Parkinson's disease (PD) involves α-synuclein (αSyn) oligomerization and aggregation, processes facilitated by glycosphingolipids. Defective glycosphingolipid transport and degradation-especially via the lipid-degrading enzyme glucocerebrosidase 1 (GCase, gene GBA1)-aggravate PD and increase dementia risk. Ambroxol is a mucolytic drug and has emerged as a promising add-on therapy for PD since it acts

For several decades, the glutamate delta-1 receptor (GluD1) has remained an enigmatic entity among ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs), primarily due to its lack of classical ion channel activity. Recent advancements have redefined GluD1 as a multifunctional synaptic organizer, essential for the development, plasticity, and behavioral regulation of both excitatory and inhibitory circuits. In this

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), is characterized by limited treatment options and a therapeutic ceiling. Failure to resolve inflammation is the key driver of disease progression. Formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2/ALX), a pivotal mediator of inflammation resolution, has emerged as a promising therapeutic target. In this study, we investigated

Synthetic cannabinoids (SC) target the human cannabinoid receptor 1 (hCB 1 ) and are extensively metabolized, but the metabolite activity on the hCB 1 receptor after a SC intake is largely unknown. In this study we compared the in vitro hCB 1 receptor activity of 26 metabolites of the synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRA) JWH-018, AM-2201, THJ-018 and THJ-2201 as a model system for SC metabolite

Dopamine receptor agonist (DA)-resistant prolactinoma presents a significant clinical challenge, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic strategies. Deguelin is a rotenoid compound derived from several plant species with unique antitumor effects. In this study we investigated the efficacy of deguelin on DA-resistant prolactinoma and elucidated its antitumor mechanisms. We showed that deguelin

Although most AD-related pathological studies are limited to the brain, increasing evidence has demonstrated the contribution of peripheral immune cells to the pathogenesis of AD. We recently demonstrated that meningeal B cells inhibit β-amyloid (Aβ) production in the frontal cortex of young 5×FAD mice. In this study, we explored the precise origin of meningeal B cells. We observed that the AD-like

The stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is a crucial pattern recognition receptor that activates innate immunity, particularly in response to pathogen infection and various stimuli. Notably, activation of STING exhibits remarkable potential in enhancing anti-tumor immunity, underscoring the significance of discovering STING small molecule agonists. Recently, zinc pyrithione (ZPT), a marketed antifungal

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is characterized by the development of multiple fluid-filled cysts in the kidneys, resulting in progressive decline and failure of renal function. Microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-2 (mPGES-2) is a unique bifunctional enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of prostaglandin H2 (PGH2) to prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) or to malondialdehyde (MDA) in conjunction

IL-21, as an immune agonist, has demonstrated limited therapeutic efficacy in cancer immunotherapy. To overcome this inherent limitation, we constructed a yeast surface-displayed IL-21 mutant library guided by the structure of the IL-21/IL-21 receptor (IL-21R). Following one round of magnetic bead sorting and three rounds of fluorescence-activated cell sorting, several variants were isolated and evaluated

Breast cancer liver metastasis (BCLM) is characterized by high incidence and poor prognosis, lacking effective therapeutic strategies. Recent evidence suggests that lipid metabolic reprogramming plays an important role in the initiation and development of BC metastasis. In clinical practice of traditional Chinese medicine, Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium-Reynoutria japonica Houtt. (CR) herb pair is used

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are characterized by delayed therapeutic onset largely due to their reliance on the desensitization of 5-HT1A autoreceptors (5-HT1ARautos) within the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN). It has been shown that dissociation of serotonin transporter (SERT) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) interaction selectively modulates 5-HT1ARautos, thereby facilitating

Stroke is the second leading cause of mortality and the leading cause of adult disability worldwide. Neuroinflammation is a crucial mechanism that regulates the pathogenesis and prognosis of stroke and involves both peripheral and intracerebral immune cells. Neutrophils and microglia are the primary immune cells that mediate neuroinflammation and play bidirectional roles after stroke. Significant interactions

To date, monthly oral bisphosphonates have not been available in China. In this randomized, double blind, positive-controlled, multicenter phase III clinical trial, we compared the efficacy and safety of monthly minodronate versus weekly alendronate in the treatment of Chinese postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. A total of 548 participants were screened across 31 study centers, of which 330 participants

Protein-peptide interactions (PpIs) play a critical role in major cellular processes. Recently, a number of machine learning (ML)-based methods have been developed to predict PpIs, but most of them rely heavily on sequence data, limiting their ability to capture the generalized molecular interactions in three-dimensional (3D) space, which is crucial for understanding protein-peptide binding mechanisms

As antipsychotic administration often persists for a lifetime, antipsychotic-induced cardiotoxicity (AIC) becomes a significant and potentially life-threatening side effect. Owing to the lack of an appropriate human cardiomyocyte experimental model, current research on AIC is primarily based on clinical case reports. In this study, we generated human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) and characterized

Acetaminophen (APAP)-induced acute liver injury (AILI) is primarily driven by CYP3A4‒mediated overproduction of the toxic metabolite N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI), CYP3A4 activity serves as the rate-limiting determinant of NAPQI accumulation levels. Poly ADP-ribose polymerase 1 (PARP1)-driven ribosylation, a posttranslational modification, has been linked to drug-induced liver injury. PARP1

Hypoxia-inducible factor 2-alpha (HIF-2α), a critical transcription factor, forms a heterodimer with aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT) to drive the transcription of erythropoietin (EPO), a key regulator of erythropoiesis. Activation of this pathway plays a pivotal role in the treatment of anemia. By discovered structure-based virtual screening and pharmacological assays, we herein

Histone deacetylases (HDAC) inhibition represents one of the few validated strategies in epigenetic cancer therapies, demonstrating significant clinical efficacy in T-cell lymphomas and multiple myeloma, yet exhibiting limited efficacy against solid tumors. GCJ-490A is a novel HDAC inhibitor discovered by medicinal chemists in our institute, which exhibits potent in vitro and in vivo anticancer activity

Pathological retinal neovascularization (NV) contributes to vision loss in diabetic retinopathy (DR) and retinopathy of prematurity, which are the leading causes of blindness in working-age adults and children, respectively. Retinal hypoxia is a key driver of pathological neovascularization that results in uncontrolled vessel sprouting and the formation of immature and leaky blood vessels. Anti-vascular

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a category of immature myeloid cells that have an important function in suppressing immune responses in a variety of pathological settings. Thus, MDSCs are the subject of intensive studies regarding their recruitment, expulsion, deactivation, and maturation promotion. Tumor necrosis factor superfamily member 15 (TNFSF15) is produced largely by vascular endothelial