CD276 Promotes an Inhibitory Tumor Microenvironment in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and is Associated with Poor Prognosis.

Background: CD276 is an emerging immune checkpoint molecule that has been implicated in various cancers. However, its specific role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. This study examined the impact of CD276 on patient prognosis and the tumor microenvironment (TME). Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was utilized to evaluate CD276 expression in HCC and the association between CD276 and immune indicators was also analyzed. The signaling pathways correlated with CD276 expression were identified by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Different algorithms were used to assess immune cell infiltration. The effect of CD276 knockdown on HCC cell phenotypes and its relationship with macrophage polarization was examined using the cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) assay and co-culture system. Results: CD276 was upregulated in HCC and associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes. Hgh CD276 expression was associated with enrichment of the G2/M checkpoint, E2F targets, and mitotic spindles. CD276 expression was correlated with the infiltration of immune cells, including high level of tumor-associated macrophages and low levels of CD8+ T cells. Knockdown of CD276 decreased HCC cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. CD276 silencing in HCC cells and co-culture with THP-1-derived macrophages had a regulatory effect on macrophage polarization and macrophage-mediated cell proliferation and migration. Conclusion: CD276 expression in HCC is associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes and may contribute to the development of an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Specifically, CD276 was associated with alterations in immune cell infiltration, immune marker expression, and macrophage polarization during HCC progression, suggesting its potential as a prognostic indicator and promising target for immunotherapeutic intervention in HCC.

DDR2/STAT3 positive feedback loop mediates the immunosuppressive microenvironment by upregulating PD-L1 and recruiting MDSCs in oxaliplatin-resistant HCC.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Transcriptome sequencing revealed high expression of discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) in oxaliplatin-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to explore the role of DDR2 in oxaliplatin resistance and immune evasion in HCC. METHODS: Oxaliplatin-resistant HCC cell lines were established. The interaction between DDR2 and STAT3 was investigated, along with the mechanisms involved in DDR2/STAT3-mediated PD-L1 upregulation and polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSCs) accumulation both in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: DDR2 was found to induce the phosphorylation of STAT3, leading to its nuclear translocation. Conversely, the activation of STAT3 enhanced DDR2 expression. A positive feedback loop involving DDR2/STAT3 was identified in oxaliplatin-resistant HCC, associated with PD-L1 upregulation and PMN-MDSCs accumulation was identified in oxaliplatin-resistant HCC. Knockdown of DDR2 and STAT3 sensitized oxaliplatin-resistant HCC cells to oxaliplatin and resulted in decreased PMN-MDSCs and increased CD8+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment. ELISA array and MDSC transwell migration assays indicated that oxaliplatin-resistant HCC cells recruited PMN-MDSCs through CCL20. Dual luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that STAT3 can directly enhance the transcription of PD-L1 and CCL20. Furthermore, treatment with a PD-L1 antibody in combination with CCL20 blockade had significant antitumor effects on oxaliplatin-resistant HCC. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings revealed a positive feedback mechanism involving DDR2 and STAT3 that mediates the immunosuppressive microenvironment and promotes oxaliplatin resistance and immune evasion via PD-L1 upregulation and PMN-MDSCs recruitment. Targeting the DDR2/STAT3 pathway may be a promising therapeutic strategy to overcome immune escape and chemoresistance in HCC.

High-intensity interval training and medium-intensity continuous training may affect cognitive function through regulation of intestinal microbial composition and its metabolite LPS by the gut-brain axis.

AIMS: The gut-brain axis is the communication mechanism between the gut and the central nervous system, and the intestinal flora and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) play a crucial role in this mechanism. Exercise regulates the gut microbiota composition and metabolite production (i.e., LPS). We aimed to investigate the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on cognitive function in C57BL/6 J mice through gut-brain axis regulation of gut microbiota composition and LPS displacement. MAIN METHODS: C57BL/6 J male mice were randomly divided into sedentary, HIIT, and MICT groups. After 12 weeks of exercise intervention, the cognitive function of the brain and mRNA levels of related inflammatory factors were measured. RNA sequencing, Golgi staining, intestinal microbial 16 s rDNA sequencing, and ELISA were performed. KEY FINDINGS: HIIT and MICT affect brain cognitive function by regulating the gut microbiota composition and its metabolite, LPS, through the gut microbiota-gut-brain axis. HIIT is suspected to have a risk: it can induce "intestinal leakage" by regulating intestinal permeability-related microbiota, resulting in excessive LPS in the blood and brain and activating M1 microglia in the brain, leading to reduced dendritic spine density and affecting cognitive function. SIGNIFICANCE: This study revealed a potential link between changes in the gut microbiota and cognitive function. It highlighted the possible risk of HIIT in reducing dendritic spine density and affecting cognitive function.

High-precision spatiotemporal three-dimensional ultrashort pulse synchronization with optical Kerr effect.

In studying the interaction of multiple ultrashort pulses with matter, high requirements are put forward for spatiotemporal synchronization accuracy. Limited by the response time and bandwidth of existing devices, the synchronization of multiple ultrashort pulses still faces significant difficulties. By observing the transient phenomena of the optical Kerr effect, high-precision, three-dimensional (x, y, t) synchronization of ultrashort pulses at different angles was achieved. In the optical Kerr effect, the polarization state of the signal pulse changes only when it coincides with the pump pulse, at which point the signal pulse passes through the analyzer. The changes in the intensity and phase of the signal pulse is positively correlated with the degree of spatiotemporal coincidence. In this study, 10-ps pulses were used in the experiments. By observing the intensity and phase distribution of the signal pulses, a time synchronization accuracy between two pulses of less than 1 ps and spatial synchronization accuracy of ±125 µm and ±3 µm in the x and y directions, respectively, were achieved. Moreover, the synchronization of two pulses at an angle of 90 ° was measured, further proving that the method can achieve the spatiotemporal synchronization of pulses with large angles. Therefore, this method has important application prospects in the study of multi-beam interactions with matter and other ultrafast physical phenomena.

Elevating Discharge Voltage of Li2CO3-routine Li-CO2 Battery over 2.9 V at an Ultra-wide Temperature Window.

The Li-CO2 batteries utilizing greenhouse gas CO2 possess advantages of high energy density and environmental friendliness. However, these batteries following Li2CO3-product route typically exhibit low work voltage (<2.5 V) and energy efficiency. Herein, we have demonstrated for the first time that cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPc) as homogeneous catalyst can elevate the work plateau towards 2.98 V, which is higher than its theoretical discharge voltage without changing the Li2CO3-product route. This unprecedented discharge voltage is illustrated by mass spectrum and electrochemical analyses that CoPc has powerful adsorption capability with CO2 (-7.484 kJ/mol) and forms discharge intermediate of C33H16CoN8O2. Besides high discharge capacity of 18724 mAh/g and robust cyclability over 1600 hours (1000 mAh/g cut-off) at a current density of 100 mA/g , the batteries show high temperature adaptability (-30~80 °C). Our work is paving a promising avenue for the progress of high-efficiency Li-CO2 batteries.

Giant dielectric tunability in ferroelectric ceramics with ultralow loss by ion substitution design.

Due to their responsiveness to modulation by external direct current fields, dielectric tunable materials are extensively utilized in integrated components, such as ferroelectric phase shifters. Barium strontium titanate ceramics have been considered the most potential tunable materials for a long time. However, the significant dielectric loss and high voltage drive have limited their further applications. Recently, Bi6Ti5WO22 ceramic has regained attention for its high dielectric tunability with low loss. In this study, we judiciously introduce Nb5+ with a larger ionic radius, replacing Ti4+ and W6+. This successful substitution enables the modulation of the phase transition temperature of Bi6Ti5WO22 ceramics to room temperature, resulting in superior tunable properties. Specifically, the 0.7Bi6Ti5WO22-0.3Bi6Ti4Nb2O22 ceramics exhibit giant tunability (~75.6%) with ultralow loss (<0.002) under a low electric field (1.5 kV/mm). This tunability is twice that of barium strontium titanate ceramics with a similar dielectric constant and only one-tenth of the loss. Neutron powder diffraction and transmission-electron-microscopy illustrate the nanodomains and micro-strains influenced by ion substitution. Density functional theory simulation calculations reveal the contribution of ion substitution to polarization. The research provides an ideal substitute for tunable material and a general strategy for adjusting phase transition temperature to improve dielectric properties.

High-Entropy Configuration Strategy to Build High Performance Na-Ion Layered Oxide Cathodes Derived from Simple Techniques.

Layered transition metal oxides are commonly used as the cathode materials in sodium-ion batteries due to their low cost and easy manufacturing. However, the application is hindered by poor rate performance and complex phase transitions. To address these challenges, a new seven-component high-entropy layered oxide cathode material, O3-NaNi0.25Fe0.15Mn0.3Ti0.1Sn0.05Co0.05Li0.1O2 (HEO) has been developed. The entropy stabilization effect plays a crucial role in improving the performance of electrochemical systems and the stability of structures. The HEO exhibits a specific discharge capacity of 154.1 mA h g-1 at 0.1 C and 94.5 mA h g-1 at 7 C. In-situ and ex-situ XRD results demonstrate that the HEO effectively retards complex phase transitions. This work provides a high-entropy design for the storage materials with a high energy density. Meanwhile, it eliminates industry doubts about the performance of sodium ion layered oxide cathode materials.

Nickel-catalyzed switchable arylative/endo-cyclization of 1,6-enynes.

Carbo- and heterocycles are frequently used as crucial scaffolds in natural products, fine chemicals, and biologically and pharmaceutically active compounds. Transition-metal-catalyzed cyclization of 1,6-enynes has emerged as a powerful strategy for constructing functionalized carbo- and heterocycles. Despite significant progress, the regioselectivity of alkyne functionalization is entirely substrate-dependent. And only exo-cyclization/cross-coupling products can be obtained, while endo-selective cyclization/cross-coupling remains elusive and still poses a formidable challenge. In this study, we disclose a nickel-catalyzed switchable arylation/cyclization of 1,6-enynes in which the nature of the ligand dictates the regioselectivity of alkyne arylation, while the electrophilic trapping reagents determine the selectivity of the cyclization mode. Specifically, using a commercially available 1,10-phenanthroline as a ligand facilitates trans-arylation/cyclization to obtain seven-membered ring products, while a 2-naphthyl-substituted bisbox ligand promotes cis-arylation/cyclization to access six-membered ring products. Diastereoselective cyclizations have also been developed for the synthesis of enantioenriched piperidines and azepanes, which are core structural elements of pharmaceuticals and natural products possessing important biological activities. Furthermore, experimental and density functional theory studies reveal that the regioselectivity of the alkyne arylation process is entirely controlled by the steric hindrance of the ligand; the reaction mechanism involves exo-cyclization followed by Dowd-Beckwith-type ring expansion to form endo-cyclization products.

UFObow: A single-wavelength excitable Brainbow for simultaneous multicolor ex-vivo and in-vivo imaging of mammalian cells.

Brainbow is a genetic cell-labeling technique that allows random colorization of multiple cells and real-time visualization of cell fate within a tissue, providing valuable insights into understanding complex biological processes. However, fluorescent proteins (FPs) in Brainbow have distinct excitation spectra with peak difference greater than 35 nm, which requires sequential imaging under multiple excitations and thus leads to long acquisition times. In addition, they are not easily used together with other fluorophores due to severe spectral bleed-through. Here, we report the development of a single-wavelength excitable Brainbow, UFObow, incorporating three newly developed blue-excitable FPs. We have demonstrated that UFObow enables not only tracking the growth dynamics of tumor cells in vivo but also mapping spatial distribution of immune cells within a sub-cubic centimeter tissue, revealing cell heterogeneity. This provides a powerful means to explore complex biology in a simultaneous imaging manner at a single-cell resolution in organs or in vivo.

Identification of clinically relevant subsets CD39+PD-1+CD8+ T cells and CD39+ regulatory T cells in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma using single-cell CyTOF.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is an aggressive liver malignancy with limited treatment options and a dismal prognosis. The tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) is crucial for iCCA progression, yet its comprehensive characterization remains incomplete. This study utilized mass cytometry by time of flight (CyTOF) to comprehensively analyze immune cell populations in fresh iCCA tumor samples and adjacent peritumor liver tissues. Notably, NK cell percentages significantly decreased in iCCA lesions compared to peritumor liver tissues. Conversely, an enrichment of immunosuppressive CD39+Foxp3+CD4+ regulatory T cells (CD39+T-regs) and exhausted-like CD8+T cells (with pronounced CD39 and PD-1 expression) within TIME was identified and confirmed by multiplex immunofluorescence staining in an independent patient cohort (n = 140). Crucially, tumor-infiltrating CD39+T-regs and CD39+PD-1+CD8+T cells emerged as independent prognostic indicators associated with an unfavorable prognosis in iCCA. These findings unveil the intricate immune landscape within iCCA, offering valuable insights for disease management and novel cancer immunotherapies.

Real-world study of hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy combined with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma patients with portal vein tumor thrombus.

Background: Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) present a poor prognosis. Current systemic therapies offer limited benefits. Hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) is a local regional treatment for advanced HCC, particularly in selected patients such as patients with PVTT or high intrahepatic tumor burden. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of HAIC combined with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy for HCC patients with PVTT, and explore factors related to survival prognosis, providing clues for treatment decisions for HCC patients. Design: This is a single-center retrospective study conducted over 2 years on consecutive PVTT patients receiving HAIC combined anti-PD-1 antibodies. Methods: The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors affecting OS. Treatment-associated adverse events were evaluated as well. Results: A total of 119 patients were analyzed. The median OS and PFS were 14.9 months and 6.9 months. A total of 31.1% of grade 3-4 adverse events were reported, with elevated transaminase and total bilirubin being the most common. The independent variables correlated with survival include treatment-related alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) response, the presence of extrahepatic organ metastasis, absolute value of platelet (PLT), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and combined usage of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Conclusion: In HCC patients with PVTT, combination therapy with HAIC and anti-PD-1 antibodies might be a promising therapy. The efficacy and safety of this combination protocol on patients with HCC complicated by PVTT warrants further investigation prospectively, especially in combination with TKIs.

Preoxidation and Prilling Combined with Doping Strategy to Build High-Performance Recycling Spent LiFePO4 Materials.

Direct regeneration has gained much attention in LiFePO4 battery recycling due to its simplicity, ecofriendliness, and cost savings. However, the excess carbon residues from binder decomposition, conductive carbon, and coated carbon in spent LiFePO4 impair electrochemical performance of direct regenerated LiFePO4. Herein, we report a preoxidation and prilling collaborative doping strategy to restore spent LiFePO4 by direct regeneration. The excess carbon is effectively removed by preoxidation. At the same time, prilling not only reduces the size of the primary particles and shortens the diffusion distance of Li+ but also improves the tap density of the regenerated materials. Besides, the Li+ transmission of the regenerated LiFePO4 is further improved by Ti4+ doping. Compared with commercial LiFePO4, it has excellent low-temperature performance. The collaborative strategy provides a new insight into regenerating high-performance spent LiFePO4.

Monocular vision-based dynamic calibration method for determining the sensitivities of low-frequency tri-axial vibration sensors.

Low-frequency vibrations exist widely in the natural environment and in human activities. Low-frequency tri-axial vibration sensors are enormously applied in the fields of seismic monitoring, building structure health monitoring, aerospace navigating, etc. Their sensitivity calibration accuracy directly determines whether their applications can work reliably. Although the laser interferometry recommended by the International Standardization Organization (ISO) is commonly used to achieve the vibration calibration, it suffers from the shortages of low-frequency range, high cost, low efficiency, and limited applicable environment. In this study, a novel monocular vision-based dynamic calibration method is proposed, which determines the whole sensitivities of tri-axial sensors by the monocular vision method to accurately measure the spatial input excitation. This method improves the calibration performance by eliminating the installation error and enhancing calibration efficiency via decreasing reinstallations. The experimental results compared with the laser interferometry demonstrate that the investigated method can obtain similar calibration accuracy in the range of 0.16-2 Hz with more efficiency. The corresponding maximum relative deviations of X-, Y-, and Z-axial sensitivities were approximately 2.5%, 1.8%, and 0.4%. In addition, the maximum relative standard deviation of the investigated method was only about 0.3% in this range.

Optimization of doping design for planar P-N homologous junction perovskite solar cells.

In this study, we used the solar cell capacitance simulator (SCAPS) to analyse numerically the performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) containing CH3NH3PbI3. The findings indicate that P-N homologous junction processing based on traditional P-I-N PSCs can enhance the photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE). Furthermore, the authors analyzed the effect of uniform P-N doping of CH3NH3PbI3, concluding that the photoelectric efficiency can be improved from 16.10% to 19.03% after doping. In addition, the optical properties of PSCs under solar irradiation are simulated using finite difference time-domain (FDTD) software under AM1.5. This method is applied to investigate the effect of the P-N uniform junction on the internal electric field generated within the cell. The generation of this electric field promotes carrier separation and transmission, ultimately increasing the open circuit voltage (VOC) of the solar cell from 1.03 to 1.12 V. The usage of P-N junctions enhances PSCs performance and exhibits vast potential for designing and developing PSCs.

Discovering novel biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment monitoring of active pulmonary tuberculosis by ion metabolism analysis.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly lethal infectious disease that poses a global threat. Timely and accurate biomarker for TB diagnosis and treatment monitoring remains a pressing need. Ions, the crucial trace element for humans, may be potential targets for TB diagnosis and the forecasting of TB development. To explore the potential of ions as biomarkers, we measured and compared the levels of various ions in whole blood and plasma samples from healthy control (HC), pulmonary TB patients (TB), cured pulmonary TB patients (RxTB), and other non-TB pneumonia patients (PN) by using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Our study demonstrated that Cu (AUC = 0.670), Pb (AUC = 0.660), and Zn (AUC = 0.701) in whole blood exhibited promising diagnostic performance for TB. Then we used a neural network (NNET) for TB prediction, the AUC values used to differentiate definite TB from HC or PN in plasma were 0.867 and 0.864, respectively. The AUC values used to differentiate definite TB from HC or PN in whole blood were 0.818 and 0.660, respectively. Our correlation analysis showed that Zn (r= 0.356, p=0.001) and Cu (r= 0.361, p=0.0004) in plasma are most closely related to disease severity. Additionally, six ions (Cu, Sb, V, Mn, Fe, Sr) in plasma and whole blood were altered following anti-TB therapy. These results showed that ions could be diagnostic biomarkers for TB. Furthermore, the level of particular ions can forecast the degree of lung damage and the success of the TB treatment. In conclusion, this study highlights the possibility of using ions from blood samples to enable rapid tuberculosis diagnosis.

Oral administration of egg ovalbumin allergen induces dysregulation of tryptophan metabolism in sensitized BALB/c mice.

Food allergy (FA), triggered by specific dietary allergens, has emerged as a substantial global concern for food safety and public health. While studies have elucidated changes in immune cells and cytokines associated with allergen exposure, a comprehensive analysis of the host's metabolic features and the interaction between metabolites and the gut microbiota has not been conducted. In this study, egg allergen ovalbumin (OVA) was administered by the oral route to sensitized BALB/c mice to faithfully replicate key aspects of human FA, including severe allergic diarrhea, mast cell infiltration, and elevated levels of serum IgE, mMCPT-1, and Th2 cell hallmark cytokines (such as IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13). Furthermore, the untargeted and targeted metabolomic analyses indicated that FA in mice precipitated a substantial decrease in the tryptophan metabolites indole-3-acrylic acid (IA) and indole-3-lactic acid (ILA). The integration of shotgun metagenome and metabolome data further unveiled that the dysregulation of indole metabolism is related to a decline in the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Additionally, disruption of the tryptophan indole derivative pathway compromises the maintenance of intestinal mucosal function through the AHR signaling pathway, manifested by decreased expression of Reg3g and IL22. Taken together, this study demonstrated that the anaphylaxis triggered by oral ingestion of food allergens can lead to disruptions in tryptophan metabolism, consequently impairing intestinal immune homeostasis.

Lactate/Hydroxycarboxylic Acid Receptor 1 in Alzheimer's Disease: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications-Exercise Perspective.

Lactate has a novel function different from previously known functions despite its traditional association with hypoxia in skeletal muscle. It plays various direct and indirect physiological functions. It is a vital energy source within the central nervous system (CNS) and a signal transmitter regulating crucial processes, such as angiogenesis and inflammation. Activating lactate and its associated receptors elicits effects like synaptic plasticity and angiogenesis alterations. These effects can significantly influence the astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle, potentially impacting cognitive performance. Decreased cognitive function relates to different neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), ischemic brain injury, and frontotemporal dementia. Therefore, lactic acid has significant potential for treating neurodegenerative disorders. Exercise is a method that induces the production of lactic acid, which is similar to the effect of lactate injections. It is a harmless and natural way to achieve comparable results. Animal experiments demonstrate that high-intensity intermittent exercise can increase vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels, thus promoting angiogenesis. In vivo, lactate receptor-hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 1 (HCAR1) activation can occur by various stimuli, including variations in ion concentrations, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) level elevations, and fluctuations in the availability of energy substrates. While several articles have been published on the benefits of physical activity on developing Alzheimer's disease in the CNS, could lactic acid act as a bridge? Understanding how HCAR1 responds to these signals and initiates associated pathways remains incomplete. This review comprehensively analyzes lactate-induced signaling pathways, investigating their influence on neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, and cognitive decline. Consequently, this study describes the unique role of lactate in the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

Metal Ion-Regulated Fluorescent Sensor Array Based on Gold Nanoclusters for Physiological Phosphate Sensing.

The detection of physiological phosphates (PPs) is of great importance due to their essential roles in numerous biological processes, but the efficient detection of different PPs simultaneously remains challenging. In this work, we propose a fluorescence sensor array for detecting PPs based on metal-ion-regulated gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) via an indicator-displacement assay. Zn2+ and Eu3+ are selected to assemble with two different AuNCs, resulting in quenching or enhancing their fluorescence. Based on the competitive interaction of metal ions with AuNCs and PPs, the fluorescence of AuNCs will be recovered owing to the disassembly of AuNC-metal ion ensembles. Depending on different PPs' distinct fluorescence responses, a four-channel sensor array was established. The array not only exhibits good discrimination capability for eight kinds of PPs (i.e., ATP, ADP, AMP, GTP, CTP, UTP, PPi, and Pi) via linear discriminant analysis but also enables quantitative detection of single phosphate (e.g., ATP) in the presence of interfering PPs mixtures. Moreover, potential application of the present sensor array for the discrimination of different PPs in real samples (e.g., cell lysates and serum) was successfully demonstrated with a good performance. This work illustrates the great potential of a metal ion-regulated sensor array as a new and efficient sensing platform for differential sensing of phosphates as well as other disease-related biomolecules.

Development and Preliminary Validation of a Novel Convolutional Neural Network Model for Predicting Treatment Response in Patients with Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma Receiving Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the performance of a convolutional neural network (CNN) with preoperative MRI and clinical factors in predicting the treatment response of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients receiving hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC). A total of 191 patients with unresectable HCC who underwent HAIC in our hospital between May 2019 and March 2022 were retrospectively recruited. We selected InceptionV4 from three representative CNN models, AlexNet, ResNet, and InceptionV4, according to the cross-entropy loss (CEL). We subsequently developed InceptionV4 to fuse the information from qualified pretreatment MRI data and patient clinical factors. Radiomic information was evaluated based on several constant sequences, including enhanced T1-weighted sequences (with arterial, portal, and delayed phases), T2 FSE sequences, and dual-echo sequences. The performance of InceptionV4 was cross-validated in the training cohort (n = 127) and internally validated in an independent cohort (n = 64), with comparisons against single important clinical factors and radiologists in terms of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Class activation mapping was used to visualize the InceptionV4 model. The InceptionV4 model achieved an AUC of 0.871 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.761-0.981) in the cross-validation cohort and an AUC of 0.826 (95% CI 0.682-0.970) in the internal validation cohort; these two models performed better than did the other methods (AUC ranges 0.783-0.873 and 0.708-0.806 for cross- and internal validations, respectively; P < 0.01). The present InceptionV4 model, which integrates radiomic information and clinical factors, helps predict the treatment response of unresectable HCC patients receiving HAIC treatment.