[Accelerating the construction of digital and intelligentialized pathology and the prospects]

With the continuous development of informatization, digitalization and artificial intelligence technology, the working mode of the pathology department has gradually changed from the traditional manual check, paper circulation and physical carrier storage to the informatization process and digital storage. The traditional pathology discipline has ushered in unprecedented opportunities and challenges. Digital pathology department also emerge as the times require. Simultaneously, with the full integration of artificial intelligence technology in pathology department, the concept of "department of digital and intelligentialized pathology" was proposed. Based on information and digital technology, the digital intelligent pathology department integrates intelligent management system, optimizes the previous cumbersome management and workflow of the pathology department, develops advanced technologies such as intelligent material extraction, unmanned organization processing, artificial intelligence quality control, artificial intelligence diagnosis, and promotes the intelligent construction of the pathology department.

Disorganized adrenocortical zonational structure in COVID-19 patients: Implications of critical illness duration

Aberrant adrenal function has been frequently reported in COVID-19 patients, but histopathological evidence remains limited. This retrospective autopsy study aims to scrutinize the impact of COVID-19 duration on adrenocortical zonational architecture and peripheral corticosteroid reactivity. The adrenal glands procured from 15 long intensive care unit (ICU)-stay COVID-19 patients, 9 short ICU-stay COVID-19 patients, and 20 matched controls. Subjects who had received glucocorticoid treatment prior to sampling were excluded. Applying hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, we disclosed that the adrenocortical zonational structure was substantially disorganized in COVID-19 patients, which long ICU-stay patients manifested a higher prevalence of severe disorganization (67%) than short ICU-stay patients (11%; P = 0.0058). The adrenal cortex of COVID-19 patients exhibited a 40% decrease in the zona glomerulosa (ZG) area and a 74% increase in the zona fasciculata (ZF) area (both P < 0.0001) relative to controls. Furthermore, among long ICU-stay COVID-19 patients, the ZG area diminished by 31% (P = 0.0004), and the ZF area expanded by 27% (P = 0.0004) in comparison to short ICU-stay patients. The zona reticularis (ZR) area remained unaltered. Nuclear translocation of corticosteroid receptors in the liver and kidney of long ICU-stay COVID-19 patients was at least 43% lower than in short ICU-stay patients (both P < 0.05). These findings underscore the necessity for clinicians to monitor adrenal function in long-stay COVID-19 patients.

Autopsy analysis reveals increased macrophage infiltration and cell apoptosis in COVID-19 patients with severe pulmonary fibrosis

Clinical data indicates that SARS-CoV-2 infection-induced respiratory failure is a fatal condition for severe COVID-19 patients. However, the pathological alterations of different types of respiratory failure remained unknown for severe COVID-19 patients. This study aims to evaluate whether there are differences in the performance of various types of respiratory failure in severe COVID-19 patients and investigate the pathological basis for these differences. The lung tissue sections of severe COVID-19 patients were assessed for the degree of injury and immune responses. Transcriptome data were used to analyze the molecular basis in severe COVID-19 patients. Severe COVID-19 patients with combined oxygenation and ventilatory failure presented more severe pulmonary fibrosis, airway obstruction, and prolonged disease course. The number of M2 macrophages increased with the degree of fibrosis in patients, suggesting that it may be closely related to the development of pulmonary fibrosis. The co-existence of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the pulmonary environment could also participate in the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. Furthermore, the increased apoptosis in the lungs of COVID-19 patients with severe pulmonary fibrosis may represent a critical factor linking sustained inflammatory responses to fibrosis. Our findings indicate that during the extended phase of COVID-19, antifibrotic and antiapoptotic treatments should be considered in conjunction with the progression of the disease.

Neutralizing IL-8 potentiates immune checkpoint blockade efficacy for glioma

Malignant gliomas are largely refractory to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. To explore the underlying immune regulators, we examine the microenvironment in glioma and find that tumor-infiltrating T cells are mainly confined to the perivascular cuffs and express high levels of CCR5, CXCR3, and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1). Combined analysis of T cell clustering with T cell receptor (TCR) clone expansion shows that potential tumor-killing T cells are mainly categorized into pre-exhausted/exhausted and effector CD8⁺ T subsets, as well as cytotoxic CD4⁺ T subsets. Notably, a distinct subpopulation of CD4⁺ T cells exhibits innate-like features with preferential interleukin-8 (IL-8) expression. With IL-8-humanized mouse strain, we demonstrate that IL-8-producing CD4⁺ T, myeloid, and tumor cells orchestrate myeloid-derived suppressor cell infiltration and angiogenesis, which results in enhanced tumor growth but reduced ICB efficacy. Antibody-mediated IL-8 blockade or the inhibition of its receptor, CXCR1/2, unleashes anti-PD-1-mediated antitumor immunity. Our findings thus highlight IL-8 as a combinational immunotherapy target for glioma.

Targeting ATAD3A-PINK1-mitophagy axis overcomes chemoimmunotherapy resistance by redirecting PD-L1 to mitochondria

Only a small proportion of patients with triple-negative breast cancer benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) targeting PD-1/PD-L1 signaling in combination with chemotherapy. Here, we discovered that therapeutic response to ICI plus paclitaxel was associated with subcellular redistribution of PD-L1. In our immunotherapy cohort of ICI in combination with nab-paclitaxel, tumor samples from responders showed significant distribution of PD-L1 at mitochondria, while non-responders showed increased accumulation of PD-L1 on tumor cell membrane instead of mitochondria. Our results also revealed that the distribution pattern of PD-L1 was regulated by an ATAD3A-PINK1 axis. Mechanistically, PINK1 recruited PD-L1 to mitochondria for degradation via a mitophagy pathway. Importantly, paclitaxel increased ATAD3A expression to disrupt proteostasis of PD-L1 by restraining PINK1-dependent mitophagy. Clinically, patients with tumors exhibiting high expression of ATAD3A detected before the treatment with ICI in combination with paclitaxel had markedly shorter progression-free survival compared with those with ATAD3A-low tumors. Preclinical results further demonstrated that targeting ATAD3A reset a favorable antitumor immune microenvironment and increased the efficacy of combination therapy of ICI plus paclitaxel. In summary, our results indicate that ATAD3A serves not only as a resistant factor for the combination therapy of ICI plus paclitaxel through preventing PD-L1 mitochondrial distribution, but also as a promising target for increasing the therapeutic responses to chemoimmunotherapy.

Inhibitory effects of temozolomide on glioma cells is sensitized by RSL3-induced ferroptosis but negatively correlated with expression of ferritin heavy chain 1 and ferritin light chain

Invasive growth of glioblastoma makes residual tumor unremovable by surgery and leads to disease relapse. Temozolomide is widely used first-line chemotherapy drug to treat glioma patients, but development of temozolomide resistance is almost inevitable. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of non-apoptotic cell death, is found to be related to temozolomide response of gliomas. However, whether inducing ferroptosis could affect invasive growth of glioblastoma cells and which ferroptosis-related regulators were involved in temozolomide resistance are still unclear. In this study, we treated glioblastoma cells with RSL3, a ferroptosis inducer, in vitro (cell lines) and in vivo (subcutaneous and orthotopic animal models). The treated glioblastoma cells with wild-type or mutant IDH1 were subjected to RNA sequencing for transcriptomic profiling. We then analyze data from our RNA sequencing and public TCGA glioma database to identify ferroptosis-related biomarkers for prediction of prognosis and temozolomide resistance in gliomas. Analysis of transcriptome data from RSL3-treated glioblastoma cells suggested that RSL3 could inhibit glioblastoma cell growth and suppress expression of genes involved in cell cycle. RSL3 effectively reduced mobility of glioblastoma cells through downregulation of critical genes involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Moreover, RSL3 in combination with temozolomide showed suppressive efficacy on glioblastoma cell growth, providing a promising therapeutic strategy for glioblastoma treatment. Although temozolomide attenuated invasion of glioblastoma cells with mutant IDH1 more than those with wild-type IDH1, the combination of RSL3 and temozolomide similarly impaired invasive ability of glioblastoma cells in spite of IDH1 status. Finally, we noticed that both ferritin heavy chain 1 and ferritin light chain predicted unfavorable prognosis of glioma patients and were significantly correlated with mRNA levels of methylguanine methyltransferase as well as temozolomide resistance. Altogether, our study provided rationale for combination of RSL3 with temozolomide to suppress glioblastoma cells and revealed ferritin heavy chain 1 and ferritin light chain as biomarkers to predict prognosis and temozolomide resistance of glioma patients.

Spatial region-resolved proteome map reveals mechanism of COVID-19-associated heart injury

Direct myocardial and vascular injuries due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection-driven inflammation is the leading cause of acute cardiac injury associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, in-depth knowledge of the injury characteristics of the heart affected by inflammation is lacking. In this study, using a quantitative spatial proteomics strategy that combines comparative anatomy, laser-capture microdissection, and histological examination, we establish a region-resolved proteome map of the myocardia and microvessels with obvious inflammatory cells from hearts of patients with COVID-19. A series of molecular dysfunctions of myocardia and microvessels is observed in different cardiac regions. The myocardia and microvessels of the left atrial are the most susceptible to virus infection and inflammatory storm, suggesting more attention should be paid to the lesion and treatment of these two parts. These results can guide in improving clinical treatments for cardiovascular diseases associated with COVID-19.

Molecular phylogeography and species distribution modelling evidence of 'oceanic' adaptation for Actinidia eriantha with a refugium along the oceanic-continental gradient in a biodiversity hotspot

BACKGROUND

Refugia is considered to be critical for maintaining biodiversity; while discerning the type and pattern of refugia is pivotal for our understanding of evolutionary processes in the context of conservation. Interglacial and glacial refugia have been studied throughout subtropical China. However, studies on refugia along the oceanic-continental gradient have largely been ignored. We used a liana Actinidia eriantha, which occurs across the eastern moist evergreen broad-leaved forests of subtropical China, as a case study to test hypotheses of refugia along the oceanic-continental gradient and 'oceanic' adaptation.

RESULTS

The phylogeographic pattern of A. eriantha was explored using a combination of three cpDNA markers and 38 nuclear microsatellite loci, Species distribution modelling and dispersal corridors analysis. Our data showed intermediate levels of genetic diversity [haplotype diversity (h_T) = 0.498; unbiased expected heterozygosity (UH_E) = 0.510] both at the species and population level. Microsatellite loci revealed five clusters largely corresponding to geographic regions. Coalescent time of cpDNA lineages was dated to the middle Pliocene (ca. 4.03 Ma). Both geographic distance and climate difference have important roles for intraspecific divergence of the species. The Zhejiang-Fujian Hilly Region was demonstrated to be a refugium along the oceanic-continental gradient of the species and fit the 'refugia in refugia' pattern. Species distribution modelling analysis indicated that Precipitation of Coldest Quarter (importance of 44%), Temperature Seasonality (29%) and Mean Temperature of Wettest Quarter (25%) contributed the most to model development. By checking the isolines in the three climate layers, we found that A. eriantha prefer higher precipitation during the coldest quarter, lower seasonal temperature difference and lower mean temperature during the wettest quarter, which correspond to 'oceanic' adaptation. Actinidia eriantha expanded to its western distribution range along the dispersal corridor repeatedly during the glacial periods.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, our results provide integrated evidence demonstrating that the Zhejiang-Fujian Hilly Region is a refugium along the oceanic-continental gradient of Actinidia eriantha in subtropical China and that speciation is attributed to 'oceanic' adaptation. This study gives a deeper understanding of the refugia in subtropical China and will contribute to the conservation and utilization of kiwifruit wild resources in the context of climate change.

Autophagy-based unconventional secretion of HMGB1 in glioblastoma promotes chemosensitivity to temozolomide through macrophage M1-like polarization

Background

Glioblastoma (GB) is the most common and highly malignant brain tumor characterized by aggressive growth and resistance to alkylating chemotherapy. Autophagy induction is one of the hallmark effects of anti-GB therapies with temozolomide (TMZ). However, the non-classical form of autophagy, autophagy-based unconventional secretion, also called secretory autophagy and its role in regulating the sensitivity of GB to TMZ remains unclear. There is an urgent need to illuminate the mechanism and to develop novel therapeutic targets for GB.

Methods

Cancer genome databases and paired-GB patient samples with or without TMZ treatment were used to assess the relationship between HMGB1 mRNA levels and overall patient survival. The relationship between HMGB1 protein level and TMZ sensitivity was measured by immunohistochemistry, ELISA, Western blot and qRT-PCR. GB cells were engineered to express a chimeric autophagic flux reporter protein consisting of mCherry, GFP and LC3B. The role of secretory autophagy in tumor microenvironment (TME) was analyzed by intracranial implantation of GL261 cells. Coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and Western blotting were performed to test the RAGE-NFκB-NLRP3 inflammasome pathway.

Results

The exocytosis of HMGB1 induced by TMZ in GB is dependent on the secretory autophagy. HMGB1 contributed to M1-like polarization of tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) and enhanced the sensitivity of GB cells to TMZ. Mechanistically, RAGE acted as a receptor for HMGB1 in TAMs and through RAGE-NFκB-NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, HMGB1 enhanced M1-like polarization of TAMs. Clinically, the elevated level of HMGB1 in sera may serve as a beneficial therapeutic-predictor for GB patients under TMZ treatment.

Conclusions

We demonstrated that enhanced secretory autophagy in GB facilitates M1-like polarization of TAMs to enhance TMZ sensitivity of GB cells. HMGB1 acts as a key regulator in the crosstalk between GB cells and tumor-suppressive M1-like TAMs in GB microenvironment and may be considered as an adjuvant for the chemotherapeutic agent TMZ.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-022-02291-8.

EPHA2 mediates PDGFA activity and functions together with PDGFRA as prognostic marker and therapeutic target in glioblastoma

Platelet-derived growth subunit A (PDGFA) plays critical roles in development of glioblastoma (GBM) with substantial evidence from TCGA database analyses and in vivo mouse models. So far, only platelet-derived growth receptor α (PDGFRA) has been identified as receptor for PDGFA. However, PDGFA and PDGFRA are categorized into different molecular subtypes of GBM in TCGA_GBM database. Our data herein further showed that activity or expression deficiency of PDGFRA did not effectively block PDGFA activity. Therefore, PDGFRA might be not necessary for PDGFA function.To profile proteins involved in PDGFA function, we performed co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and Mass Spectrum (MS) and delineated the network of PDGFA-associated proteins for the first time. Unexpectedly, the data showed that EPHA2 could be temporally activated by PDGFA even without activation of PDGFRA and AKT. Furthermore, MS, Co-IP, in vitro binding thermodynamics, and proximity ligation assay consistently proved the interaction of EPHA2 and PDGFA. In addition, we observed that high expression of EPHA2 leaded to upregulation of PDGF signaling targets in TCGA_GBM database and clinical GBM samples. Co-upregulation of PDGFRA and EPHA2 leaded to worse patient prognosis and poorer therapeutic effects than other contexts, which might arise from expression elevation of genes related with malignant molecular subtypes and invasive growth. Due to PDGFA-induced EPHA2 activation, blocking PDGFRA by inhibitor could not effectively suppress proliferation of GBM cells, but simultaneous inhibition of both EPHA2 and PDGFRA showed synergetic inhibitory effects on GBM cells in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our study provided new insights on PDGFA function and revealed EPHA2 as a potential receptor of PDGFA. EPHA2 might contribute to PDGFA signaling transduction in combination with PDGFRA and mediate the resistance of GBM cells to PDGFRA inhibitor. Therefore, combination of inhibitors targeting PDGFRA and EHA2 represented a promising therapeutic strategy for GBM treatment.

[Next-generation diagnostic pathology]

With the technological progresses and applications of human genome sequencing, bioinformatics analysis and data mining, and molecular pathology and artificial intelligence-assisted pathological diagnosis, the development of clinical medicine is moving towards the era of precision diagnosis and treatment. In the context of this era, the traditional diagnostic pathology is facing unprecedented opportunities and challenges in our history and is striving towards the "next-generation diagnostic pathology" (NGDP). NGDP is based on histomorphology and clinical data, and characterized by the combination of molecular detection and bioinformatics analysis, intelligent sampling and process quality control, intelligent diagnosis and remote consultation, lesion visualization and "non-invasive" pathology as well as other innovative cutting edge interdisciplinary technologies. The NGDP reports will include the results from multi-omics and cross-scale integrated diagnosis for final diagnosis. NGDP will also be applied for predicting disease progression and outcomes, and determining optional therapeutics as well as assessing treatment responses, so that a novel "golden standard" of disease diagnosis can be established. In the near fature, it is necessary to stimulate the innovative vitality of pathology disciplines, accelerate the maturity and application for NGDP, update the theory and technical system of pathology, and perform its important applicable role in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment of diseases so that the futher development of clinical medicine will be promoted and the strategy for maintenance of being healthy in China will be served.

Comprehensive omics analyses profile genesets related with tumor heterogeneity of multifocal glioblastomas and reveal LIF/CCL2 as biomarkers for mesenchymal subtype

Rationale: Around 10%-20% patients with glioblastoma (GBM) are diagnosed with more than one tumor lesions or multifocal GBM (mGBM). However, the understanding on genetic, DNA methylomic, and transcriptomic characteristics of mGBM is still limited.

Methods: In this study, we collected nine tumor foci from three mGBM patients followed by whole genome sequencing, whole genome bisulfite sequencing, RNA sequencing, and immunohistochemistry. The data were further examined using public GBM databases and GBM cell line.

Results: Analysis on genetic data confirmed common features of GBM, including gain of chr.7 and loss of chr.10, loss of critical tumor suppressors, high frequency of PDGFA and EGFR amplification. Through profiling DNA methylome of individual tumor foci, we found that promoter methylation status of genes involved in detection of chemical stimulus, immune response, and Hippo/YAP1 pathway was significantly changed in mGBM. Although both CNV and promoter methylation alteration were involved in heterogeneity of different tumor foci from same patients, more CNV events than promoter hypomethylation events were shared by different tumor foci, implying CNV were relatively earlier than promoter methylation alteration during evolution of different tumor foci from same mGBM. Moreover, different tumor foci from same mGBM assumed different molecular subtypes and mesenchymal subtype was prevalent in mGBM, which might explain the worse prognosis of mGBM than single GBM. Interestingly, we noticed that LIF and CCL2 was tightly correlated with mesenchymal subtype tumor focus in mGBM and predicted poor survival of GBM patients. Treatment with LIF and CCL2 produced mesenchymal-like transcriptome in GBM cells.

Conclusions: Together, our work herein comprehensively profiled multi-omics features of mGBM and emphasized that components of extracellular microenvironment, such as LIF and CCL2, contributed to the evolution and prognosis of tumor foci in mGBM patients.

A cohort autopsy study defines COVID-19 systemic pathogenesis

Severe COVID-19 disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 is frequently accompanied by dysfunction of the lungs and extrapulmonary organs. However, the organotropism of SARS-CoV-2 and the port of virus entry for systemic dissemination remain largely unknown. We profiled 26 COVID-19 autopsy cases from four cohorts in Wuhan, China, and determined the systemic distribution of SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in the lungs and multiple extrapulmonary organs of critically ill COVID-19 patients up to 67 days after symptom onset. Based on organotropism and pathological features of the patients, COVID-19 was divided into viral intrapulmonary and systemic subtypes. In patients with systemic viral distribution, SARS-CoV-2 was detected in monocytes, macrophages, and vascular endothelia at blood-air barrier, blood-testis barrier, and filtration barrier. Critically ill patients with long disease duration showed decreased pulmonary cell proliferation, reduced viral RNA, and marked fibrosis in the lungs. Permanent SARS-CoV-2 presence and tissue injuries in the lungs and extrapulmonary organs suggest direct viral invasion as a mechanism of pathogenicity in critically ill patients. SARS-CoV-2 may hijack monocytes, macrophages, and vascular endothelia at physiological barriers as the ports of entry for systemic dissemination. Our study thus delineates systemic pathological features of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which sheds light on the development of novel COVID-19 treatment.

[New Particle Formation Events in Summer and Winter in the Coastal Atmosphere in Qingdao, China]

Atmospheric particle number size distributions were measured by a wide-range particle size spectrometer and a scanning mobility particle size spectrometer in the summertime and wintertime in the coastal area of Qingdao (China). The inorganic and organic gaseous precursors and particulate chemical composition were measured to characterize new particle formation (NPF) events by combining meteorological parameters and backward trajectories. In summer, the occurrence frequency of NPF events was 18% lower. However, the atmospheric particle number concentration increased by approximately 1-4 times during the NPF events compared with those without NPF. The apparent formation rates and growth rates were (5.2±4.3) cm^-3·s^-1 and (6.5±2.2) nm·h^-1, respectively, except for a special NPF event on July 20. The correlation analysis results implied that biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) seemingly favor NPF, and the reverse is true for anthropogenic volatile organic compounds (AVOCs). The occurrence frequency of NPF events of 27% in winter was clearly higher than that in summer. The apparent formation rates and growth rates, i.e., (3.3±3.1) cm^-3·s^-1 and (5.3±3.3) nm·h^-1, decreased, although the decreases were not significant (P>0.05). The correlation analyses implied that AVOCs favored NPF. However, BVOCs had no correlation with NPF. For the cases in which new particles could grow to CCN sizes (>50 nm), the particle growth characteristics showed significant seasonal differences, i.e., in summer, new particles could grow to CCN sizes via photochemical reactions, whereas in winter, second-stage growth driven by the formation of nitrate aerosols was needed to grow new particles to CCN sizes.

Understanding the Mechanical and Viscoelastic Properties of Graphene Reinforced Polycarbonate Nanocomposites Using Coarse-Grained Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Incorporating graphene nanosheets into a polymer matrix is a promising way to utilize the remarkable electronic, thermal, and mechanical properties of graphene. However, the underlying mechanisms near the graphene-polymer interface remain poorly understood. In this study, we employ coarse-grained molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the nanoscale mechanisms present in graphene-reinforced polycarbonate (GRPC) and the effect of those mechanisms on GRPC's mechanical properties. With a mean-squared displacement analysis, we find that the polymer chains near the GRPC interface exhibit lower mobility than the chains further from the graphene sheet. We also show that the embedding of graphene increases Young's modulus and yield strength of bulk PC. Through non-equilibrium MD simulations and a close look into the deformation mechanisms, we find that early strain localization arises in GRPC, with voids being concentrated further away from the graphene sheet. These results indicate that graphene nanosheets promote the heterogeneous deformation of GRPC. Additionally, to gain deeper insight into the mechanical, interfacial, and viscoelastic properties of GRPC, we study the effects of varying PC chain lengths and interfacial interactions as well as the comparative performance of GRPC and PC under small amplitude oscillatory shear tests. We find that increasing the interfacial interaction leads to an increase in both storage and loss moduli, whereas varying chain length has minimal influence on the dynamic modulus of GRPC. This study contributes to the fundamental understanding of the nanoscale failure mechanisms and structure-property relationships of graphene reinforced polymer nanocomposites.

ADP-Ribosylation Factor Like GTPase 4C (ARL4C) augments stem-like traits of glioblastoma cells by upregulating ALDH1A3

Glioma cells with stem cell-like properties are crucial for tumor initiation, progression and therapeutic resistance. Therefore, identifying specific factors in regulating stem-like traits is critical for the design of novel glioma therapeutics.

Herein, we reported that ADP-Ribosylation Factor Like GTPase 4C (ARL4C) was highly expressed in glioma stem-like cells (GSLCs). GSLCs, determined by the efficiency of sphere formation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo, was increased by overexpression of ARL4C. ARL4C induced the tumorigenesis through ALDH1A3. Analyses of 325 patient specimens showed that ARL4C was highly expressed in glioblastoma (GBM) as compared with lower grade gliomas. In addition, higher level ARL4C expression in glioma was correlated with poorer progression-free survival and overall survival of patients. Therefore, ARL4C may act as a novel prognostic marker and a therapeutic target for GBM.

[Analysis of Pollution Characteristics and Primary, Secondary Contributions of Firework Burnings in Qingdao During the Spring Festival]

Atmospheric pollution frequently occurs in northern China during winter heating period, wherein nitrate became the dominant driver for PM_2.5 accumulations. However, sulfate accumulation was found to be significantly higher than that of nitrate during firework burning events and exhibited different pollution characteristics. Online data available from February 2, 2019 to February 10, 2019, including observation data measured from AIM-IC in suburban Qingdao and meteorological data from national automatic monitoring station, were analyzed. The results showed that particulate accumulation, dust and firework burning events were observed. The primary contribution rates of the most intensive firework burning to PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ were 69.8% and 63.8%, respectively. In contrast to a severe accumulation of nitrate during the particulate accumulation event, the sulfate formed prior and exhibited more severe accumulation than nitrate during the firework burning events. The primary contribution factors n(SO₄^2-)/n(K⁺) and n(NO₃^-)/n(K⁺) of firework burnings was 1.2 and 1.3 (molar ratios), respectively. The secondary contribution factors were 2.1 and 1.6 times, under relatively stable meteorological conditions. However, during the transit of dry and cold air, the value of secondary contribution factors decreased substantially and exhibited nearly the same values as the primary ones.

Quantitative analysis for the differences in vasculogenic activity and sensitivity to angiogenic stimulants between human glioma cells and normal endothelial cells

Neovascularization is a histological feature of glioma, especially of glioblastoma (GBM), being associated with tumor invasiveness and poor prognosis. However, current anti-angiogenic therapies targeting vascular endothelial cells (ECs), has exhibited poor efficacy in some GBM cases. This may be at least partially attributed to the potential of glioblastoma cells to construct blood supply chain via vasculogenic mimicry or endothelial differentiation. This study aims to explore differences in vasculogenic activity and sensitivity to angiogenic stimulants between normal human ECs and glioma cells of different grades. We found that grade IV U87 GBM cells showed highly inducible vasculogenic activity either in the orthotopic xenograft model or under in vitro angiogenic stimulants as compared with grade II CHG5 glioma cells. The hypoxia mimetic more strongly induced in vitro vasculogenic capacity and endothelial marker expression of U87 GBM cells than the stimulation with multiple proangiogenic growth factors (vascular endothelial growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor and epidermal growth factor). In contrast, proangiogenic effect of hypoxia on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was weaker than on U87 GBM cells. In addition, it was also observed that the in vitro vasculogenic process of U87 cells started later but lasted longer than that of HUVECs. These results demonstrate that when compared with normal ECs, high-grade glioma cells basically possess weaker vasculogenic activity, but exhibit higher sensitivity and longer-lasting response to angiogenic stimulants, especially to hypoxia. This may be helpful to develop novel anti-angiogenic strategies targeting both vascular ECs and vasculogenic glioma cells.

[A pathological report of three COVID-19 cases by minimal invasive autopsies]

Objective: To investigate the pathological characteristics and the clinical significance of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)-infected pneumonia (termed by WHO as coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19). Methods: Minimally invasive autopsies from lung, heart, kidney, spleen, bone marrow, liver, pancreas, stomach, intestine, thyroid and skin were performed on three patients died of novel coronavirus pneumonia in Chongqing, China. Hematoxylin and eosin staining (HE), transmission electron microcopy, and histochemical staining were performed to investigate the pathological changes of indicated organs or tissues. Immunohistochemical staining was conducted to evaluate the infiltration of immune cells as well as the expression of 2019-nCoV proteins. Real time PCR was carried out to detect the RNA of 2019-nCoV. Results: Various damages were observed in the alveolar structure, with minor serous exudation and fibrin exudation. Hyaline membrane formation was observed in some alveoli. The infiltrated immune cells in alveoli were majorly macrophages and monocytes. Moderate multinucleated giant cells, minimal lymphocytes, eosinophils and neutrophils were also observed. Most of infiltrated lymphocytes were CD4-positive T cells. Significant proliferation of type Ⅱ alveolar epithelia and focal desquamation of alveolar epithelia were also indicated. The blood vessels of alveolar septum were congested, edematous and widened, with modest infiltration of monocytes and lymphocytes. Hyaline thrombi were found in a minority of microvessels. Focal hemorrhage in lung tissue, organization of exudates in some alveolar cavities, and pulmonary interstitial fibrosis were observed. Part of the bronchial epithelia were exfoliated. Coronavirus particles in bronchial mucosal epithelia and type Ⅱ alveolar epithelia were observed under electron microscope. Immunohistochemical staining showed that part of the alveolar epithelia and macrophages were positive for 2019-nCoV antigen. Real time PCR analyses identified positive signals for 2019-nCoV nucleic acid. Decreased numbers of lymphocyte, cell degeneration and necrosis were observed in spleen. Furthermore, degeneration and necrosis of parenchymal cells, formation of hyaline thrombus in small vessels, and pathological changes of chronic diseases were observed in other organs and tissues, while no evidence of coronavirus infection was observed in these organs. Conclusions: The lungs from novel coronavirus pneumonia patients manifest significant pathological lesions, including the alveolar exudative inflammation and interstitial inflammation, alveolar epithelium proliferation and hyaline membrane formation. While the 2019-nCoV is mainly distributed in lung, the infection also involves in the damages of heart, vessels, liver, kidney and other organs. Further studies are warranted to investigate the mechanism underlying pathological changes of this disease.

CCL8 secreted by tumor-associated macrophages promotes invasion and stemness of glioblastoma cells via ERK1/2 signaling

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) constitute a large population of glioblastoma and facilitate tumor growth and invasion of tumor cells, but the underlying mechanism remains undefined. In this study, we demonstrate that chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 8 (CCL8) is highly expressed by TAMs and contributes to pseudopodia formation by GBM cells. The presence of CCL8 in the glioma microenvironment promotes progression of tumor cells. Moreover, CCL8 induces invasion and stem-like traits of GBM cells, and CCR1 and CCR5 are the main receptors that mediate CCL8-induced biological behavior. Finally, CCL8 dramatically activates ERK1/2 phosphorylation in GBM cells, and blocking TAM-secreted CCL8 by neutralized antibody significantly decreases invasion of glioma cells. Taken together, our data reveal that CCL8 is a TAM-associated factor to mediate invasion and stemness of GBM, and targeting CCL8 may provide an insight strategy for GBM treatment.

Stromal PD-1+ tumor-associated macrophages predict poor prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma

Immunotherapies targeting programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/PD-1 ligand (PD-L1) axis have been emerging as a promising therapeutic strategy to treat lung cancer. PD-1 is preferentially expressed by activated T lymphocytes; but whether/how its expression by tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in lung adenocarcinoma remains elusive. Herein, we investigate the frequency of PD-1 expression on TAMs in mouse allografts by flow cytometry analysis and evaluate the spatial distribution and clinicopathological significance of PD-1⁺ TAMs in 213 cases of human lung adenocarcinoma specimens by immunohistochemical staining. We find the expression of PD-1 by both mouse and human TAMs. Mouse PD-1⁺ TAMs possess unique transcriptional profile as compared to PD-1^- TAMs. Furthermore, PD-1 is preferentially expressed by CD163⁺ TAMs in the tumor stroma than those in the tumor islets of lung adenocarcinoma. Stromal PD-1⁺ TAM infiltration is an independent predictor of reduced survival as determined by univariate (P < .001) and multivariate (P = .023) analysis. Moreover, patients with high stromal PD-1⁺ TAMs but low tumor cell PD-L1 expression have the shortest survival (P = .0001). Our study demonstrates that PD-1⁺ TAMs have unique gene expression characteristics and PD-1⁺ TAMs in the tumor stroma is a potential prognostic factor in lung adenocarcinoma, suggesting that a better understanding of PD-1⁺ TAMs will be beneficial for immunotherapy of lung adenocarcinoma patients.

The landscape of immune microenvironment in lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma based on PD-L1 expression and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes

AIMS

The aim of this study was to investigate the tumor microenvironment immune types (TMIT) based on tumor cell programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) distribution and whether distinct TMIT subtypes (TMIT I, PD-L1^high /TIL^high ; TMIT II, PD-L1^low /TIL^low ; TMIT III, PD-L1^high /TIL^low ; and TMIT IV, PD-L1^low /TIL^high ) differentially affect clinical outcomes of patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LAC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was applied to evaluate the expression of PD-L1 and the spatial distribution of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and CD8 TILs on the surgically resected specimens from 205 cases of LAC and 149 cases of SCC. PD-1 and CD8 TILs were more frequently distributed in SCC than those in LAC, regardless of their infiltrating in the tumor islets or stroma. The density of TILs was a poor prognostic factor in LAC but a favorable one in SCC. PD-L1 levels and its clinical prognostic significance differed in LAC vs SCC. LAC patients with TMIT III and SCC patients with TMIT I had the longest survival, respectively (P = .0197 and .0049). Moreover, TMIT stratification based on tumor cell PD-L1 expression and stromal CD8⁺ TILs could be considered as an independent prognostic factor of SCC patients' survival as determined by both univariate and multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

Our study indicates that different type of TMIT provides its specific microenvironment with diverse impact on survival of LAC and SCC patients and highlights the importance of the integrative assessment of PD-L1 status and TILs' spatial distribution to predict patients' prognosis.

Embryonal tumor with multilayered rosettes, C19MC-altered (ETMR): a newly defined pediatric brain tumor

Embryonal tumor with multilayered rosettes (ETMR), C19MC-altered, is a newly defined and rare pediatric malignant tumor of the central nervous system (CNS) in the 2016 WHO Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System. Here we present two cases of ETMR with amplification of the C19MC locus at chromosome 19q13.42. Case 1 is a fifteen-year-old boy, who underwent gamma knife surgery two times three years ago, after presenting with seizures. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) identified a large mass in the left frontotemporal lobe. Case 2 is a three-year-old boy who underwent surgery for a right frontal lobe tumor followed by chemotherapy. Eight months later, MRI identified a recurrent tumor in the bilateral frontal lobe. Histologically, cases 1 and 2 exhibited a typical papillary/trabecular and a multilayered rosette pattern resembling medulloepithelioma (ME) and ependymoblastoma (EBL), respectively. Immunohistochemically, CD99, synaptophysin, vimentin, and LIN28A were positive in both cases. Most importantly, both cases displayed amplification in the C19MC locus at 19q13.42 in a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis.

ARL4C stabilized by AKT/mTOR pathway promotes the invasion of PTEN-deficient primary human glioblastoma

Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) deficiency in primary human glioblastoma (GBM) is associated with increased invasiveness and poor prognosis with unknown mechanisms. Therefore, how loss of PTEN promotes GBM progression remains to be elucidated. Herein, we identified that ADP-ribosylation factor like-4C (ARL4C) was highly expressed in PTEN-deficient human GBM cells and tissues. Mechanistically, loss of PTEN stabilized ARL4C protein due to AKT/mTOR pathway-mediated inhibition of ARL4C ubiquitination. Functionally, ARL4C enhanced the progression of GBM cells in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, microarray profiling and GST pull-down assay identified that ARL4C accelerated tumor progression via RAC1-mediated filopodium formation. Importantly, targeting PTEN potently inhibited GBM tumor progression in vitro and in vivo, whereas overexpression of ARL4C reversed the tumor progression impaired by PTEN overexpression. Clinically, analyses with patients' specimens validated a negative correlation between PTEN and ARL4C expression. Elevated ARL4C expression but PTEN deficiency in tumor was associated with poorer disease-free survival and overall survival of GBM patients. Taken together, ARL4C is critical for PTEN-deficient GBM progression and acts as a novel prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic candidate. Copyright © 2018 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Hybrids by tumor-associated macrophages × glioblastoma cells entail nuclear reprogramming and glioblastoma invasion

Hybrid formation is a fundamental process in normal development and tissue homeostasis, while the presence and the biological role of hybrids between tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and glioblastoma (GBM) cells remain elusive. In this study, we observed that TAM-GBM cell hybrids existed in human GBM specimens as demonstrated by co-expression of glioma biomarkers (GFAP, IDH1^R132H and PDGFRA) and macrophage biomarkers (CD68 and CD14). Furthermore, TAM-GBM cell hybrids could also be found in C57BL/6 mice orthotopically inoculated with mouse GBM cells labeled with RFP and after co-culture of bone marrow-derived macrophages from GFP-expressed mice with RFP-labeled GBM cells. The hybrids underwent nuclear reprogramming with unique gene expression profile as compared to parental cells. Moreover, glioma invasion-associated genes were enriched in the hybrids that possessed higher invasiveness, and more hybrids in the invasive margin of GBM were observed as compared to GBM core area. Our data demonstrate the presence of TAM-GBM cell hybrids that enhance GBM invasion. With a better understanding of TAM-GBM cell hybrids, new therapeutic strategies targeting GBM will be developed to treat GBM patients.

VDAC2 interacts with PFKP to regulate glucose metabolism and phenotypic reprogramming of glioma stem cells

Plastic phenotype convention between glioma stem cells (GSCs) and non-stem tumor cells (NSTCs) significantly fuels glioblastoma heterogeneity that causes therapeutic failure. Recent progressions indicate that glucose metabolic reprogramming could drive cell fates. However, the metabolic pattern of GSCs and NSTCs and its association with tumor cell phenotypes remain largely unknown. Here we found that GSCs were more glycolytic than NSTCs, and voltage-dependent anion channel 2 (VDAC2), a mitochondrial membrane protein, was critical for metabolic switching between GSCs and NSTCs to affect their phenotypes. VDAC2 was highly expressed in NSTCs relative to GSCs and coupled a glycolytic rate-limiting enzyme platelet-type of phosphofructokinase (PFKP) on mitochondrion to inhibit PFKP-mediated glycolysis required for GSC maintenance. Disruption of VDAC2 induced dedifferentiation of NSTCs to acquire GSC features, including the enhanced self-renewal, preferential expression of GSC markers, and increased tumorigenicity. Inversely, enforced expression ofVDAC2 impaired the self-renewal and highly tumorigenic properties of GSCs. PFK inhibitor clotrimazole compromised the effect of VDAC2 disruption on glycolytic reprogramming and GSC phenotypic transition. Clinically, VDAC2 expression inversely correlated with glioma grades (Immunohistochemical staining scores of VDAC2 were 4.7 ± 2.8, 3.2 ± 1.9, and 1.9 ± 1.9 for grade II, grade III, and IV, respectively, p < 0.05 for all) and the patients with high expression of VDAC2 had longer overall survival than those with low expression of VDAC2 (p = 0.0008). In conclusion, we demonstrate that VDAC2 is a new glycolytic regulator controlling the phenotype transition between glioma stem cells and non-stem cells and may serves as a new prognostic indicator and a potential therapeutic target for glioma patients.

[Concentrations, Sources, and Dry Deposition Fluxes of Different Forms of Phosphorus in Qingdao Aerosols in Summer]

Total suspended particulate (TSP) samples were collected in Qingdao from June to July 2016. Different forms of phosphorus in these samples-including total phosphorus (TP), dissolved phosphorus (DP), dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP), and dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) were analyzed to investigate their distribution characteristics and sources, as well as their dry deposition fluxes. Results showed that the mass concentration of TP in aerosols was (49.3±30.6) ng·m^-3, and the concentration of DP was (15.5±10.4) ng·m^-3, accounting for 30.9%±11.0% of TP. DIP dominated in dissolved state P, contributing about 60%. The sources of different forms of P were analyzed, showing that the P in Qingdao aerosols in summer was derived from both crustal and anthropogenic sources, with the latter including biomass burning and agricultural fertilization. TP was mainly derived from soil sources, which contributed 38%, while the contribution of agricultural activities and industrial sources was about 20%. DIP in DP was mainly derived from agricultural activities and combustion sources, with contributions of 51% and 24%, respectively. DOP was mainly derived from soil sources and agricultural activities, contributing 41% and 27% respectively. The dry deposition flux of TP in Qingdao was (51.7±31.7) μg·(m²·d)^-1, of which 23.2%±8.2% was the water-soluble fraction. DOP in the total dry deposition flux of DP was non-negligible, accounting for 40%. The atmospheric deposition of soluble P would support phytoplankton carbon production of (0.5±0.3) mg·(m²·d)^-1, contributing about 1% to new productivity in the Yellow Sea.

[Concentration, Solubility, and Dry Deposition Flux of Trace Elements in Fine and Coarse Particles in Qingdao During Summer]

PM_2.5 and total suspended particulate (TSP) samples were synchronously collected in Qingdao from June to July 2016. The total and water-soluble concentrations of 12 trace elements in these samples were analyzed to investigate their distribution characteristics in fine and coarse particles as well as their dry deposition fluxes. The results showed that the total mass concentrations of Al, Fe, Sr, Mn, and Ba, which are expected to mainly originate from crustal sources, were generally distributed in the coarse particles, and the part mass in the coarse mode accounted for 55%-60% of their total concentrations. Cr, Ni, V, Zn, Pb, As, and Cd, which mainly originate from anthropogenic contributors, generally existed in fine particles where the part mass accounted for 65%-85% of their total concentrations. The soluble mass concentrations of trace elements, whether from crustal or anthropogenic sources, were mainly distributed in the fine particles. The proportions of Al, Fe, Mn, and Ba in soluble mass concentration existing in the fine particles were 50%-80% and 70%-90% for Cr, Ni, V, Zn, Pb, As, and Cd. The solubility of trace elements was higher in fine particles than in coarse particles. The soluble concentrations of trace elements exhibited a positive correlation with acid compounds, and the solubility exhibited a negative correlation with pH in the fine particles, implying that acidification processes play a key role in determining the solubility of trace elements in fine particles. The soluble fractions in the total dry deposition flux of Al and Fe were only 1%-2%; that of Sr, Ba, Cr, and Pb were about 30%-40%; and that of Mn, Ni, V, Zn, As, and Cd were about 50%-60%. The atmospheric deposition of soluble Fe supported phytoplankton carbon production of (194±150) mg·(m²·d)^-1, contributing about 10% of the primary productivity in the Yellow Sea.

Microvascular fractal dimension predicts prognosis and response to chemotherapy in glioblastoma: an automatic image analysis study

The microvascular profile has been included in the WHO glioma grading criteria. Nevertheless, microvessels in gliomas of the same WHO grade, e.g., WHO IV glioblastoma (GBM), exhibit heterogeneous and polymorphic morphology, whose possible clinical significance remains to be determined. In this study, we employed a fractal geometry-derived parameter, microvascular fractal dimension (mvFD), to quantify microvessel complexity and developed a home-made macro in Image J software to automatically determine mvFD from the microvessel-stained immunohistochemical images of GBM. We found that mvFD effectively quantified the morphological complexity of GBM microvasculature. Furthermore, high mvFD favored the survival of GBM patients as an independent prognostic indicator and predicted a better response to chemotherapy of GBM patients. When investigating the underlying relations between mvFD and tumor growth by deploying Ki67/mvFD as an index for microvasculature-normalized tumor proliferation, we discovered an inverse correlation between mvFD and Ki67/mvFD. Furthermore, mvFD inversely correlated with the expressions of a glycolytic marker, LDHA, which indicated poor prognosis of GBM patients. Conclusively, we developed an automatic approach for mvFD measurement, and demonstrated that mvFD could predict the prognosis and response to chemotherapy of GBM patients.

[Concentrations and Solubility of Trace Elements in Atmospheric Precipitation in Qingdao]

Thirty-five atmospheric precipitation samples were collected at an urban site in Qingdao from June 2016 to May 2017. The total and soluble concentrations of eight trace elements in the samples were determined, and the variable characteristics of the concentrations and solubility of trace elements, as well as the factors affecting the solubility of trace elements in atmospheric precipitation, have been discussed. Based on the overall data, the total concentrations of the trace elements were found to be in the order Al > Fe > Zn > Mn > Ba > Pb > Sr > V, but the soluble concentrations of the trace elements were in the order Zn > Al > Mn > Fe > Ba > Sr > Pb > V. Solubility was about 5% for the crustal elements Al and Fe, and the solubility of the elements affected by anthropogenic sources was relatively higher, 10%-40% for Pb and Ba, 20%-60% for Mn and Sr, and nearly 55% for Zn and V. The total and soluble concentrations of the trace elements were higher in winter and spring than in summer and autumn, but element solubility in spring was the highest. During continuous rainfall, the total concentrations of trace elements in precipitation decreased appreciably, but the variation trend of the solubility of trace elements was not consistent during the different rainfall processes. The variation in pH was the main factor controlling the solubility of trace elements in precipitation.

[Distribution of Oxalate in Atmospheric Aerosols and the Related Influencing Factors in Qingdao, During Winter and Spring]

A total of 119 total suspended particle (TSP) samples were collected in Qingdao from December 2012 to April 2013. Concentrations of oxalate in TSP were measured to investigate the distributional characteristics of oxalate and the related influencing factors, in winter and spring. The concentrations of oxalate in Qingdao aerosols were 31-370 ng·m^-3 with an average of 104 ng·m^-3 in winter, and 11-1926 ng·m^-3 with an average of 400 ng·m^-3 in spring, with a significant difference between the concentrations in the two seasons. Different weather conditions affected the distribution of oxalate in aerosols. The oxalate concentration in TSP was the highest in the hazy days, followed by that in the dusty days, while this concentration in foggy days was close to that in the clear days, and the lowest concentration of oxalate appeared in the rainy days. Oxalate in Qingdao aerosols exhibited a significant positive correlation with temperature and solar radiation, suggesting that the secondary production of oxalic acid via photochemical oxidation has an important contribution to the oxalate concentrations in aerosols. The mechanisms of secondary formation of oxalate in aerosols in winter and spring are possibly different, with the aqueous phase oxidation process predominating in winter and the gas-phase oxidation-driven process predominating in spring. The results of PMF source analysis also showed that the secondary formation is the main source of oxalate in Qingdao aerosol, and its contribution to oxalate production is nearly 45% in winter and 70% in spring. The concentration of oxalate in spring aerosol was significantly higher than that in winter aerosol, the main reason of which was that temperature and solar radiation in spring were significantly higher than those in winter, promoting the secondary formation of particulate oxalate.

Tamoxifen enhances stemness and promotes metastasis of ERα36+ breast cancer by upregulating ALDH1A1 in cancer cells

The 66 kDa estrogen receptor alpha (ERα66) is the main molecular target for endocrine therapy such as tamoxifen treatment. However, many patients develop resistance with unclear mechanisms. In a large cohort study of breast cancer patients who underwent surgery followed by tamoxifen treatment, we demonstrate that ERα36, a variant of ERα66, correlates with poor prognosis. Mechanistically, tamoxifen directly binds and activates ERα36 to enhance the stemness and metastasis of breast cancer cells via transcriptional stimulation of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 (ALDH1A1). Consistently, the tamoxifen-induced stemness and metastasis can be attenuated by either ALDH1 inhibitors or a specific ERα36 antibody. Thus, tamoxifen acts as an agonist on ERα36 in breast cancer cells, which accounts for hormone therapy resistance and metastasis of breast cancer. Our study not only reveals ERα36 as a stratifying marker for endocrine therapy but also provides a promising therapeutic avenue for tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer.

Large Intergenic Non-coding RNA-RoR Inhibits Aerobic Glycolysis of Glioblastoma Cells via Akt Pathway

Reprogramming energy metabolism is a hallmark of malignant tumors, including glioblastoma (GBM). Aerobic glycolysis is often utilized by tumor cells to maintain survival and proliferation. However, the underlying mechanisms of aerobic glycolysis in GBM remain elusive. Herein, we demonstrated that large intergenic non-coding RNA-RoR (LincRNA-RoR) functioned as a critical suppressor to inhibit the aerobic glycolysis and viability of GBM cells. We found that LincRNA-RoR was markedly reduced in GBM tissues compared with adjacent non-tumor tissues from 10 cases of GBM patients. Consistently, LincRNA-RoR expression in GBM cells was significantly lower than that in normal glial cells. The aerobic glycolysis of GBM cells, as determined by the measurement of glucose uptake and lactate production, was impaired by LincRNA-RoR overexpression. Mechanistically, LincRNA-RoR inhibited the expression of Rictor, the key component of mTORC2 (mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2), to suppress the activity of Akt pathway and impair the expression of glycolytic effectors, including Glut1, HK2, PKM2 and LDHA. Finally, enforced expression of LincRNA-RoR reduced the proliferation of GBM cells in vitro, restrained tumor growth in vivo, and repressed the expression of glycolytic molecules in GBM xenografts. Collectively, our results underscore LincRNA-RoR as a new suppressor of GBM aerobic glycolysis with therapeutic potential.

A three-dimensional collagen scaffold cell culture system for screening anti-glioma therapeutics

Three-dimensional (3D) culture, which can simulate in vivo microenvironments, has been increasingly used to study tumor cell biology. Since most preclinical anti-glioma drug tests still rely on conventional 2D cell culture, we established a collagen scaffold for 3D glioma cell culture. Glioma cells cultured on these 3D scaffolds showed greater degree of dedifferentiation and quiescence than cells in 2D culture. 3D-cultured cells also exhibited enhanced resistance to chemotherapeutic alkylating agents, with a much higher proportion of glioma stem cells and upregulation of O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT). Importantly, tumor cells in 3D culture showed chemotherapy resistance patterns similar to those observed in glioma patients. Our results suggest that 3D collagen scaffolds are promising in vitro research platforms for screening new anti-glioma therapeutics.

Balancing strength, hardness and ductility of Cu64Zr36 nanoglasses via embedded nanocrystals

Superplasticity can be achieved in nanoglasses but at the expense of strength, and such a loss can be mitigated via embedding stronger nanocrystals, i.e., forming nanoglass/nanocrystal composites. As an illustrative case, we investigate plastic deformation of Cu₆₄Zr₃₆ nanoglass/nanocrystalline Cu composites during uniaxial tension and nanoindentation tests with molecular dynamics simulations. With an increasing fraction of nanocrystalline grains, the tensile strength of the composite is enhanced, while its ductility decreases. The dominant interface type changes from a glass-glass interface to glass-crystal interface to grain boundary, corresponding to a failure mode transition from superplastic flow to shear banding to brittle intercrystal fracture, respectively. Accordingly, the indentation hardness increases continuously and strain localization beneath the indenter is more and more severe. For an appropriate fraction of nanocrystalline grains, a good balance among strength, hardness and ductility can be realized, which is useful for the synthesis of novel nanograined glass/crystalline composites with high strength, high hardness and superior ductility.

Stanniocalcin-1 augments stem-like traits of glioblastoma cells through binding and activating NOTCH1

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a fatal tumor and comprises heterogeneous cells in which a subpopulation with stem cell-like properties is included. Cancer cells with stem cell-like properties account for tumor initiation, drug resistance and recurrence. To identify and characterize specific factors in regulating stem-like traits is critical for GBM therapeutic. Here, we showed that Stanniocalcin-1 (STC1), a secretory glycoprotein, functions as a novel stimulator for stem-like traits of GBM cells. We found STC1 was prominently expressed in glioma spheres which are mainly comprised of glioma stem-like cells. The stem-like traits of GBM cells, as determined by the expression of stem cell markers, tumor-sphere formation efficiency and colony-forming ability, were enhanced by STC1 overexpression and inhibited by STC1 knockdown. Furthermore, introduction of STC1 enhanced tumorigenesis in vivo while knockdown of STC1 showed reverse effect. Finally, we demonstrated that STC1 interacted with the extracellular domain of NOTCH1 to activate NOTCH1-SOX2 signaling pathway, by which STC1 augmented the stem-like traits of GBM cells. Taken together, our data herein indicate that STC1 is a novel non-canonical NOTCH ligand and acts as a crucial regulator of stemness in GBM.

High-mobility group box 1 released by autophagic cancer-associated fibroblasts maintains the stemness of luminal breast cancer cells

Cancer stem cells/cancer-initiating cells (CICs) and their microenvironmental niche play a vital role in malignant tumour recurrence and metastasis. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are major components of the niche of breast cancer-initiating cells (BCICs), and their interactions may profoundly affect breast cancer progression. Autophagy has been considered to be a critical process for CIC maintenance, but whether it is involved in the cross-talk between CAFs and CICs to affect tumourigenesis and pathological significance has not been determined. In this study, we found that the presence of CAFs containing high levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3II), a marker of autophagosomes, was associated with more aggressive luminal human breast cancer. CAFs in human luminal breast cancer tissues with high autophagy activity enriched BCICs with increased tumourigenicity. Mechanistically, autophagic CAFs released high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), which activated its receptor, Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4, expressed by luminal breast cancer cells, to enhance their stemness and tumourigenicity. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry of 180 luminal breast cancers revealed that high LC3II/TLR4 levels predicted an increased relapse rate and a poorer prognosis. Our findings demonstrate that autophagic CAFs play a critical role in promoting the progression of luminal breast cancer through an HMGB1-TLR4 axis, and that both autophagy in CAFs and TLR4 on breast cancer cells constitute potential therapeutic targets. Copyright © 2017 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Autophagy-induced KDR/VEGFR-2 activation promotes the formation of vasculogenic mimicry by glioma stem cells

Antiangiogenesis with bevacizumab, an antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), has been used for devascularization to limit the growth of malignant glioma. However, the benefits are transient due to elusive mechanisms underlying resistance to the antiangiogenic therapy. Glioma stem cells (GSCs) are capable of forming vasculogenic mimicry (VM), an alternative microvascular circulation independent of VEGF-driven angiogenesis. Herein, we report that the formation of VM was promoted by bevacizumab-induced macroautophagy/autophagy in GSCs, which was associated with tumor resistance to antiangiogenic therapy. We established a 3-dimensional collagen scaffold to examine the formation of VM and autophagy by GSCs, and found that rapamycin increased the number of VM and enhanced KDR/VEGFR-2 phosphorylation. Treatment with chloroquine, or knockdown of the autophagy gene ATG5, inhibited the formation of VM and KDR phosphorylation in GSCs. Notably, neutralization of GSCs-produced VEGF with bevacizumab failed to recapitulate the effect of chloroquine treatment and ATG5 knockdown, suggesting that autophagy-promoted formation of VM was independent of tumor cell-derived VEGF. ROS was elevated when autophagy was induced in GSCs and activated KDR phosphorylation through the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT pathway. A ROS inhibitor, N-acetylcysteine, abolished KDR phosphorylation and the formation of VM by GSCs. By examination of the specimens from 95 patients with glioblastoma, we found that ATG5 and p-KDR expression was strongly associated with the density of VM in tumors and poor clinical outcome. Our results thus demonstrate a crucial role of autophagy in the formation of VM by GSCs, which may serve as a therapeutic target in drug-resistant glioma.

Tumour-associated macrophages secrete pleiotrophin to promote PTPRZ1 signalling in glioblastoma stem cells for tumour growth

Intense infiltration of tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) facilitates malignant growth of glioblastoma (GBM), but the underlying mechanisms remain undefined. Herein, we report that TAMs secrete abundant pleiotrophin (PTN) to stimulate glioma stem cells (GSCs) through its receptor PTPRZ1 thus promoting GBM malignant growth through PTN–PTPRZ1 paracrine signalling. PTN expression correlates with infiltration of CD11b⁺/CD163⁺ TAMs and poor prognosis of GBM patients. Co-implantation of M2-like macrophages (MLCs) promoted GSC-driven tumour growth, but silencing PTN expression in MLCs mitigated their pro-tumorigenic activity. The PTN receptor PTPRZ1 is preferentially expressed in GSCs and also predicts GBM poor prognosis. Disrupting PTPRZ1 abrogated GSC maintenance and tumorigenic potential. Moreover, blocking the PTN–PTPRZ1 signalling by shRNA or anti-PTPRZ1 antibody potently suppressed GBM tumour growth and prolonged animal survival. Our study uncovered a critical molecular crosstalk between TAMs and GSCs through the PTN–PTPRZ1 paracrine signalling to support GBM malignant growth, indicating that targeting this signalling axis may have therapeutic potential.

Tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) facilitate malignant growth of glioblastoma (GBM). Here, the authors show that TAMs support glioma stem cell renewal via paracrine signalling to the pleiotrophin receptor PTPRZ1 and that blocking this axis results in increased survival of tumour-bearing animals.

Elevated ASCL2 expression in breast cancer is associated with the poor prognosis of patients

Achaete scute-like 2 (ASCL2) is a member of the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors, and is expressed mainly in intestinal stem cells under normal conditions. Recently, aberrantly elevated ASCL2 was detected in cancer tissues, but the clinical relevance of ASCL2 in breast cancers remains to be decided. In this study, we evaluated the expression of ASCL2 and its relationship to cancer progression in specimens from 191 cases of breast cancer patients with follow-up information. The results indicated that ASCL2 was highly expressed in cancer cells while it was undetectable in normal epithelial cells. Moreover, the expression of ASCL2 was positively correlated with breast tumor size, lymphatic metastasis and the active growth of tumor cells as shown by increased expression of Ki67. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that patients with higher levels of ASCL2 suffered higher tumor recurrent rate. Multivariable Cox-regression analysis showed that elevated expression of ASCL2 was an independent and unfavorable indicator of tumor relapse in breast cancer patients. Altogether, our study suggests that ASCL2 defines a subgroup of highly progressive breast cancer and serves as a marker to evaluate the risk of cancer relapse.

AFLP Genome Scanning Reveals Divergent Selection in Natural Populations of Liriodendron chinense (Magnoliaceae) along a Latitudinal Transect

Understanding adaptive genetic variation and its relation to environmental factors are important for understanding how plants adapt to climate change and for managing genetic resources. Genome scans for the loci exhibiting either notably high or low levels of population differentiation (outlier loci) provide one means of identifying genomic regions possibly associated with convergent or divergent selection. In this study, we combined Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) genome scan and environmental association analysis to test for signals of natural selection in natural populations of Liriodendron chinense (Chinese Tulip Tree; Magnoliaceae) along a latitudinal transect. We genotyped 276 individuals from 11 populations of L. chinense using 987 AFLP markers. Both frequency-based (Dfdist and BayeScan) and correlation-based (MLM) methods were applied to detect outlier loci. Our analyses recovered both neutral and potentially adaptive genetic differentiation among populations of L. chinense. We found moderate genetic diversity within populations and high genetic differentiation among populations with reduced genetic diversity toward the periphery of the species ranges. Nine AFLP marker loci showed evidence of being outliers for population differentiation for both detection methods. Of these, six were strongly associated with at least one climate factor. Temperature, precipitation, and radiation were found to be three important factors influencing local adaptation of L. chinense. The outlier AFLP loci are likely not the target of natural selection, but the neighboring genes of these loci might be involved in local adaptation. Hence, these candidates should be validated by further studies.

Improved ductility of Cu64Zr36 metallic glass/Cu nanocomposites via phase and grain boundaries

We investigate tensile deformation of metallic glass/crystalline interpenetrating phase nanocomposites as regards the effects of specific area of amorphous/crystalline phase interfaces, and grain boundaries. As an illustrative case, large-scale molecular dynamics simulations are performed on Cu64Zr36 metallic glass/Cu nanocomposites with different specific interface areas and grain boundary characteristics. Plastic deformation is achieved via shear bands, shear transformation zones, and crystal plasticity. Three-dimensional amorphous/crystalline interfaces serve as effective barriers to the propagation of shear transformation zones and shear bands if formed, diffuse strain localizations, and give rise to improved ductility. Ductility increases with increasing specific interface area. In addition, introducing grain boundaries into the second phase facilitates crystal plasticity, which helps reduce or eliminate mature shear bands in the glass matrix.

Clinical utility of a near patient care microarray based diagnostic test for influenza and respiratory syncytial virus infections

In primary care medicine, establishing a diagnosis of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections is usually based on clinical history and physical examination as well as a consideration of time of the year and circulating respiratory viruses in the community.

METHODS

We tested the potential clinical samples using the automated molecular assay which included rapid influenza diagnostic test, Rapid Immunochromatographic Antigen Test, Verigene Respiratory Virus Plus Nucleic Acid Test, BD Veritor(TM) System for Rapid Detection of RSV in the paediatric setting for diagnosis of influenza and respiratory syntactical virus infections when testing was done by the paediatrician seeing the patient.

RESULTS

Principally, with respect influenza virus specificity and sensitivity for RIAT were 100% and 68.8%; compared to 100% and 100%, respectively for RV(+). The specificity and sensitivity for 92.23% and 98% for BD Veritor(TM) System for Rapid Detection of RSV as compared to 96.6% and 98.42% for RIDT.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, this study confirms the clinical utility of RV(+) in the pediatric setting.

A cultured endophyte community is associated with the plant Clerodendrum inerme and antifungal activity

Fungal endophytes live in the inner tissues of Clerodendrum inerme and may be significant resources for new chemicals in drug discovery. A total of 242 endophytic fungi were recovered from 602 sample segments of C. inerme; 66 were purified. The 66 fungi belonging to 16 taxa and 11 genera (Alternaria, Nigrospora, Bartalinia, Pestalotiopsis, Fusarium, Mycoleptodiscus, Trichoderma, Phomopsis, Diaporthe, Lasiodiplodia, and Curvularia) were identified by morphological characteristics and fungal internal transcribed spacer sequences. The most abundant genera were Alternaria and Lasiodiplodia. Some of the endophytes exhibited tissue specificity. The colonization frequencies of endophytes in the stems were evidently higher than those in the roots and leaves. The crude ethyl acetate extracts were tested against 6 endophytes isolated from C. inerme. Three of 10 (33.3%) endophytes, which were identified as Phomopsis sp, Curvularia sp, and Mycoleptodiscus sp, displayed distinct antifungal activity against ≥3 tested fungi. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an endophytic community associated with C. inerme in China and its antifungal activity in vitro.

miR-663 Suppresses Oncogenic Function of CXCR4 in Glioblastoma

PURPOSE

To identify the miRNA regulators of C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and the underlying mechanism as well as the therapeutic and prognostic values in human glioblastoma (GBM).

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

miRNA profile analyses and bioinformatics predictions were used to identify the mediators of CXCR4, which were confirmed by luciferase reporter assay, Western blot assay and immunohistochemistry. The effects of miR-663 on CXCR4-mediated GBM malignancy were investigated by gain-of-function experiments. Orthotopic xenografts derived from constitutive or induced miR-663-expressing GBM cells were used to determine the antitumor effects of miR-663 and CXCR4-specific antagonist AMD3100. Bivariate correlation analyses were used to examine the correlation of miR-663 and CXCR4 levels in glioma. The prognostic values of miR-663 and CXCR4 were examined in 281 cases of astrocytic glioma from our hospital and 476 cases of GBM from The Cancer Genome Atlas database using the multivariate Cox regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS

miR-663 negatively regulated CXCR4 expression by targeting its coding sequence in GBM and compromised the proliferative and invasive capacities of GBM cells induced by CXCR4 overexpression. Constitutive or induced miR-663 overexpression combined with CXCR4 antagonist AMD3100 suppressed orthotopic GBM growth and prolonged tumor-bearing mice survival. Clinically, miR-663 and CXCR4 were inversely correlated in GBM and composed a valuable biomarker set in predicting the outcomes of GBM patients.

CONCLUSIONS

miR-663 negatively regulated CXCR4 to inhibit its oncogenic effect. Combination of miR-663 and CXCR4 can serve as a valuable prognostic biomarker set as well as molecular targets for therapeutic intervention of GBM.

Effects of Replacement of Soybean Meal by Fermented Cottonseed Meal on Growth Performance, Serum Biochemical Parameters and Immune Function of Yellow-feathered Broilers

The study was conducted to examine the effects of partially replacing soybean meal (SBM) by solid-state fermented cottonseed meal (FCSM) on growth performance, serum biochemical parameters and immune function of broilers. After inoculated with Bacillus subtilis BJ-1 for 48 h, the content of free gossypol in cottonseed meal was decreased from 0.82 to 0.21 g/kg. A total of 600, day-old male yellow-feathered broilers were randomly divided into four groups with three replicates of 50 chicks each. A corn-SBM based control diet was formulated and the experimental diets included 4, 8 or 12% FCSM, replacing SBM. Throughout the experiment, broilers fed 8% FCSM had higher (p<0.05) body weight gain than those fed 0, 4 and 12% FCSM. The feed intake in 8% FCSM group was superior (p<0.05) to other treatments from d 21 to 42. On d 21, the concentration of serum immunoglobin M in the 4% and 8% FCSM groups, as well as the content of complements (C3, C4) in 8% FCSM group were greater (p<0.05) than those in the SBM group. Besides, birds fed 8% FCSM had increased (p<0.05) serum immunoglobin M, immunoglobulin G and complement C4 levels on d 42 compared with bird fed control diet. No differences (p>0.05) were found between treatments regarding the serum biochemical parameters and the relative weights of immune organs. In conclusion, FCSM can be used in broiler diets at up to 12% of the total diet and an appropriate replacement of SBM with FCSM may improve growth performance and immunity in broilers.

Endothelial cells promote stem-like phenotype of glioma cells through activating the Hedgehog pathway

Microenvironmental regulation of cancer stem cells (CSCs) strongly influences the onset and spread of cancer. The way in which glioma cells interact with their microenvironment and acquire the phenotypes of CSCs remains elusive. We investigated how communication between vascular endothelial cells and glioma cells promoted the properties of glioma stem cells (GSCs). We observed that CD133⁺ GSCs were located closely to Shh⁺ endothelial cells in specimens of human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). In both in vitro and in vivo studies, we found that endothelial cells promoted the appearance of CSC-like glioma cells, as demonstrated by increases in tumourigenicity and expression of stemness genes such as Sox2, Olig2, Bmi1 and CD133 in glioma cells that were co-cultured with endothelial cells. Knockdown of Smo in glioma cells led to a significant reduction of their CSC-like phenotype formation in vitro and in vivo. Endothelial cells with Shh knockdown failed to promote Hedgehog (HH) pathway activation and CSC-like phenotype formation in co-cultured glioma cells. By examination of glioma tissue specimens from 65 patients, we found that the survival of glioma patients was closely correlated with the expression of both Shh by endothelial cells and Gli1 by perivascular glioma cells. Taken together, our study demonstrates that endothelial cells in the tumour microenvironment provide Shh to activate the HH signalling pathway in glioma cells, thereby promoting GSC properties and glioma propagation. © 2014 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.