Kun Zhao

Dr. Kun Zhao

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

4Years (2023-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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2 July 2025 in International Journal of Surgery
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
KZKun Zhao
Kun Zhao
LCLibo Chen
Libo Chen
Purpose: This study comprehensively analyzed the global clinical trials and depicted a landscape of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in thyroid cancer therapy. Methods: This study leveraged the Trialtrove database (https://clinicalintelligence.citeline.com/) to conduct a systematic analysis of the clinical trial landscape in thyroid cancer research. Utilizing professional medical subject headings, we performed a comprehensive search with keywords such as “Immune checkpoint inhibitor” and “Thyroid oncology,” identifying a total of 113 clinical trials. Results: Our review of 113 trials revealed a peak in 2020, primarily driven by phase II and III studies. Pembrolizumab was the most frequently studied monotherapy, while combinations such as Pembrolizumab-Lenvatinib and Camrelizumab-Apatinib were also evaluated. Biomarkers like BRAF and immune checkpoint markers were prominently investigated. Although most trials achieved their primary endpoints, only five reported positive outcomes. Our analysis underscores the importance of specific thyroid cancer subtypes and novel combination therapies in advancing ICIs applications. Conclusion: The study presents some valuable insights regarding the present state and future perspectives of clinical trials on thyroid cancer

17 December 2025 in Hepatology
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
WWWeiwei Wang
Weiwei Wang
LWLingling Wu
Lingling Wu
KZKun Zhao
Kun Zhao
Anquan ShangAnquan Shang
Anquan Shang

27 August 2024 in World Journal of Hepatology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
BHBin Hu
Bin Hu
AWAi-Hong Wan
Ai-Hong Wan
XXXi-Qiao Xiang
Xi-Qiao Xiang
YWYuan-Hao Wei
Yuan-Hao Wei
YCYi Chen
Yi Chen
KZKun Zhao
Kun Zhao
BACKGROUND Previous research has highlighted correlations between blood cell counts and chronic liver disease. Nonetheless, the causal relationships remain unknown. AIM To evaluate the causal effect of blood cell traits on liver enzymes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) risk. METHODS Independent genetic variants strongly associated with blood cell traits were extracted from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) conducted by the Blood Cell Consortium. Summary-level data for liver enzymes were obtained from the United Kingdom Biobank. NAFLD data were obtained from a GWAS meta-analysis (8434 cases and 770180 controls, discovery dataset) and the Fingen GWAS (2275 cases and 372727 controls, replication dataset). This analysis was conducted using the inverse-variance weighted method, followed by various sensitivity analyses. RESULTS One SD increase in the genetically predicted haemoglobin concentration (HGB) was associated with a β of 0.0078 (95%CI: 0.0059-0.0096), 0.0108 (95%CI: 0.0080-0.0136), 0.0361 (95%CI: 0.0156-0.0567), and 0.0083 (95%CI: 00046-0.0121) for alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase, respectively. Genetically predicted haematocrit was associated with ALP (β = 0.0078, 95%CI: 0.0052-0.0104) and ALT (β = 0.0057, 95%CI: 0.0039-0.0075). Genetically determined HGB and the reticulocyte fraction of red blood cells increased the risk of NAFLD [odds ratio (OR) = 1.199, 95%CI: 1.087-1.322] and (OR = 1.157, 95%CI: 1.071-1.250). The results of the sensitivity analyses remained significant. CONCLUSION Novel causal blood cell traits related to liver enzymes and NAFLD development were revealed through Mendelian randomization analysis, which may facilitate the diagnosis and prevention of NAFLD.

1 February 2025 in International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
YLYuanda Liu
Yuanda Liu
LCLanlan Chen
Lanlan Chen
WHWei Hao
Wei Hao
KZKun Zhao
Kun Zhao
CLChangfeng Li
Changfeng Li
Explore the causal relationship of risk between type 1 diabetes and primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). A causal association between type 1 diabetes and autoimmune liver disease remains ambiguous. This study explored potential causality between different autoimmune conditions, indicating that caution should be taken of the occurrence of autoimmune liver diseases in daily management of T1D patients. Genetic variants were extracted as instrumental variables from the genome-wide association study (GWAS) of PBC, PSC, type 1 diabetes (T1D), and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Associations between four primary liver enzymes, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transferase (ALT), and glutamyl transaminase (GGT), and blood glucose-related indicators such as 2h-glucose post-challenge (2hGlu), fasting glucose (FG), fasting insulin (FI), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were also evaluated (GWAS p-value < 5 × 10 −8 ). A bi-directional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) design was used to assess causality between type 1 diabetes and autoimmune cholestasis. Genetic susceptibility to T1D increased the risk of PSC and PBC. Genetic susceptibility to T2D reduced the risk of PSC and showed no correlation with PBC. Genetically susceptibility to PBC increased the risk of T1D and showed no correlation with T2D. Genetically susceptibility to PSC did not impact the risk of T1D and T2D. T1D patients have an increased risk of PBC/PSC, but such causation is not mediated or explained by the altered blood glucose levels. A bi-directional causal association was identified between type 1 diabetes and autoimmune cholestasis. The findings provide new insight into the management of patients with these conditions.

11 October 2024 in Cardiovascular Toxicology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
ALAnkang Liu
Ankang Liu
XLXiaohong Liu
Xiaohong Liu
YWYuanhao Wei
Yuanhao Wei
XXXiqiao Xiang
Xiqiao Xiang
YCYi Chen
Yi Chen
KZKun Zhao
Kun Zhao
Previous observational studies have explored the association between serum lipids, apolipoproteins, and adverse ventricular/aortic structure and function. However, whether a causal link exists is uncertain. This study employed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR), colocalization, reverse, and multivariable MR (MVMR) approach to examine the causal associations among five serum lipids, two apolipoproteins, and 32 cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) traits. Utilizing single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) linked to serum lipids and apolipoproteins as instrumental variables. CMR traits from seven independent genome-wide association studies served as preclinical endophenotypes, offering insights into aortic and cardiac structure/function. The primary analysis utilized a random-effects inverse variance method (IVW), followed by sensitivity and validation analyses. In the primary IVW MR analyses, genetically predicted low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were positively correlated with increased descending aorta strain (DAo strain) (β = 0.098; P = 2.69E-07) and ascending aorta strain (AAo strain) (β = 0.079; P = 5.19E-05). Genetically predicted high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were positively correlated with left ventricular radial peak diastolic strain rate (LV-PDSRll) (β = 0.176; P = 2.89E-05) and the left ventricular longitudinal peak diastolic strain rate (LV-PDSRrr) (β = 0.059; P = 2.44E-06), and negatively correlated with left ventricular regional wall thickness (LVRWT). While apolipoprotein B (ApoB) levels were positively correlated with AAo strain (β = 0.076; P = 1.16E-05), DAo strain (β = 0.065; P = 2.77E-05). A shared causal variant was identified to demonstrate the associations of ApoB with AAo strain and DAo strain using colocalization analysis. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these associations. Targeting lipid and apolipoprotein levels through interventions may provide novel strategies for the primary prevention of CVDs.

30 January 2026 in Phytomedicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
YZYang Zhou
Yang Zhou
JCJingyun Chi
Jingyun Chi
XXXining Xu
Xining Xu
RZRongrong Zhu
Rongrong Zhu
TWTianhao Wang
Tianhao Wang
KZKun Zhao
Kun Zhao
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has emerged as a significant global health challenge, underscoring an urgent need for novel therapeutic agents that offer enhanced efficacy and improved safety. Pedunculoside (PE), a naturally occurring triterpenoid saponin, has demonstrated promising lipid-modulating properties. Nevertheless, its precise mechanisms of action in the context of MASLD remain unclear. To investigate the anti-MASLD effect of PE and uncover its novel mechanism via targeting heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (HNRNPA1) and regulating downstream PPARα pathway. The therapeutic potential of PE was evaluated both in primary mouse hepatocytes and in vivo using high-fat, high-cholesterol (HFHC) and high-fat diet (HFD) induced MASLD mouse models. A multi-omics and multi-technique approach was applied, including biochemical assays, histopathology, transcriptomic and lipidomic profiling, alongside target-engagement validation via drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS), cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and HNRNPA1 knockout models. PE significantly improved key metabolic and histological features in MASLD models. Mechanistically, PE was found to directly bind HNRNPA1 (a previously unreported target in MASLD therapeutics). This interaction enhanced the mRNA stability of PPARα, leading to activation of fatty acid β-oxidation. Crucially, HNRNPA1 knockout abolished the beneficial effects of PE, confirming the functional necessity of the PE-HNRNPA1-PPARα axis in vivo. Our study uncovers a novel therapeutic axis in MASLD, in which PE enhances the stability of PPARα mRNA by directly binding to HNRNPA1, and consequently upregulates fatty acid β-oxidation. These findings not only position PE as a promising therapeutic candidate for MASLD but also identify the HNRNPA1-PPARα regulatory pathway as a potential mechanistic target for treating metabolic liver diseases.