Light-activated hypoxia-sensitive biomimetic decoy efficiently cascading photodynamic-chemo therapy for breast cancer.

The hypoxic microenvironment within the tumor microenvironment of breast cancer imposes a challenge in overcoming chemotherapy resistance. In this investigation, we designed a novel strategy utilizing a light-controlled cascade targeting nanomedicine specifically tailored for enhanced immune therapy of breast cancer. Albumin nanoparticle was achieved by crosslinking, followed by loading TPZ and Ce6, and subsequent modification to enable selective binding with CD44 hyaluronic acid to form nanomedicine. Encouragingly, it was demonstrated the remarkable ability of the nanomedicine to effectively internalize into cellular entities, thereby inducing apoptosis in 4T1 cells efficiently in vitro when exposed to light irradiation. In vivo assessments showcased the exceptional aptitude of the nanomedicine not only for preferential accumulation within tumor tissues, but also for substantial suppression of tumor growth. Immune mechanisms have shown that nanomedicine treatment promoted the maturation of DCs in vivo, enhanced the proportion of CD8+ T cells in the spleen and tumor, and simultaneously upregulated the ratio of M1 macrophages favorable for anti-tumor effects. These outcomes collectively advance a fresh perspective for the clinical breast cancer therapy.

Accuracy of FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring in patients with type 2 diabetes who migrated from highlands to plains.

BACKGROUND: The FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring (FGM) system entered the Chinese market in 2017 to complement the self-monitoring of blood glucose. Due to its increased usage in clinics, the number of studies investigating its accuracy has increased. However, its accuracy has not been investigated in highland popu-lations in China. AIM: To evaluate measurements recorded using the FreeStyle Libre FGM system compared with capillary blood glucose measured using the enzyme electrode method in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who had migrated within 3 mo from highlands to plains. METHODS: Overall, 68 patients with T2D, selected from those who had recently migrated from highlands to plains (within 3 mo), were hospitalized at the Department of Endocrinology from August to October 2017 and underwent continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) with the FreeStyle Libre FGM system for 14 d. Throughout the study period, fingertip capillary blood glucose was measured daily using the enzyme electrode method (Super GL, China), and blood glucose levels were read from the scanning probe during fasting and 2 h after all three meals. Moreover, the time interval between reading the data from the scanning probe and collecting fingertip capillary blood was controlled to < 5 min. The accuracy of the FGM system was evaluated according to the CGM guidelines. Subsequently, the factors influencing the mean absolute relative difference (MARD) of this system were analyzed by a multiple linear regression method. RESULTS: Pearson's correlation analysis showed that the fingertip and scanned glucose levels were positively correlated (R = 0.86, P = 0.00). The aggregated MARD of scanned glucose was 14.28 ± 13.40%. Parker's error analysis showed that 99.30% of the data pairs were located in areas A and B. According to the probe wear time of the FreeStyle Libre FGM system, MARD1 d and MARD2-14 d were 16.55% and 14.35%, respectively (t = 1.23, P = 0.22). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that MARD did not correlate with blood glucose when the largest amplitude of glycemic excursion (LAGE) was < 5.80 mmol/L but negatively correlated with blood glucose when the LAGE was ≥ 5.80 mmol/L. CONCLUSION: The FreeStyle Libre FGM system has good accuracy in patients with T2D who had recently migrated from highlands to plains. This system might be ideal for avoiding the effects of high hematocrit on blood glucose monitoring in populations that recently migrated to plains. MARD is mainly influenced by glucose levels and fluctuations, and the accuracy of the system is higher when the blood glucose fluctuation is small. In case of higher blood glucose level fluctuations, deviation in the scanned glucose levels is the highest at extremely low blood glucose levels.

Interferon-α stimulates DExH-box helicase 58 to prevent hepatocyte ferroptosis.

BACKGROUND: Liver ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is usually caused by hepatic inflow occlusion during liver surgery, and is frequently observed during war wounds and trauma. Hepatocyte ferroptosis plays a critical role in liver I/R injury, however, it remains unclear whether this process is controlled or regulated by members of the DEAD/DExH-box helicase (DDX/DHX) family. METHODS: The expression of DDX/DHX family members during liver I/R injury was screened using transcriptome analysis. Hepatocyte-specific Dhx58 knockout mice were constructed, and a partial liver I/R operation was performed. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) in the liver post I/R suggested enhanced ferroptosis by Dhx58hep-/-. The mRNAs and proteins associated with DExH-box helicase 58 (DHX58) were screened using RNA immunoprecipitation-sequencing (RIP-seq) and IP-mass spectrometry (IP-MS). RESULTS: Excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) decreased the expression of the IFN-stimulated gene Dhx58 in hepatocytes and promoted hepatic ferroptosis, while treatment using IFN-α increased DHX58 expression and prevented ferroptosis during liver I/R injury. Mechanistically, DHX58 with RNA-binding activity constitutively associates with the mRNA of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), a central ferroptosis suppressor, and recruits the m6A reader YT521-B homology domain containing 2 (YTHDC2) to promote the translation of Gpx4 mRNA in an m6A-dependent manner, thus enhancing GPX4 protein levels and preventing hepatic ferroptosis. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides mechanistic evidence that IFN-α stimulates DHX58 to promote the translation of m6A-modified Gpx4 mRNA, suggesting the potential clinical application of IFN-α in the prevention of hepatic ferroptosis during liver I/R injury.

Clinical significance of BRD-containing protein members in hepatocellular carcinoma progression / 中国肿瘤生物治疗杂志

@#目的：通过检索挖掘多个肿瘤公共数据库中肝细胞癌（hepatocellular carcinoma，HCC）的相关数据，从转录本、蛋白质、基因突变、蛋白相互作用及相应的信号通路和功能富集等不同层面，揭示BRD（bromodomain）蛋白家族与HCC的相关性，探索BRD蛋白家族作为HCC的肿瘤进展及预后判断的潜在生物标志物价值。方法：从UALCAN数据库中获取BRD蛋白家族所有成员在HCC患者组织样本中的mRNA表达数据和患者临床信息并进行相关性分析。从TCGA数据库中获取BRD蛋白家族mRNA表达水平与HCC患者预后的数据并进行相关性分析。从The Human Protein Atlas数据库中获取BRD蛋白家族在HCC组织和正常肝组织中的免疫组化结果并进行对比分析。使用STRING数据库获取BRD蛋白家族的相互作用蛋白网络，并利用CYTOSCAPE软件对获取的相互作用蛋白进行KEGG和GO分析。结果：BRD家族7个成员均在HCC组织中高表达（P<0.01），并且与HCC患者肿瘤分级和临床分期正相关（P<0.01）,同时BRD8和BRD9的低表达提示HCC患者预后较好（P<0.05）。BRD相互作用蛋白主要参与组蛋白乙酰化修饰，并高度富集于HCC相关的信号通路。TP53基因突变HCC患者的BRD1、BRD3、BRD4、BRD7、BRD8和BRD9表达水平显著高于非突变患者（P<0.05）。结论：BRD蛋白家族分子能够作为HCC患者肿瘤分级、临床分期和预后判断的潜在靶标。

Research progress on the regulatory mechanism of hepatic inflammation-induced carcinogenesis / 中国肿瘤生物治疗杂志

@#Uncontrolled chronic inflammation plays key roles in the carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Among the risk factors of HCC, such as chronic viral hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and so on, the occurrence and development of uncontrolled chronic inflammation are the core factors of HCC. The damaged or dead hepatocytes generated during the process of chronic inflammation may lead to the activation of immune cells in the liver, resulting in hepatic inflammation. Chronic and prolonged liver inflammation promotes the occurrence of cancer. During this process, different injuries or death patterns of hepatocytes and progression of inflammation caused by activation of different immune cells play different roles in hepatic carcinogenesis, involving multiple pathological or pathophysiological processes such as liver injury, inflammation, and compensatory proliferation, as well as function alteration of various cells, signaling pathways, and regulatory molecules. Further studies on the regulatory mechanisms of hepatic inflammation-induced carcinogenesis are helpful to provide theoretical basis for the intervention of occurrence of HCC. This review focused on the research progress of regulatory mechanisms involved in the hepatic inflammation-induced carcinogenesis.