Background Continual expression of PD-L1 in tumor cells is critical for tumor immune escape and host T cell exhaustion, however, knowledge on its clinical benefits through inhibition is limited in breast cancer. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) plays a crucial role in multiple biological activities. Our study aimed to investigate the regulatory role of the m6A modification in PD-L1 expression and immune surveillance in breast cancer. Methods MeRIP-seq and epitranscriptomic microarray identified that PD-L1 is the downstream target of METTL3. MeRIP-qPCR, absolute quantification of m6A modification assay, and RIP-qPCR were used to examine the molecular mechanism underlying METTL3/m6A/IGF2BP3 signaling axis in PD-L1 expression. B-NDG and BALB/c mice were used to construct xenograft tumor models to verify the phenotypes upon METTL3 and IGF2BP3 silencing. In addition, breast cancer tissue microarray was used to analyze the correlation between PD-L1 and METTL3 or IGF2BP3 expression. Results We identified that PD-L1 was a downstream target of METTL3-mediated m6A modification in breast cancer cells. METTL3 knockdown significantly abolished m6A modification and reduced stabilization of PD-L1 mRNA. Additionally, METTL3-mediated PD-L1 mRNA activation was m6A-IGF2BP3-dependent. Moreover, inhibition of METTL3 or IGF2BP3 enhanced anti-tumor immunity through PD-L1-mediated T cell activation, exhaustion, and infiltration both in vitro and in vivo. PD-L1 expression was also positively correlated with METTL3 and IGF2BP3 expression in breast cancer tissues. Conclusion Our study suggested that METTL3 could post-transcriptionally upregulate PD-L1 expression in an m6A-IGF2BP3-dependent manner to further promote stabilization of PD-L1 mRNA, which may have important implications for new and efficient therapeutic strategies in the tumor immunotherapy.

Background Emerging evidence suggests that epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) and epigenetic mechanisms promote metastasis. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) and noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are important epigenetic regulators. Here, we elucidated a novel role of histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) in regulating EMT and CRC metastasis via ncRNA. Methods The expression of HDACs in CRC was analyzed using the public databases and matched primary and metastatic tissues, and CRC cells with different metastatic potentials (DLD1, HCT116, SW480 and SW620). Microarray analysis was used to identify differential genes in parental and HDAC2 knockout CRC cells. EMT and histone modifications were determined using western blot and immunofluorescence. Migration ability was assessed by transwell assay, and metastasis was assessed in vivo using a tail vain injection. Gene expression and regulation was assessed by RT-PCR, chromatin immunoprecipitation and reporter assays. Protein interaction was assessed by immunoprecipitation. Specific siRNAs targeting H19, SP1 and MMP14 were used to validate their role in HDAC2 loss induced EMT and metastasis. Results Reduced HDAC2 expression was associated with poor prognosis in CRC patients and found in CRC metastasis. HDAC2 deletion or knockdown induced EMT and metastasis by upregulating the long noncoding RNA H19 (LncRNA H19). HDAC2 inhibited LncRNA H19 expression by histone H3K27 deacetylation in its promoter via binding with SP1. LncRNA H19 functioned as a miR-22-3P sponge to increase the expression of MMP14. HDAC2 loss strongly promoted CRC lung metastasis, which was suppressed LncRNA H19 knockdown. Conclusion Our study supports HDAC2 as a CRC metastasis suppressor through the inhibition of EMT and the expression of H19 and MMP14.

ObjectivesTo clarify the key role of circulating interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and to improve the clinical efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation (MSCT) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsStudy of wild-type or IFN-γR-/- MSCT was first evaluated in a murine model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) following which a phase 1/2 randomised controlled study was conducted in 63 patients with RA who responded poorly to regular clinical treatments. Subjects were randomly assigned to an MSCT monotherapy group (n=32) or an MSCT plus recombinant human IFN-γ treatment group (n=31), with 1 year of follow-up. The primary end points consisted of efficacy as assessed as good or moderate EULAR response rates and the proportion of patients at 3 months attaining American College of Rheumatology 20 (ACR20) response rates.ResultsIn the murine studies, wild-type MSCT significantly improved the clinical severity of CIA, while IFN-γR-/- MSCT aggravated synovitis, and joint and cartilage damage. Transitioning from the murine to the clinical study, the 3-month follow-up results showed that the efficacy and ACR20 response rates were attained in 53.3% patients with MSCT monotherapy and in 93.3% patients with MSCT combined with IFN-γ treatment (p<0.05). No new or unexpected safety issues were encountered in 1-year follow-up for either treatment group.ConclusionsThe results of this study show that IFN-γ is a key factor in determining the efficacy of MSCT in the treatment of RA, and that an MSC plus IFN-γ combination therapeutic strategy can greatly improve the clinical efficacy of MSC-based therapy in RA patients.

Irpex lacteus F17 is well-known for its ability to degrade recalcitrant aromatic pollutants, which mainly results from the action of the manganese peroxidase (MnP) that it is able to produce. Recently, the genome sequencing and annotation of this strain provided comprehensive picture of the ligninolytic peroxidase gene family. In addition to revealing the presence of 13 MnPs, genes for five dye-decolorizing peroxidases (DyPs) were also discovered in the I. lacteus F17 genome, which are unrelated to the fungal class II peroxidases. In the present study, amino acid sequences of five DyPs and 13 MnPs, representing two different families of heme peroxidases, were analyzed. Of these, two enzymes, a DyP (Il-DyP4) and a MnP (Il-MnP6) were expressed respectively in Escherichia coli, and were characterized by comparing their molecular models, substrate specificities, and catalytic features. The results showed that Il-DyP4 possessed a higher catalytic efficiency for some representative substrates, and a stronger decolorizing ability to a wide range of synthetic dyes in acidic conditions. Based on electrochemical measurements, Il-DyP4 was found to have a high redox potential of 27 mV at pH 3.5, which was superior to that of Il-MnP6 (− 75 mV), thereby contributing to its ability to oxidize high redox potential substrates, such as veratryl alcohol and polymeric dye Poly R-478. The results highlighted the potential of Il-DyP4 for use in industrial and environmental applications.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13568-018-0648-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

To explore the effects of puerarin on mRNA expression of advanced glycation end products (AGE) specIfic cellular receptor (RAGE) in renal cortex of diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin (STZ). We induced Diabetic rats by an intraperitoneal injection of STZ in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. 30 male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, diabetes adding puerarin group (DP group, n = 11, intraperitoneal injection of puerarin 100 mg/kg d), Diabetes group (D group, n = 11) and normal control group (C group, n = 8). The body weight (BW) and blood glucose (BG) were measured every 2 weeks. eight weeks later, all rats were sacrificed and the expression of RAGE mRNA was detected in renal cortex by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively, and renal AGEs content was determined by fluorescence microscopy. Compared with those of control group, the BW and BG were lower in DP group and D group at 8th week (P < 0.01). RAGE/beta-actin ratio were 0.263 +/- 0.023, 0.435 +/- 0.010, 0.141 +/- 0.045, respectively, in DP group, D group and C group, and there was significant difference between every two groups (P < 0.01). The renal AGEs fluorescence intensity of DP group was weaker than D group, stronger than C group. Puerarin can protect the renal tissue from the impairment of hyperglycemia and AGE by decreasing AGEs contents and inhibiting of the expression of RAGE mRNA in the kidney.

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A convenient method for preparation of a mesoporous silica-supported chiral catalyst by postgrafting a homogeneous catalyst on SBA-15 was developed and its application in the asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of aromatic ketones was investigated.

BackgroundCardiovascular complications, especially myocardial infarctions (MIs), are the leading mortality cause in diabetic patients. The transplantation of stem cells into damaged hearts has had considerable success as a treatment for MI, although whether antidiabetic drugs affect the therapeutic efficacy of stem cell transplantation is still unknown. This study aims to understand whether and how metformin, one of the first-line drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), induces mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) apoptosis and dampens their cardioprotective effect after transplantation into infarcted hearts.MethodsA mouse MI model was generated via permanent ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. MSCs with or without metformin treatment were transplanted after MI in diabetic mice. Echocardiography was used to assess cardiac function and determine cardiac remodeling, and TTC staining was performed to evaluate infarction size. A mouse gavage model was performed to evaluate bone marrow MSCs for flow cytometry assay.ResultsMetformin dampened MSC therapeutic efficacy, which increased infarct size and restricted functional cardiac recovery. Specifically, metformin induced the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-mediated apoptosis through the inhibition of S6K1-Bad-Bcl-xL cell survival signaling, resulting in the upregulated expression of apoptosis-associated proteins and increased MSC apoptosis. Accordingly, counteracting AMPK attenuated metformin-induced apoptosis in MSCs and partially restored their cardioprotective effects in diabetic mice with MI. Furthermore, a decrease in peripheral blood MSCs was found in patients with T2DM who had a metformin medication history.ConclusionsOur results highlight an unexpected adverse effect of metformin-induced MSC apoptosis through AMPK-mediated mTOR suppression, which is attenuated by an AMPK inhibitor. Moreover, AMPK inhibition may be a novel strategy for enhancing the effectiveness of stem cell therapy after MI in diabetes.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13287-018-1057-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.