Carbon-Coated Silver Nanoparticles for Highly Robust Chloride Capture in Electrochemical Desalination and Lithium Recovery.

In recent years, electrochemical desalination and resource recovery processes have gained significant attention as means of utilizing waters, wherein the majority of anionic species are chloride ions. There have been research efforts to develop high-performance electrode materials for the chloride uptake. Silver with extremely fast kinetics is an ideal option, but the cost and stability issues are yet to be resolved.

Amino acids in cancer: Understanding metabolic plasticity and divergence for better therapeutic approaches.

Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of malignant transformation. While initial studies in the field of cancer metabolism focused on central carbon metabolism, the field has expanded to metabolism beyond glucose and glutamine and uncovered the important role of amino acids in tumorigenesis and tumor immunity as energy sources, signaling molecules, and precursors for (epi)genetic modification. As a result of the development and application of new technologies, a multifaceted picture has emerged, showing that context-dependent heterogeneity in amino acid metabolism exists between tumors and even within distinct regions of solid tumors.

High-precision extracellular-vesicle isolation-analysis integrated platform for rapid cancer diagnosis directly from blood plasma.

Cancer-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) in body fluids hold promise as biomarkers for cancer diagnosis. For sEV-based liquid biopsy, isolation of sEVs with a high-purity and cancer-sEV detection with an extremely high sensitivity are essential because body fluids include much higher density of normal-cell-derived sEVs and other biomolecules and bioparticles. Here, we propose an isolation-analysis-integrated cancer-diagnosis platform based on dielectrophoresis(DEP)-ELISA technique which enables a three orders of magnitude higher sensitivity over conventional ELISA method and direct cancer diagnosis from blood plasma with high accuracy.

Extracellular vesicle isolation and counting system (EVics) based on simultaneous tandem tangential flow filtration and large field-of-view light scattering.

Although the isolation and counting of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are essential steps in sEV research, an integrated method with scalability and efficiency has not been developed. Here, we present a scalable and ready-to-use extracellular vesicle (EV) isolation and counting system (EVics) that simultaneously allows isolation and counting in one system. This novel system consists of (i) EVi, a simultaneous tandem tangential flow filtration (TFF)-based EV isolation component by applying two different pore-size TFF filters, and (ii) EVc, an EV counting component using light scattering that captures a large field-of-view (FOV).

Cathepsin D promotes polarization of tumor-associated macrophages and metastasis through TGFBI-CCL20 signaling.

M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are risk factors for cancer progression and metastasis. However, the mechanisms underlying their polarization are still not fully understood. Although cathepsin D (Cat D) has been reported as a procarcinogenic factor, little is known about the functional role of Cat D in the tumor microenvironment (TME).

The Impact of (COVID)-19 on Beverage Purchasing Behaviors in Korea.

In this study, we examined changes in purchase behavior of alcoholic beverages (ie, soju, beer, wine, traditional Korean liquor, and liquor) and non-alcoholic beverages (ie, fruit and vegetable juices, coffee, tea, bottled water, milk, yogurt, and plant-based milk) before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Monthly beverage expenditure data, based on Korean household demographic information, was used for 3 years and 6 months. The 2-part model was used for analysis.

Yam-derived exosome-like nanovesicles stimulate osteoblast formation and prevent osteoporosis in mice.

Plants-releasing exosome-like nanovesicles (PENs) contain miRNA, bioactive lipids, mRNAs, and proteins to exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative activity. Substances extracted from yams have been reported to promote osteoblast growth in bone regeneration, which prevent weak and brittle bones in osteoporosis. Herein, we describe the beneficial effects of yam-derived exosome-like nanovesicles (YNVs) on promoting differentiation and mineralization of osteoblasts for bone regeneration in ovariectomized (OVX)-induced osteoporotic mice.

Reprogramming of T cell-derived small extracellular vesicles using IL2 surface engineering induces potent anti-cancer effects through miRNA delivery.

T cell-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) exhibit anti-cancer effects. However, their anti-cancer potential should be reinforced to enhance clinical applicability. Herein, we generated interleukin-2-tethered sEVs (IL2-sEVs) from engineered Jurkat T cells expressing IL2 at the plasma membrane via a flexible linker to induce an autocrine effect.

Dissecting exosome inhibitors: therapeutic insights into small-molecule chemicals against cancer.

Intensive research in the field of cancer biology has revealed unique methods of communication between cells through extracellular vesicles called exosomes. Exosomes are released from a broad spectrum of cell types and serve as functional mediators under physiological or pathological conditions. Hence, blocking the release of exosome bio carriers may prove useful for slowing the progression of certain types of cancers.

Temsirolimus Enhances Anti-Cancer Immunity by Inducing Autophagy-Mediated Degradation of the Secretion of Small Extracellular Vesicle PD-L1.

Tumor-derived small extracellular vesicle (sEV) programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) contributes to the low reactivity of cells to immune checkpoint blockade therapy (ICBT), because sEV PD-L1 binds to programmed death 1 (PD-1) in immune cells. However, there are no commercially available anti-cancer drugs that activate immune cells by inhibiting tumor-derived sEV PD-L1 secretion and cellular PD-L1. Here, we aimed to investigate if temsirolimus (TEM) inhibits both sEV PD-L1 and cellular PD-L1 levels in MDA-MB-231 cells.

Atorvastatin Enhances the Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Therapy and Suppresses the Cellular and Extracellular Vesicle PD-L1.

According to clinical studies, statins improve the efficacy of programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) blockade therapy for breast cancer; however, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Herein, we showed that atorvastatin (ATO) decreased the content of PD-L1 in extracellular vesicles (EVs) by reducing cellular PD-L1 expression and inhibiting EV secretion in breast cancer cells, thereby enhancing the efficacy of anti-PD-L1 therapy. ATO reduced EV secretion by regulating the Rab proteins involved in EV biogenesis and secretion.

Plum Prevents Intestinal and Hepatic Inflammation in the Acute and Chronic Models of Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Mouse Colitis.

Scope: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronic recurrent inflammatory disease of the digestive tract and increases the risk of colon cancer.

Method And Results: This study evaluates the effects of dietary intervention with freeze-dried plum (FDP), a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory fruit with no toxicity on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute and chronic experimental colitis in a mouse model and studies the molecular mechanisms of protection through the gut-liver axis. The results show that FDP decreases the levels of inflammatory mediators, which is a nitrative stress biomarker in both acute and chronic models.

Macitentan improves antitumor immune responses by inhibiting the secretion of tumor-derived extracellular vesicle PD-L1.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) carrying tumor cell-derived programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) interact with programmed death 1 (PD-1)-producing T cells, thus significantly lowering a patient's response to immune checkpoint blockade drugs. No drug that reinvigorates CD8+ T cells by suppressing EV PD-L1 has been approved for clinical usage. Here we have identified macitentan (MAC), an FDA-approved oral drug, as a robust booster of antitumor responses in CD8+ T cells by suppressing tumor cell-derived EV PD-L1.

Sulfisoxazole Elicits Robust Antitumour Immune Response Along with Immune Checkpoint Therapy by Inhibiting Exosomal PD-L1.

Despite their potent antitumor activity, clinical application of immune checkpoint inhibitors has been significantly limited by their poor response rates (<30%) in cancer patients, primarily due to immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments. As a representative immune escape mechanism, cancer-derived exosomes have recently been demonstrated to exhaust CD8 cytotoxic T cells. Here, it is reported that sulfisoxazole, a sulfonamide antibacterial, significantly decreases the exosomal PD-L1 level in blood when orally administered to the tumor-bearing mice.

Identification of a novel non-invasive biological marker to overcome the shortcomings of PSA in diagnosis and risk stratification for prostate cancer: Initial prospective study of developmental endothelial locus-1 protein.

Objective: This prospective study sought to clarify the developmental endothelial locus-1 (Del-1) protein as values of diagnosis and risk stratification of prostate cancer (PCa).

Design: From February 2017 to December 2019, a total 458 patients who underwent transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy or surgery of benign prostatic hyperplasia agreed to research of Del-1 protein. We prospectively compared and analyzed the Del-1 protein and prostate specific antigen (PSA) in relation to the patients' demographic and clinicopathological characteristics.

Potential urinary extracellular vesicle protein biomarkers of chronic active antibody-mediated rejection in kidney transplant recipients.

The aim of this study was to identify potential proteomic biomarkers for chronic active antibody-mediated rejection (CAMR) in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Among 385 KTRs enrolled in a cross-sectional multicenter study, 26 KTRs with biopsy-proven CAMR, 57 KTRs with long-term graft survival (LGS), and 10 rejection-free matched KTRs were included. A proteomic approach was employed to measure urinary extracellular vesicle (EV) changes in the KTRs.

Sulfisoxazole inhibits the secretion of small extracellular vesicles by targeting the endothelin receptor A.

Inhibitors of the secretion of cancer exosomes, which promote cancer progression and metastasis, may not only accelerate exosome biology research but also offer therapeutic benefits for cancer patients. Here we identify sulfisoxazole (SFX) as an inhibitor of small extracellular vesicles (sEV) secretion from breast cancer cells through interference with endothelin receptor A (ETA). SFX, an FDA-approved oral antibiotic, showed significant anti-tumor and anti-metastatic effects in mouse models of breast cancer xenografts, the reduced expression of proteins involved in biogenesis and secretion of sEV, and triggered co-localization of multivesicular endosomes with lysosomes for degradation.

Discovery of a diagnostic biomarker for colon cancer through proteomic profiling of small extracellular vesicles.

Background: Small extracellular vesicles (small-EVs) are membranous vesicles that contain unique information regarding the condition of cells and contribute to the recruitment and reprogramming of components associated with the tumor environment. Therefore, many researchers have suggested that small-EV proteins are potential biomarkers for diseases such as cancer. Colon cancer (CC) is one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide.

Novel urinary exosomal biomarkers of acute T cell-mediated rejection in kidney transplant recipients: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Acute rejection is hazardous to graft survival in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). We aimed to identify novel biomarkers for early diagnosis of acute T cell-mediated rejection (TCMR) in urinary exosomes of KTRs.

Methods: Among 458 graft biopsies enrolled in a cross-sectional multicenter study, 22 patients with stable graft function (STA) who had not shown pathologic abnormality and 25 patients who diagnosed biopsy-proven TCMR were analyzed.

Investigation of the molecular mechanism of δ-catenin ubiquitination: Implication of β-TrCP-1 as a potential E3 ligase.

Ubiquitination, a post-translational modification, involves the covalent attachment of ubiquitin to the target protein. The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and the endosome-lysosome pathway control the degradation of the majority of eukaryotic proteins. Our previous study illustrated that δ-catenin ubiquitination occurs in a glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) phosphorylation-dependent manner.