Jun Xu, Sihan Zhou, Yuanyuan Xu, Bin Shen, Xiaoqing Zhang, Jun Guo, Jingjian Dong, Lili Shi, Xiaohong Jiang
{"title":"Retraction notice to \"Identification of cardiotoxic targets of doxorubicin via network toxicology and development of exosome-based delivery system for osteosarcoma therapy\" [Int. Immunopharmacol. 161 (2025) 115011].","authors":"Jun Xu, Sihan Zhou, Yuanyuan Xu, Bin Shen, Xiaoqing Zhang, Jun Guo, Jingjian Dong, Lili Shi, Xiaohong Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.intimp.2026.116682","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intimp.2026.116682","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":13859,"journal":{"name":"International immunopharmacology","volume":" ","pages":"116682"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147770763","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shan Jiang, Bingqi Dong, Xiaoyan Peng, Yan Chen, Hu Mao
{"title":"Expression of concern to \"5-Aminolaevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy suppresses lipid secretion by inducing mitochondrial stress and oxidative damage in sebocytes and ameliorates ear acne in mice\" [Int. Immunopharmacol. 140 (2024) 112795].","authors":"Shan Jiang, Bingqi Dong, Xiaoyan Peng, Yan Chen, Hu Mao","doi":"10.1016/j.intimp.2025.116034","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.intimp.2025.116034","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":13859,"journal":{"name":"International immunopharmacology","volume":"175 ","pages":"116034"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147456890","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dongxue Xu , Xiaoyu Zhang , Jinmeng Suo , Yinye Huang , Yiming Li , Zhiyong Peng
{"title":"Tubular STING drives renal fibrosis via extracellular vesicle–mediated activation of the SMO/GLI-1 pathway","authors":"Dongxue Xu , Xiaoyu Zhang , Jinmeng Suo , Yinye Huang , Yiming Li , Zhiyong Peng","doi":"10.1016/j.intimp.2026.116350","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.intimp.2026.116350","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The transition from acute kidney injury (AKI) to chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains a major clinical challenge, with its molecular drivers still not fully defined. Here, we identify a previously unrecognized mechanism in which renal tubular cells secrete extracellular vesicles (EVs) enriched in activated STING during early AKI. Using STING-deficient mice, we demonstrate that loss of STING markedly reduces tubular senescence, maladaptive repair, and subsequent fibrosis following injury. Mechanistically, we show that EVs selectively package and transfer activated STING to interstitial fibroblasts, where EV-STING robustly stimulates the Smoothened (SMO) and the downstream effector glioma-associated oncogene 1 (GLI-1) signaling pathway, promoting fibroblast activation and fibrotic progression. Pharmacologic inhibition of EV secretion (GW4869) or blockade of the SMO–GLI-1 pathway (CPN) significantly attenuates kidney injury, underscoring the functional relevance of this STING–SMO–GLI-1 axis. Our findings reveal that STING exerts its pro-fibrotic effects primarily through EV-mediated intercellular trafficking rather than direct intracellular signaling. This study defines a critical tubular cell–STING–EV–fibroblast communication loop that drives the AKI-to-CKD transition and highlights therapeutic opportunities targeting EV-STING release or SMO–GLI-1 signaling to prevent chronic kidney disease.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13859,"journal":{"name":"International immunopharmacology","volume":"174 ","pages":"Article 116350"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146179441","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shan Yang , Yunsen Zhang , Yuying Shi , Ting Liu , Jingjing Tian , Shuai Tan , Xianli Meng , Wuzheng Luo , Xiaofei Shen
{"title":"Covalently targeting HSP90 with a natural small-molecule costunolide to inhibit necroptosis and ulcerative colitis","authors":"Shan Yang , Yunsen Zhang , Yuying Shi , Ting Liu , Jingjing Tian , Shuai Tan , Xianli Meng , Wuzheng Luo , Xiaofei Shen","doi":"10.1016/j.intimp.2026.116348","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.intimp.2026.116348","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Necroptosis exacerbates ulcerative colitis (UC) by disrupting intestinal barriers and promoting necroinflammation. Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) regulates receptor-interacting protein kinase 1/3 (RIPK1/3) activity through its chaperone function, thereby participating in necroptosis and emerging as a potential therapeutic target for its inhibition in UC therapy. Costunolide (CTL), a principal sesquiterpene lactone from <em>Aucklandia lappa</em>, has poorly defined mechanisms in UC treatment. This study aimed to elucidate CTL's role in necroptosis inhibition and UC therapy by targeting HSP90.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Multiple cellular models were employed to assess CTL's inhibitory effects on necroptosis and necroinflammation. Subsequently, western blotting and co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) were used to analyze the impact of CTL on necroptosis signaling. Functional targets and binding sites of CTL were identified through drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS), mass spectrometry, and cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA). Molecular dynamics simulation and tryptophan quenching were then conducted to elucidate CTL-mediated allosteric regulatory mechanisms. In vivo, dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice were used to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of CTL.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>CTL is identified as a novel necroptosis inhibitor that suppresses RIPK1/3-mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) signaling and mitigates necroinflammation in vitro. Mechanistically, CTL covalently binds to the conserved cysteine (Cys) 572/564 in the middle domain of HSP90, inhibiting its dimerization and chaperone function via an allosteric effect without significantly compromising ATPase activity or triggering substantial heat shock response. This covalent interaction further disrupts HSP90-RIPK1 association, consequently blocking RIPK1/3-MLKL necroptosis signaling. In vivo, CTL is capable of effectively alleviating DSS-induced colitis via blocking RIPK1/3-MLKL axis activation.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Our findings highlight Cys572/564 as a druggable site for allosteric HSP90 inhibition and propose that CTL acts as a promising chemical scaffold for developing therapeutics targeting necroptosis- and HSP90-driven pathologies, such as UC.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13859,"journal":{"name":"International immunopharmacology","volume":"174 ","pages":"Article 116348"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146193110","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chen Cheng , Chuanying Xie , Anping Chen , Panpan Zhou , Haoqi Wang , Yuanhao Li , Jing Li , Jingjing Cong , Xuefu Wang
{"title":"GPR132 drives macrophage M1 polarization and aggravates inflammation-associated liver injury","authors":"Chen Cheng , Chuanying Xie , Anping Chen , Panpan Zhou , Haoqi Wang , Yuanhao Li , Jing Li , Jingjing Cong , Xuefu Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.intimp.2026.116349","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.intimp.2026.116349","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Macrophage polarization plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of hepatic inflammation and injury triggered by diverse insults. However, the regulators of macrophage polarization in hepatic inflammation remain largely undefined. In this study, we reported that GPR132 activation promoted macrophage M1 polarization and suppressed macrophage M2 polarization, whereas GPR132 inhibition shifted macrophages toward an anti-inflammatory and tissue-repairing M2 phenotype. Notably, genetic deletion of <em>Gpr132</em> prevented hepatic macrophage M1 polarization and markedly alleviated hepatic inflammation and injury in methionine-choline-deficient (MCD)-induced metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined, high-fat diet (CDAHFD)-induced MASH, and drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of GPR132 substantially mitigated hepatic inflammation and injury in MASH and DILI. Taken together, our study identifies GPR132 as a critical regulator of macrophage polarization and highlights GPR132 as a potential target for the treatment of MASH and DILI.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13859,"journal":{"name":"International immunopharmacology","volume":"174 ","pages":"Article 116349"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146179472","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hui He , Xiaoling Chen , Yueqiu Chen , Qingpeng Li , Fan Yang , Lin Zhou
{"title":"Development and In vitro antitumor evaluation of a novel anti-p16 antibody fragment-drug conjugate","authors":"Hui He , Xiaoling Chen , Yueqiu Chen , Qingpeng Li , Fan Yang , Lin Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.intimp.2026.116359","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.intimp.2026.116359","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The cell cycle regulator p16 is overexpressed in multiple cancers, and its elevated expression frequently correlates with aggressive tumor behavior and poor prognosis. However, the development of therapeutic agents directly targeting p16 has remained challenging. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) represent an established modality for targeted drug delivery. To explore alternative formats that may address inherent challenges of conventional ADCs—such as potentially limited tumor penetration due to their large size and the risk of immunogenicity associated with the Fc domain—we engineered a novel p16-targeting antibody fragment-drug conjugate (AFDC). This conjugate is based on a humanized single-chain variable fragment (scFv) fused to a cell-penetrating peptide, aiming to achieve efficient intracellular delivery of the cytotoxic payload doxorubicin via p16-mediated targeting.</div><div>We isolated five unique p16-specific scFvs from hybridoma cells. Following humanization, each was fused with a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) S4<sub>13</sub> to construct scFv-p16-S4<sub>13</sub> variants. Following affinity assessment, scFv-p16-S4<sub>13</sub>–04 was selected as the backbone and conjugated to doxorubicin via a chemical linker to generate the AFDC. In cellular assays, the resulting AFDC exhibited a p16 expression-dependent selectivity, showing stronger cytotoxicity against p16-high cancer cells (HeLa, BT-549) than against p16-low cells (MDA-MB-231, LO2, HEK-293 T). This selective activity correlated with target-dependent internalization. Furthermore, in p16-positive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) organoid models, AFDC treatment markedly reduced cell viability, underscoring its potent antitumor activity.</div><div>Collectively, this proof-of-concept study supports the potential therapeutic value of a p16-targeted AFDC for p16-high tumors and illustrates the viability of the AFDC platform as an emerging strategy to target intracellular proteins.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13859,"journal":{"name":"International immunopharmacology","volume":"174 ","pages":"Article 116359"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146192730","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zhiyuan Feng , Jiali Yang , Ya Zhu , Lini Lei , Yi Zhang , Linbing Cheng , Hongxia Zhao , Hong Yao , Peiying Shi
{"title":"Bee sting acupuncture mitigates osteoarthritis in male mice via PPAR-γ activation: integrated network pharmacology, transcriptomics, and experimental validation","authors":"Zhiyuan Feng , Jiali Yang , Ya Zhu , Lini Lei , Yi Zhang , Linbing Cheng , Hongxia Zhao , Hong Yao , Peiying Shi","doi":"10.1016/j.intimp.2026.116352","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.intimp.2026.116352","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic progressive joint disease. In China, bee sting acupuncture (BSA) has been widely used to treat OA. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of BSA against OA remain unexplored. This study aims to further investigate the role and potential mechanism of BSA in treating OA. Live bee stings alternately acupunctured two acupoints, Zusanli (ST36) and Xuehai (SP10) of monosodium iodoacetate-induced OA mice for 6 weeks. BSA treatment alleviated the pathological changes of articular cartilages and reduced serum CTX-II levels in OA mice. Network pharmacology and molecular docking predicted that pro-inflammatory factors, extracellular matrix (ECM) degrading enzymes and apoptosis-related factors could be the key targets of bee venom (BV)’ effects on OA-related diseases. Experimentally, BSA treatment reduced the serum IL-1β and TNF-α levels, and diminished the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, NF-κB, MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-13, ADAMTS 5, Bax, Caspase 9 and Caspase 3, and increased that of Bcl-2 in knee joints of OA mice. Furthermore, it was confirmed that BSA treatment could activate PPAR-γ in knee joints of OA mice with RNA-seq and Western blot assays. Moreover, BV application significantly increased cell viability and proliferation, and PPAR-γ expression compared with PPAR-γ antagonist GW9662 treatment alone or combined with BV in IL-1β-induced mouse primary chondrocytes. This research revealed that BSA treatment could inhibit NF-κB signaling pathway by activating PPAR-γ, thereby alleviated cartilage inflammation, ECM degradation and apoptosis in OA mice, which provided a basis for BSA therapy in treating OA.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13859,"journal":{"name":"International immunopharmacology","volume":"174 ","pages":"Article 116352"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146192733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Unraveling the matrix stiffness landscape in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: GSN and ARG1 as novel diagnostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets","authors":"Jian Chen , Jingjing Meng , Xiaolong Tang , Guanchu Liu , Keping Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.intimp.2026.116334","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.intimp.2026.116334","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and fatal interstitial lung disease characterized by excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and tissue stiffening. Matrix stiffness is a key driver of fibrosis, yet diagnostic biomarkers directly linked to this physical property are lacking. This study aimed to identify robust matrix stiffness-related diagnostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for IPF using an integrated machine learning approach.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Gene expression profiles were obtained from the GEO database (Training set: GSE33566; Validation set: GSE93606). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were intersected with a matrix stiffness-related gene set. Three machine learning algorithms (SVM-RFE, LASSO, and Naive Bayes) were employed to screen diagnostic feature genes. A diagnostic nomogram was constructed and evaluated. Functional enrichment (GO/KEGG/GSEA), immune infiltration (ssGSEA), and molecular docking analyses were performed to explore biological functions and predict therapeutic drugs.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Eighteen matrix stiffness-related DEGs were identified. Through machine learning screening, GSN and ARG1 were determined as robust key genes, exhibiting high diagnostic accuracy (AUC > 0.7) in both training and validation cohorts. Functional analysis revealed that GSN is involved in actin cytoskeleton regulation, while <em>ARG1</em> participates in immune response modulation. Both genes showed strong positive correlations with the infiltration of macrophages and neutrophils. Furthermore, molecular docking identified RA-2 as a potential therapeutic agent targeting <em>ARG1</em> with high binding affinity (−9.2 kcal/mol).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>We identified <em>GSN</em> and <em>ARG1</em> as novel matrix stiffness-related diagnostic biomarkers for IPF, linking mechanotransduction to immune microenvironment remodeling. The diagnostic nomogram offers high clinical predictive value, and <em>RA-2</em> emerged as a putative ARG1-targeting compound with favorable docking energy and warrants further experimental validation as a potential antifibrotic agent.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":13859,"journal":{"name":"International immunopharmacology","volume":"174 ","pages":"Article 116334"},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146165309","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}