Injectable CNPs/DMP1-loaded self-assembly hydrogel regulating inflammation of dental pulp stem cells for dentin regeneration.

Vital pulp preservation, which is a clinical challenge of aseptic or iatrogenic accidental exposure of the pulp, in cases direct pulp capping is the main technology. Human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) play a critical role in pulp tissue repair, but their differentiative ability could be inhibited by the potential infection and inflammatory response of the exposed pulp. Therefore, inflammatory regulation and differentiated promotion of hDPSCs are both essential for preserving living pulp teeth. In this study, we constructed a functional dental pulp-capping hydrogel by loading cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNPs) and dentin matrix protein-1 (DMP1) into an injectable Fmoc-triphenylalanine hydrogel (Fmoc-phe3 hydrogel) as CNPs/DMP1/Hydrogel for in situ drugs delivery. With a view to long-term storage and release of CNPs (anti-inflammatory and antioxidant) to regulate the local inflammatory environment and DMP1 to promote the regeneration of dentin. Results of CCK-8, LDH release, hemolysis, and Live/Dead assessment of cells demonstrated the good biocompatibility of CNPs/DMP1/Hydrogel. The levels of alkaline phosphatase activity, quantification of the mineralized nodules, expressions of osteogenic genes and proteins demonstrated CNPs/DMP1/Hydrogel could protect the activity of hDPSCs' osteogenic/dentinogenic differentiation by reducing the inflammation response via releasing CNPs. The therapy effects were further confirmed in rat models, CNPs/DMP1/Hydrogel reduced the necrosis rate of damaged pulp and promoted injured pulp repair and reparative dentin formation with preserved vital pulps. In summary, the CNPs/DMP1/Hydrogel composite is an up-and-coming pulp-capping material candidate to induce reparative dentin formation, as well as provide a theoretical and experimental basis for developing pulp-capping materials.

Sympathetic nervous system activity is associated with choroidal thickness and axial length in school-aged children.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We aim to explore the effect of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) on choroid thickness (ChT) and axial length (AL). METHODS: Students of grade 2 and 3 from a primary school were included and followed for 1 year. Visual acuity, refraction, AL and ChT were measured. Morning urine samples were collected for determining SNS activity by analysing concentrations of epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine using the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The most important factor (factor 1) was calculated using factor analysis to comprehensively indicate the SNS activity. RESULTS: A total of 273 students were included, with an average age of 7.77±0.69 years, and 150 (54.95%) were boys. Every 1 µg/L increase in epinephrine is associated with 1.60 µm (95% CI 0.30 to 2.90, p=0.02) decrease in average ChT. Every 1 µg/L increase in norepinephrine is associated with 0.53 µm (95% CI 0.08 to 0.98, p=0.02) decrease in the ChT in inner-superior region. The factor 1 was negatively correlated with the ChT in the superior regions. Every 1 µg/L increase in norepinephrine was associated with 0.002 mm (95% CI 0.0004 to 0.004, p=0.016) quicker AL elongation. The factor 1 was positively correlated with AL elongation (coefficient=0.037, 95% CI 0.005 to 0.070, p=0.023). CONCLUSIONS: We hypothesised that chronic stress characterised by elevated level of the SNS, was associated with significant increase in AL elongation, probably through thinning of the choroid.

A Glutathione Peroxidase-Mimicking Nanozyme Precisely Alleviates Reactive Oxygen Species and Promotes Periodontal Bone Regeneration.

The use of oxidoreductase nanozymes to regulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) has gradually emerged in periodontology treatments. However, current nanozymes for treating periodontitis eliminate ROS extensively and non-specifically, ignoring the physiological functions of ROS under normal conditions, which may result in uncontrolled side effects. Herein, using the MIL-47(V)-F (MVF) nanozyme, which mimics the function of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), it is proposed that ROS can be properly regulated by specifically eliminating H2 O2 , the most prominent ROS. Through H2 O2 elimination, MVF contributes to limiting inflammation, regulating immune microenvironment, and promoting periodontal regeneration. Moreover, MVF stimulates osteogenic differentiation of periodontal stem cells directly, further promoting regeneration due to the vanadium in MVF. Mechanistically, MVF regulates ROS by activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase 1 (Nrf2/HO-1) pathway and promotes osteogenic differentiation directly through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) pathway. A promising periodontitis therapy strategy is presented using GPx-mimicking nanozymes through their triple effects of antioxidation, immunomodulation, and bone remodeling regulation, making nanozymes an excellent tool for developing precision medicine.

Role of GSDM family members in airway epithelial cells of lung diseases: a systematic and comprehensive transcriptomic analysis.

Gasdermin (GSDM) family, the key executioners of pyroptosis, play crucial roles in anti-pathogen and anti-tumor immunities, although little is known about the expression of GSDM in lung diseases at single-cell resolution, especially in lung epithelial cells. We comprehensively investigated the transcriptomic profiles of GSDM members in various lung tissues from healthy subjects or patients with different lung diseases at single cell level, e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), or systemic sclerosis (SSC). The expression of GSDM members varied among pulmonary cell types (immune cells, structural cells, and especially epithelial cells) and even across lung diseases. Regarding disease-associated specificities, we found that GSDMC or GSDMD altered significantly in ciliated epithelia of COPD or LUAD, GSDMD in mucous, club, and basal cells of LUAD and GSDMC in mucous epithelia of para-tumor tissue, as compared with the corresponding epithelia of other diseases. The phenomic specificity of GSDM in lung cancer subtypes was noticed by comparing with 15 non-pulmonary cancers and para-cancer samples. GSDM family gene expression changes were also observed in different lung epithelial cell lines (e.g., HBE, A549, H1299, SPC-1, or H460) in responses to external challenges, including lipopolysaccharide (LPS), lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC), cigarette smoking extract (CSE), cholesterol, and AR2 inhibitor at various doses or durations. GSDMA is rarely expressed in those cell lines, while GSDMB and GSDMC are significantly upregulated in human lung epithelia. Our data indicated that the heterogeneity of GSDM member expression exists at different cells, pathologic conditions, challenges, probably dependent upon cell biological phenomes, functions, and behaviors, upon cellular responses to external changes, and the nature and severity of lung disease. Thus, the deep exploration of GSDM phenomes may provide new insights into understanding the single-cell roles in the tissue, regulatory roles of the GSDM family in the pathogenesis, and potential values of biomarker identification and development.

Introducing Nanozymes: New Horizons in Periodontal and Dental Implant Care.

The prevalence of periodontal and peri-implant diseases has been increasing worldwide and has gained a lot of attention. As multifunctional nanomaterials with enzyme-like activity, nanozymes have earned a place in the biomedical field. In periodontics and implantology, nanozymes have contributed greatly to research on maintaining periodontal health and improving implant success rates. To highlight this progress, we review nanozymes for antimicrobial therapy, anti-inflammatory therapy, tissue regeneration promotion, and synergistic effects in periodontal and peri-implant diseases. The future prospects of nanozymes in periodontology and implantology are also discussed along with challenges.

Roles of pulmonary telocytes in airway epithelia to benefit experimental acute lung injury through production of telocyte-driven mediators and exosomes.

BACKGROUND: Telocytes (TCs) are experimentally evidenced as an alternative of cell therapies for organ tissue injury and repair. The aims of the present studies are to explore direct roles of TCs and the roles of TC-derived exosomes in support of experimental acute lung injury (ALI) in vivo or in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The roles of TCs in experimental ALI were firstly estimated. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) p110δ and α/δ/ß isoform inhibitors were used in study dynamic alterations of bio-behaviors, and in expression of functional factors of TCs per se and TC-co-cultured airway epithelial cells during the activation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). TC-driven exosomes were furthermore characterized for intercellular communication by which activated or non-activated TCs interacted with epithelia. RESULTS: Our results showed that TCs mainly prevented from lung tissue edema and hemorrhage and decreased the levels of VEGF-A and MMP9 induced by LPS. Treatment with CAL101 (PI3K p110δ inhibitor) and LY294002 (PI3Kα/δ/ß inhibitor) could inhibit TC movement and differentiation and increase the number of dead TCs. The expression of Mtor, Hif1α, Vegf-a, or Mmp9 mRNA increased in TCs challenged with LPS, while Mtor, Hif1α, and Vegf-a even more increased after adding CAL101 or Mtor after adding LY. The rate of epithelial cell proliferation was higher in co-culture of human bronchial epithelial (HBE) and TCs than that in HBE alone under conditions with or without LPS challenge or when cells were treated with LPS and CAL101 or LY294002. The levels of mTOR, HIF1α, or VEGF-A significantly increased in mono-cultured or co-cultured cells, challenged with LPS as compared with those with vehicle. LPS-pretreated TC-derived exosomes upregulated the expression of AKT, p-AKT, HIF1α, and VEGF-A protein of HBE. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that intraperitoneal administration of TCs ameliorated the severity of lung tissue edema accompanied by elevated expression of VEGF-A. TCs could nourish airway epithelial cells through nutrients produced from TCs, increasing epithelial cell proliferation, and differentiation as well as cell sensitivity to LPS challenge and PI3K p110δ and α/δ/ß inhibitors, partially through exosomes released from TCs.

Blood metagenomics next-generation sequencing has advantages in detecting difficult-to-cultivate pathogens, and mixed infections: results from a real-world cohort.

Background: Blood is a common sample source for metagenomics next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in clinical practice. In this study, we aimed to detect the diagnostic value of blood mNGS in a large real-world cohorts. Methods: Blood mNGS results of 1,046 cases were collected and analyzed along with other laboratory tests. The capabilities and accuracy of blood mNGS were compared with other conventional approaches. Results: Both the surgical department and the intensive care unit had a positive rate of over 80% in blood mNGS. The positive rate of mNGS was consistent with clinical manifestations. Among the 739 positive samples, 532 were detected as mixed infections. Compared to pathogen cultures, the negative predictive value of blood mNGS for bacteria and fungi detection was 98.9% [95%CI, 96.9%-100%], with an accuracy rate of 89.39%. When compared with polymer chain reaction, the consistency rates of blood mNGS for virus identification were remarkably high. Conclusions: Blood mNGS have significant advantages in detecting difficult-to-cultivate bacteria or fungi, viruses, and mixed infections, which benefits patients of surgery department the most. Samples other than blood are recommended for mNGS test if a specific infection is suspected. The reporting threshold and reporting criteria of blood mNGS need to be optimized.

Analysis of Negative Results of Metagenomics Next-Generation Sequencing in Clinical Practice.

Background: Metagenomics next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has been increasingly used in the clinic, which provides a powerful tool for the etiological diagnosis of infectious diseases. Precise treatment can be carried out according to the positive mNGS results. However, the role of negative results of mNGS remains poorly defined in clinical practice. Methods: The results of 1,021 samples from patients who received the mNGS test at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, between January 2019 and December 2019 were analyzed. Results: There were 308 samples (30.17%) of negative results included in the current study. The top 2 types of negative samples were blood (130/308) and tissue (63/308), which also accounted for the highest negative proportion in diseases. Sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were more likely to have positive results. In false-negative results (defined as negative in mNGS test but reported positive in other sample types or assays), 118 samples were found when compared to regular microbiological assays. The negative predictive value (NPV) of mNGS was 95.79% [95%CI, 93.8%-97.8%] as compared to culture and smear. Mycobacterium, Aspergillus, and Mycoplasma ranked as the top 3 microorganisms on the undetected pathogen list. Conclusions: The present data indicate that when the mNGS test is negative, the negative prediction accuracy rate of the original specimen is significant. However, other laboratory assays results and clinical presentations should always be carefully considered prior to drawing a diagnosis.

A Dopamine-Enabled Universal Assay for Catalase and Catalase-Like Nanozymes.

Developing a universal strategy to measure catalase (CAT)/CAT-like activity, on one hand, overcomes limitations on current assays, such as moderate sensitivity and limited sample scope; on the other hand, facilitates insightful studies on applications of CAT and CAT-like nanozymes. Herein, the oxygen-sensitive and H2O2-inhibitory self-polymerization of dopamine (DA) was demonstrated as an activity indicator of CAT or CAT-like nanozymes, which monitors the catalytically generated O2 in a hypoxic environment. A typical assay for natural CAT was achieved under the optimized conditions. Moreover, this assay was suitable for diverse types of samples, ranging from nanozymes, animal tissues, to human saliva. By comparing the merits and limitations of common methods, this assay shows all-round advantages in sensitivity, specificity, and versatility, facilitating the formulation of measurement criteria and the development of potential standardized assays for CAT (or CAT-like nanozyme) activity.

Cerium oxide nanozyme attenuates periodontal bone destruction by inhibiting the ROS-NFκB pathway.

Periodontitis, an inflammatory disease of oxidative stress, occurs due to excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) contributing to cell and tissue damage which in turn leads to alveolar bone resorption as well as the destruction of other periodontal support tissues. With significant recent advances in nanomaterials, we considered a unique type of nanomaterials possessing enzyme-like characteristics (called nanozymes) for potential future clinical applications, especially in light of the increasing number of studies evaluating nanozymes in the setting of inflammatory diseases. Here, we introduced a therapeutic approach for the management of periodontitis utilizing an injection of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) in situ. In this study, our synthesized CeO2 NPs could act as ROS scavengers in the inflammatory microenvironment with ideal outcomes. In vitro and in vivo experiments provide strong evidence on the roles of CeO2 NPs in scavenging multiple ROS and suppressing ROS-induced inflammation reactions stimulated by lipopolysaccharides. Moreover, CeO2 NPs could inhibit the MAPK-NFκB signalling pathway to suppress inflammatory factors. In addition, the results from a rat periodontitis model demonstrate that CeO2 NPs could exhibit a remarkable capacity to attenuate alveolar bone resorption, decrease the osteoclast activity and inflammation, and consequently improve the restoration of destroyed tissues. Collectively, our present study underscores the potential of CeO2 NPs for application in the treatment of periodontitis, and provides valuable insights into the application of nanozymes in inflammatory diseases.

Circular RNAs: Functions and mechanisms in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant epithelial tumor of the nasopharyngeal mucosa with a high incidence rate in southern China and Southeast Asia and an evident ethnic and geographical distribution. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are single-stranded noncoding RNAs with covalent, closed-loop structures. They are characterized by high stability and abundance, are evolutionarily conserved, and exhibit tissue/developmental stage specificity. Previous studies have shown that circRNAs are associated with the occurrence and development of various malignant tumors. However, the expression patterns and clinical significance of circRNAs in NPC remain ambiguous. Hence, the present review focuses on the biogenesis and regulation of circRNAs, and the functional roles of abnormally expressed circRNAs in NPC. In addition, the current review discusses the possibility of utilizing circRNAs as potential clinical biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of NPC.

Development of a valid and reliable pterygium surgery assessment scale for ophthalmology residents.

BACKGROUND: Microsurgery training has become an important part of ophthalmology teaching and one of the main topics of examination. Accurate and effective evaluation of microsurgery skills is vital for the training and teaching of residents. In this study, we aimed to establish a pterygium surgery assessment scale for use by ophthalmic residents and evaluate its reliability and validity. METHODS: Based on a literature search, experienced pterygium surgeons developed the preliminary scale according to the standard surgical procedure. The preliminary scale and a questionnaire were sent to teaching and research experts in the field for feedback. Face and content validity and reliability of the scale were determined by rounds of modifications based on expert feedback. For construct validity, existing assessment scales were obtained and a range of factors were tested. RESULTS: Nineteen expert surgeons completed the questionnaire and modifications were made until all surgeons agreed on the final scale. Good construct validity was found by evaluation against 257 existing scales. For reliability, 280 evaluation scales were completed. Inter- and intra-rater reliability analysis both found Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) > 0.8 for all items and total scores. CONCLUSION: The pterygium surgery assessment scale developed in this study has good reliability and validity, and is an effective measurement tool for the evaluation of ophthalmology residents' pterygium surgical skills.

Identification of key pseudogenes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma based on RNA-Seq analysis.

BACKGROUND: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant head and neck tumor, and more than 70% of new cases are in East and Southeast Asia. However, association between NPC and pseudogenes playing important roles in genesis of multiple tumor types is still not clear and needs to be investigated. METHODS: Using RNA-Sequencing (RNA-seq) technology, we analyzed pseudogene expression in 13 primary NPC and 6 recurrent NPC samples as well as their paracancerous counterparts. Quantitative PCR was used to validate the differentially expressed pseudogenes. RESULTS: We found 251 differentially expressed pseudogenes including 73 up-regulated and 178 down-regulated ones between primary NPC and paracancerous tissues. Enrichment analysis of gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway were conducted to filter out the key pseudogenes. We reported that pseudogenes from cytochrome P450 (CYP) family, such as CYP2F2P, CYP2G1P, CYP4F24P, CYP2B7P and CYP2G2P were significantly down-regulated in NPC compared to paracancerous tissues, while IGHV1OR15-2, IGHV3-11, FCGR1CP and IGHV3-69-1 belonging to Fc gamma receptors were significantly up-regulated. CYP2B7P, CYP2F2P and CYP4F26P were enriched in arachidonic acid metabolism pathway. The qRT-PCR analysis validated the lower expression of pseudogenes CYP2F2P and CYP2B7P in NPC tissues and cell lines compared to paracancerous tissues and normal human nasopharyngeal epithelial cell line. CYP2B7P overexpression weakened migratory and invasive capacity of NPC cell line. Moreover, the expression pattern of those pseudogenes in recurrent NPC tissues was different from the primary NPC. CONCLUSION: This study suggested the role of pseudogenes in tumorigenesis and progression, potentially functioning as therapeutic targets to NPC.

Changes in Intraocular Pressure and Angle Structure after Dilation in Primary Angle-Closure Suspects with Visually Significant Cataract.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety of pupillary dilation in primary angle-closure suspects (PACS) with concurrent visually significant cataract (VSC), to identify risk factors associated with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), and to describe changes in anterior segment anatomy after pupillary dilation. DESIGN: Prospective study. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with PACS and VSC and no prior laser or intraocular surgery were recruited. Visually significant cataract was defined as best-corrected visual acuity ≤ 20/40 due to cataract. METHODS: Subjects' eyes were dilated with 0.5% tropicamide and 0.5% phenylephrine hydrochloride. A standardized eye examination, biometry, and swept-source OCT (SS-OCT) were performed before dilation. Intraocular pressure and SS-OCT were repeated 1, 4, and 6 hours postdilation (PDH1, PDH4, and PDH6, respectively). All parameters were compared between time points before and after dilation using paired t test. Linear regression models were used to determine the risk factors associated with postdilation IOP changes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Change in IOP and SS-OCT parameters from baseline. RESULTS: Seventy-eight eyes from 78 patients were included, with 78, 66, and 12 patients completing the study at PDH1, PDH4, and PDH6, respectively. Mean IOP increased from 14.8 ± 2.6 mmHg at baseline to 15.5 ± 3.5 mmHg at PDH1 (P = 0.03) and decreased to 14.9 ± 3.1 mmHg at PDH4 (P = 0.09). Four patients (5.13%) and 3 patients (3.85%) had an increase in IOP ≥ 5 mmHg at PDH1 and PDH4, respectively. Two patients (2.56%) and 1 patient (1.28%) had an increase in IOP ≥ 8 mmHg at PDH1 and PDH4, respectively. None developed acute primary angle-closure during the observation period. Almost all anterior chamber parameters showed a significant increase after dilation at PDH1 and PDH4, except lens vault and iris volume, which decreased at PDH1 and PDH4 from baseline. Increase in anterior chamber depth was negatively associated with the level of IOP elevation after dilation (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Dilation of patients' eyes with PACS and VSC in this cohort appears to have a low risk for IOP spike. This may be associated with relaxation of the ciliary muscle leading to posterior displacement of the lens-iris diaphragm and deepening of the anterior chamber.

Synthesis of biocompatible and highly fluorescent N-doped silicon quantum dots from wheat straw and ionic liquids for heavy metal detection and cell imaging.

Silane-based precursors for the synthesis of water-dispersible silicon quantum dots (SiQDs) present harmful effects on both researchers and the environment, due to their high toxicity. Though waste wheat straw is an abundant source of natural silicon, its application towards the synthesis of biocompatible SiQDs for metal detection has not yet been explored. In this study, N-doped SiQDs demonstrating uniform spherical morphologies, excellent water dispersity and strong fluorescence emission with a quantum yield of 28.9% were facilely synthesized by using wheat straw (WS) as silicon source and allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (AMIMCl) as nitrogen source. The wheat straw based SiQDs (WS-SiQDs) showed linear fluorescence quenching ((F0-F)/F) with Cr(VI) and Fe(III) concentration in the range of 0-6 × 10-4 M. Following immobilization on hydrophilic silica hydrogels, WS-SiQDs@silica hydrogels demonstrated enhanced fluorescence emission which can selectively detect Cr(VI) and Fe (III) to the limits of 142 and 175 nM, respectively. Moreover, cell imaging results reflected that WS-SiQDs can penetrate the membranes of dental pulp stem cells and react with the nucleuses of the stem cells. The stem cells maintained high viability under the conditions of 24 h incubation and SiQD concentration below 50 mg·L-1, thus indicating low cytotoxicity of WS-SiQDs. The as-prepared SiQDs demonstrated notable structural and fluorescent properties, therefore representing promising biocompatible fluorescent nanomaterials for metal detection and cell imaging.

Identification of FABP5 as an immunometabolic marker in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Regulating T-cell metabolism is crucial for their anticancer activity. Therefore, understanding the function and metabolism of human tumor-infiltrating T cells is of broad interest and clinical importance. METHODS: CD3+CD45+ T cells were sorted from adjacent area or tumor core of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), then the clusters and heterogeneity of T cells were further interrogated by single-cell transcriptomic profiling. 118 surgical samples from patients with HCC were histologically examined for infiltration of CD8+ T cells in tumor and adjacent tissue. RESULTS: Single-cell transcriptomic profiling indicated that several exhausted T-cell (Tex) populations differentially coexisted in the tumor and adjacent tissue. CD137 identifies and enriches Tex with superior effector functions and proliferation capacity. Furthermore, enhanced fatty acid-binding protein 5 (FABP5) expression along with increased mitochondrial oxidative metabolism were evident in these CD137-enriched Tex. Inhibiting FABP5 expression and mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation impaired the anti-apoptosis and proliferation of CD137-enriched Tex. These observations have been verified by generating CD137 CART. Immunohistochemistry staining on the tissue microarray of 118 patients with HCC showed intra-tumoral FABP5 high CD8+ T-cell infiltration was linked to overall and recurrence-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: The tumor microenvironment can impose metabolic restrictions on T-cell function. CD137, a costimulatory molecule highly expressed on some Tex, uses exogenous fatty acids and oxidative metabolism to mediate antitumor immunity. The immunometabolic marker FABP5 should be investigated in larger, longitudinal studies to determine their potential as prognostic biomarkers for HCC.

Lgr5 maintains stemness and regulates cell property in nasopharyngeal carcinoma through Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common malignant tumor in Southern China and Southeast Asia. In this study, we found that Leucine rich repeat containing G protein-coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5) was highly expressed in NPC tissues and marked NPC stem cells. Lgr5high tumors showed differential transcriptional landscape compared to Lgr5not high tumors. Lgr5 expression was associated with the clinicopathologic features in NPC and was able to regulate the stemness and viability of NPC cell line CNE1 and HNE1. Meanwhile, the migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was modulated by Lgr5 via Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Furthermore, Lgr5 could regulate the sensitivity of NPC cells to chemotherapy drugs. Xenografted tumors from Lgr5-overexpressed CNE1 cells showed stronger tumor forming capacity and higher expression level of stem cell markers. Thus, we characterized previously unidentified role of Lgr5 in NPC cells, potential serving as a NPC stem cell biomarker and a therapeutic target against NPC.

Heterogeneity of exhausted T cells in the tumor microenvironment is linked to patient survival following resection in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Despite the success of monotherapies based on blockade of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) in human melanoma, most patients do not experience durable clinical benefit. T-cell infiltration and/or the presence of PD-L1 in tumors may be used as indicators of clinical response; However, recent studies reported that preexisting tumor-specific T cells may have limited reinvigoration capacity. Therefore, evaluating status of T cells of tumor-adjacent area and its impact on the prognosis are very important. Here, we examined 117 surgical samples from HCC patients for infiltration of exhausted T cell (Tex) including CD4+-Tex, CD8+-Tex and regulatory T cell (FOXP3+-Treg) in tumor and adjacent tissue. CD3+CD45RO+T cells were sorted from adjacent area or tumor core, then the clusters and heterogeneity of T cells were further interrogated by single-cell RNA sequencing. As a result, we suggested that abundance or location of T cell subsets is differentially correlate with long-term clinical outcome of HCC. In contrast with CD4+T or CD4+-Tex, the infiltration of CD8+T or CD8+-Tex cells was closely linked to overall or recurrence-free survival. FOXP3+-Treg is more predictive of early recurrence. Single-cell transcriptional analysis demonstrates the composition of CD4+-Tex, CD8+-Tex, and FOXP3+-Treg is shifted in tumor and adjacent tissue. Molecular profiles including genes coding checkpoint receptors, effector molecules are distinct between CD4+-Tex, CD8+-Tex, though some common features of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell exhaustion are revealed. In conclusion, we underline the heterogeneity and clinical relevance of Tex cells in HCC patients. A better understanding of Tex is critical for HCC monitoring and treatment.

Clinical lipidomics in understanding of lung cancer: Opportunity and challenge.

Disordered lipid metabolisms have been evidenced in lung cancer as well as its subtypes. Lipidomics with in-depth mining is considered as a critical member of the multiple omics family and a lipid-specific tool to understand disease-associated lipid metabolism and disease-specific dysfunctions of lipid species, discover biomarkers and targets for monitoring therapeutic strategies, and provide insights into lipid profiling and pathophysiological mechanisms in lung cancer. The present review describes the characters and patterns of lipidomic profiles in patients with different lung cancer subtypes, important values of comprehensive lipidomic profiles in understanding of lung cancer heterogeneity, urgent needs of standardized methodologies, potential mechanisms by lipid-associated enzymes and proteins, and the importance of integration between clinical phenomes and lipidomic profiles. The characteristics of lipidomic profiles in different lung cancer subtypes are extremely varied among study designs, objects, methods, and analyses. Preliminary data from recent studies demonstrate the specificity of lipidomic profiles specific for lung cancer stage, severity, subtype, and response to drugs. The heterogeneity of lipidomic profiles and lipid metabolism may be part of systems heterogeneity in lung cancer and be responsible for the development of drug resistance, although there are needs for direct evidence to show the existence of intra- or inter-lung cancer heterogeneity of lipidomic profiles. With an increasing understanding of expression profiles of genes and proteins, lipidomic profiles should be associated with activities of enzymes and proteins involved in the processes of lipid metabolism, which can be profiled with genomics and proteomics, and to provide the opportunity for the integration of lipidomic profiles with gene and protein expression profiles. The concept of clinical trans-omics should be emphasized to integrate data of lipidomics with clinical phenomics to identify disease-specific and phenome-specific biomarkers and targets, although there are still a large number of challenges to be overcome in the integration between clinical phenomes and lipidomic profiles.