Genomics, Proteomics & Bioinformatics•2024•DOI: 10.1093/gpb/art_1118
Despite the success of antiretroviral therapy, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cannot be cured because of a reservoir of latently infected cells that evades therapy. To understand the mechanisms of HIV latency, we employed an integrated single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and single-cell assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing (scATAC-seq) approach to simultaneously profile the transcriptomic and epigenomic characteristics of ~125,000 latently infected primary CD4+ T cells after reactivation using three different latency reversing agents. Differentially expressed genes and differentially accessible motifs were used to examine transcriptional pathways and transcription factor (TF) activities across the cell population. We identified cellular transcripts and TFs whose expression/activity was correlated with viral reactivation and demonstrated that a machine learning model trained on these data was 75%–79% accurate at predicting viral reactivation. Finally, we validated the role of two candidate HIV-regulating factors, FOXP1 and GATA3, in viral transcription. These data demonstrate the power of integrated multimodal single-cell analysis to uncover novel relationships between host cell factors and HIV latency.
Genomics, Proteomics & Bioinformatics•2024•DOI: 10.1093/gpbjnl/qzad003
The monkeypox virus (mpox virus, MPXV) epidemic in 2022 has posed a significant public health risk. Yet, the evolutionary principles of MPXV remain largely unknown. Here, we examined the evolutionary patterns of protein sequences and codon usage in MPXV. We first demonstrated the signal of positive selection in OPG027, specifically in the Clade I lineage of MPXV. Subsequently, we discovered accelerated protein sequence evolution over time in the variants responsible for the 2022 outbreak. Furthermore, we showed strong epistasis between amino acid substitutions located in different genes. The codon adaptation index (CAI) analysis revealed that MPXV genes tended to use more non-preferred codons compared to human genes, and the CAI decreased over time and diverged between clades, with Clade I > IIa and IIb-A > IIb-B. While the decrease in fatality rate among the three groups aligned with the CAI pattern, it remains unclear whether this correlation was coincidental or if the deoptimization of codon usage in MPXV led to a reduction in fatality rates. This study sheds new light on the mechanisms that govern the evolution of MPXV in human populations.
Genomics, Proteomics & Bioinformatics•2024•DOI: 10.1093/gpb/art_1126
Since its establishment in 2013, BioLiP has become one of the widely used resources for protein–ligand interactions. Nevertheless, several known issues occurred with it over the past decade. For example, the protein–ligand interactions are represented in the form of single chain-based tertiary structures, which may be inappropriate as many interactions involve multiple protein chains (known as quaternary structures). We sought to address these issues, resulting in Q-BioLiP, a comprehensive resource for quaternary structure-based protein–ligand interactions. The major features of Q-BioLiP include: (1) representing protein structures in the form of quaternary structures rather than single chain-based tertiary structures; (2) pairing DNA/RNA chains properly rather than separation; (3) providing both experimental and predicted binding affinities; (4) retaining both biologically relevant and irrelevant interactions to alleviate the wrong justification of ligands’ biological relevance; and (5) developing a new quaternary structure-based algorithm for the modelling of protein–ligand complex structure. With these new features, Q-BioLiP is expected to be a valuable resource for studying biomolecule interactions, including protein–small molecule interaction, protein–metal ion interaction, protein–peptide interaction, protein–protein interaction, protein–DNA/RNA interaction, and RNA–small molecule interaction. Q-BioLiP is freely available at https://yanglab.qd.sdu.edu.cn/Q-BioLiP/.
Genomics, Proteomics & Bioinformatics•2024•DOI: 10.1093/gpbjnl/qzae037
This is a correction to: Feng Xu, Yifan Wang, Yunchao Ling, Chenfen Zhou, Haizhou Wang, Andrew E. Teschendorff, Yi Zhao, Haitao Zhao, Yungang He, Guoqing Zhang, Zhen Yang, dbDEMC 3.0: Functional Exploration of Differentially Expressed miRNAs in Cancers of Human and Model Organisms, Genomics, Proteomics & Bioinformatics, Volume 20, Issue 3, June 2022, Pages 446–454, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gpb.2022.04.006. The published version of this manuscript contained errors in the author affiliation listings. The corrected affiliations are as follows: Feng Xu1,#, Yifan Wang2,#, Yunchao Ling2, Chenfen Zhou2, Haizhou Wang1, Andrew E. Teschendorff3, Yi Zhao4, Haitao Zhao5, Yungang He6,*, Guoqing Zhang2,*, Zhen Yang1,* 1 Center for Medical Research and Innovation of Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism (Ministry of Science and Technology), Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China 2 Bio-Med Big Data Center, CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China 3 CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China 4 Institute of Computing Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China 5 Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China 6 Shanghai Fifth People’s Hospital, and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism (Ministry of Science and Technology), Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China These details have been corrected only in this correction notice to preserve the published version of record.
Stem Cell Research & Therapy•2026•DOI: 10.1186/s13287-026-04903-y
Background Acute lung injury/Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) is a life-threatening inflammatory lung disorder characterized by high mortality rates and a lack of effective treatment options. Although mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapies have emerged as a promising approach for ARDS management, optimizing their therapeutic efficacy remains a significant challenge. Recent advances in gene modification techniques have opened new avenues for enhancing MSC functionality. Among these, Fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 (Fndc5)/irisin has attracted considerable attention due to its ability to improve endothelial function. This study aims to evaluate the therapeutic potential of Fndc5-modified MSCs in sepsis-induced ALI/ARDS and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms driving their protective effects. Methods To comprehensively evaluate the therapeutic potential of Fndc5-modified MSCs (MSCs-Fndc5) in ARDS, we employed both in vivo and in vitro experimental models. In vivo, a mouse model of sepsis-induced ALI was established through intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the protective effects of MSCs-Fndc5 were systematically assessed by analyzing lung histopathology, inflammatory cytokine levels, vascular endothelial integrity, lung wet-to-dry weight ratio, and MSC retention in lung tissue. In parallel, in vitro studies were conducted to investigate the role of MSCs-Fndc5 in mitigating LPS-induced endothelial cell (EC) injury, with a focus on EC proliferation, angiogenesis, barrier permeability, apoptosis, and the regulation of key signaling pathways. Results Fndc5 modification significantly increased the retention rate of MSCs in sepsis-induced ALI murine model while augmenting their in vitro proliferation and migration potential. In vivo, treatment with Fndc5-modified MSCs markedly attenuated lung inflammation, as evidenced by reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, decreased neutrophil infiltration, and improved lung histopathology. Additionally, MSCs-Fndc5 alleviated pulmonary edema, reduced fibrosis, lowered the lung wet-to-dry weight ratio, and preserved vascular endothelial integrity. In vitro, Fndc5 modification optimizes the therapeutic effect of rat MSCs on sepsis-induced ALI/ARDS via activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
Stem Cell Research & Therapy•2026•DOI: 10.1186/s13287-026-05026-0
Background Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a progressive orthopedic disorder that often culminates in femoral head collapse and joint failure. Dysfunction of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), including impaired osteogenesis, enhanced adipogenesis, and mitochondrial dysfunction, has been increasingly recognized as a central driver of ONFH pathogenesis. However, the molecular mechanisms linking metabolic stress to lineage imbalance remain poorly defined.
Methods Paired BMSCs were isolated from necrotic femoral head regions (fhBMSCs) and the iliac crest (iBMSCs) of ONFH patients. Functional assays, RNA sequencing, and molecular analyses were performed to evaluate the effects of the hypoxia mimetic dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG) on osteogenic–adipogenic balance, mitochondrial function, and senescence. Loss-of-function experiments targeting hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and Homer3 were conducted to elucidate mechanistic pathways.
Results Compared with iBMSCs, fhBMSCs exhibited impaired osteogenesis, enhanced adipogenesis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and increased senescence. DMOG pretreatment restored osteogenic differentiation, suppressed adipogenesis, improved mitochondrial dynamics, reduced oxidative stress, and enhanced bioenergetic metabolism. These protective effects were dependent on HIF-1α stabilization. Transcriptomic profiling identified Homer3 as a downstream negative regulator of HIF-1α. Homer3 was aberrantly upregulated in fhBMSCs but suppressed by DMOG, and its knockdown mimicked the effects of DMOG by promoting osteogenesis, inhibiting adipogenesis, enhancing mitophagy, and restoring mitochondrial function. Conversely, silencing HIF-1α abolished DMOG-mediated benefits and reinstated Homer3 expression.
Stem Cell Research & Therapy•2026•DOI: 10.1186/s13287-026-05066-6
Background Inadequate vascularization remains a major limitation in tissue engineering, often leading to graft failure due to limited oxygen and nutrient supply. Prevascularization, the formation of microvascular networks within scaffolds before implantation, aims to accelerate perfusion and improve graft integration. We developed bilayer electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone)/poly(l-lactide) (PCL/PLA) scaffolds prevascularized by co-culture of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) and human placental arterial endothelial cells (HPAECs). Methods AD-MSCs were isolated from lipoaspirates and characterized by flow cytometry and functional assays. Bilayered PCL/PLA scaffolds were engineered with a wide-meshed layer for cell infiltration and a fine-meshed layer for mechanical stability. Scaffolds were seeded with AD-MSCs, HPAECs, or both (co-culture). Cell viability, adhesion, and apoptosis were analyzed histologically. Angiogenic and vasculogenic potential was evaluated in vitro and in vivo using the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. Results AD-MSCs expressed characteristic markers, demonstrated adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation, and promoted angiogenesis in 2D co-culture. ELISA analyses indicated dynamic secretion of VEGF, HGF, and bFGF, reflecting both paracrine and contact-dependent AD-MSC–HPAEC interactions. On scaffolds, cells primarily adhered to the wide-meshed layer. Co-culture induced vessel-like structures within a multicellular stromal environment; monocultures did not support prevascularization. Five days post-implantation, prevascularized scaffolds exhibited human microvessels at the scaffold–CAM interface and in adjacent tissue, closely associated with AD-MSCs and containing chicken erythrocytes—indicating successful anastomosis and functional perfusion. Quantitative analysis showed a significant increase in vessel branching points in the host CAM tissue in response to AD-MSC-only (2.8-fold)
Stem Cell Research & Therapy•2025•DOI: 10.1186/s13287-025-04474-4
Background: Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells (HSPCs) gene therapy has shown significant progress, with commercial approval for at least four distinct haematological disorders, and poised for a rapid expansion in the upcoming years. Despite these advancements, the ex vivo culture of HSPCs continues to present significant challenges. The stress induced by ex vivo culture can negatively impact transplantation outcomes, while the need for exogenous cytokine supplementation contributes to the high costs associated with gene therapy products. Methods: We developed genetically modified human bone marrow MSCs (GM-MSCs) secreting cytokines such as Stem cell factor (SCF), Thrombopoietin (TPO), FMS-like tyrosine kinase-3-ligand (FLT3L), and Interleukin-3 (IL3), closely resembling bone marrow cellular niche to augment HSPCs culture. Results: HSPCs proliferate on GM-MSCs akin to standard conditions, devoid of external cytokine supplementation and these HSPCs retain their stem cell characteristics, colony-forming potential, stemness gene signatures, and capacity for long-term multilineage reconstitution in NBSGW mice. We demonstrate that our biomimetic feeder layer supports and alleviates stress associated with Homology Directed Repair (HDR) mediated gene-editing of HSPCs for fetal haemoglobin reactivation for a potential application in β-hemoglobinopathies gene therapy. Conclusion: Our GM-MSCs offer a compelling alternative to traditional cytokine supplementation by establishing a biomimetic bone marrow niche that fosters HSPC expansion while maintaining their stemness. These findings underscore the potential of engineered MSCs to revolutionize ex vivo HSPCs culture, ultimately enhancing their therapeutic value for gene therapy applications.
Stem Cell Research & Therapy•2025•DOI: 10.1186/s13287-025-04578-x
Background Genomic studies have linked single nucleotide variants in the enhancer region of the leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (Lifr) gene to chromatin accessibility and the regulation of self-renewal in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigates the role of the transcription factor BTB and CNC homology 1 (BACH1) in regulating the Lifr enhancer and its impact on mESC pluripotency. Methods We performed RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) to assess the impact of Bach1 knockout on gene expression in mESCs. Additionally, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP), and luciferase reporter gene analysis were employed to investigate the mechanism by which BACH1 regulates Lifr expression. Results Genomic analyses identified BACH1 binding at the Lifr enhancer proximal to rs50454566 in mESCs. Integrated single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data revealed co-upregulation of Bach1 and Lifr in inner cell mass (ICM) cells. RNA-seq analyses demonstrated that Bach1 depletion attenuated Lifr expression and impeded LIFR-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling. Mechanistically, BACH1 recruited STAT3 to the Lifr enhancer, driving Lifr transcription and facilitating the LIFR-STAT3 signaling pathway, thereby enhancing mESC self-renewal. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that BACH1 enhances Lifr enhancer activity by recruiting STAT3 and activates the LIFR-STAT3 signaling pathway by promoting the LIFR expression, thereby maintaining mESC self-renewal.
Stem Cell Research & Therapy•2026•DOI: 10.1186/s13287-025-04851-z
Background Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease driven by inflammation and oxidative stress. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown protective effects against hyperoxic lung injury. However, few studies have thoroughly examined the significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the lungs before and after MSC treatment. In this study, we analyzed the significant DEGs in lung tissues during both in vivo and vitro umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs)-mediated repair of hyperoxic lung injury and investigated their potential mechanisms of action. Methods Neonatal rats were exposed to hyperoxia and subsequently treated with UCMSCs. Inflammatory responses were quantified via ELISA and RT‒qPCR, while Western blotting (WB) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to examine NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1β expression. Transcriptomic analysis of UCMSC-mediated lung repair revealed 46 DEGs, which were validated by RT‒qPCR, and WB verified the significant differential expression of ALDH1A2. In RLE-6TN cells, Aldh1a2 expression was reduced during MSC-mediated repair of H2O2-induced oxidative stress injury. Functional evaluations were performed. WB further analyzed NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1β expression in these processes. A recombinant adenoviral overexpression vector was intratracheally administered to hyperoxia-exposed neonatal rats. Arterial blood gas and RT‒qPCR were performed, and ELISA, WB, and IHC were used to evaluate the impact of Aldh1a2 overexpression on lung inflammation and oxidative stress, focusing on the NLRP3 inflammasome. Results UCMSCs ameliorated hyperoxia-induced alveolar simplification and microvessel loss, reduced inflammation and oxidative stress injury, and inhibited the expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome. RT‒qPCR and WB analyses revealed significant differential expression of Aldh1a2 in UCMSC-treated hyperoxia-induced lung injury. UCMSCs also mitigated H2O2-induced oxidative stress injury in RLE-6TN cells. Inhibition of Aldh1a2 expression exacerbated oxidative stress, upregulated NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1β expression, and impaired the reparative effects of UCMSCs. Conversely, Aldh1a2 overexpression or UCMSC intervention ameliorated hyperoxia-induced alveolar simplification and microvascular abnormalities, suppressed inflammation, and enhanced lung ventilation and angiogenesis. These findings indicated that Aldh1a2 overexpression inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation and IL-1β release. Conclusions Aldh1a2 was significantly differentially expressed in UCMSC-mediated repair of hyperoxic lung injury, and its overexpression ameliorates BPD by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation, suggesting a novel therapeutic target for BPD.
Stem Cell Research & Therapy•2025•DOI: 10.1186/s13287-025-04806-4
Background The human umbilical cord (hUC)–mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) secretome (SCT) is a cell-free therapy that may emerge as a novel therapeutic strategy for hair loss prevention. Here, we aimed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms through which SCT regulates hair growth and cycle transition. Methods Using C57BL/6 mice, ex vivo follicles, and cell experiments, we studied the effects and mechanisms of SCT on hair growth and cycling using untargeted metabolomics and phosphoproteomics. A three-month double-blind clinical study was conducted to validate the effects of SCT on human hair. Results SCT promotes the telogen-to-anagen transition, hair thickening, and elongation of the vibrissae in mice; regulates dermal papilla cells and hair matrix cells through cysteine and methionine metabolism; and stimulates methylthioadenosine synthesis in hair matrix cells by activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Clinical studies demonstrated that SCT increased human hair density and average hair diameter. Scalp physiological tests and subjective feedback indicated no related adverse reactions on the scalp or hair. Conclusions SCT promoted hair growth, thickening, and the hair follicle cycle via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. This research provides a basis for the application of cell-free alternatives in hair care and hair loss prevention.
Stem Cell Research & Therapy•2025•DOI: 10.1186/s13287-025-04560-7
The rising prevalence of alopecia poses a significant challenge for both clinicians and researchers. As the global incidence of hair loss continues to increase, research into hair biology and regenerative mechanisms has gained considerable attention. However, current treatment options for alopecia are often constrained by limited efficacy and notable adverse effects. This underscores an urgent need for innovative therapeutic strategies to address these gaps. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs), a subset of mesenchymal stem cells, represent a promising new approach in the treatment of alopecia. This review provides a detailed examination of the fundamental properties of ADSCs and their derivatives, exploring their mechanisms of action in alopecia therapy. Analysis of the efficacy of ADSCs and their derivatives in both preclinical and clinical settings highlight their potential to stimulate hair regeneration. Additionally, the review discusses various pre-treatment methods designed to enhance the regenerative capacity of ADSCs in hair growth, elucidating the mechanisms involved. The review also addresses the challenges and future directions for the use of ADSCs in alopecia treatment, aiming to offer valuable insights for both theoretical research and clinical practice. Ultimately, this work seeks to contribute to the development of more effective treatment regimens for alopecia.
Stem Cell Research & Therapy•2025•DOI: 10.1186/s13287-025-04727-2
Introduction Type 1 diabetes (T1D) results from the destruction of pancreatic β-cells, leading to insulin deficiency. As insulin therapy does not affect disease progression, advancements in immune regulation therapies have emerged, including the reconstitution of the insulin secretory system. Cysteine-rich acidic secretory protein (SPARC) is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein that regulates cell adhesion, facilitating cell migration, and mediating interactions between cells and their extracellular matrix. SPARC is overexpressed during tissue repair and is involved in β-cells survival. However, the potential of SPARC-modified mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to improve insulin secretion has not been thoroughly investigated. This study investigated the therapeutic effects of SPARC-MSCs in vivo and in vitro and assessed whether SPARC enhances survival and insulin secretion after β-cells injury. Methods In vivo, we established T1D models in mice and canine using SPARC-MSCs for cell transplantation. In vitro, MIN6 cells were damaged with STZ, and SPARC-MSC supernatant was co-cultured with MIN6 for various assays. Results Our study demonstrated that SPARC enhanced the regenerative capacity and migratory efficiency of MSCs after H2O2 injury and improved their morphology. In STZ-induced canine and mice diabetes models, SPARC-MSCs therapy significantly reduced hyperglycemia, improved oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and reversed weight loss in canine. Biochemical analyses showed improved liver function, and histological examination revealed restored islet area was significantly restored. Transcriptome and proteome sequencing indicated significant enrichment in calcium binding and cell migration pathways. Co-culturing SPARC-MSC supernatant with MIN6 cells after STZ injury restored their regenerative ability, enhancing insulin secretion and ATP content under high glucose stimulation. SPARC treatment also significantly increased intracellular Ca2+ levels in MIN6 cells. Conclusion SPARC significantly promotes cell regeneration and stimulates insulin secretion by increasing intracellular ATP and Ca2+ influx. In diabetic canine and mice models, it alleviated hyperglycemia, improved glucose tolerance, and enhanced pancreatic islet area and insulin secretion.
Stem Cell Research & Therapy•2025•DOI: 10.1186/s13287-025-04274-w
Background Alternative splicing not only expands the genetic encoding of genes but also determines cellular activities. This study aimed to elucidate the regulation mechanism and biological functions of lincRNA-ASAO in the process of odontogenesis-related genes alternative splicing mediated odontogenic differentiation of hDPSCs. Methods RACE, RNA-seq, FISH and bioinformatics techniques were used to identify novel lincRNA-ASAO. ALP staining, alizarin red staining, qRT-PCR and western blot were used to identify the role of lincRNA-ASAO in regulating the odontoblast differentiation of hDPSCs. The binding protein PTBP1 of lincRNA-ASAO was screened by RNA-Pull-down, protein profiling and bioinformatics. The target gene ALPL of lincRNA-ASAO/PTBP1 was identified by RNA-seq, bioinformatics technology and DNA agarose gel electrophoresis. FISH, IF, PAR-CLIP and bioinformatics techniques were used to determine the roles of lincRNA-ASAO, PTBP1 and ALPL pre-mRNA in the odontoblast differentiation of hDPSCs. Results We identified a novel lincRNA-ASAO that could promote the odontogenic differentiation of human Dental Pulp Stem Cells (hDPSCs). And, the interaction between lincRNA-ASAO and alternative splicing factor PTBP1 promoted the odontoblast differentiation of hDPSCs. In addition, lincRNA-ASAO forms duplexes with ALPL pre-mRNA, targeting PTBP1 to exonic splicing silencer (ESS) of ALPL and regulating exon 2 skipping. Notably, lincRNA-ASAO/PTBP1 regulated ALPL production to increase the type 2 splice variant, which promoted the odontoblast differentiation of hDPSCs. Conclusions We have identified the novel lincRNA-ASAO, which can promote the odontoblast differentiation of hDPSCs. The mechanism study found that lincRNA-ASAO/PTBP1 mediated the exon 2 skipping of ALPL pre-mRNA, resulting in the type 2 splice variant of ALPL. Our results enrich the understanding of lncRNAs and alternative splicing in regulating the odontoblast differentiation of hDPSCs, and provide clues to improve the clinical therapeutic potential of hDPSCs for dental pulp restoration.
Stem Cell Research & Therapy•2024•DOI: 10.1186/s13287-024-03856-4
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) therapy is a highly researched treatment that has the potential to promote immunomodulation and anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and antimicrobial activities. It is thought that it can enhance internal organ function, reverse tissue remodeling, and achieve significant organ repair and regeneration. However, the limited infusion, survival, and engraftment of transplanted MSCs diminish the effectiveness of MSCs-based therapy. Consequently, various preconditioning methods have emerged as strategies for enhancing the therapeutic effects of MSCs and achieving better clinical outcomes. In particular, the use of natural small molecule compounds (NSMs) as a pretreatment strategy is discussed in this narrative review, with a focus on their roles in regulating MSCs for injury repair in vital internal organs. Additionally, the discussion focuses on the future directions and challenges of transforming mesenchymal stem cell research into clinical applications.
Stem Cell Research & Therapy•2024•DOI: 10.1186/s13287-024-04112-5
Correction to: Stem Cell Research & Therapy (2024) 15:440. The original article initially erroneously presented co-author, Min Xu's name as Xu Min; this has since been amended.
Stem Cell Research & Therapy•2024•DOI: 10.1186/s13287-024-04032-4
Background The efficiency of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in treating myocardial infarction (MI) remains inconsistent, which limits their therapeutic applications. Therefore, exploring the mechanism for the inconsistent efficacy of MSCs and identification the criteria for screening MSCs are important for improving the efficiency of MSCs. Methods Mouse model after MI was utilized to test the role of MSCs from different donors and the functional subpopulation in improving cardiac function. Heterogeneity of MSCs was identified using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of MSC-GY. GSEA and Scissor analyses were used to find the functional subpopulations of MSCs that promote angiogenesis. The role of functional subpopulations in promoting angiogenesis was verified by detecting the secretory proteins, the ratio of N-CADHERIN+/CD168− subpopulations in MSCs, and the tube formation, migration, and proliferation of HUVECs after treatment with conditional medium (CM) derived from different MSCs. Results We found that umbilical cord-derived MSCs (UC-MSCs) from different donors have varied therapeutic efficacy in MI mice and UC-MSCs with higher therapeutic effectiveness exhibited the most potent pro-angiogenic effects by secreting elevated levels of angiogenesis-related proteins, such as MYDGF, VEGFA, and FGF2. ScRNA-seq of 10,463 UC-MSCs revealed that the N-CADHERIN+/CD168− subpopulation was closely associated with pro-angiogenic effects, and the ratio of this cell subpopulation was positively correlated with the angiogenic potential of MSCs. We also found that the N-CADHERIN+/CD168− subpopulation was the functional subpopulation of MSCs in improving cardiac function of MI mice. Conclusions Our study identified that the N-CADHERIN+/CD168− subpopulation was the functional subpopulation of MSCs in treating MI, which was essential for the development and utilization of MSCs in MI treatment.
Stem Cell Research & Therapy•2024•DOI: 10.1186/s13287-024-04021-7
Background This phase II randomized controlled trial tested whether the intracarotid arterial administration (ICAA) of autologous CD34+ cells to patients within 14±7 days after acute ischemic stroke (IS) could be safe and further improve short- and long-term outcomes. Methods Between January 2018 and March 2022, 28 consecutive patients were equally randomly allocated to the cell-treated group (CD34+ cells/3.0×107/patient) or the control group (receiving optimal medical therapy). CD34+ cells were transfused into the ipsilateral brain infarct zone of cell-treated patients via the ICAA in the catheterization room. Results The results demonstrated 100% safety and success rates for the procedure, and no long-term tumorigenesis was observed in cell-treated patients. In cell-treated patients, the angiogenesis capacity of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs)/Matrigel was significantly greater after treatment than before treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (all p<0.001). Blood samples from the right internal jugular vein of the cell-treated patients presented significantly greater levels of the stromal cell-derived factor 1α/EPC at 5, 10 and 30 min compared with 0 min (all p<0.005). The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale scores were similar upon presentation, but a greater response was observed by Days 30 and 90 in the cell-treated group than in the control group. Tc-99 m brain perfusion was significantly greater at 180 days in the cell-treated group than in the control group (p=0.046). The combined long-term end points (defined as death/recurrent stroke/or severe disability) were notably lower in the control group compared with the cell-treated group (14.3% vs. 50.0%, p=0.103). Conclusion Intracarotid transfusion of autologous CD34+ cells is safe and might improve long-term outcomes in patients with acute IS. Trial registration ISRCTN, ISRCTN15677760. Registered 23 April 2018- Retrospectively registered, https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN15677760
Stem Cell Research & Therapy•2024•DOI: 10.1186/s13287-024-04111-6
Background hucMSC-exosomes can be engineered to strengthen their therapeutic potential, and the present study aimed to explore whether hypoxic preconditioning can enhance the angiogenic potential of hucMSC-exosomes in an experimental model of POF. Methods Primary hucMSCs and ROMECs were isolated from fresh tissue samples and assessed through a series of experiments. Exosomes were isolated from hucMSCs under normoxic or hypoxic conditions (norm-Exos and hypo-Exos, respectively) and then characterized using classic experimental methods. Based on a series of angiogenesis-related assays, we found that hypo-Exos significantly promoted ROMEC proliferation, migration, and tube formation and increased angiogenesis-promoting molecules in vitro. Histology, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence experiments in a rat model of POF demonstrated that hypoxia pretreatment strengthens the therapeutic angiogenic effect of hucMSC-exosomes in vivo. Subsequently, high-throughput miRNA sequencing, qRT-PCR analysis, and western blotting were employed to identify the potential molecular mechanism. Results We found that hypo-Exos enhance endothelial function and angiogenesis via the transfer of miR-205-5p in vitro and in vivo. Finally, based on the results of bioinformatics analysis, dual luciferase reporter assays, and gain- and loss-of-function studies, we found evidence indicating that exosomal miR-205-5p enhances angiogenesis by targeting the PTEN/PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway. These results indicated for the first time that exosomes derived from hypoxia-conditioned hucMSCs strongly enhance angiogenesis via the transfer of miR-205-5p by targeting the PTEN/PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway. Conclusions Our findings provide a theoretical basis and demonstrate the potential application of a novel cell-free approach with stem cell-derived products in the treatment of POF.
Stem Cell Research & Therapy•2024•DOI: 10.1186/s13287-024-03798-x
Background Development of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) is a multi-staged complex process that conserved between zebrafish and mammals. Understanding the mechanism underlying HSPC development is a holy grail of hematopoietic biology, which is helpful for HSPC clinical application. Chromatin conformation plays important roles in transcriptional regulation and cell fate decision; however, its dynamic and role in HSPC development is poorly investigated. Methods We performed chromatin structure and multi-omics dissection across different stages of HSPC developmental trajectory in zebrafish for the first time, including Hi-C, RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, H3K4me3 and H3K27ac ChIP-seq. Results The chromatin organization of zebrafish HSPC resemble mammalian cells with similar hierarchical structure. We revealed the multi-scale reorganization of chromatin structure and its influence on transcriptional regulation and transition of cell fate during HSPC development. Nascent HSPC is featured by loose conformation with obscure structure at all layers. Notably, PU.1 was identified as a potential factor mediating formation of promoter-involved loops and regulating gene expression of HSPC. Conclusions Our results provided a global view of chromatin structure dynamics associated with development of zebrafish HSPC and discovered key transcription factors involved in HSPC chromatin interactions, which will provide new insights into the epigenetic regulatory mechanisms underlying vertebrate HSPC fate decision.
Stem Cell Research & Therapy•2024•DOI: 10.1186/s13287-024-03967-y
Background The metabolic patterns of human placental-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hP-MSC) treatment for primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) remain unclear, and therapeutic effects significantly vary due to individual differences. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the serological response to hP-MSC transplantation through small molecular metabolites and identify easily detectable markers for efficacy evaluation. Methods Using Mdr2−/− mice as a PSC model and Mdr2+/+ mice as controls, the efficacy of hP-MSC treatment was assessed based on liver pathology, liver enzymes, and inflammatory factors. Serum samples were collected for 12C-/13C-dansylation and DmPA labeling LC–MS analysis to investigate changes in metabolic pathways after hP-MSC treatment. Key metabolites and regulatory enzymes were validated by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Potential biomarkers of hP-MSC efficacy were identified through correlation analysis and machine learning. Results Collectively, the results of the liver histology, serum liver enzyme levels, and inflammatory factors supported the therapeutic efficacy of hP-MSC treatment. Based on significant differences, 41 differentially expressed metabolites were initially identified; these were enriched in bile acid, lipid, and hydroxyproline metabolism. After treatment, bile acid transport was accelerated, whereas bile acid production was reduced; unsaturated fatty acid synthesis was upregulated overall, with increased FADS2 and elongase expression and enhanced fatty acid β-oxidation; hepatic proline 4-hydroxylase expression was decreased, leading to reduced hydroxyproline production. Correlation analysis of liver enzymes and metabolites, combined with time trends, identified eight potential biomarkers: 2-aminomuconate semialdehyde, l-1-pyrroline-3-hydroxy-5-carboxylic acid, l-isoglutamine, and maleamic acid were more abundant in model mice but decreased after hP-MSC treatment. Conversely, 15-methylpalmitic, eicosenoic, nonadecanoic, and octadecanoic acids were less abundant in model mice but increased after hP-MSC treatment. Conclusions This study revealed metabolic regulatory changes in PSC model mice after hP-MSC treatment and identified eight promising biomarkers, providing preclinical evidence to support therapeutic applications of hP-MSC.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2026037
Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy among women, with approximately 2.3 million new cases diagnosed annually, accounting for approximately 11.6% of all cancer cases worldwide. Distant metastasis is the primary cause of mortality in BC patients, with nearly 50% of patients ultimately developing metastatic disease. The predominant metastatic sites of BC include the lung, liver, brain, and bone, each exhibiting distinct biological characteristics that drive the organ-specific tropism of cancer cells. Among these, brain metastasis represents a significant cause of mortality in BC patients and is particularly prevalent in those with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive or triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtypes. Breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM) can manifest in three forms: choroid plexus metastasis (rare), leptomeningeal metastasis (approximately 8%), and parenchymal metastasis, the most common presentation, with multiple lesions in 78% of cases and solitary lesions in 14%. Distinct anatomical regions of the brain provide different micro-environments, which in turn shape epidemiological patterns, biological behaviors, and therapeutic vulnerabilities of metastatic cancer. With the continuous advancement of systemic therapies and imaging surveillance, brain metastases from BC have become increasingly prevalent, accounting for approximately 10%–30% of all metastatic breast cancer (MBC) cases. The continuous progression of BCBM often compromises patients’ cognitive and sensory functions, leading to neurological impairment and severely limiting quality of life (QOL). Notably, the mortality rate within one year after diagnosis remains at 80%. Current therapeutic strategies for BCBM primarily include surgery, whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT), stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), chemotherapy, or combinations thereof. Although these approaches provide some clinical benefit, the efficacy remains limited due to the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which restricts drug penetration and contributes to chemoresistance. Therefore, elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying BCBM is imperative to identify novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets, with the ultimate goal of improving treatment efficacy and patient prognosis. Bioinformatics provides a powerful platform and data foundation for exploring the mechanisms of tumor initiation and progression. High-throughput platforms for gene expression analysis have gained significant popularity, with next-generation sequencing (NGS) and microarray analysis now widely applied as essential tools in medical oncology. These techniques have diverse clinical applications, including molecular cancer classification, prediction of therapeutic response, prognostic assessment, molecular diagnostics, and the discovery of novel drugs and therapeutic targets. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) has been widely applied in studies of gene regulatory networks, biomarker discovery, and elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying complex phenotypes. In this study, we utilized the BCBM microarray dataset GSE43837. We performed differential expression analysis and WGCNA clustering using the R packages limma and WGCNA to identify potential gene modules and candidate targets. GSE43837 consists of 19 nonmetastatic primary breast tumor samples and 19 breast cancer brain metastasis samples. Differential expression analysis, with thresholds set at |logFC| > 1 and P < 0.05, identified 245 upregulated and 188 downregulated genes (Supplementary Table S1 and Supplementary Figure S1A). WGCNA further confirmed that the constructed network satisfied the scale-free topology criterion, with the optimal soft-threshold power determined to be 14 based on model fit and mean connectivity (Supplementary Figure S1B). Using the dynamic tree cut method, we clustered genes into multiple modules, each representing a group of coexpressed genes with varying degrees of correlation among modules (Supplementary Figure S1C,D). Notably, the midnightblue and black modules showed stronger correlations, and a significant positive relationship was observed between gene significance (GS) and module membership (MM) within these modules (Supplementary Figure S1E). This finding suggests that the core genes in these modules are highly representative and stable within the coexpression network. A total of 89 BCBM-related candidate genes were extracted from these key modules (Supplementary Table S2). To further identify key feature genes associated with BCBM, we applied two machine learning methods, LASSO regression and random forest (RF), to the 29 overlapping genes obtained from the intersection of DEGs and hub module genes (Figure 1A and Supplementary Table S3). In the LASSO regression analysis, the optimal penalty parameter λ was determined by cross-validation, yielding a set of candidate genes with nonzero regression coefficients (Figure 1B). Concurrently, in the RF model, 500 decision trees were constructed, and the classification ...
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2026110
For decades, cellular metabolism was viewed as a static network of biochemical pathways designed solely to produce ATP and fulfill basic energy needs. Classical pathophysiology frequently attributes systemic disorders, including cardiovascular disease, oncogenesis and tissue fibrosis, to structural defects, hormonal dysregulations or localized inflammation. However, advanced multi-omics frameworks have driven a paradigm shift, with metabolic reprogramming being recognized not merely as a passive consequence of disease but also as a primary driver of initiation, progression, and therapeutic resistance across human pathologies. This Special Issue, titled “Metabolic Reprogramming”, brings together 17 comprehensive studies alongside 3 New Phenomena exploring these transformations. The contributions span four interrelated thematic areas: (1) systemic cardiometabolic and gestational syndromes; (2) acute and chronic organ injury; (3) oncological metabolic dependencies; and (4) systemic organ-axis interdependencies. By integrating transcriptomics, metabolomics, single-cell deconvolution, and targeted biochemical analyses, these studies elucidate the precise molecular mechanisms governing metabolic remodeling.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025148
Mesothelial cells play an important role in colorectal cancer peritoneal metastasis (CRC-PM), where they support tumor growth and invasion. In this study, we investigate the molecular mechanisms by which mesothelial cells contribute to CRC metastasis. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on tissue samples from 12 CRC patients with peritoneal metastasis, we identify PDK4 as a key gene in mesothelial cells during metastasis. The expression of PDK4 is significantly greater in mesothelial cells undergoing mesothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (MMT) compared to normal peritoneal cells, suggesting its involvement in mesothelial cell reprogramming during peritoneal metastasis. In vitro experiments show that coculturing mesothelial cells with CRC cells leads to increased PDK4 expression, which in turn enhances mesothelial cell migration and invasion. Knockdown of PDK4 reduces mesothelial cell invasion, while overexpression of PDK4 increases invasive ability, highlighting its critical role in mesothelial cell invasion. Additionally, PDK4 promotes metabolic changes, specifically increasing fatty acid oxidation (FAO), which is necessary for mesothelial cell invasion. Blocking FAO reduces the invasive ability of PDK4-overexpressing mesothelial cells, while restoring FAO in PDK4-knockdown cells rescues their invasion potential. Further analysis shows that PDK4 enhances the acetylation of β-catenin, a protein involved in cell movement, and that this modification is crucial for mesothelial cell invasion. Our results suggest that PDK4 regulates mesothelial cell invasion through β-catenin acetylation following metabolic reprogramming, offering a potential target for therapies aimed at inhibiting CRC-PM.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2026002
The newly discovered midnolin-proteasome pathway is a unique ubiquitin-independent mechanism for degrading nuclear proteins, which is crucial for maintaining cellular protein homeostasis. The Catch domain of midnolin is essential for substrate recognition and binding, yet the underlying mechanism for its broad substrate specificity remains elusive. Transcription factor IRF4, essential for the functions of B and T cells, is a substrate of midnolin. This study presents comprehensive biochemical and structural analyses of the human midnolin Catch domain in complexes with both wild-type and mutant IRF4 peptides. The crystal structure of the Catch-IRF4 complex reveals that the Catch domain creates a substrate-binding groove at the interface of the Catch1 and Catch2 subdomains, recognizing and binding to the 215-QVTGTFYAC-223 sequence motif of IRF4. The binding motif of IRF4 forms a β-strand that is embedded into the substrate-binding groove, resulting in an antiparallel five-stranded β-sheet. The interactions between the IRF4 peptide and the Catch domain are predominantly hydrophobic and exhibit high spatial complementarity. Additionally, the biochemical, modeling and structural data indicate that the V2 and A8 positions of the IRF4 sequence motif can be substituted with other hydrophobic or small polar residues (G/A/V/L/I/M/P/F/Y/C/S/T), but not with large polar and charged residues (D/N/E/Q/H/K/R). The G4 position can be replaced by Ser, while the F6 position can be substituted with Tyr. These results suggest that the Catch domain can recognize and bind to a variety of substrates containing the sequence motif x[G/A/V/L/I/M/P/F/Y/C/S/T]x[G/S]x[F/Y]x[G/A/V/L/I/M/P/F/Y/C/S/T]x or briefly the G/SxF/Y motif (where x represents polar residues) located in an unstructured or loop region on the protein surface, and the hydrophobic interactions and spatial complementarity between the binding motifs of substrates and the Catch domain govern the substrate specificity. Collectively, these findings elucidate the molecular basis for midnolin’s broad substrate specificity.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025222
Poultry production faces escalating challenges from intensive farming practices, where stressors, including high stocking density, pathogen exposure, and dietary fluctuations, disrupt intestinal integrity, microbiota balance, and antioxidant defenses. These disruptions impair nutrient absorption, growth performance, and immune function, leading to significant economic losses. Although antibiotics have historically mitigated such issues, growing restrictions due to antimicrobial resistance necessitate natural alternatives. Fungal polysaccharides (FP)—notably lentinan (LNT) from Lentinula edodes and polysaccharide from Ganoderma lucidum (GLP), are promising candidates owing to their immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and prebiotic properties. However, existing research focuses predominantly on individual FP, neglecting potential synergies in blended formulations. Structurally, LNT (β-(1→3)-D-glucan backbone) enhances rumen volatile fatty acid production and fiber degradation, whereas GLP (heterogeneous α/β-glycans) potently activates the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant pathway and modulates Th1/Th2 immunity. These divergent mechanisms imply complementary effects when combined. In our previous experiments on broiler feeding, we reported that a combination of GLP (68.32% polysaccharide content, composed of mannose, glucose, arabinose, rhamnose, and galactose at a molar ratio of 1.00:16.37:18.82:1.42:17.42) and LNT (76.52% polysaccharide content, composed of mannose, galacturonic acid, arabinose, galactose, glucose, and rhamnose at a molar ratio of 1.00:15.22:8.23:2.05:1.78:4.26) at a 1:1 ratio maximally promoted broiler growth (unpublished data), but their impacts on intestinal morphology, antioxidant signaling, and the microbiota remain uncharacterized. We therefore hypothesize that mixed FP synergistically may enhance intestinal health by simultaneously improving nutrient absorption, activating antioxidant pathways, and stabilizing microbial ecosystems. To investigate the effects of mixed FP on intestinal development, 240 one-day-old Arbor Acres male broilers were randomly assigned to the 0 mg/kg FP (Control), 200 mg/kg FP (Group I), 400 mg/kg FP (Group II), and 600 mg/kg FP (Group III) groups. Broilers were housed in three-tier battery cages (0.7 m × 0.7 m × 0.4 m; 12 broilers/cage), with five replicate cages per experimental group maintained under identical conditions. The experiments were approved by the College of Animal Science and Technology in Anhui Agricultural University (approval number: SYXK 2016-007). All the cages were subjected to a 16 h light: 8 h dark cycle with ad libitum access to water and twice-daily feeding (09:00/16:00) of basal diets (Supplementary Table S1). On day 42, the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum segments were collected, fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde, sectioned at 5 μm, and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Villus height (VH), crypt depth (CD), and VH/CD ratios were measured via Case Viewer software. The results revealed that Group II significantly increased VH and VH/CD across all the intestinal segments while reducing CD (Figure 1A; P < 0.05 vs the control); these findings suggest enhanced nutrient absorption capacity and intestinal health. To evaluate antioxidant capacity and signaling pathway activation, intestinal tissues were homogenized in PBS (1:9, w/v). The total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were determined via commercial kits (Nanjing Jiancheng Bioengineering Institute, Nanjing, China)). For gene expression analysis, total RNA was extracted and reverse-transcribed. The qPCR was performed via specific primers for HO-1, NQO1, CAT, Nrf2, and Keap1, with β-actin used as the reference gene (primer sequences and product sizes are listed in Supplementary Table S2). The results demonstrated that Group II significantly elevated antioxidant enzyme activities (P < 0.05), upregulated HO-1, NQO1, CAT, and Nrf2, and
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2025•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025100
Sulfasalazine (SAS), a clinically utilized anti-inflammatory drug, has been shown to induce ferroptosis by inhibiting system Xc− activity, thereby causing cellular glutathione depletion. Recently, protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) was shown to be an upstream mediator of the oxidative cell death (oxytosis/ferroptosis) induced by glutamate, erastin, RSL3 and SAS. The present study aims to further characterize the detailed biochemical and cellular mechanisms of SAS-induced ferroptosis in two cell lines, i.e., H9C2 rat cardiomyocytes and BRL-3A rat hepatocytes, with a focus on elucidating the critical role of PDI in mediating SAS-induced toxicity. We find that SAS can induce ferroptosis in H9C2 and BRL-3A cells, which is accompanied by a sequential increase in the buildup of cellular nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid-ROS. SAS activates PDI-mediated dimerization of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cellular accumulation of NO, and these effects are followed by ROS and lipid-ROS accumulation. Furthermore, SAS markedly upregulates the iNOS protein levels in these cells. Knockdown of PDI or pharmacological inhibition of PDI catalytic activity effectively suppresses SAS-induced iNOS dimerization, abrogates SAS-induced accumulation of NO, ROS and lipid-ROS, and prevents ferroptosis. On the other hand, PDI activation through the use of TrxR1 inhibitors sensitizes these cells to SAS-induced ferroptosis. These findings provide further experimental support for a pivotal role of PDI in SAS-induced cytotoxicity through the activation of the PDI-NOS-NO axis, which then leads to the accumulation of cellular ROS and lipid-ROS and ultimately the induction of oxidative cell death.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025242
Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) caused by anti-tuberculosis drugs is a serious clinical problem that can lead to acute liver failure and even death. Current diagnosis relies on lagged indicators such as serum transaminase levels, which rise only 48–72 hours after liver injury. This study is the first to systematically analyze the microRNA expression profile of serum exosomes in patients with anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury (TB-DILI) to discover early diagnostic markers. A total of 12 tuberculosis patients and 6 normal controls were included. Serum exosomes were isolated and characterized, and small RNA sequencing identified 701 miRNAs, with 128 differentially expressed between TB-DILI and TB groups. Notably, miR-122-5p was upregulated and has shown early warning value. Target gene prediction and enrichment analysis revealed involvement in GTPase activity regulation, cell migration, and BMP signaling. These findings suggest that exosomal miRNAs, particularly miR-122-5p, may serve as early diagnostic biomarkers for TB-DILI.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2025•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025091
One of the characteristics of malignant tumors is heterogeneity, which refers to the molecular or genetic differences among progeny cells during tumor growth. This heterogeneity contributes to variations in the tumor growth rate, invasive ability, drug sensitivity, and prognosis. To gain a deeper understanding of the molecular background underlying tumor heterogeneity, we construct monoclonal cell lines derived from the glioblastoma (GBM) cell line U87-MG by limiting dilution assays. The selected CF5 and G11 subclones exhibit completely different cell morphologies and, more importantly, distinct functional phenotypes. CF5 exhibits stronger proliferative properties and chemoresistance, whereas G11 shows greater motility and invasion. Transcriptomic sequencing reveals great differences in gene expression among the CF5, G11, and U87 cell lines, and downregulated genes in individual clones are significantly enriched in gene sets related to extracellular matrix function. ITGA11 and ITGA6, as research subjects, are demonstrated to exclusively regulate functional phenotypes and chemotherapy sensitivity in CF5 or G11 cells. In U87 cells, combined knockdown of these two genes significantly inhibits tumor growth and increases chemotherapy sensitivity, but knockdown of either gene alone does not. In summary, these data reveal that even under uniform growth conditions, the heterogeneity of tumor cells and their diverse genetic backgrounds remain significant and persistent. This finding is crucial for accurately identifying tumor-related genes and their functional phenotypes, and a thorough understanding of the genetic and molecular background underlying tumor heterogeneity is essential for comprehensive cancer treatment.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2025•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025048
As a classic tumor suppressor gene, p53 has been extensively studied since its discovery in the mid-1980s. Research findings have revealed that p53 protein expression is suppressed in various cancers [1]. For example, in cervical cancer, p53 predominantly exists in a wild-type form to maintain its biological function [2]. Nevertheless, its tumor-suppressive activity is significantly impaired because of rapid protein degradation, short half-life, and low levels. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of p53, such as ubiquitination, acetylation, phosphorylation and methylation, are critical regulators of its stability, activity, conformation, localization, and interactions with cofactors [3]. Among these, ubiquitination and acetylation play central roles in controlling p53 protein stability and activity [4]. Therefore, targeting p53 PTMs to modulate its ubiquitination and acetylation levels represents an effective strategy to increase its stability and tumor-suppressive function, offering a promising avenue for cervical cancer drug development. In 99% of cervical cancers (high-risk human papillomavirus-positive), E3 ubiquitin ligase E6-associated protein (E6AP) mediates the ubiquitination degradation of p53 [5], whereas histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) deacetylates p53. In this study, we explored the possibility of combining the natural product withferin A (WA) with the HDAC6 inhibitor ricolinostat (RIC) to treat cervical cancer cells, with a focus on the ubiquitination and acetylation of p53 and the consequences for its stability. These results suggested that the combination of WA and RIC is more effective than either treatment alone in inhibiting the degradation and increasing the stability of p53, thereby synergistically slowing the onset and progression of cervical cancer.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2025•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025047
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by a complex pathogenesis that was previously thought to involve primarily adaptive immunity. Emerging evidence underscores the role of neutrophils in shaping immune dysregulation and inducing organ damage in lupus. This study aims to investigate the dynamics of neutrophil senescence and its relationship with lupus, an area that remains poorly understood. Here, we identify a significantly elevated proportion of CXCR4hiCD62Llo senescence-like neutrophils in the peripheral blood of SLE patients compare to that in the healthy donors. Increased numbers of senescence-like neutrophils are positively correlated with SLE disease activity and autoantibody production in SLE patients. In addition, senescence-like neutrophils derived from SLE patients exhibit an impaired ability to suppress the proinflammatory activity of natural killer (NK) cells and CD4+ T cells. Further mechanistic exploration suggests that these senescence-like neutrophils might exert their immunosuppressive effects via reactive oxygen species (ROS) production under physiological conditions. Our results demonstrate that senescence-like neutrophils could serve as biomarkers for assessing the disease activity of SLE. The compromised immunosuppressive function of senescence-like neutrophils provides a new perspective on SLE pathophysiology and may pave the way for the development of novel therapies.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2025•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025071
Immune evasion is a crucial strategy for tumor growth and survival, with the tumor microenvironment facilitating tumor immune evasion and cancer progression. CD47, a transmembrane protein highly expressed in various cancer cell types, interacts with its ligands SIRPα and TSP-1 to induce immune tolerance, enabling tumor cells to evade immune surveillance and phagocytosis by immune cells. Understanding the pathways driving CD47 signaling and related activation factors is essential. In this review, we discuss the interactions between CD47 and its ligands SIRPα and TSP-1; their roles in inhibiting the functions of immune cells (macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs), glial cells, T cells, NK cells, etc.); and the mechanisms involved. Furthermore, we also explore the influence of factors within the tumor microenvironment, including TNF-α, IFN-γ, ILs, HIF-1, oncogenes, isocitrate dehydrogenase 1, metabolic enzymes, and exosomes, on CD47-mediated immune evasion. Recent monoclonal antibody drugs targeting CD47 for cancer treatment have shown side effects and cause economic losses. Researchers can explore alternative approaches, such as designing targeted drugs with minimal side effects or investigating other related molecules or pathways. Combination therapy and further research into the molecular mechanisms of CD47 could offer new directions for antitumor drug development.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2025•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025068
Lysine acetylation has been shown to be an abundant and vital post-translational modification (PTM) that utilizes acetyl phosphate (AcP) as one of the acetyl group donors in bacteria. The pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complex catalyzes the conversion from pyruvate to acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA). Thus far, the connection between lysine acetylation and pyruvate metabolism has not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we show that AcP could acetylate Escherichia coli pyruvate dehydrogenase (AceE) in vitro and in vivo, which could be reversed by protein lysine deacetylase (CobB). In vitro treatment of AceE with AcP also causes increased phosphorylation of the protein, whereas deleting ackA does not affect the phosphorylation of the protein. As a result, in vitro treatment of AceE by AcP leads to decreased enzymatic activity. In contrast, deleting ackA leads to increased acetylation and enzymatic activity of AceE, and deleting pta results in the decreased acetylation and enzymatic activity of AceE. As expected, deleting pta in E. coli causes pyruvate accumulation. Although deleting ackA also causes pyruvate accumulation, decreased expression of the two genes involved in pyruvate metabolism (ldhA and poxB) is observed in the mutant, indicating that AcP could affect pyruvate metabolism by other routes in addition to modulating the AceE activity. Thus, our results demonstrate that intracellular AcP could modulate pyruvate metabolism in E. coli. For the first time, a linkage between AcP-mediated protein lysine acetylation, pyruvate dehydrogenase activity, and pyruvate metabolism is established.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025164
Emerging biochemical and genetic evidence has firmly established aberrant protein glycosylation as a critical regulator of oncogenic transformation, with glycocalyx remodeling profoundly influencing tumor microenvironment dynamics and metastatic progression. Despite the well-documented association between metastatic dissemination and poor clinical outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain incompletely characterized. Through integrative analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing data from a public database, we identify the Golgi-resident α-1,2-mannosidase MAN1A1 as a consistently upregulated enzyme in malignant epithelial cells derived from colorectal cancer liver metastases. Clinically, elevated MAN1A1 expression is correlated with reduced overall survival, suggesting that MAN1A1 is both a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for colorectal cancer liver metastases. Genetic manipulation of MAN1A1 in colorectal cancer cells demonstrates that although the proliferation capacity of colorectal cancer cells remains unchanged, MAN1A1 overexpression significantly enhances migratory and invasive capacities in transwell assays, suggesting its specific involvement in metastatic progression. Mechanistic investigations reveal that MAN1A1 exerts its pro-metastatic effects by significantly prolonging the TGFBR2 protein half-life. Together, our work identifies MAN1A1 as both a prognostic biomarker and a promising therapeutic target, highlighting the critical role of glycan remodeling in the metastatic progression of colorectal cancer.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2025•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025018
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a risk factor for the development of atrial fibrillation (AF). The action potential duration (APD) has been demonstrated to be prolonged in the atrium of diabetic mice. In contrast, the APD is generally shortened in AF patients. It is unclear what change occurs in the atrial APD of diabetic patients. In this study, we explore the APD change of atrial myocytes from diabetic patients and the underlying molecular mechanisms. The whole-cell patch-clamp technique is used to detect single-cell electrical activity in diabetic and nondiabetic human samples. The results show that both APD50 and APD90, the APD at 50% and 90% repolarization, are increased in diabetic patients compared with those in nondiabetic controls. The density of late sodium current (INaL) in the atrial myocytes of diabetic patients is greater than that in the myocytes of nondiabetic patients. The expression of receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is increased in the atria of diabetic patients. In cultured HL-1 cells, high glucose (HG) treatment increases INaL, and the expression of RAGE prolongs APD. The siRNA-mediated knockdown of RAGE reduces the INaL and shortens the APD. The APD is prolonged in the atria of diabetic patients because of the upregulation of RAGE and the subsequent increase in INaL. Our findings provide novel insights into atrial electrical remodeling in diabetic patients.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2025•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025088
This corrigendum corrects errors in the original article 'Vitamin B6 prevents Isocarbophos-induced posterior cerebral artery injury in offspring rats through up-regulating S1P receptor expression' published in Acta Biochim Biophys Sin 2021, 53(12): 1691–1701. The errors were found in Figure 2B (Vit B6 + Fingolimod), Figure 5 (Saline), and Figure 7 (Isocarbophos/Control). The correct figures are shown. The authors apologize for the error. The corrigendum does not affect the interpretation of data and conclusions.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025178
Asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory disease in children. Recently, adjusting the Th1/Th2 imbalance has become a significant focus in asthma immunotherapy. The present study aims to investigate the roles and mechanisms of circDCBLD2 in maintaining the Th1/Th2 immune balance. CircDCBLD2 is downregulated in CD4+ T cells from asthmatic patients and in CD4+ T cells from an OVA-induced asthmatic mouse model. Additionally, circDCBLD2 levels are significantly decreased in the PBMCs of asthmatic mice. The expression of circDCBLD2 is positively correlated with the Th1 cytokines IFN-γ and IL-2 but negatively correlated with the Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-13. Flow cytometry and ELISA analyses demonstrate that circDCBLD2 overexpression increases the proportion of Th1 cells (CD4+IFN-γ+) and the levels of Th1 cytokines while decreasing the proportion of Th2 cells (CD4+IL-4+) and the levels of Th2 cytokines. Furthermore, circDCBLD2 overexpression alleviates the asthma phenotype in OVA-induced mice, reduces the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the lungs, and corrects the Th1/Th2 imbalance. Mechanistically, circDCBLD2 is found to target miR-26a-5p. Rescue experiments indicate that circDCBLD2 regulates the Th1/Th2 immune balance by targeting miR-26a-5p. Additionally, PTEN has been identified as a direct target of miR-26a-5p. The overexpression of PTEN partially reverses the effects of miR-26a-5p on the Th1/Th2 immune balance. These findings indicate that circDCBLD2 increases the proportion of Th1 cells and decreases the proportion of Th2 cells via the miR-26a-5p/PTEN axis, providing a promising target for asthma treatment.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025151
Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a serious complication in patients undergoing colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery. It is characterized by significant impairments in memory, information processing and attention, and may also result in mood and personality changes, thereby increasing the risk of postoperative mortality. Currently, there are no effective interventions available, highlighting the need for further investigation into its pathogenesis. While the current literature has identified an association between gut microbiota dysregulation and cognitive deficits, the precise mechanisms involved remain insufficiently understood. This study hypothesizes that exosome-like (Exos-like) nanoparticles derived from the gut microbiota contribute to POCD by modulating autophagy-dependent ferroptosis in hippocampal neurons. In a rat model of CRC, significant alterations in the gut microbiota composition, including reduced microbial diversity and changes in the abundance of key taxa, are observed. Exosomes derived from these microbiota enhance neuronal uptake and trigger markers of ferroptosis, as evidenced by increased expressions of ATG5 and COX2, along with decreased levels of GPX4 and FTH1. These findings establish a mechanistic link between microbial dysbiosis, ferroptosis, and cognitive decline in POCD, providing new insights into potential therapeutic targets for CRC-associated POCD.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2025•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024183
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a recognized global public health problem. However, there are still limitations in the available therapeutic approaches and a lack of clinically effective drugs. Therefore, an in-depth exploration of the secondary pathological mechanism of TBI and the identification of new effective drugs are urgently needed. Cannabidiol (CBD), a component derived from the cannabis plant, has potential therapeutic effects on neurological diseases and has received increasing attention. However, few reports on CBD intervention in TBI patients exist. Here, we use the Feeney free-fall method to establish a rat TBI model. CBD significantly improves neurological deficit scores, neuronal damage and blood-brain barrier permeability in rats and significantly inhibits the expressions of the brain injury markers S-100β and NSE. Mechanistically, CBD attenuates TBI-induced astrocyte activation, reduces inflammation, and attenuates the expressions of inflammatory prostaglandin system indicators. The use of TG6-10-1 (EP2 inhibitor) and H-89 (PKA inhibitor) indicates that CBD attenuates TBI-induced neurological damage via the PGE2-EP2-cAMP-PKA signaling pathway. Overall, this research provides a novel drug candidate for the treatment of clinical brain trauma.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2025•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025046
The cGAS-STING signaling pathway serves as a pivotal surveillance mechanism for cytosolic double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) detection in mammalian systems. While STING-mediated type I interferon production is crucial for host defense, sustained activation of this pathway contributes to autoimmune pathologies, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Maintaining immune homeostasis requires precise regulation of STING activity to prevent hyperactivation. Our study identifies TRIM21 as a novel positive regulator of cGAS-STING signaling in SLE pathogenesis. Our results demonstrate that TRIM21 overexpression stabilizes STING by suppressing autophagic degradation, whereas TRIM21 depletion accelerates this clearance process. Mechanistically, TRIM21 catalyzes the K63-linked polyubiquitylation of the selective autophagy receptor p62/SQSTM1, disrupting its interaction with STING. This post-translational modification prevents the sequestration of STING into autophagosomes, thereby stabilizing the adaptor protein and amplifying downstream type I interferon responses. Our findings reveal a previously unrecognized regulatory circuit in which TRIM21 orchestrates cross-talk between ubiquitin signaling and autophagy to control STING turnover. The TRIM21-p62 axis represents a potential therapeutic target for attenuating pathological interferon production in STING-dependent autoimmune disorders. This work advances our understanding of immune regulation by demonstrating how E3 ligase-mediated ubiquitin modifications modulate cargo recognition in selective autophagy pathways. The identified mechanism provides new insights into the molecular interplay between protein ubiquitylation and autophagic degradation in maintaining the innate immune balance, offering novel perspectives for developing targeted therapies against interferonopathies associated with cGAS-STING hyperactivity.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025183
Hepatocyte phospholipase D1 (PLD1) knockout alleviates metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) in mice, but the underlying mechanism is largely unknown. In this study, the mice are divided into four groups: Con (wild-type mice with normal control diet), HFHC (wild-type mice with high-fat diet), Con_KO (hepatocyte PLD1-knockout mice with normal control diet), and HFHC_KO (hepatocyte PLD1-knockout mice with high-fat diet). Intestinal contents of mice are analyzed via metagenomics and metabolomics, and the liver bile acids are assessed by mass spectrometry imaging. The results show that at the phylum level the abundance of Bacillota in the intestines of MASLD model mice is significantly increased, whereas that of Bacteroidota significantly is decreased. However, after the deletion of hepatocyte PLD1, Pseudomonadota and Candidatus Bathyarchaeota are significantly decreased in the MASLD model mice. At the species level, compared with that in the Con group, the abundance of Faecalibaculum rodentium is significantly increased in the HFHC group, whereas hepatocyte PLD1 knockout causes the abundances of Desulfovibrionaceae bacterium LT0009 and Lachnospiraceae bacterium 10-1 to be significantly decreased. In terms of intestinal bile acids, the levels of two bile acids (hyodeoxycholic acid and glycolithocholic acid) differ between the HFHC_KO group and the HFHC group. Association analysis shows that Faecalibaculum co-occurs with DCA, βMCA, ΩMCA and αMCA, while probiotic Bacteroides uniformis is significantly correlated with UDCA, 12-KetoLCA, and 7-KetoLCA. Finally, mass spectrometry imaging reveals that the TCA and TDCA contents in the liver are significantly decreased after PLD1 knockout in hepatocytes. These findings demonstrate that hepatocyte PLD1 knockout alters the gut microbiota and bile acids profiles, suggesting that PLD1 deficiency may modulate MASLD progression by changing intestinal microbiota-bile acid homeostasis.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2025•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025027
Currently, chemotherapy remains the primary treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Drug resistance in AML cells is a critical factor contributing to the failure of chemotherapy remission and subsequent relapse. Iron overload frequently occurs in AML patients because of hematopoietic suppression or supportive blood transfusion therapy. Previous studies have indicated that iron overload may promote the progression of AML; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Our results demonstrate that, compared with TP53-wild-type AML cells, TP53-mutant AML cells exhibit increased resistance to cytarabine-induced cytotoxicity. Moreover, reducing TP53 expression in wild-type AML cells diminishes their sensitivity to cytarabine. The TP53 signaling pathway is essential for mediating cytarabine-induced apoptosis in AML cells. In this study, an iron overload model in AML cells via the use of ferric citrate is constructed. Our data indicate that iron overload can suppress the TP53/BCL2/BAX signaling pathway, counteracting cytarabine-induced apoptosis. In TP53 wild-type AML cells, TFR1 participates in iron-mediated resistance to cytarabine by regulating the entry of iron into the cells. These findings provide a foundation for further exploration of the molecular mechanisms involved in AML resistance to cytarabine.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025179
Acrolein, a highly reactive α,β-unsaturated aldehyde found in cigarette smoke, automobile exhaust, industrial emissions, combustion byproducts, cooking and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy, has raised serious health concerns, although the precise mechanism remains unclear. This study is designed to examine the impact of this pervasive environmental pollutant on myocardial geometry and function alongside the underlying cellular mechanisms. Adult C57BL/6 mice are challenged with acrolein (2.5 mg/kg/day, i.p., for 20 days) prior to the evaluation of myocardial geometry and function. Acrolein exposure evokes evident cardiac remodeling (interstitial fibrosis), compromised echocardiographic (enlarged LVESD, compromised ejection fraction and fractional shortening), cardiomyocyte contractile and intracellular Ca2+ capacities [decreased peak shortening, maximal velocity of shortening and relengthening (±dL/dt), and electrically stimulated rise in Fura-2 fluorescence intensity (ΔFFI), prolonged time-to-90% relengthening (TR90) and intracellular Ca2+ decay], accompanied by overt mitochondrial damage (ultrastructure, aconitase and mitochondrial protein contents), free radical buildup, apoptosis (Bax, Caspase-3, and Bcl2) and cuproptosis (upregulated SLC31A1, DLAT and FDX1), downregulated the Fe-S cluster proteins ACO2 and NDUFS8 alongside unchanged ATP7A and the ferroptosis markers GPX4 and SLC7A11. The levels of copper-sensing protein metal response element binding transcription factor 2 (MTF2), but not MTF1, are increased by acrolein insult. CB-DOCK2 analysis predicts an interaction between acrolein and the MTF2 dimer within its DNA-binding regions. In vivo administration of the cuproptosis inhibitor tetrathiomolybdate (TTM), the mitochondrial antioxidant mitoTEMPO or the nonselective MTF2 inhibitor actinomycin D alleviates acrolein-evoked cardiomyocyte dysfunction (decreased PS, ±dL/dt, and prolonged TR90). These findings indicate that acrolein evoked cardiac functional anomalies possibly through MTF2-related control of cuproptosis.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025197
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a clinically aggressive hematologic malignancy characterized by high relapse rates and treatment resistance, highlighting the need for novel biomarkers to improve clinical outcomes. In this study, we explore the roles of nuclear receptor-interacting protein 1 (NRIP1) in AML, focusing on its associations with tumor progression and immune infiltration. Analysis of public AML gene expression datasets reveals that NRIP1 expression is significantly increased in AML patients. Those with high NRIP1 expression have markedly shorter overall survival than those with low expression. Furthermore, NRIP1 expression is significantly associated with the infiltration of diverse immune cells, including B cells, dendritic cells, T cells, mast cells, eosinophils, and T helper cells, suggesting that NRIP1 may be a regulator of immune cell infiltration. Functional enrichment analysis indicates that NRIP1 and its interacting partners are involved in tumorigenesis, immune microenvironment remodeling, and metabolic reprogramming. Survival analysis confirms the prognostic value of NRIP1. Importantly, functional validation in AML cell lines confirms that NRIP1 knockdown suppresses proliferation and induces apoptosis. Our study identifies NRIP1 as a multifaceted regulator that promotes AML by driving tumor progression, regulating immune cell infiltration, and modulating ferroptosis, highlighting its role as a novel prognostic biomarker.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2025•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024200
This is a corrigendum to the original article published in Acta Biochim Biophys Sin 2020, 52(2): 116–124. The authors correct an error in Figure 4 of the original manuscript. The correct figure is provided, and the authors apologize for the error.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2026025
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the predominant type of primary liver cancer, represents an extremely aggressive malignancy. The induction of cuproptosis has developed into a favorable therapeutic direction for HCC, considering its strong association with HCC. Sanguinarine (San), a benzophenanthridine alkaloid derived from traditional herbs such as Chelidonium majus L., demonstrates broad-spectrum anticancer activities against various cancer cell types. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying its effects in the treatment of HCC remain largely undefined. This investigation seeks to examine the anti-HCC effects of San and to explore the mechanisms underlying these effects through the induction of cuproptosis. In vitro experiments demonstrate that San markedly inhibits the proliferation, movement, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of HCC cells while enhancing their apoptosis. In vivo, San notably impedes tumor growth and upregulates the cuproptosis signature markers ferredoxin 1 (FDX1), oligomeric dihydrolipoamide S-acetyltransferase (DLAT), and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in HCC xenograft tumor models. Mechanistically, San induces proteotoxic stress and cuproptosis in HCC cells by increasing copper concentration, upregulating the expression of FDX1, lipoic acid synthetase (LIAS), HSP70, and lipoylated DLAT aggregation, and simultaneously reducing mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular glutathione and pyruvate levels. Moreover, the combination of San with copper ionophores (Elesclomol-CuCl2) exhibits synergistic effects in promoting cuproptosis. FDX1 silencing markedly diminishes San-induced suppression of cell proliferation and FDX1 and HSP70 levels in HCC cells. Additionally, molecular docking analysis predicts that San exhibits the highest potential for binding with FDX1. Surface plasmon resonance experiments and cellular thermal shift assay confirm that San strongly interacts with FDX1 and markedly enhances the thermostability of FDX1. In conclusion, our findings indicate that San substantially inhibits the progression of HCC by targeting FDX1/LIAS/DLAT/HSP70 axis-dependent cuproptosis.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2024•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024050
The interaction between bacteria and the host plays a vital role in the initiation and progression of systemic diseases, including gastrointestinal and oral diseases, due to the secretion of various virulence factors from these pathogens. GroEL, a potent virulence factor secreted by multiple oral pathogenic bacteria, is implicated in the damage of gingival epithelium, periodontal ligament, alveolar bone and other peripheral tissues. However, the underlying biomechanism is still largely unknown. In the present study, we verify that GroEL can trigger the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and its downstream effector molecules, IL-1β and IL-18, in human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) and resultantly induce high activation of gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) to promote the degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM). GroEL-mediated activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome requires the participation of Toll-like receptors (TLR2 and TLR4). High upregulation of TLR2 and TLR4 induces the enhancement of NF-κB (p-p65) signaling and promotes its nuclear accumulation, thus activating the NLRP3 inflammasome. These results are verified in a rat model with direct injection of GroEL. Collectively, this study provides insight into the role of virulence factors in bacteria-induced host immune response and may also provide a new clue for the prevention of periodontitis.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2024•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024024
Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a classic type of cardiovascular disease characterized by injury to cardiomyocytes leading to different types of cell death. The degree of irreversible myocardial damage is closely related to age, and ferroptosis is involved in cardiomyocyte damage. However, the mechanisms underlying ferroptosis regulation in aging myocardial I/R injury are still unclear. The present study aims to explore the underlying mechanism of piRNA regulation in ferroptosis. Using left anterior descending coronary artery ligation in an aging rat model and a D-galactose-induced rat cardiomyocyte line (H9C2) to construct an aging cardiomyocyte model, we investigate whether ferroptosis occurs after reperfusion injury in vitro and in vivo. This study focuses on the upregulation of piR-000699 after hypoxia/reoxygenation treatment in aging cardiomyocytes by observing hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury indicators and ferroptosis-related indicators and clarifying the role of piR-000699 in H/R injury caused by ferroptosis in aging cardiomyocytes. Bioinformatics analysis reveals that SLC39A14 is a gene that binds to piR-000699. Our data show that ferroptosis plays an important role in I/R injury both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, the results show the potential role of piR-000699 in regulating SLC39A14 in ferroptosis in aging cardiomyocytes under hypoxia/reoxygenation conditions. Together, our results reveal that the mechanism by which piR-000699 binds to SLC39A14 regulates ferroptosis in aging myocardial I/R injury.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2025•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025059
The transcriptional heterogeneity and cellular ecosystem diversity of HCC await further exploration. Single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing data from HCC cells are analyzed to generate a LASSO model for HCC prognostication. CCK-8, scratch assay, flow cytometry, and ROS assays are used to validate how TREM1 may affect HCC cell biological behaviors in vitro. qPCR, western blot analysis, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry are applied in a xenograft model to test the effects of TREM1 knockdown on carcinogenesis and the tumor microenvironment. A single-cell atlas of the multicellular ecosystem comprising 13 cell types in HCC is constructed. On the basis of ligand-receptor marker genes specifically extracted from the cell populations, a prognostic model is defined and subsequently validated in additional clinical cohorts. For the first time, a heterogeneous immune microenvironment is observed between low- and high-risk patients, primarily involving macrophages, CD4+ T cells, M1 macrophages, and regulatory T (Treg) cells. Sufficient evidence validates the positive effects of TREM1 on HCC cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. Additionally, TREM1 positively modulates the levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, and MCP-1. TREM1 downregulation alters the proportions of M1 macrophages and Tregs in the tumor tissue from our HCC xenograft model. Eventually, the Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway, which is related to oxidative stress, is shown to be a key pathway downstream of TREM1 downregulation. In summary, we construct a novel prognostic model for HCC on the basis of ligand-receptor marker genes and investigate the role of TREM1 in HCC progression and its impact on the TME.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2025•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025065
Stem cell fate is profoundly influenced by a complex interplay of biochemical and biophysical cues, with the latter increasingly recognized for its roles in cellular processes, yet the mechanisms are unclear. Since chromatin accessibility is a critical determinant in the processes of osteogenesis and bone repair, investigating the contributions of open chromatin regions (OCRs) to the intracellular signaling pathways triggered by topographical cues, which lead to osteogenic differentiation is highly valuable. This study explores the impact of the nanotopography of biomaterials on the osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow stem cells (hBMSCs). By utilizing electrospun poly-L-lactide (PLLA) membranes with random fiber arrangements, we mimic the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) topography to study its effects on hBMSCs, contrasting them with flat PLLA controls. Through high-throughput Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin with sequencing (ATAC-seq) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), we reveal that the nanotopography of electrospun surfaces promotes osteogenic differentiation by modulating the chromatin accessibility of the YBX1 gene promoter, leading to its upregulation. Lentiviral knockdown experiments further confirm the crucial role of YBX1, revealing a reversal of the osteogenic effects induced by nanotopography. This study emphasizes the importance of YBX1 in the osteogenic response to the surface topography of biomaterials and suggests that nanotopographical cues could be harnessed to direct stem cell fate. These findings are important for developing biomaterials that promote specific stem cell outcomes in regenerative medicine. Our results further contribute to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying stem cell differentiation in response to environmental cues and pave the way for the rational design of biomaterials with enhanced osteogenic potential. By elucidating the role of chromatin accessibility and specific transcription factors such as YBX1, this study highlights the intricate interplay between cell-material interactions and the intracellular signaling pathways that govern stem cell fate.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2025•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025032
Cisplatin resistance is a major cause of poor prognosis in patients with cervical cancer. Dysregulation of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) plays a key role in chemoresistance. Our results reveal that the lncRNA UCA1 is upregulated in cisplatin (DDP)-resistant cervical cancer tissues and HeLa cells. Mechanistically, the lncRNA UCA1 acts as a sponge for miR-195-5p, targeting IKBKB. UCA1 enhances proliferation, migration, and invasion while reducing apoptosis in DDP-resistant HeLa cells via the miR-195-5p/IKBKB axis. Additionally, UCA1 upregulates BNIP3Δex2 and p-p65 expressions and downregulates BNIP3 expression in DDP-resistant HeLa cells. Abnormal expressions of BNIP3Δex2 and BNIP3 significantly alter the malignant progression of HeLa/DPP cells. In vivo, UCA1 silencing inhibits growth, enhances apoptosis, and upregulates IKBKB, BNIP3Δex2, and p-p65 expressions while downregulating BNIP3 expression in subcutaneous xenografts in nude mice by targeting miR-195-5p. Overall, this study highlights a novel promising target for the treatment of DDP-resistant cervical cancer.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2024•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024086
Endothelial dysfunction (ED) serves as the pathological basis for various cardiovascular diseases. Guanosine triphosphate cyclopyrrolone 1 (GCH1) emerges as a pivotal protein in sustaining nitric oxide (NO) production within endothelial cells, yet it undergoes degradation under oxidative stress, contributing to endothelial cell dysfunction. Citronellal (CT), a monoterpenoid, has been shown to ameliorate endothelial dysfunction induced by in atherosclerosis rats. However, whether CT can inhibit the degradation of GCH1 protein is not clear. It has been reported that ubiquitination may play a crucial role in regulating GCH1 protein levels and activities. However, the specific E3 ligase for GCH1 and the molecular mechanism of GCH1 ubiquitination remain unclear. Using data-base exploration analysis, we find that the levels of the E3 ligase Smad-ubiquitination regulatory factor 2 (Smurf2) negatively correlate with those of GCH1 in vascular tissues and HUVECs. We observe that Smurf2 interacts with GCH1 and promotes its degradation via the proteasome pathway. Interestingly, ectopic Smurf2 expression not only decreases GCH1 levels but also reduces cell proliferation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, mostly because of increased GCH1 accumulation. Furthermore, we identify BH4/eNOS as downstream of GCH1. Taken together, our results indicate that CT can obviously improve vascular endothelial injury in Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) rats and reverse the expressions of GCH1 and Smurf2 proteins in aorta of T1DM rats. Smurf2 promotes ubiquitination and degradation of GCH1 through proteasome pathway in HUVECs. We conclude that the Smurf2-GCH1 interaction might represent a potential target for improving endothelial injury.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2024•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024068
Transient receptor potential channel subfamily vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is a member of the transient receptor potential family of nonselective cationic transmembrane channel proteins that are involved in the regulation of calcium homeostasis. It is expressed in various tumor types and has been implicated in the regulation of cancer growth, metastasis, apoptosis, and cancer-related pain. TRPV1 is highly expressed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), and both its agonists and antagonists may exert anti-cancer effects. In this review, we provide an overview of the effect of TRPV1 on TNBC development and its influence on immunotherapy in an attempt to facilitate the development of future treatment strategies.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025217
Smurf1 is a member of the Nedd4 family of E3 ubiquitin ligases. Numerous lines of evidence indicate that the membrane localization of Smurf1 is essential for its activity. However, the underlying mechanisms that regulate the membrane localization of Smurf1 remain unclear. Type I phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinase (PIPKI) is a phosphatidylinositol kinase that generates phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), which is located in the plasma membrane and regulates cellular processes, including ion channel activity and cell migration. In this study, we show that PIP2 and PIPKI regulate the membrane translocation of Smurf1. Importantly, the recruitment of Smurf1 to the cell membrane through the association of its C2 domain with PIPKI-produced PIP2 is essential for Smurf1-mediated E3 ligase activity and cell migration. Therefore, we identify a PIPKI-PIP2-Smurf1 signaling axis that regulates cell migration.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2025•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025012
Pyroptosis is a regulated inflammatory cell death process that plays an essential role in various diseases. This study investigates the role of proline/serine-rich coiled-coil protein 1 (PSRC1) in pyroptosis and inflammation in macrophages. This study reports that PSRC1 expression is decreased in pyroptotic macrophages and that knockout of PSRC1 exacerbates pyroptosis and inflammation. PSRC1 overexpression alleviates pyroptosis and inflammation in macrophages. RNA-seq analysis reveals that PSRC1 regulates the expression of genes involved in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Specifically, PSRC1 downregulates the expression of periostin (POSTN), an ECM component. Knockdown of POSTN suppresses macrophage pyroptosis mediated by low expression of PSRC1. These findings suggest that PSRC1 can alleviate pyroptosis and inflammation in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) by regulating the ECM and negatively regulating POSTN. This study provides insights into the role of PSRC1 in macrophage pyroptosis and identifies a potential target for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Further research is needed to confirm these findings in vivo and in various disease models.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2025•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024181
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as essential regulators that play important roles in the development of multiple systems. Recent studies have identified significant roles for miRNAs in the progression of cardiac hypertrophy. This study aims to investigate the effects of miR-133b-3p on angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced cardiac hypertrophy and apoptosis, as well as explore its underlying mechanisms. Our experimental results reveal that miR-133b-3p expression is significantly decreased in both animal and cell models of cardiac hypertrophy induced by Ang II. Overexpression of miR-133b-3p reverses the hypertrophic manifestations and apoptosis induced by Ang II. Through bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assays, CDIP1 (cell death inducing p53 target 1) is identified as a direct target of miR-133b-3p, and the overexpression of miR-133b-3p reduces CDIP1 expression. Additionally, CDIP1 silencing suppresses cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and apoptosis induced by Ang II. In summary, these results suggest that miR-133b-3p may serve as a potential diagnostic marker for cardiac hypertrophy and that the upregulation of miR-133b-3p inhibits cardiac hypertrophy by targeting CDIP1.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2025•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024161
Acute lung injury (ALI) is a severe pulmonary disorder of sepsis with high clinical incidence and mortality. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3)-cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 1-gasdermin D (GSDMD)-dependent pyroptosis of alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) has emerged as a crucial contributor to ALI during sepsis. Phillyrin (PHI), a natural lignan isolated from the traditional Chinese herbal medicine Forsythia suspensa, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiviral properties. However, little is known about the protective role and potential mechanism of PHI in sepsis-induced ALI, and it is uncertain whether the protective effect of PHI in sepsis-induced ALI is connected to pyroptosis. This study aims to examine the preventive effects of PHI on sepsis-induced ALI via the inhibition of NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis in AECs. Our findings demonstrate that preadministration of PHI successfully reduces sepsis-induced pulmonary edema, systemic/pulmonary inflammation, and pulmonary histological damage in lung tissues, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and the serum of septic mice. Intriguingly, PHI preadministration suppresses sepsis-induced protein expressions of pyroptosis-specific markers, especially their active forms. In vitro assays show that PHI pretreatment also protects type II AECs (MLE-12) from lipopolysaccharide-induced pyroptosis by preventing the activation of the pyroptosis signaling pathway. The results from molecular docking and surface plasmon resonance reveal that PHI has a significant affinity for direct binding to the GSDMD protein, suggesting that GSDMD is a potential pharmacological target for PHI. In conclusion, PHI can prevent sepsis-triggered ALI by effectively suppressing the activation of the canonical pyroptosis signaling pathway and pyroptosis of AECs.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2025•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024171
Ozone (O3), a prevalent atmospheric pollutant, can induce lung injury. However, the molecular mechanisms of O3-induced acute lung inflammatory injury remain unclear. In this study, we investigate the abnormal changes in and molecular mechanism of mitochondrial homeostasis in alveolar macrophages (AMs) in O3-induced acute lung inflammatory injury mice. Mitochondria and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) are labeled with Mito-Tracker® Deep Red and MitoSOX Red, respectively. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in AMs from the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) is detected via real-time PCR, and the expressions of mitochondrial fusion/fission-related and biogenesis-related proteins in AMs are determined via immunofluorescence staining. Our data show that in O3-induced acute lung inflammatory injury mice, the number of AMs and the protein expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome complex in the lung tissue are increased. In AMs from O3-exposed mice, the number of mitochondria, mtROS, and fission-related protein DRP1 are increased, but the levels of Na+-K+-ATPase, fusion-related protein OPA1, biogenesis-related protein NRF1 and mtDNA are significantly decreased. Compared with that in O3-exposed WT mice, lung inflammation is attenuated, especially the indicators of mitochondrial homeostatic imbalance in AMs, which are alleviated in NLRP3‒/‒ and Caspase-1‒/‒ mice after O3 exposure. These findings indicate that the NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated imbalance in mitochondrial homeostasis in AMs contributes to O3-induced acute lung inflammatory injury. This study may provide a new target for the prevention of lung inflammation induced by O3.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2024•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2023264
Cellular senescence is an important factor leading to pulmonary fibrosis. Deficiency of 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (OGG1) in mice leads to alleviation of bleomycin (BLM)-induced mouse pulmonary fibrosis, and inhibition of the OGG1 enzyme reduces the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in lung cells. In the present study, we find decreased expression of OGG1 in aged mice and BLM-induced cell senescence. In addition, a decrease in OGG1 expression results in cell senescence, such as increases in the percentage of SA-β-gal-positive cells, and in the p21 and p-H2AX protein levels in response to BLM in lung cells. Furthermore, OGG1 promotes cell transformation in A549 cells in the presence of BLM. We also find that OGG1 siRNA impedes cell cycle progression and inhibits the levels of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and LaminB1 in BLM-treated lung cells. The increase in OGG1 expression results in the opposite phenomenon. The mRNA levels of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) components, including IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, CXCL1/CXCL2, and MMP-3, in the absence of OGG1 are obviously increased in A549 cells treated with BLM. Interestingly, we demonstrate that OGG1 binds to p53 to inhibit the activation of p53 and that silencing of p53 reverses the inhibition of OGG1 on senescence in lung cells. Additionally, the augmented cell senescence is shown in vivo in OGG1-deficient mice. Overall, we provide direct evidence in vivo and in vitro that OGG1 plays an important role in protecting tissue cells against aging associated with the p53 pathway.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2025•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024126
Transcription factor 3 (TCF3), a pivotal member of the TCF/LEF family, plays a critical role in tumorigenesis. Nonetheless, its impact on the tumor microenvironment (TME) and cancer phenotypes remains elusive. We perform an exhaustive analysis of TCF3 expression, DNA variation profiles, prognostic implications, and associations with the TME and immunological aspects. This study is based on a large-scale pan-cancer cohort, encompassing over 17,000 cancer patients from multiple independent datasets, validated by in vitro assays. Our results show that TCF3/4/7 exhibits differential expression patterns between normal and tumor tissues across pan-cancer analyses. Mutational analysis of TCF3 across diverse cancer types reveals the highest alteration rates in biliary tract cancer. Additionally, mutations and single nucleotide variants in TCF3/4/7 are found to exert varied effects on patient prognosis. Importantly, TCF3 emerges as a robust predictor of survival across all cancer cohorts and among patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors. Elevated TCF3 expression is correlated with more aggressive cancer subtypes, as validated by immunohistochemistry and diverse cohort data. Furthermore, TCF3 expression is positively correlated with intratumoral heterogeneity and angiogenesis. In vitro investigations demonstrate that TCF3 is involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis. These effects are likely mediated through the interaction of TCF3 with the NF-κB/MMP2 pathway, which is modulated by IL-17A in human uveal melanoma MUM2B cells. This study elucidates, for the first time, the significant associations of TCF3 with DNA variation profiles, prognostic outcomes, and the TME in multiple cancer contexts. TCF3 holds promise as a molecular marker for diagnosis and as a potential target for novel therapeutic strategies, particularly in uveal melanoma.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2024•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2023269
Previous studies have shown that puerarin plays a key role in protecting humans and animals from cardiovascular diseases. The exact mechanism of the therapeutic effect of puerarin on various cardiovascular diseases (protective effect on cardiomyocytes) is still unclear. In the present study, we identify the role of puerarin in an animal model of experimental heart failure (HF) and explore its underlying mechanisms. The HF rat model is induced by intraperitoneal injection of adriamycin (ADR), and puerarin is administered intragastrically at low, medium, and high concentrations. We demonstrate that puerarin significantly improves myocardial fibrosis and inflammatory infiltration and, as a result, improves cardiac function in ADR-induced HF rats. Mechanistically, we find for the first time that puerarin inhibits overactivated Na+/H+ exchange isoform 1 (NHE1) in HF, which may improve HF by decreasing Na+ and Ca2+ ion concentrations and attenuating mitochondrial damage caused by calcium overload; on the other hand, puerarin inhibits the activation of the p38 pathway in HF, reduces the expressions of TGF-β and proinflammatory cytokines, and suppresses myocardial fibrosis. In conclusion, our results suggest that Puerarin is an effective drug against HF and may play a protective role in the myocardium by inhibiting the activation of p38 and its downstream NHE1.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025137
DNA damage repair is a critical physiological process. The combined treatment of L-arginine (L-Arg) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) significantly inhibits cell proliferation, enhances nitric oxide (NO) production via inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and promotes the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This heightened oxidative stress triggers DNA damage and apoptosis, as evidenced by a substantial increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio; the activation of caspase-9, caspase-3, and PARP cleavage; and increased level of phosphorylated p53. Moreover, the combination treatment induces G2/M phase arrest, with a significant increase in p-H2AX (Ser 139) (known as γ-H2AX) expression, indicating extensive DNA damage. Mechanistically, the combined treatment modulates DNA damage response pathways by downregulating DNA-PKcs. Concurrently, it enhances the phosphorylation of ATM, ATR, CHK1, CHK2, and BRCA1. Additionally, the L-Arg and 5-FU combination downregulates PI3K/AKT signaling. AZD-7648 (a DNA-PKcs inhibitor) and LY294002 (a PI3K inhibitor) enhance p-ATM and p-ATR activation, resulting in elevated apoptosis and increased γ-H2AX expression. In contrast, the inhibition of ATM/ATR by CGK733 suppresses this response, reducing apoptosis and DNA damage signaling. Additionally, the ROS scavengers NAC and iNOS, when applied separately, restore p-AKT and DNA-PKcs expression; suppress the upregulation of p-ATM, p-ATR, and γ-H2AX; and ultimately reduce apoptosis. These findings are validated in a DEN-induced rat liver cancer model. In summary, 5-FU and L-Arg synergistically increase iNOS/NO-driven ROS accumulation, inducing γ-H2AX-marked DNA damage through dual modulation of repair pathways (inhibiting PI3K/AKT/DNA-PKcs while activating ATM/ATR), ultimately triggering p53-mediated G2/M arrest and apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025083
The urea cycle occurs mainly in the liver and undergoes changes during hepatocarcinogenesis. Argininosuccinate synthase 1 (ASS1) is a key enzyme in the urea cycle and is expressed at low levels in certain cancers. LM2I, a specific activator of ASS1, exhibits significant antitumor activity. However, the antitumor mechanism of LM2I in liver cancer remains unclear. In this study, we find that LM2I is more effective for liver cancer cells with low ASS1 expression. The results of the IP-LC/MS experiments reveal that ASS1 interacts with CAD. The expressions of ASS1 and CAD in liver cancer tissues and cells are negatively correlated. LM2I promotes the ubiquitination of CAD protein through ASS1. LM2I inhibits the proliferation of liver cancer cells in vivo and in vitro. However, its efficacy is weak in liver cancer cells stably overexpressing CAD. The H&E staining results reveal that LM2I has no toxicity in mice. In terms of metabolism, LM2I increases the urea content and decreases the pyrimidine content in liver cancer cells. Overexpression of CAD can reduce the inhibitory effect of LM2I on pyrimidine. Pyrimidine supplementation facilitates the proliferation of liver cancer cells, particularly when they are treated with LM2I. In summary, ASS1 interacts with CAD, and LM2I enhances CAD degradation through the activation of ASS1, consequently inhibiting pyrimidine synthesis and the progression of liver cancer.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025117
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a significant global health challenge due to its aggressive malignancy. Abnormal glycosylation is a frequent phenomenon in tumor cells and manifests as alterations in key cancer biomarkers. This phenomenon is driven primarily by changes in the expressions of glycosyltransferases. Our study focuses on GALNT7, a member of the GALNT glycosyltransferase family, which catalyzes the initiation of O-linked glycan synthesis by transferring N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) to serine or threonine residues on target proteins. We observe that GALNT7 expression is notably increased in HCC tissues and is correlated with increased tumor cell invasion, migration, and proliferation, alongside with reduced apoptosis, both in vivo and in vitro. Further molecular analyses indicate that GALNT7 specifically modifies the O-glycosylation pattern of MUC13, thereby influencing the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Additionally, elevated GALNT7 level enhances resistance to lenvatinib-based chemotherapy regimens. Thus, GALNT7 is a critical regulator of oncogenic processes in HCC. Targeting the GALNT7-MUC13-PI3K/AKT axis represents a novel therapeutic strategy for combating HCC.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2025•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024125
Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) play central roles in protein biosynthesis. Post-transcriptional RNA modifications affect tRNA function and stability. Among these modifications, RNA editing is a widespread RNA modification in three domains of life. Proteins of the adenosine deaminase acting on tRNA (ADAT) family were discovered more than 20 years ago. They catalyze the deamination of adenosine to inosine (A-to-I) or cytidine to uridine (C-to-U) during tRNA maturation. The most studied example is the TadA- or ADAT2/3-mediated A-to-I conversion of the tRNA wobble position in the anticodon of prokaryotic or eukaryotic tRNAs, respectively. This review provides detailed information on A-to-I and C-to-U editing of tRNAs in different domains of life, presents recent new findings on ADATs for DNA editing, and finally comments on the association of mutations in the ADAT3 gene with intellectual disability.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2024•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024026
Adhesion molecules play critical roles in maintaining the structural integrity of the airway epithelium in airways under stress. Previously, we reported that catenin alpha-like 1 (CTNNAL1) is downregulated in an asthma animal model and upregulated at the edge of human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) after ozone stress. In this work, we explore the potential role of CTNNAL1 in the structural adhesion of HBECs and its possible mechanism. We construct a CTNNAL1‒/‒ mouse model with CTNNAL1-RNAi recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) in the lung and a CTNNAL1-silencing cell line stably transfected with CTNNAL1-siRNA recombinant plasmids. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining reveals that CTNNAL1‒/‒ mice have denuded epithelial cells and structural damage to the airway. Silencing of CTNNAL1 in HBECs inhibits cell proliferation and weakens extracellular matrix adhesion and intercellular adhesion, possibly through the action of the cytoskeleton. We also find that the expressions of the structural adhesion-related molecules E-cadherin, integrin β1, and integrin β4 are significantly decreased in ozone-treated cells than in vector control cells. In addition, our results show that the expression levels of RhoA/ROCK1 are decreased after CTNNAL1 silencing. Treatment with Y27632, a ROCK inhibitor, abolished the expressions of adhesion molecules induced by ozone in CTNNAL1-overexpressing HBECs. Overall, the findings of the present study suggest that CTNNAL1 plays a critical role in maintaining the structural integrity of the airway epithelium under ozone challenge, and is associated with epithelial cytoskeleton dynamics and the expressions of adhesion-related molecules via the RhoA/ROCK1 pathway.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2024•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024074
Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) poses a significant health challenge, so comprehensive research efforts to improve our understanding and treatment strategies are needed. However, the development of effective treatments is hindered by the limitation of existing liver disease models. Liver organoids, characterized by their cellular complexity and three-dimensional (3D) tissue structure closely resembling the human liver, hold promise as ideal models for liver disease research. In this study, we use a meticulously designed protocol involving the differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into liver organoids. This process incorporates a precise combination of cytokines and small molecule compounds within a 3D culture system to guide the differentiation process. Subsequently, these differentiated liver organoids are subject to ethanol treatment to induce ALD, thus establishing a disease model. A rigorous assessment through a series of experiments reveals that this model partially recapitulates key pathological features observed in clinical ALD, including cellular mitochondrial damage, elevated cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, fatty liver, and hepatocyte necrosis. In addition, this model offers potential use in screening drugs for ALD treatment. Overall, the liver organoid model of ALD, which is derived from hiPSC differentiation, has emerged as an invaluable platform for advancing our understanding and management of ALD in clinical settings.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2025•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024093
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Increasing evidence suggests that long noncoding RNAs play crucial roles in lung cancer pathogenesis. We previously identified a novel lncRNA, LINC070974, which is associated with tumor cell proliferation. In the present study, we find that knockdown of LINC070974 inhibits cell proliferation, migration and invasion as well as tumor formation both in vitro and in nude mice. LINC070974 silencing also improves cisplatin efficacy in A549/DDP cells. The function of LINC070974 may depend on its interaction with YBX1. Knockdown of LINC070974 reduces the recruitment of YBX1 to the CCND1 promoter and delays tumor progression through its coregulatory genes, which are mainly involved in the p53 signaling pathway. We utilize nebulized inhalation to deliver siRNAs targeting LINC070974 and find that knockdown of LINC070974 significantly prevents tumor metastasis and growth in lung tissues. These findings reveal the role of LINC070974 in lung cancer and suggest a promising therapeutic approach involving siRNA inhalation.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2024•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024132
Through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and integrated expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analyses, numerous susceptibility genes (“eGenes”, whose expressions are significantly associated with common variants) associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have been identified. Notably, a subset of these eGenes is correlated with disease activity. However, the precise mechanisms through which these genes contribute to the initiation and progression of the disease remain to be fully elucidated. In this investigation, we initially identify SPATS2L as an SLE eGene correlated with disease activity. eSignaling and transcriptomic analyses suggest its involvement in the type I interferon (IFN) pathway. We observe a significant increase in SPATS2L expression following type I IFN stimulation, and the expression levels are dependent on both the concentration and duration of stimulation. Furthermore, through dual-luciferase reporter assays, western blot analysis, and imaging flow cytometry, we confirm that SPATS2L positively modulates the type I IFN pathway, acting as a positive feedback regulator. Notably, siRNA-mediated intervention targeting SPATS2L, an interferon-inducible gene, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with SLE reverses the activation of the interferon pathway. In conclusion, our research highlights the pivotal role of SPATS2L as a positive-feedback regulatory molecule within the type I IFN pathway. Our findings suggest that SPATS2L plays a critical role in the onset and progression of SLE and may serve as a promising target for disease activity assessment and intervention strategies.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2024•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024061
Glioblastoma (GBM), the most aggressive and fatal brain malignancy, is largely driven by a subset of tumor cells known as cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs possess stem cell-like properties, including self-renewal, proliferation, and differentiation, making them pivotal for tumor initiation, invasion, metastasis, and overall tumor progression. The regulation of CSCs is primarily controlled by transcription factors (TFs) which regulate the expressions of genes involved in maintaining stemness and directing differentiation. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the role of TFs in regulating CSCs in GBM. The discussion encompasses the definitions of CSCs and TFs, the significance of glioma stem cells (GSCs) in GBM, and how TFs regulate GSC self-renewal, proliferation, differentiation, and transformation. The potential for developing TF-targeted GSC therapies is also explored, along with future research directions. By understanding the regulation of GSCs by TFs, we may uncover novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies against this devastating disease of GBM.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2024•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024097
Phosphatidylcholine (PC) is the most abundant phospholipid in mammalian cells, accounting for approximately 50% of all phospholipids and serving as a main component of cellular and subcellular membranes. PC is a mixture of many species with distinct functions, and its levels are altered in cancer. Previous studies have shown contradictory roles of PC in cancer development. Here, we investigated the effects of PC and its main component, 1,2-dilinoleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DLPC), on mouse colon cancer MC38 cells. PC dose-dependently decreased cell viability, and DLPC was identified as the active component. DLPC inhibited MC38 cell growth more effectively than PC, while structurally similar PCs with different acyl chain lengths or unsaturation degrees did not. This suggests that the specific structure of DLPC is crucial for its activity. Further mechanistic studies revealed that DLPC induces ferroptosis, a form of regulated cell death, in cancer cells. These findings highlight DLPC as a potential therapeutic agent for cancer treatment and underscore the importance of studying individual PC species.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2024•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024087
The aberrant proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) contribute to the development of neointima formation in vascular restenosis. This study aims to explore the function of the long noncoding RNA H19 in neointima formation. A mouse carotid ligation model was established, and human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were used as a cell model. lncRNA H19 overexpression promoted VSMC proliferation and migration. Moreover, miR-125a-3p potentially bound to lncRNA H19, and Fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (FLT1) might be a direct target of miR-125a-3p in VSMCs. Upregulation of miR-125a-3p alleviated lncRNA H19-enhanced VSMC proliferation and migration. Furthermore, rescue experiments showed that enhanced expression of miR-125a-3p attenuated lncRNA H19-induced FLT1 expression in VSMCs. In addition, the overexpression of lncRNA H19 significantly exacerbated neointima formation in a mouse carotid ligation model. In summary, lncRNA H19 stimulates VSMC proliferation and migration by acting as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) of miR-125a-3p. lncRNA H19 may be a therapeutic target for restenosis.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2024•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024146
Eukaryotic gene expression is regulated at multiple levels, aiding in maintaining normal phenotypes and environmental adaptability. Transcriptional regulation complexity has been extensively studied using high-throughput sequencing, and previous studies have shown that different transcript isoforms can be produced through complex regulatory mechanisms via large-scale RNA sequencing. Additionally, translational regulation, which significantly influences gene expression, is controlled by complex mechanisms [1]. The untranslated regions (UTRs) of eukaryotic mRNA, encompassing the 5′ UTR, 3′ UTR and polyadenylation tail (polyA), are pivotal for translational regulation, with distinct cis-regulatory elements in the 5′ UTR and 3′ UTR of various transcript isoforms, leading to substantial variations in translational regulation across transcripts. To shed light on translational regulation, previous studies have performed isolation of ribosome-associated poly-adenylated RNAs (i.e., translatome) and deep sequencing for mRNA translation [2]. Polysome profiling is the most common method used to study translatome, which can enable the isolation of full-length translated mRNAs, thereby facilitating the identification of UTRs, assessment of selective translation, and comprehension of the regulatory mechanisms underlying gene expression [2]. Drosophila embryonic development progresses very rapidly and requires precise regulation of the transcription and translation of a large number of genes to ensure normal gene expression. Although Drosophila has been extensively studied as a model organism, the specific interplay between transcription and translation during embryonic development stages is not yet fully understood. To investigate the dynamic regulation of gene expression during Drosophila embryogenesis, we conducted transcriptome and translatome co-profiling on early (0‒4 h) embryos and S2R+ cells, a cell line derived from late embryonic stages of Drosophila melanogaster [3], to compare the differences in translational regulation at the gene and transcript isoform levels. S2R+ cell culture and early (0–4 h) embryo collection were performed (see Supplementary Methods) to compare transcriptome and translatome profiling, as shown in Supplementary Figure S1. Cytosolic RNA and ribosome-associated RNA were isolated from embryos [4] and S2R+ cells, which were used for constructing RNA-Seq libraries. Four libraries were generated for RNA-seq (see Supplementary Methods), consisting of two cytosolic RNA libraries and two ribosome-associated RNA libraries (Supplementary Figure S1A,B). The strand-specific RNA-seq libraries were prepared using the Illumina TruSeq Stranded mRNA Sample Preparation Kit (Illumina, San Diego, USA). The library was sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq X Ten System. We employed Trimmomatic [5] to remove low-quality reads, which resulted in approximately 89 million, 76 million, 72 million, and 56 million clean reads for the transcriptome and translatome of the early embryos and S2R+ cells, respectively. These reads were then mapped to the Drosophila genome (UCSC dm6) using HISAT2 [6]. The unique mapped reads ratio ranges from 94% to 85% and reads mapped to rRNA were less than 6% (Supplementary Table S1), indicating the high quality of the four RNA-seq libraries. Using StringTie [7], 33,470 transcripts were assembled for four mapping sequencing libraries, which revealed an average of 1.9 transcribed transcripts and 1.8 translated transcripts per gene (Supplementary Table S1), suggesting the usage of transcript isoforms widely existed in both transcription and translation of Drosophila embryos. To explore the divergence of the transcriptome during Drosophila development, we compared the transcriptome of the early embryos and S2R+ cells to identify genes with |log2(fold change)| ≥1, FPKM ≥1 in at least one condition, and adjusted P value ≤0.001. In total, we identified 2267 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from 8815 genes. Among these DEGs, 2147 genes showed higher expression levels in the embryos, while 120 genes showed higher expression levels in S2R+ cells (Figure 1A and Supplementary Figure S2A). To investigate the underlying functional mechanism, we performed enrichment analysis to identify DEG-enriched pathways (Supplementary Table S2). Interestingly, the top 10 enriched pathways are related to morphogenesis an
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology•2025•DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1000-4718.2025.06.001
AIM: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a specialized subset of CD4+ T cells primarily involved in immunosuppressive functions. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) serves as a metabolic sensor that governs the differentiation, maturation, and immune functions of Tregs through metabolic reprogramming. However, the impact of AMPKα1 (the catalytic subunit of AMPK) knockout specifically in Tregs on the host's immune microenvironment remains largely unexplored. METHODS: Histological changes in immune organs were assessed using HE staining. The types of immune cells and their relative population percentages in immune organs and blood were quantified through flow cytometry in both AMPKα1flox/flox (AMPKα1fl/fl) mice and Treg-specific AMPKα1 knockout mice (AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre mice). RESULTS: Compared to AMPKα1fl/fl mice, the percentage of eosinophils in the bone marrow of AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre mice was significantly reduced. Additionally, while the thymus of AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre mice exhibited normal structure, both its size and the ratio of thymus weight to body weight were significantly decreased. The knockout of AMPKα1 in Tregs led to a notable reduction in the total percentage of immature double-negative (DN) cells. Consequently, the percentage of CD4+ T cells derived from these DN cells also decreased, even though the percentages of DN1 and DN4 cells were higher in the thymus of AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre mice compared to AMPKα1fl/fl mice. Importantly, the proportion of Siglec-F+ CD11b+ eosinophils in the thymus was significantly lower in AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre mice. Knockout of AMPKα1 in Tregs resulted in a marked increase in the percentage of CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood, alongside a decrease in the proportion of mature CD8+ T cells. Similarly, the proportion of CD4+ T cells in the spleen of AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre mice was elevated compared to AMPKα1fl/fl mice. In contrast, the proportion of neutrophils significantly decreased, while mononuclear cell proportions increased in the spleen of AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre mice. In lymph nodes, the medullary boundaries in AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre mice were blurred, and the lymphoid follicles were missing, a feature not observed in AMPKα1fl/fl mice. Furthermore, the knockout of AMPKα1 in Tregs reduced the CD3+ T cell population, particularly the CD8+ T cell population, in lymph nodes. Although the mature Treg cell population was significantly lower in AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre mice, the percentage of CD4+ T cells was markedly increased. In contrast, there was no statistically significant difference in granulocyte populations between AMPKα1fl/flFoxp3cre and AMPKα1fl/fl mice. CONCLUSION: The populations of mature Tregs, CD8+ T cells and eosinophils in various immune organs were significantly altered in mice with Treg-specific AMPKα1 knockout, suggesting a potential remodeling of the host immune microenvironment in response to inflammatory stimuli.
Chinese Journal of Pathophysiology•2024•DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1000-4718.2024.05.004
AIM: To investigate the effect of protopanaxatriol (PPT) on the drug resistance of paclitaxel (PTX)-resistant human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells (MB231-PR cells). METHODS: The MB231-PR cells were constructed as cell models. They were treated with PPT, and incubated for a certain period of time according to the experimental settings. CellTiter-Glo was used to determine the viability of MB231-PR cells and MDA-MB-231 parental cells (MB231-PT cells). The change of sub-G1 phase was detected by flow cytometry. Western blot was used to evaluate the apoptosis-related proteins, such as cleaved caspase-3, cleaved poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and survivin. The activity of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) was detected by luciferase reporter assay and immunofluorescence assay. The mRNA expression levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, chemokine CXC motif ligand 1 (CXCL1), chemokine CC motif ligand 2 (CCL2), CD44, NANOG, octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT4), sex-determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2) and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) were detected by qPCR. The protein levels of IL-6 and IL-8 were measured by ELISA. Tumor sphere formation assay was used to evaluate the characteristics of stem cells. RESULTS: (1) The viability of MB231-PR cells was suppressed by PPT treatment in a dose-dependent manner compared with MB231-PT cells (P<0.01). Besides, the viability of MB231-PR cells was decreased after combined treatment with PPT and PTX (P<0.01), the accumulation of sub-G1 phase was induced (P<0.01), the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 was elevated (P<0.01), and the protein levels of survivin, cleaved PARP and cleaved caspase-3 were increased (P<0.05). (2) After PPT treatment combined with PTX, the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, CXCL1 and CCL2) and cancer stem cell-related markers (OCT4, SOX2, NANOG, ALDH1 and CD44) was reduced (P<0.05), and the protein levels of IL-6 and IL-8 were decreased (P<0.01). The activity of NF-κB in MB231-PR cells was suppressed (P<0.05), and the growth of tumor spheres from MB231-PR cells was damaged (P<0.05). (3) Immunofluorescence assay showed that PTX induced nuclear p-p65 expression, but this effect was attenuated by PPT. CONCLUSION: Combined treatment with PPT and PTX could attenuate PTX resistance of MB231-PR cells by inhibiting inflammatory cytokines and cancer stem cells.
Stem Cell Research & Therapy•2026•DOI: 10.1186/s13287-026-04903-y
Sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remain clinical syndromes with mortality exceeding 40% and no targeted pharmacotherapy. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation has shown promise, but poor pulmonary retention and limited endothelial repair capacity constrain therapeutic efficacy. This study evaluates fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 (Fndc5)/irisin-modified rat MSCs (MSCs-Fndc5) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI. In vivo, MSCs-Fndc5 exhibited significantly elevated lung retention, reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α), diminished neutrophil infiltration, attenuated pulmonary edema (lower wet-to-dry weight ratio), and preserved vascular endothelial integrity. In vitro, Fndc5 modification enhanced MSC proliferation and migration, and co-culture with LPS-injured endothelial cells restored β-catenin and VE-cadherin expression, improved barrier function, and promoted angiogenesis. Mechanistically, MSCs-Fndc5 activated the PI3K/AKT pathway in endothelial cells, as evidenced by increased p-PI3K and p-AKT; the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 abolished these protective effects. These findings demonstrate that Fndc5 modification augments MSC retention and endothelial repair via partial PI3K/AKT activation, providing a rational strategy to enhance MSC-based therapy for ALI/ARDS.
Stem Cell Research & Therapy•2026•DOI: 10.1186/s13287-026-04903-y
Background: Acute lung injury/Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) is a life-threatening inflammatory lung disorder characterized by high mortality rates and a lack of effective treatment options. Although mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapies have emerged as a promising approach for ARDS management, optimizing their therapeutic efficacy remains a significant challenge. Recent advances in gene modification techniques have opened new avenues for enhancing MSC functionality. Among these, Fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 (Fndc5)/irisin has attracted considerable attention due to its ability to improve endothelial function. This study aims to evaluate the therapeutic potential of Fndc5-modified MSCs in sepsis-induced ALI/ARDS and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms driving their protective effects. Methods: To comprehensively evaluate the therapeutic potential of Fndc5-modified MSCs (MSCs-Fndc5) in ARDS, we employed both in vivo and in vitro experimental models. In vivo, a mouse model of sepsis-induced ALI was established through intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the protective effects of MSCs-Fndc5 were systematically assessed by analyzing lung histopathology, inflammatory cytokine levels, vascular endothelial integrity, lung wet-to-dry weight ratio, and MSC retention in lung tissue. In parallel, in vitro studies were conducted to investigate the role of MSCs-Fndc5 in mitigating LPS-induced endothelial cell (EC) injury, with a focus on EC proliferation, angiogenesis, barrier permeability, apoptosis, and the regulation of key signaling pathways. Results: Fndc5 modification significantly increased the retention rate of MSCs in sepsis-induced ALI murine model while augmenting their in vitro proliferation and migration potential. In vivo, treatment with Fndc5-modified MSCs markedly attenuated lung inflammation, as evidenced by reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, decreased neutrophil infiltration, and improved lung histopathology. Additionally, MSCs-Fndc5 alleviated pulmonary edema, reduced fibrosis, lowered the lung wet-to-dry weight ratio, and preserved vascular endothelial integrity. In vitro, MSCs-Fndc5 significantly enhanced cell proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, endothelial barrier function, apoptosis inhibition, likely via PI3K/AKT pathway activation. Conclusions: Fndc5 overexpression in MSCs augments their therapeutic efficacy in sepsis-induced ALI/ARDS, which may be achieved by activating the endothelial PI3K/AKT pathway and improving MSCs retention in vivo. These findings propose MSCs-Fndc5 as a promising therapeutic strategy for sepsis-induced ALI/ARDS by enhancing endothelial repair, curbing inflammation, and modulating pivotal signaling pathways.
Stem Cell Research & Therapy•2026•DOI: 10.1186/s13287-026-05026-0
Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a progressive orthopedic disorder culminating in femoral head collapse and joint failure. Dysfunction of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), including impaired osteogenesis, enhanced adipogenesis, and mitochondrial dysfunction, is a central driver of ONFH pathogenesis. Paired BMSCs were isolated from necrotic femoral head regions (fhBMSCs) and the iliac crest (iBMSCs) of ONFH patients. Functional assays, RNA sequencing, and molecular analyses evaluated the effects of the hypoxia mimetic dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG) on osteogenic–adipogenic balance, mitochondrial function, and senescence. Loss-of-function experiments targeting hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and Homer3 elucidated mechanistic pathways. Compared with iBMSCs, fhBMSCs exhibited impaired osteogenesis, enhanced adipogenesis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and increased senescence. DMOG pretreatment restored osteogenic differentiation, suppressed adipogenesis, improved mitochondrial dynamics, reduced oxidative stress, and enhanced bioenergetic metabolism. These protective effects were dependent on HIF-1α stabilization. Transcriptomic profiling identified Homer3 as a downstream negative regulator of HIF-1α. Homer3 was aberrantly upregulated in fhBMSCs but suppressed by DMOG, and its knockdown mimicked the effects of DMOG by promoting osteogenesis, inhibiting adipogenesis, enhancing mitophagy, and restoring mitochondrial function. Conversely, silencing HIF-1α abolished DMOG-mediated benefits and reinstated Homer3 expression. These findings suggest that pharmacological targeting of the HIF-1α/Homer3 axis may represent a novel joint-preserving strategy for ONFH.
Stem Cell Research & Therapy•2026•DOI: 10.1186/s13287-026-05066-6
Background: Inadequate vascularization remains a major limitation in tissue engineering, often leading to graft failure due to limited oxygen and nutrient supply. Prevascularization, the formation of microvascular networks within scaffolds before implantation, aims to accelerate perfusion and improve graft integration. We developed bilayer electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone)/poly(l-lactide) (PCL/PLA) scaffolds prevascularized by co-culture of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) and human placental arterial endothelial cells (HPAECs). Methods: AD-MSCs were isolated from lipoaspirates and characterized by flow cytometry and functional assays. Bilayered PCL/PLA scaffolds were engineered with a wide-meshed layer for cell infiltration and a fine-meshed layer for mechanical stability. Scaffolds were seeded with AD-MSCs, HPAECs, or both (co-culture). Cell viability, adhesion, and apoptosis were analyzed histologically. Angiogenic and vasculogenic potential was evaluated in vitro and in vivo using the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. Results: AD-MSCs expressed characteristic markers, demonstrated adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation, and promoted angiogenesis in 2D co-culture. ELISA analyses indicated dynamic secretion of VEGF, HGF, and bFGF, reflecting both paracrine and contact-dependent AD-MSC–HPAEC interactions. On scaffolds, cells primarily adhered to the wide-meshed layer. Co-culture induced vessel-like structures within a multicellular stromal environment; monocultures did not support prevascularization. Five days post-implantation, prevascularized scaffolds exhibited human microvessels at the scaffold–CAM interface and in adjacent tissue, closely associated with AD-MSCs and containing chicken erythrocytes—indicating successful anastomosis and functional perfusion. Quantitative analysis showed a significant increase in vessel branching points in the host CAM tissue in response to AD-MSC-only (2.8-fold) and co-culture conditions. Conclusions: Electrospun PCL/PLA scaffolds serve as effective bioactive matrices for supporting prevascularization and tissue engineering. Co-culture of human AD-MSCs and HPAECs promoted the formation of vascular structures within stromal compartments that successfully integrated with host tissue and established functional anastomoses. While both AD-MSC monocultures and co-cultures enhanced host vessel sprouting, stable and perfused microvascular networks formed exclusively in the co-culture setting, underscoring the critical importance of stromal–endothelial interactions. These findings establish a technically accessible and translationally relevant platform to enhance early graft perfusion, with potential applications for regenerative therapies targeting ischemic and non-healing tissue defects.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025148
Mesothelial cells play an important role in colorectal cancer peritoneal metastasis (CRC-PM), where they support tumor growth and invasion. In this study, we investigate the molecular mechanisms by which mesothelial cells contribute to CRC metastasis. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on tissue samples from 12 CRC patients with peritoneal metastasis, we identify PDK4 as a key gene in mesothelial cells during metastasis. The expression of PDK4 is significantly greater in mesothelial cells undergoing mesothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (MMT) compared to normal peritoneal cells, suggesting its involvement in mesothelial cell reprogramming during peritoneal metastasis. In vitro experiments show that coculturing mesothelial cells with CRC cells leads to increased PDK4 expression, which in turn enhances mesothelial cell migration and invasion. Knockdown of PDK4 reduces mesothelial cell invasion, while overexpression of PDK4 increases invasive ability, highlighting its critical role in mesothelial cell invasion. Additionally, PDK4 promotes metabolic changes, specifically increasing fatty acid oxidation (FAO), which is necessary for mesothelial cell invasion. Blocking FAO reduces the invasive ability of PDK4-overexpressing mesothelial cells, while restoring FAO in PDK4-knockdown cells rescues their invasion potential. Further analysis shows that PDK4 enhances the acetylation of β-catenin, a protein involved in cell movement, and that this modification is crucial for mesothelial cell invasion. Our results suggest that PDK4 regulates mesothelial cell invasion through β-catenin acetylation following metabolic reprogramming, offering a potential target for therapies aimed at inhibiting CRC-PM.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025242
Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) caused by anti-tuberculosis drugs is a serious clinical problem that can lead to acute liver failure and even death. Early identification of anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury (TB-DILI) is crucial to avoid severe outcomes. Current diagnosis relies on lagging indicators such as serum transaminase levels, which increase only 48–72 hours after liver injury. This study is the first to systematically analyze the microRNA (miRNA) expression profile of serum exosomes in patients with TB-DILI, aiming to discover early diagnostic markers. Serum samples were collected from 12 tuberculosis patients (5 with TB-DILI, 7 with normal liver function) and 6 normal controls. Extracellular vesicles were isolated via size exclusion chromatography and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, Western blot, and NanoFCM. Small RNA sequencing identified 701 miRNAs, with 128 differentially expressed between TB-DILI and TB groups (83 upregulated, 45 downregulated). Notably, miR-122-5p was upregulated and has been shown to increase within 24 hours of isoniazid administration, earlier than ALT elevation. Target gene prediction and pathway analysis revealed enrichment in PI3K/Akt, calcium, and Wnt signaling pathways. Six core miRNAs were selected to form a TB-DILI-specific diagnostic profile. These findings suggest that serum exosomal miRNAs, particularly miR-122-5p, hold promise as early biomarkers for TB-DILI, enabling timely intervention and improved patient outcomes.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2026002
The newly discovered midnolin-proteasome pathway is a unique ubiquitin-independent mechanism for degrading nuclear proteins, which is crucial for maintaining cellular protein homeostasis. The Catch domain of midnolin is essential for substrate recognition and binding, yet the underlying mechanism for its broad substrate specificity remains elusive. Transcription factor IRF4, essential for the functions of B and T cells, is a substrate of midnolin. This study presents comprehensive biochemical and structural analyses of the human midnolin Catch domain in complexes with both wild-type and mutant IRF4 peptides. The crystal structure of the Catch-IRF4 complex reveals that the Catch domain creates a substrate-binding groove at the interface of the Catch1 and Catch2 subdomains, recognizing and binding to the 215-QVTGTFYAC-223 sequence motif of IRF4. The binding motif of IRF4 forms a β-strand that is embedded into the substrate-binding groove, resulting in an antiparallel five-stranded β-sheet. The interactions between the IRF4 peptide and the Catch domain are predominantly hydrophobic and exhibit high spatial complementarity. Additionally, the biochemical, modeling and structural data indicate that the V2 and A8 positions of the IRF4 sequence motif can be substituted with other hydrophobic or small polar residues (G/A/V/L/I/M/P/F/Y/C/S/T), but not with large polar and charged residues (D/N/E/Q/H/K/R). The G4 position can be replaced by Ser, while the F6 position can be substituted with Tyr. These results suggest that the Catch domain can recognize and bind to a variety of substrates containing the sequence motif x[G/A/V/L/I/M/P/F/Y/C/S/T]x[G/S]x[F/Y]x[G/A/V/L/I/M/P/F/Y/C/S/T]x or briefly the G/SxF/Y motif (where x represents polar residues) located in an unstructured or loop region on the protein surface, and the hydrophobic interactions and spatial complementarity between the binding motifs of substrates and the Catch domain govern the substrate specificity. Collectively, these findings elucidate the molecular basis for midnolin’s broad substrate specificity.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2025222
Poultry production faces escalating challenges from intensive farming practices, where stressors disrupt intestinal integrity, microbiota balance, and antioxidant defenses, leading to economic losses. Although antibiotics have historically mitigated such issues, growing restrictions due to antimicrobial resistance necessitate natural alternatives. Fungal polysaccharides (FP), notably lentinan (LNT) from Lentinula edodes and polysaccharide from Ganoderma lucidum (GLP), are promising candidates owing to their immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and prebiotic properties. However, existing research focuses predominantly on individual FP, neglecting potential synergies in blended formulations. We hypothesized that mixed FP synergistically enhance intestinal health by simultaneously improving nutrient absorption, activating antioxidant pathways, and stabilizing microbial ecosystems. To investigate, 240 one-day-old Arbor Acres male broilers were randomly assigned to control (0 mg/kg FP) and treatment groups receiving 200, 400, or 600 mg/kg mixed FP (1:1 ratio of GLP and LNT). On day 42, intestinal segments were collected for morphological analysis, antioxidant enzyme activities, gene expression, and cecal microbiota composition. Results showed that 400 mg/kg FP significantly increased villus height and VH/CD ratio across all intestinal segments while reducing crypt depth, indicating enhanced nutrient absorption. Antioxidant enzyme activities (T-AOC, T-SOD, GSH-Px) were elevated, and mRNA expression of HO-1, NQO1, CAT, and Nrf2 was upregulated, with Keap1 downregulated, suggesting activation of the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway. Microbiota analysis revealed increased alpha diversity (Shannon and Simpson indices) and altered composition, with elevated abundances of beneficial genera such as Butyricimonas and Alistipes, and increased Verrucomicrobiota phylum. These findings demonstrate that mixed FP supplementation at 400 mg/kg improves intestinal health, antioxidant capacity, and microbiota diversity in broilers, offering a natural alternative to antibiotics.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2026110
For decades, cellular metabolism was viewed as a static network of biochemical pathways designed solely to produce ATP and fulfill basic energy needs. Classical pathophysiology frequently attributes systemic disorders, including cardiovascular disease, oncogenesis and tissue fibrosis, to structural defects, hormonal dysregulations or localized inflammation. However, advanced multi-omics frameworks have driven a paradigm shift, with metabolic reprogramming being recognized not merely as a passive consequence of disease but also as a primary driver of initiation, progression, and therapeutic resistance across human pathologies. This Special Issue, titled “Metabolic Reprogramming,” brings together 17 comprehensive studies alongside 3 New Phenomena exploring these transformations. The contributions span four interrelated thematic areas: (1) systemic cardiometabolic and gestational syndromes; (2) acute and chronic organ injury; (3) oncological metabolic dependencies; and (4) systemic organ-axis interdependencies. By integrating transcriptomics, metabolomics, single-cell deconvolution, and targeted biochemical analyses, these studies elucidate the precise molecular mechanisms governing metabolic remodeling. Key findings include the role of tissue-specific metabolic reprogramming in cardiometabolic syndrome, the impact of pregnancy-induced skeletal muscle reprogramming on gestational diabetes, the cardioprotective mechanisms of Levosimendan via Nrf2 in septic cardiomyopathy, the protective role of SBK3 in cardiac hypertrophy, the SENP1-DDX17 axis in carfilzomib cardiotoxicity, FGF13 as a therapeutic target in doxorubicin cardiotoxicity, and the beneficial effects of aminoguanidine in diabetic vasculopathy. These insights underscore the potential of targeting metabolic pathways for innovative therapeutic strategies.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2026037
Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy among women, with approximately 2.3 million new cases diagnosed annually. Brain metastasis is a significant cause of mortality, particularly in HER2-positive and triple-negative subtypes. Current therapies are limited by the blood-brain barrier. This study aimed to identify core genes associated with breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM) using bioinformatics and machine learning. We analyzed the GSE43837 dataset (19 nonmetastatic primary breast tumors and 19 brain metastases) using differential expression analysis and weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA). We identified 245 upregulated and 188 downregulated genes. WGCNA revealed key modules (midnightblue and black) with 89 candidate genes. Intersection with differentially expressed genes yielded 29 overlapping genes. LASSO regression and random forest identified four core genes: B3GNT9, SERPINF1, LUM, and CILP. ROC analysis showed strong discriminatory power (AUC > 0.87). External validation in GSE125989 confirmed downregulation of SERPINF1, LUM, and CILP in brain metastases, with a combined model achieving AUC 0.984. Experimental validation in zebrafish and mouse models confirmed the role of these genes in BCBM. These findings suggest that SERPINF1, LUM, CILP, and B3GNT9 are potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for BCBM.
Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica•2026•DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2026025
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the predominant type of primary liver cancer, represents an extremely aggressive malignancy. The induction of cuproptosis has developed into a favorable therapeutic direction for HCC, considering its strong association with HCC. Sanguinarine (San), a benzophenanthridine alkaloid derived from traditional herbs such as Chelidonium majus L., demonstrates broad-spectrum anticancer activities against various cancer cell types. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying its effects in the treatment of HCC remain largely undefined. This investigation seeks to examine the anti-HCC effects of San and to explore the mechanisms underlying these effects through the induction of cuproptosis. In vitro experiments demonstrate that San markedly inhibits the proliferation, movement, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of HCC cells while enhancing their apoptosis. In vivo, San notably impedes tumor growth and upregulates the cuproptosis signature markers ferredoxin 1 (FDX1), oligomeric dihydrolipoamide S-acetyltransferase (DLAT), and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in HCC xenograft tumor models. Mechanistically, San induces proteotoxic stress and cuproptosis in HCC cells by increasing copper concentration, upregulating the expression of FDX1, lipoic acid synthetase (LIAS), HSP70, and lipoylated DLAT aggregation, and simultaneously reducing mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular glutathione and pyruvate levels. Moreover, the combination of San with copper ionophores (Elesclomol-CuCl2) exhibits synergistic effects in promoting cuproptosis. FDX1 silencing markedly diminishes San-induced suppression of cell proliferation and FDX1 and HSP70 levels in HCC cells. Additionally, molecular docking analysis predicts that San exhibits the highest potential for binding with FDX1. Surface plasmon resonance experiments and cellular thermal shift assay confirm that San strongly interacts with FDX1 and markedly enhances the thermostability of FDX1. In conclusion, our findings indicate that San substantially inhibits the progression of HCC by targeting FDX1/LIAS/DLAT/HSP70 axis-dependent cuproptosis.
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research•2026•DOI: 10.12307/2026.21252
BACKGROUND: The occurrence of major depressive disorder is typically associated with genetic and environmental factors. Currently, the diagnosis of major depressive disorder mainly relies on clinical interviews and symptom assessments, lacking clear and reproducible biological markers. This can lead to misdiagnosis and missed diagnoses, delaying the timing of treatment. OBJECTIVE: To identify druggable genes that may act as potential therapeutic targets for major depressive disorder by conducting comprehensive genome-wide Mendelian randomization analysis. METHODS: By integrating expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) data and protein quantitative trait locus (pQTL) data from pharmacologically actionable genes with genome-wide association study (GWAS) data on major depressive disorder (including 177 377 cases and 445 321 controls), Mendelian randomization analysis was conducted to identify druggable genes that have a causal relationship with major depressive disorder. Additionally, enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction network construction, drug target identification, and molecular docking simulations were performed to further explore potential therapeutic strategies. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total of 4 394 druggable genes were analyzed, and 21 druggable genes considerably associated with major depressive disorder were identified. Bayesian colocalization analysis indicated that BTN3A3, CISD1, and PSMB4 had posterior probabilities of hypothesis 4 (H4.abf) > 0.5, supporting the possibility of shared causal variants. GO enrichment analysis mainly involved 'antigen processing and presentation', 'protein degradation and processing', 'mitochondrial outer membrane', and 'immune receptor activity' pathways related to major depression. Protein-protein interaction network analysis showed moderate connectivity among the identified genes (21 nodes, 14 edges). Drug target identification determined gemcitabine (CID 60750), fucose (CID 17106), and isococculidine (CID 2826) as main candidate compounds, which had strong associations with several key genes. Molecular docking analysis revealed stable drug-protein interactions, with isococculidine showing the most stable binding energy (-52.74 kJ/mol) with BTN3A3. In conclusion, Mendelian randomization combined with genomics and structural biology analysis provides valuable decision-making basis for target prioritization and drug repurposing, offering new ideas and directions for efficient utilization of basic research resources and drug development for major depressive disorder.
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research•2026•DOI: 10.12307/2026.21250
BACKGROUND: Frozen shoulder is a common disease in orthopedics, but there is no specific clinical indicator for diagnosis. There is a significant association between inflammatory cytokines and frozen shoulder, but the specific causal relationship is not yet clear. This study used summary statistical data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for Mendelian randomization analysis. GWAS data are based on large-sample genetic variation information, which can reduce environmental confounding factors and more reliably infer the causal relationship between inflammatory cytokines and frozen shoulder, making up for the limitation that traditional observational studies cannot determine causal associations. OBJECTIVE: To explore the causal relationship between inflammatory cytokines and the onset of frozen shoulder using bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization. METHODS: Using summary statistics from GWAS in the FinnGen database, we analyzed the causal relationship between 41 inflammatory cytokines and frozen shoulder. The FinnGen database, jointly initiated by the Finnish National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), the University of Helsinki, and other Finnish research institutions, includes 2,942 cases and 167,641 European-ancestry controls, integrating genomic, clinical phenotype, and biochemical indicator data from hundreds of thousands to millions of individuals, supporting genetic association studies of diseases. This study is based on publicly available summary statistics databases and does not require ethical approval. Bidirectional Mendelian randomization analyses were performed using inverse variance weighting, weighted median, weighted model, simple model, MR-Egger regression, and sensitivity analyses (including MR-Egger, MR-PRESSO, Cochran's Q test). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Monocyte chemoattractant protein-3 (MCP-3) showed significant causal effects in both directions. In the forward analysis, MCP-3 was positively associated with frozen shoulder risk (OR=1.176, 95%CI: 1.034-1.338, P=0.014); in the reverse analysis, frozen shoulder was negatively associated with MCP-3 levels (OR=0.782, 95%CI: 0.625-0.979, P=0.032). Additionally, a significant association was found between tumor necrosis factor beta (TNF-β) and frozen shoulder risk (OR=1.126, 95%CI: 1.002-1.264, P=0.046); in the reverse analysis, stromal cell-derived factor 1 alpha (SDF-1α) was also significantly associated with frozen shoulder risk (OR=1.1, 95%CI: 1.011-1.196, P=0.028), indicating reliable correlations of TNF-β and SDF-1α with frozen shoulder. This bidirectional Mendelian randomization study reveals a complex interaction between MCP-3 and frozen shoulder, suggesting that MCP-3 may serve as a potential therapeutic target. Furthermore, the study indicates that TNF-β is associated with frozen shoulder risk and may be a potential risk factor; while frozen shoulder is also associated with elevated SDF-1α levels, and SDF-1α has the potential to become a diagnostic marker for frozen shoulder. However, further research is needed to elucidate the biological mechanisms underlying these causal relationships. Additionally, the analysis of international databases provides candidate molecules and causal inference paradigms for Chinese research, but it needs to be combined with local data for precise translation.
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research•2026•DOI: 10.12307/2026.21244
BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that miRNAs, as important post-transcriptional regulators of genes, play a key role in the onset and progression of osteoporosis. Through in-depth research on the biology of miRNA regulation of osteoporosis, its potential healing mechanisms have been revealed, and this field has become a hot focus of current research. OBJECTIVE: To explore the regulatory role of miRNAs in the development of osteoporosis and their molecular mechanisms, and to provide an overview of the key difficulties encountered in the therapeutic strategies for osteoporosis targeting miRNAs and their solutions. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Web of Science and CNKI databases for relevant literature published up to March 2025. The search terms were “miRNA, osteoporosis, angiogenesis, osteogenesis, gene therapy, drug delivery” in English and “miRNA, osteoporosis, gene therapy, ribonucleic acid drugs, delivery carrier” in Chinese. After reading the titles and abstracts for preliminary screening, we excluded the literature with poor relevance, old information, or repetitive views and lack of authority, and finally included 138 papers for review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) miRNAs are highly efficient non-coding RNAs with a wide range of applications that can precisely regulate cellular activities, and they show significant therapeutic potential in regulating osteoblast function and bone angiogenesis. (2) Although miRNA-based targeted drugs have entered preclinical research in other disease areas, clinical translation still faces challenges of insufficient nucleic acid stability in vivo and off-target effects. (3) To address these challenges, researchers have proposed various strategies, including precise targeting of miRNA target genes to reduce off-target effects; chemical modification to improve the stability of nucleic acid drugs in vivo; reducing nucleic acid production costs to advance research; and utilizing viral vectors, exosomes, and various biomaterials to optimize nucleic acid drug delivery routes. (4) Advances in technology continue to innovate in improving the performance of nucleic acid drug carriers, and in the future, precise and efficient drug delivery and targeted therapeutic effects will be achieved.
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research•2026•DOI: 10.12307/2026.21263
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have linked immune cells to cardiovascular disease risk. As confounding factors are incompletely addressed, the causal relationship between them remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the potential causal relationship between immune cells and cardiovascular disease. METHODS: The source of research data mainly involves three databases: Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) database (GWAS Catalog, jointly maintained by the National Institute of Human Genomics and the European Institute of Bioinformatics), UK biobank (a database of British population genomics, health, and disease phenotypes supported by the UK government and the Wellcome Trust), and IEU OpenGWAS (a GWAS database developed by the MRC Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, UK, primarily for European populations). All are open databases, and the study has been approved by the relevant institutional review boards. Using 731 immune cell phenotypes as exposures and 7 cardiovascular diseases (atrial fibrillation, dilated cardiomyopathy, coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, heart failure, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, hypertension, and valvular heart disease) as outcomes, a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis was performed. Inverse variance weighting and weighted median methods were mainly used for Mendelian randomization analysis and sensitivity analysis to assess heterogeneity and pleiotropy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) After false discovery rate correction, immune phenotypes had statistically significant effects on atrial fibrillation and hypertension. Five cell types were associated with atrial fibrillation risk, including CD11c on monocytes (OR=0.917, 95%CI: 0.876-0.960), FSC-A on myeloid dendritic cells (OR=0.942, 95%CI: 0.910-0.974), CX3CR1 on CD14+ CD16- monocytes (OR=1.045, 95%CI: 1.022-1.070), CX3CR1 on monocytes (OR=1.050, 95%CI: 1.024-1.076), and CX3CR1 on CD14+ CD16+ monocytes (OR=1.050, 95%CI: 1.024-1.077). Three immune phenotypes with protective effects on hypertension were identified: CD19 on switched memory B cells (OR=0.986, 95%CI: 0.980-0.993), CD25++CD8+ T cells (OR=0.993, 95%CI: 0.990-0.997), and CD25++CD8+ T cells absolute count (OR=0.993, 95%CI: 0.989-0.996). No potential heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy was observed in sensitivity analyses. (2) The study found causal relationships between 4 monocyte types and 1 myeloid dendritic cell type and atrial fibrillation, and potential causal relationships between 1 memory B cell type and 2 T cell types and hypertension, suggesting the necessity of considering immune cell phenotypes when monitoring and treating atrial fibrillation and hypertension. This study used public databases for analysis, providing a reference for research on immune cell subsets and cardiovascular disease in the Chinese population, and offering insights for further prevention and treatment of atrial fibrillation and hypertension in Chinese people.
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research•2026•DOI: 10.12307/2026.21310
BACKGROUND: Existing research on plantar fasciitis predominantly focuses on single techniques, short-term efficacy, pathogenesis, and diagnostic/evaluation studies. Systematic integration of global research trends and core hotspots is lacking. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the current status, hotspots, and trends in research on plantar fasciitis. METHODS: Search terms and free-text keywords related to plantar fasciitis were retrieved from PubMed to construct a search strategy. Relevant literature published between 1996 and 2025 was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database. CiteSpace software, Excel, and Sci Explorer were used to perform co-occurrence analysis, salience analysis, and clustering analysis on countries, authors, institutions, disciplines, journals, keywords, and cited literature within this field. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total of 1 606 articles were included in this visual analysis. The number of publications in plantar fasciitis research showed a fluctuating upward trend from 1996 to 2025. The United States was the most prolific country, contributing 423 articles (27.10% of the total). The institution with the highest output was Harvard University (USA) with 36 publications. The most prolific author was Landorf KB from La Trobe University with 33 publications. The most influential journal was Foot & Ankle International, with 112 articles and 950 total citations. The most influential paper was 'Shock Wave Therapy for Chronic Proximal Plantar Fasciitis'. In the field of plantar fasciitis, major treatment hotspots include extracorporeal shock wave therapy, platelet-rich plasma, and corticosteroid injections, but the long-term effectiveness, safety, cost, and standardized treatment protocols remain controversial and are current clinical research hotspots. In diagnosis, shear wave elastography is a hotspot for diagnostic evaluation, and more objective and quantitative diagnostic criteria are current research focuses. In mechanism exploration, research includes the biomechanical chain of vertical pressure transmission from hip-knee-ankle-foot and its influence on the occurrence of plantar fasciitis.
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research•2026•DOI: 10.12307/2026.21290
BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by abnormal deposition of β-amyloid (Aβ) and neurofibrillary tangles of tau protein. Current medications only alleviate some symptoms, and despite extensive efforts to develop new therapies, such as anti-Aβ immunotherapy and β-secretase inhibitors, clinical trials have not been successful. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the methylation changes of the Fbln1 gene in the hippocampus of PSEN1/PSEN2 double knockout (dKO) mice, which lack Aβ deposition, and APP/PS1 double transgenic (DTG) mice, which exhibit Aβ deposition, to explore non-Aβ-related mechanisms and potential targets in AD. METHODS: Hippocampal tissues were collected from female dKO mice at 7 months (early AD) and 12 months (mid-stage AD) of age, with age-matched wild-type (WT) mice as controls. Epigenetic reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) was used to screen for aberrantly methylated genes, identifying Fbln1. Bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP) was performed to validate the methylation status of Fbln1 in mid-stage dKO mice. RT-PCR and western blot were used to measure Fbln1 mRNA and protein expression in early and mid-stage dKO mice, as well as in 12-month-old DTG mice. Finally, the expression levels of Fbln1 and Aβ were compared between dKO and DTG mice, with age-matched WT mice as controls. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: RRBS showed that Fbln1 was hypomethylated in the hippocampus of mid-stage dKO mice (P < 0.05), while early-stage dKO mice showed a trend of hypomethylation but without statistical significance (P > 0.05). BSP confirmed the abnormal hypomethylation of Fbln1 in mid-stage dKO mice. In early-stage dKO mice, Fbln1 mRNA and protein levels were not significantly different from WT (P > 0.05). In mid-stage dKO mice, Fbln1 mRNA and protein levels were significantly higher than in WT (t=5.336, P < 0.01; t=8.985, P < 0.01). Similarly, mid-stage DTG mice showed significantly higher Fbln1 mRNA and protein levels than WT (t=4.151, P < 0.01; t=8.392, P < 0.01), but there was no significant difference between the two AD models (P > 0.05). In mid-stage dKO mice, there was no significant difference between Fbln1 and Aβ protein levels (P > 0.05), whereas in DTG mice, the difference was significant (t=6.348, P < 0.01), indicating that Fbln1 plays a role in both Aβ-dependent and Aβ-independent mechanisms. These findings suggest that Fbln1 methylation changes may contribute to age-dependent neurodegeneration in dKO mice and may be involved in both Aβ and non-Aβ pathways in AD, providing new insights and potential targets for non-Aβ-related mechanisms. Fbln1, as an aging-related factor, holds promise as a novel target.
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research•2026•DOI: 10.12307/2026.21393
BACKGROUND: The elastic modulus of β-tricalcium phosphate bioceramic rods is close to that of normal bone tissue, and it exhibits excellent biocompatibility and mechanical properties. It can be used as a supporting material inside the femoral head after core decompression. However, there are few biomechanical studies on osteonecrosis of the femoral head and the changes in stress and displacement of the femoral head after ceramic rod implantation. OBJECTIVE: To explore the biomechanical effects of core decompression with ceramic rod implantation in the treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head during the peri-collapse stage. METHODS: A total of 21 hips were selected from 19 patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head implanted with ceramic rods at the peri-collapse stage. Preoperative and postoperative imaging data were obtained, and relevant CT images were loaded in Mimics 21.0 software to construct a three-dimensional model of the femoral head. A global model of the proximal femur that includes cortical and cancellous bone, as well as a model of the proximal cancellous bone of the femur were created. The preoperative MRI image data of the patients were imported, and the necrotic lesion model was made by using the graphic matching technology, which was saved in .stl format. They were transferred to Geomagic 2012 software for smoothing and precise surface processing. Subsequently, the ceramic rod was designed and modeled in SolidWorks 2021 software, and the relevant models were imported for assembly and Boolean operations. After ensuring no interference, ANSYS 2021 software was used to calculate and observe the stress and displacement of the weight-bearing area and necrotic area of the femoral head during single-leg stance and the push-off phase of walking. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The area of maximum stress on the femoral head was located in the anterolateral superior part of the necrotic area. During single-leg stance, the stress values in the weight-bearing area and necrotic area were significantly lower postoperatively than preoperatively (P < 0.05), and the femoral head collapse value (displacement of the weight-bearing area) was lower than preoperatively (P < 0.05). (2) During the push-off phase of walking, with the increase in load, the stress values in the weight-bearing area and necrotic area and the femoral head collapse value (displacement of the weight-bearing area) increased, but they were still lower than preoperatively (P < 0.05). (3) It is suggested that core decompression combined with ceramic rod implantation helps to reduce the load on the weight-bearing area of the femoral head, effectively disperse the stress in the weight-bearing area, partially transfer the load to the femoral calcar, improve the local stress concentration, and effectively support the femoral head to prevent further collapse.
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research•2026•DOI: 10.12307/2026.21369
BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress, representing an imbalance between oxidative and antioxidant systems in the body, plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. However, a systematic analysis of the current research status and trends in the field of oxidative stress and osteoporosis is lacking. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the current research status, hot topics, and trends in the field of oxidative stress and osteoporosis using bibliometric methods. METHODS: The Web of Science core database was searched using “oxidative stress” and “osteoporosis” as search terms, with the language limited to “English” and the document type limited to “article” and “review article.” The search period was from January 1, 1999 to December 31, 2024. After screening the literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, CiteSpace (6.3.R1) and VOSviewer (1.6.20) software were used for data analysis and visualization of publication volume, country, institution, author, journal, and keywords. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Publication volume analysis: A total of 2 558 articles were retrieved, with 2 416 articles included. From 1999 to 2024, the number of publications in the field of oxidative stress and osteoporosis showed a significant increasing trend, especially after 2011, reflecting the gradual deepening and rising popularity of research in this field. (2) Country analysis: China ranked first with 1 088 publications, but the average citations per article were relatively low. The United States ranked second with 353 publications, but the average citations per article were as high as 74.62, demonstrating international influence in research quality. (3) Institution analysis: Chinese institutions dominated in publication volume, but the level of international cooperation needs improvement. Among them, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Soochow University had extensive cooperation and high citation counts. (4) Author and co-cited author analysis: A few core authors such as Almeida and Manolagas had significant influence in this field, with extremely high citation counts and diverse collaboration models, dominated by international authors. (5) Journal analysis: American journals such as the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research occupied a core position in the field of osteoporosis and oxidative stress, with significant academic authority and influence. (6) Keyword analysis: The research core focused on the interaction mechanism between “osteoporosis” and “oxidative stress.” High-frequency keywords included “reactive oxygen species,” “inflammation,” “osteoblasts,” and “osteoclasts.” Keyword clustering analysis showed that research hotspots concentrated on inflammation, oxidative stress and bone metabolic imbalance, population and clinical studies, and the development and application of antioxidant therapy. (7) The field of oxidative stress and osteoporosis is growing rapidly. Although China occupies a dominant position, its international influence needs improvement. Future research should deeply analyze the oxidative stress signaling network, explore cross-disease interactions, develop novel antioxidants and therapeutic methods, promote precision medicine and multi-omics technology applications, and strengthen international cooperation and exchange, in order to provide more scientific and effective solutions for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research•2026•DOI: 10.12307/2026.21327
BACKGROUND: Currently, the research on the fatigue elimination effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy mainly involves two forms: single-session intervention and periodic multiple intervention, with the application research of single therapy being the main focus. However, the effectiveness of single-session hyperbaric oxygen therapy on exercise-induced fatigue remains controversial, affecting its application in sports training. OBJECTIVE: To summarize the intervention effect of a single hyperbaric oxygen therapy on exercise-induced fatigue from two aspects: the commonly used biochemical monitoring indicators and physiological monitoring indicators for exercise-induced fatigue, and proposes corresponding application strategies based on the current research status and training practice. METHODS: A literature search was conducted in Chinese databases (CNKI, Wanfang) and English databases (PubMed) using combinations of keywords such as 'hyperbaric oxygenation', 'micro-barometric oxygen', 'oxygen therapy', 'micro-hyperbaric oxygen' with 'exercise fatigue', 'high intensity exercise', 'heart rate', 'heart rate variability', 'rating of perceived exertion', 'blood urea', 'creatine kinase', 'testosterone', 'cortisol', 'white blood cell', 'hemoglobin'. The search period was from January 2001 to June 2025, and 62 articles were finally included for review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Single-session hyperbaric oxygen intervention can promote the elimination of exercise-induced fatigue, but its intervention effect on commonly used physiological monitoring indicators is better than that on biochemical indicators. The differences in fatigue type and fatigue degree (differences in fatigue induction protocols), insufficient dosage of hyperbaric oxygen, and metabolic characteristics of biochemical indicators in the body may be the main factors causing this issue. (2) In view of the current research status, it is recommended that future research should be conducted in the following directions: 'comprehensively comparing the advantages and disadvantages of different hyperbaric oxygen modes', 'deeply comparing the intervention effects of different hyperbaric oxygen intervention times on exercise-induced fatigue', 'clarifying the intervention effect of single-session hyperbaric oxygen therapy during non-acute exercise fatigue period', and 'establishing a comprehensive evaluation index system for the intervention effect of hyperbaric oxygen'.
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research•2026•DOI: 10.12307/2026.21321
BACKGROUND: Fish tooth serves as a pivotal model for depicting evolution and development of vertebrate and human tooth. Recent advancements in molecular developmental biology have provided new insights in the developmental homology between the teeth and scales of fish, as well as the signaling pathways involved. However, comparative studies across species and integration of evolutionary mechanisms require further exploration. OBJECTIVE: To synthesize the evolutionary origins, morphological diversification, and molecular regulatory mechanisms of fish dentition, while critically comparing core propositions and limitations of existing hypotheses. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases with search terms “fish teeth, teeth development, evolution of teeth, molecular regulation of teeth” in both English and Chinese. Articles published between 1970 and 2025 were screened. According to the inclusion criteria, 77 articles were ultimately included for comprehensive analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Molecular evidence supports the revised “outside-in” hypothesis, confirming that ectodermal scales and endodermal mesenchyme synergistically evolve to form teeth. Fish dentin is classified into four types: orthodentin, osteodentin, pseudodentin, and vascular dentin. In cartilaginous fish, enameloid mineralization is initiated by tubular vesicles secreted by odontoblasts, whereas in teleosts, collagen fibers guide crystal growth, indicating an evolutionary transition from vesicle-mediated to collagen-templated enameloid mineralization. Sonic hedgehog signaling precisely regulates tooth replacement sites in cartilaginous fish, while zebrafish pharyngeal teeth depend on spatiotemporal activation of retinoic acid signaling, confirming functional conservation of core pathways (FGF, Shh, Wnt) but with regulatory mechanisms driven by natural selection, leading to species-specific adaptations.
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research•2026•DOI: 10.12307/2026.21312
BACKGROUND: Although physcion has been shown to have protective effects against osteoporosis, the exact mechanism is not fully understood. OBJECTIVE: Through multidimensional analysis of the regulatory effect of physcion on the AKT signaling pathway, the molecular mechanism of its regulation on osteoclast induced differentiation and osteogenic function induced differentiation is revealed. METHODS: (1) RAW264.7 cells and C3H10T1/2 cells were cultured in vitro and subsequently exposed to 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 µmol/L physcion, respectively. The cytotoxicity of physcion was detected by cell counting kit-8 assay. (2) RAW264.7 cells and C3H10T1/2 cells were treated with different concentrations (0, 20, 40 µmol/L) of physcion during osteoclast and osteoblast differentiation, respectively. Differentiation ability was assessed by qPCR, Western Blot, and alkaline phosphatase staining. (3) Network pharmacology was used to analyze the regulation of physcion on osteoclast differentiation and related signaling pathways, and molecular docking was performed for target proteins. (4) Western Blot was used to verify the phosphorylation level of AKT in the downstream target signaling pathway AKT axis regulated by physcion. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) At concentrations of 0-60 µmol/L, cell viability in all groups was greater than 90%, indicating no significant cytotoxicity. (2) Physcion significantly inhibited the expression of osteoclast differentiation-related genes, with Acp5, CTSK, DC-STAMP, and Nfatc1 showing downregulation, but had no significant effect on osteoblast differentiation-related genes COL1A1, Runx2, OSX expression or alkaline phosphatase staining intensity. (3) Network pharmacology and molecular docking suggested that physcion affects osteoclast differentiation and regulates the PI3K-AKT pathway, with a binding energy of -10.72 kJ/mol to AKT1, indicating strong binding activity. (4) During osteoclast differentiation, the p-AKT/AKT ratio in RAW264.7 cells increased (n=3, P=0.0063), while physcion decreased this ratio. These findings indicate that physcion inhibits osteoclast differentiation by regulating the AKT signaling pathway, thereby modulating bone homeostasis.
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research•2026•DOI: 10.12307/2026.21343
BACKGROUND: The occurrence of diabetic encephalopathy may be closely related to neuronal aging, but its underlying molecular mechanism is not fully understood. Therefore, exploring the role of neuronal senescence in diabetic encephalopathy is of great significance for further revealing the pathogenesis of diabetic encephalopathy. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect and mechanism of emodin on senescence of HT-22 cells under high glucose conditions. METHODS: HT-22 cells were divided into control group (glucose concentration 25 mmol/L), high glucose group (glucose concentration 55 mmol/L), and high glucose + emodin group (glucose concentration 55 mmol/L, emodin concentration 100 µmol/L) and cultured for 48 h. The growth state of cells in each group was observed under microscope; CCK-8 assay was used to detect cell viability; ELISA was used to detect telomerase reverse transcriptase activity; RT-qPCR and western blot were used to detect the expression of senescence-related proteins P53, P21, and P16; immunofluorescence, RT-qPCR and western blot were used to detect the expression of lamin A/C. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the control group, the high glucose group showed obvious growth inhibition under microscope, characterized by decreased cell number, increased cell volume, and flattened morphology; compared with the high glucose group, the high glucose + emodin group showed significantly increased cell number and more regular morphology. Compared with the control group, cell viability was significantly decreased in the high glucose group (P < 0.0001); compared with the high glucose group, cell viability was significantly increased in the high glucose + emodin group (P < 0.0001). Compared with the control group, telomerase reverse transcriptase activity was significantly decreased in the high glucose group (P < 0.001). Compared with the control group, the expression levels of P53, P21, and P16 were significantly increased in the high glucose group (P < 0.05); compared with the high glucose group, the expression levels of P53, P21, and P16 were significantly decreased in the high glucose + emodin group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression level of lamin A/C was significantly decreased in the high glucose group (P < 0.0001); compared with the high glucose group, the expression level of lamin A/C was significantly increased in the high glucose + emodin group (P < 0.05). The results indicate that emodin may slow down the senescence of HT-22 cells induced by high glucose by upregulating the expression of lamin A/C.
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research•2026•DOI: 10.12307/2026.21471
BACKGROUND: Carbon quantum dots are a novel fluorescent nanomaterial that, thanks to their excellent optical properties, good biocompatibility, and low toxicity, show significant potential in the field of tumor diagnosis and treatment. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the methods used to prepare carbon quantum dots and their applications in tumor diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: Relevant literature was retrieved from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and PubMed databases using computer searches. Chinese search terms were “tumor therapy, carbon quantum dots, arc discharge, electrochemical discharge, drug delivery, fluorescence imaging.” English search terms were “CQD tumor therapy, carbon quantum dot preparation, carbon quantum dots, tumor diagnosis and treatment.” According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 102 articles were finally included in the review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Common preparation methods for carbon quantum dots are top-down method and bottom-up method. In terms of preparation, the top-down method (arc discharge, electrochemical, laser ablation) uses graphite and other carbon materials as precursors, which is simple to operate but produces many by-products and has low quantum yield; after purification, the yield can be improved. The bottom-up method (hydrothermal, microwave, and template) utilizes biomass or small-molecule carbon sources, offering environmental friendliness and excellent water solubility of the products. In tumor diagnosis and therapy, carbon quantum dots exert their effects through multiple synergistic mechanisms. Fluorescence imaging enables early diagnosis and real-time monitoring by labeling tumor cells; photothermal therapy converts light energy into heat to kill tumor cells; photodynamic therapy generates reactive oxygen species to damage tumor cell biomolecules; as drug carriers, carbon quantum dots can target delivery of antitumor drugs to tumor sites, reducing adverse effects; in immunotherapy, they trigger immunogenic cell death, reverse the immunosuppressive microenvironment, and activate the stimulator of interferon genes pathway, converting “cold” tumors to “hot” tumors; in multimodal therapy, carbon quantum dots integrate chemotherapy, phototherapy, and immunotherapy to achieve high tumor inhibition rates.
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research•2026•DOI: 10.12307/2026.21447
BACKGROUND: Neobavaisoflavone could promote bone formation and may be a potential small molecule drug for bone regeneration. The use of 3D printed bone tissue engineering scaffolds as drug delivery carriers for neobavaisoflavone is expected to enhance the potential application of bone regeneration. OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of polylactic acid/polydopamine/neobavaisoflavone bone scaffold on osteoclast and osteoblast activity. METHODS: (1) Fused deposition modeling technology was used to manufacture a 3D printed polylactic acid scaffold. These polylactic acid scaffolds were immersed in a dopamine solution containing or without neobavaisoflavone to produce polylactic acid/polydopamine/neobavaisoflavone scaffolds and polylactic acid/polydopamine scaffolds, respectively. The surface morphology, surface hardness, and compressive strength of the three groups of scaffolds were characterized, and the drug release properties of the polylactic acid/polydopamine/neobavaisoflavone scaffolds were investigated. (2) Mouse embryonic osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells were co-cultured with the three groups of scaffolds. CCK-8 assay and live/dead staining were used to evaluate the cytocompatibility of the scaffolds. Transwell assay was used to evaluate the effect of scaffolds on osteoblast migration. Alkaline phosphatase quantitative assay and alizarin red staining were used to evaluate the effect of scaffolds on osteoblast differentiation. RAW264.7 cells were co-cultured with the three groups of scaffolds. After osteoclast induction, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining was used to evaluate the effect of scaffolds on osteoclast differentiation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Scanning electron microscopy showed that all three groups of scaffolds had three-dimensional structure and regular interconnected porous structure with an average pore size of 400 µm. The surface hardness and compressive strength of polylactic acid/polydopamine scaffolds and polylactic acid/polydopamine/neobavaisoflavone scaffolds were higher than those of polylactic acid scaffolds (P < 0.05). Polylactic acid/polydopamine/neobavaisoflavone scaffolds had good drug release behavior and could continuously release drugs for more than 14 days in vitro. (2) CCK-8 assay and live/dead staining showed that all three groups of scaffolds had good cytocompatibility, and polylactic acid/polydopamine scaffolds and polylactic acid/polydopamine/neobavaisoflavone scaffolds could promote MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation. Transwell assay showed that compared with polylactic acid scaffolds, polylactic acid/polydopamine scaffolds and polylactic acid/polydopamine/neobavaisoflavone scaffolds could promote MC3T3-E1 cell migration. Alkaline phosphatase quantitative assay and alizarin red staining showed that compared with the other two groups, polylactic acid/polydopamine scaffolds and polylactic acid/polydopamine/neobavaisoflavone scaffolds could promote osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining showed that polylactic acid/polydopamine/neobavaisoflavone scaffolds could inhibit osteoclast differentiation of RAW264.7 cells. (3) These results indicate that polylactic acid/polydopamine/neobavaisoflavone scaffolds have good biosafety and can promote bone regeneration by regulating osteoblast and osteoclast activities.