{"title":"One step at a time: new insights into double-stranded ribonucleic acid virus assembly","authors":"Virgile Rat, Alexander Borodavka, Don C. Lamb","doi":"10.1038/s41392-024-01949-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-024-01949-3","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":21766,"journal":{"name":"Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":39.3,"publicationDate":"2024-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142174938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yunlong Shan, Mengying Zhang, Enxiang Tao, Jing Wang, Ning Wei, Yi Lu, Qing Liu, Kun Hao, Fang Zhou, Guangji Wang
{"title":"Pharmacokinetic characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells in translational challenges","authors":"Yunlong Shan, Mengying Zhang, Enxiang Tao, Jing Wang, Ning Wei, Yi Lu, Qing Liu, Kun Hao, Fang Zhou, Guangji Wang","doi":"10.1038/s41392-024-01936-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-024-01936-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Over the past two decades, mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC) therapy has made substantial strides, transitioning from experimental clinical applications to commercial products. MSC therapies hold considerable promise for treating refractory and critical conditions such as acute graft-versus-host disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Despite recent successes in clinical and commercial applications, MSC therapy still faces challenges when used as a commercial product. Current detection methods have limitations, leaving the dynamic biodistribution, persistence in injured tissues, and ultimate fate of MSCs in patients unclear. Clarifying the relationship between the pharmacokinetic characteristics of MSCs and their therapeutic effects is crucial for patient stratification and the formulation of precise therapeutic regimens. Moreover, the development of advanced imaging and tracking technologies is essential to address these clinical challenges. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the kinetic properties, key regulatory molecules, different fates, and detection methods relevant to MSCs and discusses concerns in evaluating MSC druggability from the perspective of integrating pharmacokinetics and efficacy. A better understanding of these challenges could improve MSC clinical efficacy and speed up the introduction of MSC therapy products to the market.</p>","PeriodicalId":21766,"journal":{"name":"Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":39.3,"publicationDate":"2024-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142174937","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Emerging and reemerging infectious diseases: global trends and new strategies for their prevention and control","authors":"Shen Wang, Wujian Li, Zhenshan Wang, Wanying Yang, Entao Li, Xianzhu Xia, Feihu Yan, Sandra Chiu","doi":"10.1038/s41392-024-01917-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-024-01917-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p>To adequately prepare for potential hazards caused by emerging and reemerging infectious diseases, the WHO has issued a list of high-priority pathogens that are likely to cause future outbreaks and for which research and development (R&D) efforts are dedicated, known as paramount R&D blueprints. Within R&D efforts, the goal is to obtain effective prophylactic and therapeutic approaches, which depends on a comprehensive knowledge of the etiology, epidemiology, and pathogenesis of these diseases. In this process, the accessibility of animal models is a priority bottleneck because it plays a key role in bridging the gap between in-depth understanding and control efforts for infectious diseases. Here, we reviewed preclinical animal models for high priority disease in terms of their ability to simulate human infections, including both natural susceptibility models, artificially engineered models, and surrogate models. In addition, we have thoroughly reviewed the current landscape of vaccines, antibodies, and small molecule drugs, particularly hopeful candidates in the advanced stages of these infectious diseases. More importantly, focusing on global trends and novel technologies, several aspects of the prevention and control of infectious disease were discussed in detail, including but not limited to gaps in currently available animal models and medical responses, better immune correlates of protection established in animal models and humans, further understanding of disease mechanisms, and the role of artificial intelligence in guiding or supplementing the development of animal models, vaccines, and drugs. Overall, this review described pioneering approaches and sophisticated techniques involved in the study of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, prevention, and clinical theatment of WHO high-priority pathogens and proposed potential directions. Technological advances in these aspects would consolidate the line of defense, thus ensuring a timely response to WHO high priority pathogens.</p>","PeriodicalId":21766,"journal":{"name":"Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":39.3,"publicationDate":"2024-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142166188","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sex difference in human diseases: mechanistic insights and clinical implications","authors":"Yuncong Shi, Jianshuai Ma, Sijin Li, Chao Liu, Yuning Liu, Jie Chen, Ningning Liu, Shiming Liu, Hui Huang","doi":"10.1038/s41392-024-01929-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-024-01929-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Sex characteristics exhibit significant disparities in various human diseases, including prevalent cardiovascular diseases, cancers, metabolic disorders, autoimmune diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. Risk profiles and pathological manifestations of these diseases exhibit notable variations between sexes. The underlying reasons for these sex disparities encompass multifactorial elements, such as physiology, genetics, and environment. Recent studies have shown that human body systems demonstrate sex-specific gene expression during critical developmental stages and gene editing processes. These genes, differentially expressed based on different sex, may be regulated by androgen or estrogen-responsive elements, thereby influencing the incidence and presentation of cardiovascular, oncological, metabolic, immune, and neurological diseases across sexes. However, despite the existence of sex differences in patients with human diseases, treatment guidelines predominantly rely on male data due to the underrepresentation of women in clinical trials. At present, there exists a substantial knowledge gap concerning sex-specific mechanisms and clinical treatments for diverse diseases. Therefore, this review aims to elucidate the advances of sex differences on human diseases by examining epidemiological factors, pathogenesis, and innovative progress of clinical treatments in accordance with the distinctive risk characteristics of each disease and provide a new theoretical and practical basis for further optimizing individualized treatment and improving patient prognosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":21766,"journal":{"name":"Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":39.3,"publicationDate":"2024-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142160448","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Type 2 diabetes across populations of different ancestry: deconstructing the genomic landscape","authors":"Georgia Xourafa, Christian Herder, Michael Roden","doi":"10.1038/s41392-024-01944-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-024-01944-8","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":21766,"journal":{"name":"Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":39.3,"publicationDate":"2024-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142233371","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Anti-PD-L1 antibody ASC22 in combination with a histone deacetylase inhibitor chidamide as a \"shock and kill\" strategy for ART-free virological control: a phase II single-arm study.","authors":"Luling Wu, Zhihang Zheng, Jingna Xun, Li Liu, Jiangrong Wang, Xinyu Zhang, Yueming Shao, Yinzhong Shen, Renfang Zhang, Min Zhang, Meiyan Sun, Tangkai Qi, Zhenyan Wang, Shuibao Xu, Wei Song, Yang Tang, Bihe Zhao, Zichen Song, Jean-Pierre Routy, Hongzhou Lu, Jun Chen","doi":"10.1038/s41392-024-01943-9","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41392-024-01943-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The combination of ASC22, an anti-PD-L1 antibody potentially enhancing HIV-specific immunity and chidamide, a HIV latency reversal agent, may serve as a strategy for antiretroviral therapy-free virological control for HIV. People living with HIV, having achieved virological suppression, were enrolled to receive ASC22 and chidamide treatment in addition to their antiretroviral therapy. Participants were monitored over 24 weeks to measure changes in viral dynamics and the function of HIV-specific CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells (NCT05129189). 15 participants completed the study. At week 8, CA HIV RNA levels showed a significant increase from baseline, and the values returned to baseline after discontinuing ASC22 and chidamide. The total HIV DNA was only transiently increased at week 4 (P = 0.014). In contrast, integrated HIV DNA did not significantly differ from baseline. Increases in the proportions of effector memory CD4<sup>+</sup> and CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells (T<sub>EM</sub>) were observed from baseline to week 24 (P = 0.034 and P = 0.002, respectively). The combination treatment did not succeed in enhancing the function of HIV Gag/Pol- specific CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells. Nevertheless, at week 8, a negative correlation was identified between the proportions of HIV Gag-specific T<sub>EM</sub> cells and alterations in integrated DNA in the T cell function improved group (P = 0.042 and P = 0.034, respectively). Nine adverse events were solicited, all of which were graded 1 and resolved spontaneously. The combined treatment of ASC22 and chidamide was demonstrated to be well-tolerated and effective in activating latent HIV reservoirs. Further investigations are warranted in the context of analytic treatment interruption.</p>","PeriodicalId":21766,"journal":{"name":"Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":40.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11381521/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142154885","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Metabolic inflexibility of mitochondria: beneficial for the fitness of regenerating liver cells.","authors":"Josef Ecker, Sarah Brunner, Klaus-Peter Janssen","doi":"10.1038/s41392-024-01959-1","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41392-024-01959-1","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":21766,"journal":{"name":"Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":40.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11381528/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142154886","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zheyi Lin, Bowen Lin, Chengwen Hang, Renhong Lu, Hui Xiong, Junyang Liu, Siyu Wang, Zheng Gong, Mingshuai Zhang, Desheng Li, Guojian Fang, Jie Ding, Xuling Su, Huixin Guo, Dan Shi, Duanyang Xie, Yi Liu, Dandan Liang, Jian Yang, Yi-Han Chen
{"title":"A new paradigm for generating high-quality cardiac pacemaker cells from mouse pluripotent stem cells.","authors":"Zheyi Lin, Bowen Lin, Chengwen Hang, Renhong Lu, Hui Xiong, Junyang Liu, Siyu Wang, Zheng Gong, Mingshuai Zhang, Desheng Li, Guojian Fang, Jie Ding, Xuling Su, Huixin Guo, Dan Shi, Duanyang Xie, Yi Liu, Dandan Liang, Jian Yang, Yi-Han Chen","doi":"10.1038/s41392-024-01942-w","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41392-024-01942-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cardiac biological pacing (BP) is one of the future directions for bradyarrhythmias intervention. Currently, cardiac pacemaker cells (PCs) used for cardiac BP are mainly derived from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). However, the production of high-quality cardiac PCs from PSCs remains a challenge. Here, we developed a cardiac PC differentiation strategy by adopting dual PC markers and simulating the developmental route of PCs. First, two PC markers, Shox2 and Hcn4, were selected to establish Shox2:EGFP; Hcn4:mCherry mouse PSC reporter line. Then, by stepwise guiding naïve PSCs to cardiac PCs following naïve to formative pluripotency transition and manipulating signaling pathways during cardiac PCs differentiation, we designed the FSK method that increased the yield of SHOX2<sup>+</sup>; HCN4<sup>+</sup> cells with typical PC characteristics, which was 12 and 42 folds higher than that of the embryoid body (EB) and the monolayer M10 methods respectively. In addition, the in vitro cardiac PCs differentiation trajectory was mapped by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), which resembled in vivo PCs development, and ZFP503 was verified as a key regulator of cardiac PCs differentiation. These PSC-derived cardiac PCs have the potential to drive advances in cardiac BP technology, help with the understanding of PCs (patho)physiology, and benefit drug discovery for PC-related diseases as well.</p>","PeriodicalId":21766,"journal":{"name":"Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":40.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11377569/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142141016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Elimination of mutant SWI/SNF complexes by protein quality control: new opportunities targeting aggressive rhabdoid tumours.","authors":"Andreas Krämer, Stefan Knapp","doi":"10.1038/s41392-024-01935-9","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41392-024-01935-9","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":21766,"journal":{"name":"Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":40.8,"publicationDate":"2024-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11377755/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142141017","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}