Multifunctional Nanoassembly for MRI-Trackable Dendritic Cell Dependent and Independent Photoimmunotherapy.

Immunotherapy has emerged as a triumph in the treatment of malignant cancers. Nevertheless, current immunotherapeutics are insufficient in addressing tumors characterized by tumor cells' inadequate antigenicity and the tumor microenvironment's low immunogenicity (TME). Herein, we developed a novel multifunctional nanoassembly termed FMMC through the self-assembly of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO-1) inhibitor 1-methyl-tryptophan prodrug (FM), Ce6, and ionic manganese (Mn2+) via noncovalent interactions. The laser-ignited FMMC treatment could induce effective immunogenic cell death and activate the STING/MHC-I signaling pathway, thus deeply sculpting the tumor-intrinsic antigenicity to achieve dendritic cell (DC)-dependent and -independent T cell responses against tumors. Meanwhile, by inhibiting IDO-1, FMMC could lead to immunosuppressive TME reversion to an immunoactivated one. FMMC-based phototherapy led to the up-regulation of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), enhancing the sensitivity of tumors to anti-PD-1 therapy. Furthermore, the incorporation of Mn2+ into FMMC resulted in an augmented longitudinal relaxivity and enhanced the MRI for monitoring the growth of primary tumors and lung metastases. Collectively, the superior reprogramming performance of immunosuppressive tumor cells and TME, combined with excellent anticancer efficacy and MRI capability, made FMMC a promising immune nanosculptor for cancer theranostics.

Ornamental plants associated with Buddhist figures in China.

BACKGROUND: In China, many ornamental plants associated with Buddhist figures, including the Sakyamuni, Bodhisattva, and Arhat, were grown and worshiped because of their cultural and religious significance. However, the systematic collation and ethnobotanical information about these culturally important plants have yet to be fully understood. METHODS: Online information was collected from 93 e-commercial platforms for ornamental plants all over China. Field sampling was conducted in 16 ornamental markets and 163 Buddhist temples using key informant interviews and participatory observation with traders, tourists, and local disciples. The types, distributions, and associated characteristics of the screened plants were summarized and the evolving characteristics of these ornamental plants were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 60 ornamental plants, including six varieties and one subspecies, were screened, of which 43 species were associated with Sakyamuni, 13 with Bodhisattva, and four with Arhat. Among the 60 species, three were regarded as the Asoka tree related to Buddha's birth, ten as the Bodhi tree connected to Buddha's enlightenment, three as the Sal tree associated with Buddha's nirvana, nine were related to Buddha's head, belly, or hand, and 18 were connected with Buddha as lotus throne, bamboo monastery, or Bodhi beads. The evolving characteristics of these ornamental plants primarily constituted the substitution of the original plants by similar native plant species, followed by the introduced species with comparable morphology to the Buddhist figures. CONCLUSIONS: People grow ornamental plants associated with Buddhist figures to reflect their love and praise for plants and Buddha. The association between the ornamental plants and Buddhist figures will aid the inheritance of Buddhist culture and promote ornamental plants in the commercial market. Thus, the ethnobotany of ornamental plants associated with Buddhist figures can serve as a basis for future investigation of modern Buddhist culture.

Vanadyl nanocomplexes enhance photothermia-induced cancer immunotherapy to inhibit tumor metastasis and recurrence.

Conventional photothermal therapy (PTT) is insufficient to induce a strong and potent anti-tumor immune response. Herein, we present a vanadyl nanocomplex, which simultaneously serves as a photothermal agent (PTA) and an immunogenic cell death (ICD) inducer to enhance the anti-tumor immunity of PTT. The vanadyl nanocomplex (STVN) is constructed via facile one-step coordination assembly under ambient conditions. STVN not only has a strong and stable photothermal effect under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation, but also can cause severe endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress by itself, leading to ICD and activating the systemic immune responses. In the absence of any adjuvants, NIR-irradiated STVN almost completely ablates primary tumors and simultaneously inhibits distant tumors in mice bearing bilateral melanoma. Meanwhile, the intratumorally injected STVN combined with NIR effectively suppressed melanoma lung metastasis as well as tumor recurrence, displaying that local STVN-mediated PTT could trigger a systemic anti-tumor immunity. Therefore, STVN, as a novel immunogenicity-enhanced PTA, affords a "one stone two birds" strategy for improved photothermia-induced cancer immunotherapy.

Biochanin A Mitigates Atherosclerosis by Inhibiting Lipid Accumulation and Inflammatory Response.

Biochanin A (BCA), a dietary isoflavone extracted from red clover and cabbage, has been shown to antagonize hypertension and myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, very little is known about its role in atherogenesis. The aim of this study was to observe the effects of BCA on atherosclerosis and explore the underlying mechanisms. Our results showed that administration of BCA promoted reverse cholesterol transport (RCT), improved plasma lipid profile, and decreased serum proinflammatory cytokine levels and atherosclerotic lesion area in apoE-/- mice fed a Western diet. In THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells, treatment with BCA upregulated ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter A1 (ABCA1) and ABCG1 expression and facilitated subsequent cholesterol efflux and diminished intracellular cholesterol contents by activating the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ)/liver X receptor α (LXRα) and PPARγ/heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) pathways. BCA also activated these two signaling pathways to inhibit the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. Taken together, these findings suggest that BCA is protective against atherosclerosis by inhibiting lipid accumulation and inflammatory response through the PPARγ/LXRα and PPARγ/HO-1 pathways. BCA may be an attractive drug for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

[Impacts of electroacupuncture combined with ultraviolet therapy on cytokines of herpes zoster at the acute stage in patients].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with ultraviolet therapy on herpes zoster at the acute stage and the impacts on serum interleukin 2 (IL-2), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) in the patients. METHODS: Thirty-four patients of herpes zoster were randomized into a medicine group and a combined therapy group, 17 cases in each one. In the medicine group, the intravenous drops with acyclovir injection, muscular injection with cobamamide and the topical with acyclovir ointment were applied. Additionally, TDP was radiated locally. In the combined therapy group, on the basis of the treatment as the medicine group, EA and ultraviolet therapy were supplemented. The duration of treatment was 10 days in the two groups. Before and after treatment, blister relief, incrustation time and the visible analogue scale (VAS) were recorded in the two groups. The clinical efficacy was assessed in the two groups and the levels of serum IL-2, IL-6 and IL-10 were determined in the two groups. RESULTS: In the combined therapy group, the time of blister relief and incrustation was earlier apparently than that in the medicine group (both P<0.05). VAS score after treatment were reduced as compared with that before treatment in the two groups (both P<0.01), and the reducing amplitude in the combined therapy group was larger than that in the medicine group (P<0.01). The total effective rate was 94. 1% (16/17) in the combined therapy group, higher than 76.4% (13/17) in the medicine group (P<0.05). After treatment, IL-2 levels were increased as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (both P<0.05), the levels of IL-6 and IL-10 were reduced obviously as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all P<0.01). After treatment, the levels of IL-6, IL-10 were reduced much more apparently in the combined therapy group as compared with those in the medicine group (both P<0.05). CONCLUSION: EA combined with ultraviolet irradiation more rapidly and effectively relief the symptoms of herpes zoster, significantly relief pain, shorten the duration of sickness, improve the body immunity and reduce nerve injury.