First principles calculation of interface interactions and photoelectric properties of ZnSe/SnSe heterostructure.

Heterostructure engineering is an effective technology to improve photo-electronic properties of two dimensional layered semiconductors. In this paper, based on first principles method, we studied the structure, stability, energy band, and optical properties of ZnSe/SnSe heterostructure change with film layer. Results show that all heterostructures are the type-II band arrangement, and the interlayer interaction is characterized by van der Waals. The electron concentration and charge density difference implies the electron (holes) transition from SnSe to monolayer ZnSe. By increasing the layer of SnSe films, the quantum effects are weakened leading to the band gap reduced, and eventually show metal properties. The optical properties also have obvious change, the excellent absorption ability of ZnSe/SnSe heterostructures mainly near the infrared spectroscopy. These works suggest that ZnSe/SnSe heterostructure has significant potential for future optoelectronic applications.

Crohn's disease treatment and memory T-cell subset changes: insights from a case series.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with significant morbidity, affecting millions worldwide. The intricacies of immune responses in CD, especially post-treatment, remain a vital area of exploration. While memory T (Tm)-cell subsets play a pivotal role in adaptive immunity, their specific function in patients with CD after treatment is not well-understood. This study aims to investigate the effect and function of Tm-cell subsets in these patients, addressing a crucial knowledge gap in the context of CD therapeutics. Methods: A total of eight patients diagnosed with CD were selected based on predefined inclusion criteria. All patients were treated with either anti-inflammatory agents, immunosuppressive drugs, or a combination of both. For comparison, healthy donors were enrolled based on exclusion of autoimmune or inflammatory diseases. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and lymphocytes were isolated from blood and lymph node tissue respectively. The phenotype and cytokine production of T lymphocytes from both CD patients and healthy donors were analyzed using flow cytometry. Statistical comparisons of the outcomes between CD patients and healthy donors were made using Mann-Whitney test (two-tailed) and Student t-test. Results: Post-treatment CD patients exhibited an altered T cell distribution with a notable increase in CD8+ T cells in PBMCs (P=0.0005), and altered frequencies of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs). Tm cells showed decreased interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) production, with significant alterations in the frequency of IFN-γ-producing CD8+ stem cell-like Tm (Tscm) cells in lesions of the MLNs from patients with CD (CD-M-Lys) compared to healthy MLNs from patients with CD (N-M-Lys) (P=0.0152). Differences in tissue-resident Tm (Trm)-cell subset frequencies were observed between the MLNs and small intestinal mucosa in CD patients. Conclusions: The treatments with anti-inflammatory agents and/or immunosuppressive drugs have a significant effect on the frequency and function of Tm-cell subsets. Clinically, these findings suggest a potential therapeutic avenue in modulating Tm-cell responses, which might be particularly beneficial for conditions where immune response modulation is crucial. Further clinical studies are warranted to explore the full therapeutic implications of these findings.

The electronic and optical properties of Cs2BX6 (B = Zr, Hf) perovskites with first-principle method.

The electronic structures and absorption properties of Cs2BX6 halide compounds are investigated with first principle calculation and exchange correlation functional of GGA-PBE. Pressure and halogen ion doping are employed to regulate band gap. All materials suffer transition from indirect to direct band gap semiconductors but with different phase transition pressure. Structural and band structure calculating results show that the value of phase transition pressure is mainly determined by the volume of octahedron. When the volume of vacancy octahedron is much less than B-ion octahedron, the lowest band point of B-d orbitals transforms to Γ point, then the indirect semiconductors transform into direct band gap semiconductors. Calculating results of optical absorption implied that the systems have obvious blue shift, which result in the optical properties reduced. Based on suitable band gap and higher absorption coefficient, Cs2ZrI4Br2 can be an ideal candidate for perovskites solar cells.

PD-1 Expression and Function of T-Cell Subsets in TILs From Human Lung Cancer.

On the basis of the autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) or genetically modified TILs for adoptive cell therapy have received more attention. Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) expression on the T cells exert complex response during the tumor immune response. But the composition and function of PD-1T-cell subsets in TILs from human lung cancer still limited. In blood and TILs from human lung cancer patients, we confirmed that PD-1 is expressed in higher levels in CD4T-cell subsets than in CD8T-cell subsets. To further analyze the function of PD-1T cells in TILs, we observed the cytokine production in different T-cell subsets. We found that higher interferon-γ and granzyme B production in CD4/CD8PD-1T-cell subsets in TILs than in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs); except for PD-1Tscm, higher tumor necrosis factor-α production was observed in PD-1T-cell subsets in TILs than in PBMCs; the expression level of interleukin-17 were lower in PD-1T cells in TILs than in PBMCs; and perforin expression was significantly reduced in CD4PD-1T cells subsets in TILs compared with peripheral blood. Clarify elucidating the composition and function of PD-1T-cell subsets in TILs will have great value in clinical application for evaluating the sensitivity to PD-1 blockade and selecting the promising candidate T-cell subsets in TILs for combination immunotherapy in human lung cancer.

Effects of Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3ß Inhibitor TWS119 on Proliferation and Cytokine Production of TILs From Human Lung Cancer.

The canonical Wnt-ß-catenin signaling pathway arrests the differentiation of T cells and plays an important role in phenotypic maintenance of naive T cells and stem cell-like memory T cells in human peripheral blood, but its effect on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) from non-small cell lung cancer is little known. In this study, we showed that glycogen synthase kinase-3ß inhibitor TWS119 has different effects on CD4 and CD8 T cells in TILs. TWS119 preserved the expansion of naive T cell and CD8 stem cell-like memory T cells, and induced CD8 effector T-cell proliferation in TILs. To further determine whether TWS119 impaired the effector function of TILs, TILs were stimulated with polyclonal stimulation, IL-2 and IFN-γ production were detected. Our data showed that TWS119 does not affect the production of IFN-γ in TILs compared with the control group; whereas TWS119 inhibited IFN-γ secretion of T cells from healthy donor. IL-2 production in CD4 central memory T cells and CD4 effector memory T cells from TILs was significantly increased with the TWS119 treatment; TWS119 also promoted the secretion of IL-2 in all cell subsets of CD8 TILs. These findings reveal that TWS119 has a distinct effect on the proliferation and cytokine production of TILs, and provide new insights into the clinical application of TILs with TWS119 treatment for the adoptive immunotherapy.

The distribution and function of human memory T cell subsets in lung cancer.

The distribution and function of T lymphocytes in human lung cancer remain limited. In this study, we investigated the properties of human T cell subsets in the blood of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. We found a relatively normal level of CD4+ subsets in the blood of NSCLC patients, but CD8+ effector T cells increased and CD8+ effector memory cells declined compared to the healthy donors. To further analyze their properties, we stimulated the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of NSCLC patients by mitogens to examine cytokine production. Our data suggest that both CD4+ and CD8+ naïve cells in NSCLC patients significantly reduced IFN-γ and TNF-α production. Additionally, fewer CD8+ effector cells produced IFN-γ and TNF-α in NSCLC patients than in healthy subjects. Moreover, similar results were observed for CD4+ or CD8+ memory cells in NSCLC patients for the production of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-17. Therefore, our results strongly suggest that the function of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in NSCLC patients is compromised or dysregulated. The development of vaccines and antitumor immunotherapy may be essential for the treatment of lung cancer patients.

The Characteristics of Naive-like T Cells in Tumor-infiltrating Lymphocytes From Human Lung Cancer.

Adoptive cell therapy using autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) or genetically modified lymphocytes from TILs is a new effective approach, but the application of TIL immunotherapy is still limited in many solid tumors. Knowledge of the classification and function of TILs is important to develop personalized immunotherapy with TILs in non-small lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, we show the characteristics of T-cell subsets in TILs isolated from NSCLC. CD3 CD8 CD45RA T cells outnumbered CD3 CD4 CD45RA T cells in CD45RA TILs, but it was the opposite in CD45RO TILs. Effector memory CD4 T cells predominated in CD4 TILs; about 10% of the stem cell-like memory T cells (Tscm) were detected in TILs. To further analyze their functions, we stimulated TILs from NSCLC patients by mitogens to examine cytokine production. Our data demonstrated that naive-phenotype T cells in TILs secret IFN-γ in abundance; TNF-α-producing T cells were significantly increased in TILs; there were more IL-17-expressing CD4 Tscm cells than other subtypes of CD4T cells in TILs. Our findings indicate that the CD4/CD8 naive-phenotype T cells and Tscm cells in TILs from lung cancer exhibit distinct composition and strong cytokine production. Attributes of Tscm cells from a naive-like T-cell population in TILs are the promising cell type for adoptive cell therapy in human lung cancer.

The Distribution of Human Stem Cell-like Memory T Cell in Lung Cancer.

Human stem cell-like memory T (Tscm) cells are long-lived, self-renewing memory lymphocytes that can differentiate into effector cells and mediate strong antitumour response in murine model. The distribution and function of Tscm cells in human lung cancer remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the properties of human Tscm cells in the blood and lymph node of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. There were more CD4 Tscm cells in blood from NSCLC patients than from healthy donors, fewer CD4 and CD8 TSCM cells in blood than in lymph node from NSCLC patients. To further analyze their properties, we stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from NSCLC patients by mitogens to examine cytokine production. Our data suggest that both CD4 and CD8 Tscm cells in blood produced interferon-γ significantly increased in NSCLC patients compare with healthy subjects. In addition, fewer Tscm cells produced interferon-γ in lymph node than in blood from NSCLC patients. Our results strongly suggest that the distribution and function of CD4 Tscm cells in NSCLC patients is upregulated. Understanding of the properties of stem-like memory T cells will supply a good rationale for designing the new adoptive immunotherapy in cancer.