Publications by authors named "Mengwen Shen"

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have emerged as the dominant platform for RNA delivery, based on their success in the COVID-19 vaccines and late-stage clinical studies in other indications. However, we and others have shown that LNPs induce severe inflammation, and massively aggravate pre-existing inflammation. Here, using structure-function screening of lipids and analyses of signaling pathways, we elucidate the mechanisms of LNP-associated inflammation and demonstrate solutions.

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Diseases of the pulmonary alveolus, such as pulmonary fibrosis, are leading causes of morbidity and mortality, but exceedingly few drugs are developed for them. A major reason for this gap is that after inhalation, drugs are quickly whisked away from alveoli due to their high perfusion. To solve this problem, the mechanisms by which nano-scale drug carriers dramatically improve lung pharmacokinetics using an inhalable liposome formulation containing nintedanib, an antifibrotic for pulmonary fibrosis, are studied.

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() frequently causes secondary pneumonia after influenza A virus (IAV) infection, leading to high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Concomitant pneumococcal and influenza vaccination improves protection against coinfection but does not always yield complete protection. Impaired innate and adaptive immune responses have been associated with attenuated bacterial clearance in influenza virus-infected hosts.

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Background: As a systemic inflammatory reaction, sepsis is associated with various organ dysfunctions. The capillary leakage and the imbalance between T helper 17 and regulatory T (Th17/Treg) cells are associated with sepsis-induced lung injury. Taxifolin (TXL) has been found to play a vital role in regulating this diverse disease.

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Sepsis is the systemic inflammatory response caused by infection. Cardiac dysfunction is an acknowledged result of sepsis. Shengjiang Powder, a prescribed traditional Chinese medicine, showed anti-infection and antipyretic functions in our previous study.

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