Editors-in-Chief

Shu-Min DUAN

Zhi-Hong LIU

ISSN 1673-1581

CN 33-1356/Q

Published by

Zhejiang University Press

2022 JIF 4.7

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  • Review

    Abstract：Myelin formation is considered the last true “invention” in the evolution of vertebrate nervous system cell structure. The rapid jumping pulse propagation achieved by myelin enables the high conduction speed that is the basis of human movement, sensation, and cognitive function. As a key structure in the brain, white matter is the gathering place of myelin. However, with age, white matter-associated functions become abnormal and a large number of myelin sheaths undergo degenerative changes, causing serious neurological and cognitive disorders. Despite the extensive time and effort invested in exploring myelination and its functions, numerous unresolved issues and challenges persist. In-depth exploration of the functional role of myelin may bring new inspiration for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) diseases and even mental illnesses. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive examination of the structure and key molecules of the myelin in the CNS, delving into its formation process. Specifically, we propose a new hypothesis regarding the source of power for myelin expansion in which membrane compaction may serve as a driving force for myelin extension. The implications of this hypothesis could provide valuable insights into the pathophysiology of diseases involving myelin malfunction and open new avenues for therapeutic intervention in myelin-related disorders.  

    Qi SHAO, Simin CHEN, Tian XU, Yuyu SHI, Zijin SUN, Qingguo WANG, Xueqian WANG, Fafeng CHENG

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  • Review

    Abstract：Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by congenital bilateral malformation of the large toe and progressive, extensive, and irreversible heterotopic ossification (HO) of soft tissues throughout the body, leading to severe disabilities. FOP is caused primarily by mutations in activin A receptor type 1 (ACVR1), also known as activin-like kinase 2 (ALK2), which encodes a receptor belonging to the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) type I family. However, the continuous and complex process of HO in FOP is not yet fully understood, which has impeded the development of therapeutic drugs. Despite surgical removal of HO, which often results in recurrence and expansion of ossification, there is currently no definitive drug treatment available to completely prevent, halt, or reverse the progression of HO in FOP. Currently, researchers are intensively studying the pathogenesis of FOP at various stages and developing promising drug candidates, including saracatinib, palovarotene, and rapamycin. This review provides an overview of progress in understanding the mechanism of FOP and the development of therapeutic drugs, with the goal of providing insights for further research and the development of new treatment methods.  

    Yijun ZHOU, Ce SHI, Hongchen SUN

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  • Review

    Abstract：Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a multi-system disease that can lead to various severe complications. Acute limb ischemia (ALI) has been increasingly recognized as a COVID-19-associated complication that often predicts a poor prognosis. However, the pathophysiology and molecular mechanisms underlying COVID-19-associated ALI remain poorly understood. Hypercoagulability and thrombosis are considered important mechanisms, but we also emphasize the roles of vasospasm, hypoxia, and acidosis in the pathogenesis of the disease. The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) pathway, inflammation, and platelet activation may be important molecular mechanisms underlying these pathological changes induced by COVID-19. Furthermore, we discuss the hypotheses of risk factors for COVID-19-associated ALI from genetic, age, and gender perspectives based on our analysis of molecular mechanisms. Additionally, we summarize therapeutic approaches such as use of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) blocker tocilizumab, calcium channel blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, providing insights for the future treatment of coronavirus-associated limb ischemic diseases.  

    Chengjun YAO, Yanzhao DONG, Haiying ZHOU, Xiaodi ZOU, Ahmad ALHASKAWI, Sohaib Hasan Abdullah EZZI, Zewei WANG, Jingtian LAI, Vishnu Goutham KOTA, Mohamed Hasan Abdulla Hasan ABDULLA, Zhenfeng LIU, Sahar Ahmed ABDALBARY, Olga ALENIKOVA, Hui LU

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  • Research Article

    Abstract：BackgroundPANoptosis has the features of pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis. Numerous studies have confirmed the diverse roles of various types of cell death in acute liver failure (ALF), but limited attention has been given to the crosstalk among them. In this study, we aimed to explore the role of PANoptosis in ALF and uncover new targets for its prevention or treatment.MethodsThree ALF-related datasets (GSE14668, GSE62029, and GSE74000) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Hub genes were identified through intersecting DEGs, genes obtained from weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), and genes related to PANoptosis. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), protein‍‒‍protein interaction (PPI) analyses and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were performed to determine functional roles. Verification was performed using an ALF mouse model.ResultsOur results showed that expression of seven hub genes (B-cell lymphoma-2-modifying factor (BMF), B-cell lymphoma-2-interacting protein 3-like (BNIP3L), Caspase-1 (CASP1), receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3), uveal autoantigen with coiled-coil domains and ankyrin repeats protein (UACA), uncoordinated-5 homolog B receptor (UNC5B), and Z-DNA-binding protein 1 (ZBP1)) was up-regulated in liver samples of patients. However, in the ALF mouse model, the expression of BNIP3L, RIPK3, phosphorylated RIPK3 (P-RIPK3), UACA, and cleaved caspase-1 was up-regulated, while the expression of CASP1 and UNC5B was down-regulated. The expression of ZBP1 and BMF increased only during the development of ALF, and there was no significant change in the end stage. Immunofluorescence of mouse liver tissue showed that macrophages expressed all seven markers. Western blot results showed that pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis were always involved in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/d-galactosamine (d-gal)‍-induced ALF mice. The ALF cell model showed that bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) form PANoptosomes after LPS stimulation.ConclusionsOur results suggest that PANoptosis of macrophages promotes the development of ALF. The seven new ALF biomarkers identified and validated in this study may contribute to further investigation of diagnostic markers or novel therapeutic targets of ALF.  

    Tiantian GE, Yao CHEN, Lantian PANG, Junwei SHAO, Zhi CHEN

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  • Research Article

    Abstract：Recent data suggest that vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitor (VEGFRi) can enhance the anti-tumor activity of the anti-programmed cell death-1 (anti-PD-1) antibody in colorectal cancer (CRC) with microsatellite stability (MSS). However, the comparison between this combination and standard third-line VEGFRi treatment is not performed, and reliable biomarkers are still lacking. We retrospectively enrolled MSS CRC patients receiving anti-PD-1 antibody plus VEGFRi (combination group, n=54) or VEGFRi alone (VEGFRi group, n=32), and their efficacy and safety were evaluated. We additionally examined the immune characteristics of the MSS CRC tumor microenvironment (TME) through single-cell and spatial transcriptomic data, and an MSS CRC immune cell-related signature (MCICRS) that can be used to predict the clinical outcomes of MSS CRC patients receiving immunotherapy was developed and validated in our in-house cohort. Compared with VEGFRi alone, the combination of anti-PD-1 antibody and VEGFRi exhibited a prolonged survival benefit (median progression-free survival: 4.4 vs. 2.0 months, P=0.0024; median overall survival: 10.2 vs. 5.2 months, P=0.0038) and a similar adverse event incidence. Through single-cell and spatial transcriptomic analysis, we determined ten MSS CRC-enriched immune cell types and their spatial distribution, including naive CD4+ T, regulatory CD4+ T, CD4+ Th17, exhausted CD8+ T, cytotoxic CD8+ T, proliferated CD8+ T, natural killer (NK) cells, plasma, and classical and intermediate monocytes. Based on a systemic meta-analysis and ten machine learning algorithms, we obtained MCICRS, an independent risk factor for the prognosis of MSS CRC patients. Further analyses demonstrated that the low-MCICRS group presented a higher immune cell infiltration and immune-related pathway activation, and hence a significant relation with the superior efficacy of pan-cancer immunotherapy. More importantly, the predictive value of MCICRS in MSS CRC patients receiving immunotherapy was also validated with an in-house cohort. Anti-PD-1 antibody combined with VEGFRi presented an improved clinical benefit in MSS CRC with manageable toxicity. MCICRS could serve as a robust and promising tool to predict clinical outcomes for individual MSS CRC patients receiving immunotherapy.  

    Shijin YUAN, Yan XIA, Guangwei DAI, Shun RAO, Rongrong HU, Yuzhen GAO, Qing QIU, Chenghao WU, Sai QIAO, Yinghua XU, Xinyou XIE, Haizhou LOU, Xian WANG, Jun ZHANG

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  • Research Article

    Abstract：Dynamic changes in the physiochemical, structural, and flavor characteristics of ginger-juice milk curd were explored by texture analysis, scanning electron microscopy, rheometry, electronic tongue, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Protein electrophoresis showed that ginger juice could hydrolyze αs-, β-, and κ-casein. Curd formation was initiated at 90 s, marked by significant changes in intensity detected via intrinsic fluorescence. The contents of soluble protein and calcium decreased rapidly during coagulation, while the caseinolytic activity, storage moduli, loss moduli, hardness, adhesiveness, and water-holding capacity increased, resulting in a denser gel structure with smaller pores and fewer cavitations as observed by scanning electron microscopy. Electronic tongue analysis indicated that milk could neutralize the astringency and saltiness of ginger juice, rendering the taste of ginger-juice milk curd more akin to that of milk. Approximately 70 volatile components were detected in ginger-juice milk curd. α‍-Zingiberene, α‍-curcumene, β‍-sesquiphellandrene, and β‍-bisabolene were the predominant volatile flavor compounds, exhibiting an initial decrease in content followed by stability after 90 s. Decanoic acid, γ-elemene, and caryophyllene were identified as unique volatile compounds after mixing of milk and ginger juice. Understanding the dynamic changes in these characteristics during coagulation holds significant importance for the production of ginger-juice milk curd.  

    Haifeng PAN, Wenna BAO, Yi CHEN, Hongxiu LIAO

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  • Correspondence

    Abstract：弓形虫（Toxoplasma gondii）是一种专性胞内寄生的顶复门原虫，可以感染包括人在内的几乎所有温血动物，引起全球性的人畜共患弓形虫病，从而危害人类健康和畜牧业发展，并造成经济损失。刚地弓形虫独特的线粒体是弓形虫病防控的理想靶细胞器。线粒体中的Mg2+/Mn2+依赖性蛋白磷酸酶（PPMs）在细胞生长、能量代谢和环境应激中发挥着重要的作用。然而，人们对弓形虫的线粒体PPMs知之甚少。在本研究中，我们鉴定出三种PPMs，即TgPPM8（TGGT1_218590）、TgPPM10（TGGT1_254410）和TgPPM19（TGGT1_275840），均定位于弓形虫速殖子的线粒体基质中。这三个PPMs中任一PPM编码基因的缺失（Δppm8、Δppm10或Δppm19）均会导致弓形虫速殖子生长抑制与增殖能力减弱，以及另外两个PPMs编码基因信使RNA（mRNA）水平的升高，但不影响弓形虫速殖子在小鼠体内的毒力。Δppm8Δppm10或Δppm8Δppm19双重缺失可显著导致弓形虫速殖子体外生长抑制与增殖减缓。由于潜在的突变致死效应，本研究未获得Δppm10Δppm19和Δppm8Δppm10Δppm19缺失虫株。上述结果表明，弓形虫线粒体PPMs间存在功能冗余，是弓形虫线粒体生物学研究的新发现，为具有重要兽医和医学意义的弓形虫的防控靶点的发掘提供了新思路。  

    Kaiyin SHENG, Xueqiu CHEN, Yimin YANG, Jie XIA, Kaiyue SONG, Chaoqun YAO, Yi YANG, Aifang DU, Guangxu MA

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