OBJECTIVE Identification of novel autophagy inhibitors for the combinational treatment of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).METHODS MTT assay and annexin V/PI staining assay were used to evaluate the cell proliferatio...OBJECTIVE Identification of novel autophagy inhibitors for the combinational treatment of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).METHODS MTT assay and annexin V/PI staining assay were used to evaluate the cell proliferation and apoptosis,respectively.Immunofluorescence staining and cathepsin activity assay were used to detect autophagy.Small interfering RNA was performed to silence the genes and Western blot assay was used to evaluate the protein express levels.Xenograft experiments were applied for in vivo evaluation.RESULTS Cepharanthine,a natural compound,increased LC3-II expression and GFP-LC3 puncta formation in NSCLC NCI-H1975 cells.Numerous yellow puncta were observed in cepharanthine-treated cells with m RFP-EGFP-LC3 transfection.Co-staining of GFP-LC3 with LysoT racker red or LAMP1 antibody suggested that cepharanthine inhibits autophagosomes-lysosomes fusion.Moreover,cepharanthine attenuated the lysosomal cathepsins maturation.We also confirmed that dacomitinib induced cytoprotective autophagy.Combined treatment with cepharanthine increased the anti-cancer effects of dacomitinib in vitro and in vivo.Besides,cepharanthine could not enhance the anti-cancer effect of dacomitinib in autophagy deficient cells.CONCLUSION Cepharanthine might be further developed as a promising autophagic inhibitor,and combined treatment cepharanthine with dacomitinib could pose as an effective strategy for NSCLC treatment.展开更多
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of endogenous, small (approximately 22 nucleotides in length), noncoding, functional RNAs. With the development of molecular biology, the research of miRNA biological function has attra...MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of endogenous, small (approximately 22 nucleotides in length), noncoding, functional RNAs. With the development of molecular biology, the research of miRNA biological function has attracted significant interest, as abnormal miRNA expression is identified to contribute to serious human diseases such as cancers. Traditional methods for miRNA detection do not meet current demands. In particular, nanomaterial-based methods, nucleic acid amplification-based methods such as rolling circle amplification (RCA), loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), strand-displacement amplification (SDA) and some enzyme-free amplifications have been employed widely for the highly sensitive detection of miRNA. MiRNA functional research and clinical diagnostics have been accelerated by these new techniques. Herein, we summarize and discuss the recent progress in the development of miRNA detection methods and new applications. This review will provide guidelines for the development of follow-up miRNA detection methods with high sensitivity and specificity, and applicability to disease diagnosis and therapy.展开更多
Stereoselectivity in drug metabolism can not only influence the pharmacological activities, tolerability, safety, and bioavailability of drugs directly, but also cause different kinds of drug-drug interactions. Thus, ...Stereoselectivity in drug metabolism can not only influence the pharmacological activities, tolerability, safety, and bioavailability of drugs directly, but also cause different kinds of drug-drug interactions. Thus, assessing stereoselectivity in drug metabolism is of great significance for pharmaceutical research and development （R＆D） and rational use in clinic. Although there are various methods available for assessing stereoselectivity in drug metabolism, many of them have shortcomings. The indirect method of chro- matographic methods can only be applicable to specific samples with functional groups to be derivatized or form complex with a chiral selector, while the direct method achieved by chiral stationary phases （CSPs） is expensive. As a detector of chromatographic methods, mass spectrometry （MS） is highly sen- sitive and specific, whereas the matrix interference is still a challenge to overcome. In addition, the use of nuclear magnetic resonance （NMR） and immunoassay in chiral analysis are worth noting. This review presents several typical examples of drug stereoselective metabolism and provides a literature-based evaluation on current chiral analytical techniques to show the significance and challenges of stereo- selectivity assessing methods in drug metabolism.展开更多
In recent years,scientific researchers have increasingly become interested in noninvasive sampling methods for therapeutic drug monitoring and disease diagnosis.As a result,dried saliva spot(DSS),which is a sampling t...In recent years,scientific researchers have increasingly become interested in noninvasive sampling methods for therapeutic drug monitoring and disease diagnosis.As a result,dried saliva spot(DSS),which is a sampling technique for collecting dried saliva samples,has been widely used as an alternative matrix to serum for the detection of target molecules.Coupling the DSS method with a highly sensitive detection instrument improves the efficiency of the preparation and analysis of biological samples.Furthermore,dried blood spots,dried plasma spots,and dried matrix spots,which are similar to those of the DSS method,are discussed.Compared with alternative biological fluids used in dried spot methods,including serum,tears,urine,and plasma,saliva has the advantage of convenience in terms of sample collection from children or persons with disabilities.This review aims to provide integral strategies and guidelines for dried spot methods to analyze biological samples by illustrating several dried spot methods.Herein,we summarize recent advancements in DSS methods from June 2014 to March 2021 and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the key aspects of this method,including sample preparation and method validation.Finally,we outline the challenges and prospects of such methods in practical applications.展开更多
To increase the chance of a successful outcome in clinic and in the development of innovative drugs,researchers aim to provide more compre hensive information about the disease and drugs to adapt treatment decisions a...To increase the chance of a successful outcome in clinic and in the development of innovative drugs,researchers aim to provide more compre hensive information about the disease and drugs to adapt treatment decisions according to an individual disease's mo-lecular characteristics.It is thus increasingly desirable to illuminate fund amental molecular pathways of the drug and its targets inside organisms in a non-invasive manner.Technologies developed in molecular imaging assist in visualizing,characterizing,and quanti-fying targets of interest at the molecular level within intact living organisms.This special issue of Joumal of Pharmaceutical Analysis is therefore dedicated to highlighting current progresses made in molecular imaging towards various drugs,important or promising drug targets,and their interactions,as well as to providing a forum for sharing new methods reported recently for the efficient phar-maceutical analysis.展开更多
The recent pneumonia outbreak caused by a novel coronavirus(SARS-CoV-2)is posing a great threat to global public health.Therefore,rapid and accurate identification of pathogenic viruses plays a vital role in selecting...The recent pneumonia outbreak caused by a novel coronavirus(SARS-CoV-2)is posing a great threat to global public health.Therefore,rapid and accurate identification of pathogenic viruses plays a vital role in selecting appropriate treatments,saving people's lives and preventing epidemics.It is important to establish a quick standard diagnostic test for the detection of the infectious disease(COVID-19)to prevent subsequent secondary spread.Polymerase chain reaction(PCR)is regarded as a gold standard test for the molecular diagnosis of viral and bacterial infections with high sensitivity and specificity.Isothermal nucleic acid amplification is considered to be a highly promising candidate method due to its fundamental advantage in quick procedure time at constant temperature without thermocycler opera-tion.A variety of improved or new approaches also have been developed.This review summarizes the currently available detection methods for coronavirus nucleic acid.It is anticipated that this will assist researchers and clinicians in developing better techniques for timely and effective detection of coro-navirus infection.展开更多
Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies have become one of the central components of the healthcare system and continuous efforts are made to bring innovative antibody therapeutics to patients in need.It is equally critical...Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies have become one of the central components of the healthcare system and continuous efforts are made to bring innovative antibody therapeutics to patients in need.It is equally critical to acquire sufficient knowledge of their molecular structure and biological functions to ensure the efficacy and safety by incorporating new detection approaches since new challenges like individual differences and resistance are presented.Conventional techniques for determining antibody disposition including plasma drug concentration measurements using LC-MS or ELISA,and tissue distribution using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence are now complemented with molecular imaging modalities like positron emission tomography and near-infrared fluorescence imaging to obtain more dynamic information,while methods for characterization of antibody’s interaction with the target antigen as well as visualization of its cellular and intercellular behavior are still under development.Recent progress in detecting therapeutic antibodies,in particular,the development of methods suitable for illustrating the molecular dynamics,is described here.展开更多
Objective： Yes Associated Protein （YAP） is a downstream effector that negatively regulated by Hippo kinase LATS1/2. As a transcriptional coactivator, YAP controls the transactivation of variety target genes to prom...Objective： Yes Associated Protein （YAP） is a downstream effector that negatively regulated by Hippo kinase LATS1/2. As a transcriptional coactivator, YAP controls the transactivation of variety target genes to promote cell proliferation which is a critical survival input for cancer cells, thus the inhibition of YAP function is a promising strategy to treat cancer patients. The aim of this study was to explore YAP inhibitors derived from natural products using a cell-based YAP-TEADs luciferase reporter assay and investigate the functional activities of the novel inhibitor. Methods： natural compounds were used by 8×GTIIC luciferase reporter assay to screen YAP inhibitor. Phosphorylation of YAP and AMPK were detected by Western Blotting. The target genes of YAP were determined through RT-PCR. Inhibition on HepG2 cells of screened compounds were assessed by the Sulforhodamine B （SRB） assay. Results： we found that Shikonin （derived from the traditional Chinese medical herb Zicao （Lithospermum erythrorhizon）） exerted significant suppression against the transcriptional activity of YAP （inhibition ratio=74.3%）, accompanied with increased phosphorylation of YAP protein upon within short-exposure to cancer cells. Shikonin treated on HepG2 induced phosphorylation of AMPK. In HepG2 cell lines, Shikonin exhibited a profound cytotoxicity in a concentration manner. Conclusion： our results indicated that the inhibition activity of Shikonin on YAP function was probably due to the activation of AMPK by phosphorylation. Moreover, Shikonin exhibited potent cytotoxicity on cancer cells. In summary, the present study identifies Shikonin as a novel natural inhibitor of YAP function and could be an anti-cancer drug candidate for cancer treatment.展开更多
Macrophage senescence,manifested by the special form of durable cell cycle arrest and chronic low-grade inflammation like senescence-associated secretory phenotype,has long been consid-ered harmful.Persistent senescen...Macrophage senescence,manifested by the special form of durable cell cycle arrest and chronic low-grade inflammation like senescence-associated secretory phenotype,has long been consid-ered harmful.Persistent senescence of macrophages may lead to maladaptation,immune dysfunction,and finally the development of age-related diseases,infections,autoimmune diseases,and malignancies.However,it is a ubiquitous,multi-factorial,and dynamic complex phenomenon that also plays roles in remodeled processes,including wound repair and embryogenesis.In this review,we summarize some general molecular changes and several specific biomarkers during macrophage senescence,which may bring new sight to recognize senescent macrophages in different conditions.Also,we take an in-depth look at the functional changes in senescent macrophages,including metabolism,autophagy,polarization,phagocytosis,antigen presentation,and infiltration or recruitment.Furthermore,some degenerations and diseases associated with senescent macrophages as well as the mechanisms or relevant genetic regulations of senescent macrophages are integrated,not only emphasizing the possibility of regulating macrophage senescence to benefit age-associated diseases but also has an implication on the finding of potential tar-gets ordrugs clinically.展开更多
Adenosine(Ado)is significantly elevated in the tumor microenvironment(TME)compared to normal tissues.It binds to adenosine receptors(AdoRs),suppressing tumor antigen presentation and immune cell activation,thereby inh...Adenosine(Ado)is significantly elevated in the tumor microenvironment(TME)compared to normal tissues.It binds to adenosine receptors(AdoRs),suppressing tumor antigen presentation and immune cell activation,thereby inhibiting tumor adaptive immunity.Ado downregulates major histocompatibility complex II(MHC II)and co-stimulatory factors on dendritic cells(DCs)and macrophages,inhibiting antigen presentation.It suppresses anti-tumor cytokine secretion and T cell activation by disrupting T cell receptor(TCR)binding and signal transduction.Ado also inhibits chemokine secretion and KCa3.1 channel activity,impeding effector T cell trafficking and infiltration into the tumor site.Furthermore,Ado diminishes T cell cytotoxicity against tumor cells by promoting immune-suppressive cytokine secretion,upregulating immune checkpoint proteins,and enhancing immune-suppressive cell activity.Reducing Ado production in the TME can significantly enhance anti-tumor immune responses and improve the efficacy of other immunotherapies.Preclinical and clinical development of inhibitors targeting Ado generation or AdoRs is underway.Therefore,this article will summarize and analyze the inhibitory effects and molecular mechanisms of Ado on tumor adaptive immunity,as well as provide an overview of the latest advancements in targeting Ado pathways in anti-tumor immune responses.展开更多
Non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)ranks as one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide.Despite the prominence and effectiveness of kinase-target therapies in NSCLC treatment,these drugs are suitable fo...Non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)ranks as one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide.Despite the prominence and effectiveness of kinase-target therapies in NSCLC treatment,these drugs are suitable for and beneficial to a mere~30%of NSCLC patients.Consequently,the need for novel strategies addressing NSCLC remains pressing.Deubiquitinases(DUBs),a group of diverse enzymes with well-defined catalytic sites that are frequently overactivated in cancers and associated with tumorigenesis and regarded as promising therapeutic targets.Nevertheless,the mechanisms by which DUBs promote NSCLC remain poorly understood.Through a global analysis of the 97 DUBs’contribution to NSCLC survival possibilities using The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)database,we found that high expression of Josephin Domain-containing protein 2(JOSD2)predicted the poor prognosis of patients.Depletion of JOSD2 significantly impeded NSCLC growth in both cell/patient-derived xenografts in vivo.Mechanically,we found that JOSD2 restricts the kinase activity of LKB1,an important tumor suppressor generally inactivated in NSCLC,by removing K6-linked polyubiquitination,an action vital for maintaining the integrity of the LKB1-STRAD-MO25 complex.Notably,we identified the first small-molecule inhibitor of JOSD2,and observed that its pharmacological inhibition significantly arrested NSCLC proliferation in vitro/in vivo.Our findings highlight the vital role of JOSD2 in hindering LKB1 activity,underscoring the therapeutic potential of targeting JOSD2 in NSCLC,especially in those with inactivated LKB1,and presenting its inhibitors as a promising strategy for NSCLC treatment.展开更多
Platinum(Pt) based drugs, such as cisplatin, are widely used as anti-cancer agents, but their severe adverse reactions and resistance of cancer patients have limited their board clinical use. For the last few decades,...Platinum(Pt) based drugs, such as cisplatin, are widely used as anti-cancer agents, but their severe adverse reactions and resistance of cancer patients have limited their board clinical use. For the last few decades, Pt(Ⅱ) compounds, Pt(Ⅳ) prodrugs as well as smart drug delivery systems have been developed to overcome these problems. However, most conventional strategies rely on the similar anti-cancer mechanism with cisplatin and consequently only achieve limited success. Recently, Pt nanocrystals/nanoclusters(Pt NCs), with a brand new anti-cancer mechanism, have shown a promising potential in targeted cancer therapy, especially in Pt resistance circumvention. This review is helpful to understand the research strategies of Pt drugs, particularly, the recent developments and medical applications of Pt NCs.展开更多
Stimuli-responsive polymers are promising to achieve targeted delivery,improved stability during circulation,and controlled release of therapeutic and diagnostic agents.Among them,pH-responsive polymeric nanocarriers ...Stimuli-responsive polymers are promising to achieve targeted delivery,improved stability during circulation,and controlled release of therapeutic and diagnostic agents.Among them,pH-responsive polymeric nanocarriers have attracted significant attention as pH varies in different body fluids(e.g.,stomach,intestine,and colon)and intracellular organelles(e.g.,endosome,lysosome,and mitochondria)to maintain homeostasis,while distinctive pH changes are also found in certain pathological states.For example,the extracellular environment of the tumor is acidic,which can be employed to drive selective delivery.During the internalization process,since most nanocarriers enter cells upon endocytosis where a drop of pH from 6.5 to 5.0 can occur from endosome to lysosome,pH-sensitive groups have been developed for enhanced cargo release.In this review,both non-covalent and covalent interactions responsive to pH changes are introduced,with a focus on the structure-property relationship and their applications in cancer targeting and endosomal escape.展开更多
Lipids have been found to modulate tumor biology,including proliferation,survival,and metastasis.With the new understanding of tumor immune escape that has developed in recent years,the influence of lipids on the can...Lipids have been found to modulate tumor biology,including proliferation,survival,and metastasis.With the new understanding of tumor immune escape that has developed in recent years,the influence of lipids on the cancer—immunity cycle has also been gradually discovered.First,regarding antigen presentation,cholesterol prevents tumor antigens from being identified by antigen presenting cells.Fatty acids reduce the expression of major histocompatibility complex class I and costimulatory factors in dendritic cells,impairing antigen presentation to T cells.Prostaglandin E2(PGE2)reduce the accumulation of tumor-infiltrating dendritic cells.Regarding T-cell priming and activation,cholesterol destroys the structure of the T-cell receptor and reduces immunodetection.In contrast,cholesterol also promotes T-cell receptor clustering and relative signal transduction.PGE2 represses T-cell proliferation.Finally,regarding T-cell killing of cancer cells,PGE2 and cholesterol weaken granule-dependent cytotoxicity.Moreover,fatty acids,cholesterol,and PGE2 can improve the activity of immunosuppressive cells,increase the expression of immune checkpoints and promote the secretion of immunosuppressive cytokines.Given the regulatory role of lipids in the cancer—immunity cycle,drugs that modulate fatty acids,cholesterol and PGE2 have been envisioned as effective way in restoring antitumor immunity and synergizing with immunotherapy.These strategies have been studied in both preclinical and clinical studies.展开更多
Immunoproteasome is a variant of proteasome with structural differences in 20S subunits optimizing them for the production of antigenic peptides with higher binding affinity to major histocompatibility complex(MHC)-I ...Immunoproteasome is a variant of proteasome with structural differences in 20S subunits optimizing them for the production of antigenic peptides with higher binding affinity to major histocompatibility complex(MHC)-I molecules.Apart from this primary function in antigen presentation,immunoproteasome is also responsible for the degradation of proteins,both unfolded proteins for the maintenance of protein homeostasis and tumor suppressor proteins contributing to tumor progression.The altered expression of immunoproteasome is frequently observed in cancers;however,its expression levels and effects vary among different cancer types exhibiting antagonistic roles in tumor development.This review focuses on the dichotomous role of immunoproteasome in different cancer types,as well as summarizes the current progression in immunoproteasome activators and inhibitors.Specifically targeting immunoproteasome may be a beneficial therapeutic intervention in cancer treatment and understanding the role of immunoproteasome in cancers will provide a significant therapeutic insight for the prevention and treatment of cancers.展开更多
The treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus, which is characterized by defective insulin secretion and/or the inability of tissues to respond to insulin, has been studied for decades. Many studies have focused on...The treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus, which is characterized by defective insulin secretion and/or the inability of tissues to respond to insulin, has been studied for decades. Many studies have focused on the use of incretin-based hypoglycemic agents in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM). These drugs are classified as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which mimic the function of GLP-1,and DPP-4 inhibitors, which avoid GLP-1 degradation. Many incretin-based hypoglycemic agents have been approved and are widely used, and their physiological disposition and structural characteristics are crucial in the discovery of more effective drugs and provide guidance for clinical treatment of T2DM.Here, we summarize the functional mechanisms and other information of the drugs that are currently approved or under research for T2DM treatment. In addition, their physiological disposition, including metabolism, excretion, and potential drug drug interactions, is thoroughly reviewed. We also discuss similarities and differences in metabolism and excretion between GLP-1 receptor agonists and DPP-4 inhibitors. This review may facilitate clinical decision making based on patients' physical conditions and the avoidance of drug drug interactions. Moreover, the identification and development of novel drugs with appropriate physiological dispositions might be inspired.展开更多
Acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 5(ACSL5),is a member of the acyl-CoA synthetases(ACSs)family that activates long chain fatty acids by catalyzing the synthesis of fatty acyl-CoAs.The dysregulation of ACSL5...Acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 5(ACSL5),is a member of the acyl-CoA synthetases(ACSs)family that activates long chain fatty acids by catalyzing the synthesis of fatty acyl-CoAs.The dysregulation of ACSL5 has been reported in some cancers,such as glioma and colon cancers.However,little is known about the role of ACSL5 in acute myeloid leukemia(AML).We found that the expression of ACSL5 was higher in bone marrow cells from AML patients compared with that from healthy donors.ACSL5 level could serve as an independent prognostic predictor of the overall survival of AML patients.In AML cells,the ACSL5 knockdown inhibited cell growth both in vitro and in vivo.Mechanistically,the knockdown of ACSL5 suppressed the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway by suppressing the palmitoylation modification of Wnt3a.Additionally,triacsin c,a pan-ACS family inhibitor,inhibited cell growth and robustly induced cell apoptosis when combined with ABT-199,the FDA approved BCL-2 inhibitor for AML therapy.Our results indicate that ACSL5 is a potential prognosis marker for AML and a promising pharmacological target for the treatment of molecularly stratified AML.展开更多
A series of chemotherapeutic drugs that induce DNA damage,such as cisplatin(DDP),are standard clinical treatments for ovarian cancer,testicular cancer,and other diseases that lack effective targeted drug therapy.Drug ...A series of chemotherapeutic drugs that induce DNA damage,such as cisplatin(DDP),are standard clinical treatments for ovarian cancer,testicular cancer,and other diseases that lack effective targeted drug therapy.Drug resistance is one of the main factors limiting their application.Sensitizers can overcome the drug resistance of tumor cells,thereby enhancing the antitumor activity of chemotherapeutic drugs.In this study,we aimed to identify marketable drugs that could be potential chemotherapy sensitizers and explore the underlying mechanisms.We found that the alcohol withdrawal drug disulfiram(DSF)could significantly enhance the antitumor activity of DDP.JC-1 staining,propidium iodide(PI)staining,and western blotting confirmed that the combination of DSF and DDP could enhance the apoptosis of tumor cells.Subsequent RNA sequencing combined with Gene Set Enrichment Analysis(GSEA)pathway enrichment analysis and cell biology studies such as immunofluorescence suggested an underlying mechanism:DSF makes cells more vulnerable to DNA damage by inhibiting the Fanconi anemia(FA)repair pathway,exerting a sensitizing effect to DNA damaging agents including platinum chemotherapy drugs.Thus,our study illustrated the potential mechanism of action of DSF in enhancing the antitumor effect of DDP.This might provide an effective and safe solution for combating DDP resistance in clinical treatment.展开更多
The authors regret that one author was missed in the author list when preparing the manuscript,while the foundation to him was mentioned in the section of Acknowledgments.Dr.Qinjie Weng should be added to the author l...The authors regret that one author was missed in the author list when preparing the manuscript,while the foundation to him was mentioned in the section of Acknowledgments.Dr.Qinjie Weng should be added to the author list because of his contribution in animal study and his foundation help us to complete this study.The authors sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused to the journal and readers.展开更多
基金supported by Science and Technology Development Fund,Macao S.A.R(FDCT)(024/2016/A1)Research Fund of University of Macao(MYRG2015-00091-ICMS-QRCM and MYRG2015-00101-ICMS-QRCM)
文摘OBJECTIVE Identification of novel autophagy inhibitors for the combinational treatment of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).METHODS MTT assay and annexin V/PI staining assay were used to evaluate the cell proliferation and apoptosis,respectively.Immunofluorescence staining and cathepsin activity assay were used to detect autophagy.Small interfering RNA was performed to silence the genes and Western blot assay was used to evaluate the protein express levels.Xenograft experiments were applied for in vivo evaluation.RESULTS Cepharanthine,a natural compound,increased LC3-II expression and GFP-LC3 puncta formation in NSCLC NCI-H1975 cells.Numerous yellow puncta were observed in cepharanthine-treated cells with m RFP-EGFP-LC3 transfection.Co-staining of GFP-LC3 with LysoT racker red or LAMP1 antibody suggested that cepharanthine inhibits autophagosomes-lysosomes fusion.Moreover,cepharanthine attenuated the lysosomal cathepsins maturation.We also confirmed that dacomitinib induced cytoprotective autophagy.Combined treatment with cepharanthine increased the anti-cancer effects of dacomitinib in vitro and in vivo.Besides,cepharanthine could not enhance the anti-cancer effect of dacomitinib in autophagy deficient cells.CONCLUSION Cepharanthine might be further developed as a promising autophagic inhibitor,and combined treatment cepharanthine with dacomitinib could pose as an effective strategy for NSCLC treatment.
基金financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant 81573389)the National Key R&D Program of China(2017YFC0908600)
文摘MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of endogenous, small (approximately 22 nucleotides in length), noncoding, functional RNAs. With the development of molecular biology, the research of miRNA biological function has attracted significant interest, as abnormal miRNA expression is identified to contribute to serious human diseases such as cancers. Traditional methods for miRNA detection do not meet current demands. In particular, nanomaterial-based methods, nucleic acid amplification-based methods such as rolling circle amplification (RCA), loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), strand-displacement amplification (SDA) and some enzyme-free amplifications have been employed widely for the highly sensitive detection of miRNA. MiRNA functional research and clinical diagnostics have been accelerated by these new techniques. Herein, we summarize and discuss the recent progress in the development of miRNA detection methods and new applications. This review will provide guidelines for the development of follow-up miRNA detection methods with high sensitivity and specificity, and applicability to disease diagnosis and therapy.
基金financial support from the National Major Projects of China(2011CB710800)the International Science&Technology Cooperation Program of China(2014DFE30050)the Program for Zhejiang Leading Team of S&T Innovation(2011R50014)
文摘Stereoselectivity in drug metabolism can not only influence the pharmacological activities, tolerability, safety, and bioavailability of drugs directly, but also cause different kinds of drug-drug interactions. Thus, assessing stereoselectivity in drug metabolism is of great significance for pharmaceutical research and development （R＆D） and rational use in clinic. Although there are various methods available for assessing stereoselectivity in drug metabolism, many of them have shortcomings. The indirect method of chro- matographic methods can only be applicable to specific samples with functional groups to be derivatized or form complex with a chiral selector, while the direct method achieved by chiral stationary phases （CSPs） is expensive. As a detector of chromatographic methods, mass spectrometry （MS） is highly sen- sitive and specific, whereas the matrix interference is still a challenge to overcome. In addition, the use of nuclear magnetic resonance （NMR） and immunoassay in chiral analysis are worth noting. This review presents several typical examples of drug stereoselective metabolism and provides a literature-based evaluation on current chiral analytical techniques to show the significance and challenges of stereo- selectivity assessing methods in drug metabolism.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.:82173782 and 32160234)the Science and Technology Development Project,Education Department of Jilin Province of China(Grant No.:JJKH20191151KJ).
文摘In recent years,scientific researchers have increasingly become interested in noninvasive sampling methods for therapeutic drug monitoring and disease diagnosis.As a result,dried saliva spot(DSS),which is a sampling technique for collecting dried saliva samples,has been widely used as an alternative matrix to serum for the detection of target molecules.Coupling the DSS method with a highly sensitive detection instrument improves the efficiency of the preparation and analysis of biological samples.Furthermore,dried blood spots,dried plasma spots,and dried matrix spots,which are similar to those of the DSS method,are discussed.Compared with alternative biological fluids used in dried spot methods,including serum,tears,urine,and plasma,saliva has the advantage of convenience in terms of sample collection from children or persons with disabilities.This review aims to provide integral strategies and guidelines for dried spot methods to analyze biological samples by illustrating several dried spot methods.Herein,we summarize recent advancements in DSS methods from June 2014 to March 2021 and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the key aspects of this method,including sample preparation and method validation.Finally,we outline the challenges and prospects of such methods in practical applications.
文摘To increase the chance of a successful outcome in clinic and in the development of innovative drugs,researchers aim to provide more compre hensive information about the disease and drugs to adapt treatment decisions according to an individual disease's mo-lecular characteristics.It is thus increasingly desirable to illuminate fund amental molecular pathways of the drug and its targets inside organisms in a non-invasive manner.Technologies developed in molecular imaging assist in visualizing,characterizing,and quanti-fying targets of interest at the molecular level within intact living organisms.This special issue of Joumal of Pharmaceutical Analysis is therefore dedicated to highlighting current progresses made in molecular imaging towards various drugs,important or promising drug targets,and their interactions,as well as to providing a forum for sharing new methods reported recently for the efficient phar-maceutical analysis.
基金financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant 81973281)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2019FZA7017)Leading Talent of“Ten Thousand Plan”-National High-Level Talents SpecialSupport Plan。
文摘The recent pneumonia outbreak caused by a novel coronavirus(SARS-CoV-2)is posing a great threat to global public health.Therefore,rapid and accurate identification of pathogenic viruses plays a vital role in selecting appropriate treatments,saving people's lives and preventing epidemics.It is important to establish a quick standard diagnostic test for the detection of the infectious disease(COVID-19)to prevent subsequent secondary spread.Polymerase chain reaction(PCR)is regarded as a gold standard test for the molecular diagnosis of viral and bacterial infections with high sensitivity and specificity.Isothermal nucleic acid amplification is considered to be a highly promising candidate method due to its fundamental advantage in quick procedure time at constant temperature without thermocycler opera-tion.A variety of improved or new approaches also have been developed.This review summarizes the currently available detection methods for coronavirus nucleic acid.It is anticipated that this will assist researchers and clinicians in developing better techniques for timely and effective detection of coro-navirus infection.
基金We acknowledge financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81903574)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2019QNA7046,2020QNA7001).
文摘Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies have become one of the central components of the healthcare system and continuous efforts are made to bring innovative antibody therapeutics to patients in need.It is equally critical to acquire sufficient knowledge of their molecular structure and biological functions to ensure the efficacy and safety by incorporating new detection approaches since new challenges like individual differences and resistance are presented.Conventional techniques for determining antibody disposition including plasma drug concentration measurements using LC-MS or ELISA,and tissue distribution using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence are now complemented with molecular imaging modalities like positron emission tomography and near-infrared fluorescence imaging to obtain more dynamic information,while methods for characterization of antibody’s interaction with the target antigen as well as visualization of its cellular and intercellular behavior are still under development.Recent progress in detecting therapeutic antibodies,in particular,the development of methods suitable for illustrating the molecular dynamics,is described here.
基金This work was supported National Key R＆D Program of China （No. 2017YFE0102200）, National Natural Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholar of China （81625024） and National Natural Science Foundation of China （81773753） to B. Yang.
文摘Objective： Yes Associated Protein （YAP） is a downstream effector that negatively regulated by Hippo kinase LATS1/2. As a transcriptional coactivator, YAP controls the transactivation of variety target genes to promote cell proliferation which is a critical survival input for cancer cells, thus the inhibition of YAP function is a promising strategy to treat cancer patients. The aim of this study was to explore YAP inhibitors derived from natural products using a cell-based YAP-TEADs luciferase reporter assay and investigate the functional activities of the novel inhibitor. Methods： natural compounds were used by 8×GTIIC luciferase reporter assay to screen YAP inhibitor. Phosphorylation of YAP and AMPK were detected by Western Blotting. The target genes of YAP were determined through RT-PCR. Inhibition on HepG2 cells of screened compounds were assessed by the Sulforhodamine B （SRB） assay. Results： we found that Shikonin （derived from the traditional Chinese medical herb Zicao （Lithospermum erythrorhizon）） exerted significant suppression against the transcriptional activity of YAP （inhibition ratio=74.3%）, accompanied with increased phosphorylation of YAP protein upon within short-exposure to cancer cells. Shikonin treated on HepG2 induced phosphorylation of AMPK. In HepG2 cell lines, Shikonin exhibited a profound cytotoxicity in a concentration manner. Conclusion： our results indicated that the inhibition activity of Shikonin on YAP function was probably due to the activation of AMPK by phosphorylation. Moreover, Shikonin exhibited potent cytotoxicity on cancer cells. In summary, the present study identifies Shikonin as a novel natural inhibitor of YAP function and could be an anti-cancer drug candidate for cancer treatment.
基金This study was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.226-2023-00114,China)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.82222069 and 82104181)+1 种基金the Key R&D Program of Zhejiang(No.2022C03143,China)the Huadong Medicine Joint Funds of the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(No.LHDMD22H310004).
文摘Macrophage senescence,manifested by the special form of durable cell cycle arrest and chronic low-grade inflammation like senescence-associated secretory phenotype,has long been consid-ered harmful.Persistent senescence of macrophages may lead to maladaptation,immune dysfunction,and finally the development of age-related diseases,infections,autoimmune diseases,and malignancies.However,it is a ubiquitous,multi-factorial,and dynamic complex phenomenon that also plays roles in remodeled processes,including wound repair and embryogenesis.In this review,we summarize some general molecular changes and several specific biomarkers during macrophage senescence,which may bring new sight to recognize senescent macrophages in different conditions.Also,we take an in-depth look at the functional changes in senescent macrophages,including metabolism,autophagy,polarization,phagocytosis,antigen presentation,and infiltration or recruitment.Furthermore,some degenerations and diseases associated with senescent macrophages as well as the mechanisms or relevant genetic regulations of senescent macrophages are integrated,not only emphasizing the possibility of regulating macrophage senescence to benefit age-associated diseases but also has an implication on the finding of potential tar-gets ordrugs clinically.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81930102 to Bo Yang,No.82273949 to Ling Ding,No.82104196 to Xi Chen)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities[grant number:2021FZZX001-48].
文摘Adenosine(Ado)is significantly elevated in the tumor microenvironment(TME)compared to normal tissues.It binds to adenosine receptors(AdoRs),suppressing tumor antigen presentation and immune cell activation,thereby inhibiting tumor adaptive immunity.Ado downregulates major histocompatibility complex II(MHC II)and co-stimulatory factors on dendritic cells(DCs)and macrophages,inhibiting antigen presentation.It suppresses anti-tumor cytokine secretion and T cell activation by disrupting T cell receptor(TCR)binding and signal transduction.Ado also inhibits chemokine secretion and KCa3.1 channel activity,impeding effector T cell trafficking and infiltration into the tumor site.Furthermore,Ado diminishes T cell cytotoxicity against tumor cells by promoting immune-suppressive cytokine secretion,upregulating immune checkpoint proteins,and enhancing immune-suppressive cell activity.Reducing Ado production in the TME can significantly enhance anti-tumor immune responses and improve the efficacy of other immunotherapies.Preclinical and clinical development of inhibitors targeting Ado generation or AdoRs is underway.Therefore,this article will summarize and analyze the inhibitory effects and molecular mechanisms of Ado on tumor adaptive immunity,as well as provide an overview of the latest advancements in targeting Ado pathways in anti-tumor immune responses.
基金supported by the State Key Program of the Natural Science Foundation of China(81830107)the Natural Science Foundation of China(81973349,82304517)+2 种基金the Key R&D Program of Zhejiang(2022C03077)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(226-2023-00059)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2023M733130)。
文摘Non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)ranks as one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide.Despite the prominence and effectiveness of kinase-target therapies in NSCLC treatment,these drugs are suitable for and beneficial to a mere~30%of NSCLC patients.Consequently,the need for novel strategies addressing NSCLC remains pressing.Deubiquitinases(DUBs),a group of diverse enzymes with well-defined catalytic sites that are frequently overactivated in cancers and associated with tumorigenesis and regarded as promising therapeutic targets.Nevertheless,the mechanisms by which DUBs promote NSCLC remain poorly understood.Through a global analysis of the 97 DUBs’contribution to NSCLC survival possibilities using The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)database,we found that high expression of Josephin Domain-containing protein 2(JOSD2)predicted the poor prognosis of patients.Depletion of JOSD2 significantly impeded NSCLC growth in both cell/patient-derived xenografts in vivo.Mechanically,we found that JOSD2 restricts the kinase activity of LKB1,an important tumor suppressor generally inactivated in NSCLC,by removing K6-linked polyubiquitination,an action vital for maintaining the integrity of the LKB1-STRAD-MO25 complex.Notably,we identified the first small-molecule inhibitor of JOSD2,and observed that its pharmacological inhibition significantly arrested NSCLC proliferation in vitro/in vivo.Our findings highlight the vital role of JOSD2 in hindering LKB1 activity,underscoring the therapeutic potential of targeting JOSD2 in NSCLC,especially in those with inactivated LKB1,and presenting its inhibitors as a promising strategy for NSCLC treatment.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2016YFA0203600)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51503180,5161101036)+1 种基金“Thousand Talents Program”for Distinguished Young Scholars(588020*G81501/048)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(520002*172210161)
文摘Platinum(Pt) based drugs, such as cisplatin, are widely used as anti-cancer agents, but their severe adverse reactions and resistance of cancer patients have limited their board clinical use. For the last few decades, Pt(Ⅱ) compounds, Pt(Ⅳ) prodrugs as well as smart drug delivery systems have been developed to overcome these problems. However, most conventional strategies rely on the similar anti-cancer mechanism with cisplatin and consequently only achieve limited success. Recently, Pt nanocrystals/nanoclusters(Pt NCs), with a brand new anti-cancer mechanism, have shown a promising potential in targeted cancer therapy, especially in Pt resistance circumvention. This review is helpful to understand the research strategies of Pt drugs, particularly, the recent developments and medical applications of Pt NCs.
基金financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81903574)the Joint Funds of the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(No.LTZ22B020001).
文摘Stimuli-responsive polymers are promising to achieve targeted delivery,improved stability during circulation,and controlled release of therapeutic and diagnostic agents.Among them,pH-responsive polymeric nanocarriers have attracted significant attention as pH varies in different body fluids(e.g.,stomach,intestine,and colon)and intracellular organelles(e.g.,endosome,lysosome,and mitochondria)to maintain homeostasis,while distinctive pH changes are also found in certain pathological states.For example,the extracellular environment of the tumor is acidic,which can be employed to drive selective delivery.During the internalization process,since most nanocarriers enter cells upon endocytosis where a drop of pH from 6.5 to 5.0 can occur from endosome to lysosome,pH-sensitive groups have been developed for enhanced cargo release.In this review,both non-covalent and covalent interactions responsive to pH changes are introduced,with a focus on the structure-property relationship and their applications in cancer targeting and endosomal escape.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81930102 to Bo Yang),the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82273949 to Ling Ding),the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82104196 to Xi Chen)。
文摘Lipids have been found to modulate tumor biology,including proliferation,survival,and metastasis.With the new understanding of tumor immune escape that has developed in recent years,the influence of lipids on the cancer—immunity cycle has also been gradually discovered.First,regarding antigen presentation,cholesterol prevents tumor antigens from being identified by antigen presenting cells.Fatty acids reduce the expression of major histocompatibility complex class I and costimulatory factors in dendritic cells,impairing antigen presentation to T cells.Prostaglandin E2(PGE2)reduce the accumulation of tumor-infiltrating dendritic cells.Regarding T-cell priming and activation,cholesterol destroys the structure of the T-cell receptor and reduces immunodetection.In contrast,cholesterol also promotes T-cell receptor clustering and relative signal transduction.PGE2 represses T-cell proliferation.Finally,regarding T-cell killing of cancer cells,PGE2 and cholesterol weaken granule-dependent cytotoxicity.Moreover,fatty acids,cholesterol,and PGE2 can improve the activity of immunosuppressive cells,increase the expression of immune checkpoints and promote the secretion of immunosuppressive cytokines.Given the regulatory role of lipids in the cancer—immunity cycle,drugs that modulate fatty acids,cholesterol and PGE2 have been envisioned as effective way in restoring antitumor immunity and synergizing with immunotherapy.These strategies have been studied in both preclinical and clinical studies.
基金grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81930102 to Bo Yang)Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation(No.LR22H310002 to Ji Cao,China)Zhejiang University K.P.Chao's High Technology Development Foundation(China)。
文摘Immunoproteasome is a variant of proteasome with structural differences in 20S subunits optimizing them for the production of antigenic peptides with higher binding affinity to major histocompatibility complex(MHC)-I molecules.Apart from this primary function in antigen presentation,immunoproteasome is also responsible for the degradation of proteins,both unfolded proteins for the maintenance of protein homeostasis and tumor suppressor proteins contributing to tumor progression.The altered expression of immunoproteasome is frequently observed in cancers;however,its expression levels and effects vary among different cancer types exhibiting antagonistic roles in tumor development.This review focuses on the dichotomous role of immunoproteasome in different cancer types,as well as summarizes the current progression in immunoproteasome activators and inhibitors.Specifically targeting immunoproteasome may be a beneficial therapeutic intervention in cancer treatment and understanding the role of immunoproteasome in cancers will provide a significant therapeutic insight for the prevention and treatment of cancers.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82003873 and 81903708)the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China (No. 2020M681899)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 2021QNA7019)。
文摘The treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus, which is characterized by defective insulin secretion and/or the inability of tissues to respond to insulin, has been studied for decades. Many studies have focused on the use of incretin-based hypoglycemic agents in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM). These drugs are classified as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which mimic the function of GLP-1,and DPP-4 inhibitors, which avoid GLP-1 degradation. Many incretin-based hypoglycemic agents have been approved and are widely used, and their physiological disposition and structural characteristics are crucial in the discovery of more effective drugs and provide guidance for clinical treatment of T2DM.Here, we summarize the functional mechanisms and other information of the drugs that are currently approved or under research for T2DM treatment. In addition, their physiological disposition, including metabolism, excretion, and potential drug drug interactions, is thoroughly reviewed. We also discuss similarities and differences in metabolism and excretion between GLP-1 receptor agonists and DPP-4 inhibitors. This review may facilitate clinical decision making based on patients' physical conditions and the avoidance of drug drug interactions. Moreover, the identification and development of novel drugs with appropriate physiological dispositions might be inspired.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2021YFA1201200)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51973188,21774109,and 52203194)+3 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province(LR18E030002)the Zhejiang University Education Foundation Global Partnership Fundthe National Postdoctoral Program for Innovative Talent(BX20190297)the Local Innovative and Research Teams Project of Guangdong Pearl River Talents Program(2019BT02X105)。
基金supported by the key international cooperation projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81820108004)the major projects of the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Science and Technology(No.2021C03123)the Pediatric Leukemia Diagnosis and Therapeutic Technology Research Center of Zhejiang Province(No.JBZX-201904).
文摘Acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 5(ACSL5),is a member of the acyl-CoA synthetases(ACSs)family that activates long chain fatty acids by catalyzing the synthesis of fatty acyl-CoAs.The dysregulation of ACSL5 has been reported in some cancers,such as glioma and colon cancers.However,little is known about the role of ACSL5 in acute myeloid leukemia(AML).We found that the expression of ACSL5 was higher in bone marrow cells from AML patients compared with that from healthy donors.ACSL5 level could serve as an independent prognostic predictor of the overall survival of AML patients.In AML cells,the ACSL5 knockdown inhibited cell growth both in vitro and in vivo.Mechanistically,the knockdown of ACSL5 suppressed the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway by suppressing the palmitoylation modification of Wnt3a.Additionally,triacsin c,a pan-ACS family inhibitor,inhibited cell growth and robustly induced cell apoptosis when combined with ABT-199,the FDA approved BCL-2 inhibitor for AML therapy.Our results indicate that ACSL5 is a potential prognosis marker for AML and a promising pharmacological target for the treatment of molecularly stratified AML.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82104192)the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation(No.LR22H310002)+1 种基金the Scientific Research Fund of Zhejiang University(No.XY2021044)the Zhejiang University K.P.Chao’s High Technology Development Foundation.
文摘A series of chemotherapeutic drugs that induce DNA damage,such as cisplatin(DDP),are standard clinical treatments for ovarian cancer,testicular cancer,and other diseases that lack effective targeted drug therapy.Drug resistance is one of the main factors limiting their application.Sensitizers can overcome the drug resistance of tumor cells,thereby enhancing the antitumor activity of chemotherapeutic drugs.In this study,we aimed to identify marketable drugs that could be potential chemotherapy sensitizers and explore the underlying mechanisms.We found that the alcohol withdrawal drug disulfiram(DSF)could significantly enhance the antitumor activity of DDP.JC-1 staining,propidium iodide(PI)staining,and western blotting confirmed that the combination of DSF and DDP could enhance the apoptosis of tumor cells.Subsequent RNA sequencing combined with Gene Set Enrichment Analysis(GSEA)pathway enrichment analysis and cell biology studies such as immunofluorescence suggested an underlying mechanism:DSF makes cells more vulnerable to DNA damage by inhibiting the Fanconi anemia(FA)repair pathway,exerting a sensitizing effect to DNA damaging agents including platinum chemotherapy drugs.Thus,our study illustrated the potential mechanism of action of DSF in enhancing the antitumor effect of DDP.This might provide an effective and safe solution for combating DDP resistance in clinical treatment.
文摘The authors regret that one author was missed in the author list when preparing the manuscript,while the foundation to him was mentioned in the section of Acknowledgments.Dr.Qinjie Weng should be added to the author list because of his contribution in animal study and his foundation help us to complete this study.The authors sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused to the journal and readers.
