Tumor-associated Macrophage-derived Interleukin-23 Interlinks Kidney Cancer Glutamine Addiction with Immune Evasion

Background

Glutamine addiction is a hallmark of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC); yet whether glutamine metabolism impacts local immune surveillance is unclear. This knowledge may yield novel immunotherapeutic opportunities.

Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) levels inversely correlate with lung function improvement (delta FEV1) in cystic fibrosis patients receiving ivacaftor treatment

Background

We have recently shown that human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) levels correlate with the severity of cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease. However, there are no data on how HE4 levels alter in patients receiving CFTR modulating therapy.

Decoding Bone Marrow Fibrosis in Myelodysplastic Syndromes

BackgroundBone marrow fibrosis (BMF), a poor prognostic factor in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), in the context of new risk stratifications of MDS has not been fully explored. We examined the relationship between BMF in MDS and survival outcomes, and explored the landscape of somatic gene mutations in the setting of BMF.Patients and MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated 2624 MDS patients for BMF who were divided into 2 groups: grade 0-2 BMF (96%) and severe/grade 3 BMF (4%) based on analysis presented. Commonly MDS tested acquired somatic mutations were also compared between those 2 groups of patients with available next-generation sequencing data.ResultsOnly grade 3 BMF was associated with worse overall survival independent from the Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R) (hazard ratio = 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-1.9; P < .005). More patients with severe BMF were classified as MDS-EB1 and -EB2 by the World Health Organization 2016 classification, a higher-risk International Prognostic Scoring System score, and a high/very high IPSS-R risk category than patients with grade 0-2 BMF. A complex karyotype, higher bone marrow myeloblasts, lower platelets, and higher rate of elevated lactate dehydrogenase were observed more often in patients with severe BMF. No differences in response to hypomethylating agents or lenalidomide were observed. Among somatic gene mutations tested in MDS, TP53 mutation and SETBP1 were more frequent in patients with grade 3 BMF.ConclusionThe presence of grade 3 BMF is associated with reduced overall survival independent from IPSS-R; however, BMF grade did not affect response to hypomethylating agent or lenalidomide treatment. TP53 and SETBP1 mutations occurred with greater frequency among patients with severe fibrosis.     

桑根酮C对博莱霉素诱导小鼠肺纤维化改善作用及机制研究

目的观察桑根酮C对博莱霉素诱导的小鼠肺纤维化的影响,并探讨其可能的作用机制。方法 C57BL/6小鼠随机分为4组,即假手术组、模型组和桑根酮C(100、50 mg/kg)组,每组20只。假手术组小鼠气管内注射生理盐水,模型组小鼠气管内注射博莱霉素诱导肺纤维化模型。术后第4天开始给药,连续给药28d后检测小鼠呼吸功能;检测肺内羟脯氨酸含量;HE染色观察肺内炎症表现;Masson染色观察肺内胶原活性;免疫组化法检测肺内转化生长因子-β1(TGF-β1)蛋白表达量;免疫蛋白印迹法检测肺内α平滑肌肌动蛋白(α-SMA)、核转录因子-κB p65(NF-κB p65)、磷酸化的核转录因子-κB p65(p-NF-κB p65)、Ⅰ型胶原和Ⅲ型胶原表达量。结果与模型组比较,桑根酮C能够改善经博莱霉素诱导形成肺纤维化后小鼠的呼吸功能,能够明显降低肺内羟脯氨酸含量,明显减轻肺内炎症和胶原沉积,肺内TGF-β1、α-SMA、NF-κBp65、p-NF-κBp65、Ⅰ型胶原和Ⅲ型胶原蛋白表达量明显降低。结论桑根酮C能够明显改善博莱霉素诱导小鼠肺纤维化,改善呼吸功能,其机制可能与抑制TGF-β1过表达和降低炎症转录因子NF-κB及磷酸化表达有关。