Exosome-derived ENO1 regulates integrin α6β4 expression and promotes hepatocellular carcinoma growth and metastasis

Alpha-enolase (ENO1) has been found to be dysregulated in several human malignancies, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although the role of ENO1 as a glycolytic enzyme in HCC cells has been well characterized, little is known about the other roles of ENO1, especially exosome-derived ENO1, in regulating HCC progression. Here, we demonstrated that ENO1 is frequently upregulated in HCC cells or tissues, with even higher expression in highly metastatic HCC cells or metastatic tissues as well as in exosomes derived from highly metastatic sources. Moreover, ENO1 expression is associated with the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, differentiation grade and poor prognosis in HCC patients. Surprisingly, ENO1 can be transferred between HCC cells via exosome-mediated crosstalk, exhibiting an effect similar to that of ENO1 overexpression in HCC cells, which promoted the growth and metastasis of HCC cells with low ENO1 expression by upregulating integrin α6β4 expression and activating the FAK/Src-p38MAPK pathway. In summary, our data suggest that exosome-derived ENO1 is essential to promoting HCC growth, metastasis, and further patient deterioration. The findings from this study implicate a novel biomarker for the clinical evaluation of HCC progression, especially the prediction of HCC metastatic risk.

Measurement of the Low-Energy Antideuteron Inelastic Cross Section

In this Letter, we report the first measurement of the inelastic cross section for antideuteron-nucleus interactions at low particle momenta, covering a range of 0.3≤p<4  GeV/c. The measurement is carried out using p-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon-nucleon pair of sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV, recorded with the ALICE detector at the CERN LHC and utilizing the detector material as an absorber for antideuterons and antiprotons. The extracted raw primary antiparticle-to-particle ratios are compared to the results from detailed ALICE simulations based on the geant4 toolkit for the propagation of (anti)particles through the detector material. The analysis of the raw primary (anti)proton spectra serves as a benchmark for this study, since their hadronic interaction cross sections are well constrained experimentally. The first measurement of the inelastic cross section for antideuteron-nucleus interactions averaged over the ALICE detector material with atomic mass numbers ⟨A⟩=17.4 and 31.8 is obtained. The measured inelastic cross section points to a possible excess with respect to the Glauber model parametrization used in geant4 in the lowest momentum interval of 0.3≤p<0.47  GeV/c up to a factor 2.1. This result is relevant for the understanding of antimatter propagation and the contributions to antinuclei production from cosmic ray interactions within the interstellar medium. In addition, the momentum range covered by this measurement is of particular importance to evaluate signal predictions for indirect dark-matter searches.

Liraglutide promotes apoptosis of HepG2 cells by activating JNK signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect and mechanism of liraglutide on the apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

HepG2 cell was treated with different concentrations of liraglutide at 0, 1, 10, 100, and 1000 nmol/L. The effect of liraglutide on HepG2 proliferation was detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) method; the effect of liraglutide on the protein expression of c-Jun NH2-terminal Kinase (JNK) and phosphorylated JNK (p-JNK) was detected by Western blot; the degree of HepG2 apoptosis was observed by flow cytometry, and JNK pathway blocker SP600125 was used to further confirm that liraglutide promoted HepG2 apoptosis by regulating JNK signaling pathway.

RESULTS

The proliferation inhibition rate of HepG2 cells increased with time and the increase in the concentration of liraglutide. The proliferation inhibition rate was the strongest when cultured for 48 h, and the IC50 (half maximal inhibitory concentration) was about 100 nmol/L of liraglutide. 100 nmol/L liraglutide was selected as the intervention condition for subsequent use of SP600165. The apoptosis rate of HepG2 cells increased with the increase of liraglutide's concentration. The apoptosis rate of HepG2 cells at blocker SP600125+100 nmol/L liraglutide was significantly lower than that at 100 nmol/L liraglutide alone (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the expression of JNK protein in HepG2 cells at different concentrations of liraglutide (p>0.05). There was no significant difference in the expression of JNK protein in HepG2 cells using JNK pathway blocker SP600125 (p>0.05), while using JNK pathway blocker SP600125 significantly up-regulated the expression of p-JNK protein in HepG2 cells than 100 nmol/L of liraglutide alone (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Liraglutide can promote the apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner, and its mechanism may act by promoting the activation of the JNK signaling pathway.

Probing the Effects of Strong Electromagnetic Fields with Charge-Dependent Directed Flow in Pb-Pb Collisions at the LHC

The first measurement at the LHC of charge-dependent directed flow (v_{1}) relative to the spectator plane is presented for Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV. Results are reported for charged hadrons and D^{0} mesons for the transverse momentum intervals p_{T}>0.2  GeV/c and 3<p_{T}<6  GeV/c in the 5%-40% and 10%-40% centrality classes, respectively. The difference between the positively and negatively charged hadron v_{1} has a positive slope as a function of pseudorapidity η, dΔv_{1}/dη=[1.68±0.49(stat)±0.41(syst)]×10^{-4}. The same measurement for D^{0} and D[over ¯]^{0} mesons yields a positive value dΔv_{1}/dη=[4.9±1.7(stat)±0.6(syst)]×10^{-1}, which is about 3 orders of magnitude larger than the one of the charged hadrons. These measurements can provide new insights into the effects of the strong electromagnetic field and the initial tilt of matter created in noncentral heavy ion collisions on the dynamics of light (u, d, and s) and heavy (c) quarks. The large difference between the observed Δv_{1} of charged hadrons and D^{0} mesons may reflect different sensitivity of the charm and light quarks to the early time dynamics of a heavy ion collision. These observations challenge some recent theoretical calculations, which predicted a negative and an order of magnitude smaller value of dΔv_{1}/dη for both light flavor and charmed hadrons.

Evidence of Spin-Orbital Angular Momentum Interactions in Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collisions

The first evidence of spin alignment of vector mesons (K^{*0} and ϕ) in heavy-ion collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is reported. The spin density matrix element ρ_{00} is measured at midrapidity (|y|<0.5) in Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy (sqrt[s_{NN}]) of 2.76 TeV with the ALICE detector. ρ_{00} values are found to be less than 1/3 (1/3 implies no spin alignment) at low transverse momentum (p_{T}<2  GeV/c) for K^{*0} and ϕ at a level of 3σ and 2σ, respectively. No significant spin alignment is observed for the K_{S}^{0} meson (spin=0) in Pb-Pb collisions and for the vector mesons in pp collisions. The measured spin alignment is unexpectedly large but qualitatively consistent with the expectation from models which attribute it to a polarization of quarks in the presence of angular momentum in heavy-ion collisions and a subsequent hadronization by the process of recombination.

THU0188 EFFICACY OF FILGOTINIB IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS WITH POOR PROGNOSTIC FACTORS: POST HOC ANALYSIS OF FINCH 3

Background:

Patients (pts) with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with poor prognostic factors (PPF) are at risk for RA progression if disease activity is not rapidly controlled. In FINCH 3 (NCT02886728), filgotinib (FIL)—an oral, potent, selective JAK1 inhibitor—was effective relative to methotrexate monotherapy (MTX mono) in MTX-naïve patients with ≥1 PPF—erosions, seropositivity for rheumatoid factor (RF) or anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP), or hsCRP ≥4 mg/L.1

Objectives:

This post hoc analysis examined FIL efficacy in FINCH 3 pts with multiple PPF.

Methods:

The global, phase 3, double-blind, active-controlled FINCH 3 study randomised MTX-naïve pts with moderately to severely active RA 2:1:1:2 to oral FIL 200 mg once daily + MTX ≤20 mg weekly, FIL 100 mg + MTX, FIL 200 mg mono, or PBO + MTX up to week (W)52. This subgroup analysis included pts with all 4 of the following PPF at baseline (PPF pts): erosions, seropositivity for RF or anti-CCP, hsCRP ≥4 mg/L, and DAS(28)CRP >5.1. Comparisons were not adjusted for multiplicity.

Results:

Of 1249 pts randomised and treated in FINCH 3, 510 had all 4 PPF. At baseline, relative to the overall FINCH 3 population, PPF pts had longer mean disease duration (2.4 vs 2.2 years); higher mean hsCRP (27.9 vs 17.5 mg/L), mTSS (17.9 vs 13.3), DAS28(CRP) (6.3 vs 5.7), HAQ-DI (1.76 vs 1.56), CDAI (44.3 vs 39.8), and SDAI (47.1 vs 41.5); and greater frequency of seropositivity for RF (90.6% vs 67.9%), anti-CCP (92.4% vs 68.5%), or both (82.9% vs 59.6%). Efficacy in PPF pts was comparable to data from all FINCH 3 pts (Table, Figures 1–2). PPF pts receiving FIL 200 mg with or without MTX vs MTX mono had higher frequencies of ACR20/50/70 response and greater improvement in HAQ-DI at W24; responses were numerically greater for FIL 200 mg + MTX vs FIL 100 mg + MTX or FIL 200 mg mono (Table) and were evident by W12 (data not shown). Radiographic progression at W24 was lower in PPF pts receiving FIL 200 mg + MTX or FIL 200 mg mono vs MTX mono (Figure 1). Proportions of PPF pts receiving FIL 200 mg with or without MTX who achieved DAS28(CRP) <2.6, CDAI ≤2.8, SDAI ≤3.3, and Boolean remission at W24 (Figure 2) were larger vs pts receiving MTX mono and numerically greater vs pts receiving FIL 100 mg + MTX.

Table.

Efficacy outcomes in patients with 4 PPF and all FINCH 3 patients at W24

FIL 200 mg+ MTXFIL 100 mg+ MTXFIL 200 mg monoMTXmonoPPFAllPPFAllPPFAllPPFAlln1724168520787210166416ACR20, %85.5*81.0***83.580.2*81.678.174.771.4ACR50, %70.3***61.5***58.857.0**59.858.1**48.245.7ACR70, %54.1***43.8***37.640.1***43.7*40.0***28.326.0HAQ-DIa−1.2***−0.94***−1.0*−0.90**−1.0*−0.89*−0.9−0.79

aMean change from baseline.

*, p <0.05;**, p <0.01;***, p <0.001 vs MTX mono, not adjusted for multiplicity.

FIL, filgotinib; mono, monotherapy; MTX, methotrexate; PPF, poor prognostic factors.

Conclusion:

FIL treatment provided rapid and deep disease control including higher rates of remission and other clinical outcomes, improved physical function, and less radiographic progression compared with MTX alone in MTX-naïve pts with RA with 4 PPF, a population at risk for severe progressive disease. In pts with 4 PPF, W24 remission rates following FIL 200 mg with or without MTX were higher vs MTX mono and numerically higher vs FIL 100 mg + MTX.

References:

[1]Westhovens et al.Ann Rheum Dis2019;78(Suppl2):259–60.

Disclosure of Interests:

Daniel Aletaha Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Novartis, Roche, Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Celgene, Lilly, Medac, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi Genzyme, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Celgene, Lilly, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi Genzyme, UCB, Rene Westhovens Grant/research support from: Celltrion Inc, Galapagos, Gilead, Consultant of: Celltrion Inc, Galapagos, Gilead, Speakers bureau: Celltrion Inc, Galapagos, Gilead, Cecile Gaujoux-Viala Consultant of: AbbVie; Amgen; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Celgene; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; Janssen; Lilly; Medac; Merck-Serono; Mylan; Nordic Pharma; Novartis; Pfizer; Roche; Sandoz; Sanofi; UCB, Speakers bureau: AbbVie; Amgen; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Celgene; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; Janssen; Lilly; Medac; Merck-Serono; Mylan; Nordic Pharma; Novartis; Pfizer; Roche; Sandoz; Sanofi; UCB, Giovanni Adami: None declared, Alan Matsumoto Grant/research support from: AbbVie; BMS; Eli Lilly; Galapagos; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; GSK; Janssen; Novartis; Pfizer; Sanofi; UCB; Regeneron

, Consultant of: AbbVie; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; GSK; Novartis, Paul Bird Consultant of: AbbVie, Celgene Corporation, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer – advisor, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Celgene Corporation, Eli Lilly, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer, Osvaldo Messina Speakers bureau: Amgen; Americas Health Foundation; Pfizer, Maya H Buch Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Roche, and UCB, Consultant of: Pfizer; AbbVie; Eli Lilly; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; Merck-Serono; Sandoz; and Sanofi, Beatrix Bartok Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences Inc., Employee of: Gilead Sciences Inc., Zhaoyu Yin Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Ying Guo Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Thijs Hendrikx Shareholder of: Galapagos (share/warrant holder), Employee of: Galapagos, Gerd Rüdiger Burmester Consultant of: AbbVie Inc, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Janssen, Merck, Roche, Pfizer, and UCB Pharma, Speakers bureau: AbbVie Inc, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Janssen, Merck, Roche, Pfizer, and UCB Pharma

FRI0115 FILGOTINIB PROVIDED RAPID AND SUSTAINED IMPROVEMENTS IN FUNCTIONAL STATUS, PAIN, AND HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE, AND REDUCED FATIGUE OVER TIME IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS WHO ARE METHOTREXATE-NAÏVE: RESULTS FROM THE FINCH 3 STUDY

Background:

In the FINCH 3 study, filgotinib (FIL)—a potent, selective, oral small molecule Janus kinase 1 inhibitor1—in combination with methotrexate (MTX), demonstrated significant improvements in the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) vs MTX alone in patients (pts) who were MTX-naïve.2For pts with RA, rapid control of pain and fatigue along with maintenance of physical function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are important outcomes of their care.3Thus, patient-reported outcomes (PROs) can provide physicians with evidence to guide treatment decisions beyond the guideline-recommended treatment targets of reducing immune inflammation to prevent joint damage, physical disability, and mortality.4

Objectives:

To evaluate the rate and magnitude of change in PROs assessing functional status, pain, HRQoL, and fatigue from FINCH 3.

Methods:

In the FINCH 3 study (NCT02886728), pts with active RA who were MTX-naïve received FIL 200 mg daily + MTX, FIL 100 mg + MTX, FIL 200 mg (+ placebo [PBO]), or MTX (+ PBO) for up to 52 weeks. PROs were recorded prospectively and included HAQ-DI (functional status) and VAS pain scale (day 1, week [W]2, W4, W8, W12, W16, W20, W24, W30, W36, W44, W52), SF-36 (HRQoL), and FACIT-Fatigue (day 1, W4, W12, W24, W36, W52). The least squares mean of the change from baseline (CFB) at each time point up to W52 and p values (each FIL arm vs MTX) were analysed using a mixed-effects model for repeated measures. For HAQ-DI, the proportion of pts who achieved the minimum clinically important difference (MCID; reduction ≥0.22) between each FIL arm and MTX was analysed using logistic regression analysis. P values for the comparisons of PROs were not adjusted for multiplicity, except for HAQ-DI CFB at W24 for FIL 200 mg + MTX and FIL 100 mg + MTX vs MTX.

Results:

Of the 1249 pts randomised and treated (FIL 200 mg + MTX, n = 416; FIL 100 mg + MTX, n = 207; FIL 200 mg, n = 210; MTX, n = 416), 1025 (82.1%) completed the study. Compared with MTX alone, a nominally significantly greater CFB in functional status and pain from W2 to W24 was observed in all FIL arms; the benefit was sustained from W30 to W52 (Fig 1). By W2, a nominally significantly greater proportion of pts achieved the HAQ-DI MCID or greater (≥0.22) in all FIL arms (FIL 200 mg + MTX: 61.9%, p <0.001; FIL 100 mg + MTX: 58.5%, p <0.001; FIL 200 mg: 53.9%, p = 0.004) compared with MTX (42.2%). By W8, ≥72% of pts in all FIL arms vs 63% of pts in the MTX arm achieved the HAQ-DI MCID; a numerically greater proportion of pts in FIL arms vs MTX achieved HAQ-DI MCID through W52. SF-36 physical component summary and FACIT-Fatigue scores were nominally significantly improved with FIL treatment vs MTX alone at various time points (Fig 2A, B). Improvements in SF-36 mental component summary scores were nominally significant for pts in all FIL arms vs MTX alone as early as W4, and the CFB reached at W12 for FIL arms was generally sustained up to W52 (Fig 2A).

Conclusion:

For pts with moderate to severe RA who were MTX-naïve, FIL—with or without concomitant MTX—led to more rapid and sustained improvements in functional status, pain, fatigue, and HRQoL, compared with MTX alone.

References:

[1]Van Rompaey, et al.J Immunol. 2013;131:3568–77.

[2]Westhovens, et al.Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019;71 (suppl 10):1606–8.

[3]Fautrel B, et al.Rheumatol Int.2018;38:935–47.

[4]Smolen JS, et al.Ann Rheum Dis.2017;76:960–77.

Disclosure of Interests:

Rieke Alten Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Galapagos, Galapagos NV, Gilead, Gilead Sciences, Inc., Novartis, Consultant of: Pfizer, Speakers bureau: Pfizer, William Rigby Consultant of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Alena Pechonkina Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Zhaoyu Yin Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Ken Hasegawa Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Thijs Hendrikx Shareholder of: Galapagos (share/warrant holder), Employee of: Galapagos, Tatsuya Atsumi Grant/research support from: Eli Lily Japan K.K., Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., AbbVie Inc., Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Pfizer Inc., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Co., Astellas Pharma Inc., Consultant of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Eli Lilly Japan K.K., UCB Japan Co. Ltd., AbbVie Inc., Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Pfizer Inc., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Speakers bureau: Eli Lilly Japan K.K., UCB Japan Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., AbbVie Inc., Eisai Co. Ltd., Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Pfizer Inc., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Co., Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Astellas Pharma Inc., Rene Westhovens Grant/research support from: Celltrion Inc, Galapagos, Gilead, Consultant of: Celltrion Inc, Galapagos, Gilead, Speakers bureau: Celltrion Inc, Galapagos, Gilead

SAT0158 EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF FILGOTINIB IN METHOTREXATE-NAÏVE PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: FINCH 3 52-WEEK RESULTS

Background:

Filgotinib (FIL) is a potent, selective JAK 1 inhibitor. FINCH 3 assessed FIL efficacy and safety in methotrexate (MTX)-naïve patients (pts) with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); week (W)24 primary outcome results were previously presented.1

Objectives:

To report FINCH 3 (NCT02886728) results through W52.

Methods:

This global, phase 3, double-blind, active-controlled study randomised MTX-naïve pts with moderately to severely active RA 2:1:1:2 to oral FIL 200 mg once daily + MTX ≤20 mg weekly, FIL 100 mg + MTX, FIL 200 mg monotherapy (mono) + placebo (PBO), or PBO + MTX up to W52. Comparisons at W52 were not adjusted for multiplicity. Safety was assessed from adverse events and laboratory abnormalities.

Results:

Of 1249 treated pts, 975 received study drug through W52. FIL efficacy was sustained up to W52. Treatment with FIL + MTX or FIL mono increased proportions of pts achieving ACR20/50/70 and clinical disease remission by DAS28(CRP) <2.6 (FIL 200 mg + MTX, 53%; FIL mono, 46%), CDAI, SDAI, and Boolean criteria; improved HAQ-DI; and halted radiographic progression vs MTX alone (Table 1 andFigure). Safety was consistent with W24 data (Table 2).

Table 1.

Efficacy outcomes at week 52

FIL 200 mg + MTX (n = 416)FIL 100 mg + MTX (n = 207)FIL 200 mg(n = 210)MTX(n = 416)ACR20, %75.0***73.4**74.8***61.8ACR50, %62.3***59.4**61.4**48.3ACR70, %47.8***40.1*45.2***29.8mTSSa0.21***0.27*0.23**0.74HAQ-DIb−1.00***−0.97−0.95*−0.88

aLeast-squares mean change from baseline.

bMean change from baseline.

*, p <0.05;**, p <0.01;***, p <0.001 vs MTX alone; not adjusted for multiplicity.

FIL, filgotinib; mTSS, van der Heijde modified total Sharp score; MTX, methotrexate.

Table 2.

Safety outcomes through week 52

Event, n (%)FIL 200 mg + MTX(n = 416)FIL 100 mg + MTX(n = 207)FIL 200 mg(n = 210)MTX(n = 416)All AEs318 (76.4)164 (79.2)143 (68.1)305 (73.3)Serious AEs26 (6.3)13 (6.3)17 (8.1)28 (6.7)Infection148 (35.6)76 (36.7)75 (35.7)157 (37.7)Serious infection5 (1.2)3 (1.4)5 (2.4)8 (1.9)Herpes zoster6 (1.4)3 (1.4)4 (1.9)4 (1.0)VTE0004 (1.0)MACE (adjudicated)4 (1.0)1 (0.5)2 (1.0)2 (0.5)Malignancya1 (0.2)004 (1.0)NMSC2 (0.5)001 (0.2)Death3 (0.7)b1 (0.5)c00

aExcluding NMSC.

b1 lupus cardiomyopathy, 1 atypical interstitial pneumonia, 1 non–treatment-emergent cardiovascular death.

cDissecting cerebral and vertebral aneurysm.

AE, adverse event; FIL, filgotinib; MACE, major adverse cardiovascular event; MTX, methotrexate; NMSC, nonmelanoma skin cancer; VTE, venous thromboembolism.

Conclusion:

Efficacy of FIL 200 mg + MTX, FIL 100 mg + MTX, and FIL 200 mg mono was sustained through W52, with faster onset1and consistently numerically greater efficacy for FIL 200 vs 100 mg. No new safety signals were observed.

References:

[1]Westhovens, et al.Ann Rheum Dis.2019;78(Suppl2):259–60.

Disclosure of Interests:

Rene Westhovens Grant/research support from: Celltrion Inc, Galapagos, Gilead, Consultant of: Celltrion Inc, Galapagos, Gilead, Speakers bureau: Celltrion Inc, Galapagos, Gilead, William Rigby Consultant of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Désirée van der Heijde Consultant of: AbbVie, Amgen, Astellas, AstraZeneca, BMS, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Cyxone, Daiichi, Eisai, Eli-Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead Sciences, Inc., Glaxo-Smith-Kline, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Regeneron, Roche, Sanofi, Takeda, UCB Pharma; Director of Imaging Rheumatology BV, Daniel Ching Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Gilead Sciences, Inc., Pfizer, Sanofi, Consultant of: AbbVie, Pfizer, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, William Stohl Grant/research support from: GlaxoSmithKline, Consultant of: Janssen Research & Development, Jonathan Kay Grant/research support from: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Pfizer, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Consultant of: Alvotech Suisse AG; Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH; Celltrion Healthcare Co. Ltd.; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.; Mylan Inc.; Novartis AG; Samsung Bioepis; Sandoz, Inc; UCB, Inc., Arvind Chopra Grant/research support from: Zydus Pharamceutical Ltd India, Beatrix Bartok Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences Inc., Employee of: Gilead Sciences Inc., Franziska Matzkies Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Zhaoyu Yin Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Ying Guo Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Chantal Tasset Shareholder of: Galapagos (share/warrant holder), Employee of: Galapagos, John Sundy Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Angelika Jahreis Shareholder of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Employee of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Neelufar Mozaffarian Shareholder of: Gilead, Employee of: Gilead, Osvaldo Messina Speakers bureau: Amgen; Americas Health Foundation; Pfizer, Robert B.M. Landewé Consultant of: AbbVie; AstraZeneca; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Eli Lilly & Co.; Galapagos NV; Novartis; Pfizer; UCB Pharma, Tatsuya Atsumi Grant/research support from: Eli Lily Japan K.K., Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., AbbVie Inc., Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Pfizer Inc., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Co., Astellas Pharma Inc., Consultant of: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Eli Lilly Japan K.K., UCB Japan Co. Ltd., AbbVie Inc., Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Pfizer Inc., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Speakers bureau: Eli Lilly Japan K.K., UCB Japan Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., AbbVie Inc., Eisai Co. Ltd., Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Pfizer Inc., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Co., Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Astellas Pharma Inc., Gerd Rüdiger Burmester Consultant of: AbbVie Inc, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Janssen, Merck, Roche, Pfizer, and UCB Pharma, Speakers bureau: AbbVie Inc, Eli Lilly, Gilead, Janssen, Merck, Roche, Pfizer, and UCB Pharma

Improvement of the Irrigation Scheme in the ORCHIDEE Land Surface Model and Impacts of Irrigation on Regional Water Budgets Over China

In China, irrigation is widespread in 40.7% cropland to sustain crop yields. By its action on water cycle, irrigation affects water resources and local climate. In this study, a new irrigation module, including flood and paddy irrigation technologies, was developed in the ORCHIDEE-CROP land surface model which describes crop phenology and growth in order to estimate irrigation demands over China from 1982 to 2014. Three simulations were performed including NI (no irrigation), IR (with irrigation limited by local water resources), and FI (with irrigation demand fulfilled). Observations and census data were used to validate the simulations. Results showed that the estimated irrigation water withdrawal ( W ) based on IR and FI scenarios bracket statistical W with fair spatial agreements ( r = 0 . 68 ± 0 . 07 ; p < 0 . 01 ). Improving irrigation efficiency was found to be the dominant factor leading to the observed W decrease. By comparing simulated total water storage (TWS) with GRACE observations, we found that simulated TWS with irrigation well explained the TWS variation over China. However, our simulation overestimated the seasonality of TWS in the Yangtze River Basin due to ignoring regulation of artificial reservoirs. The observed TWS decrease in the Yellow River Basin caused by groundwater depletion was not totally captured in our simulation, but it can be inferred by combining simulated TWS with census data. Moreover, we demonstrated that land use change tended to drive W locally but had little effect on total W over China due to water resources limitation.

Impact-resistant nacre-like transparent materials

Glass has outstanding optical properties, hardness, and durability, but its applications are limited by its inherent brittleness and poor impact resistance. Lamination and tempering can improve impact response but do not suppress brittleness. We propose a bioinspired laminated glass that duplicates the three-dimensional "brick-and-mortar" arrangement of nacre from mollusk shells, with periodic three-dimensional architectures and interlayers made of a transparent thermoplastic elastomer. This material reproduces the "tablet sliding mechanism," which is key to the toughness of natural nacre but has been largely absent in synthetic nacres. Tablet sliding generates nonlinear deformations over large volumes and significantly improves toughness. This nacre-like glass is also two to three times more impact resistant than laminated glass and tempered glass while maintaining high strength and stiffness.

Scattering Studies with Low-Energy Kaon-Proton Femtoscopy in Proton-Proton Collisions at the LHC

The study of the strength and behavior of the antikaon-nucleon (K[over ¯]N) interaction constitutes one of the key focuses of the strangeness sector in low-energy quantum chromodynamics (QCD). In this Letter a unique high-precision measurement of the strong interaction between kaons and protons, close and above the kinematic threshold, is presented. The femtoscopic measurements of the correlation function at low pair-frame relative momentum of (K^{+}p⊕K^{-}p[over ¯]) and (K^{-}p⊕K^{+}p[over ¯]) pairs measured in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=5, 7, and 13 TeV are reported. A structure observed around a relative momentum of 58  MeV/c in the measured correlation function of (K^{-}p⊕K^{+}p[over ¯]) with a significance of 4.4σ constitutes the first experimental evidence for the opening of the (K[over ¯]^{0}n⊕K^{0}n[over ¯]) isospin breaking channel due to the mass difference between charged and neutral kaons. The measured correlation functions have been compared to Jülich and Kyoto models in addition to the Coulomb potential. The high-precision data at low relative momenta presented in this work prove femtoscopy to be a powerful complementary tool to scattering experiments and provide new constraints above the K[over ¯]N threshold for low-energy QCD chiral models.

The temporal-spatial patterns, polymorphisms and association analysis with meat quality traits of FABP1 gene in domestic pigeons (Columba livia)

1. Fatty acid-binding proteins (FABP) are members of lipid-binding proteins, which participate in the metabolism and intracellular transportation of lipids. This study was designed to investigate the expression patterns, polymorphisms and associations with meat quality traits of the FABP1 gene in pigeons. 2. The temporal-spatial expression patterns showed FABP1 was widely expressed in all eleven tissues from 0-4 weeks of age, the expression level in the liver was the highest, followed by the small intestine and subcutaneous fat. 3. Five novel SNPs were found; all of them were synonymous and in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Association analysis revealed that for the SNP of G161C, the AB and BB genotypes had higher (P ≤ 0.01) inosinic acid concentrations in breast muscle than the AA genotype. The BB genotype showed the highest (P < 0.01) intramuscular fat among the three genotypes, and significantly greater FABP1 mRNA levels were observed in the breast muscle of the BB genotype than in the AA and AB genotypes (P < 0.01). In the SNP C1376T, the AB and BB genotypes showed higher (P < 0.01) intramuscular fat than the AA genotype, and the relative mRNA expression level of the BB (P < 0.01) and AB (P < 0.05) genotypes was higher than that of the AA genotype in breast muscle. Correlation analysis implied that the FABP1 mRNA expression level was closely related to the inosinic acid (P < 0.05) and intramuscular fat content (P < 0.01). Oil red O staining of frozen sections of breast muscle on d 28 for SNPs G161C and C1376T also indicated that the BB genotype had the highest intramuscular fat content in both SNPs. In addition, correlation analysis implied the FABP1 mRNA expression level was closely related to inosinic acid (P < 0.05) and intramuscular fat content (P < 0.01). 4. The results suggested that FABP1 could be a potential candidate gene in marker-assisted selection for breeding pigeons with high-quality meat.

Identifying potential prognostic biomarkers in head and neck cancer based on the analysis of microRNA expression profiles in TCGA database

The present study aimed to identify sensitive, specific and independent prognostic biomarkers in head and neck cancer (HNC) based on microRNA expression profiles and other high‑throughput sequencing data in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Identification of such prognostic biomarkers could provide insight into HNC diagnosis and treatment. The differential expression profiles of microRNAs between HNC tissues and adjacent cancer tissues in the TCGA database were analyzed (log fold‑change >2; P<0.01). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses of the differentially expressed microRNAs were performed to determine those significantly related to the survival of patients with HNC. The identified microRNAs were verified by survival and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses. To better predict prognosis, a combined prognostic model (risk equation) was established based on the risk coefficient of each microRNA, calculated by a multivariate Cox regression analysis, and the risk score was calculated. To explore the signaling pathways related to prognosis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses were performed on the differentially expressed genes between the high‑risk and low‑risk groups, grouped according to the median risk score. A total of 89 differentially expressed microRNAs between HNC and adjacent cancer tissues were screened, 11 of which were identified as risk factors related to HNC survival by the univariate Cox regression analysis (P<0.05). The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that three of the 11 microRNAs, hsa‑miR‑99a, hsa‑miR‑499a and hsa‑miR‑1911 (all P<0.01), were identified as independent risk factors significantly related to patient survival. The risk equation used was as follows: Risk score=(‑0.1597 x hsa‑miR‑99a) + (0.1871 x hsa‑miR‑499a) + (0.1033 x hsa‑miR‑1911). KEGG and GO analyses showed that the JAK‑STAT signaling pathway and some metabolic pathways were associated with HNC prognosis. The present study suggested that hsa‑miR‑99a, hsa‑miR‑499a and hsa‑miR‑1911 may serve as potential prognostic biomarkers in HNC.

Measurement of ϒ(1S) Elliptic Flow at Forward Rapidity in Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV

The first measurement of the ϒ(1S) elliptic flow coefficient (v_{2}) is performed at forward rapidity (2.5<y<4) in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The results are obtained with the scalar product method and are reported as a function of transverse momentum (p_{T}) up to 15  GeV/c in the 5%-60% centrality interval. The measured ϒ(1S)v_{2} is consistent with 0 and with the small positive values predicted by transport models within uncertainties. The v_{2} coefficient in 2<p_{T}<15  GeV/c is lower than that of inclusive J/ψ mesons in the same p_{T} interval by 2.6 standard deviations. These results, combined with earlier suppression measurements, are in agreement with a scenario in which the ϒ(1S) production in Pb-Pb collisions at LHC energies is dominated by dissociation limited to the early stage of the collision, whereas in the J/ψ case there is substantial experimental evidence of an additional regeneration component.

Investigations of Anisotropic Flow Using Multiparticle Azimuthal Correlations in pp, p-Pb, Xe-Xe, and Pb-Pb Collisions at the LHC

Measurements of anisotropic flow coefficients (v_{n}) and their cross-correlations using two- and multiparticle cumulant methods are reported in collisions of pp at sqrt[s]=13  TeV, p-Pb at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV, Xe-Xe at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.44  TeV, and Pb-Pb at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV recorded with the ALICE detector. The multiplicity dependence of v_{n} is studied in a very wide range from 20 to 3000 particles produced in the midrapidity region |η|<0.8 for the transverse momentum range 0.2<p_{T}<3.0  GeV/c. An ordering of the coefficients v_{2}>v_{3}>v_{4} is found in pp and p-Pb collisions, similar to that seen in large collision systems, while a weak v_{2} multiplicity dependence is observed relative to nucleus-nucleus collisions in the same multiplicity range. Using a novel subevent method, v_{2} measured with four-particle cumulants is found to be compatible with that from six-particle cumulants in pp and p-Pb collisions. The magnitude of the correlation between v_{n}^{2} and v_{m}^{2}, evaluated with the symmetric cumulants SC(m,n) is observed to be positive at all multiplicities for v_{2} and v_{4}, while for v_{2} and v_{3} it is negative and changes sign for multiplicities below 100, which may indicate a different v_{n} fluctuation pattern in this multiplicity range. The observed long-range multiparticle azimuthal correlations in high multiplicity pp and p-Pb collisions can neither be described by pythia 8 nor by impact-parameter-Glasma, music, and ultrarelativistic quantum molecular dynamics model calculations, and hence, provide new insights into the understanding of collective effects in small collision systems.

Porcine insulin receptor substrate 2: molecular cloning, tissues distribution, and functions in hepatocyte and aortic endothelial cells

Insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS-2) modulates the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, which controls the suppression of gluconeogenic genes; IRS-2 is also a critical node of insulin signaling. Because of the high homology between pig and human IRS-2, we investigated the expression pattern and function of porcine IRS-2. QPCR and immunoblotting were used to detect the IRS-2 expression level in different tissues. There were high IRS-2 levels in the cerebral cortex, hypothalamus, and cerebellum in the central nervous system. In peripheral tissues, IRS-2 was expressed at relatively high levels in the liver. Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed that IRS-2 was mainly distributed in the hypothalamus and cerebral cortex. Furthermore, IRS-2 knockdown porcine hepatocytes and porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAECs) were generated. The IRS-2 knockdown induced abnormal expression of genes involved in glycolipid metabolism in hepatocytes and reduced the antiatherosclerosis ability in PAECs. In addition, we disrupted IRS-2 in porcine embryonic fibroblasts (PEFs) using the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system, before finally generating IRS-2 knockout embryos by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Taken together, our results indicate that IRS-2 might be a valuable target to establish diabetes and vascular disease models in the pig.

Heterogeneity of cancer-associated fibroblasts and roles in the progression, prognosis, and therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a lethal disease, and recurrence and metastasis are the major causes of death in HCC patients. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a major stromal cell type in the HCC microenvironment, promote HCC progression, and have gradually become a hot research topic in HCC-targeted therapy. This review comprehensively describes and discusses the heterogeneous tissue distribution, cellular origin, phenotype, and biological functions of HCC-associated fibroblasts. Furthermore, the possible use of CAFs for predicting HCC prognosis and in targeted therapeutic strategies is discussed, highlighting the critical roles of CAFs in HCC progression, diagnosis, and therapy.

First Observation of an Attractive Interaction between a Proton and a Cascade Baryon

This Letter presents the first experimental observation of the attractive strong interaction between a proton and a multistrange baryon (hyperon) Ξ^{-}. The result is extracted from two-particle correlations of combined p-Ξ^{-}⊕p[over ¯]-Ξ[over ¯]^{+} pairs measured in p-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV at the LHC with ALICE. The measured correlation function is compared with the prediction obtained assuming only an attractive Coulomb interaction and a standard deviation in the range [3.6, 5.3] is found. Since the measured p-Ξ^{-}⊕p[over ¯]-Ξ[over ¯]^{+} correlation is significantly enhanced with respect to the Coulomb prediction, the presence of an additional, strong, attractive interaction is evident. The data are compatible with recent lattice calculations by the HAL-QCD Collaboration, with a standard deviation in the range [1.8, 3.7]. The lattice potential predicts a shallow repulsive Ξ^{-} interaction within pure neutron matter and this implies stiffer equations of state for neutron-rich matter including hyperons. Implications of the strong interaction for the modeling of neutron stars are discussed.