Oncolytic Virus M1 Functions as a Bifunctional Checkpoint Inhibitor To Enhance the Antitumor Activity of DC Vaccine

Although promising, dendritic cell (DC) vaccines still provide limited clinical benefits, mainly due to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and the lack of tumor-associated antigens (TAAs). Oncolytic virus therapy is an ideal strategy to overcome immunosuppression and expose TAAs; therefore, they may work synergistically with DC vaccines. In this study, we demonstrate that oncolytic virus M1 (OVM) can enhance the antitumor effects of DC vaccines across diverse syngeneic mouse tumor models by increasing the infiltration of CD8+ effector T cells in the TME. Mechanically, we show that tumor cells counteract DC vaccines through the SIRPα-CD47 immune checkpoint, while OVM can downregulate SIRPα in DCs and CD47 in tumor cells. Since OVM upregulates PD-L1 in DCs, combining PD-L1 blockade with DC vaccines and OVM further enhances antitumor activity. Overall, OVM strengthens the antitumor efficacy of DC vaccines by targeting the SIRPα-CD47 axis, which exerts dominant immunosuppressive effects on DC vaccines

Differential Regulation of H3K9/H3K14 Acetylation by Small Molecules Drives Neuron-Fate-Induction of Glioma Cell

Differentiation therapy using small molecules is a promising strategy for improving the prognosis of glioblastoma (GBM). Histone acetylation plays an important role in cell fate determination. Nevertheless, whether histone acetylation in specific sites determines GBM cells fate remains to be explored. Through screening from a 349 small molecule-library, we identified that histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) MS-275 synergized with 8-CPT-cAMP was able to transdifferentiate U87MG GBM cells into neuron-like cells, which were characterized by cell cycle arrest, rich neuron biomarkers, and typical neuron electrophysiology. Intriguingly, acetylation tags of histone 3 at lysine 9 (H3K9ac) were decreased in the promoter of multiple oncogenes and cell cycle genes, while ones of H3K9ac and histone 3 at lysine 14 (H3K14ac) were increased in the promoter of neuron-specific genes. We then compiled a list of genes controlled by H3K9ac and H3K14ac, and proved that it is a good predictive power for pathologic grading and survival prediction. Moreover, cAMP agonist combined with HDACi also induced glioma stem cells (GSCs) to differentiate into neuron-like cells through the regulation of H3K9ac/K14ac, indicating that combined induction has the potential for recurrence-preventive application. Furthermore, the combination of cAMP activator plus HDACi significantly repressed the tumor growth in a subcutaneous GSC-derived tumor model, and temozolomide cooperated with the differentiation-inducing combination to prolong the survival in an orthotopic GSC-derived tumor model. These findings highlight epigenetic reprogramming through H3K9ac and H3K14ac as a novel approach for driving neuron-fate-induction of GBM cells

Mutations in m6A consensus motifs are suppressed in the m6A modified genes in human cancer cells.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent type of RNA modification. METTL3 in the methyltransferase complex is the core enzyme responsible for methylation. METTL3 selectively catalyzes the adenosines centered in the RRAC motif. Functional studies established that m6A could enhance the translation efficiency (TE) of modified genes by recruiting reader protein YTHDF1 and other initiation factors. We downloaded the m6A peaks in HeLa cells from a previous study and defined the m6A modified genes and sites. Ancestral mutations in the genic region fixed in the HeLa cell samples were defined using their mRNA-Seq data and the alignment between human and mouse genomes. Furthermore, in the small interfering (si)-METTL3 sample, the calculated TE foldchange of all genes was compared to that in the negative control. The TE of m6A genes was globally down-regulated in si-METTL3 versus control compared to the non-m6A genes. In m6A modified genes, RRAC motif mutations were suppressed compared to mutations in non-motif regions or non-m6A genes. Among the m6A genes, a fraction RRAC motif mutations negatively correlated with the TE foldchange (si-METTL3 versus control). The TE of m6A modified genes was enhanced in HeLa cells. RRAC motif mutations could potentially prevent methylation of adenosines and consequently abolish the enhanced translation. Such mutations in the RRAC motif might be deleterious. Accordingly, we observed lower fractions of mutations in RRAC motifs than in other regions. This prevention of mutations in the RRAC motif could be a strategy adopted by cancer cells to maintain the elevated translation of particular genes

Acoustic Emission and Failure Modes for Coal-Rock Structure under Different Loading Rates

Coal bump refers to a sudden catastrophic failure of coal seam and usually causes serious damages to underground mining facilities and staff. Considering the combined coal-rock structure for coal bumps, failure process and acoustic emission (AE) characteristics of combined coal-sandstone samples under different loading rates were studied by uniaxial compression tests, and three basic failure modes and bump proneness for coal-rock structure were obtained. The following conclusions are drawn: (1) when loading rate was relatively low, plastic deformation of coal mass fully developed, while surface cracks of coal mass was not apparent and slip along the transfixion crack occurred in the postpeak stage; (2) with the increase in loading rate, surface tensile cracks developed into splitting cracks at the end of the prepeak stage and throughout the postpeak stage, and brittle failure finally happened due to the release of nonlinear step-shaped energy or one-time strain energy release of upper rock mass, resulting in the damage of internal bearing structure and weakening of bearing capacity; (3) the deformation and failure process of combined samples showed obvious phases, and corresponding AE energy release rate could be divided into periodic linear growth and transient growth, while the cumulative energy of AE events has multiple peak points and transient growth with the increase of loading rate; (4) it was demonstrated that two distinct frequency bands existed in AE events, which were about 50 kHz and 150 kHz, and the distribution of AE events near 50 kHz was larger and stronger, representing the main frequency range of cracks in coal mass. According to the damage characteristics and AE parameters for combined samples, an brittle model for coal-rock structure with mutation characteristics was proposed, and three basic failure modes for the combined structure with the increase of loading rate were progressive shear failure, splitting failure, and structural failure, respectively

Looking through the imaging perspective: the importance of imaging necrosis in glioma diagnosis and prognostic prediction – single centre experience

The aim of the study was to investigate the diagnostic value of imaging necrosis (Imnecrosis) in grading, predict the genotype and prognosis of gliomas, and further assess tumor necrosis by dynamic contrast-enhanced MR perfusion imaging (DCE-MRI)

Biomimetic Extracellular Vesicles Embedded with Black Phosphorus for Molecular Recognition-Guided Biomineralization

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are involved in the regulation of cell physiological activity and the reconstruction of extracellular environment. Matrix vesicles (MVs) are a type of EVs, and they participate in the regulation of cell mineralization. Herein, bioinspired MVs embedded with black phosphorus are functionalized with cell-specific aptamer (denoted as Apt-bioinspired MVs) for stimulating biomineralization. The aptamer can direct bioinspired MVs to targeted cells, and the increasing concentration of inorganic phosphate originated from the black phosphorus can facilitate cell biomineralization. The photothermal effect of the Apt-bioinspired MVs also positively affects mineralization. In addition, the Apt-bioinspired MVs display outstanding bone regeneration performance. Considering the excellent behavior of the Apt-bioinspired MVs for promoting biomineralization, our strategy provides a way of designing bionic tools for studying the mechanisms of biological processes and advancing the development of medical engineering.<br /

Relay Visible-Light Photoredox Catalysis: Synthesis of Pyrazole Derivatives via Formal [4 + 1] Annulation and Aromatization

A relay visible-light photoredox catalysis strategy has been accomplished. Three successive photoredox cycles (one oxidative quenching cycle and two reductive quenching cycles) are engaged in a single reaction with one photocatalyst. This strategy enables formal [4 + 1] annulation of hydrazones with 2-bromo-1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, which functionalizes three C–H bonds of hydrazones. This method affords rapid access to a complex and biologically important pyrazole scaffold in a step-economical manner with high efficiency under mild conditions

Cascade Photoredox/Iodide Catalysis: Access to Difluoro-γ-lactams via Aminodifluoroalkylation of Alkenes

The novel cascade photoredox/iodide catalytic system enables the alkene to serve as a radical acceptor capable of achieving aminodifluoroalkylation of alkenes. Cheap iodide salts play a vital role in this reaction, which could tune carbocation reactivity through reversible C–I bond formation for controlling reaction selectivity, and a series of competitive reactions are completely eliminated in the presence of multiple reactivity pathways. The present dual catalytic protocol affords a very convenient method for direct synthesis of various difluoro-γ-lactams from simple and readily available starting materials under mild reaction conditions

Relay Visible-Light Photoredox Catalysis: Synthesis of Pyrazole Derivatives via Formal [4 + 1] Annulation and Aromatization

A relay visible-light photoredox catalysis strategy has been accomplished. Three successive photoredox cycles (one oxidative quenching cycle and two reductive quenching cycles) are engaged in a single reaction with one photocatalyst. This strategy enables formal [4 + 1] annulation of hydrazones with 2-bromo-1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, which functionalizes three C–H bonds of hydrazones. This method affords rapid access to a complex and biologically important pyrazole scaffold in a step-economical manner with high efficiency under mild conditions