Senescent fibroblasts secrete CTHRC1 to promote cancer stemness in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Cellular senescence plays a significant role in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Substantial evidence indicates that senescence occurs in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), the predominant stromal component within the tumor microenvironment (TME), which profoundly impacts tumor biology. However, despite growing evidence of stromal cell involvement in cancer progression, the specific mechanisms and clinical implications of senescent CAFs (SCAFs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not been fully elucidated.

HIF-1α/miR-185 axis regulates lipid accumulation and metabolism involved in alcohol-related liver disease in mice.

Hypoxia is a major driver of alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD), with hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) central to this response. Emerging evidence suggests HIF-1α regulates hepatic lipid metabolism via microRNA-185 (miR-185), though the mechanism remains unclear. This work aims to unravel the molecular mechanisms by which the HIF-1α/miR-185 pathway regulates lipid uptake and transport in ARLD, and to explore its potential as a therapeutic target.

Anti-CTGF/PD-1 bispecific antibody Y126S restrains desmoplastic and immunosuppressive microenvironment in pancreatic cancer.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by a desmoplastic and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), limiting the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1).

Methods: This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of Y126S, a recombinant IgG1/IgG2 hybrid bispecific antibody (BsAb), in reshaping the immunotherapy-resistant TME in PDAC. Orthotopic PDAC and KPC (Kras; Trp53; Pdx1-Cre) mouse models were established and treated with Y126S, α-connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), α-PD-1, or a combination of α-CTGF and α-PD-1.

Regulation of HDL metabolism in alcohol-associated liver disease: the role of HIF-1α and miR-185 in SR-BI suppression.

Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) results from excessive alcohol consumption, leading to liver damage such as steatosis and inflammation. Hypoxia and altered lipid metabolism contribute to ALD pathogenesis. HIF-1α, a key hypoxia regulator, and miR-185, a microRNA associated with ALD, are potential contributors to the disease.

PPY-Induced iCAFs Cultivate an Immunosuppressive Microenvironment in Pancreatic Cancer.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by cancer cells surrounded by affluent stromal components, which may underlie their limited response to various therapeutic interventions, including immunotherapy. Inflammatory cancer-associated fibroblasts (iCAFs), a crucial subset of CAFs within the PDAC microenvironment, play a pivotal role in shaping an immunosuppressive microenvironment. In this study, single-cell RNA sequencing analysis is performed to screen for cancer cells-secreted proteins associated with iCAF induction, and PPY (pancreatic polypeptide) is validated as a potent inducer.

Establishing a new-onset diabetes-related metabolism signature for predicting the prognosis and immune landscape in pancreatic cancer.

New-onset diabetes (NOD) is a common condition among patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) and is related to poor clinical outcomes. The potential impact of NOD on PAAD progression and the tumor microenvironment remains unclear. Here, we revealed that NOD in PAAD was associated with metabolic disorders.

Information consumption city and carbon emission efficiency: Evidence from China's quasi-natural experiment.

The transformation of public consumption patterns has become a burning question, but there are few studies on public consumption patterns. Therefore, evaluating the impact of Information consumption city (ICC) policy on carbon emission efficiency holds significant implications. This study settles on 104 pilot cities in China from 2006 to 2020 to assess the impact and the response mechanism of ICC policy on carbon emission efficiency through the time-vary Difference-in-Difference (DID) model.

The stromal-tumor amplifying STC1-Notch1 feedforward signal promotes the stemness of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), an important component of the tumor microenvironment (TME), play crucial roles in tumor stemness. It has been shown in various cancer studies that stanniocalcin-1 (STC1) is secreted by CAFs, however, its function in HCC is still not clear.

Methods: The serum concentration and intracellular expression level of STC1 were quantified by ELISA and western blotting, respectively.

The role of B cells in COVID-19 infection and vaccination.

B cells secrete antibodies and mediate the humoral immune response, making them extremely important in protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2, which caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In this review, we summarize the positive function and pathological response of B cells in SARS-CoV-2 infection and re-infection. Then, we structure the immunity responses that B cells mediated in peripheral tissues.

LPS-TLR4/MD-2-TNF-α signaling mediates alcohol-induced liver fibrosis in rats.

Liver fibrosis results from liver inflammation and progresses to liver cirrhosis or liver cancer. It is known that nonalcoholic liver disease is mediated by the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor-2 (MD-2)-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) signaling pathway. This study aimed to investigate whether alcoholic liver disease is also mediated by this pathway.

Immunopontentiating and antitumor activities of a polysaccharide from Pulsatilla chinensis (Bunge) Regel.

One water-soluble polysaccharide (PCPw) was isolated and purified from the roots of Pulsatilla chinensis by DEAE cellulose-52 and Sephadex G-100 column chromatography, and its antitumor activity was evaluated on 4T1 tumor-bearing mice through transplantable animal tumor. After 10 days of PCPw (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) treatment once daily in tumor-bearing mice, PCPw oral administration could not only significantly inhibit the growth of transplantable 4T1 tumor in mice but also promote concanavalin A (Con A), lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated splenocytes proliferation, the serum lysozyme level and 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions, especially at the dose of 100 mg/kg. Meanwhile, significant improvements in peripheral blood abnormality and anemia were observed in PCPw-treated group.