T cell immunotherapy for cardiac fibrosis: mRNA starts the CAR

Identification and validation of CCR5 linking keloid with atopic dermatitis through comprehensive bioinformatics analysis and machine learning

There is sufficient evidence indicating that keloid is strongly associated with atopic dermatitis (AD) across ethnic groups. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the association is not fully understood. The aim of this study is to discover the underlying mechanism of the association between keloid and AD by integrating comprehensive bioinformatics techniques and machine learning methods. The gene expression profiles of keloid and AD were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. A total of 449 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found to be shared in keloid and AD using the training datasets of GEO (GSE158395 and GSE121212). The hub genes were identified using the protein-protein interaction network and Cytoscape software. 20 of the most significant hub genes were selected, which were mainly involved in the regulation of the inflammatory and immune response. Through two machine learning algorithms of LASSO and SVM-RFE, CCR5 was identified as the most important key gene. Subsequently, upregulated CCR5 gene expression was confirmed in validation GEO datasets (GSE188952 and GSE32924) and clinical samples of keloid and AD. Immune infiltration analysis showed that T helper (Th) 1, 2 and 17 cells were significantly enriched in the microenvironment of both keloid and AD. Positive correlations were found between CCR5 and Th1, Th2 and Th17 cells. Finally, two TFs of CCR5, NR3C2 and YY1, were identified, both of which were downregulated in keloid and AD tissues. Our study firstly reveals that keloid and AD shared common inflammatory and immune pathways. Moreover, CCR5 plays a key role in the pathogenesis association between keloid and AD. The common pathways and key genes may shed light on further mechanism research and targeted therapy, and may provide therapeutic interventions of keloid with AD.

A Biomimetic Cardiac Fibrosis-on-a-Chip as a Visible Disease Model for Evaluating Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosome Therapy

Cardiac fibrosis acts as a serious worldwide health issue due to its prevalence in numerous forms of cardiac disease and its essential link to cardiac failure. Considering the efficiency of stem cell therapy for cardiac fibrosis, great efforts have been dedicated to developing accurate models for investigating their underlying therapeutic mechanisms. Herein we present an elaborate biomimetic cardiac fibrosis-on-a-chip based on Janus structural color film (SCF) to provide microphysiological visuals for stem cell therapeutic studies. By coculturing cardiomyocytes (CMs) and cardiac fibroblasts (FBs) on Janus SCF with fibrosis induction, the chip can recreate physiological intercellular crosstalk within the fibrotic microenvironment, elucidating the physiological alterations of fibrotic hearts. In particular, the Janus structural color film possesses superior perceptual capabilities for capturing and responding to a weak cardiac force, demonstrating synchronized structural color shifts. Based on these features, we have not only explored the dynamic relationship between color mapping and the evaluated disease phenotype but also demonstrated the self-reporting capacity of the cardiac fibrosis-on-a-chip for the assessment of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosome therapy. These features suggest that such a chip can potentially facilitate the evolution of precision medicine strategies and create a protocol for preclinical cardiac drug screening.

Crosstalk between fibroblasts and immunocytes in fibrosis: From molecular mechanisms to clinical trials

BACKGROUND

The impact of fibroblasts on the immune system provides insight into the function of fibroblasts. In various tissue microenvironments, multiple fibroblast subtypes interact with immunocytes by secreting growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines, leading to wound healing, fibrosis, and escape of cancer immune surveillance. However, the specific mechanisms involved in the fibroblast-immunocyte interaction network have not yet been fully elucidated.

MAIN BODY AND CONCLUSION

Therefore, we systematically reviewed the molecular mechanisms of fibroblast-immunocyte interactions in fibrosis, from the history of cellular evolution and cell subtype divisions to the regulatory networks between fibroblasts and immunocytes. We also discuss how these communications function in different tissue and organ statuses, as well as potential therapies targeting the reciprocal fibroblast-immunocyte interplay in fibrosis. A comprehensive understanding of these functional cells under pathophysiological conditions and the mechanisms by which they communicate may lead to the development of effective and specific therapies targeting fibrosis.

The Lancet Commission to reduce the global burden of sudden cardiac death: a call for multidisciplinary action

Despite major advancements in cardiovascular medicine, sudden cardiac death (SCD) continues to be an enormous medical and societal challenge, claiming millions of lives every year. Efforts to prevent SCD are hampered by imperfect risk prediction and inadequate solutions to specifically address arrhythmogenesis. Although resuscitation strategies have witnessed substantial evolution, there is a need to strengthen the organisation of community interventions and emergency medical systems across varied locations and health-care structures. With all the technological and medical advances of the 21st century, the fact that survival from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) remains lower than 10% in most parts of the world is unacceptable. Recognising this urgent need, the Lancet Commission on SCD was constituted, bringing together 30 international experts in varied disciplines. Consistent progress in tackling SCD will require a completely revamped approach to SCD prevention, with wide-sweeping policy changes that will empower the development of both governmental and community-based programmes to maximise survival from SCA, and to comprehensively attend to survivors and decedents' families after the event. International collaborative efforts that maximally leverage and connect the expertise of various research organisations will need to be prioritised to properly address identified gaps. The Commission places substantial emphasis on the need to develop a multidisciplinary strategy that encompasses all aspects of SCD prevention and treatment. The Commission provides a critical assessment of the current scientific efforts in the field, and puts forth key recommendations to challenge, activate, and intensify efforts by both the scientific and global community with new directions, research, and innovation to reduce the burden of SCD worldwide.