Clinical and Translational Medicine
○ Wiley
Preprints posted in the last 7 days, ranked by how well they match Clinical and Translational Medicine's content profile, based on 30 papers previously published here. The average preprint has a 0.04% match score for this journal, so anything above that is already an above-average fit.
Hou, G.; Xu, S.; Zhao, F.; Duan, L.; Yang, H.; Li, J.; Zhou, F.; Hu, Y.; Liu, S.
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Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is still lack of clinically molecular subtyping and effective therapeutic strategies. Herein, a total of 46 paired tissue samples of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) were collected and subjected to a systematic proteogenomic evaluation. Consensus assessment of the ESCC-related transcriptomes and TCGA dataset revealed several consensual modes of gene expression related to ESCC specificity, with 8 plasma-detectable hub proteins that could discriminate ESCC from others. Three ESCC molecular subtypes were defined and validated based on proteome data, including pCC1 with activated immune response and best survival outcome, pCC2 as cell cycle subtype with relative worse outcome, and pCC3 with worst outcome that expressed more cell adhesion related proteins. Furthermore, we proposed potential therapeutic strategies for improving survival outcomes in patients with different ESCC molecular subtypes. This integrative proteogenomic analysis provided a novel view of ESCC-dependent molecular information.
Wang, B.; Ganzen, L.; Coskun, E.; James, R.; Kha, T.; Zhu, X.; New, J. A.; Tsujikawa, M.; Leung, Y. F.
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Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) is a group of inherited retinal degenerations for which most subtypes lack effective drug treatments. This challenge is particularly critical for autosomal dominant (ad) RP, which is often unsuitable for gene replacement therapy. To address this challenge, we screened an FDA-approved compound library using a zebrafish adRP model expressing a human RHODOPSIN transgene with the Q344X mutation. The screen evaluated drug effects on larval visual behavior by assessing the visual-motor response (VMR). Four compounds significantly improved VMR in Q344X zebrafish: amitriptyline, difluprednate, maprotiline, and prednisolone. Further characterization revealed that these hits act through distinct mechanisms, including reducing rod death, promoting rod neogenesis, and enhancing the function of extraocular photoreceptors. Together, these findings demonstrate the potential to repurpose these drugs for adRP caused by the RHO Q344X mutation, providing preclinical candidates and revealing potential targets for future drug development.
Ciudin Mihai, A.; Baker, J. L.; Belancic, A.; Busetto, L.; Dicker, D.; Fabryova, L.; Fruhbeck, G.; Goossens, G. H.; Gordon, J.; Monami, M.; Sbraccia, P.; Martinez Tellez, B.; Yumuk, V.; McGowan, B.
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This updated systematic review and network meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of obesity management medications (OMMs) in terms of reducing body weight and obesity related complications. Medline and Embase were searched up to 21 November 2025 for randomized controlled trials comparing OMMs versus placebo or active comparators in adults. The primary endpoint was percentage total body weight loss (TBWL%) at the end of the study. Secondary endpoints were TBWL% at 1, 2 and 3 years, anthropometric, metabolic, mental health and quality of life outcomes, cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, remission of obesity related complications, serious adverse events and all cause mortality. Sixty six RCTs (66 comparisons) were identified: orlistat (22), semaglutide (18), liraglutide (11), tirzepatide (8), naltrexone/bupropion (5) and phentermine/topiramate (2), enrolling 63,909 patients (34,861 and 29,048 with active compound and placebo, respectively). All OMMs showed significantly greater TBWL% versus placebo; tirzepatide and semaglutide exceeded 10% TBWL and showed the most favourable glycaemic effects. Semaglutide reduced major adverse cardiovascular events and all cause mortality. In dedicated complication specific trials, semaglutide and tirzepatide showed benefit on heart failure related outcomes; tirzepatide was associated with improved obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and semaglutide with knee osteoarthritis pain remission. Tirzepatide and semaglutide were associated with improvements in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis remission, and semaglutide with improvement in liver fibrosis. No OMMs were associated with an increased risk of serious adverse events. These updated results reinforce the need to individualize OMMs selection according to weight loss efficacy, complication profile and safety.
Yang, D.; Li, G.; Song, J.; Shi, X.; Xu, X.; Ma, J.; Guo, C.; Liu, C.; Yang, J.; Li, F.; Zhu, Y.; Zi, W.; Ding, Q.; Chen, Y.
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Abstract Background: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) remains a significant cause of disability worldwide. Current treatments, primarily intravenous thrombolysis (IVT), are limited by narrow time windows and reperfusion injury, leading to suboptimal outcomes for many patients. Chuanzhi Tongluo (CZTL), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been preliminarily recognized as a novel cerebral protection agent in animal models. Objectives: This trial investigates the efficacy and safety of CZTL capsule in patients with AIS who are not eligible for IVT or who experience early neurological deterioration after IVT. Methods and design: The CONCERN trial is an investigator-initiated, prospective, multicenter, double-blind, parallel-control, randomized clinical study in China. An estimated 1,208 eligible participants will be consecutively randomized to receive CZTL capsule therapy or placebo in 1:1 ratio across approximately 70 stroke centers in China. All enrolled patients are orally administered 2 capsules of CZTL or placebo 3 times a day together with antiplatelet agents for 3 months. Outcomes: The primary endpoint is an excellent functional outcome, defined as a score of 0 or 1 on the mRS at 90 days. Lead safety endpoints included 90-day mortality and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage within 48 hours. Conclusions: Results of CONCERN trial will determine the clinical efficacy and safety of the traditional Chinese medicine CZTL capsule in the treatment of AIS patients. Trial registry number: ChiCTR2300074147 (www.chictr.org.cn).
gao, l.; Qiu, Z.; Jiang, Y.; Zhang, P.; Li, H.; Yu, Y.; Gong, Y.
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BackgroundIt has been demonstrated that stem cell transplantation promotes healing of the infarcted heart through paracrine effects. However, the therapeutic potential of exosomes secreted by hiPSC-derived epicardial cells (hEP-Exos) for treating infarcted hearts remains unclear. Myocardial infarction (MI) can trigger EP activation, increasing EP paracrine function. Therefore, this study aims to determine and compare the cardioprotective effects of exosomes secreted by hEPs under normoxic (Exo-N) and hypoxic (Exo-H) conditions in MI mice and to explore the underlying mechanisms. MethodsTwo types of exosomes were collected by ultracentrifugation and delivered via intramyocardial injection in a murine MI model. The protective effects of Exo-N and Exo-H on the infarcted heart were assessed using echocardiography, histological examination, and immunofluorescence analysis. Additionally, microRNA sequencing, luciferase activity assays, and miRNA gain-and loss-of-function experiments were performed to identify enriched miRNAs and investigate their roles in different exosome populations. ResultsIn vitro, both Exo-N and Exo-H enhanced the migration and tube-formation capacities in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and reduced the apoptosis in hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (hCMs) under oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD), with Exo-H exhibiting a stronger effect. In vivo, both Exo-N and Exo-H significantly improved contractile function, reduced infarct size, and mitigated adverse remodeling in mouse hearts with MI, accompanied by increased cardiomyocyte survival and angiogenesis, with Exo-H showing superior efficacy. Mechanistically, miRNA sequencing revealed distinct cargo profiles between Exo-N and Exo-H. miR-214-3p was identified as a key mediator of the enhanced therapeutic potency of Exo-H. miR-214-3p promoted EC angiogenesis by suppressing vasohibin-1 and attenuated cardiomyocyte mitochondrial fission and apoptosis by suppressing mitochondrial elongation factor 2 (MIEF2). ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that administration of hEP-Exos, particularly Exo-H, provides robust cardioprotection by enhancing cardiomyocyte survival and angiogenesis, potentially mediated by miR-214-3p. These findings suggest that conditioned hEP-Exos could be a promising and effective acellular therapeutic option for treating MI.
Nakaguma, Y.; Kato, Y.; Atef, Y.; Ito, T.; Nishimura, A.; Uesugi, M.; Kanda, Y.; Kunisawa, J.; Nishida, M.
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Vaccine adjuvants are critical for enhancing immune responses and sustaining antibody production. Although their safety profiles are well established, assessments have largely focused on metabolic and excretory organs such as the liver and kidneys, with limited attention to the heart. Here, we systematically evaluated the cardiac effects of five representative adjuvants in mice: alum, MF59, AS03, Sigma Adjuvant Systems, and lipid A. None of the adjuvants impaired baseline cardiac contractile function. Notably, lipid A uniquely enhanced mitochondrial respiratory capacity in rat and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and promoted mitochondrial membrane hyperpolarization. We next examined its therapeutic potential in a doxorubicin (Dox)-induced heart failure model characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction. Co-administration of lipid A with influenza hemagglutinin (HA) antigen significantly ameliorated cardiac dysfunction. In parallel, lipid A prevented the Dox-induced decline in anti-HA antibody titers, an effect associated with preservation of splenic B cell populations. Collectively, these findings reveal a previously unappreciated cytoprotective dimension of lipid A, demonstrating that it not only potentiates immune responses but also counteracts chemotherapy-induced functional decline by enhancing mitochondrial activity.
khosravi, s.; Giorgio, G.; Staurenghi, F.; schoenberger, t.; Gross, P.; Ried, M.; Frankenhauser, J.; Eder, S.; Markert, E.; Bakker, R.; Babaei, S.; Zippel, N.
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Porcine organotypic retinal explant cultures are widely used to study retinal neurodegeneration under controlled conditions, but the biological process that occurs in the retinal explant over time due to preparation-induced injury and culture are not well understood. Here, we generated a time-resolved transcriptomic reference for porcine neural retinal explants-maintained ex vivo for 10 days. Global expression profiles are strongly separated by culture time, with Day 0 clearly distinct from cultured samples and at Day 7 and Day 10 showing the highest similarity, indicating a transition toward a later stabilized state. Across the time course, 3,187 genes were differentially expressed relative to Day 0, with the largest shifts occurring at an early stage of culture (Day 1-Day 3). Pathway-level analyses revealed coordinated remodeling involving inflammatory signaling, and metabolic/bioenergetic changes, including reduced mitochondrial and oxidative phosphorylation-related programs at later time points. Here, we provide a time-resolved transcriptomics reference dataset for cultured porcine retinal explants. These data can build a foundation to interpret data generated in this model, differentiate changes inherent to the explant culture from treatment-specific effects and to select appropriate experimental windows for mechanistic studies of retinal degeneration.
Iwaki, H.; Yasuda, Y.; Kato, N.; Kitamura, H.; Hayashi, H.; Murakami, S.; Sato, H.; Wei, F.; Fukuda, S.; Soga, T.; Kamei, T.; Kakuta, Y.; Masamune, A.; Sekine, H.; Motohashi, H.
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Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract that encompasses ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease. Here we identify the cystine/glutamate antiporter xCT as being markedly upregulated in the inflamed intestinal epithelium of patients with IBD. To clarify its functional contribution to disease pathogenesis, we performed genetic loss-of-function study and found that inhibition of xCT confers robust protection against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Intestinal epithelial cell (IEC)-specific deletion of xCT markedly attenuated colitis severity, demonstrating that epithelial xCT upregulation acts as a disease-exacerbating factor in IBD. Mechanistically, xCT deficiency preserved intracellular glutamate levels and protein polyglutamylation, thereby maintaining epithelial barrier integrity and protecting IECs from inflammatory injury. Consistently, pharmacological inhibition of glutamine synthetase, which increases intracellular glutamate, exerted a potent anti-inflammatory effect on the DSS-induced colitis. These findings identify intracellular glutamate retention in IECs as a previously unrecognized mechanism of epithelial protection and highlight both inhibition of xCT-dependent glutamate efflux and suppression of glutamine synthetase as potential therapeutic strategies for IBD.
Hones, G. S.; Liao, X.-H.; Mahler, E. A.; Herrmann, P.; Eckstein, A.; Fuhrer, D.; Castillo, J. M.; Chiang, J.; Vincent, A. L.; Weiss, R. E.; Dumitrescu, A. M.; Refetoff, S.; Moeller, L. C.
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BackgroundHeterozygous c.283+1G>A and c.283G>A variants in the THRB gene, encoding for thyroid hormone receptor (TR){beta}1 and {beta}2, lead to autosomal dominant macular dystrophy (ADMD). We report the detailed clinical characterization of two first-degree relatives with ADMD, heterozygous for THRB c.283+1G>A, and an unrelated ADMD patient with a novel variant, c.283G>C. The genomic and molecular consequences of both variants were studied. MethodsgDNA and mRNA were obtained from leukocytes. Clinical characterization included biochemistry, bone density and body composition, ECG, echocardiography, ultrasound, audiometry and color-vision. In vitro assays investigated TR function and DNA binding. ResultsThe patients manifested no resistance to thyroid hormone beta (RTH{beta}) and had normal FT4 and TSH. Detailed studies in two patients showed no goiter, tachycardia, hypercholesterinemia or hepatic steatosis. Hearing was not impaired. Both had impaired color vision and reduced bone density. RT-PCR from all three patients revealed skipping of exon 4 exclusive to TR{beta}1, producing a deletion of 87 amino acids in the N-terminal domain (TR{beta}1{Delta}NTD). In vitro, DNA-binding affinity of TR{beta}1{Delta}NTD to DR4-TRE with or without RXR was comparable to TR{beta}1WT. Surprisingly, TR{beta}1{Delta}NTD was transcriptionally twice more active than TR{beta}1WT with a similar EC50 for T3, demonstrating gain-of-function of TR{beta}1{Delta}NTD. THRA expression in leukocytes was increased by 3-fold compared to unrelated controls and different from RTH{beta} patients. ConclusionThese THRB splice site variants produce TR{beta}1 exon 4 skipping, resulting in a gain-of-function mutant, TR{beta}1{Delta}NTD. This explains the dominant ADMD phenotype devoid of RTH{beta} and suggests a TR{beta}1 gain-of-function syndrome.
Frapporti, G.; Capuozzo, A.; Colombo, E.; Fioretti, P.; D'Amore, V. M.; Di Leva, F. S.; Lama, A.; Tripathi, V.; Medaglia, S.; Waich, S.; Montani, C.; Perez-Carrion, M. D.; Marte, A.; Onofri, F.; Gloeckner, C. J.; Marinelli, L.; Seneci, P.; Hess, M. W.; Medina, D. L.; Piccoli, G.
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The maintenance of protein homeostasis is vital for all cells. Alteration in protein handling underlies several diseases. The small molecule sephin1 is a promising clinical candidate against proteostasis disruption, but its mechanism of action is still uncertain. Our experimental evidence shows that sephin1 binds G-actin and drives actin cytoskeleton misfolding, and eventually, Golgi disintegration. At first, sephin1 impairs the autophagic flux and elicits the phosphorylation of the subunit of eIF2 and the ER-stress independent expression of CHOP via GCN2 kinase. Sephin1 also inhibits the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTORC1), activates the transcription Factor EB (TFEB), drives the expression of TFEB-direct target genes, and eventually stimulates the autophagy lysosomal pathway. Our results reveal that the actin cytoskeleton may regulate autophagy via mTORC1-TFEB complemented with the GCN2-eIF2-CHOP signaling pathway.
murugadoss, k.; Venkatakrishnan, A.; Soundararajan, V.
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GLP-1 receptor agonists have reshaped obesity therapeutics, but their impact on neuropsychiatric outcomes remains poorly characterized. From 29 million patients in a large federated data platform across the USA, including 489,785 semaglutide treated patients, we conducted an observational study integrating longitudinal neuropsychiatric outcomes. From this population, we assembled a cohort of 63,215 patients with baseline neuropsychiatric conditions before treatment initiation and evaluated 24 incident neuropsychiatric outcomes. In propensity-matched comparator analyses, during the 2 year time-period from treatment initiation, semaglutide was associated with broadly lower neuropsychiatric event risk than metformin, SGLT2 inhibitors, and DPP-4 inhibitors. Within the semaglutide-treated cohort, higher attained dose during the first two years after the first prescription ("pre-landmark period") was associated with significantly lower incidence during the following two years ("post-landmark period") of diagnostic codes associated with substance-related disorders (P<0.001), mood disorders (P<0.001), anxiety- and stress-related disorders (P<0.001), CNS atrophies (P<0.001), neuromuscular disorders (P=0.013), eating/sleep/behavioral disorders (P=0.022), and personality/impulse-control disorders (P=0.028). Consistent with previous clinical trials, the post-landmark incidence of dementia or CNS degenerative diseases was similar between the high-dose and low-dose semaglutide cohorts (P=0.15). For most neuropsychiatric diagnoses, post-landmark incidence was strongly associated with the maximum attained semaglutide dose during the pre-landmark period, but incident cognitive symptoms and speech/language symptoms were more closely linked to the pre-landmark weight-loss magnitude (p<0.001 and p<0.003, respectively). Bulk and single-cell transcriptomic analyses demonstrated GLP1R expression in CNS tissues (hypothalamus, caudate, putamen, nucleus accumbens, cerebellum) and peripheral nerves. Age-associated heterogeneity in GLP1R expression was evident in several of these compartments including the caudate nucleus, suggesting dynamic changes in the availability of the neurobiological substrate for semaglutide response. Together, these data support a model in which semaglutide confers a sustained, dose-dependent, weight loss-independent benefit across multiple neuropsychiatric conditions via direct CNS target engagement. This observational study motivates prospective clinical studies and mechanistic analyses to clarify the impact of GLP-1 receptor agonists on human neuropsychiatric pathways and disease processes.
Graure, M.; Nierobisch, N.; De Vere-Tyndall, A. J.; Pakeerathan, T.; Ayzenberg, I.; Gernert, J.; Havla, J.; Ringelstein, M.; Aktas, O.; Tkachenko, D.; Huemmert, M.; Trebst, C.; Cedra Fuertes, N. A.; Papadopoulou, A.; Giglhuber, K.; Wicklein, R.; Berthele, A.; Weller, M.; Kana, V.; Roth, P.; Herwerth, M.
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BackgroundChronic relapsing inflammatory optic neuropathy (CRION) is a steroid-dependent form of optic neuritis with incompletely understood pathophysiology. The identification of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies (MOG-IgG) in a substantial patient subset has challenged the diagnostic and therapeutic management. The aim of this study was to investigate clinical profiles and treatment outcomes of patients with CRION, comparing MOG-IgG-positive (MOG+) and seronegative (MOG-) subgroups. MethodsPatients from six European tertiary centers fulfilling diagnostic criteria for CRION were included. All underwent cell-based autoantibody testing. Clinical outcomes (visual acuity, annualized relapse rate), laboratory and imaging findings (MRI, OCT), and treatment responses were retrospectively analyzed. ResultsSixty patients were included (median age 33 years; 70% female); 27 (45%) were MOG+. MOG+ CRION was associated with later onset, higher ARR before treatment (median [IQR] 2 [1-3] vs. 1 [1-2], p = 0.023), and a trend toward shorter inter-relapse intervals. Additional distinguishing features included higher frequencies of antinuclear antibody positivity, elevated CSF interleukin-6, and extensive optic neuritis on MRI. Relapse burden correlated with visual acuity decline and retinal thinning. In MOG+ patients, monoclonal antibody therapy reduced the ARR (n = 21; 2 [1-3] vs. 0 [0-2], p = 0.024), primarily driven by tocilizumab (n = 11; 2 [1-3] vs. 0 [0-1], p = 0.023). In MOG-patients, rituximab and azathioprine showed a trend toward ARR reduction. ConclusionCRION represents a heterogeneous syndrome encompassing distinct subgroups. MOG+ patients demonstrate higher disease activity but respond favorably to tocilizumab. Serological testing is critical for treatment stratification and preventing relapses.
Chen, Y.; Law, Z. K.; Zhou, X.; Dai, Q.; Xiang, S.; Xiao, X.; Ma, J.; Feng, M.; Peng, W.; Zhou, S.; Chen, L.; Zhou, Y.; Lai, Y.; Yeo, L.; An, S.; He, Y.; Pan, S.-Y.
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Abstract Objective: To compare the safety and efficacy of bridging intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) plus endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) versus direct EVT in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to anterior circulation large vessel occlusion (LVO) treated within the 6- to 24-hour time window. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of prospective EVT registry from 10 comprehensive stroke centers in China and Singapore between 2019 and 2024. Eligible patients had anterior circulation LVO, underwent EVT within 6-24 hours of onset, had ASPECTS 6, NIHSS 6, and pre-stroke mRS 2. Patients were stratified into bridging IVT + EVT (IVT group) versus direct EVT alone (non-IVT group). Propensity score matching (1:2 ratio) was performed to balance baseline covariates. The primary outcome was 3-month favorable functional outcome (mRS 0-2). Secondary outcomes included successful recanalization (mTICI 2b-3), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), hemorrhagic transformation (HT) and 3-month mortality. In the matched cohort, binary outcomes were compared using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test. Results: Of 772 included patients, 110 (14.2%) received bridging IVT and 662 (85.8%) received direct EVT. After propensity score matching, 202 non-IVT patients were matched to 101 IVT patients, with all covariates well-balanced (absolute SMD <0.10). In the matched cohort, bridging IVT was not associated with a significant difference in 3-month favorable outcome (44.55% vs. 47.03%; common OR 0.91; 95% CI 0.56-1.46), successful recanalization (91.09% vs. 90.10%; OR 1.11; 0.51-2.44), sICH (5.94% vs. 9.41%; OR 0.61; 0.24-1.58), HT (23.76% vs. 23.27%; OR 1.03; 0.57-1.85), or 3-month mortality (15.84% vs. 13.37%; OR 1.22; 0.62-2.37). Conclusion: In this large multicenter propensity score-matched analysis, bridging intravenous thrombolysis before endovascular thrombectomy in the 6- to 24-hour time window was not significantly associated with improved efficacy or increased safety risks compared with direct endovascular therapy alone.
Dubey, D.; Dutta, T.; Casu, A.; Iliuk, A.; Gardell, S. J.; Pratley, R. E.; Nunez Lopez, Y. O.
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Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes affect hundreds of millions of people globally, yet the metabolic networks underlying disease development remain poorly understood. Using untargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), we profiled a total of 15,470 (900 known) serum metabolite features across the human diabetes spectrum (the most comprehensive coverage reported to date). Weighted coexpression network analysis of samples from people with normal glucose tolerance, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes, collected at baseline and 2 hours after an oral glucose tolerance test, revealed tightly coregulated modules strongly associated with glycemic dysregulation, insulin resistance, and islet dysfunction. Notably, short-chain organic acids, particularly crotonic acid, emerged as hubs of the diabetes-associated networks, accumulating progressively with disease severity. Reanalysis of extracellular vesicle proteomics from the same cohort showed that 16.5% of circulating proteins were crotonylated, with 47.6% correlated with crotonic acid and other hub metabolites, establishing a metabolome-crotonylome axis as a novel mechanism in diabetes development.
Dellavedova, J.; Campera, C.; Ancona, S.; Rebecchi, M.; Panzeri, V.; Carzaniga, T.; Casiraghi, L.; Rocca, S.; Di Ciolo, S.; Pedretti, A.; Tirelli, C.; Buscaglia, M.; Bellini, T.; Romanelli, A.; Villa, A.; Brunialti, E.; Borghi, E.; Ciana, P.
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Exacerbations of respiratory viral infections significantly contribute to morbidity and healthcare burden. Among these viruses, Human Rhinoviruses (HRVs) are the most frequent causative agents of upper respiratory tract infections. To date, over 150 HRV serotypes have been identified, classified into three species: HRV-A, HRV-B, and HRV-C. No antiviral therapies are currently available against this viral family, largely due to the high serotype diversity and limited cross-protection. The major group of HRVs relies on the Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1) receptor to infect airway epithelial cells, making ICAM-1 an attractive target for broad-spectrum therapeutic interventions. Here, we report the development of nucleic acid-based aptamers designed to disrupt ICAM-1-HRV binding and thereby prevent viral infection. Aptamers are single-stranded DNA molecules that fold into precise three-dimensional structures, enabling highly specific protein recognition. Using a Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential Enrichment (SELEX) approach guided by a minimal peptide mimicking the ICAM-1 viral binding interface, a library of >1024 random single-stranded DNA sequences was screened. Through iterative rounds of selection, we identified eight candidate 77-nt DNA aptamers, which were subsequently evaluated for their potential using in silico and in vitro assays, as well as functional assays in human epithelial cells. From this strategy, two lead aptamers were selected that effectively inhibited HRV-A16 replication in a concentration-dependent manner, as measured by viral titers (TCID assay) and viral RNA quantification by RT-PCR. These findings demonstrate the potential of ICAM-1-targeting aptamers as antiviral agents capable of preventing HRV entry. By targeting a host receptor and creating a protective barrier at the cell surface, this approach may offer a broadly applicable strategy against multiple HRV serotypes, paving the way for the development of novel antiviral interventions. Graphical abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=131 SRC="FIGDIR/small/717810v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (26K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1f0c564org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@2f5035org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@3b063eorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@116ed49_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG
Najarzadeh Torbati, P.; Hallbrucker, L.; Hofrichter, M. A. H.; Owrang, D.; Setzke, J.; Kilimann, M. W.; Hemmatpour, A.; Rajati, M.; Ghayoor Karimiani, E.; Haaf, T.; Vogl, C.; Vona, B.
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Hereditary hearing loss is highly genetically heterogeneous, with emerging overlap between genes implicated in early-onset and age-related hearing loss. We report a consanguineous family with autosomal recessive, non-syndromic hearing loss in which the proband harbors a homozygous splice-site variant in PALM3 (NM_001145028.2:c.314+1G>A) and a homozygous missense variant in OTOA. A minigene assay for the PALM3 variant demonstrated aberrant splicing with exon skipping, resulting in a frameshift and a large inframe deletion, both consistent with loss of function and impacting all known transcripts. While the organ of Corti from 12-month-old heterozygous Palm3 mice showed preserved overall architecture, published Palm3 knockout mice exhibit auditory dysfunction, supporting an auditory phenotype with loss of function. Although a dual molecular diagnosis cannot be excluded, the combined genetic, functional, and comparative data support PALM3 as a strong candidate gene for autosomal recessive hearing loss.
Robinson Christiansen, C.; Hansen Firoozfard, E.; Oskolkov, N.; Gilbert, M. P. T.; Mak, S. S. T.; Wirendfeldt, M.; Kjaer, C.; Marmol-Sanchez, E.
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Neurological, neurodegenerative, and psychiatric disorders impose substantial morbidity and disability worldwide, yet their molecular basis remains incompletely understood, in part due to limited access to human brain tissue. The Danish Brain Collection, comprising brains from individuals who lived in Danish psychiatric institutions from the 1940s to the 1980s, represents a unique but largely untapped resource for retrospective molecular investigation. Here, we assess the feasibility of extracting and sequencing DNA and RNA from decades-old FFPE brain tissue. We systematically evaluate how extraction and library preparation strategies influence nucleic acid yield and quality, and show that RNA end-repair prior to library preparation substantially enhances transcript diversity, improving data quality from highly degraded samples. Despite extensive fragmentation, we recover biologically informative transcriptomic profiles, including protein-coding and microRNA expression profiles that retain clear tissue specificity. These results establish the Danish Brain Collection as a viable resource for genomic and transcriptomic analyses and demonstrate the broader potential of archival FFPE tissues for large-scale molecular studies.
Zhang, H.; Dromard, E.; Tsang, K. C. H.; Guemes, A.; Guo, Z.; Baldeweg, S. E.; Li, K.
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Non-invasive glucose monitoring (NIGM) has been pursued for decades, yet no device has achieved regulatory approval despite numerous studies reporting high accuracy. This systematic review and meta-analysis of 32 studies (38 cohorts: 20 NIGM, 18 iCGM; N = 1,693) investigated methodological factors underlying this accuracy-regulatory gap. The pooled Mean Absolute Relative Difference (MARD) for NIGM (10.21%; 95% CI: 8.73-11.69%) showed no significant difference from iCGM (11.82%; 95% CI: 10.36-13.29%; p = 0.13), with extreme heterogeneity (I^2 = 95.2%). Meta-regression revealed that study duration was the strongest predictor of NIGM accuracy ({beta} = 3.94, p < 0.001), with MARD degrading from 8.7% in short-term to 15.2% in long-term studies, while iCGM accuracy remained stable. Only 15% of NIGM cohorts validated in the hypoglycemia range, compared to 89% of iCGM studies (p < 0.001). These findings suggest that reported NIGM accuracy is substantially influenced by methodological asymmetries.
Wold, E.; Merrill, N. M.; Serhan, H.; Udager, A.; Liu, C. J.; Gu, N.; Bao, L.; Qin, Z.; Heth, J.; Soellner, M.; Merajver, S. D.; Morikawa, A.
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Patient-derived organoids from breast cancer brain metastases enable real-time drug sensitivity testing integrated with genomic profiling. Drug response varied by subtype and molecular alterations. PI3K inhibitors showed activity regardless of PIK3CA mutation status. Pronounced tumor heterogeneity highlighted the urgent need for effective therapies personalized for each patient. Functional assays and molecular matching can help tailor therapy for patients who need the most effective next treatment quickly and warrant further translational evaluation to address this unmet need.
Soendenbroe, C.; Nissen, A.; Krogh, L. M.; Schjerling, P.; Garoussian, J.; Storm, V. D.; Kjaer, M.; Andersen, J. L.; Mertz, K. H.; Fridh, M. K.; Mueller, K.; Mackey, A. L.
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Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a life-saving treatment for hematologic malignancies, but long-term survivors present with lower muscle mass and functional capacity. In adult HSCT survivors 10-20 years after treatment, single nucleus RNA sequencing uncovered elevated XRRA1 expression levels in all muscle nuclei populations, which was retained in primary muscle stem cell cultures. HSCT survivors were characterized in vivo by impaired neuromuscular innervation that associated with muscle weakness, and lower muscle stem cell neurotrophic action. Despite these impairments, the molecular and physiological responses to heavy resistance training (HReT) were preserved in HSCT survivors, as demonstrated in a pre-registered clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04922970). After 12 weeks of HReT, gains in muscle mass and strength were similar in HSCT survivors and healthy controls. In addition, we observed that [~]9% of muscle-resident immune cells persist into adulthood and that bone marrow derived cells do not adopt alternative cell fates in muscle tissue, resolving long-standing questions in human muscle biology. Together, these findings uncover molecular mechanisms of HSCT sequelae in muscle nuclei and muscle stem cells, which, importantly, can at least partly be overcome by mechanical loading. Given the growing population of HSCT survivors and the multitude of benefits of HReT for all organ systems, our findings support the importance of HReT in this population to promote healthspan.