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Li Z, Zhang L, Liu D, Wang C. Ceramide glycosylation and related enzymes in cancer signaling and therapy. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 139:111565. [PMID: 33887691 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Ceramides, the core of the sphingolipid metabolism, draw wide attention as tumor suppressor, and act directly on mitochondria to trigger apoptotic cell death. Ceramide-based therapies are being developed by using promote ceramide generating agents. The ceramide metabolism balance is regulated by multifaceted factors in cancer development. Ceramide metabolic enzymes can increase the elimination of ceramide and counteract the anti-tumor effects of ceramide. However, recent research showed that these metabolic enzymes were highly expressed in several cancers. Especially ceramide glycosyltransferases, they catalyze ceramide glycosylation and synthesis the skeleton of glycosphingolipids (GSLs), play an important role in regulating tumor progression and have a significant correlation with the poor prognosis of cancer patients. To further understand the biological characteristics of ceramide metabolism in tumor, this review focuses on the role of ceramide glycosylation and related enzymes in cancer signaling and therapy. Besides, the research on multidrug resistance and potential inhibitors of ceramide glycosyltransferases are also discussed. Advance study on the structure of ceramide glycosyltransferases and ceramide glycosylation signaling pathway will open the path to new therapies and treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zibo Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicine, Joint Laboratory for Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicine of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicine, Joint Laboratory for Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicine of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicine, Joint Laboratory for Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicine of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Caiyan Wang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicine, Joint Laboratory for Translational Cancer Research of Chinese Medicine of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China.
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Zhuo D, Li X, Guan F. Biological Roles of Aberrantly Expressed Glycosphingolipids and Related Enzymes in Human Cancer Development and Progression. Front Physiol 2018; 9:466. [PMID: 29773994 PMCID: PMC5943571 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Glycosphingolipids (GSLs), which consist of a hydrophobic ceramide backbone and a hydrophilic carbohydrate residue, are an important type of glycolipid expressed in surface membranes of all animal cells. GSLs play essential roles in maintenance of plasma membrane stability, in regulation of numerous cellular processes (including adhesion, proliferation, apoptosis, and recognition), and in modulation of signal transduction pathways. GSLs have traditionally been classified as ganglio-series, lacto-series, or globo-series on the basis of their diverse types of oligosaccharide chains. Structures and functions of specific GSLs are also determined by their oligosaccharide chains. Different cells and tissues show differential expression of GSLs, and changes in structures of GSL glycan moieties occur during development of numerous types of human cancer. Association of GSLs and/or related enzymes with initiation and progression of cancer has been documented in 100s of studies, and many such GSLs are useful markers or targets for cancer diagnosis or therapy. In this review, we summarize (i) recent studies on aberrant expression and distribution of GSLs in common human cancers (breast, lung, colorectal, melanoma, prostate, ovarian, leukemia, renal, bladder, gastric); (ii) biological functions of specific GSLs in these cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinghao Zhuo
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of China, College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, China
| | - Feng Guan
- Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
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Azevedo R, Peixoto A, Gaiteiro C, Fernandes E, Neves M, Lima L, Santos LL, Ferreira JA. Over forty years of bladder cancer glycobiology: Where do glycans stand facing precision oncology? Oncotarget 2017; 8:91734-91764. [PMID: 29207682 PMCID: PMC5710962 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.19433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The high molecular heterogeneity of bladder tumours is responsible for significant variations in disease course, as well as elevated recurrence and progression rates, thereby hampering the introduction of more effective targeted therapeutics. The implementation of precision oncology settings supported by robust molecular models for individualization of patient management is warranted. This effort requires a comprehensive integration of large sets of panomics data that is yet to be fully achieved. Contributing to this goal, over 40 years of bladder cancer glycobiology have disclosed a plethora of cancer-specific glycans and glycoconjugates (glycoproteins, glycolipids, proteoglycans) accompanying disease progressions and dissemination. This review comprehensively addresses the main structural findings in the field and consequent biological and clinical implications. Given the cell surface and secreted nature of these molecules, we further discuss their potential for non-invasive detection and therapeutic development. Moreover, we highlight novel mass-spectrometry-based high-throughput analytical and bioinformatics tools to interrogate the glycome in the postgenomic era. Ultimately, we outline a roadmap to guide future developments in glycomics envisaging clinical implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Azevedo
- Experimental Pathology and Therapeutics Group, Portuguese Institute of Oncology, Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Andreia Peixoto
- Experimental Pathology and Therapeutics Group, Portuguese Institute of Oncology, Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- New Therapies Group, INEB-Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Cristiana Gaiteiro
- Experimental Pathology and Therapeutics Group, Portuguese Institute of Oncology, Porto, Portugal
| | - Elisabete Fernandes
- Experimental Pathology and Therapeutics Group, Portuguese Institute of Oncology, Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Biomaterials for Multistage Drug and Cell Delivery, INEB-Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Porto, Portugal
| | - Manuel Neves
- Experimental Pathology and Therapeutics Group, Portuguese Institute of Oncology, Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Luís Lima
- Experimental Pathology and Therapeutics Group, Portuguese Institute of Oncology, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Glycobiology in Cancer, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Lúcio Lara Santos
- Experimental Pathology and Therapeutics Group, Portuguese Institute of Oncology, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Portuguese Institute of Oncology, Porto, Portugal
| | - José Alexandre Ferreira
- Experimental Pathology and Therapeutics Group, Portuguese Institute of Oncology, Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Glycobiology in Cancer, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Astudillo L, Therville N, Colacios C, Ségui B, Andrieu-Abadie N, Levade T. Glucosylceramidases and malignancies in mammals. Biochimie 2016; 125:267-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2015.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Accepted: 11/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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Prognostic value of glucosylceramide synthase and P-glycoprotein expression in oral cavity cancer. Int J Clin Oncol 2016; 21:883-889. [DOI: 10.1007/s10147-016-0973-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2016] [Accepted: 03/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Roh JL, Kim EH, Park JY, Kim JW. Inhibition of Glucosylceramide Synthase Sensitizes Head and Neck Cancer to Cisplatin. Mol Cancer Ther 2015; 14:1907-15. [DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-15-0171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2015] [Accepted: 06/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Don AS, Lim XY, Couttas TA. Re-configuration of sphingolipid metabolism by oncogenic transformation. Biomolecules 2014; 4:315-53. [PMID: 24970218 PMCID: PMC4030989 DOI: 10.3390/biom4010315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2013] [Revised: 02/11/2014] [Accepted: 02/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The sphingolipids are one of the major lipid families in eukaryotes, incorporating a diverse array of structural variants that exert a powerful influence over cell fate and physiology. Increased expression of sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1), which catalyses the synthesis of the pro-survival, pro-angiogenic metabolite sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), is well established as a hallmark of multiple cancers. Metabolic alterations that reduce levels of the pro-apoptotic lipid ceramide, particularly its glucosylation by glucosylceramide synthase (GCS), have frequently been associated with cancer drug resistance. However, the simple notion that the balance between ceramide and S1P, often referred to as the sphingolipid rheostat, dictates cell survival contrasts with recent studies showing that highly potent and selective SPHK1 inhibitors do not affect cancer cell proliferation or survival, and studies demonstrating higher ceramide levels in some metastatic cancers. Recent reports have implicated other sphingolipid metabolic enzymes such as acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) more strongly in cancer pathogenesis, and highlight lysosomal sphingolipid metabolism as a possible weak point for therapeutic targeting in cancer. This review describes the evidence implicating different sphingolipid metabolic enzymes and their products in cancer pathogenesis, and suggests how newer systems-level approaches may improve our overall understanding of how oncogenic transformation reconfigures sphingolipid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony S Don
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
| | - Xin Y Lim
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
| | - Timothy A Couttas
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
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Abstract
Non-surgical therapies for human malignancies must negotiate complex cell signaling pathways to impede cancer cell growth, ideally promoting death of cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. For most of the past half century, medical approaches for treating cancer have relied primarily on cytotoxic chemotherapeutics that interfere with DNA replication and cell division, susceptibilities of rapidly dividing cancer cells. As a consequence, these therapies exert considerable cell stress, promoting the generation of ceramide through de novo synthesis and recycling of complex glycosphingolipids and sphingomyelin into apoptotic ceramide. Radiotherapy of cancer exerts similar geno- and cytotoxic cell stresses, and generation of ceramide following ionizing radiation therapy is a well-described feature of radiation-induced cell death. Emerging evidence now describes sphingolipids as mediators of death in response to newer targeted therapies, cementing ceramide generation as a common mechanism of cell death in response to cancer therapy. Many studies have now shown that dysregulation of ceramide accumulation-whether by reduced generation or accelerated metabolism-is a common mechanism of resistance to standard cancer therapies. The aims of this chapter will be to discuss described mechanisms of cancer resistance to therapy related to dysregulation of sphingolipid metabolism and to explore clinical and preclinical approaches to interdict sphingolipid metabolism to improve outcomes of standard cancer therapies.
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Liu YY, Hill RA, Li YT. Ceramide glycosylation catalyzed by glucosylceramide synthase and cancer drug resistance. Adv Cancer Res 2013; 117:59-89. [PMID: 23290777 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-394274-6.00003-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Glucosylceramide synthase (GCS), converting ceramide to glucosylceramide, catalyzes the first reaction of ceramide glycosylation in sphingolipid metabolism. This glycosylation by GCS is a critical step regulating the modulation of cellular activities by controlling ceramide and glycosphingolipids (GSLs). An increase of ceramide in response to stresses, such as chemotherapy, drives cells to proliferation arrest and apoptosis or autophagy; however, ceramide glycosylation promptly eliminates ceramide and consequently, these induced processes, thus protecting cancer cells. Further, persistently enhanced ceramide glycosylation can increase GSLs, participating in selecting cancer cells to drug resistance. GCS is overexpressed in diverse drug-resistant cancer cells and in tumors of breast, colon, and leukemia that display poor response to chemotherapy. As ceramide glycosylation by GCS is a rate-limiting step in GSL synthesis, inhibition of GCS sensitizes cancer cells to anticancer drugs and eradicates cancer stem cells. Mechanistic studies indicate that uncoupling ceramide glycosylation can modulate gene expression, decreasing MDR1 through the cSrc/β-catenin pathway and restoring p53 expression via RNA splicing. These studies not only expand our knowledge in understanding how ceramide glycosylation affects cancer cells but also provide novel therapeutic approaches for targeting refractory tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Yu Liu
- Department of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Louisiana at Monroe, Monroe, LA, USA.
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Liu J, Zhang Z, Li ZH, Kong CZ. Clinical significance of UNC5B expression in bladder cancer. Tumour Biol 2012; 34:2099-108. [PMID: 23055195 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-012-0532-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2012] [Accepted: 09/18/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
UNC5B is a membrane-bound receptor of the neural guidance factor netrin-1 family, with important roles in angiogenesis, neurogenesis, embryonic development, cancer, inflammation and various pathologies. However, its effect on bladder cancer has not been reported. To investigate the association of UNC5B expression with bladder cancer prognosis, 100 cases of clinical bladder cancer and adjacent noncancerous tissue samples, and four bladder cancer cell lines were selected using RT-PCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry to investigate differential expression and cellular positioning of UNC5B, and its relationship with clinicopathological parameters. In 72 % of cases, UNC5B was expressed in both bladder cancer and adjacent noncancerous tissue samples. Expression of UNC5B in bladder cancer tissues increased significantly as cancer stage increased (P < 0.05); UNC5B emerged more in bladder cancer cell lines with lower degrees of malignancy than those with higher degrees of malignancy; UNC5B expression in bladder cancer cells was significantly reduced compared to normal bladder cells (P < 0.05). UNC5B mRNA was down-expressed in about 28 % of bladder cancer tissues. Low UNC5B expression was an independent risk factor for postoperative recurrence in patients with different stages and grades bladder cancer. Furthermore, patients with lower UNC5B expression in tumors had significantly higher recurrence rate after curative surgery and poorer prognosis than those with higher UNC5B expression, suggesting that UNC5B could be used to predict prognosis and recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Liu
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110001, China
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Siddiqui A, Gupta V, Liu YY, Nazzal S. Doxorubicin and MBO-asGCS oligonucleotide loaded lipid nanoparticles overcome multidrug resistance in adriamycin resistant ovarian cancer cells (NCI/ADR-RES). Int J Pharm 2012; 431:222-9. [PMID: 22562053 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2012.04.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2011] [Revised: 04/11/2012] [Accepted: 04/19/2012] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to increase the potency of doxorubicin against adriamycin-resistant NCI/ADR-RES cells by concurrent treatment with doxorubicin and MBO-asGCS loaded solid-lipid nanoparticles (SLN). Loading doxorubicin as ion-pair complex with deoxytaurocholate into cationic and neutral SLN was investigated. Fast release and poor entrapment were observed in cationic nanoparticles, which were corrected by entrapping the complex in neutral polyoxyethylene (20) stearyl ether (Brij(®) 78)/VitE-TPGS nanoparticles. Slow doxorubicin release confirmed the influence of charge and electrolytes on the dissociation of ion-pair complexes. To evaluate antitumor activity, NCI/ADR-RES cells were treated with separate SLN: one loaded with doxorubicin and another carrying MBO-asGCS oligonucleotide. The viability of cells treated with 5 μM doxorubicin was reduced to 17.2% whereas viability was reduced to 2.5% for cells treated with both 5 μM doxorubicin SLN and 100 nM MBO-asGCS SLN. This suggested enhanced apoptosis due to sensitization and effective intracellular delivery of MBO-asGCS and doxorubicin by SLN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akhtar Siddiqui
- Department of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Louisiana at Monroe, Monroe, LA 71209-0497, USA
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Liu YY, Patwardhan GA, Xie P, Gu X, Giuliano AE, Cabot MC. Glucosylceramide synthase, a factor in modulating drug resistance, is overexpressed in metastatic breast carcinoma. Int J Oncol 2011; 39:425-31. [PMID: 21617856 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2011.1052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2011] [Accepted: 04/27/2011] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance causes treatment failure in approximately 50% of breast cancer patients with chemotherapy. Overexpression of glucosylceramide synthase (GCS) confers drug resistance in cancer cells, and suppression of GCS sensitizes cancers to chemotherapy in preclinical studies. Thus, GCS becomes a potential target to reverse drug resistance; however, little is known about GCS expression levels in normal tissues and whether GCS overexpression is associated with metastatic cancers. Herewith, we report our studies in GCS expression levels and breast cancer from patients. GCS levels were analyzed using cancer profiling arrays, breast cancer histo-arrays and quantitative RT-PCR in tumor tissues. We found that breast (18 exp. index) and other hormone-dependent organs (testis, cervix, ovary, prostate) displayed the lowest levels of GCS mRNA, whereas liver (52 exp. index) and other organs (kidney, bladder, stomach) displayed the highest levels of GCS. GCS mRNA levels were significantly elevated in tumors of breast, cervix, rectum and small intestine, as compared to each paired normal tissue. In mammary tissue, GCS overexpression was detected in breast cancers with metastasis, but not in benign fibroadenoma or primary tumors. GCS overexpression was coincident with HER2 expression (γ2=0.84) in ER-negative breast adenocarcinoma. In tumor specimens, GCS mRNA was elevated by 4-fold and significantly associated with stage III (5/7), lymph node-positive (7/8) and estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers (7/9). GCS expression was significantly and selectively elevated in breast cancer, in particular in metastatic disease. GCS overexpression was highly associated with ER-positive and HER2-positive breast cancer with metastasis. Although a small study, these data suggest that GCS may be a prognostic indicator and potential target for the treatment of chemotherapy-refractory breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Yu Liu
- Department of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Louisiana at Monroe, 700 University Avenue, Monroe, LA 71209, USA.
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