analysis on the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, and ovarian stroma between normal laying group (NG) and abnormal laying group (AG). Morphological results showed that the thyroid index difference (D-) value (thyroid index D-value=right thyroid index-left thyroid index) was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the NG than in the AG, while the ovarian index was significantly (P < 0.01) higher in the NG than in the AG. Furthermore, between NG and AG, we identified 99, 415, 167, and 1182 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, and ovarian stroma, respectively. Gene ontology (GO) analysis highlighted that DEGs from 4 tissues were predominantly enriched in the "biological processes" category. Additionally, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed that 16, 14, 3, and 26 KEGG pathways were significantly enriched (P < 0.05) in the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, and ovarian stroma. The MAPK signaling pathway emerged as the sole enriched pathway across all 4 tissues. Employing an integrated analysis of the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and correlation analysis, we found GREB1 emerged as a pivotal component within the HPO axis to regulate estrogen-related signaling in the HPT axis, meanwhile, the HPT axis influenced ovarian development by regulating thyroid hormone-related signaling mainly through OPN5. Then, 10 potential candidate genes were identified, namely IGF1, JUN, ERBB4, KDR, PGF, FGFR1, GREB1, OPN5, DIO3, and THRB. These findings establish a foundation for elucidating the physiological and genetic mechanisms by which the HPO and HPT axes co-regulate goose AFE. Show less
The goat breeding industry on the Tibetan Plateau faces strong selection pressure to enhance fertility. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop goat lines with higher fertility and adaptabili Show more
The goat breeding industry on the Tibetan Plateau faces strong selection pressure to enhance fertility. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop goat lines with higher fertility and adaptability. The ovary, as a key organ determining reproductive performance, is regulated by a complex transcriptional network involving numerous protein-coding and non-coding genes. However, the molecular mechanisms of the key mRNA-miRNA-lncRNA regulatory network in goat ovaries remain largely unknown. This study focused on the histology and differential mRNA/miRNA/lncRNA between Chuanzhong black goat (CBG, high productivity, multiple births) and Tibetan goat (TG, strong adaptability, single birth) ovaries. Histomorphological analysis showed that the medulla proportion in CBG ovaries was significantly reduced compared to TG. RNA-Seq and small RNA-Seq analysis identified 1218 differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs, 100 DE miRNAs, and 326 DE lncRNAs, which were mainly enriched in ovarian steroidogenesis, oocyte meiosis, biosynthesis of amino acids and protein digestion, and absorption signaling pathways. Additionally, five key mRNA-miRNA-lncRNA interaction networks regulating goat reproductive performance were identified, including Show less
The leucine-rich repeat-containing (LRRC) superfamily members are known for their significant roles in tumorigenesis and cellular proliferation. However, the specific regulatory role of LRRC45 in lung Show more
The leucine-rich repeat-containing (LRRC) superfamily members are known for their significant roles in tumorigenesis and cellular proliferation. However, the specific regulatory role of LRRC45 in lung cancer remains unexplored. This study investigated the impact and underlying mechanisms of LRRC45 on the proliferative, migratory, and invasive capacities of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cells, potentially identifying new targets for therapeutic intervention. The importance of LRRC45 in lung cancer was analyzed using the online databases of UCSC Xena, TCGA, TISIDB, and UALCAN, whereas to detect target gene expression, we used the qRT-PCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence confocal. The cell growth was monitored by colony formation assay and migration was examined by cell migration assay. Finally, a xenograft mouse tumor model using A549 cells was used to explore the in vivo effect of LRRC45 in lung cancer. Inhibition of LRRC45 expression led to a notable decrease in proliferation, migration, and invasion of A549 and H1299 cells. LRRC45 silencing significantly reduced the tumor volume and improved the mice's survival. Additionally, inhibition of LRRC45 expression dramatically suppressed c-MYC, Slug, MMP2, and MMP9 expression. Overexpression of c-MYC and/or Slug in the LRRC45-deficient cells can partially or totally restore the LRRC45 deficiency-suppressed growth. Moreover, the overexpression of MMP2 and/or MMP9 could partially or totally restore LRRC45 deficiency-reduced cell metastasis. LRRC45 could promote the proliferative, migrative, and invasive capacities of lung cancer cells by increasing c-MYC, Slug, MMP2, and MMP9 expression, indicating the therapeutic implications and potential significance of these pathways in lung cancer. Show less
Gegensan (GGS) has been reported for the treatment of alcoholic liver disease (ALD), but its therapeutic mechanism is still unclear. This paper aims to determine the therapeutic mechanism and targets Show more
Gegensan (GGS) has been reported for the treatment of alcoholic liver disease (ALD), but its therapeutic mechanism is still unclear. This paper aims to determine the therapeutic mechanism and targets of action of GGS on alcoholic liver disease utilizing network pharmacology and bioinformatics. The active ingredients in GGS were screened in the literature and databases, and common targets of ALD were then obtained from public databases to construct the network diagram of traditional Chinese medicine-active ingredient targets. Based on the common targets, Gene Ontology enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis were performed to find target enrichment pathways, and the core targets were screened out by combining differential analysis and protein-protein interaction network analysis. Molecular docking was performed to verify the binding effect between the core targets and the corresponding active ingredients. ALD and GGS have 84 common targets, corresponding to 91 active ingredients. After subsequent differential analysis and protein-protein interaction network analysis, 10 core targets were identified. Gene Ontology and KEGG enrichment analyses showed that the main BPs corresponding to the common targets included the response to lipopolysaccharide, inflammatory response, etc. The KEGG pathways involved in the regulation of the common targets included the lipid-atherosclerosis pathway and the alcoholic liver disease pathway, etc. Further molecular docking showed that the core targets CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CXCL8, ADH1C, MMP1, SERPINE1, COL1A1, APOB, MMP1, and their corresponding 4 active ingredients, Naringenin, Kaempferol, Quercetin, and Stigmasterol, have a greater docking potential. The above results suggest that GGS can regulate lipid metabolism and inflammatory response in the ALD process, and alleviate the lipid accumulation and oxidative stress caused by ethanol. This study analyzed the core targets and mechanisms of action of GGS on ALD, which provides certain theoretical support for the further development of GGS in the treatment of ALD, and provides a reference for the subsequent research on the treatment of ALD. Show less
Synergistic therapy has shown greater advantages compared with monotherapy. However, the complex multiple-administration plan and potential side effects limit its clinical application. A transformable Show more
Synergistic therapy has shown greater advantages compared with monotherapy. However, the complex multiple-administration plan and potential side effects limit its clinical application. A transformable specific-responsive peptide (TSRP) is utilized to one-step achieve synergistic therapy integrating anti-tumor, anti-angiogenesis and immune response. The TSRP is composed of: i) Recognition unit could specifically target and inhibit the biological function of FGFR-1; ii) Transformable unit could self-assembly and trigger nanofibers formation; iii) Reactive unit could specifically cleaved by MMP-2/9 in tumor micro-environment; iv) Immune unit, stimulate the release of immune cells when LTX-315 (Immune-associated oncolytic peptide) exposed. Once its binding to FGFR-1, the TSRP could cleaved by MMP-2/9 to form the nanofibers on the cell membrane, with a retention time of up to 12 h. Through suppressing the phosphorylation levels of ERK 1/2 and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways downstream of FGFR-1, the TSRP significant inhibit the growth of tumor cells and the formation of angioginesis. Furthermore, LTX-315 is exposed after TSRP cleavage, resulting in Calreticulin activation and CD8 Show less
To facilitate inter-tissue communication and the exchange of proteins, lipoproteins, and metabolites with the circulation, hepatocytes have an intricate and efficient intracellular trafficking system Show more
To facilitate inter-tissue communication and the exchange of proteins, lipoproteins, and metabolites with the circulation, hepatocytes have an intricate and efficient intracellular trafficking system regulated by small Rab GTPases. Here, we show that Rab30 is induced in the mouse liver by fasting, which is amplified in liver-specific carnitine palmitoyltransferase 2 knockout mice (Cpt2 Show less
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignancy in which plasma cells proliferate abnormally, and it remains incurable. The cells are characterized by high levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and depen Show more
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignancy in which plasma cells proliferate abnormally, and it remains incurable. The cells are characterized by high levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and depend on the ERS response for survival. Thus, we aim to find an ERS-related signature of MM and assess its diagnostic value. We downloaded three datasets of MM from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. After identifying ERS-related differentially expressed genes (ERDEGs), we analyzed them using Gene Ontology enrichment analysis. A protein-protein interaction network, a transcription factor-mRNA network, a miRNA-mRNA network and a drug-mRNA network were constructed to explore the ERDEGs. The clinical application of these genes was identified by calculating the infiltration of immune cells and using receiver operating characteistic analyses. Finally, qPCR was performed to further confirm the roles of ERDEGs. We obtained nine ERDEGs of MM. Gene Ontology enrichment indicated that the ERDEGs played a role in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Additionally, the protein-protein interaction network showed interaction among the ERDEGs, and there were 20 proteins, 107 transcription factors, 42 drugs or molecular compounds and 51 miRNAs which were likely to interact with the nine genes. In addition, immune cell infiltration analyses showed that there was a strong correlation between the nine genes and immune cells, and these potential biomarkers exhibited good diagnostic values. Finally, the expression of ERDEGs in MM cells was different from that in healthy donor samples. The nine ERS-related genes, CR2, DHCR7, DNAJC3, KDELR2, LPL, OSBPL3, PINK1, VCAM1 and XBP1 are potential biomarkers of MM, and this supports further clinical development of the diagnosis and treatment of MM. Show less
The search for DNA polymorphisms useful for the genetic improvement of dairy farm animals has spanned more than 40 years, yielding relevant findings in cattle for milk traits, where the best combinati Show more
The search for DNA polymorphisms useful for the genetic improvement of dairy farm animals has spanned more than 40 years, yielding relevant findings in cattle for milk traits, where the best combination of alleles for dairy processing has been found in casein genes and in Show less
A dysfunction of human host genes and proteins in coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a key factor impacting clinic Show more
A dysfunction of human host genes and proteins in coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a key factor impacting clinical symptoms and outcomes. Yet, a detailed understanding of human host immune responses is still incomplete. Here, we applied RNA sequencing to 94 samples of COVID-19 patients with and without hematological tumors as well as COVID-19 uninfected non-tumor individuals to obtain a comprehensive transcriptome landscape of both hematological tumor patients and non-tumor individuals. In our analysis, we further accounted for the human-SARS-CoV-2 protein interactome, human protein interactome, and human protein complex subnetworks to understand the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection and host immune responses. Our data sets enabled us to identify important SARS-CoV-2 (non-)targeted differentially expressed genes and complexes post-SARS-CoV-2 infection in both hematological tumor and non-tumor individuals. We found several unique differentially expressed genes, complexes, and functions/pathways such as blood coagulation (APOE, SERPINE1, SERPINE2, and TFPI), lipoprotein particle remodeling (APOC2, APOE, and CETP), and pro-B cell differentiation (IGHM, VPREB1, and IGLL1) during COVID-19 infection in patients with hematological tumors. In particular, APOE, a gene that is associated with both blood coagulation and lipoprotein particle remodeling, is not only upregulated in hematological tumor patients post-SARS-CoV-2 infection but also significantly expressed in acute dead patients with hematological tumors, providing clues for the design of future therapeutic strategies specifically targeting COVID-19 in patients with hematological tumors. Our data provide a rich resource for understanding the specific pathogenesis of COVID-19 in immunocompromised patients, such as those with hematological malignancies, and developing effective therapeutics for COVID-19. A majority of previous studies focused on the characterization of coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease severity in people with normal immunity, while the characterization of COVID-19 in immunocompromised populations is still limited. Our study profiles changes in the transcriptome landscape post-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in hematological tumor patients and non-tumor individuals. Furthermore, our integrative and comparative systems biology analysis of the interactome, complexome, and transcriptome provides new insights into the tumor-specific pathogenesis of COVID-19. Our findings confirm that SARS-CoV-2 potentially tends to target more non-functional host proteins to indirectly affect host immune responses in hematological tumor patients. The identified unique genes, complexes, functions/pathways, and expression patterns post-SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with hematological tumors increase our understanding of how SARS-CoV-2 manipulates the host molecular mechanism. Our observed differential genes/complexes and clinical indicators of normal/long infection and deceased COVID-19 patients provide clues for understanding the mechanism of COVID-19 progression in hematological tumors. Finally, our study provides an important data resource that supports the increasing value of the application of publicly accessible data sets to public health. Show less
The PICALM::MLLT10 fusion is a rare but recurrent cytogenetic abnormality in acute leukemia, with limited clinicopathologic and outcome data available. Herein, we analyzed 156 acute leukemia patients Show more
The PICALM::MLLT10 fusion is a rare but recurrent cytogenetic abnormality in acute leukemia, with limited clinicopathologic and outcome data available. Herein, we analyzed 156 acute leukemia patients with PICALM::MLLT10 fusion, including 12 patients from our institutions and 144 patients from the literature. The PICALM::MLLT10 fusion preferentially manifested in pediatric and young adult patients, with a median age of 24 years. T-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (T-ALL) constituted 65% of cases, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) 27%, and acute leukemia of ambiguous lineage (ALAL) 8%. About half of T-ALL were classified as an early T-precursor (ETP)-ALL. In our institutions' cohort, mediastinum was the most common extramedullary site of involvement. Eight of 12 patients were diagnosed with T-ALL exhibiting a pro-/pre-T stage phenotype (CD4/CD8-double negative, CD7-positive), and frequent CD79a expression. NGS revealed pathogenic mutations in 5 of 6 tested cases, including NOTCH1, and genes in RAS and JAK-STAT pathways and epigenetic modifiers. Of 138 cases with follow-up, pediatric patients (<18 years) had 5-year overall survival (OS) of 71%, significantly better than adults at 33%. The 5-year OS for AML patients was 25%, notably shorter than T-ALL patients at 54%; this distinction was observed in both pediatric and adult populations. Furthermore, adult but not pediatric ETP-ALL patients demonstrated inferior survival compared to non-ETP-ALL patients. Neither karyotype complexity nor transplant status had a discernible impact on OS. In conclusion, PICALM::MLLT10 fusion is most commonly seen in T-ALL patients, particularly those with an ETP phenotype. AML and adult ETP-ALL patients had adverse prognosis. PICALM::MLTT10 fusion testing should be considered in T-ALL, AML, and ALAL patients. Show less
The profile of autoantibodies is dysregulated in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Autoantibodies to beta-site amyloid precursor protein (APP)-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) are present in human bloo Show more
The profile of autoantibodies is dysregulated in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Autoantibodies to beta-site amyloid precursor protein (APP)-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) are present in human blood. This study aims to investigate the clinical relevance and pathophysiological roles of autoantibodies to BACE1 in AD. Clinical investigations were conducted in two independent cohorts, the Chongqing cohort, and the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers, and Lifestyle (AIBL) cohort. The Chongqing cohort included 55 AD patients, 28 patients with non-AD dementia, and 70 cognitively normal subjects (CN). The AIBL cohort included 162 Aβ-PET Show less
High-grade serous tubo-ovarian cancer (HGSTOC) is an aggressive gynecological malignancy including homologous recombination deficient (HRD) and homologous recombination proficient (HRP) groups. Despit Show more
High-grade serous tubo-ovarian cancer (HGSTOC) is an aggressive gynecological malignancy including homologous recombination deficient (HRD) and homologous recombination proficient (HRP) groups. Despite the therapeutic potential of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPis) and anti-PDCD1 antibodies, acquired resistance in HRD and suboptimal response in HRP patients necessitate more precise treatment. Herein, single-cell RNA and single-cell T-cell receptor sequencing on 5 HRD and 3 HRP tumors are performed to decipher the heterogeneous tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), along with multiplex immunohistochemistry staining and animal experiments for validation. HRD tumors are enriched with immunogenic epithelial cells, FGFR1+PDGFRβ+ myCAFs, M1 macrophages, tumor reactive CD8+/CD4+ Tregs, whereas HRP tumors are enriched with HDAC1-expressing epithelial cells, indolent CAFs, M2 macrophages, and bystander CD4+/CD8+ T cells. Significantly, customized therapies are proposed. For HRD patients, targeting FGFR1+PDGFRβ+ myCAFs via tyrosine kinase inhibitors, targeting Tregs via anti-CCR8 antibodies/TNFRSF4 stimulation, and targeting CXCL13+ exhausted T cells by blocking PDCD1/CTLA-4/LAG-3/TIGIT are proposed. For HRP patients, targeting indolent CAFs, targeting M2 macrophages via CSF-1/CSF-1R inhibitors, targeting bystander T cells via tumor vaccines, and targeting epithelial cells via HDAC inhibitors. The study provides comprehensive insights into HRD and HRP TIME and tailored therapeutic approaches, addressing the challenges of PARPi-resistant HRD and refractory HRP tumors. Show less
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is a promising therapeutic target for cardiovascular diseases. It effectively lowers the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and increases the high-den Show more
Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is a promising therapeutic target for cardiovascular diseases. It effectively lowers the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and increases the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the human plasma. This study identified novel and highly potent CETP inhibitors using virtual screening techniques. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations revealed the binding patterns of these inhibitors, with the top 50 compounds selected according to their predicted binding affinity. Protein-ligand interaction analyses were performed, leading to the selection of 26 compounds for further evaluation. A CETP inhibition assay confirmed the inhibitory activities of the selected compounds. The results of the MD simulations revealed the structural stability of the protein-ligand complexes, with the binding site remaining significantly unchanged, indicating that the five compounds (AK-968/40709303, AG-690/11820117, AO-081/41378586, AK-968/12713193, and AN-465/14952302) identified have the potential as active CETP inhibitors and are promising leads for drug development. Show less
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a prominent cause of liver-related death that poses a threat to global health and is characterized by severe hepatic steatosis, lobular inflammation, and balloon Show more
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a prominent cause of liver-related death that poses a threat to global health and is characterized by severe hepatic steatosis, lobular inflammation, and ballooning degeneration. To date, no Food and Drug Administration-approved medicine is commercially available. The Chaihu Guizhi Ganjiang Decoction (CGGD) shows potential curative effects on regulation of blood lipids and blood glucose, mitigation of organism inflammation, and amelioration of hepatic function. However, the overall regulatory mechanisms underlying its effects on NASH remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the efficiency of CGGD on methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD)-induced NASH and unravel its underlying mechanisms. A NASH model of SD rats was established using an MCD diet for 8 weeks, and the efficacy of CGGD was evaluated based on hepatic lipid accumulation, inflammatory response, and fibrosis. The effects of CGGD on the intestinal barrier, metabolic profile, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) profile were analyzed by integrating gut microbiota, metabolomics, and transcriptome sequencing to elucidate its mechanisms of action. In MCD-induced NASH rats, pathological staining demonstrated that CGGD alleviated lipid accumulation, inflammatory cell infiltration, and fibrosis in the hepatic tissue. After CGGD administration, liver index, liver weight, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) contents, liver triglycerides (TG), and free fatty acids (FFAs) were decreased, meanwhile, it down-regulated the level of proinflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, MCP-1), and up-regulated the level of anti-inflammatory factors (IL-4, IL-10), and the expression of liver fibrosis markers TGFβ, Acta2, Col1a1 and Col1a2 were weakened. Mechanistically, CGGD treatment altered the diversity of intestinal flora, as evidenced by the depletion of Allobaculum, Blautia, norank_f_Erysipelotrichaceae, and enrichment of the probiotic genera Roseburia, Lactobacillus, Lachnoclostridium, etc. The colonic histopathological results indicated that the gut barrier damage recovered in the CGGD treatment group, and the expression levels of colonic short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-specific receptors FFAR2, FFAR3, and tight junction (TJs) proteins ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin-1 were increased compared with those in the model group. Further metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses suggested that CGGD mitigated the lipotoxicity caused by glycerophospholipid and eicosanoid metabolism disorders by decreasing the levels of PLA2G4A, LPCAT1, COX2, and LOX5. In addition, CGGD could activate the inhibitory lipotoxic transcription factor PPARα, regulate the proteins of FABP1, APOC2, APOA2, and LPL to promote fatty acid catabolism, and suppress the TLR4/MyD88/NFκB pathway to attenuate NASH. Our study demonstrated that CGGD improved steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis on NASH through enhancing intestinal barrier integrity and alleviating PPARα mediated lipotoxicity, which makes it an attractive candidate for potential new strategies for NASH prevention and treatment. Show less