Regulatory T cells (Tregs), a key mediator in regulating anti-tumor immune suppression, tumor immune escape, metastasis and relapse, are considered an important therapeutic target in immunotherapy of human cancers. In the present investigation, elevated CD19+ CD24+ CD38+ regulatory B cells (Bregs) were observed in PBMCs of invasive carcinoma of breast (IBCa) patients compared with that in patients with fibroadenoma (FIBma) or healthy individuals, and the positive correlation existed between Bregs and CD4+ CD25+ CD127− Tregs (r = 0.316, P = 0.001). We found that PD-L1 expression was higher on Bregs in IBCa patients compared with patients with FIBma or healthy individuals (P < 0.05, respectively), and that a tight correlation exists between CD19+ CD24+ CD38+ PD-L1+ Bregs and CD19+ CD24+ CD38+ Bregs (r = 0.267, P = 0.007), poor TNM phases and up-regulated expression of PD-L1 on Bregs. The pattern of PD-1 expression on CD4+ T cells indicated that high level of PD-1hi expressed on CD4+ CD25+ CD127+ effector T cells (P < 0.001). More importantly, the presence of PD-L1 on Bregs was positively correlated with Tregs (r = 0.299, P = 0.003), but negatively correlated with PD-1hi effector T cells (r = −0.22, P = 0.031). Together, results of the present study indicated that PD-L1 is an important molecule on Bregs, mediated the generation of Tregs in IBCa.

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An inorganic flame retardant, magnesium hydroxide (MH) with series synergists including melamine (ME), linear novolac resin (LNR), and triphenyl phosphate (TPP) was incorporated with polyformaldehyde (POM) resin in this article. The obvious advantage of the system is that the used flame retardant and the synergists possess multiflame retarding mechanisms and multifunctions. The prepared flame retardant POM could achieve UL94 V-0 rating (1.6 mm) with optimum flame retardant/synergists formulations, showing satisfactory flame retardance. Vari-ous characterization methods including pyrolysis-gas chromatogram-mass spectrometer (Py-GC-MS) analysis, scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), were used to investigate the interaction among the components and reveal the corresponding synergistic mechanisms. V C 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 125: 968-974, 2012