Science Publishes Research Achievements of the Collaborative Team Led by Jiang Changtao, Qiao Jie, and Lei Xiaoguang, Revealing DPP4 as a New Target for Diabetes Treatment

Author: Hang Jing

Link Address: https://www.puh3.net.cn/info/1971/111781.htm

On August 4, 2023, the team led by Jiang Changtao, Professor at the School of Basic Medical Sciences and Distinguished Professor at Peking University Third Hospital, Academician Qiao Jie's team from Peking University Third Hospital, and Professor Lei Xiaoguang's team from the College of Chemistry at Peking University, along with collaborators, published groundbreaking research findings in Science titled "Gut Microbial Homologous Enzyme Analysis Reveals Microbial DPP4 as a New Target for Diabetes Treatment." This study illuminates how the gut microbiome influences the clinical response to sitagliptin and reveals a new mechanism of cross-species metabolic disease regulation by gut microbial host isoenzymes, providing insights into the mystery of sitagliptin's clinical responsiveness.

Academician Qiao Jie and her collaborative team were the first to propose a new scientific concept known as Microbial-host-isozyme (MHI) and to discover that these gut microbial isoenzymes are widely present in the intestines. They can effectively mimic the function of host enzymes and play a key role in the onset and progression of diseases. This research establishes a comprehensive chain of studies, from target discovery and mechanism verification to drug screening and therapeutic efficacy validation. It offers possibilities for understanding the mechanisms of metabolic diseases, enhancing the effectiveness of drug treatments for such conditions, and even discovering new therapeutic methods.

Gut Microbial Host Isozymes: Cross-Species Regulation of Host Metabolic Diseases

Wang Kai, a postdoctor at Peking University Health Science Center; Zhang Zhiwei, a doctoral student at the School of Basic Medical Sciences; Hang Jing, an associate researcher at Peking University Third Hospital; Professor Liu Jia of Capital Medical University's affiliated Chaoyang Hospital; and Guo Fusheng, a doctoral graduate from Peking University's College of Chemistry, are the joint first authors of this study. Professor Jiang Changtao of Peking University Health Science Center and Distinguished Professor at Peking University Third Hospital, Academician Qiao Jie of Peking University Third Hospital, Professor Lei Xiaoguang of Peking University's College of Chemistry, Researcher Frank Gonzalez of the National Institutes of Health, USA, and Professor Wang Guang of Capital Medical University's affiliated Chaoyang Hospital are the joint corresponding authors. This research received significant support from two  National laboratories, namely the national key Laboratory for the Enhancement of Female Fertility and the National Key Laboratory for Vascular Homeostasis and Remodeling. Funding was provided by various sources including the Basic Science Center of China National Natural Science Foundation, key projects, the Outstanding Youth Science Fund, and funds from National Key Research and Development Program.   

Joint First Author

Hang Jing

Reproductive Medicine Department, Peking University Third Hospital

Associate Researcher, Assistant Professor, Doctoral Supervisor

“Beijing Science and Technology Rising Star”

Main Research Direction: Structural mechanisms and metabolic regulation of reproductive and pregnancy disorders

Joint Corresponding Author

Qiao Jie

Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering

Executive Vice President of Peking University Director of the Health Science Center of Peking University

Dean of the Medical Innovation Research Institute, Peking University Third Hospital

Reproductive Medicine Department, Peking University Third Hospital Chief Physician, Professor, Doctoral Supervisor

Main Research Direction: Promotion of female fertility