Evolving CAR T-Cell Therapy to Overcome the Barriers in Treating Pediatric Central Nervous System Tumors.

CNS tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related death in children, highlighting the dire need for new treatment strategies. CAR T cells represent a unique approach, distinct from the cytotoxic chemotherapies and small-molecule inhibitors that have dominated the clinical trial space for decades. Phase I CAR T-cell trials have shown feasibility and possible efficacy against pediatric CNS tumors; however, many challenges must be overcome if these therapeutics are going to be beneficial to most affected children.

Identification of PTGR2 inhibitors as a new therapeutic strategy for diabetes and obesity.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is a master transcriptional regulator of systemic insulin sensitivity and energy balance. The anti-diabetic drug thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are potent synthetic PPARγ ligands with undesirable side effects, including obesity, fluid retention, and osteoporosis. 15-keto prostaglandin E2 (15-keto-PGE2) is an endogenous PPARγ ligand metabolized by prostaglandin reductase 2 (PTGR2).

Association of exosomes in patients with compromised myocardial perfusion on functional imaging.

Background: Exosomes are membrane vesicles that are actively secreted in response to microenvironmental stimuli. In this study, we quantified the amount of exosomes in patients with significant coronary artery disease (CAD) and evaluated its relationship with myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) results.

Methods: Patients who underwent both MPI and coronary angiography were recruited.

ER ribosomal-binding protein 1 regulates blood pressure and potassium homeostasis by modulating intracellular renin trafficking.

Background: Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have linked RRBP1 (ribosomal-binding protein 1) genetic variants to atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases and serum lipoprotein levels. However, how RRBP1 regulates blood pressure is unknown.

Methods: To identify genetic variants associated with blood pressure, we performed a genome-wide linkage analysis with regional fine mapping in the Stanford Asia-Pacific Program for Hypertension and Insulin Resistance (SAPPHIRe) cohort.

Association between Exosomal miRNAs and Coronary Artery Disease by Next-Generation Sequencing.

Background: Among various bio-informative molecules transferred by exosomes between cells, micro RNAs (miRNAs), which remain remarkably stable even after freeze-and-thaw cycles, are excellent candidates for potential biomarkers for coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: Blood samples were collected from the coronary arteries of 214 patients diagnosed with three-vessel CAD and 140 without CAD. After precipitation extraction, the amounts of exosomes were found to decrease with increased age and three-vessel CAD.

Proteoglycan serglycin promotes non-small cell lung cancer cell migration through the interaction of its glycosaminoglycans with CD44.

Background: Serglycin (SRGN), previously recognized as an intracellular proteoglycan involved in the storage processes of secretory granules, has recently been shown to be upregulated in several solid tumors. We have previously shown that SRGN in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) promotes malignant phenotypes in a CD44-dependent manner and increased expression of SRGN predicts poor prognosis of primary lung adenocarcinomas. However, the underlying mechanism remains to be defined.