Latest ArticlesIndoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the degradation of tryptophan to kynurenine. IDO1 is highly expressed in some tumor tissues. IDO1 can deplete tryptophan in tumor microenvironment, inhibit T cell function, and mediate the immune escape of tumor cells. Thus, IDO1 is considered a potential target of tumor immunotherapy. Currently, there are several IDO1 inhibitors in clinical research studies. The mechanism of IDO1-mediated tumor immune escape and the structure of IDO1 inhibitors are summarized in this review.
The gut microbiota is an intricate and dynamic community composed of many symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms, and works closely with the host. In recent years increasing evidence has supported the gut-brain axis theory, lending support for a link between gut microbiota and neuropsychiatric diseases. Since most of the drugs used to treat neuropsychiatric diseases enter the intestinal tract after oral administration, interaction with the gut microbiota is likely. A number of studies have shown that such drugs can change the composition and function of the gut microbiota. At the same time, the gut microbiota also participates in the metabolism of drugs, which in turn have beneficial or harmful effects on brain function. Therefore, the role of gut microbiota in drug metabolism also has attracted attention. This article reviews the research results of the interaction between the two, discusses the influence of neuropsychiatric diseases on the gut microbiota and the effect of the gut microbiota on psychoactive drugs, and provides new ideas for the treatment of various clinical neuropsychiatric diseases.
E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1) is a major member of the E2F transcription factor family and participates in a wide range of physiological regulatory processes, such as cell cycle, survival, apoptosis, and metabolism. It is proved that the activity of E2F1 is related to the G1/S phase regulation of the cell cycle dependent on tumor suppressor retinoblastoma protein (RB). Recent studies have shown that E2F1 is highly expressed in prostate cancer cells, manifested as an oncogene, and its expression level is closely related to the occurrence, development, and poor clinical prognosis of prostate cancer. Androgen receptor (AR) is the main driving factor for the growth and progression of prostate cancer, and the changes of AR pathway play a key role in the pathological progression of prostate cancer. This article provide a systematic and comprehensive summary on recently published articles to review the role of the E2F1 pathway in prostate cancer.
The inflammatory response is an essential role of innate immune cells such as neutrophils, which plays an important role in the occurrence and development of inflammatory diseases. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are responsible for killing microorganisms and inducing the inflammatory response. We review the function of NETs in inflammatory diseases based on research publications since 2016. In addition, the ability of drugs that target NETs to ameliorate inflammation-related diseases is summarized. This review suggests a new strategy of targeting NETs for the treatment of inflammation-related diseases.
Neuropathic pain (NP) is a medical problem that has been bothering human beings and seriously affects people's quality of life. Although great progress has been made in the study of NP in recent years, there are still many patients who are ineffective to the existing treatments. At present, drug therapy is still the main method to relieve pain, however, adverse drug reactions has hindered the curative effects of drugs. It is extremely urgent to find new drug targets and reduce the adverse effects of existing drugs. This review will mainly describe the current situation and pathogenesis of neuropathic pain, effectiveness and limitations of existing drugs for treating neuropathic pain, and the current status of drug discovery.
This study investigated the mechanism by which baicalein protected PC12 cells from Aβ25-35-induced injury. PC12 cells were treated with Aβ25-35 (20 μmol·L-1) and the ability of baicalein to prevent apoptosis was investigated by monitoring changes in cell morphology, Hoechst 33342 staining, and measurement of inflammatory factors. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of the apoptosis-related proteins cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3 (caspase-3), cleaved cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3 (cleaved caspase-3), proteins involved in the Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (JAK2/STAT1) pathway, and downstream inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The results show that baicalein (80 μmol·L-1) can significantly inhibit apoptosis and the release of inflammatory factor IL-8 and TNF-α in Aβ25-35-treated PC12 cells. Western blotting results showed that baicalein can inhibit the phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT1 and decrease the expression of downstream iNOS and COX-2, thereby inhibiting the JAK2/STAT1 signaling pathway and preventing Aβ25-35-induced PC12 cell damage.
Colorectal cancer is a common malignant tumor in the gastrointestinal tract, with the characteristics of high morbidity and mortality. Studies have shown that the occurrence and development of colorectal cancer is closely related to the abnormal activation of Wnt signaling pathway. Abnormal expression of β-catenin in Wnt pathway is found both in the cytoplasm and nucleus of tumor cells. Different drugs can target the Wnt signaling pathway and its upstream and downstream related factors to inhibit or suppress the development of colorectal cancer. We review the components of Wnt signaling pathway, and the correlation between Wnt signaling pathway and colorectal cancer. Then, we summarize the current status of drug research targeting the Wnt signaling pathway in colorectal cancer. Finally, the challenges and prospects of these methods and drugs were briefly summarized.
Mitochondria play a key role in cell metabolism. In addition to synthesizing ATP, they also participate in many physiological and pathological processes, including apoptosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, neuronal disease, tumor development, and aging. Most gene transcription of mitochondrial proteins occurs in the nucleus, so the biogenesis of mitochondria and the maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis mainly depend on the expression of nuclear genes (nDNA) and mitochondria-nucleus interactions. Conversely, mitochondria can affect the expression of nuclear genes through nuclear transcription factors, a process called mitochondrial retrograde signaling. This review summarizes the research progress on mitochondria-nucleus retrograde signaling and its regulation, including the ways by which mitochondria regulate nuclear genes and affect biological processes, and discusses new strategies for the treatment of diseases that involve mitochondrial retrograde signaling in disease pathology.
The poor stability of the ligustilide (LIG) makes its quantitation in Angelica sinensis (AS) difficult. This study establishes a chemical conversion method for the determination of ligustilide content in AS and proposes a national pharmacopoeia standard. Mechanical agitation and sonication of a powdered AS extract in a methanol/cyprolamine mixture facilitated the stabilization and transformation of ligustilide. Using an external reference HPLC-DAD method, the cyclopropyl-ligustilide (LIGc) content in the mixture could be determined. The content of ligustilide was greater than 1.0% based on 144 AS specimens including 68 obtained from the originally planted areas of Qinghai and Gansu Province; 55 specimens were obtained from Minxian and Weiyuan County medicine markets, and 21 specimens for which the storage period reached or exceeded 1.5 years. According to the Hong Kong Chinese materis medica standards, the content of ligustilide in AS should not be lower than 0.6%. The developed method could also be applied to the quality control of other Chinese medicinal materials (such as Ligusticum chuanxiong) or Chinese patent medicines in which ligustilide is the main component.
Salvianolic acids are the main water-soluble active compounds of Salvia miltiorrhiza and have been widely used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Based on the latest studies in China and abroad, we summarize the pharmacological effects and mechanism of salvianolic acids on ischemic heart disease by describing how salvianolic acid A and salvianolic acid B protect the vascular endothelium, relax coronary arteries, promote angiogenesis and anti-platelet aggregation, inhibit the inflammatory response, anti-cell apoptosis, and scavenge free radicals. This review provides a theoretical basis for further research on the effects of salvianolic acids on ischemic heart disease and their potential for drug development.
No. 86 Xueyuan South Road, Haidian District, Beijing
010-62199257
qkjq@cast.org.cn
Copyright © 2025 China Association for Science and Technology. All rights reserved. For all open access content, the relevant licensing terms apply.
Sponsored by the Office of the Leading Group for Cybersecurity and Informatization of CAST, and supported by Science and Technology Review Publishing House
