Mengyuan Dai

Prof. Mengyuan Dai


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

6Years (2021-Present)

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

Representative Publications

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10 March 2023 in Frontiers in Immunology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
SYShijie Yao
Shijie Yao
LZLiyang Zhao
Liyang Zhao
SCSiming Chen
Siming Chen
HWHua Wang
Hua Wang
YGYang Gao
Yang Gao
HCHongbing Cai
Hongbing Cai
Background: The immune microenvironment is of great significance in cervical cancer. However, there is still a lack of systematic research on the immune infiltration environment of cervical cancer.Methods: We obtained cervical cancer transcriptome data and clinical information from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, evaluated the immune microenvironment of cervical cancer, determined immune subsets, constructed an immune cell infiltration scoring system, screened key immune-related genes, and performed single-cell data analysis and cell function analysis of key genes.Results: We combined the TCGA and GEO data sets and obtained three different immune cell populations. We obtained two gene clusters, extracted 119 differential genes, and established an immune cell infiltration (ICI) scoring system. Finally, three key genes, IL1B, CST7, and ITGA5, were identified, and single-cell sequencing data were mined to distribute these key genes in different cell types. By up-regulating CST7 and down-regulating IL1B and ITGA5, cervical cancer cells’ proliferation ability and invasion ability were successfully reduced.Conclusion: We conducted a comprehensive assessment of the state of the tumor immune microenvironment in cervical cancer, constructed the ICI scoring system, and identified the ICI scoring system as a potential indicator of susceptibility to immunotherapy for cervical cancer, identifying key genes suggesting that IL1B, CST7, and ITGA5 play an essential role in cervical cancer.

30 September 2024 in Cell Death & Disease
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
YSYu-Ying Shi
Yu-Ying Shi
GFGang Fan
Gang Fan
RTRuirong Tan
Ruirong Tan
SLShan Li
Shan Li
HSHuabing Sun
Huabing Sun
MDMengyuan Dai
Mengyuan Dai
The current selection of ligands for both proteins of interest (POI) and E3 ubiquitin ligase significantly restricts the scope of targeted protein degradation (TPD) technologies. This study introduces cell-penetrating peptide-induced chimera conjugates (cp-PCCs) targeting the DHHC3 enzyme involved in PD-L1 palmitoylation. This approach disrupts PD-L1’s immunosuppressive function, enhancing anti-tumor immunity. We developed cp-PCCs to degrade DHHC3, directly linking DHHC3-mediated PD-L1 palmitoylation to PD-L1 stability on tumor cells. Our research utilized both in vitro assays and in vivo experiments in immune checkpoint blockade-resistant mouse models. We focused on a CRBN-based cp-PCC named PCC16, which demonstrated a DC50 of 102 nmol for DHHC3 degradation and significantly reduced PD-L1 levels. In resistant models, PCC16 not only robustly downregulated PD-L1 but also exhibited substantial anti-tumor activity in vivo without significant toxicity. This outperformed traditional inhibitors, showcasing the potential of cp-PCC technology to bypass current PROTAC limitations. Our findings suggest that cp-PCCs offer a promising method for targeting PD-L1 through DHHC3 inhibition and support their continued exploration as a versatile tool in cancer immunotherapy, especially for tumors resistant to standard treatments.

22 December 2022 in Frontiers in Pharmacology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
AWAn-Jin Wang
An-Jin Wang
YGYang Gao
Yang Gao
YSYu-Ying Shi
Yu-Ying Shi
MDMengyuan Dai
Mengyuan Dai
HCHongbing Cai
Hongbing Cai
Immune checkpoint inhibitors have made significant progress in the treatment of various cancers. However, due to the low ICI responsive rate for the gynecologic cancer, ICI two-drug combination therapy tends to be a predominant way for clinical treatment. Antibody-drug conjugates, a promising therapeutic modality for cancer, have been approved by the FDA for breast cancer, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and gastric cancer. On September 2021, the FDA granted accelerated approval to tisotumab vedotin for patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer. Currently, the role of therapy of ADCs on gynecologic tumors was also included in medication regimens. Now more than 30 ADCs targeting for 20 biomarkers are under clinical trials in the field, including monotherapy or combination with others for multiple lines of therapy. Some ADCs have been proved to enhance the antitumor immunity effect on both pre-clinical models and clinical trials. Therefore, combination of ADCs and ICIs are expected in clinical trials. In this review, we discuss current development of ADCs in gynecologic oncology and the combination effects of ICIs and ADCs.

5 August 2022 in Technology in Cancer Research & Treatment
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
YQYuwen Qi
Yuwen Qi
YZYaxing Zhang
Yaxing Zhang
YSYuying Shi
Yuying Shi
SYShijie Yao
Shijie Yao
MDMengyuan Dai
Mengyuan Dai
HCHongbing Cai
Hongbing Cai
Background: Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains the leading cause of gynecologic cancer death worldwide due to the high recurrence rate. Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is an alternative modality for platinum-sensitive recurrent EOC. The latest studies demonstrate homologous recombination-related (HRR) mutation status increases the sensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapy drugs in EOC. However, the molecular analysis of recurrent EOC patient benefits from HIPEC is unknown. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CRS combined with HIPEC for platinum-sensitive in recurrent EOC with HRR mutation. Methods: This is a phase III randomized controlled clinical trial in patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent EOC. Participants were divided into 2 groups based on the HRR mutation status and randomized to receive CRS + HIPEC. The patients then received periodic chemotherapy and follow-up. Results: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of CRS + HIPEC compared to CRS alone in patients with a platinum-sensitive recurrent EOC stratified for HRD status. We hypothesize that the addition of HIPEC to CRS improves the progression-free survival (PFS) of platinum-sensitive recurrent EOC patients with HRR mutation compared with patients without HRR mutation. Conclusion: Recurrent EOC has a poor prognosis due to implantation and metastasis in the abdominal cavity. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy reduced seeding by removing free tumor cells. HIPEC utilizes physical and biological properties to significantly increase the clearance rate of tumors. Van Driel WJ et al proposed that HIPEC using platinum-based chemotherapy improves the survival of patients with ovarian cancer. HRR mutation, as a common pathogenic mutation in ovarian cancer, has a predictive effect on the platinum sensitivity of ovarian cancer patients. Whether lobaplatin-based HIPEC will play a greater role in ovarian cancer patients with HRR mutations is currently unknown.

1 January 2022 in Technology in Cancer Research & Treatment
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
SYShijie Yao
Shijie Yao
CYCheng Yuan
Cheng Yuan
YSYuying Shi
Yuying Shi
YQYuwen Qi
Yuwen Qi
RSRadhakrishnan Sridha
Radhakrishnan Sridha
HCHongbing Cai
Hongbing Cai
Background: Increasing evidences have shown that abnormal alternative splicing (AS) events are closely related to the prognosis of various tumors. However, the role of AS in ovarian cancer (OV) is poorly understood. This study aims to explore the correlation between AS and the prognosis of OV and establish a prognostic model for OV. Methods: We downloaded the RNA-seq data of OV from The Cancer Genome Atlas databases and assessed cancer-specific AS through the SpliceSeq software. Then systemically investigated the overall survival (OS)-related AS and splicing factors (SFs) by bioinformatics analysis. The nomogram was established based on the clinical information, and the clinical practicability of the nomogram was verified through the calibration curve. Finally, a splicing correlation network was constructed to reveal the relationship between OS-related AS and SFs. Results: A total of 48,049 AS events were detected from 10,582 genes, of which 1523 were significantly associated with OS. The area under the curve of the final prediction model was 0.785, 0.681, and 0.781 in 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Moreover, the nomogram showed high calibration and discrimination in OV patients. Spearman correlation analysis was used to determine 8 SFs significantly related to survival, including major facilitator superfamily domain containing 11, synaptotagmin binding cytoplasmic RNA interacting protein, DEAH-box helicase 35, CWC15, integrator complex subunit 1, LUC7 like 2, cell cycle and apoptosis regulator 1, and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1. Conclusion: This study provides a prognostic model related to AS in OV, and constructs an AS-clinicopathological nomogram, which provides the possibility to predict the long-term prognosis of OV patients. We have explored the wealth of RNA splicing networks and regulation patterns related to the prognosis of OV, which provides a large number of biomarkers and potential targets for the treatment of OV. Put forward the potential possibility of interfering with the AS of OV in the comprehensive treatment of OV.

16 June 2022 in Journal of Medical Virology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
LZLiyang Zhao
Liyang Zhao
YLYusi Li
Yusi Li
WYWenjuan Yi
Wenjuan Yi
KYKuo Yan
Kuo Yan
CYChao Yang
Chao Yang
Ningyi ShaoNingyi Shao
Ningyi Shao
Comorbidities such as hypertension could exacerbate symptoms of coronaviral disease 2019 (COVID)‐19 infection. Patients with hypertension may receive both anti‐COVID‐19 and antihypertension therapies when infected with COVID‐19. However, it is not clear how different classes of anti‐hypertension drugs impact the outcome of COVID‐19 treatment. Herein, we explore the association between the inpatient use of different classes of anti‐hypertension drugs and mortality among patients with hypertension hospitalized with COVID‐19. We totally collected data from 278 patients with hypertension diagnosed with COVID‐19 admitted to hospitals in Wuhan from February 1 to April 1, 2020. A retrospective study was conducted and single‐cell RNA‐sequencing (RNA‐Seq) analysis of treatment‐related genes was performed. The results showed that Angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) and calcium channel blocker (CCB) drugs significantly increased the survival rate but the use of angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor/β‐block/diuretic drugs did not affect the mortality caused by COVID‐19. Based on the analysis of four public data sets of single‐cell RNA‐Seq on COVID‐19 patients, we concluded that JUN, LST1 genes may play a role in the effect of ARB on COVID‐19‐related mortality, whereas CALM1 gene may contribute to the effect of CCB on COVID‐19‐related mortality. Our results provide guidance on the selection of antihypertension drugs for hypertensive patients infected with COVID‐19.