Biodegradable scaffolds have a major therapeutic advantage in regenerative medicine with their ability to include multiple compounds of drugs, growth factors and more recently, stem cells within the matrix. The scaffo...Biodegradable scaffolds have a major therapeutic advantage in regenerative medicine with their ability to include multiple compounds of drugs, growth factors and more recently, stem cells within the matrix. The scaffold can be programmed with mechanoresistive parameters targeted to the tissue to be replaced. Direct chemoattraction of <em>in vivo </em>stem cells to the implanted scaffold would be advantageous in the clinical setting. Large peptides such as vasculo-endothelial growth factor have demonstrated chemotaxis for angiogenesis from endothelial cells. This suggests other endogenous peptides may be present to directly attract stem cells to a scaffold. This exploratory study assessed if peptides from the blood peptidome would display chemotaxis to stem cells. Results showed that several short N-mer peptides demonstrated remarkable chemotaxis to blood and adipose tissue derived stem cells. Sodium alginate hydrogel was placed into 6-well, 24-well plate, and partitioned plates with channels between the wells. Connected wells were in series and spiked with peptides, biofluids containing stem cells and control wells. Images were recorded between three and nine days after incubation at 37<span style="white-space:nowrap;">°</span>C. There were rapid migration and expansion of stem cells into the peptide wells. Cell analysis revealed activated stem cells on a number of parameters including autophagy, Ki67 and nitric oxide. Potentially, this enhanced method to bioscaffold design utilizing peptide chemoattraction could result in an improved approach for stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine applications. Specific patient groups (e.g. blood coagulation disorders) where surgery to acquire adipose tissue or bone marrow is contraindicated may benefit. In addition, the technology is portable and safe by using “on demand” peripheral blood derived stem cells and would be particularly suitable for specialized environments such as space medicine.展开更多
Objective To observe if VIR576,an 20-mer peptide derived from the C-proximal subfragment of a1-antitrypsin(a1-AT)which inhibits human immunodeficiency virus type 1(HIV-1)entry into the target cells by interacting with...Objective To observe if VIR576,an 20-mer peptide derived from the C-proximal subfragment of a1-antitrypsin(a1-AT)which inhibits human immunodeficiency virus type 1(HIV-1)entry into the target cells by interacting with fusion peptide(FP),can also directly inhibit CD4^(+)T cell activation in vitro.Methods Splenocytes isolated from DO11.10 OVA Tg mice were stimulated with ovalbumin or concanavalin A to test the effects of VIR576 on antigen-specific or non-antigen-specific T cell activation.Both primary CD4^(+)CD25-T cells from DO11.10 mice and CD4^(+)T cell line A2b were activated with specific antigens to evaluate the effects of VIR576.Results VIR576 inhibited antigen-specific splenocyte activation but had no significant effect on non-antigen-specific T-cell activation,which bypassed the crosstalk between the CD3-signaling complex and TCR.We furthermore observed that VIR576 could also down-regulate antigen-specific CD4^(+)T-cell activation.Conclusion Given the high susceptibility of activated CD4^(+)T cells in the mucosa to HIV-1 infection,the inhibitory effects of VIR576 on both HIV entry into the target cells and CD4^(+)T-cell activation suggest the potential of VIR576 as a microbicide for prevention of sexual transmission of HIV.展开更多
A recently published study(Xin et al.,Prog Biochem Biophys,2026,53(2):431-441.DOI:10.3724/j.pibb.2025.0508)addresses the therapeutic challenges of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC)by innovatively developing an or...A recently published study(Xin et al.,Prog Biochem Biophys,2026,53(2):431-441.DOI:10.3724/j.pibb.2025.0508)addresses the therapeutic challenges of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC)by innovatively developing an orally administered nanogene delivery system.Designed to achieve in situ,efficient delivery of chimeric antigen receptor(CAR)genes to tumor sites,this approach offers a novel strategy for CAR-macrophage(CAR-M)based immunotherapy.Its key highlights are as follows.展开更多
Signaling peptides are known for their prominent roles in plant growth, development, and environmental adaptation(Zhang et al., 2025). However, their extremely low natural abundance and highly dynamic expression patte...Signaling peptides are known for their prominent roles in plant growth, development, and environmental adaptation(Zhang et al., 2025). However, their extremely low natural abundance and highly dynamic expression patterns pose significant technical challenges to extract sufficient amounts with good purity for biological studies and practical applications.Consequently, chemical synthesis and microbial systems offer attractive alternatives to obtain potent peptides at higher quantities and purity. Incorporating modifications or substitutions, chemically synthetic approaches enable the creation of more effective engineered peptides such as agonists,antagonists, chemically modified peptides, or peptide-like molecules with novel functions compared to native peptides.展开更多
Neurodegenerative diseases are a growing burden on healthcare systems.Patients with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s diseases(AD or PD)are desperately waiting for innovative solutions that are slow to come,despite several...Neurodegenerative diseases are a growing burden on healthcare systems.Patients with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s diseases(AD or PD)are desperately waiting for innovative solutions that are slow to come,despite several decades of research worldwide.In 2021 and again in 2023,two monoclonal antibodies,aducanumab and lecanemab,have been approved by the U.S.Food and Drug Administration,and a third,donanemab,is currently under review.However,these treatments have very limited efficacy on cognitive functions and are accompanied by major side effects:amyloid-related imaging abnormalities,microhemorrhages,and accelerated brain volume loss(Høilund-Carlsen et al.,2024).展开更多
Peptides play important roles in chemistry,medicinal chemistry and life science,due to their high efficiency and specificity,unusual biological and therapeutic properties.As naturally occurring peptides often face wit...Peptides play important roles in chemistry,medicinal chemistry and life science,due to their high efficiency and specificity,unusual biological and therapeutic properties.As naturally occurring peptides often face with their intrinsic limitations including metabolic instability and low membrane permeability,the strategies for synthesizing unnatural amino acids and peptides are explored.Among the methods for modifying amino acids and peptides,chemo-and site-selective approaches are preferred because of the ability to fine-tuning structural features.Recently,transition metal-catalyzed Csingle bondH activation has been employed for the functionalization of amino acids and peptides.Through domino Csingle bondH activation/annulation,a series of structurally complex and diverse amino acids and peptides is constructed.This review highlights recent advances in the synthesis of unnatural amino acids and peptides via transition metal-catalyzed Csingle bondH activation/annulation.展开更多
The blood-brain barrier(BBB)is a major challenge in drug delivery for the treatment of central nervous system diseases.Walnut derived peptide TWLPLPR(TW-7)has been proved to promote neuronal mitochondrial autophagy an...The blood-brain barrier(BBB)is a major challenge in drug delivery for the treatment of central nervous system diseases.Walnut derived peptide TWLPLPR(TW-7)has been proved to promote neuronal mitochondrial autophagy and enhance hippocampal neuronal synaptic plasticity,thereby improving learning and memory abilities in mice.We investigated the internalization mechanism and intracellular transport pathway for the walnut-derived peptide,TW-7,using b End.3 cells in an in vitro BBB model system.TW-7 was taken up by the b End.3 cells in a concentration-,temperature-,and energy-dependent manner;this involved increases in caveolin-1 and caveolin-2 protein expression and phosphorylation and inhibition of P-glycoprotein-mediated efflux.Subcellular localization of TW-7 in b End.3 cells was observed,indicating that the plasma membrane,endoplasmic reticulum,Golgi apparatus,lysosomes,and mitochondria participated in intracellular trafficking and that the peptide escaped from lysosomes over time.Caveolae may be critical for TW-7 uptake by brain microvascular endothelial cells,assisting TW-7 to cross the BBB.The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the mechanism of active peptide penetrating the BBB,and provide a reference for developing neuroprotective active peptide products.展开更多
Trophoblast cell surface antigen 2(Trop2)has been widely characterized as a clinically significant pan-cancer biomarker expressed in various tumors,significantly impacting tumor growth,invasion,and metastasis.In this ...Trophoblast cell surface antigen 2(Trop2)has been widely characterized as a clinically significant pan-cancer biomarker expressed in various tumors,significantly impacting tumor growth,invasion,and metastasis.In this study,we develop Trop2 targeting peptide-based radiotracer[^(68)Ga]Ga-NOTA-GL10 for accurately detecting the Trop2 expression levels through positron emission tomography(PET)imaging.The Trop2-targeting peptide GL10 was rationally designed through computational methods based on the T2-2 peptide,and conjugated with the 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-N,N′,N″-triacetic acid(NOTA)chelator to synthesize the precursor NOTA-GL10 with nanomolar affinity for Trop2(K_(D)=12.9 nM).The radiosynthesis of[^(68)Ga]Ga-NOTA-GL10 was achieved via conventional methods with high radiochemical yield(RCY),good stability,and favorable pharmacokinetics.Dynamic PET imaging revealed that the tracer presented a significantly higher tumor uptake((5.03±0.49)%ID/mL)and tumor-to-muscle ratio(4.44±0.30)in Trop2-positive BxPC-3 xenografts compared to that in Trop2-negative PANC-1 xenografts((1.41±0.13)%ID/mL,1.23±0.27).Moreover,near-infrared(NIR)fluorescence imaging of the probe ICG-GL10 further confirmed the ability of GL10 to specifically target Trop2-positive tumors.The peptide-based Trop2 targeting radiotracer[^(68)Ga]Ga-NOTA-GL10 demonstrated high specificity and sensitivity in detecting Trop2 expression,which revealed the potential of Trop2-based non-invasive imaging for cancer diagnosis.展开更多
Insects represent emerging sources of bioactive peptides and functional materials.Mantidis Oötheca(Sang-Piao-Xiao in Chinese,SPX)serves as an insect-derived medicine for treating kidney disease.This study demonst...Insects represent emerging sources of bioactive peptides and functional materials.Mantidis Oötheca(Sang-Piao-Xiao in Chinese,SPX)serves as an insect-derived medicine for treating kidney disease.This study demonstrated that supernatant(SPX)improved kidney function in adriamycin(ADR)-induced nephropathy mice model.Transcriptomic analysis revealed that SPX inhibited complement activation by targeting the MASP1-C3/C3a receptor(C3aR)pathway.Peptidomic analysis identified 304 peptides from SPX,with 49 peptides selected for evaluation using prediction tools and molecular docking with complement core protein C3.Three peptides(PMGFPFDR,FNDPK,AAQFFNR)exhibiting docking scores below-8.0 were synthesized to verify complement inhibition and anti-fibrotic activities.The synthetic peptide AAQFFNR demonstrated complement inhibitory activity,with an inhibitory complement hemolytic 50%(ICH_(50))value of 24.54μmol·L^(-1),and exhibited superior protective effects in ADR-induced HK-2 cells.Surface plasmon resonance(SPR)assay revealed direct interaction between AAQFFNR and complement C3 with K_(d)value of 16.8μmol·L^(-1).The reno-protective effect of AAQFFNR was subsequently verified in ADR-induced mice.This research provides initial evidence that complement C3-inhibiting peptides from insects demonstrate potential in preventing nephropathy through in silico and in vivo validation approaches.展开更多
Fluorescent probes,with their superior optical properties and labeling versatility,have greatly advanced the visualization of intracellular molecules and subcellular structures.However,poor cytoplasmic delivery,caused...Fluorescent probes,with their superior optical properties and labeling versatility,have greatly advanced the visualization of intracellular molecules and subcellular structures.However,poor cytoplasmic delivery,caused by charge,size,or targeting groups,limits the effective use of many fluorescent probes in live cells.Recently,cell-penetrating peptides(CPPs)have emerged as efficient carriers,offering great potential for the cytoplasmic delivery of fluorescent probes in live cells.This review provides a comprehensive overview of CPPs as vehicles for probe delivery,outlining advances in their development,conjugation chemistries,and intracellular delivery mechanisms.Recent applications in live-cell imaging are highlighted and organized according to major CPP modification strategies,including sequence engineering,cyclization,hybrid design and enhancement by chemical reagents.Finally,the challenges that remain and the future outlook of this rapidly evolvingfield are discussed.展开更多
Amyloid-β(Aβ)and tau,the two hallmark proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease(AD),exhibit distinct toxic effects but also interact synergistically within the disease pathology.The prevailing theory in AD patho...Amyloid-β(Aβ)and tau,the two hallmark proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease(AD),exhibit distinct toxic effects but also interact synergistically within the disease pathology.The prevailing theory in AD pathology-the amyloid cascade hypothesis-highlights the pivotal role of increased processing of the amyloid precursor protein(APP).Initially cleaved by the majorβ-secretase(β-amyloid cleaving enzyme-1,BACE1)in the brain,then undergoes further cleavage by theγ-secretase complex,resulting in the production of Aβ_(40-42)and a set of intracellular C-terminal peptides known as Aβand APP intracellular domain(β-AICDs)and soluble amyloid precursor proteinβ(sAPPβ)(Orobets and Karamyshev,2023).展开更多
Physical activity,moderate aerobic or resistance exercise are well established to offer health benefits and promote healthy aging and longevity.^(1)In contrast,lack of exercise contributes to adverse events,especially...Physical activity,moderate aerobic or resistance exercise are well established to offer health benefits and promote healthy aging and longevity.^(1)In contrast,lack of exercise contributes to adverse events,especially in some patients with organ failure.^(2)Therefore,“exercise pills”and“exercise mimetics”have attracted growing interest because of their potential to induce exercise-related health effects despite physical exercise not being performed.^(3)Robust studies over the past decade have identified many natural biomacromolecules,such as peptide,non-coding Ribonucleic Acid(RNAs),and lipids,that are induced by exercise.^(4-6)These molecules trigger physiological adaptations,including promotion of cardiomyocyte proliferation,anti-apoptotic capacity,and healthy tissue growth.7However,identifying or designing an exercise pill that mimics the extensive benefits of exercise is still challenging.展开更多
The increasing prevalence of metabolic disorders and neurodegenerative diseases has uncovered shared pathophysiological pathways,with insulin resistance and mitochondrial dysfunction emerging as critical contributors ...The increasing prevalence of metabolic disorders and neurodegenerative diseases has uncovered shared pathophysiological pathways,with insulin resistance and mitochondrial dysfunction emerging as critical contributors to cognitive decline.Insulin resistance impairs neuronal metabolism and synaptic function,fostering neurodegeneration as observed in Alzheimer’s disease and Down syndrome.Indeed,Down syndrome,characterized by the triplication of the APP gene,represents a valuable genetic model for studying early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and accelerated aging.Building on the link between metabolic dysfunctions and neurodegeneration,innovative strategies addressed brain insulin resistance as a key driver of cognitive decline.Intranasal insulin has shown promise in improving cognition in early Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes,supporting the concept that restoring insulin sensitivity can mitigate neurodegeneration.However,insulin-based therapies risk desensitizing insulin signaling,potentially worsening the disease.Incretins,particularly glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists,offer neuroprotective benefits by enhancing insulin sensitivity,metabolism,and synaptic plasticity while reducing oxidative distress and neuroinflammation.This review focuses on current knowledge on the metabolic and molecular interactions between insulin resistance,mitochondrial dynamics(including their roles in energy metabolism),and oxidative distress regulation,as these are pivotal in both Alzheimer’s disease and Down syndrome.By addressing these interconnected mechanisms,innovative treatments may emerge for both metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders.展开更多
Currently,our understanding of the pathogenesis of major neurodegenerative disorders,such as Alzheimer's,Parkinson's,and Huntington's diseases,is largely shaped by the amyloid cascade hypothesis.Pa rticula...Currently,our understanding of the pathogenesis of major neurodegenerative disorders,such as Alzheimer's,Parkinson's,and Huntington's diseases,is largely shaped by the amyloid cascade hypothesis.Pa rticularly,this hypothesis posits that in Alzheimer's disease,the aggregation of amyloid-beta peptide initiates a series of pathological processes leading to neuronal dysfunction and death(Zhang et al.,2024).展开更多
Long noncoding RNA and microRNA are regulatory noncoding RNAs that are implicated in Alzheimer's disease, but the role of long noncoding RNA-associated competitive endogenous RNA has not been fully elucidated. The...Long noncoding RNA and microRNA are regulatory noncoding RNAs that are implicated in Alzheimer's disease, but the role of long noncoding RNA-associated competitive endogenous RNA has not been fully elucidated. The long noncoding RNA growth arrest-specific 5(GAS5) is a member of the 5′-terminal oligopyrimidine gene family that may be involved in neurological disorders, but its role in Alzheimer's disease remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the function of GAS5 and construct a GAS5-associated competitive endogenous RNA network comprising potential targets. RNA sequencing results showed that GAS5 was upregulated in five familial Alzheimer's disease(5×FAD) mice, APPswe/PSEN1dE9(APP/PS1) mice, Alzheimer's disease-related APPswe cells, and serum from patients with Alzheimer's disease. Functional experiments with targeted overexpression and silencing demonstrated that GAS5 played a role in cognitive dysfunction and multiple Alzheimer's disease-associated pathologies, including tau hyperphosphorylation, amyloid-beta accumulation, and neuronal apoptosis. Mechanistic studies indicated that GAS5 acted as an endogenous sponge by competing for microRNA-23b-3p(miR-23b-3p) binding to regulate its targets glycogen synthase kinase 3beta(GSK-3β) and phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10(PTEN) expression in an Argonaute 2-induced RNA silencing complex(RISC)-dependent manner. GAS5 inhibited miR-23b-3p-mediated GSK-3β and PTEN cascades with a feedforward PTEN/protein kinase B(Akt)/GSK-3β linkage. Furthermore, recovery of GAS5/miR-23b-3p/GSK-3β/PTEN pathways relieved Alzheimer's disease-like symptoms in vivo, indicated by the amelioration of spatial cognition, neuronal degeneration, amyloid-beta load, and tau phosphorylation. Together, these findings suggest that GAS5 promotes Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. This study establishes the functional convergence of the GAS5/miR-23b-3p/GSK-3β/PTEN pathway on multiple pathologies, suggesting a candidate therapeutic target in Alzheimer's disease.展开更多
Elevated O-GlcNAcylation has been shown to be closely correlated with the occurrence and development of cancer,and inhibiting O-GlcNAc transferase(OGT)activity was demonstrated as a potential tumor treatment strategy....Elevated O-GlcNAcylation has been shown to be closely correlated with the occurrence and development of cancer,and inhibiting O-GlcNAc transferase(OGT)activity was demonstrated as a potential tumor treatment strategy.However,the development of pharmacological OGT inhibitors still faces challenges,such as low affinity and poor selectivity.Consider-ing to OGT preferences for the sequence of its peptidic substrates,we herein integrated molecular dynamics simulation approaches to give deep insights into the binding behaviors between OGT and its peptidic substrate ZO3S1,and discussed the unfavorable inter-residue contacts inside the binding pocket,especially between H509 of OGT and S15 of the peptide,upon temperature increase.Removing this unfavorable contact from the peptide(ZO3S1 with S15A mutation)was shown to be able to increase its interaction with OGT,which was manifested by the enhanced OGT activity against this peptide.The pseudo-substrate peptide(ZO3S1 with S13A and S15A mutations)inhibited the activity of purified OGT with an IC_(50)of 192.9μM and it can also inhibit the total O-GlcNAcylation in cancer cell lines in a concentration-dependent manner.Our results provided useful models and basis for further rational optimization of selective OGT inhibitors based on the dynamic interactions of OGT and its peptidic substrates.展开更多
A peptide nucleic acid （PNA）-peptide conjugated molecule, T＇3（AKAE）2, was designed to have both a PNA segment for oligo- nucleotide binding and an ionic self-complementary peptide sequence for self-association. T...A peptide nucleic acid （PNA）-peptide conjugated molecule, T＇3（AKAE）2, was designed to have both a PNA segment for oligo- nucleotide binding and an ionic self-complementary peptide sequence for self-association. T＇3（AKAE）2 could co-assemble with oligoadenines （d（A）x） to form virus-like supramolecular structures whose morphology showed dependence on the chain length and rigidity of the d（A）x molecules. Smaller nanospheres with diameters of 13.0±2.0 nm were produced in the case of d（A）6. Wormlike aggregates with lengths of 20-50 nm and diameters of 15.0±2.5 nm were found in the cases of d（A）12, d（A）ls, d（A）24 and d（A）30. And larger spherical aggregates with diameters of 18±5 nm came into presence in the cases of d（A）36 and d（A）42＋. These nanostructures were suggested to be formed under a cooperative effect of base pair recognition and peptidic association. The study provides insights into the programmed assembly of a multi-components system as well as control of the size and shade of the co-assembled structures, which is of great significance in develouing gene/drug deliverv systems.展开更多
Peptide-based therapies have attracted considerable interest in the treatment of cancer, diabetes, bacterial infections, and neurodegenerative diseases due to their promising therapeutic properties and enhanced safety...Peptide-based therapies have attracted considerable interest in the treatment of cancer, diabetes, bacterial infections, and neurodegenerative diseases due to their promising therapeutic properties and enhanced safety profiles. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the major trends in peptide drug discovery and development, emphasizing preclinical strategies aimed at improving peptide stability, specificity, and pharmacokinetic properties. It assesses the current applications and challenges of peptide-based drugs in these diseases, illustrating the pharmaceutical areas where peptide-based drugs demonstrate significant potential. Furthermore, this review analyzes the obstacles that must be overcome in the future,aiming to provide valuable insights and references for the continued advancement of peptidebased drugs.展开更多
Background Broiler chickens are most vulnerable immediately after hatching due to their immature immune systems,making them susceptible to infectious diseases.The yolk plays an important role in early immune defence b...Background Broiler chickens are most vulnerable immediately after hatching due to their immature immune systems,making them susceptible to infectious diseases.The yolk plays an important role in early immune defence by showing relevant antioxidant and passive immunity capabilities during broiler embryonic development.The immunomodulatory effects of phytogenic compound carvacrol have been widely reported.After in ovo delivery in the amniotic fluid during embryonic development carvacrol is known to migrate to the yolk sac.However,it is unknown whether carvacrol in the yolk could enhance defence responsiveness in the yolk sac.Therefore,the aim of this study was to improve early immune function in chicken embryos,and it was hypothesized that in ovo delivery of carvacrol would result in immunomodulatory effects in the yolk sac,potentially improving post-hatch resilience.Methods On embryonic day(E)17.5,either a saline(control)or carvacrol solution was injected into the amniotic fluid.Yolk sac tissue samples were collected at E19.5,and transcriptomic analyses using RNA sequencing were performed,following functional enrichment analyses comparing the control(saline)and carvacrol-injected groups.Results The results showed that 268 genes were upregulated and 174 downregulated in the carvacrol group compared to the control(P<0.05;logFC<-0.5 or log FC>0.5).Functional analyses of these differentially expressed genes,using KEGG,REACTOME,and Gene Ontology databases,showed enrichment of several immune-related pathways.This included the pathways‘Antimicrobial peptides’(P=0.001)and‘Chemoattractant activity’(P=0.004),amongst others.Moreover,the‘NOD-like receptor signaling’pathway was enriched(P=0.002).Antimicrobial peptides are part of the innate immune defence and are amongst the molecules produced after the nucleotide oligomeriza-tion domain(NOD)-like receptor pathway activation.While these responses may be associated with an inflammatory reaction to an exogenous threat,they could also indicate that in ovo delivery of carvacrol could prepare the newly hatched chick against bacterial pathogens by potentially promoting antimicrobial peptide production through acti-vation of NOD-like receptor signaling in the yolk sac.Conclusion In conclusion,these findings suggest that in ovo delivery of carvacrol has the potential to enhance anti-pathogenic and pro-inflammatory responses in the yolk sac via upregulation of antimicrobial peptides,and NOD-like receptor pathways.展开更多
文摘Biodegradable scaffolds have a major therapeutic advantage in regenerative medicine with their ability to include multiple compounds of drugs, growth factors and more recently, stem cells within the matrix. The scaffold can be programmed with mechanoresistive parameters targeted to the tissue to be replaced. Direct chemoattraction of <em>in vivo </em>stem cells to the implanted scaffold would be advantageous in the clinical setting. Large peptides such as vasculo-endothelial growth factor have demonstrated chemotaxis for angiogenesis from endothelial cells. This suggests other endogenous peptides may be present to directly attract stem cells to a scaffold. This exploratory study assessed if peptides from the blood peptidome would display chemotaxis to stem cells. Results showed that several short N-mer peptides demonstrated remarkable chemotaxis to blood and adipose tissue derived stem cells. Sodium alginate hydrogel was placed into 6-well, 24-well plate, and partitioned plates with channels between the wells. Connected wells were in series and spiked with peptides, biofluids containing stem cells and control wells. Images were recorded between three and nine days after incubation at 37<span style="white-space:nowrap;">°</span>C. There were rapid migration and expansion of stem cells into the peptide wells. Cell analysis revealed activated stem cells on a number of parameters including autophagy, Ki67 and nitric oxide. Potentially, this enhanced method to bioscaffold design utilizing peptide chemoattraction could result in an improved approach for stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine applications. Specific patient groups (e.g. blood coagulation disorders) where surgery to acquire adipose tissue or bone marrow is contraindicated may benefit. In addition, the technology is portable and safe by using “on demand” peripheral blood derived stem cells and would be particularly suitable for specialized environments such as space medicine.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(30672496 and 30801413)Guangdong Medical Research Grant(A201032)Guangdong International Cooperation Grant(2011B050200006)
文摘Objective To observe if VIR576,an 20-mer peptide derived from the C-proximal subfragment of a1-antitrypsin(a1-AT)which inhibits human immunodeficiency virus type 1(HIV-1)entry into the target cells by interacting with fusion peptide(FP),can also directly inhibit CD4^(+)T cell activation in vitro.Methods Splenocytes isolated from DO11.10 OVA Tg mice were stimulated with ovalbumin or concanavalin A to test the effects of VIR576 on antigen-specific or non-antigen-specific T cell activation.Both primary CD4^(+)CD25-T cells from DO11.10 mice and CD4^(+)T cell line A2b were activated with specific antigens to evaluate the effects of VIR576.Results VIR576 inhibited antigen-specific splenocyte activation but had no significant effect on non-antigen-specific T-cell activation,which bypassed the crosstalk between the CD3-signaling complex and TCR.We furthermore observed that VIR576 could also down-regulate antigen-specific CD4^(+)T-cell activation.Conclusion Given the high susceptibility of activated CD4^(+)T cells in the mucosa to HIV-1 infection,the inhibitory effects of VIR576 on both HIV entry into the target cells and CD4^(+)T-cell activation suggest the potential of VIR576 as a microbicide for prevention of sexual transmission of HIV.
文摘A recently published study(Xin et al.,Prog Biochem Biophys,2026,53(2):431-441.DOI:10.3724/j.pibb.2025.0508)addresses the therapeutic challenges of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC)by innovatively developing an orally administered nanogene delivery system.Designed to achieve in situ,efficient delivery of chimeric antigen receptor(CAR)genes to tumor sites,this approach offers a novel strategy for CAR-macrophage(CAR-M)based immunotherapy.Its key highlights are as follows.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(32370850,32460081)Leading Talent of Technological Innovation of Shaanxi Special Support Program(20249)+3 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi(2020JC-29,2023-JCZD-09)Central Universities Funds(GK202402003)the Jiangxi Agricultural University(9232308314)the Science and Technology Department of Jiangxi Province(20223BCJ25037)。
文摘Signaling peptides are known for their prominent roles in plant growth, development, and environmental adaptation(Zhang et al., 2025). However, their extremely low natural abundance and highly dynamic expression patterns pose significant technical challenges to extract sufficient amounts with good purity for biological studies and practical applications.Consequently, chemical synthesis and microbial systems offer attractive alternatives to obtain potent peptides at higher quantities and purity. Incorporating modifications or substitutions, chemically synthetic approaches enable the creation of more effective engineered peptides such as agonists,antagonists, chemically modified peptides, or peptide-like molecules with novel functions compared to native peptides.
文摘Neurodegenerative diseases are a growing burden on healthcare systems.Patients with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s diseases(AD or PD)are desperately waiting for innovative solutions that are slow to come,despite several decades of research worldwide.In 2021 and again in 2023,two monoclonal antibodies,aducanumab and lecanemab,have been approved by the U.S.Food and Drug Administration,and a third,donanemab,is currently under review.However,these treatments have very limited efficacy on cognitive functions and are accompanied by major side effects:amyloid-related imaging abnormalities,microhemorrhages,and accelerated brain volume loss(Høilund-Carlsen et al.,2024).
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(No.BK20220409)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.22401153)+2 种基金the FWO[Fund for Scientific Research-Flanders(Belgium)]for financial support(recipient Erik V.Van der Eycken)the Research Council of the KU Leuven(recipient Erik V.Van der Eycken)the support of the"RUDN University Strategic Academic Leadership Program"(recipient Erik V.Van der Eycken).
文摘Peptides play important roles in chemistry,medicinal chemistry and life science,due to their high efficiency and specificity,unusual biological and therapeutic properties.As naturally occurring peptides often face with their intrinsic limitations including metabolic instability and low membrane permeability,the strategies for synthesizing unnatural amino acids and peptides are explored.Among the methods for modifying amino acids and peptides,chemo-and site-selective approaches are preferred because of the ability to fine-tuning structural features.Recently,transition metal-catalyzed Csingle bondH activation has been employed for the functionalization of amino acids and peptides.Through domino Csingle bondH activation/annulation,a series of structurally complex and diverse amino acids and peptides is constructed.This review highlights recent advances in the synthesis of unnatural amino acids and peptides via transition metal-catalyzed Csingle bondH activation/annulation.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22378368).
文摘The blood-brain barrier(BBB)is a major challenge in drug delivery for the treatment of central nervous system diseases.Walnut derived peptide TWLPLPR(TW-7)has been proved to promote neuronal mitochondrial autophagy and enhance hippocampal neuronal synaptic plasticity,thereby improving learning and memory abilities in mice.We investigated the internalization mechanism and intracellular transport pathway for the walnut-derived peptide,TW-7,using b End.3 cells in an in vitro BBB model system.TW-7 was taken up by the b End.3 cells in a concentration-,temperature-,and energy-dependent manner;this involved increases in caveolin-1 and caveolin-2 protein expression and phosphorylation and inhibition of P-glycoprotein-mediated efflux.Subcellular localization of TW-7 in b End.3 cells was observed,indicating that the plasma membrane,endoplasmic reticulum,Golgi apparatus,lysosomes,and mitochondria participated in intracellular trafficking and that the peptide escaped from lysosomes over time.Caveolae may be critical for TW-7 uptake by brain microvascular endothelial cells,assisting TW-7 to cross the BBB.The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the mechanism of active peptide penetrating the BBB,and provide a reference for developing neuroprotective active peptide products.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22407052)the Jiangsu Provincial Natural Science Foundation(BK20240300)+4 种基金the Scientific Research Project of Jiangsu Commission of Health(MQ2024007,H2023150,K2024007)the Wuxi Science and Technology Development Fund(K20241060)the Major Project of Wuxi Municipal Health Commission(Z202303)the Wuxi Association for Science and Technology(TJXD-2024-102)the Jiangsu Province Capability Improvement Project through Science,Technology and Education(ZDXYS202211)。
文摘Trophoblast cell surface antigen 2(Trop2)has been widely characterized as a clinically significant pan-cancer biomarker expressed in various tumors,significantly impacting tumor growth,invasion,and metastasis.In this study,we develop Trop2 targeting peptide-based radiotracer[^(68)Ga]Ga-NOTA-GL10 for accurately detecting the Trop2 expression levels through positron emission tomography(PET)imaging.The Trop2-targeting peptide GL10 was rationally designed through computational methods based on the T2-2 peptide,and conjugated with the 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-N,N′,N″-triacetic acid(NOTA)chelator to synthesize the precursor NOTA-GL10 with nanomolar affinity for Trop2(K_(D)=12.9 nM).The radiosynthesis of[^(68)Ga]Ga-NOTA-GL10 was achieved via conventional methods with high radiochemical yield(RCY),good stability,and favorable pharmacokinetics.Dynamic PET imaging revealed that the tracer presented a significantly higher tumor uptake((5.03±0.49)%ID/mL)and tumor-to-muscle ratio(4.44±0.30)in Trop2-positive BxPC-3 xenografts compared to that in Trop2-negative PANC-1 xenografts((1.41±0.13)%ID/mL,1.23±0.27).Moreover,near-infrared(NIR)fluorescence imaging of the probe ICG-GL10 further confirmed the ability of GL10 to specifically target Trop2-positive tumors.The peptide-based Trop2 targeting radiotracer[^(68)Ga]Ga-NOTA-GL10 demonstrated high specificity and sensitivity in detecting Trop2 expression,which revealed the potential of Trop2-based non-invasive imaging for cancer diagnosis.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82104353)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation funded project(No.2022M711680).
文摘Insects represent emerging sources of bioactive peptides and functional materials.Mantidis Oötheca(Sang-Piao-Xiao in Chinese,SPX)serves as an insect-derived medicine for treating kidney disease.This study demonstrated that supernatant(SPX)improved kidney function in adriamycin(ADR)-induced nephropathy mice model.Transcriptomic analysis revealed that SPX inhibited complement activation by targeting the MASP1-C3/C3a receptor(C3aR)pathway.Peptidomic analysis identified 304 peptides from SPX,with 49 peptides selected for evaluation using prediction tools and molecular docking with complement core protein C3.Three peptides(PMGFPFDR,FNDPK,AAQFFNR)exhibiting docking scores below-8.0 were synthesized to verify complement inhibition and anti-fibrotic activities.The synthetic peptide AAQFFNR demonstrated complement inhibitory activity,with an inhibitory complement hemolytic 50%(ICH_(50))value of 24.54μmol·L^(-1),and exhibited superior protective effects in ADR-induced HK-2 cells.Surface plasmon resonance(SPR)assay revealed direct interaction between AAQFFNR and complement C3 with K_(d)value of 16.8μmol·L^(-1).The reno-protective effect of AAQFFNR was subsequently verified in ADR-induced mice.This research provides initial evidence that complement C3-inhibiting peptides from insects demonstrate potential in preventing nephropathy through in silico and in vivo validation approaches.
基金supported by the following grants:National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.92354305 and 32271428),National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2022YFC3401100)Young Talent Program of Hubei Provincial Health Commission(WJ2025Q037)+1 种基金Interdisciplinary Research Program of HUST(Grant No.2023JCY5045)Director Fund of WNLO.
文摘Fluorescent probes,with their superior optical properties and labeling versatility,have greatly advanced the visualization of intracellular molecules and subcellular structures.However,poor cytoplasmic delivery,caused by charge,size,or targeting groups,limits the effective use of many fluorescent probes in live cells.Recently,cell-penetrating peptides(CPPs)have emerged as efficient carriers,offering great potential for the cytoplasmic delivery of fluorescent probes in live cells.This review provides a comprehensive overview of CPPs as vehicles for probe delivery,outlining advances in their development,conjugation chemistries,and intracellular delivery mechanisms.Recent applications in live-cell imaging are highlighted and organized according to major CPP modification strategies,including sequence engineering,cyclization,hybrid design and enhancement by chemical reagents.Finally,the challenges that remain and the future outlook of this rapidly evolvingfield are discussed.
文摘Amyloid-β(Aβ)and tau,the two hallmark proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease(AD),exhibit distinct toxic effects but also interact synergistically within the disease pathology.The prevailing theory in AD pathology-the amyloid cascade hypothesis-highlights the pivotal role of increased processing of the amyloid precursor protein(APP).Initially cleaved by the majorβ-secretase(β-amyloid cleaving enzyme-1,BACE1)in the brain,then undergoes further cleavage by theγ-secretase complex,resulting in the production of Aβ_(40-42)and a set of intracellular C-terminal peptides known as Aβand APP intracellular domain(β-AICDs)and soluble amyloid precursor proteinβ(sAPPβ)(Orobets and Karamyshev,2023).
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Project(2022YFA1104500 to JX)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82020108002 and82225005 to JX and 82370277 to HW)+1 种基金the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality(23ZR1422900 to HW and 23410750100 to JX)supported by a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council(BBSRC)International Partnering Award。
文摘Physical activity,moderate aerobic or resistance exercise are well established to offer health benefits and promote healthy aging and longevity.^(1)In contrast,lack of exercise contributes to adverse events,especially in some patients with organ failure.^(2)Therefore,“exercise pills”and“exercise mimetics”have attracted growing interest because of their potential to induce exercise-related health effects despite physical exercise not being performed.^(3)Robust studies over the past decade have identified many natural biomacromolecules,such as peptide,non-coding Ribonucleic Acid(RNAs),and lipids,that are induced by exercise.^(4-6)These molecules trigger physiological adaptations,including promotion of cardiomyocyte proliferation,anti-apoptotic capacity,and healthy tissue growth.7However,identifying or designing an exercise pill that mimics the extensive benefits of exercise is still challenging.
基金supported by Fondi Ateneo grants funded by Sapienza University (#RM120172A3160B53) to EBfunds from Jerome-Lejeune Foundation (#1887-2019b) to EBthe European Union–Next Generation EU (Project ECS 0000024Rome Technopole,–CUP B83C22002820006, NRPMission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.5 to LRR)
文摘The increasing prevalence of metabolic disorders and neurodegenerative diseases has uncovered shared pathophysiological pathways,with insulin resistance and mitochondrial dysfunction emerging as critical contributors to cognitive decline.Insulin resistance impairs neuronal metabolism and synaptic function,fostering neurodegeneration as observed in Alzheimer’s disease and Down syndrome.Indeed,Down syndrome,characterized by the triplication of the APP gene,represents a valuable genetic model for studying early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and accelerated aging.Building on the link between metabolic dysfunctions and neurodegeneration,innovative strategies addressed brain insulin resistance as a key driver of cognitive decline.Intranasal insulin has shown promise in improving cognition in early Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes,supporting the concept that restoring insulin sensitivity can mitigate neurodegeneration.However,insulin-based therapies risk desensitizing insulin signaling,potentially worsening the disease.Incretins,particularly glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists,offer neuroprotective benefits by enhancing insulin sensitivity,metabolism,and synaptic plasticity while reducing oxidative distress and neuroinflammation.This review focuses on current knowledge on the metabolic and molecular interactions between insulin resistance,mitochondrial dynamics(including their roles in energy metabolism),and oxidative distress regulation,as these are pivotal in both Alzheimer’s disease and Down syndrome.By addressing these interconnected mechanisms,innovative treatments may emerge for both metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders.
基金funded by the Russian Science Foundation(grant No.23-74-10092)(to AIS)。
文摘Currently,our understanding of the pathogenesis of major neurodegenerative disorders,such as Alzheimer's,Parkinson's,and Huntington's diseases,is largely shaped by the amyloid cascade hypothesis.Pa rticularly,this hypothesis posits that in Alzheimer's disease,the aggregation of amyloid-beta peptide initiates a series of pathological processes leading to neuronal dysfunction and death(Zhang et al.,2024).
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos. 82173806 and U1803281Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) Innovation Fund for Medical Science,Nos. 2021-I2M-1-030 and 2022-I2M-2-002Non-Profit Central Research Institute Fund of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences,No. 2022-JKCS-08 (all to RL)。
文摘Long noncoding RNA and microRNA are regulatory noncoding RNAs that are implicated in Alzheimer's disease, but the role of long noncoding RNA-associated competitive endogenous RNA has not been fully elucidated. The long noncoding RNA growth arrest-specific 5(GAS5) is a member of the 5′-terminal oligopyrimidine gene family that may be involved in neurological disorders, but its role in Alzheimer's disease remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the function of GAS5 and construct a GAS5-associated competitive endogenous RNA network comprising potential targets. RNA sequencing results showed that GAS5 was upregulated in five familial Alzheimer's disease(5×FAD) mice, APPswe/PSEN1dE9(APP/PS1) mice, Alzheimer's disease-related APPswe cells, and serum from patients with Alzheimer's disease. Functional experiments with targeted overexpression and silencing demonstrated that GAS5 played a role in cognitive dysfunction and multiple Alzheimer's disease-associated pathologies, including tau hyperphosphorylation, amyloid-beta accumulation, and neuronal apoptosis. Mechanistic studies indicated that GAS5 acted as an endogenous sponge by competing for microRNA-23b-3p(miR-23b-3p) binding to regulate its targets glycogen synthase kinase 3beta(GSK-3β) and phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10(PTEN) expression in an Argonaute 2-induced RNA silencing complex(RISC)-dependent manner. GAS5 inhibited miR-23b-3p-mediated GSK-3β and PTEN cascades with a feedforward PTEN/protein kinase B(Akt)/GSK-3β linkage. Furthermore, recovery of GAS5/miR-23b-3p/GSK-3β/PTEN pathways relieved Alzheimer's disease-like symptoms in vivo, indicated by the amelioration of spatial cognition, neuronal degeneration, amyloid-beta load, and tau phosphorylation. Together, these findings suggest that GAS5 promotes Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. This study establishes the functional convergence of the GAS5/miR-23b-3p/GSK-3β/PTEN pathway on multiple pathologies, suggesting a candidate therapeutic target in Alzheimer's disease.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.21907038)supported by the basic research program of Jiangnan university(No.JUSRP12016)the innovation and entrepreneurship program of Jiangsu province.
文摘Elevated O-GlcNAcylation has been shown to be closely correlated with the occurrence and development of cancer,and inhibiting O-GlcNAc transferase(OGT)activity was demonstrated as a potential tumor treatment strategy.However,the development of pharmacological OGT inhibitors still faces challenges,such as low affinity and poor selectivity.Consider-ing to OGT preferences for the sequence of its peptidic substrates,we herein integrated molecular dynamics simulation approaches to give deep insights into the binding behaviors between OGT and its peptidic substrate ZO3S1,and discussed the unfavorable inter-residue contacts inside the binding pocket,especially between H509 of OGT and S15 of the peptide,upon temperature increase.Removing this unfavorable contact from the peptide(ZO3S1 with S15A mutation)was shown to be able to increase its interaction with OGT,which was manifested by the enhanced OGT activity against this peptide.The pseudo-substrate peptide(ZO3S1 with S13A and S15A mutations)inhibited the activity of purified OGT with an IC_(50)of 192.9μM and it can also inhibit the total O-GlcNAcylation in cancer cell lines in a concentration-dependent manner.Our results provided useful models and basis for further rational optimization of selective OGT inhibitors based on the dynamic interactions of OGT and its peptidic substrates.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21473255, 21003160)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (14CX05040A, 15CX05017A)
文摘A peptide nucleic acid （PNA）-peptide conjugated molecule, T＇3（AKAE）2, was designed to have both a PNA segment for oligo- nucleotide binding and an ionic self-complementary peptide sequence for self-association. T＇3（AKAE）2 could co-assemble with oligoadenines （d（A）x） to form virus-like supramolecular structures whose morphology showed dependence on the chain length and rigidity of the d（A）x molecules. Smaller nanospheres with diameters of 13.0±2.0 nm were produced in the case of d（A）6. Wormlike aggregates with lengths of 20-50 nm and diameters of 15.0±2.5 nm were found in the cases of d（A）12, d（A）ls, d（A）24 and d（A）30. And larger spherical aggregates with diameters of 18±5 nm came into presence in the cases of d（A）36 and d（A）42＋. These nanostructures were suggested to be formed under a cooperative effect of base pair recognition and peptidic association. The study provides insights into the programmed assembly of a multi-components system as well as control of the size and shade of the co-assembled structures, which is of great significance in develouing gene/drug deliverv systems.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 82173674 and 82204195)。
文摘Peptide-based therapies have attracted considerable interest in the treatment of cancer, diabetes, bacterial infections, and neurodegenerative diseases due to their promising therapeutic properties and enhanced safety profiles. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the major trends in peptide drug discovery and development, emphasizing preclinical strategies aimed at improving peptide stability, specificity, and pharmacokinetic properties. It assesses the current applications and challenges of peptide-based drugs in these diseases, illustrating the pharmaceutical areas where peptide-based drugs demonstrate significant potential. Furthermore, this review analyzes the obstacles that must be overcome in the future,aiming to provide valuable insights and references for the continued advancement of peptidebased drugs.
基金support by AgriFutures Australia’s Chicken Meat Program[grant number PRJ-011584]is gratefully acknowledged.
文摘Background Broiler chickens are most vulnerable immediately after hatching due to their immature immune systems,making them susceptible to infectious diseases.The yolk plays an important role in early immune defence by showing relevant antioxidant and passive immunity capabilities during broiler embryonic development.The immunomodulatory effects of phytogenic compound carvacrol have been widely reported.After in ovo delivery in the amniotic fluid during embryonic development carvacrol is known to migrate to the yolk sac.However,it is unknown whether carvacrol in the yolk could enhance defence responsiveness in the yolk sac.Therefore,the aim of this study was to improve early immune function in chicken embryos,and it was hypothesized that in ovo delivery of carvacrol would result in immunomodulatory effects in the yolk sac,potentially improving post-hatch resilience.Methods On embryonic day(E)17.5,either a saline(control)or carvacrol solution was injected into the amniotic fluid.Yolk sac tissue samples were collected at E19.5,and transcriptomic analyses using RNA sequencing were performed,following functional enrichment analyses comparing the control(saline)and carvacrol-injected groups.Results The results showed that 268 genes were upregulated and 174 downregulated in the carvacrol group compared to the control(P<0.05;logFC<-0.5 or log FC>0.5).Functional analyses of these differentially expressed genes,using KEGG,REACTOME,and Gene Ontology databases,showed enrichment of several immune-related pathways.This included the pathways‘Antimicrobial peptides’(P=0.001)and‘Chemoattractant activity’(P=0.004),amongst others.Moreover,the‘NOD-like receptor signaling’pathway was enriched(P=0.002).Antimicrobial peptides are part of the innate immune defence and are amongst the molecules produced after the nucleotide oligomeriza-tion domain(NOD)-like receptor pathway activation.While these responses may be associated with an inflammatory reaction to an exogenous threat,they could also indicate that in ovo delivery of carvacrol could prepare the newly hatched chick against bacterial pathogens by potentially promoting antimicrobial peptide production through acti-vation of NOD-like receptor signaling in the yolk sac.Conclusion In conclusion,these findings suggest that in ovo delivery of carvacrol has the potential to enhance anti-pathogenic and pro-inflammatory responses in the yolk sac via upregulation of antimicrobial peptides,and NOD-like receptor pathways.
