A gene network database for the identification of key genes for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment in sepsis.

Sepsis and sepsis-related diseases cause a high rate of mortality worldwide. The molecular and cellular mechanisms of sepsis are still unclear. We aim to identify key genes in sepsis and reveal potential disease mechanisms.

Accelerated drug release and clearance of PEGylated epirubicin liposomes following repeated injections: a new challenge for sequential low-dose chemotherapy.

Background: Sequential low-dose chemotherapy has received great attention for its unique advantages in attenuating multidrug resistance of tumor cells. Nevertheless, it runs the risk of producing new problems associated with the accelerated blood clearance phenomenon, especially with multiple injections of PEGylated liposomes.

Methods: Liposomes were labeled with fluorescent phospholipids of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-snglycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-(7-nitro-2-1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl) and epirubicin (EPI).

Repeated injection of PEGylated solid lipid nanoparticles induces accelerated blood clearance in mice and beagles.

Surface modification of nanocarriers with amphiphilic polymer polyethylene glycol (PEG), known as PEGylation, is regarded as a major breakthrough in the application of nanocarriers. However, PEGylated nanocarriers (including liposomes and polymeric nanoparticles) induce what is referred to as the "accelerated blood clearance (ABC) phenomenon" upon repeated injection and consequently they lose their sustained circulation characteristics. Despite this, the present authors are not aware of any reports of accelerated clearance due to repeated injection for PEGylated solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), another promising nanocarrier.

A frustrating problem: accelerated blood clearance of PEGylated solid lipid nanoparticles following subcutaneous injection in rats.

Colloidal particles have preferential access to the lymphatic system following subcutaneous administration, achieving lymphatic targeting by drug accumulation in the regional lymph nodes. Moreover, the surface PEGylated colloidal particles have shown enhanced drainage into lymphatics and uptake by macrophages of the regional lymph nodes after subcutaneous injection. Nevertheless, it is reported that upon repeated intravenous injection, the PEG-specific IgM produced by the administration of the PEGylated colloidal particles markedly accelerates the clearance of subsequent doses of PEGylated particles.

Repeated injections of PEGylated liposomal topotecan induces accelerated blood clearance phenomenon in rats.

The "accelerated blood clearance (ABC) phenomenon" of PEGylated liposomes following multiple injections has been reported recently. This immunogenicity poses a problem for research into liposomes and hinders their clinical application. However, since doxorubicin liposomes and mitoxantrone liposomes have been reported to fail to induce the ABC phenomenon, some people believe that cytotoxic drugs loaded liposomes will not produce this ABC phenomenon under multiple-dosing regimens.