Polyamine-mediated ferroptosis amplification acts as a targetable vulnerability in cancer

Targeting ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death triggered by the lethal overload of lipid peroxides, in cancer therapy is impeded by our limited understanding of the intersection of tumour's metabolic feature and ferroptosis vulnerability. In the present study, arginine is identified as a ferroptotic promoter using a metabolites library. This effect is mainly achieved through arginine's conversion to polyamines, which exerts their potent ferroptosis-promoting property in an H2O2-dependent manner. Notably, the expression of ornithine decarboxylase 1 (ODC1), the critical enzyme catalysing polyamine synthesis, is significantly activated by the ferroptosis signal--iron overload--through WNT/MYC signalling, as well as the subsequent elevated polyamine synthesis, thus forming a ferroptosis-iron overload-WNT/MYC-ODC1-polyamine-H2O2 positive feedback loop that amplifies ferroptosis. Meanwhile, we notice that ferroptotic cells release enhanced polyamine-containing extracellular vesicles into the microenvironment, thereby further sensitizing neighbouring cells to ferroptosis and accelerating the "spread" of ferroptosis in the tumour region. Besides, polyamine supplementation also sensitizes cancer cells or xenograft tumours to radiotherapy or chemotherapy through inducing ferroptosis. Considering that cancer cells are often characterized by elevated intracellular polyamine pools, our results indicate that polyamine metabolism exposes a targetable vulnerability to ferroptosis and represents an exciting opportunity for therapeutic strategies for cancer.

MAFF confers vulnerability to cisplatin-based and ionizing radiation treatments by modulating ferroptosis and cell cycle progression in lung adenocarcinoma

AIMS

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) accounts for more than half of all lung cancer cases. Tumor elimination is mostly hindered by drug resistance and the mechanisms remain to be explored in LUAD.

METHODS

CRISPR screens in cell and murine models and single-cell RNA sequencing were conducted, which identified MAF bZIP transcription factor F (MAFF) as a critical factor regulating tumor growth and treatment resistance in LUAD. RNA and ChIP sequencing analyses were performed for transcriptional target expression and specific binding sites of MAFF. Functions of MAFF in inhibiting tumor growth and promoting cisplatin or irradiation efficacy were investigated using cellular and xenograft models.

RESULTS

Patients with lung adenocarcinoma and reduced MAFF expression had worse clinical outcomes. MAFF inhibited tumor cell proliferation by regulating the expression of SLC7A11, CDK6, and CDKN2C, promoting ferroptosis and preventing cell cycle progression from G1 to S. MAFF also conferred tumor cells vulnerable to cisplatin-based or ionizing radiation treatments. MAFF reduction was a final event in the acquisition of cisplatin resistance of LUAD cells. The intracellular cAMP/PKA/CREB1 pathway upregulated MAFF in response to cisplatin-based or ionizing radiation treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

MAFF suppresses tumor growth, and pharmacological agonists targeting MAFF may improve cisplatin or irradiation therapies for lung adenocarcinoma patients.

Fasting-activated ventrolateral medulla neurons regulate T cell homing and suppress autoimmune disease in mice

Dietary fasting markedly influences the distribution and function of immune cells and exerts potent immunosuppressive effects. However, the mechanisms through which fasting regulates immunity remain obscure. Here we report that catecholaminergic (CA) neurons in the ventrolateral medulla (VLM) are activated during fasting in mice, and we demonstrate that the activity of these CA neurons impacts the distribution of T cells and the development of autoimmune disease in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model. Ablation of VLM CA neurons largely reversed fasting-mediated T cell redistribution. Activation of these neurons drove T cell homing to bone marrow in a CXCR4/CXCL12 axis-dependent manner, which may be mediated by a neural circuit that stimulates corticosterone secretion. Similar to fasting, the continuous activation of VLM CA neurons suppressed T cell activation, proliferation, differentiation and cytokine production in autoimmune mouse models and substantially alleviated disease symptoms. Collectively, our study demonstrates neuronal control of inflammation and T cell distribution, suggesting a neural mechanism underlying fasting-mediated immune regulation.

Detecting EGFR gene amplification using a fluorescence in situ hybridization platform based on digital microfluidics

Signal transduction mediated by epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene affects the proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis of tumor cells. In particular, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with increased in copy number of EGFR gene are often sensitive to tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Despite being the standard for detecting EGFR amplification in the clinic, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) traditionally involves repetitive and complex benchtop procedures that are not only time consuming but also require well-trained personnel. To address these limitations, we develop a digital microfluidics-based FISH platform (DMF-FISH) that automatically implements FISH operations. This system mainly consists of a DMF chip for reagent operation, a heating array for temperature control and a signal processing system. With the capability of automatic droplet handling and efficient temperature control, DMF-FISH performs cell digestion, gradient elution, hybridization and DAPI staining without manual intervention. In addition to operational feasibility, DMF-FISH yields comparable performance with the benchtop FISH protocol but reducing the consumption of DNA probe by 87 % when tested with cell lines and clinical samples. These results highlight unique advantages of the fully automated DMF-FISH system and thus suggest its great potential for clinical diagnosis and personalized therapy of NSCLC.

IL6-STAT3-C/EBPβ-IL6 positive feedback loop in tumor-associated macrophages promotes the EMT and metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer is one of the most common tumors in the world, and metastasis is one of the major causes of tumor-related death in lung cancer patients. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are a major component of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and are frequently associated with tumor metastasis in human cancers. However, the regulatory mechanisms of TAMs in lung cancer metastasis remain unclear.

METHODS

Single-cell sequencing analysis of lung cancer and normal tissues from public databases and from 14 patients who underwent surgery at Zhongshan Hospital was performed. In vitro co-culture experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of TAMs on lung cancer migration and invasion. Changes in the expression of IL-6, STAT3, C/EBPΒ, and EMT pathway were verified using RT-qPCR, western blotting, and immunofluorescence. Dual luciferase reporter assays and ChIP were used to reveal potential regulatory sites on the transcription factor sets. In addition, the effects of TAMs on lung cancer progression and metastasis were confirmed by in vivo models.

RESULTS

TAM infiltration is associated with tumor progression and poor prognosis. IL-6 secreted by TAMs can activate the JAK2/STAT3 pathway through autocrine secretion, and STAT3 acts as a transcription factor to activate the expression of C/EBPβ, which further promotes the transcription and expression of IL-6, forming positive feedback loops for IL6-STAT3-C/EBPβ-IL6 in TAMs. IL-6 secreted by TAMs promotes lung cancer progression and metastasis in vivo and in vitro by activating the EMT pathway, which can be attenuated by the use of JAK2/STAT3 pathway inhibitors or IL-6 monoclonal antibodies.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that TAMs promote IL-6 expression by forming an IL6-STAT3-C/EBPβ-IL6 positive feedback loop. Released IL-6 can induce the EMT pathway in lung cancer to enhance migration, invasion, and metastasis. The use of IL-6-neutralizing antibody can partially counteract the promotion of LUAD by TAMs. A novel mechanism of macrophage-promoted tumor progression was revealed, and the IL6-STAT3-C/EBPβ-IL6 signaling cascade may be a potential therapeutic target against lung cancer.

Transcription factor ZNF263 enhances EGFR-targeted therapeutic response and reduces residual disease in lung adenocarcinoma

EGF receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have achieved clinical success in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, tumors often show profound but transient initial response and then gain resistance. We identify transcription factor ZNF263 as being significantly decreased in osimertinib-resistant or drug-tolerant persister LUAD cells and clinical residual tumors. ZNF263 overexpression improves the initial response of cells and delays the formation of persister cells with osimertinib treatment. We further show that ZNF263 binds and recruits DNMT1 to the EGFR gene promoter, suppressing EGFR transcription with DNA hypermethylation. ZNF263 interacts with nuclear EGFR, impairing the EGFR-STAT5 interaction to enhance AURKA expression. Overexpressing ZNF263 also makes tumor cells with wild-type EGFR expression or refractory EGFR mutations more susceptible to EGFR inhibition. More importantly, lentivirus or adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated ZNF263 overexpression synergistically suppresses tumor growth and regrowth with osimertinib treatment in xenograft animal models. These findings suggest that enhancing ZNF263 may achieve complete response in LUAD with EGFR-targeted therapies.

Targeting TAM-secreted S100A9 effectively enhances the tumor-suppressive effect of metformin in treating lung adenocarcinoma

Metformin's effect on tumor treatment was complex, because it significantly reduced cancer cell proliferation in vitro, but made no difference in prognosis in several clinical cohorts. Our transcriptome sequencing results revealed that tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) infiltration significantly increased in active lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients with long-term metformin use. We further identified that the tumor suppressive effect of metformin was more significant in mice after the depletion of macrophages, suggesting that TAMs might play an important role in metformin's effects in LUAD. Combining 10X Genomics single-cell sequencing of tumor samples, transcriptome sequencing of metformin-treated TAMs, and the ChIP-Seq data of the Encode database, we identified and validated that metformin significantly increased the expression and secretion of S100A9 of TAMs through AMPK-CEBP/β pathway. For the downstream, S100A9 binds to RAGE receptors on the surface of LUAD cells, and then activates the NF-κB pathway to promote EMT and progression of LUAD, counteracting the inhibitory effect of metformin on LUAD cells. In cell-derived xenograft models (CDX) and patient-derived xenograft models (PDX) models, our results showed that neutralizing antibodies targeting TAM-secreted S100A9 effectively enhanced the tumor suppressive effect of metformin in treating LUAD. Our results will enable us to better comprehend the complex role of metformin in LUAD, and advance its clinical application in cancer treatment.

Development of a TLR-Based Model That Can Predict Prognosis, Tumor Microenvironment, and Drug Response for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The toll-like receptor (TLR) family is an important class of proteins involved in the immune response. However, little is known about the association between TLRs and Esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC). We explored differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between ESCC and esophagus tissues in TCGA and GTEx database. By taking the intersection with TLR gene set and using univariate Cox analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis to discriminate the hub genes, we created a TLR-prognostic model. Our model separated patients with ESCC into high- and low-risk score (RS) groups. Prognostic analysis was performed with Kaplan-Meier curves. The two groups were also compared regarding tumor immune microenvironment and drug sensitivity. Six hub genes (including CD36, LGR4, MAP2K3, NINJ1, PIK3R1, and TRAF3) were screened to construct a TLR-prognostic model. High-RS group had a worse survival (p < 0.01), lower immune checkpoint expression (p < 0.05), immune cell abundance (p < 0.05) and decreased sensitivity to Epirubicin (p < 0.001), 5-fluorouracil (p < 0.0001), Sorafenib (p < 0.01) and Oxaliplatin (p < 0.05). We constructed a TLR-based model, which could be used to assess the prognosis of patients with ESCC, provide new insights into drug treatment for ESCC patients and investigate the TME and drug response.

Correlational analysis of physicochemical indexes, microbial communities, and volatile components in light-flavor Daqu from north and south regions of China

Daqu is of great significance to the brewing process of Baijiu, and there are variations in the light-flavor Baijiu Daqu in different regions. However, few studies have been conducted on light-flavor Daqu from the north and south regions of China. In this study, the physicochemical indices, volatile flavor components, and microbial community structure of two types of Daqu from the north and south regions of China were comparatively analyzed. The study findings reveal that Daqu originating from the southern region of China (HB) exhibits superior moisture content, acidity, starch content, and saccharification power. In contrast, Daqu from the northern region of China (SX) displays higher fermentation, esterification, and liquefaction power. The analysis of the microbial community structure revealed that HB was dominated by Bacillus, Kroppenstedtia, Saccharomycopsis, and Thermoascus, while SX was dominated by Bacillus, Prevotella, and Saccharomycopsis. The analysis detected a total of 47 volatile components in both HB Daqu and SX Daqu. The volatile components of pyrazine were significantly more abundant in HB Daqu than in SX Daqu, while alcohol compounds were more prominent in SX Daqu than in HB Daqu. In addition, the RDA analysis established a correlation between dominant microorganisms and volatile components. Cyanobacteria, Fusobacteriota, Ascomycota, Blastocladiomycota, Basidiomycota, and Mucormyce exhibited positive correlations with a significant proportion of the key volatile compounds. This study establishes a scientific foundation for improving the quality of light-flavor Daqu liquor in different regions of China.

Robust Interfacial Effect in Multi-interface Environment through Hybrid Reconstruction Chemistry for Enhanced Energy Storage

Electrochemical-oxidation-driven reconstruction has emerged as an efficient approach for developing advanced materials, but the reconstructed microstructure still faces challenges including inferior conductivity, unsatisfying intrinsic activity, and active-species dissolution. Herein, we present hybrid reconstruction chemistry that synergistically couples electrochemical oxidation with electrochemical polymerization (EOEP) to overcome these constraints. During the EOEP process, the metal hydroxides undergo rapid reconstruction and dynamically couple with polypyrrole (PPy), resulting in an interface-enriched microenvironment. We observe that the interaction between PPy and the reconstructed metal center (i.e., Mn > Ni, Co) is strongly correlated. Theoretical calculation results demonstrate that the strong interaction between Mn sites and PPy breaks the intrinsic limitation of MnO2, rendering MnO2 with a metallic property for fast charge transfer and enhancing the ion-adsorption dynamics. Operando Raman measurement confirms the promise of EOEP-treated Mn(OH)2 (E-MO/PPy) to stably work under a 1.2 V potential window. The tailored E-MO/PPy exhibits a high capacitance of 296 F g-1 at a large current density of 100 A g-1. Our strategy presents breakthroughs in upgrading the electrochemical reconstruction technique, which enables both activity and kinetics engineering of electrode materials for better performance in energy-related fields.

PLK1 regulating chemoradiotherapy sensitivity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma through pentose phosphate pathway/ferroptosis

BACKGROUND

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the most common pathological type of esophageal cancer in China, accounting for more than 90 %. Most patients were diagnosed with advanced-stage ESCC, for whom new adjuvant therapy is recommended. Therefore, it is urgent to explore new therapeutic targets for ESCC. Ferroptosis, a newly discovered iron-dependent programmed cell death, has been shown to play an important role in carcinogenesis by many studies. This study explored the effect of Polo like kinase 1 (PLK1) on chemoradiotherapy sensitivity of ESCC through ferroptosis METHODS: In this study, we knocked out the expression of PLK1 (PLK1-KO) in ESCC cell lines (KYSE150 and ECA109) with CRISPR/CAS9. The effects of PLK1-knock out on G6PD, the rate-limiting enzyme of pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), and downstream NADPH and GSH were explored. The lipid peroxidation was observed by flow cytometry, and the changes in mitochondria were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Next, through the CCK-8 assay and clone formation assay, the sensitivity to cobalt 60 rays, paclitaxel, and cisplatin were assessed after PLK1-knock out, and the nude mouse tumorigenesis experiment further verified it. The regulation of transcription factor YY1 on PLK1 was evaluated by dual luciferase reporter assay. The expression and correlation of PLK1 and YY1, and their impact on prognosis were analyzed in more than 300 ESCC cases from the GEO database and our center. Finally, the above results were further proved by single-cell sequencing.

RESULTS

After PLK1 knockout, the expression of G6PD dimer and the level of NADPH and GSH in KYSE150 and ECA109 cells significantly decreased. Accordingly, lipid peroxidation increased, mitochondria became smaller, membrane density increased, and ferroptosis was more likely to occur. However, with the stimulation of exogenous GSH (10 mM), there was no significant difference in lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis between the PLK1-KO group and the control group. After ionizing radiation, the PLK1-KO group had higher lipid peroxidation ratio, more cell death, and was more sensitive to radiation, while exogenous GSH (10 mM) could eliminate this difference. Similar results could also be observed when receiving paclitaxel combined with cisplatin and chemoradiotherapy. The expression of PLK1, G6PD dimer, and the level of NADPH and GSH in KYSE150, ECA109, and 293 T cells stably transfected with YY1-shRNAs significantly decreased, and the cells were more sensitive to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. ESCC patients from the GEO database and our center, YY1 and PLK1 expression were significantly positively-correlated, and the survival of patients with high expression of PLK1 was significantly shorter. Further analysis of single-cell sequencing specimens of ESCC in our center confirmed the above results.

CONCLUSION

In ESCC, down-regulation of PLK1 can inhibit PPP, and reduce the level of NADPH and GSH, thereby promoting ferroptosis and improving their sensitivity to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Transcription factor YY1 has a positive regulatory effect on PLK1, and their expressions were positively correlated. PLK1 may be a target for predicting and enhancing the chemoradiotherapy sensitivity of ESCC.

Inhibition of PKA/CREB1 pathway confers sensitivity to ferroptosis in non-small cell lung cancer

Ferroptosis is a type of regulated cell death characterized by iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation. The molecular mechanisms underlying ferroptosis regulation in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are poorly understood. In this study, we found that protein kinase A (PKA) inhibition enhanced ferroptosis susceptibility in NSCLC cells, as evidenced by reduced cell viability and increased lipid peroxidation. We further identified cAMP-responsive element protein 1 (CREB1), a transcription factor and a substrate of PKA, as a key regulator of ferroptosis. Knockdown of CREB1 sensitized NSCLC cells to ferroptosis inducers (FINs) and abolished the effects of PKA inhibitor and agonist, revealing the pivotal role of CREB1 in ferroptosis regulation. Using a high-throughput screening approach and subsequent validation by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and dual-luciferase assays, we discovered that CREB1 transcriptionally activated stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD), an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of saturated fatty acids to monounsaturated fatty acids. SCD conferred ferroptosis resistance by decreasing the availability of polyunsaturated fatty acids for lipid peroxidation, and its overexpression rescued the effect of CREB1 knockdown on ferroptosis in vitro. Besides, CREB1 knockdown suppressed xenograft tumor growth in the presence of Imidazole Ketone Erastin (IKE), a potent FIN, and this effect was reversed by SCD. Finally, we showed that high expression of CREB1 was associated with poor prognosis in NSCLC patients from public datasets and our institution. Collectively, this study illustrates the effect of PKA/CREB1/SCD axis in regulating ferroptosis of NSCLC, targeting this pathway may provide new strategies for treating NSCLC patients.

Epidemiological characteristics and therapeutic advances of EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations in non-small cell lung cancer

The third most prevalent type of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation, EGFR exon 20 insertions (EGFRex20ins), involves 2%-12% of all cases of EGFR-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Approximately 90% of the mutations occur within the loop structure region, and the most frequently reported subtypes are A767_V769dup and S768_D770dup, which together account for almost 50% of instances. Apart from the unique subtype of A763_Y764insFQEA, NSCLCs with EGFRex20ins are resistant to approved EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and are also insensitive to chemotherapy or immunotherapy. A new modality of treatment for NSCLC patients with EGFRx20ins has been established with the approval of mobocertinib and amivantamab. There are also numerous novel targeted treatments for NSCLC with EGFRex20ins in development, which are anticipated to improve this patient population's survival even further. This review provides a reference for the clinical management of these patients by summarizing the most recent epidemiological, and clinicopathological characteristics, diagnostic techniques, and therapeutic advances of EGFRex20ins in NSCLC.

Dissecting the single-cell transcriptome network of macrophage and identifies a signature to predict prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma

PURPOSE

The tumor immune microenvironment (TME) plays a vital role in tumorigenesis, progression, and treatment. Macrophages, as an important component of the tumor microenvironment, play an essential role in antitumor immunity and TME remodeling. In this study, we aimed to explore the different functions of different origins macrophages in TME and their value as potential predictive markers of prognosis and treatment.

METHODS

We performed single-cell analysis using 21 lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), 12 normal, and four peripheral blood samples from our data and public databases. A prognostic prediction model was then constructed using 502 TCGA patients and explored the potential factors affecting prognosis. The model was validated using data from 4 different GEO datasets with 544 patients after integration.

RESULTS

According to the source of macrophages, we classified macrophages into alveolar macrophages (AMs) and interstitial macrophages (IMs). AMs mainly infiltrated in normal lung tissue and expressed proliferative, antigen-presenting, scavenger receptors genes, while IMs occupied the majority in TME and expressed anti-inflammatory, lipid metabolism-related genes. Trajectory analysis revealed that AMs rely on self-renew, whereas IMs originated from monocytes in the blood. Cell-to-cell communication showed that AMs interacted mainly with T cells through the MHC I/II signaling pathway, while IMs mostly interacted with tumor-associated fibrocytes and tumor cells. We then constructed a risk model based on macrophage infiltration and showed an excellent predictive power. We further revealed the possible reasons for its potential prognosis prediction by differential genes, immune cell infiltration, and mutational differences.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we investigated the composition, expression differences, and phenotypic changes of macrophages from different origins in lung adenocarcinoma. In addition, we developed a prognostic prediction model based on different macrophage subtype infiltration, which can be used as a valid prognostic biomarker. New insights were provided into the role of macrophages in the prognosis and potential treatment of LUAD patients.

AGRN promotes lung adenocarcinoma progression by activating Notch signaling pathway and acts as a therapeutic target

Lung cancer is the main reason for cancer-associated death globally, and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most prevalent subtype of lung cancer. Recently, AGRN is considered playing an vital role in the development of some cancers. However, the regulatory effects and mechanisms of AGRN in LUAD remain elusive. In this study, we clarified the significant upregulation of AGRN expression in LUAD by single-cell RNA sequencing combined with immunohistochemistry. Besides, we confirmed that LUAD patients with high AGRN expression are more susceptible to lymph node metastases and have a worse prognosis by a retrospective study of 120 LUAD patients. Next, we demonstrated that AGRN directly interact with NOTCH1, which results in the release of the intracellular structural domain of NOTCH1 and the subsequent activation of the NOTCH pathway. Moreover, we also found that AGRN promotes proliferation, migration, invasion, EMT and tumorigenesis of LUAD cells in vitro and in vivo, and that these effects are reversed by blocking the NOTCH pathway. Furthermore, we prepared several antibodies targeting AGRN, and clarify that Anti-AGRN antibody treatment could significantly inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis of tumor cells. Our study highlights the important role and regulatory mechanism of AGRN in LUAD development and progression, and suggests that antibodies targeting AGRN have therapeutic potential for LUAD. We also provide theoretical and experimental evidence for further development of monoclonal antibodies targeting AGRN.

Identification of the relationship between single-cell N6-methyladenosine regulators and the infiltrating immune cells in esophageal carcinoma

Background

N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) RNA methylation plays a crucial role in important genomic processes in a variety of malignancies. However, the characterization of m⁶A with infiltrating immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) in esophageal squamous carcinoma (ESCC) remains unknown.

Methods

The single-cell transcriptome data from five ESCC patients in our hospital were analyzed, and TME clusters associated with prognosis and immune checkpoint genes were investigated. Cell isolation and qPCR were conducted to validate the gene characterization in different cells.

Results

According to distinct biological processes and marker genes, macrophages, T cells, and B cells clustered into three to four different subgroups. In addition, we demonstrated that m⁶A RNA methylation regulators were strongly related to the clinical and biological features of ESCC. Analysis of transcriptome data revealed that m⁶A-mediated TME cell subsets had high predictive value and showed a close relationship with immune checkpoint genes. The validation results from qPCR demonstrated the characteristics of essential genes. CellChat analysis revealed that RNA from TME cells m⁶A methylation-associated cell subtypes had substantial and diversified interactions with cancer cells. Further investigation revealed that MIF- (CD74+CXCR4) and MIF- (CD74⁺CD44) ligand-receptor pairings facilitated communication between m⁶A-associated subtypes of TME cells and cancer cells.

Conclusion

Overall, our study demonstrated for the first time the function of m⁶A methylation-mediated intercellular communication in the microenvironment of tumors in controlling tumor development and anti-tumor immune regulation in ESCC.

AgRP neurons are not indispensable for body weight maintenance in adult mice

In addition to their role in promoting feeding and obesity development, hypothalamic arcuate agouti-related protein/neuropeptide Y (AgRP/NPY) neurons are widely perceived to be indispensable for maintaining normal feeding and body weight in adults, and consistently, acute inhibition of AgRP neurons is known to reduce short-term food intake. Here, we adopted complementary methods to achieve nearly complete ablation of arcuate AgRP/NPY neurons in adult mice and report that lesioning arcuate AgRP/NPY neurons in adult mice causes no apparent alterations in ad libitum feeding or body weight. Consistent with previous studies, loss of AgRP/NPY neurons blunts fasting refeeding. Thus, our studies show that AgRP/NPY neurons are not required for maintaining ad libitum feeding or body weight homeostasis in adult mice.

Retinol Saturase Mediates Retinoid Metabolism to Impair a Ferroptosis Defense System in Cancer Cells

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death induced by the lethal overload of lipid peroxides in cellular membranes. In recent years, modulating ferroptosis has gained attention as a potential therapeutic approach for tumor suppression. In the current study, retinol saturase (RETSAT) was identified as a significant ferroptosis mediator using a publicly accessible CRISPR/Cas9 screening dataset. RETSAT depletion protected tumor cells from lipid peroxidation and subsequent cell death triggered by various ferroptosis inducers. Furthermore, exogenous supplementation with retinoids, including retinol (the substrate of RETSAT) and its derivatives retinal and retinoic acid, also suppressed ferroptosis, whereas the product of RETSAT, 13, 14-dihydroretinol, failed to do so. As effective radical-trapping antioxidant, retinoids protected the lipid membrane from autoxidation and subsequent fragmentation, thus terminating the cascade of ferroptosis. Pseudotargeted lipidomic analysis identified an association between retinoid regulation of ferroptosis and lipid metabolism. Retinoic acid, but not 13, 14-dihydroretinoic acid, interacted with its nuclear receptor and activated transcription of stearoyl-CoA desaturase, which introduces the first double bond into saturated fatty acid and thus catalyzes the generation of monounsaturated fatty acid, a known ferroptosis suppressor. Therefore, RETSAT promotes ferroptosis by transforming retinol to 13, 14-dihydroretinol, thereby turning a strong anti-ferroptosis regulator into a relatively weak one.

SIGNIFICANCE

Retinoids have ferroptosis-protective properties and can be metabolized by RETSAT to promote ferroptosis, suggesting the possibility of targeting retinoid metabolism in cancer as a treatment strategy to trigger ferroptosis.

A hybrid approach for low-carbon transportation system analysis: integrating CRITIC-DEMATEL and deep learning features

As supply chains, logistics, and transportation activities continue to play a significant role in China's economic and social developments, concerns around energy consumption and carbon emissions are becoming increasingly prevalent. In light of sustainable development goals and the trend toward sustainable or green transportation, there is a need to minimize the environmental impact of these activities. To address this need, the government of China has made efforts to promote low-carbon transportation systems. This study aims to assess the development of low-carbon transportation systems in a case study in China using a hybrid approach based on the Criteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC), Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and deep learning features. The proposed method provides an accurate quantitative assessment of low-carbon transportation development levels, identifies the key influencing factors, and sorts out the inner connection among the factors. The CRITIC weight matrix is used to obtain the weight ratio, reducing the subjective color of the DEMATEL method. The weighting results are then corrected using an artificial neural network to make the weighting more accurate and objective. To validate our hybrid method, a numerical example in China is applied, and sensitivity analysis is conducted to show the impact of our main parameters and analyze the efficiency of our hybrid method. Overall, the proposed approach offers a novel method for assessing low-carbon transportation development and identifying key factors in China. The results of this study can be used to inform policy and decision-making to promote sustainable transportation systems in China and beyond.

The genomic signature of resistance to platinum-containing neoadjuvant therapy based on single-cell data

BACKGROUND

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) becomes the first-line option for advanced tumors, while patients who are not sensitive to it may not benefit. Therefore, it is important to screen patients suitable for NACT.

METHODS

Single-cell data of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and esophageal squamous carcinoma (ESCC) before and after cisplatin-containing (CDDP) NACT and cisplatin IC50 data of tumor cell lines were analyzed to establish a CDDP neoadjuvant chemotherapy score (NCS). Differential analysis, GO, KEGG, GSVA and logistic regression models were performed by R. Survival analysis were applied to public databases. siRNA knockdown in A549, PC9, TE1 cell lines, qRT-PCR, western-blot, cck8 and EdU experiments were used for further verification in vitro.

RESULTS

485 genes were expressed differentially in tumor cells before and after neoadjuvant treatment for LUAD and ESCC. After combining the CDDP-associated genes, 12 genes, CAV2, PHLDA1, DUSP23, VDAC3, DSG2, SPINT2, SPATS2L, IGFBP3, CD9, ALCAM, PRSS23, PERP, were obtained and formed the NCS score. The higher the score, the more sensitive the patients were to CDDP-NACT. The NCS divided LUAD and ESCC into two groups. Based on differentially expressed genes, a model was constructed to predict the high and low NCS. CAV2, PHLDA1, ALCAM, CD9, IGBP3 and VDAC3 were significantly associated with prognosis. Finally, we demonstrated that the knockdown of CAV2, PHLDA1 and VDAC3 in A549, PC9 and TE1 significantly increased the sensitivity to cisplatin.

CONCLUSIONS

NCS scores and related predictive models for CDDP-NACT were developed and validated to assist in selecting patients who might benefit from it.

KLF11 regulates lung adenocarcinoma ferroptosis and chemosensitivity by suppressing GPX4

Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent non-apoptotic cell death, has been shown to play a vital role in tumor proliferation and chemotherapy resistance. Here, we report that KLF11 inhibits lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) cell proliferation and promotes chemotherapy sensitivity by participating in the GPX4-related ferroptosis pathway. Through an RNA-sequence screen from LUAD cells pretreatment with ferroptosis inducers (FINs), we discovered that KLF11 expression was significantly higher in FINs-treated cells, suggesting that KLF11 may be involved in ferroptosis. Overexpression of KLF11 promoted LUAD cells to undergo ferroptosis alterations. Meanwhile, upregulation of KLF11 expression also inhibited cell proliferation and increased chemosensitivity, whereas knockout of KLF11 did the opposite. With ChIP-Seq and RNA-Seq, we identified GPX4 as a downstream target of KLF11. Through ChIP-qPCR and dual luciferase assay, we clarified that KLF11 binds to the promoter region of GPX4 and represses its transcription. Restored GPX4 expression antagonized the ability of KLF11 to promote ferroptosis, increase chemotherapy sensitivity and inhibit cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Clinically, KLF11 declined in LUAD and its low expression was associated with reduced patient survival. Our findings established the function of KLF11 to promote ferroptosis in LUAD, thereby inhibiting cell proliferation and enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapy.

Exploring the catalytic activity of graphene-based TM-NxC4-x single atom catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction via density functional theory calculation

Electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are extremely crucial for advanced energy conversion technologies, such as fuel cell batteries. A promising ORR catalyst usually should have low overpotentials, rich catalytic sites and low cost. In the past decade, single-atom catalyst (SAC) TM-N₄ (TM = Fe, Co, etc.) embedded graphene matrixes have been widely studied for their promising performance and low cost for ORR catalysis, but the effect of coordination on the ORR activity is not fully understood. In this work, we will employ density functional theory (DFT) calculations to systematically investigate the ORR activity of 40 different 3d transition metal single-atom catalysts (SACs) supported on nitrogen-doped graphene supports, ranging from vanadium to zinc. Five different nitrogen coordination configurations (TM-N_xC_4-x with x = 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4) were studied to reveal how C/N substitution affects the ORR activity. By looking at the stability, free energy diagram, overpotential, and scaling relationship, our calculation showed that partial C substitution can effectively improve the ORR performance of Mn, Co, Ni, and Zn-based SACs. The volcano plot obtained from the scaling relationship indicated that the substitution of N by C could distinctively affect the potential-limiting step in the ORR, which leads to the enhanced or weakened ORR performance. Density of states and d-band center analysis suggested that this coordination-tuned ORR activity can be explained by the shift of the d-band center due to the coordination effect. Finally, four candidates with optimal ORR activity and dynamic stability were proposed from the pool: NiC₄, CoNC₃, CrN₄, and ZnN₃C. Our work provides a feasible designing strategy to improve the ORR activity of graphene-based TM-N₄ SACs by tuning the coordination environment, which may have potential implication in the high-performance fuel cell development.

Fluids and Electrolytes under Confinement in Single-Digit Nanopores

Confined fluids and electrolyte solutions in nanopores exhibit rich and surprising physics and chemistry that impact the mass transport and energy efficiency in many important natural systems and industrial applications. Existing theories often fail to predict the exotic effects observed in the narrowest of such pores, called single-digit nanopores (SDNs), which have diameters or conduit widths of less than 10 nm, and have only recently become accessible for experimental measurements. What SDNs reveal has been surprising, including a rapidly increasing number of examples such as extraordinarily fast water transport, distorted fluid-phase boundaries, strong ion-correlation and quantum effects, and dielectric anomalies that are not observed in larger pores. Exploiting these effects presents myriad opportunities in both basic and applied research that stand to impact a host of new technologies at the water-energy nexus, from new membranes for precise separations and water purification to new gas permeable materials for water electrolyzers and energy-storage devices. SDNs also present unique opportunities to achieve ultrasensitive and selective chemical sensing at the single-ion and single-molecule limit. In this review article, we summarize the progress on nanofluidics of SDNs, with a focus on the confinement effects that arise in these extremely narrow nanopores. The recent development of precision model systems, transformative experimental tools, and multiscale theories that have played enabling roles in advancing this frontier are reviewed. We also identify new knowledge gaps in our understanding of nanofluidic transport and provide an outlook for the future challenges and opportunities at this rapidly advancing frontier.

Understanding the piezocatalytic properties of the BaTiO3(001) surface via density functional theory

Piezoelectric materials have been reported to possess catalytic activity under mechanical excitation, such as by ultrasonic waves or collisions. Energy band theory (EBT) is often used to explain the piezocatalytic phenomenon caused by the strain-induced charge separation, but the correlation between the piezoelectric polarization and catalytic activity has still not been fully understood in early theoretical studies with the EBT model. To reveal the intrinsic connection between the piezoelectric feature and surface catalytic activity, in this work, we employ first-principles Density Functional Theory (DFT) to investigate the prototype piezocatalyst BaTiO₃ (001) surface (BTO). Our simulation shows that the thickness of BTO has a significant impact on the band structure, polarization charge distribution and the surface work function of both positively and negatively polarized sides. As the driving force of piezocatalysis, the electrostatic potential difference (piezopotential) of the two sides shows strong a correlation with the band structure change under the applied strain, which determines the theoretical catalytic activity of BaTiO₃ (001) for water splitting. Finally, we reveal the piezoelectric effects on the surface adsorption energy of H and OH species, which provide a new insight into the mechanism of piezocatalysis. Our work provides a new and in-depth physical insight into the fundamental mechanism of piezocatalysis, which may have important implications for the application of piezocatalysts in water treatment and renewable energy technologies.

The volatile flavor and the antioxidant properties of a novel chrysanthemum rice wine during natural aging

Chrysanthemum morifolium cv. Fubaiju, a traditional tea in southern China with high nutritional and health functions was used in this study. Optimized production conditions of a novel chrysanthemum rice wine (FRW) were obtained by the Box-Behnken design response surface experiment. FRW with best sensory quality was developed with 0.68% chrysanthemum, 0.79% Jiuqu and 0.81:1 liquid-to-solid ratio. Compared with rice wine (RW) control, the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, as well as antioxidant activity of the FRW increased significantly. GC-MS analysis showed that more flavor compounds including alcohols, aldehydes, acids, and esters were detected in FRW. During the aging process, it was found that the antioxidant substances, the antioxidant activity and the flavor substances decreased, with the wine body tending to be homogenized. After 6 months of storage, overall sensory quality of FRW was more harmonious, with special nectar taste, which dramatically improved the flavor characteristics and functionality compared with traditional RW.

Hepatic nuclear factor 4 alpha promotes the ferroptosis of lung adenocarcinoma via transcriptional activation of cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase

Background

Lung adenocarcinoma is one of the most prevalent cancers while ferroptosis is crucial for cancer therapies. This study aims to investigate the function and mechanism of hepatic nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4A) in lung adenocarcinomas' ferroptosis.

Materials and Methods

HNF4A expression in ferroptotic A549 cells was detected. Then HNF4A was knocked down in A549 cells while overexpressed in H23 cells. Cells with changed HNF4A expression were tested for cytotoxicity and the level of cellular lipid peroxidation. The expression of cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (POR) expression was examined after HNF4A was knocked down or overexpressed. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative PCR (ChIP-qPCR) and dual-luciferase assays were performed to validate the regulation of HNF4A on POR. Finally, POR was restored in HNF4A-altered cells to check whether it restores the effect of HNF4A on ferroptosis.

Results

We found that HNF4A expression significantly decreased in the ferroptosis of A549 cells, and this change can be blocked by deferoxamine, an inhibitor of ferroptosis. Knockdown of HNF4A inhibited ferroptosis in A549 cells while overexpression of HNF4A promoted ferroptosis in H23 cells. We identified a key ferroptosis-related gene, POR serves as a potential target gene of HNF4A, whose expression was significantly changed in lung adenocarcinoma cells knocking down or overexpressing HNF4A. We demonstrated that HNF4A was bound to the POR's promoter to enhance POR expression, and identified the binding sites via ChIP-qPCR and luciferase assays. Restoration of POR expression blocked the promoting effect of HNF4A on ferroptosis in lung adenocarcinoma.

Conclusion

HNF4A promotes POR expression through binding to the POR's promoter, and subsequently promotes the ferroptosis of lung adenocarcinoma.

Genome-wide analyses of lung cancer after single high-dose radiation at five time points (2, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h)

Background: An increasing number of clinicians are experimenting with high-dose radiation. This study focuses on the genomic effects of high-dose single-shot radiotherapy and aims to provide a dynamic map for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: We used whole-transcriptome sequencing to understand the evolution at molecular levels in A549 and H1299 exposed to 10 Gy X-rays at different times (2, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h) in comparison with the no radiation group. Ingenuity pathway analysis, ceRNA analysis, enrichment analysis, and cell cycle experiments are performed for molecular analyses and function analyses. Results: Whole-transcriptome sequencing of NSCLC showed a significant dynamic change after radiotherapy within 48 h. MiR-219-1-3p and miR-221-3p, miR-503-5p, hsa-miR-455-5p, hsa-miR-29-3p, and hsa-miR-339-5p were in the core of the ceRNA related to time change. GO and KEGG analyses of the top 30 mRNA included DNA repair, autophagy, apoptosis, and ferroptosis pathways. Regulation of the cell cycle-related transcription factor E2F1 might have a key role in the early stage of radiotherapy (2.6 h) and in the later stage of autophagy (24 and 48 h). Functions involving different genes/proteins over multiple periods implied a dose of 10 Gy was related to the kidney and liver pathway. Radiation-induced cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase was evident at 24 h. We also observed the increased expression of CCNB1 at 24 h in PCR and WB experiments. Conclusion: Our transcriptomic and experimental analyses showed a dynamic change after radiation therapy in 48 h and highlighted the key molecules and pathways in NSCLC after high-dose single-shot radiotherapy.

HNF4G increases cisplatin resistance in lung adenocarcinoma via the MAPK6/Akt pathway

Background

Lung adenocarcinoma is one of the most common tumors, and cisplatin is frequently used in treating lung adenocarcinoma patients. This study aimed to look into the roles and mechanisms of HNF4G in cisplatin resistance of lung adenocarcinoma.

Materials & Methods

Cisplatin resistance and gene expression data of 542 cell lines from the CTRP and CCLE databases were analyzed. HNF4G expression was detected in the lung adenocarcinoma cell lines after treatment with various concentrations of cisplatin. Cisplatin sensitivity curves were detected in cells that overexpressed or knocked down HNF4G. The ChIP-Seq data were then analyzed to identify the targets of HNF4G involved in cisplatin resistance. Expression and phosphorylation of the MAPK6/Akt pathway were detected after HNF4G was overexpressed or knocked down. Finally, ChIP-qPCR and dual-luciferase assays were used to investigate the regulation of HNF4G on MAPK6.

Results

In cell lines, high expression of HNF4G was significantly positively correlated with cisplatin resistance, and lung adenocarcinoma patients who had high HNF4G expression had a poor prognosis. Cisplatin treatment increased HNF4G expression, and overexpression of HNF4G significantly increased the resistance to cisplatin in A549 and HCC827 cells, whereas knockdown of HNF4G had the opposite effect. HNF4G overexpression increased MAPK6 expression and activated the MAPK6/Akt pathway, while an Akt inhibitor reduced the effects of HNF4G on cisplatin resistance. HNF4G bound to the MAPK6 promoter region, promoting MAPK6 expression, according to ChIP-qPCR and luciferase assays.

Conclusion

By binding to the MAPK6 promoter region, HNF4G promotes MAPK6 expression and subsequent Akt phosphorylation, resulting in resistance to cisplatin in lung adenocarcinoma.

Evaluation of Resources and Environment Carrying Capacity Based on Support Pressure Coupling Mechanism: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Economic Belt

Resource and environmental carrying capacity (RECC) is an important basis for achieving sustainable urban development, and analysis of the relationship between regional resources and human activities is of great significance for sustainable regional development. Taking the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) as the study area, this study establishes a framework for analyzing RECC based on the resource and environmental support capacity (RES) and the pressure on the resource and environment (REP), calculates the RES and REP of 110 cities in the YREB from 2009 to 2018, and analyzes the main constraints on RECC. The results show that (1) there are inter-regional imbalances in RECC within the study area, with cities that are more economically developed or at a higher administrative level usually having more severe problems with RECC. (2) The RES and REP indices of cities in the YREB show an overall increasing trend, but the relative growth rates of the RES and REP indices of cities at different levels differ. (3) The built-up area, green space in built-up areas, total gas supply, and length of sewage pipes are hindering factors for most cities to improve their RES. This study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the current situation and changing trends of RECC in the YREB and can provide a reference for decision-making on sustainable development of the region's large river basin.

Identification and validation of the mitochondrial function related hub genes by unsupervised machine learning and multi-omics analyses in lung adenocarcinoma

Background

The mitochondrion and its associated genes were heavily implicated in developing and therapy tumors as the primary cellular organelle in charge of metabolic reprogramming and ferroptosis. Our work focuses on discovering new potential targets while analyzing the multi-omics data of mitochondria-related genes in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

Methods

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database provided multi-omics data for LUAD patients. Based on the expression profile of the genes associated with mitochondria, the patients were grouped by the unsupervised clustering method. R was used to explore the differential expressed protein-code gene, miRNA, and lncRNA, as well as their enriched functions and ceRNA networks. Additionally, the discrepancy between immune infiltration and genetic variation was comprehensively characterized. Our clinical samples and in vitro experiments investigated the hub gene determined by LASSO and batch analysis.

Results

Two clusters are distinguished using unsupervised consensus clustering based on mitochondrial heterogeneity. The integrated analysis emphasized that patients in cluster B had a worse prognosis, higher mutation frequencies, and less immune cell infiltration. The hub genes DARS2 and COX5B are identified by further analysis using LASSO penalization. In vitro experiments indicated that DARS2 and COX5B knockdown inhibited tumor cell proliferation. The specimen of our hospital cohort conducted the immunohistochemistry analysis and validated that DARS2 and COX5B's expression was significantly higher in the tumor than in adjacent normal tissue and correlated to LUAD patients' prognosis.

Conclusion

Our observations implied that LUAD patients' tumors had distinct mitochondrial function heterogeneity with different clinical and molecular characteristics. DARS2 and COX5B might be critical genes involved in mitochondrial alterations and potential therapeutic targets.

ARNTL2 is an indicator of poor prognosis, promotes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and inhibits ferroptosis in lung adenocarcinoma

OBJECTIVES

ARNTL2, as a circadian transcription factor, has been recently proposed to play an important role in a variety of tumors. however, the role of ARNTL2 in lung carcinogenesis and progression remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ARNTL2 on the clinical characteristics and prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma and to explore the relationship between ARNTL2 and EMT, ferroptosis in lung adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database's multi-omics data were downloaded using the Xena browser. Based on the expression levels of ARNTL2, patients with lung adenocarcinoma from TCGA were divided into two groups: those with high ARNTL2 expression and those with low ARNTL2 expression. ARNTL2 was studied for its effects on lung adenocarcinoma's clinicopathological, genomic, and immunological characteristics. Furthermore, in vivo and in vitro assays were used to confirm the impact of ARNLT2 knockdown on lung adenocarcinoma cells.

RESULTS

We found ARNTL2 is highly expressed in lung adenocarcinoma and was an independent predictor of a poor prognosis in patients with lung adenocarcinoma. In addition, we demonstrated that knockdown of ARNTL2 promoted ferroptosis, inhibited EMT, cell proliferation, migration and invasion in lung adenocarcinoma. In contrast, overexpressing ARNTL2 yielded the opposite results.

CONCLUSIONS

ARNTL2 is an independent unfavorable prognostic factor for lung adenocarcinoma. It plays a facilitating role in the development of lung adenocarcinoma, especially in promoting EMT and inhibiting ferroptosis, revealing that ARNTL2 may be a potential biomarker for lung adenocarcinoma.

FSCN1 induced PTPRF-dependent tumor microenvironment inflammatory reprogramming promotes lung adenocarcinoma progression via regulating macrophagic glycolysis

PURPOSE

Macrophages (MΦs) play a dual role in the promotion and suppression of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), the function of which is influenced by the metabolic status. The role of protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type F (PTPRF) in cancer has not been elucidated, and its role in MΦs remains to be seen.

METHODS

The Seahorse XFe 96 Cell Flow Analyzer detected glucose metabolism in tumor cells and macrophages. The expressions of FSCN1, M-CSF, IL4, PTPRF and IGF1 in macrophages were detected by Western blotting and qRT-PCR. Binding of FSCN1 and IGF1R was detected by co-immunoprecipitation. The tumor status in animals was observed using the IVIS Lumina III imaging system.

RESULTS

We found that Fascin Actin-Bundling Protein 1 (FSCN1) activates the PI3K-AKT and JAK-STAT signaling pathways in LUAD cells via binding to IGF-1R, thereby promoting the secretion of cytokines such as IL4 and M-CSF. IL4 and M-CSF promote the expression of PTPRF in MΦs, leading to M2 polarization of MΦs by increasing glucose intake and lactate production. In return, M2-type MΦs act on LUAD cells by secreting cytokines such as IGF-1, CCL2, and IL10, which ultimately promote tumor progression. In vivo experiments proved that the knockdown of FSCN1 in A549 cells and PTPRF in MΦs greatly reduced LUAD proliferative and metastatic capacity, which was consistent with the in vitro findings.

CONCLUSIONS

This study investigated the reprogramming effects of FSCN1 and PTPRF on inflammatory cytokines in the LUAD microenvironment, revealing potential mechanisms by which FSCN1 and PTPRF promote tumor progression and providing a new experimental basis for LUAD treatment.

The gut-to-brain axis for toxin-induced defensive responses

After ingestion of toxin-contaminated food, the brain initiates a series of defensive responses (e.g., nausea, retching, and vomiting). How the brain detects ingested toxin and coordinates diverse defensive responses remains poorly understood. Here, we developed a mouse-based paradigm to study defensive responses induced by bacterial toxins. Using this paradigm, we identified a set of molecularly defined gut-to-brain and brain circuits that jointly mediate toxin-induced defensive responses. The gut-to-brain circuit consists of a subset of Htr3a+ vagal sensory neurons that transmit toxin-related signals from intestinal enterochromaffin cells to Tac1+ neurons in the dorsal vagal complex (DVC). Tac1+ DVC neurons drive retching-like behavior and conditioned flavor avoidance via divergent projections to the rostral ventral respiratory group and lateral parabrachial nucleus, respectively. Manipulating these circuits also interferes with defensive responses induced by the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin. These results suggest that food poisoning and chemotherapy recruit similar circuit modules to initiate defensive responses.

FAM83A promotes the progression and metastasis of human pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors by inducing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition via the PI3K/AKT and ERK pathways

PURPOSE

Family with sequence similarity 83, member A (FAM83A) has been reported to play an important role in cancer progression and metastasis. The purpose of this study was to clarify the role and mechanism of FAM83A in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs).

METHODS

PanNET specimens and adjacent nontumor pancreatic tissues obtained from 68 patients who underwent curative surgery for PanNETs were assessed for FAM83A expression using immunochemical staining. The relationships between FAM83A expression, clinicopathological parameters and prognosis were statistically analyzed. PanNET cell lines were used to study the role of FAM83A in the progression and metastasis of PanNETs in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTS

FAM83A was overexpressed in PanNET specimens compared with adjacent nontumor tissues. Furthermore, FAM83A expression was closely associated with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.02), perineural invasion (P = 0.001), WHO classification (P = 0.039), AJCC stage (P = 0.01) and shorter disease-free survival in patients with PanNETs (P < 0.001). FAM83A overexpression effectively promoted PanNET cell proliferation, migration, invasion and growth both in vitro and in vivo, whereas FAM83A inhibition exerted the opposite effects. Subsequent mechanistic investigations revealed that FAM83A promotes the progression and metastasis of PanNETs by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) via the PI3K/AKT and ERK pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

FAM83A plays an important role in the progression and metastasis of PanNET by inducing the EMT via the activation of the ERK and PI3K/AKT pathways and may serve as a valuable molecular target in PanNET treatment.

Interactions between central nervous system and peripheral metabolic organs

According to Descartes, minds and bodies are distinct kinds of "substance", and they cannot have causal interactions. However, in neuroscience, the two-way interaction between the brain and peripheral organs is an emerging field of research. Several lines of evidence highlight the importance of such interactions. For example, the peripheral metabolic systems are overwhelmingly regulated by the mind (brain), and anxiety and depression greatly affect the functioning of these systems. Also, psychological stress can cause a variety of physical symptoms, such as bone loss. Moreover, the gut microbiota appears to play a key role in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. Mechanistically, as the command center of the body, the brain can regulate our internal organs and glands through the autonomic nervous system and neuroendocrine system, although it is generally considered to be outside the realm of voluntary control. The autonomic nervous system itself can be further subdivided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The sympathetic division functions a bit like the accelerator pedal on a car, and the parasympathetic division functions as the brake. The high center of the autonomic nervous system and the neuroendocrine system is the hypothalamus, which contains several subnuclei that control several basic physiological functions, such as the digestion of food and regulation of body temperature. Also, numerous peripheral signals contribute to the regulation of brain functions. Gastrointestinal (GI) hormones, insulin, and leptin are transported into the brain, where they regulate innate behaviors such as feeding, and they are also involved in emotional and cognitive functions. The brain can recognize peripheral inflammatory cytokines and induce a transient syndrome called sick behavior (SB), characterized by fatigue, reduced physical and social activity, and cognitive impairment. In summary, knowledge of the biological basis of the interactions between the central nervous system and peripheral organs will promote the full understanding of how our body works and the rational treatment of disorders. Thus, we summarize current development in our understanding of five types of central-peripheral interactions, including neural control of adipose tissues, energy expenditure, bone metabolism, feeding involving the brain-gut axis and gut microbiota. These interactions are essential for maintaining vital bodily functions, which result in homeostasis, i.e., a natural balance in the body's systems.

Impact of a Ground-glass Opacity Component on c-Stage IA Lung Adenocarcinoma

Studies have shown that tumors with ground-glass opacity (GGO) components are associated with favorable outcomes. However, this view should be confirmed in an international cohort. We aimed to verify the impact of a GGO component on clinical (c)-stage IA lung adenocarcinoma and to describe the biological discrepancies between the part-solid and pure-solid groups. We evaluated 1333 cases of surgically resected c-stage IA lung adenocarcinomas, including 484 part-solid and 849 pure-solid tumors. Furthermore, we matched the solid size between the 2 groups and examined 470 patients. We compared the prognoses between the 2 groups before and after matching. The prognostic and biological differences were described before and after matching. Compared with the pure-solid group, the part-solid group was associated with favorable outcomes [5-year overall survival (OS) 99.4% vs 87.6%, P < 0.001; 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) 96.9% vs 82.2%, P < 0.001]. Similar results were obtained after matching (5-year OS 98.9% vs 92.2%, P = 0.012; 5-year RFS 95.0% vs 88.5%, P = 0.007). Multivariable analyses revealed that GGO component appearance was a factor of better OS and RFS. The part-solid tumor, regardless of the size of the solid component, had a similar outcome to the pure-solid tumor of c-stage T1a classification. Also, more epidermal growth factor receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 mutations, and receptor tyrosine kinase ROS-1-positive were observed in the part-solid group. In comparison, more wild types and Kirsten-Ras were observed in the pure-solid group. Adenocarcinomas with a GGO component were associated with superior outcomes. The GGO component should be considereda new clinical T descriptor. Early-stage lung adenocarcinomas with and without a GGO component may be 2 distinct tumor types.

The immunomodulatory role of all-trans retinoic acid in tumor microenvironment

Retinoids are essential nutrients for human beings. Among them, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), considered one of the most active metabolites, plays important roles in multiple biological processes. ATRA regulates the transcription of target genes by interacting with nuclear receptors bonded to retinoic acid response elements (RAREs). Besides its differentiation-inducing effect in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia and some solid tumor types, its immunoregulatory role in tumor microenvironment (TME) has attracted considerable attention. ATRA not only substantially abrogates the immunosuppressive effect of tumor-infiltrating myeloid-derived suppressor cells but also activates the anti-tumor effect of CD8 + T cells. Notably, the combination of ATRA with other therapeutic approaches, including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), tumor vaccines, and chemotherapy, has been extensively investigated in a variety of tumor models and clinical trials. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the role of ATRA in cancer immunology and immunotherapy, dissect the underlying mechanisms of ATRA-mediated activation or differentiation of different types of immune cells, and explore the potential clinical significance of ATRA-based cancer therapy.

Glucose-sensing glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor neurons in the dorsomedial hypothalamus regulate glucose metabolism

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) regulates energy homeostasis via activation of the GLP-1 receptors (GLP-1Rs) in the central nervous system. However, the mechanism by which the central GLP-1 signal controls blood glucose levels, especially in different nutrient states, remains unclear. Here, we defined a population of glucose-sensing GLP-1R neurons in the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus (DMH), by which endogenous GLP-1 decreases glucose levels via the cross-talk between the hypothalamus and pancreas. Specifically, we illustrated the sufficiency and necessity of DMHGLP-1R in glucose regulation. The activation of the DMHGLP-1R neurons is mediated by a cAMP-PKA-dependent inhibition of a delayed rectifier potassium current. We also dissected a descending control of DMHGLP-1R -dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve (DMV)-pancreas activity that can regulate glucose levels by increasing insulin release. Thus, our results illustrate how central GLP-1 action in the DMH can induce a nutrient state-dependent reduction in blood glucose level.

Comprehensive Genome-Scale Analysis of Esophageal Carcinoma With Esophageal Tissue-Resident Micro-Environment Discrepancy

To figure out the molecular mechanism in the esophageal squamous carcinoma (ESCC) with the discrepancy in the tissue-resident microbiota, we selected clinical features, RNA sequences, and transcriptomes of ESCC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) website and detailed tissue-resident microbiota information from The Cancer Microbiome Atlas (n = 60) and explored the infiltration condition of particular microbiota in each sample. We classified the tissue-resident micro-environment of ESCC into two clusters (A and B) and built a predictive classifier model. Cluster A has a higher proportion of certain tissue-resident microbiota with comparatively better survival, while Cluster B has a lower proportion of certain tissue-resident microbiota with comparatively worse survival. We showed traits of gene and clinicopathology in the esophageal tissue-resident micro-environment (ETM) phenotypes. By comparing the two clusters’ molecular signatures, we find that the two clusters have obvious differences in gene expression and mutation, which lead to pathway expression discrepancy. Several pathways are closely related to tumorigenesis. Our results may demonstrate a synthesis of the infiltration pattern of the esophageal tissue-resident micro-environment in ESCC. We reveal the mechanism of esophageal tissue-resident microbiota discrepancy in ESCC, which may contribute to therapy progress for patients with ESCC.

Cisplatin resistance-related multi-omics differences and the establishment of machine learning models

Objectives

Platinum-based chemotherapies are currently the first-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. This study will improve our understanding of the causes of resistance to cisplatin, especially in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and provide a reference for therapeutic decisions in clinical practice.

Methods

Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE), The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Zhongshan hospital affiliated to Fudan University (zs-cohort) were used to identify the multi-omics differences related to platinum chemotherapy. Cisplatin-resistant mRNA and miRNA models were constructed by Logistic regression, classification and regression tree and C4.5 decision tree classification algorithm with previous feature selection performed via least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO). qRT-PCR and western-blotting of A549 and H358 cells, as well as single-cell Seq data of tumor samples were applied to verify the tendency of certain genes.

Results

661 cell lines were divided into three groups according to the IC50 value of cisplatin, and the top 1/3 (220) with a small IC50 value were defined as the sensitive group while the last 1/3 (220) were enrolled in the insensitive group. TP53 was the most common mutation in the insensitive group, in contrast to TTN in the sensitive group. 1348 mRNA, 80 miRNA, and 15 metabolites were differentially expressed between 2 groups (P < 0.05). According to the LASSO penalized logistic modeling, 6 of the 1348 mRNAs, FOXA2, BATF3, SIX1, HOXA1, ZBTB38, IRF5, were selected as the associated features with cisplatin resistance and for the contribution of predictive mRNA model (all of adjusted P-values < 0.001). Three of 6 (BATF3, IRF5, ZBTB38) genes were finally verified in cell level and patients in zs-cohort.

Conclusions

Somatic mutations, mRNA expressions, miRNA expressions, metabolites and methylation were related to the resistance of cisplatin. The models we created could help in the prediction of the reaction and prognosis of patients given platinum-based chemotherapies.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-022-03372-0.