Primary liver cancer is the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer and was the third leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide in 2020.It includes hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)(representing 75%-85%of cases),intrahepatic ...Primary liver cancer is the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer and was the third leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide in 2020.It includes hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)(representing 75%-85%of cases),intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(representing 10%-15%of cases),and other rare types.The survival rate of patients with HCC has risen with improved surgical technology and perioperative management in recent years;however,high tumor recurrence rates continue to limit long-term survival,even after radical surgical resection(exceeding 50%recurrence).For resectable recurrent liver cancer,surgical removal[either salvage liver transplantation(SLT)or repeat hepatic resection]remains the most effective therapy that is potentially curative for recurrent HCC.Thus,here,we introduce surgical treatment for recurrent HCC.Areas Covered:A literature search was performed for recurrent HCC using Medline and PubMed up to August 2022.Expert commentary:In general,long-term survival after the reresection of recurrent liver cancer is usually beneficial.SLT has equivalent outcomes to primary liver transplantation for unresectable recurrent illness in a selected group of patients;however,SLT is constrained by the supply of liver grafts.SLT seems to be inferior to repeat liver resection when considering operative and postoperative results but has the major advantage of disease-free survival.When considering the similar overall survival rate and the current situation of donor shortages,repeat liver resection remains an important option for recurrent HCC.展开更多
Background:Liver transplantation(LT)is the best treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).However,the surgical technique needs to be improved.The present study aimed to evaluate the“no-touch”techniqu...Background:Liver transplantation(LT)is the best treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).However,the surgical technique needs to be improved.The present study aimed to evaluate the“no-touch”technique in LT.Methods:From January 2018 to December 2019,we performed a prospective randomized controlled trial on HCC patients who underwent LT.The patients were randomized into two groups:a no-touch technique LT group(NT group,n=38)and a conventional LT technique group(CT group,n=46).Operative outcomes and survival in the two groups were analyzed.Results:The perioperative parameters were comparable between the two groups(P>0.05).There was no significant difference between the two groups in disease-free survival(DFS)(P=0.732)or overall survival(OS)(P=0.891).Of 36 patients who were beyond the Hangzhou criteria for LT,the DFS of the patients in the NT group was significantly longer than that in the CT group(median 402 vs.126 days,P=0.025).In 31 patients who had portal vein tumor thrombosis(PVTT),DFS and OS in the NT group were significantly better than those in the CT group(median DFS 420 vs.167 days,P=0.022;2-year OS rate 93.8%vs.66.7%,P=0.043).In 14 patients who had diffuse-type HCCs,DFS and OS were significantly better in the NT group than those in the CT group(median DFS 141 vs.56 days,P=0.008;2-year OS rate 75.0%vs.33.3%,P=0.034).Multivariate analysis showed that for patients with PVTT and diffusetype HCCs,the no-touch technique was an independent favorable factor for OS(PVTT:HR=0.018,95%CI:0.001-0.408,P=0.012;diffuse-type HCCs:HR=0.034,95%CI:0.002-0.634,P=0.024).Conclusions:The no-touch technique improved the survival of patients with advanced HCC compared with the conventional technique.The no-touch technique may provide a new and effective LT technique for advanced HCCs.展开更多
Dear Editor,Alterations in the human microbiome are closely related to various hepatobiliary diseases.Gut microbial dysbiosis has been found in patients with cholangiocarcinoma(CCA)[1].However,the characteristics of o...Dear Editor,Alterations in the human microbiome are closely related to various hepatobiliary diseases.Gut microbial dysbiosis has been found in patients with cholangiocarcinoma(CCA)[1].However,the characteristics of oral microbiome in patients with CCA have not been studied.展开更多
Research on microecology has been carried out with broad perspectives in recent decades,which has enabled a better understanding of the gut microbiota and its roles in human health and disease.It is of great significa...Research on microecology has been carried out with broad perspectives in recent decades,which has enabled a better understanding of the gut microbiota and its roles in human health and disease.It is of great significance to routinely acquire the status of the human gut microbiota;however,there is no method to evaluate the gut microbiome through small amounts of fecal microbes.In this study,we found ten predominant groups of gut bacteria that characterized the whole microbiome in the human gut from a large-sample Chinese cohort,constructed a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR)method and developed a set of analytical approaches to detect these ten groups of predominant gut bacterial species with great maneuverability,efficiency,and quantitative features.Reference ranges for the ten predominant gut bacterial groups were established,and we found that the concentration and pairwise ratios of the ten predominant gut bacterial groups varied with age,indicating gut microbial dysbiosis.By comparing the detection results of liver cirrhosis(LC)patients with those of healthy control subjects,differences were then analyzed,and a classification model for the two groups was built by machine learning.Among the six established classification models,the model established by using the random forest algorithm achieved the highest area under the curve(AUC)value and sensitivity for predicting LC.This research enables easy,rapid,stable,and reliable testing and evaluation of the balance of the gut microbiota in the human body,which may contribute to clinical work.展开更多
Post-transplant diabetes mellitus(PTDM)increases the risk of graft failure and death in liver transplant(LT)recipients.Experimental studies have indicated that enteric dysbiosis mediated by immunosuppressive tacrolimu...Post-transplant diabetes mellitus(PTDM)increases the risk of graft failure and death in liver transplant(LT)recipients.Experimental studies have indicated that enteric dysbiosis mediated by immunosuppressive tacrolimus(TAC)could contribute to glucose disorders,but no data on human recipients with PTDM have been reported.Here,by combining high-throughput shotgun metagenomics sequencing and metabolomics profiling,we characterized the intestinal microbiome(IM)in LT recipient cohort with or without PTDM and deciphered the potential relationship among IM,TAC dosage,and diabetes.By comparing with both non-PTDM and classical type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM),we identified microbial signatures of PTDM,which was characterized by the enriched Proteobacteria and decreased Bacteroidetes.Additionally,the altered microbes,as well as the microbial metabolomics,correlated with the dosage of TAC.Specifically,the levels of beneficial microbes associated with PTDM were lowered in recipients with the high TAC trough concentrations(>5 ng·mL^(-1))than those with low ones(<5 ng·mL^(-1)),which was accompanied by reduced faecal metabolites involved in the biosynthesis of a-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid-lowering factors of developing T2DM.Moreover,these microbial signatures linked with the extent of glucose disorders in LT recipients.In summary,the faecal microbiome and metabolome differed between PTDM and non-PTDM patients,which were linked with TAC dosage.This study was the first to explore taxonomic alterations and bacterial gene functions to better understand the contribution of the IM to PTDM.展开更多
Hepatitis B virus(HBV)has posed a threat to public health,mainly resulting in liver damage.With long-term accumulation of extracellular matrix,patients with chronic hepatitis B are at high risk of developing into live...Hepatitis B virus(HBV)has posed a threat to public health,mainly resulting in liver damage.With long-term accumulation of extracellular matrix,patients with chronic hepatitis B are at high risk of developing into liver fibrosis and cirrhosis and even life-threatening hepatic carcinoma.The occurrence of complications such as spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and hepatic encephalopathy greatly increases disability and mortality.With deeper understanding of the bidirectional interaction between the liver and the gut(gut-liver axis),there is a growing consensus that the human health closely relates to the gut microbiota.Supported by animal and human studies,the gut microbiota alters as the HBV-related liver fibrosis initials and progresses,characterized as the decrease of the ratio between“good”and“potentially pathogenic”microbes.When the primary disease is controlled via antiviral treatment,the gut microbiota dysfunction tends to be improved.Conversely,the recovery of gut microbiota can promote the regression of liver fibrosis.Therapeutic strategies targeted on gut microbiota(rifaximin,probiotics,engineered probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation)have been applied to animal models and patients,obtaining satisfactory results.展开更多
BACKGROUND The effect of hypoxia on mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)is an emerging topic in MSC biology.Although long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)and messenger RNAs(mRNAs)are reported to play a critical role in regulating the...BACKGROUND The effect of hypoxia on mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)is an emerging topic in MSC biology.Although long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)and messenger RNAs(mRNAs)are reported to play a critical role in regulating the biological characteristics of MSCs,their specific expression and co-expression profiles in human placenta-derived MSCs(hP-MSCs)under hypoxia and the underlying mechanisms of lncRNAs in hP-MSC biology are unknown.AIM To reveal the specific expression profiles of lncRNAs in hP-MSCs under hypoxia and initially explored the possible mechanism of lncRNAs on hP-MSC biology.METHODS Here,we used a multigas incubator(92.5%N_(2),5%CO_(2),and 2.5%O_(2))to mimic the potential of hP-MSCs.RNA sequencing technology was applied to identify the exact expression profiles of lncRNAs and mRNAs under hypoxia.RESULTS We identified 289 differentially expressed lncRNAs and 240 differentially expressed mRNAs between the hypoxia and normoxia groups.Among them,the lncRNA SNHG16 was upregulated under hypoxia,which was also validated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.SNHG16 was confirmed to affect hP-MSC proliferation rates using a SNHG16 knockdown model.SNHG16 overexpression could significantly enhance the proliferation capacity of hP-MSCs,activate the PI3K/AKT pathway,and upregulate the expression of cell cycle-related proteins.CONCLUSION Our results revealed the specific expression characteristics of lncRNAs and mRNAs in hypoxiacultured hP-MSCs and that lncRNA SNHG16 can promote hP-MSC proliferation through the PI3K/AKT pathway.展开更多
Preserving the functionality of hepatocytes in vitro poses a significant challenge in liver tissue engineering and bioartificial liver,as these cells rapidly lose their metabolic and functional characteristics after i...Preserving the functionality of hepatocytes in vitro poses a significant challenge in liver tissue engineering and bioartificial liver,as these cells rapidly lose their metabolic and functional characteristics after isolation.Inspired by the macroporous structures found in native liver tissues,here we develop synthetic hydrogel scaffolds that closely mimic the liver’s structural organization through the phase separation between polyethylene glycol(PEG)and polysaccharides.Our hydrogels exhibit interconnected macroporous structures and appropriate mechanical properties,providing an optimal microenvironment conducive to hepatocyte adhesion and the formation of sizable aggregates.Compared to two-dimensional hepatocyte cultures,enhanced functionalities of hepatocytes cultured in our macroporous hydrogels were observed for 14 days,as evidenced by quantitative reverse-transcription–polymerase chain reactions(qRT-PCR),immunofluorescence,and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)analyses.Protein sequencing data further confirmed the establishment of cell–cell interactions among hepatocytes when cultured in our hydrogels.Notably,these hepatocytes maintained a protein expression lineage that closely resembled freshly isolated hepatocytes,particularly in the Notch and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)signaling pathways.These results suggest that the macroporous hydrogels are attractive scaffolds for liver tissue engineering.展开更多
The recent remarkable success and safety of mRNA lipid nanoparticle technology for producing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)vaccines has stimulated intensive efforts to expand nanoparticle ...The recent remarkable success and safety of mRNA lipid nanoparticle technology for producing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)vaccines has stimulated intensive efforts to expand nanoparticle strategies to treat various diseases.Numerous synthetic nanoparticles have been developed for pharmaceutical delivery and cancer treatment.However,only a limited number of nanotherapies have enter clinical trials or are clinically approved.Systemically administered nanotherapies are likely to be sequestered by host mononuclear phagocyte system(MPS),resulting in suboptimal pharmacokinetics and insufficient drug concentrations in tumors.Bioinspired drug-delivery formulations have emerged as an alternative approach to evade the MPS and show potential to improve drug therapeutic efficacy.Here we developed a biodegradable polymer-conjugated camptothecin prodrug encapsulated in the plasma membrane of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages.Polymer conjugation revived the parent camptothecin agent(e.g.,7-ethyl-10-hydroxy-camptothecin),enabling lipid nanoparticle encapsulation.Furthermore,macrophage membrane cloaking transformed the nonadhesive lipid nanoparticles into bioadhesive nanocamptothecin,increasing the cellular uptake and tumor-tropic effects of this biomimetic therapy.When tested in a preclinical murine model of breast cancer,macrophage-camouflaged nanocamptothecin exhibited a higher level of tumor accumulation than uncoated nanoparticles.Furthermore,intravenous administration of the therapy effectively suppressed tumor growth and the metastatic burden without causing systematic toxicity.Our study describes a combinatorial strategy that uses polymeric prodrug design and cell membrane cloaking to achieve therapeutics with high efficacy and low toxicity.This approach might also be generally applicable to formulate other therapeutic candidates that are not compatible or miscible with biomimetic delivery carriers.展开更多
Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause persistent infections,such as biofilm infections,in cystic fibrosis patients,which are difficult to cure due to non-growing persister bacteria that are not effectively killed by the cu...Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause persistent infections,such as biofilm infections,in cystic fibrosis patients,which are difficult to cure due to non-growing persister bacteria that are not effectively killed by the current treatments.While antibiotic activity against growing P.aeruginosa is well documented,their activity against non-growing stationary phase cultures is less clear.Here,we evaluated six major classes of antibiotics,including cell wall and cell membrane inhibitors,protein synthesis inhibitors,DNA synthesis inhibitors,RNA synthesis inhibitors,sulfa drugs and nitrofurantoin,for their activity against growing and non-growing P.aeruginosa.We foundthat cell wall and cell membrane inhibitors(cefuroxime and colistin),DNA synthesis inhibitors(clinafloxacin)and sulfa drugs(sulfamethoxazole)had good activity against stationary-phase bacteria,while protein synthesis inhibitors(gentamicin),RNA synthesis inhibitor(rifampin)and nitrofurantoin showed relatively poor activity.Clinafloxacin was the only drug able to completely eradicate stationary-phase bacteria within four days.The cefuroxime+gentamicin+clinafloxacin combination was able to kill all bacteria from a biofilm within two days,whereas the clinically used drug combination cefuroxime+gentamicin/colistin only partially killed the biofilmbacteria.In amurine persistent cystic fibrosis lung infectionmodel,only the cefuroxime+gentamicin+clinafloxacin drug combination eradicated all bacteria from the lungs,whereas clinafloxacin alone,cefuroxime+clinafloxacin or the currently recommended drug combination cefuroxime+gentamicin failed to do so.The complete eradication is a property of the clinafloxacin combination,as the otherwise identical levofloxacin combination did not clear the bacterial loads from the lungs.Our findings offer new therapeutic options for more effective treatment of persistent P.aeruginosa infections,with possible implications for treating other persistent infections.展开更多
Lyme disease(LD)is a tick-transmitted infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species,which include B.burgdorferi,Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii.The majority of patients with early LD can be cured b...Lyme disease(LD)is a tick-transmitted infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species,which include B.burgdorferi,Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii.The majority of patients with early LD can be cured by the standard treatment,yet some still suffer from posttreatment LD syndrome.The presence of Borrelia persisters has been proposed as a contributing factor,because they cannot be completely eradicated by the currently used antibiotics for LD.Finding new pharmaceuticals targeting Borrelia persisters is crucial for developing more effective treatments.Here,we first confirmed the existence of persisters in B.garinii and B.afzelii cultures and then conducted a high-throughput screening of a customdrug library against persister-rich stationary-phase B.garinii and B.afzelii cultures.Among 2427 compounds screened,hypocrellin A(HA),anthracycline class of drugs and topical antibiotics along with some other natural compounds were identified to have strong potential for killing persisters of B.garinii and B.afzelii.HA was the most active anti-Borrelia compound,capable of eradicating stationary-phase Borrelia persisters,in particular when combined with doxycycline and/or ceftriaxone.Liposoluble antioxidant vitamin E was found to antagonize the activity of HA,indicating HA’s target is the cell membrane where HA triggers the generation of reactive oxygen species in the presence of light.HA was found to have distinct bactericidal activity against Borrelia species but had poor or no activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.Identification of the abovementioned drug candidates may help develop more effective therapies for LD.展开更多
Mammalian endogenous retroviruses(ERVs)are ancient retroviruses that have been integrated into genomes.ERVs were believed to be inactive until the discovery of ERV transcription in the mouse genome.However,the transcr...Mammalian endogenous retroviruses(ERVs)are ancient retroviruses that have been integrated into genomes.ERVs were believed to be inactive until the discovery of ERV transcription in the mouse genome.However,the transcription level and function of ERV elements in mammalian genomes are not well understood.In this study,we performed the first genome‐wide scanning of ERV loci in the American mink(Neogale vison)genome(NeoERV)followed by transcriptomic analysis to detect actively transcribed NeoERV elements.A total of 365,791 NeoERV loci were identified,and161,205(44%)of these loci were found to be actively transcribed based on transcriptomic data from three types of tissues(amygdala,trachea and lung).More than one third of the actively transcribed NeoERV loci were tissue‐specific.Furthermore,some of the active loci were associated with host gene transcription,and the level of NeoERV transcription was positively correlated with that of host genes,specifically when active loci were located in overlapped gene regions.An in‐depth analysis of the envelope protein coding env gene showed that,in general,its transcription level was higher than that of NeoERVs,which is believed to be associated with host immunity.展开更多
Effective drugs with broad spectrum safety profile to all people are highly expected to combat COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2.Here we report that nelfinavir,an FDA approved drug for the treatment of HIV infection,is ef...Effective drugs with broad spectrum safety profile to all people are highly expected to combat COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2.Here we report that nelfinavir,an FDA approved drug for the treatment of HIV infection,is effective against SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19.Preincubation of nelfinavir could inhibit the activity of the main protease of the SARS-CoV-2(IC50=8.26μM),while its antiviral activity in Vero E6 cells against a clinical isolate of SARS-CoV-2 was determined to be 2.93μM(EC50).In comparison with vehicle-treated animals,rhesus macaque prophylactically treated with nelfinavir had significantly lower temperature and significantly reduced virus loads in the nasal and anal swabs of the animals.At necropsy,nelfinavir-treated animals had a significant reduction of the viral replication in the lungs by nearly three orders of magnitude.A prospective clinic study with 37 enrolled treatment-naive patients at Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center,which were randomized(1:1)to nelfinavir and control groups,showed that the nelfinavir treatment could shorten the duration of viral shedding by 5.5 days(9.0 vs.14.5 days,P=0.055)and the duration of fever time by 3.8 days(2.8 vs.6.6 days,P=0.014)in mild/moderate COVID-19 patients.The antiviral efficiency and clinical benefits in rhesus macaque model and in COVID-19 patients,together with its well-established good safety profile in almost all ages and during pregnancy,indicated that nelfinavir is a highly promising medication with the potential of preventative effect for the treatment of COVID-19.展开更多
Hydrogels crosslinked by dynamic covalent bonds can effectively mimic the viscoelastic properties of native extracellular matrix and have been widely explored for 3D cell culture.Disulfide is one of the most common dy...Hydrogels crosslinked by dynamic covalent bonds can effectively mimic the viscoelastic properties of native extracellular matrix and have been widely explored for 3D cell culture.Disulfide is one of the most common dynamic bonds in biological systems whose formation and cleavage are catalyzed by a set of dedicated enzymes.However,in vitro formation of disulfide bonds is a slow process and requires harsh catalysts.Therefore,it is difficult to use disulfide crosslinked hydrogels for cell culture.n this work,we show that disulfide bonds can be formed by thiol-diselenide(Dise)exchange under blue light llumination.This reaction is fast,reversible,and biocompatible.Moreover,residual diselenide in the hydrogel network can also accelerate thiol-disulfide exchange reactions leading to faster cell release from the hydrogels upon the addition of thiol-containing agents.We anticipate that disulfide crosslinked hydrogels catalyzed by diselenide can find broad biomedical applications,such as cell culture,celldelivery,and drug-controlled release.展开更多
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome and a common cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer.Akkermansia muciniphila(A.muciniphila)is a next-generation probiotic that has be...Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome and a common cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer.Akkermansia muciniphila(A.muciniphila)is a next-generation probiotic that has been reported to improve metabolic disorders.Emerging evidence indicates the therapeutic potential of A.muciniphila for NAFLD,especially in the inflammatory stage,nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.Here,the current knowledge on the role of A.muciniphila in the progression of NAFLD was summarized.A.muciniphila abundancy is decreased in animals and humans with NAFLD.The recovery of A.muciniphila presented benefits in preventing hepatic fat accumulation and inflammation in NAFLD.The details of how microbes regulate hepatic immunity and lipid accumulation in NAFLD were further discussed.The modulation mechanisms by which A.muciniphila acts to improve hepatic inflammation are mainly attributed to the alleviation of inflammatory cytokines and LPS signals and the downregulation of microbiota-related innate immune cells(such as macrophages).This review provides insights into the roles of A.muciniphila in NAFLD,thereby providing a blueprint to facilitate clinical therapeutic applications.展开更多
Recently,monkeypox has become a global concern amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.Monkeypox is an acute rash zoonosis caused by the monkeypox virus,which was previously concentrated in Africa.The re-emergence of this ...Recently,monkeypox has become a global concern amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.Monkeypox is an acute rash zoonosis caused by the monkeypox virus,which was previously concentrated in Africa.The re-emergence of this pathogen seems unusual on account of outbreaks in multiple nonendemic countries and the incline to spread from person to person.We need to revisit this virus to prevent the epidemic from getting worse.In this review,we comprehensively summarize studies on monkeypox,including its epidemiology,biological characteristics,pathogenesis,and clinical characteristics,as well as therapeutics and vaccines,highlighting its unusual outbreak attributed to the transformation of transmission.We also analyze the present situation and put forward countermeasures from both clinical and scientific research to address it.展开更多
Currently approved therapeutical strategies for inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD)suffer from variable efficacy and association with risk of serious side effects.Therefore,efforts have been made in searching for alterna...Currently approved therapeutical strategies for inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD)suffer from variable efficacy and association with risk of serious side effects.Therefore,efforts have been made in searching for alternative therapeutics strategies utilizing gut microbiota manipulation.In this study,we show that the probiotic strain Ligilactobacillus salivarius Li01(Li01)and the phytochemical prebiotic resveratrol(RSV)have synergistic effect in ameliorating colitis in mice.Oral coadministration of Li01(109 CFU/d)and RSV(1.5 g/kg/d)promoted restoration of various inflammatory injuries and gut microbiota composition,exhibiting a favorable anti-inflammatory effect in DSS-induced colitis mice.The combination treatment was associated with reductions in the levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1βand IL-6 and increases in the levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-17A in mouse serum.Moreover,the combination treatment was found to alter the composition and metabolism of the gut microbiota,especially influencing the production of short chain fatty acids and anti-inflammatory related molecules.The mechanism underlying the improved anti-inflammatory effect from the RSV and Li01 combination treatment was found to be associated with the environmental sensor mammalian aryl hydrocarbon receptor(AHR)and tryptophan metabolism pathway.Administration of RSV in combination with Li01 in different mouse model led to enhanced conversion of RSV into metabolites,including dihydroresveratrol(DHR),resveratrol-sulfate,and resveratrol-glucuronide.DHR was found to be the dominant metabolite of RSV in conventional and colitis mice.An increased DHR/RSV ratio was confirmed to activate AHR and contribute to an enhanced anti-inflammatory effect.DHR is considered as a potential AHR ligand.The DHR/RSV ratio also affected the serotonin pathway by controlling the expression of Tph1,SERT,and 5-HT7R leading to amelioration of colitis in mice.Our data suggest that treatment with a combination of Li01 and RSV has potential as a therapeutic strategy for IBD;further investigation of this combination in clinical settings is warranted.展开更多
基金Supported by the Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory,No. JNL-2022022Cthe Health Commission of Zhejiang Province,No. JBZX-202004
文摘Primary liver cancer is the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer and was the third leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide in 2020.It includes hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)(representing 75%-85%of cases),intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(representing 10%-15%of cases),and other rare types.The survival rate of patients with HCC has risen with improved surgical technology and perioperative management in recent years;however,high tumor recurrence rates continue to limit long-term survival,even after radical surgical resection(exceeding 50%recurrence).For resectable recurrent liver cancer,surgical removal[either salvage liver transplantation(SLT)or repeat hepatic resection]remains the most effective therapy that is potentially curative for recurrent HCC.Thus,here,we introduce surgical treatment for recurrent HCC.Areas Covered:A literature search was performed for recurrent HCC using Medline and PubMed up to August 2022.Expert commentary:In general,long-term survival after the reresection of recurrent liver cancer is usually beneficial.SLT has equivalent outcomes to primary liver transplantation for unresectable recurrent illness in a selected group of patients;however,SLT is constrained by the supply of liver grafts.SLT seems to be inferior to repeat liver resection when considering operative and postoperative results but has the major advantage of disease-free survival.When considering the similar overall survival rate and the current situation of donor shortages,repeat liver resection remains an important option for recurrent HCC.
基金supported by grants from the National Key R&D Program of China(2017ZX10203205-005-004)Research Project of Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory(JNL-2022022C)Grant from Health Commission of Zhejiang Province(JBZX-202004)。
文摘Background:Liver transplantation(LT)is the best treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).However,the surgical technique needs to be improved.The present study aimed to evaluate the“no-touch”technique in LT.Methods:From January 2018 to December 2019,we performed a prospective randomized controlled trial on HCC patients who underwent LT.The patients were randomized into two groups:a no-touch technique LT group(NT group,n=38)and a conventional LT technique group(CT group,n=46).Operative outcomes and survival in the two groups were analyzed.Results:The perioperative parameters were comparable between the two groups(P>0.05).There was no significant difference between the two groups in disease-free survival(DFS)(P=0.732)or overall survival(OS)(P=0.891).Of 36 patients who were beyond the Hangzhou criteria for LT,the DFS of the patients in the NT group was significantly longer than that in the CT group(median 402 vs.126 days,P=0.025).In 31 patients who had portal vein tumor thrombosis(PVTT),DFS and OS in the NT group were significantly better than those in the CT group(median DFS 420 vs.167 days,P=0.022;2-year OS rate 93.8%vs.66.7%,P=0.043).In 14 patients who had diffuse-type HCCs,DFS and OS were significantly better in the NT group than those in the CT group(median DFS 141 vs.56 days,P=0.008;2-year OS rate 75.0%vs.33.3%,P=0.034).Multivariate analysis showed that for patients with PVTT and diffusetype HCCs,the no-touch technique was an independent favorable factor for OS(PVTT:HR=0.018,95%CI:0.001-0.408,P=0.012;diffuse-type HCCs:HR=0.034,95%CI:0.002-0.634,P=0.024).Conclusions:The no-touch technique improved the survival of patients with advanced HCC compared with the conventional technique.The no-touch technique may provide a new and effective LT technique for advanced HCCs.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U2004121, 82070643, and U1904164)the Research Project of Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory (JNL-2022015B and JNL-2022001A)the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2018YFC2000500).
文摘Dear Editor,Alterations in the human microbiome are closely related to various hepatobiliary diseases.Gut microbial dysbiosis has been found in patients with cholangiocarcinoma(CCA)[1].However,the characteristics of oral microbiome in patients with CCA have not been studied.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2018YFC2000500)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2022ZFJH003)+3 种基金the Independent Task of State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases(2022zz22)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81703430,32170058,and 82200994)the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences(2019-I2M-5-045)the Research Project of Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory(JNL-2022051B)。
文摘Research on microecology has been carried out with broad perspectives in recent decades,which has enabled a better understanding of the gut microbiota and its roles in human health and disease.It is of great significance to routinely acquire the status of the human gut microbiota;however,there is no method to evaluate the gut microbiome through small amounts of fecal microbes.In this study,we found ten predominant groups of gut bacteria that characterized the whole microbiome in the human gut from a large-sample Chinese cohort,constructed a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR)method and developed a set of analytical approaches to detect these ten groups of predominant gut bacterial species with great maneuverability,efficiency,and quantitative features.Reference ranges for the ten predominant gut bacterial groups were established,and we found that the concentration and pairwise ratios of the ten predominant gut bacterial groups varied with age,indicating gut microbial dysbiosis.By comparing the detection results of liver cirrhosis(LC)patients with those of healthy control subjects,differences were then analyzed,and a classification model for the two groups was built by machine learning.Among the six established classification models,the model established by using the random forest algorithm achieved the highest area under the curve(AUC)value and sensitivity for predicting LC.This research enables easy,rapid,stable,and reliable testing and evaluation of the balance of the gut microbiota in the human body,which may contribute to clinical work.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82170668,82171757,and 82241215)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFA1301001)+2 种基金the Sino-German Center for Research Promotion(GZ1546)the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences(2019-I2M-5-045)the Research Project of Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory(JNL-2022040C and JNL-2023006C)。
文摘Post-transplant diabetes mellitus(PTDM)increases the risk of graft failure and death in liver transplant(LT)recipients.Experimental studies have indicated that enteric dysbiosis mediated by immunosuppressive tacrolimus(TAC)could contribute to glucose disorders,but no data on human recipients with PTDM have been reported.Here,by combining high-throughput shotgun metagenomics sequencing and metabolomics profiling,we characterized the intestinal microbiome(IM)in LT recipient cohort with or without PTDM and deciphered the potential relationship among IM,TAC dosage,and diabetes.By comparing with both non-PTDM and classical type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM),we identified microbial signatures of PTDM,which was characterized by the enriched Proteobacteria and decreased Bacteroidetes.Additionally,the altered microbes,as well as the microbial metabolomics,correlated with the dosage of TAC.Specifically,the levels of beneficial microbes associated with PTDM were lowered in recipients with the high TAC trough concentrations(>5 ng·mL^(-1))than those with low ones(<5 ng·mL^(-1)),which was accompanied by reduced faecal metabolites involved in the biosynthesis of a-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid-lowering factors of developing T2DM.Moreover,these microbial signatures linked with the extent of glucose disorders in LT recipients.In summary,the faecal microbiome and metabolome differed between PTDM and non-PTDM patients,which were linked with TAC dosage.This study was the first to explore taxonomic alterations and bacterial gene functions to better understand the contribution of the IM to PTDM.
基金National Key Research and Development Program of China,No.2018YFC2000500Research Project of Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory,No.JNL-2022001ANational Natural Science Foundation of China,No.U2004121,No.82070643 and No.U1904164
文摘Hepatitis B virus(HBV)has posed a threat to public health,mainly resulting in liver damage.With long-term accumulation of extracellular matrix,patients with chronic hepatitis B are at high risk of developing into liver fibrosis and cirrhosis and even life-threatening hepatic carcinoma.The occurrence of complications such as spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and hepatic encephalopathy greatly increases disability and mortality.With deeper understanding of the bidirectional interaction between the liver and the gut(gut-liver axis),there is a growing consensus that the human health closely relates to the gut microbiota.Supported by animal and human studies,the gut microbiota alters as the HBV-related liver fibrosis initials and progresses,characterized as the decrease of the ratio between“good”and“potentially pathogenic”microbes.When the primary disease is controlled via antiviral treatment,the gut microbiota dysfunction tends to be improved.Conversely,the recovery of gut microbiota can promote the regression of liver fibrosis.Therapeutic strategies targeted on gut microbiota(rifaximin,probiotics,engineered probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation)have been applied to animal models and patients,obtaining satisfactory results.
基金Supported by Stem Cell and Translational Research from National Key Research and Development Program of China,No.2020YFA0113003National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81971756.
文摘BACKGROUND The effect of hypoxia on mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)is an emerging topic in MSC biology.Although long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs)and messenger RNAs(mRNAs)are reported to play a critical role in regulating the biological characteristics of MSCs,their specific expression and co-expression profiles in human placenta-derived MSCs(hP-MSCs)under hypoxia and the underlying mechanisms of lncRNAs in hP-MSC biology are unknown.AIM To reveal the specific expression profiles of lncRNAs in hP-MSCs under hypoxia and initially explored the possible mechanism of lncRNAs on hP-MSC biology.METHODS Here,we used a multigas incubator(92.5%N_(2),5%CO_(2),and 2.5%O_(2))to mimic the potential of hP-MSCs.RNA sequencing technology was applied to identify the exact expression profiles of lncRNAs and mRNAs under hypoxia.RESULTS We identified 289 differentially expressed lncRNAs and 240 differentially expressed mRNAs between the hypoxia and normoxia groups.Among them,the lncRNA SNHG16 was upregulated under hypoxia,which was also validated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.SNHG16 was confirmed to affect hP-MSC proliferation rates using a SNHG16 knockdown model.SNHG16 overexpression could significantly enhance the proliferation capacity of hP-MSCs,activate the PI3K/AKT pathway,and upregulate the expression of cell cycle-related proteins.CONCLUSION Our results revealed the specific expression characteristics of lncRNAs and mRNAs in hypoxiacultured hP-MSCs and that lncRNA SNHG16 can promote hP-MSC proliferation through the PI3K/AKT pathway.
基金funded by the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2020YFA0908100)the Research Project of Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory(Nos.JNL2022004A,JNL2022019B)Shandong Provincial Laboratory Project(No.SYS202202).
文摘Preserving the functionality of hepatocytes in vitro poses a significant challenge in liver tissue engineering and bioartificial liver,as these cells rapidly lose their metabolic and functional characteristics after isolation.Inspired by the macroporous structures found in native liver tissues,here we develop synthetic hydrogel scaffolds that closely mimic the liver’s structural organization through the phase separation between polyethylene glycol(PEG)and polysaccharides.Our hydrogels exhibit interconnected macroporous structures and appropriate mechanical properties,providing an optimal microenvironment conducive to hepatocyte adhesion and the formation of sizable aggregates.Compared to two-dimensional hepatocyte cultures,enhanced functionalities of hepatocytes cultured in our macroporous hydrogels were observed for 14 days,as evidenced by quantitative reverse-transcription–polymerase chain reactions(qRT-PCR),immunofluorescence,and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)analyses.Protein sequencing data further confirmed the establishment of cell–cell interactions among hepatocytes when cultured in our hydrogels.Notably,these hepatocytes maintained a protein expression lineage that closely resembled freshly isolated hepatocytes,particularly in the Notch and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)signaling pathways.These results suggest that the macroporous hydrogels are attractive scaffolds for liver tissue engineering.
基金supported by grants from Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(LR19H160002)National Natural Science Foundation of China(82073296 and 81773193)Research Project of Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory(JNL-2022010B).
文摘The recent remarkable success and safety of mRNA lipid nanoparticle technology for producing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)vaccines has stimulated intensive efforts to expand nanoparticle strategies to treat various diseases.Numerous synthetic nanoparticles have been developed for pharmaceutical delivery and cancer treatment.However,only a limited number of nanotherapies have enter clinical trials or are clinically approved.Systemically administered nanotherapies are likely to be sequestered by host mononuclear phagocyte system(MPS),resulting in suboptimal pharmacokinetics and insufficient drug concentrations in tumors.Bioinspired drug-delivery formulations have emerged as an alternative approach to evade the MPS and show potential to improve drug therapeutic efficacy.Here we developed a biodegradable polymer-conjugated camptothecin prodrug encapsulated in the plasma membrane of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages.Polymer conjugation revived the parent camptothecin agent(e.g.,7-ethyl-10-hydroxy-camptothecin),enabling lipid nanoparticle encapsulation.Furthermore,macrophage membrane cloaking transformed the nonadhesive lipid nanoparticles into bioadhesive nanocamptothecin,increasing the cellular uptake and tumor-tropic effects of this biomimetic therapy.When tested in a preclinical murine model of breast cancer,macrophage-camouflaged nanocamptothecin exhibited a higher level of tumor accumulation than uncoated nanoparticles.Furthermore,intravenous administration of the therapy effectively suppressed tumor growth and the metastatic burden without causing systematic toxicity.Our study describes a combinatorial strategy that uses polymeric prodrug design and cell membrane cloaking to achieve therapeutics with high efficacy and low toxicity.This approach might also be generally applicable to formulate other therapeutic candidates that are not compatible or miscible with biomimetic delivery carriers.
文摘Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause persistent infections,such as biofilm infections,in cystic fibrosis patients,which are difficult to cure due to non-growing persister bacteria that are not effectively killed by the current treatments.While antibiotic activity against growing P.aeruginosa is well documented,their activity against non-growing stationary phase cultures is less clear.Here,we evaluated six major classes of antibiotics,including cell wall and cell membrane inhibitors,protein synthesis inhibitors,DNA synthesis inhibitors,RNA synthesis inhibitors,sulfa drugs and nitrofurantoin,for their activity against growing and non-growing P.aeruginosa.We foundthat cell wall and cell membrane inhibitors(cefuroxime and colistin),DNA synthesis inhibitors(clinafloxacin)and sulfa drugs(sulfamethoxazole)had good activity against stationary-phase bacteria,while protein synthesis inhibitors(gentamicin),RNA synthesis inhibitor(rifampin)and nitrofurantoin showed relatively poor activity.Clinafloxacin was the only drug able to completely eradicate stationary-phase bacteria within four days.The cefuroxime+gentamicin+clinafloxacin combination was able to kill all bacteria from a biofilm within two days,whereas the clinically used drug combination cefuroxime+gentamicin/colistin only partially killed the biofilmbacteria.In amurine persistent cystic fibrosis lung infectionmodel,only the cefuroxime+gentamicin+clinafloxacin drug combination eradicated all bacteria from the lungs,whereas clinafloxacin alone,cefuroxime+clinafloxacin or the currently recommended drug combination cefuroxime+gentamicin failed to do so.The complete eradication is a property of the clinafloxacin combination,as the otherwise identical levofloxacin combination did not clear the bacterial loads from the lungs.Our findings offer new therapeutic options for more effective treatment of persistent P.aeruginosa infections,with possible implications for treating other persistent infections.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(no.81902099)the State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology,Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences(no.SKLVEB2020KFKT005).
文摘Lyme disease(LD)is a tick-transmitted infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species,which include B.burgdorferi,Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii.The majority of patients with early LD can be cured by the standard treatment,yet some still suffer from posttreatment LD syndrome.The presence of Borrelia persisters has been proposed as a contributing factor,because they cannot be completely eradicated by the currently used antibiotics for LD.Finding new pharmaceuticals targeting Borrelia persisters is crucial for developing more effective treatments.Here,we first confirmed the existence of persisters in B.garinii and B.afzelii cultures and then conducted a high-throughput screening of a customdrug library against persister-rich stationary-phase B.garinii and B.afzelii cultures.Among 2427 compounds screened,hypocrellin A(HA),anthracycline class of drugs and topical antibiotics along with some other natural compounds were identified to have strong potential for killing persisters of B.garinii and B.afzelii.HA was the most active anti-Borrelia compound,capable of eradicating stationary-phase Borrelia persisters,in particular when combined with doxycycline and/or ceftriaxone.Liposoluble antioxidant vitamin E was found to antagonize the activity of HA,indicating HA’s target is the cell membrane where HA triggers the generation of reactive oxygen species in the presence of light.HA was found to have distinct bactericidal activity against Borrelia species but had poor or no activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.Identification of the abovementioned drug candidates may help develop more effective therapies for LD.
基金supported by grants from the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDB29020203)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32170068)the Research Project of Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory(JNL-2022013B).
文摘Mammalian endogenous retroviruses(ERVs)are ancient retroviruses that have been integrated into genomes.ERVs were believed to be inactive until the discovery of ERV transcription in the mouse genome.However,the transcription level and function of ERV elements in mammalian genomes are not well understood.In this study,we performed the first genome‐wide scanning of ERV loci in the American mink(Neogale vison)genome(NeoERV)followed by transcriptomic analysis to detect actively transcribed NeoERV elements.A total of 365,791 NeoERV loci were identified,and161,205(44%)of these loci were found to be actively transcribed based on transcriptomic data from three types of tissues(amygdala,trachea and lung).More than one third of the actively transcribed NeoERV loci were tissue‐specific.Furthermore,some of the active loci were associated with host gene transcription,and the level of NeoERV transcription was positively correlated with that of host genes,specifically when active loci were located in overlapped gene regions.An in‐depth analysis of the envelope protein coding env gene showed that,in general,its transcription level was higher than that of NeoERVs,which is believed to be associated with host immunity.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai (21ZR1475600)Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (20431900100)+4 种基金Shanghai Science and Technology Committee (19430750100)National Key R&D Program of China (2016YFA0502301 and 2021YFC2301204)Drug development for the newly emerging viral infectious diseases (SIMM010107)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2022ZFJH003)Zhejiang Provincial Key Research&Development Program of China (2021C03043 and No.2021C03039).
文摘Effective drugs with broad spectrum safety profile to all people are highly expected to combat COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2.Here we report that nelfinavir,an FDA approved drug for the treatment of HIV infection,is effective against SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19.Preincubation of nelfinavir could inhibit the activity of the main protease of the SARS-CoV-2(IC50=8.26μM),while its antiviral activity in Vero E6 cells against a clinical isolate of SARS-CoV-2 was determined to be 2.93μM(EC50).In comparison with vehicle-treated animals,rhesus macaque prophylactically treated with nelfinavir had significantly lower temperature and significantly reduced virus loads in the nasal and anal swabs of the animals.At necropsy,nelfinavir-treated animals had a significant reduction of the viral replication in the lungs by nearly three orders of magnitude.A prospective clinic study with 37 enrolled treatment-naive patients at Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center,which were randomized(1:1)to nelfinavir and control groups,showed that the nelfinavir treatment could shorten the duration of viral shedding by 5.5 days(9.0 vs.14.5 days,P=0.055)and the duration of fever time by 3.8 days(2.8 vs.6.6 days,P=0.014)in mild/moderate COVID-19 patients.The antiviral efficiency and clinical benefits in rhesus macaque model and in COVID-19 patients,together with its well-established good safety profile in almost all ages and during pregnancy,indicated that nelfinavir is a highly promising medication with the potential of preventative effect for the treatment of COVID-19.
基金This work is funded by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2020YFA0908100)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.11934008,11974174 and 12002149)the Research Project of Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory。
文摘Hydrogels crosslinked by dynamic covalent bonds can effectively mimic the viscoelastic properties of native extracellular matrix and have been widely explored for 3D cell culture.Disulfide is one of the most common dynamic bonds in biological systems whose formation and cleavage are catalyzed by a set of dedicated enzymes.However,in vitro formation of disulfide bonds is a slow process and requires harsh catalysts.Therefore,it is difficult to use disulfide crosslinked hydrogels for cell culture.n this work,we show that disulfide bonds can be formed by thiol-diselenide(Dise)exchange under blue light llumination.This reaction is fast,reversible,and biocompatible.Moreover,residual diselenide in the hydrogel network can also accelerate thiol-disulfide exchange reactions leading to faster cell release from the hydrogels upon the addition of thiol-containing agents.We anticipate that disulfide crosslinked hydrogels catalyzed by diselenide can find broad biomedical applications,such as cell culture,celldelivery,and drug-controlled release.
基金This study was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.82170668,81790633,and 81790630)Sino-German Center for Research Promotion(No.GZ1546)+1 种基金CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences(No.2019-I2M-5-045)Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory(No.JNL-2022040C).
文摘Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome and a common cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer.Akkermansia muciniphila(A.muciniphila)is a next-generation probiotic that has been reported to improve metabolic disorders.Emerging evidence indicates the therapeutic potential of A.muciniphila for NAFLD,especially in the inflammatory stage,nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.Here,the current knowledge on the role of A.muciniphila in the progression of NAFLD was summarized.A.muciniphila abundancy is decreased in animals and humans with NAFLD.The recovery of A.muciniphila presented benefits in preventing hepatic fat accumulation and inflammation in NAFLD.The details of how microbes regulate hepatic immunity and lipid accumulation in NAFLD were further discussed.The modulation mechanisms by which A.muciniphila acts to improve hepatic inflammation are mainly attributed to the alleviation of inflammatory cytokines and LPS signals and the downregulation of microbiota-related innate immune cells(such as macrophages).This review provides insights into the roles of A.muciniphila in NAFLD,thereby providing a blueprint to facilitate clinical therapeutic applications.
基金supported by the National Key Research&Development Program of China(No.2021YFC2301204)Zhejiang Provincial Key Research&Development Program of China(No.2021C03043)Research Project of Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory.
文摘Recently,monkeypox has become a global concern amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.Monkeypox is an acute rash zoonosis caused by the monkeypox virus,which was previously concentrated in Africa.The re-emergence of this pathogen seems unusual on account of outbreaks in multiple nonendemic countries and the incline to spread from person to person.We need to revisit this virus to prevent the epidemic from getting worse.In this review,we comprehensively summarize studies on monkeypox,including its epidemiology,biological characteristics,pathogenesis,and clinical characteristics,as well as therapeutics and vaccines,highlighting its unusual outbreak attributed to the transformation of transmission.We also analyze the present situation and put forward countermeasures from both clinical and scientific research to address it.
基金The animal experiments in this study were approved by the Tab of Animal Experimental Ethical Inspection of the First Affliated Hospital,College of Medicine,Zhejiang University(no.20211433).
文摘Currently approved therapeutical strategies for inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD)suffer from variable efficacy and association with risk of serious side effects.Therefore,efforts have been made in searching for alternative therapeutics strategies utilizing gut microbiota manipulation.In this study,we show that the probiotic strain Ligilactobacillus salivarius Li01(Li01)and the phytochemical prebiotic resveratrol(RSV)have synergistic effect in ameliorating colitis in mice.Oral coadministration of Li01(109 CFU/d)and RSV(1.5 g/kg/d)promoted restoration of various inflammatory injuries and gut microbiota composition,exhibiting a favorable anti-inflammatory effect in DSS-induced colitis mice.The combination treatment was associated with reductions in the levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1βand IL-6 and increases in the levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-17A in mouse serum.Moreover,the combination treatment was found to alter the composition and metabolism of the gut microbiota,especially influencing the production of short chain fatty acids and anti-inflammatory related molecules.The mechanism underlying the improved anti-inflammatory effect from the RSV and Li01 combination treatment was found to be associated with the environmental sensor mammalian aryl hydrocarbon receptor(AHR)and tryptophan metabolism pathway.Administration of RSV in combination with Li01 in different mouse model led to enhanced conversion of RSV into metabolites,including dihydroresveratrol(DHR),resveratrol-sulfate,and resveratrol-glucuronide.DHR was found to be the dominant metabolite of RSV in conventional and colitis mice.An increased DHR/RSV ratio was confirmed to activate AHR and contribute to an enhanced anti-inflammatory effect.DHR is considered as a potential AHR ligand.The DHR/RSV ratio also affected the serotonin pathway by controlling the expression of Tph1,SERT,and 5-HT7R leading to amelioration of colitis in mice.Our data suggest that treatment with a combination of Li01 and RSV has potential as a therapeutic strategy for IBD;further investigation of this combination in clinical settings is warranted.
