SARS-CoV-2 exacerbates proinflammatory responses in myeloid cells through C-type lectin receptors and Tweety family member 2.

Despite mounting evidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) engagement with immune cells, most express little, if any, of the canonical receptor of SARS-CoV-2, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Here, using a myeloid cell receptor-focused ectopic expression screen, we identified several C-type lectins (DC-SIGN, L-SIGN, LSECtin, ASGR1, and CLEC10A) and Tweety family member 2 (TTYH2) as glycan-dependent binding partners of the SARS-CoV-2 spike. Except for TTYH2, these molecules primarily interacted with spike via regions outside of the receptor-binding domain. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of pulmonary cells from individuals with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) indicated predominant expression of these molecules on myeloid cells. Although these receptors do not support active replication of SARS-CoV-2, their engagement with the virus induced robust proinflammatory responses in myeloid cells that correlated with COVID-19 severity. We also generated a bispecific anti-spike nanobody that not only blocked ACE2-mediated infection but also the myeloid receptor-mediated proinflammatory responses. Our findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2-myeloid receptor interactions promote immune hyperactivation, which represents potential targets for COVID-19 therapy.

[Expression of HSP27 and BAX/BCL-2 apoptosis factor in silicosis rat model of fibrosis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of heat shock protein 27(HSP27), BAX and BCL-2 apoptosis in silicosis rat model, and to explore the correlation between HSP27 and BAX and BCL-2 apoptosis. METHODS: Silicosis model was established by the oropharyngeal and endotracheal intubation. Forty SPF healthy adult Wistar male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, with 10 rats in each group. Silicosis group for 6 weeks(feeding for 6 weeks), silicosis group for 8 weeks(feeding for 8 weeks): oropharyngeal and tracheal perfusion of 50 mg/mL SiO_2 suspension 1.0 mL/mouse; Model control group for 6 weeks and model control group for 8 weeks: 1.0 mL saline was infused into the oropharynx and trachea. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of HSP27, BAX and BCL-2 in the right lower lung of silicosis model group at 6 and 8 weeks and model control group at 6 and 8 weeks. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of HSP27, BAX and BCL-2 in the left lower lobe lung tissue of silicosis model group at 6 and 8 weeks and model control group at 6 and 8 weeks, respectively. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the colocalization of HSP27 with pro-apoptotic factor BAX and HSP27 with anti-apoptotic factor BCL-2. RESULTS: Compared with the model control group at 6 weeks and 8 weeks, the expression of HSP27 and pro-apoptotic factor BAX in fibrotic region increased, and the expression of anti-apoptotic factor BCL-2 decreased in silicosis model group at 6 weeks and 8 weeks(P<0.05). Immunofluorescence staining showed that there was colocalization of HSP27 and pro-apoptotic factor BAX in the fibrotic region. Correlation analysis showed that the correlation coefficient between HSP27 and pro-apoptotic factor BAX was r=0.94, indicating a positive correlation between them, while the correlation coefficient between HSP27 and anti-apoptotic factor BCL-2 was r=-0.81, indicating a negative correlation between them. CONCLUSION: High expression of HSP27 and pro-apoptotic factor BAX and low expression of anti-apoptotic factor BCL-2 exist in silicosis rats, and their expression is correlated.

Hepatic Artery Infusion Chemotherapy Using Fluorouracil, Leucovorin, and Oxaliplatin versus Transarterial Chemoembolization as Initial Treatment for Locally Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Propensity Score-Matching Analysis.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy and safety of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) with a modified fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX) regimen with that of transarterial chemoembolization as a locoregional treatment for patients with locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: This retrospective study included adult patients with locally advanced HCC who received first-line treatment with either HAIC-mFOLFOX or conventional transarterial chemoembolization monotherapy from January 2015 to December 2016. The outcomes, including tumor response rates, evaluated via imaging assessment using the modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumors; overall survival; progression-free survival; and safety, were compared. The propensity score-matching methodology was used to reduce the influence of confounding factors on the outcomes. RESULTS: The study included 131 patients with locally advanced HCC who underwent transarterial chemoembolization and 101 who received HAIC-mFOLFOX as initial treatment. After propensity score matching (n = 67 in each group), patients who received HAIC-mFOLFOX had a higher objective response rate (43.3% vs 13.4%, P = .001), longer median overall survival (13.9 vs 6.0 months, P < .001), and longer median progression-free survival (6.4 vs 2.8 months, P = .001) than those who underwent transarterial chemoembolization. The survival benefit with HAIC-mFOLFOX was strengthened in patients with HCC with vascular invasion (hazard ratio: 0.379; 95% confidence interval: 0.237-0.607). HAIC-mFOLFOX was associated with lower incidences of severe adverse events (8.9% vs 22.9%) and liver toxicity than transarterial chemoembolization. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with transarterial chemoembolization, HAIC-mFOLFOX is a potentially safer and more effective locoregional therapy for patients with locally advanced HCC.

Hepatic Arterial Infusion of Oxaliplatin, Fluorouracil, and Leucovorin in Hepatocellular Cancer with Extrahepatic Spread.

PURPOSE: To compare treatment with hepatic arterial infusion of chemotherapy (HAIC) in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with both extrahepatic spread (EHS) and intrahepatic tumor and patients with intrahepatic tumor only. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single-center retrospective study comprised 116 patients with advanced HCC with both intrahepatic tumor and EHS (EHS group; n = 50) or with intrahepatic tumor only (non-EHS group; n = 66) treated with HAIC including oxaliplatin, fluorouracil, and leucovorin between June 2014 and July 2016. Overall survival (OS) and radiologic responses to treatment were determined and compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Both the objective response rate and the clinical benefit rate were higher in the non-EHS group than in the EHS group (37.9% vs 16% objective response rate, P = .010; 81.8% vs 62% clinical benefit rate, P = .017). Median OS was not statistically different between the 2 groups (14.8 months vs 9.8 months, P = .068). Subgroup analysis of OS found that patients with lung metastases survived for a shorter time (OS 7 months) than patients with other metastatic sites (P = .003) and patients free of metastases (P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: HAIC is a potential treatment option for advanced HCC with limited extrahepatic metastases in a population with hepatitis B virus infection.

Survival benefits of computed tomography-guided thermal ablation for adrenal metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and survival outcomes of computed tomography (CT)-guided thermal ablation for adrenal metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: This long-term retrospective study included 27 male patients (median age, 50 years; range, 34-77 years) with 29 adrenal metastatic tumors associated with HCC who underwent ablation between January 2004 and December 2015. The technical success rate, effectiveness rate, complications, and survival were recorded. Complications were assessed according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. A Cox regression model was used for the evaluation of factors predicting survival. Results: A total of 33 ablation sessions were performed for the 29 tumors. No ablation-related death was observed, and the incidence of complications was 87.9%. Grade 1-2 complications occurred in 23 of the 33 sessions (69.7%), and grade 3 hypertension was the only major complication, occurring in eight sessions (24.2%). The technical success and effectiveness rates were 93.1% (27 of 29 tumors) and 92.6% (25 of 27 patients), respectively. The median progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) durations for the 27 patients were 6.9 months and 16.8 months, respectively. The median OS duration was longer for patients with adrenal oligometastases (21.8 months) than for those with (12.8 months) multiple metastases (p = .037). Adrenal oligometastases were the only significant predictor of OS (p = .043). Conclusions: CT-guided ablation is a feasible and safe procedure for adrenal metastases from HCC, and it may be more beneficial for patients with adrenal oligometastases.

Mechanism and prognostic value of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) is a tryptophan-metabolizing enzyme that is widely distributed in normal or malignant tissues and contributes to immunologic tolerance and immune escape. However, in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the characteristics and mechanism of IDO1 expression have not been well defined. In this study, IDO1 expression in tumor cells (T-IDO1) was frequently detected (109/112) by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens from HCC patients, and the expression patterns were mostly focal (102/109). Expression of T-IDO1 was significantly associated with the infiltration of CD8+ T cells (P = .043), as well as younger age (<50 years old, P = .02). It was also found that IDO1 had diffuse expression in inflammatory cells in all specimens, which were defined as antigen-presenting cells. Significant correlations among IDO1, IFNG, and CD8A transcriptional levels were observed in freshly resected HCC specimens; moreover, no constitutive IDO1 expression was detected in HCC cell lines until stimulated by interferon-γ through the JAK2-STAT1 signaling pathway, but not type I interferon. Survival analyses showed that increased T-IDO1 and CD8+ T cell infiltration were significantly associated with superior overall survival (OS) (T-IDO1, P = .003; CD8+ T cells, P = .004), and T-IDO1 expression is an independent prognosis factor in both OS and disease-free survival (OS, P = .007; disease-free survival, P = .044). These findings indicated that T-IDO1 expression in HCC is common and is dominantly driven by the host antitumor immune response, which is a favorable prognostic factor in HCC.

Hepatic arterial infusion of oxaliplatin plus fluorouracil/leucovorin vs. sorafenib for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: To compare the overall survival (OS) and disease progression free survival (PFS) in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (Ad-HCC) who are undergoing hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) of oxaliplatin, fluorouracil/leucovorin (FOLFOX) treatment vs. sorafenib. METHODS: This retrospective study was approved by the ethical review committee, and informed consent was obtained from all patients before treatment. HAI of FOLFOX (HAIF) was recommended as an alternative treatment option for patients who refused sorafenib. Of the 412 patients with Ad-HCC (376 men and 36 women) between Jan 2012 to Dec 2015, 232 patients were treated with sorafenib; 180 patients were given HAIF therapy. The median age was 51 years (range, 16-82 years). Propensity-score matched estimates were used to reduce bias when evaluating survival. Survival curves were calculated by performing the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by using the log-rank test and Cox regression models. RESULTS: The median PFS and OS in the HAIF group were significantly longer than those in the sorafenib group (PFS 7.1 vs. 3.3 months [RECIST]/7.4 vs. 3.6 months [mRECIST], respectively; OS 14.5 vs. 7.0 months; p <0.001 for each). In the propensity-score matched cohorts (147 pairs), both PFS and OS in the HAIF group were longer than those in the sorafenib group (p <0.001). At multivariate analysis, HAIF treatment was an independent factor for PFS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.389 [RECIST]/0.402 [mRECIST]; p <0.001 for each) and OS (HR 0.129; p <0.001). CONCLUSION: HAIF therapy may improve survival compared to sorafenib in patients with Ad-HCC. A prospective randomized trial is ongoing to confirm this finding. LAY SUMMARY: We compared the hepatic arterial infusion of FOLFOX (a combination chemotherapy) with sorafenib (a tyrosine kinase inhibitor) in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, retrospectively. It was found that hepatic arterial infusion of FOLFOX therapy may improve both progression free and overall survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Percutaneous CT-guided radiofrequency ablation for patients with extrahepatic oligometastases of hepatocellular carcinoma: long-term results.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic outcome of percutaneous computed tomography (CT)-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for extrahepatic oligometastases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Institutional review board approval was obtained for this retrospective study, and all patients provided written informed consent. Between April 2004 and December 2015, 116 oligometastases (diameter, 5-50 mm; 20.3 ± 10.4) in 79 consecutive HCC patients (73 men and 6 women; average age, 50.3 years ±13.0) were treated with RFA. We focussed on patients with 1-3 extrahepatic metastases (EHM) confined to 1-2 organs (including the lung, adrenal gland, bone, lymph node and pleura/peritoneum) who were treated naïve with curative intent. Survival, technical success and safety were evaluated. The log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to analyse the survival data. RESULTS: No immediate technical failure occurred, and at 1 month, the technique effectiveness rate was determined to be 95.8%. After a median follow-up time of 28.0 months (range, 6-108 months), the 1-, 2- and 3-year overall survival (OS) rates were 91, 70 and 48%, respectively, with a median survival time of 33.5 months. Time to unoligometastatic progression (TTUP) of less than 6 months (p < 0.001) and a Child-Pugh score of more than 5 (p = 0.001) were significant indicators of shorter OS. The 1-, 2- and 3-year disease free survival (DFS) rates were 34, 21 and 8%, respectively, with a median DFS time of 6.8 months. DFS was better for those with lung metastases (p = 0.006). Major complication occurred in nine (9.5%, 9/95) RFA sessions without treatment-related mortality. CONCLUSIONS: CT-guided RFA for oligometastatic HCC may provide favourable efficacy and technical success with a minimally invasive approach.

Protective effect of Ac-SDKP on alveolar epithelial cells through inhibition of EMT via TGF-ß1/ROCK1 pathway in silicosis in rat.

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical stage during the development of silicosis fibrosis. In the current study, we hypothesized that the anti-fibrotic tetrapeptide, N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) may exert its anti-fibrotic effects via activation of the TGF-ß1/ROCK1 pathway, leading to inhibition of EMT. To address this hypothesis, we first examined the effect of Ac-SDKP upon EMT using an in vivo rat silicosis model, as well as in an in vitro model of TGF-ß1-induced EMT. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to examine colocalization of surfactant protein A (SP-A), fibroblast specific protein-1 (FSP-1) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in vivo. Western blot analysis was used to examine for changes in the protein levels of E-cadherin (E-cad) and SP-A (epithelial cell markers), vimentin (mesenchymal cell marker), α-SMA (active myofibroblast marker), and collagen I and III in both in vivo and in vitro experiments. Secondly, we utilized Western blot analysis and confocal laser scanning microscopy to examine the protein expression of TGF-ß1 and ROCK1 in in vivo and in vitro studies. The results revealed that Ac-SDKP treatment prevented increases in the expression of mesenchymal markers as well as TGF-ß1, ROCK1, collagen I and III. Furthermore, Ac-SDKP treatment prevented decreases in the expression of epithelial cell markers in both in vivo and in vitro experiments. Based on the results, we conclude that Ac-SDKP inhibits the transition of epithelial cell-myofibroblast in silicosis via activation of the TGF-ß1/ROCK1 signaling pathway, which may serve as a novel mechanism by which it exerts its anti-fibrosis properties.

IFITM3-containing exosome as a novel mediator for anti-viral response in dengue virus infection.

Interferon-inducible transmembrane proteins 1, 2 and 3 (IFITM1, IFITM2 and IFITM3) have recently been identified as potent antiviral effectors that function to suppress the entry of a broad range of enveloped viruses and modulate cellular tropism independent of viral receptor expression. However, the antiviral effect and mechanisms of IFITMs in response to viral infections remain incompletely understood and characterized. In this work, we focused our investigation on the function of the extracellular IFITM3 protein. In cell models of DENV-2 infection, we found that IFITM3 contributed to both the baseline and interferon-induced inhibition of DENV entry. Most importantly, our study for the first time demonstrated the presence of IFITM-containing exosome in the extracellular environment, and identified an ability of cellular exosome to intercellularly deliver IFITM3 and thus transmit its antiviral effect from infected to non-infected cells. Thus, our findings provide new insights in the basic mechanisms underlying the actions of IFITM3, which might lead to future development of exosome-mediated anti-viral strategies using IFITM3 as a therapeutic agent. Conceivably, variations in the basal and inducible levels of IFITMs, as well as in intracellular and extracellular levels of IFITMs, might predict the severity of dengue virus infections among individuals or across species.

[Inhibition effect of N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline on myofibroblast differentiation by regulating acetylated tubulin α in silicotic rat model].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the inhibition effect and mechanism of N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP)on myofibroblast differentiation via regulating acetylated tubulin α (Ac-Tub α)in vivo and in vitro. METHODS: Silicotic model were made by SiO2 douched and divided into 6 groups as follows: control (4w, 8w)group, silicotic model (4w, 8w)group and post-or pre-treatment by Ac-SDKP group. Pulmonary fibroblasts were divided into 5 groups: (1) control; (2) Ang II; (3) Ang II+Ac-SDKP; (4) Ang II+Valsartan; (5) Ang II+TCS histone deacetylase (HDAC)6 20b. The localization of Ac-Tub α and α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) were observed by immunohistochemical (IHC) and immunofluorescence staining. The protein levels of Ac-Tub α, α-SMA, collagen type I (col I) and HDAC6 were measured by western blot. RESULTS: In silicotic nodules and interstitial fibrosis area, positive expression of α-SMA, a classical marker of myofibroblast, was ob-served by IHC, accompanied with absence expression of Ac-Tub α. Furthermore, Ac-SDKP post-treatment could attenuate the levels of col I, α-SMA and HDAC6 to 48.39%, 52.63% and 70.18% compared with the silicotic 8w group respectively. And in Ac-SDKP pre-treatment group, compared with the silicotic 8w group, these protein levels were decreased to 32.26%, 64.91% and 54.39% respectively (P<0.05). The up-regulation of Ac-Tub α was found in Ac-SDKP post-and pre-treatment and increased to 3.00 and 2.90 folds compared with the silicotic 8w group. Compared with control group, the levels of α-SMA, HDAC6 and col I in Ang II group were up-regulated to 1.66, 3.56 and 4.00 folds accompanied with down-regulation of Ac-Tub by 44.44% (P<0.05). Pre-treatment with Valsartan, TCS HDAC6 20b or Ac-SDKP could inhibited all this changes induced by Ang II in vitro. CONCLUSION: Ac-SDKP can inhibit the myofibroblast differentiation and collagen deposition via sup-press HDAC6 and up-regulate the expression of Ac-Tub α in vivo and in vitro.

Ac-SDKP suppresses epithelial-mesenchymal transition in A549 cells via HSP27 signaling.

The synthetic tetrapeptide N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) has been shown to be a modulator of molecular aspects of the fibrosis pathway. This study reveals that Ac-SDKP exerts an anti-fibrotic effect on human type II alveolar epithelial cells (A549), which are a source of myofibroblasts once exposed to TGF-ß1, by decreasing the expression of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27). We used A549 cells in vitro to detect morphological evidence of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by phase-contrast microscopy. Immunocytochemical and western blot analysis determined the distributions of cytokeratin 8 (CK8), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and SNAI1. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed a colocalization of HSP27 and SNAI1 on TGF-ß1-induced A549 cells. These results also demonstrated that A549 cells became spindle-like when exposed to TGF-ß1. Coincident with these morphological changes, expression levels of CK8 and E-cad decreased, while those of vimentin and α-SMA increased. This process was accompanied by increases in levels of HSP27, SNAI1, and type I and type III collagen. In vitro transfection experiments demonstrated that the inhibition of HSP27 in cultured A549 cells could decrease the expression of SNAI1 and α-SMA while increasing the expression of E-cad. A noticeable reduction in collagen types I and III was also evident. Our results found that Ac-SDKP inhibited the transition of cultured A549 cells to myofibroblasts and attenuated collagen synthesis through modulating the expression of HSP27.

[Inhibition effect of N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline on myofibroblast differentiation of MRC-5 human fetal lung fibroblasts inuced by Ang II].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the inhibition effect of N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) on myofibroblast differentiation of MRC-5 human fetal lung fibroblasts induced by angiotensin (Ang) II. METHODS: The study was divided into 2 step: (1) MRC-5 human fetal lung fibroblasts was induced for 48 h at different dose of Ang II and at different time point by 100 nmol/L Ang II. Then the expression of collagen type I and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were mesaured by western blot. (2) MRC-5 human fetal lung fibroblasts were divided into 4 group: (1) control, (2) Ang II, (3) Ang II+Ac-SDKP, (4) Ang II+8-Me-cAMP (a specific activator of Epac). The α-SMA expression was observed by immnocytochemical stain. The protein expression of collagen type I, α-SMA, serum response factor (SRF), myocardin-related transcription factor (MRTF)-A, exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac) 1, 2 were measured by Westen blot. RESULTS: Myofibroblast differentiation could be induced by Ang II from MRC-5 cells with a dose- and time-dependent manner. The up-regulation of SRF and MRTF-A were observed in MRC-5 cells induced by Ang II and accompanied with collagen I and α-SMA increased. Pre-treatment with 8-Me-cAMP or Ac-SDKP could attenuated all this changes induced by Ang II, and promoted the expression of Epac1. CONCLUSION: Ac-SDKP can inhibit the myofibroblast differentiation of MRC-5 cells induced by Ang II via Epac1 activating.

[Comparative proteomic analysis on anti-fibrotic effect of N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline in rats with silicosis].

OBJECTIVE: To perform a comparative proteomic analysis for identification of pulmonary proteins related to the progression of silicosis and anti-fibrotic effect of N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP). METHODS: Bronchial instillation of SiO2powder (for 4 or 8 weeks) was applied in rats to establish a silicosis model. Ac-SDKP treatment was performed before (prevention group) or after (treatment group) SiO2instillation. The control group was treated by bronchial instillation of sodium chloride solution of the same volume as SiO2powder for 4 or 8 weeks. Proteins in lung tissue were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and stained with colloidal Coomassie brilliant blue. The gel images were scanned with the Lab Scan III system and analyzed with Imagemaster 6.0. The protein spots with significant differences between two groups (i.e., P value was less than 0.05 in One-way ANOVA) and with a change in volume over 30% were defined as differential proteins. Comparison was performed between the silicosis group and control group after 4 or 8 weeks, between the Ac-SDKP treatment group and silicosis group after 8 weeks, and between the Ac-SDKP prevention group and silicosis group after 8 weeks. The differentially expressed proteins were subjected to in-gel digestion with trypsin and MALDI-TOF-MS and Mascot search engine analysis to identify these proteins. RESULTS: Thirty-three differential proteins were identified. In comparison with the control group (4 weeks), the silicosis group (4 weeks) had 17 up-regulated proteins and 11 down-regulated proteins. In comparison with the control group (8 weeks), the silicosis group (8 weeks) had 16 up-regulated proteins and 12 down-regulated proteins. In comparison with the silicosis group (8 weeks), the Ac-SDKP treatment group had 5 up-regulated proteins and 6 down-regulated proteins, and the Ac-SDKP prevention group had 8 up-regulated proteins and 10 down-regulated proteins. CONCLUSION: Critical regulatory proteins related to silicotic fibrosis and anti-silicotic effect of Ac-SDKP have been identified. These proteins may play an important role in proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and signal transduction in silicosis.

MZF1 promotes tumour progression and resistance to anti-PD-L1 antibody treatment in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims: The mechanism underlying resistance to immunotherapy involves engagement of immune checkpoint pathways. The transcriptional and epigenetic processes of checkpoint molecules, however, have not been well investigated. We thus studied whether the transcription factor myeloid zinc finger 1 (MZF1) may promote resistance to immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Single-cell RNA-sequencing was performed to study the correlation between MZF1 and tumour microenvironment features in six patients with HCC. Combined immunohistochemistry and multi-immunofluorescence analyses were performed for verification. Ectopic expression of MZF1 was used in both orthotopic and genetically engineered hydrodynamic mouse HCC models for in vivo experiments. Proteome analysis, including protein degradation assays, ubiquitination assays, and co-immunoprecipitation assays, revealed the function of MZF1 in immune checkpoint pathways. Results: Single-cell RNA-sequencing suggested an immunosuppressive environment and a strong correlation with the immune checkpoint programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in MZF1-overexpressing tumours. Analyses of 163 HCC samples demonstrated that MZF1 expression in HCC cells is associated with decreased T-cell infiltration. In vivo experiments showed that ectopic MZF1 expression in HCC cells impairs T-cell recruitment, resulting in resistance to immune checkpoint blockade. Mechanistically, MZF1 accelerated PD-L1 ubiquitination by binding to the cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) activation site, while a direct bond between CDK4 and MZF1 led to increased MZF1 expression. Conclusions: MZF1 promotes PD-L1 ubiquitination via CDK4 and possibly MZF1. Inhibition of CDK4 can therefore restore PD-L1 expression and may be a potential strategy for combination with anti-PD-L1 antibodies. Impact and implications: Resistance to immune checkpoint blockade with anti-programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody therapy is attributed to oncogenic alterations of tumour cells, however, effective countermeasures are yet to be established. Here, we report that the transcription factor myeloid zinc finger 1 (MZF1) can bind to the cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) activation site and accelerate PD-L1 ubiquitination. A CDK4 inhibitor therefore enhances anti-PD-L1 antibody efficacy by blocking MZF1 signalling. This indicates a potential benefit of combining CDK4 inhibitors and anti-PD-L1 antibodies for the treatment of advanced HCC.

Serum amyloid A promotes glycolysis of neutrophils during PD-1 blockade resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma.

The response to programmed death-1 (PD-1) blockade varies in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We utilize a panel of 16 serum factors to show that a circulating level of serum amyloid A (SAA) > 20.0 mg/L has the highest accuracy in predicting anti-PD-1 resistance in HCC. Further experiments show a correlation between peritumoral SAA expression and circulating SAA levels in patients with progressive disease after PD-1 inhibition. In vitro experiments demonstrate that SAA induces neutrophils to express PD-L1 through glycolytic activation via an LDHA/STAT3 pathway and to release oncostatin M, thereby attenuating cytotoxic T cell function. In vivo, genetic or pharmacological inhibition of STAT3 or SAA eliminates neutrophil-mediated immunosuppression and enhances antitumor efficacy of anti-PD-1 treatment. This study indicates that SAA may be a critical inflammatory cytokine implicated in anti-PD-1 resistance in HCC. Targeting SAA-induced PD-L1+ neutrophils through STAT3 or SAA inhibition may present a potential approach for overcoming anti-PD1 resistance.

[Effect of N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline on differentiation from pulmonary fibroblast to myofibroblast mediated by Rho-associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase pathway].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) can inhibit the differentiation of pulmonary fibroblasts into myofibroblasts by regulating Rho-associated coiled-coil forming protein kinase (ROCK) pathway mediated by transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1). METHODS: Primary culture of pulmonary fibroblasts was performed by trypsinization method. Four generations of pulmonary fibroblasts were divided into control group, TGF-ß-induced differentiation group, Y-27632 treatment group, and Ac-SDKP treatment group. The intracellular distributions of ROCK, serum response factor (SRF), and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The protein expression of ROCK, SFR, α-SMA, and type I and type III collagen in pulmonary fibroblasts was measured by Western blot. The mRNA expression of ROCK, SFR, and α-SMA was measured by real-time quantitative PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the pulmonary fibroblasts stimulated by TGF-ß1 had a lot of α-SMA antibody-labeled myofilaments in parallel or cross arrangement, as observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy, and the mRNA and protein expression of ROCK, SRF, and α-SMA and protein expression of type I and type III collagen increased significantly after 6, 12, and 24 h of stimulation (P < 0.05). Compared with the TGF-ß1-induced differentiation group, the Y-27632 treatment group and Ac-SDKP treatment group had significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression of ROCK, SRF, and α-SMA and protein expression of type I and type III collagen at the same time point (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Ac-SDKP can inhibit the differentiation of pulmonary fibroblasts into myofibroblasts and the synthesis of collagen in rats by regulating the ROCK pathway mediated by TGF-ß1. That may be one of the mechanisms by which Ac-SDKP acts against (silicotic) pulmonary fibrosis.

Hypoxia-inducible factor orchestrates adenosine metabolism to promote liver cancer development.

Hypoxia-induced adenosine creates an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and dampens the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). We found that hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) orchestrates adenosine efflux through two steps in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). First, HIF-1 activates transcriptional repressor MXI1, which inhibits adenosine kinase (ADK), resulting in the failure of adenosine phosphorylation to adenosine monophosphate. This leads to adenosine accumulation in hypoxic cancer cells. Second, HIF-1 transcriptionally activates equilibrative nucleoside transporter 4, pumping adenosine into the interstitial space of HCC, elevating extracellular adenosine levels. Multiple in vitro assays demonstrated the immunosuppressive role of adenosine on T cells and myeloid cells. Knockout of ADK in vivo skewed intratumoral immune cells to protumorigenic and promoted tumor progression. Therapeutically, combination treatment of adenosine receptor antagonists and anti-PD-1 prolonged survival of HCC-bearing mice. We illustrated the dual role of hypoxia in establishing an adenosine-mediated immunosuppressive TME and offered a potential therapeutic approach that synergizes with ICIs in HCC.

Arterial Chemotherapy of Oxaliplatin Plus Fluorouracil Versus Sorafenib in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Biomolecular Exploratory, Randomized, Phase III Trial (FOHAIC-1).

PURPOSE: Interventional hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy of infusional fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (HAIC-FO) displayed an encouraging safety profile and antitumor activity in a previous phase II trial and a propensity-score-matching study involving patients with locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: In this open-label, phase III trial, patients with advanced HCC, previously untreated with systemic therapy, were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive HAIC-FO or sorafenib. The primary end point was overall survival (OS) in the intention-to-treat population. An exploratory model for predicting the efficacy of HAIC-FO on the basis of genomic sequencing was developed. RESULTS: Between May 2017 and May 2020, 262 patients were randomly assigned. The median tumor size was 11.2 cm (interquartile range, 8.5-13.7 cm). Macrovascular invasion was present in 65.6%, and the percentage of patients with > 50% tumor volume involvement of the liver and/or Vp-4 portal vein tumor thrombosis was 49.2%. At data cutoff (October 31, 2020), median OS was 13.9 months for HAIC-FO and 8.2 for sorafenib (hazard ratio [HR] 0.408; 95% CI, 0.301 to 0.552; P < .001). Tumor downstaging occurred in 16 (12.3% of 130) patients receiving HAIC-FO, including 15 receiving curative surgery or ablation, and finally achieving a median OS of 20.8 months, with a 1-year OS rate of 93.8%. In high-risk subpopulations, OS was significantly longer with HAIC-FO than with sorafenib (10.8 months v 5.7 months; HR 0.343; 95% CI, 0.219 to 0.538; P < .001). A newly developed 15-mutant-gene prediction model identified 83% of patients with response to HAIC-FO. HAIC-FO responders had longer OS than HAIC-FO nonresponders (19.3 months v 10.6 months; HR 0.323; 95% CI, 0.186 to 0.560; P = .002). CONCLUSION: HAIC-FO achieved better survival outcomes than sorafenib in advanced HCC, even in association with a high intrahepatic disease burden.

Microbiological characteristics of multi-media PRB reactor in the bioremediation of groundwater contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons.

A multi-media bio-PRB reactor was designed to treat groundwater contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. After a 208-day bioremediation, combined with the total petroleum hydrocarbons content in the groundwater flowed through the reactor, microbiological characteristics of the PRB reactor including microbes immobilized and its dehydrogenase activity were investigated. TPH was significantly reduced by as much as 65% in the back of the second media layer, whereas in the third layer, the TPH content reached lower than 1 mg l⁻¹. For microbes immobilized on the media, the variations with depth in different media were significantly the same and the regularity was obvious in the forepart of the media, which increased with depth at first and then reduced gradually, while in the back-end, the microbes almost did not have any variations with depth but decreased with the distance. The dehydrogenase activity varied from 2.98 to 16.16 mg TF L⁻¹ h⁻¹ and its distribution illustrated a similar trend with numbers of microbial cell, therefore, the noticeable correlation was found between them.