Biomedical subjects

Yu Qian

Publications and source records attributed to Yu Qian.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2026

Translational control by RPL22L1-specific ribosomes enhances DNA repair and chemoresistance.

Ribosome heterogeneity has emerged as a regulatory layer in gene expression, yet its biological roles in cancers remain poorly characterized. Here, we identify RPL22L1, a paralog of the ribosomal protein RPL22, as a key modulator of DNA damage response (DDR) in colorectal cancer cells. DNA damage induces RPL22L1 upregulation and ribosomal incorporation, forming RPL22L1-specific ribosomes. Ribosome profiling reveals that RPL22L1-containing ribosomes preferentially translate mRNAs with highly structured 5' untranslated region (5'UTR). In particular, RPL22L1 enhances the translation of ATRX through a cap-independent mechanism. ATRX subsequently recruits DNA-PKcs to DNA damage sites, thereby enhancing the DNA repair capacity. RPL22L1 loss creates exploitable DDR vulnerabilities, sensitizing cancer cells to cisplatin and PARP inhibitors in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, these findings uncover a specialized ribosome-mediated translational program in DDR and highlight RPL22L1 as a potential therapeutic target in DDR-based cancer therapy.

DNA Repair↗

PubMed2026

ICAM-1 Hypomethylation Predicts Poor Prognosis in Patients With Hepatitis B Virus-Related Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure.

Hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) is associated with a high short-term mortality rate. Therefore, early and accurate prognostic prediction is crucial for precise clinical management. This study aims to investigate the expression patterns of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and its predictive value for the short-term prognosis of patients with HBV-ACLF. The Methylight method was used to quantitatively detect ICAM-1 promoter methylation level in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMBCs) of 286 participants. Meanwhile, the mRNA and plasma expression levels of ICAM-1 were determined using RT-qPCR and ELISA, respectively. The ICAM-1 promoter methylation levels in PBMCs of HBV-ACLF patients were significantly lower than those in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and healthy controls (HCs), whereas the mRNA and plasma expression levels of ICAM-1 were markedly elevated. The ICAM-1 methylation levels in HBV-ACLF patients correlated with specific clinical parameters. Among HBV-ACLF patients, ICAM-1 methylation levels were significantly lower in the non-survivor groups at both 28 and 90 days. The study further revealed that ICAM-1 methylation level serves as an independent influencing factor for the prognosis of HBV-ACLF patients at 28 and 90 days. Based on ROC curve and Kaplan-Meier curves, ICAM-1 methylation levels demonstrated excellent performance in predicting 28- and 90-day mortality in patients with HBV-ACLF. In conclusion, patients with HBV-ACLF exhibit hypomethylation of the ICAM-1 promoter. The combination of ICAM-1 promoter methylation level and MELD score can effectively enhance the predictive ability for the short-term prognosis of HBV-ACLF patients.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Targeting the SARS-CoV-2 reservoir in long COVID.

There are no approved treatments for post-COVID-19 condition (also known as long COVID), a debilitating disease state following SARS-CoV-2 infection that is estimated to affect tens of millions of people. A growing body of evidence shows that SARS-CoV-2 can persist for months or years following COVID-19 in a subset of individuals, with this reservoir potentially driving long-COVID symptoms or sequelae. There is, therefore, an urgent need for clinical trials targeting persistent SARS-CoV-2, and several trials of antivirals or monoclonal antibodies for long COVID are underway. However, because mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 persistence are not yet fully understood, such studies require important considerations related to the mechanism of action of candidate therapeutics, participant selection, duration of treatment, standardisation of reservoir-associated biomarkers and measurables, optimal outcome assessments, and potential combination approaches. In addition, patient subgroups might respond to some interventions or combinations of interventions, making post-hoc analyses crucial. Here, we outline these and other key considerations, with the goal of informing the design, implementation, and interpretation of trials in this rapidly growing field. Our recommendations are informed by knowledge gained from trials targeting the HIV reservoir, hepatitis C, and other RNA viruses, as well as precision oncology, which share many of the same hurdles facing long-COVID trials.

Humans↗

PubMed2023

MCT4-dependent lactate secretion suppresses antitumor immunity in LKB1-deficient lung adenocarcinoma.

Inactivating STK11/LKB1 mutations are genomic drivers of primary resistance to immunotherapy in KRAS-mutated lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), although the underlying mechanisms remain unelucidated. We find that LKB1 loss results in enhanced lactate production and secretion via the MCT4 transporter. Single-cell RNA profiling of murine models indicates that LKB1-deficient tumors have increased M2 macrophage polarization and hypofunctional T cells, effects that could be recapitulated by the addition of exogenous lactate and abrogated by MCT4 knockdown or therapeutic blockade of the lactate receptor GPR81 expressed on immune cells. Furthermore, MCT4 knockout reverses the resistance to PD-1 blockade induced by LKB1 loss in syngeneic murine models. Finally, tumors from STK11/LKB1 mutant LUAD patients demonstrate a similar phenotype of enhanced M2-macrophages polarization and hypofunctional T cells. These data provide evidence that lactate suppresses antitumor immunity and therapeutic targeting of this pathway is a promising strategy to reversing immunotherapy resistance in STK11/LKB1 mutant LUAD.

Animals↗