A Comprehensive Immunologic Portrait of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a high-risk malignancy due to its high capacity for invasion and lack of targeted therapy. Immunotherapy continues to demonstrate efficacy in a variety of cancers, and thus may be a promising strategy for TNBC given the limited therapeutic options currently available for TNBC. In this study, we performed an exhaustive analysis of immunogenic signatures in TNBC based on 2 large-scale breast cancer (BC) genomic data. We compared enrichment levels of 26 immune cell activities and pathways among TNBC, non-TNBC, and normal tissue, and within TNBCs of different genotypic or phenotypic features. We found that almost all analyzed immune activities and pathways had significantly higher enrichment levels in TNBC than non-TNBC. Elevated enrichment of these immune activities and pathways was likely to be associated with better survival prognosis in TNBC. This study demonstrated that TNBC likely exhibits the strongest immunogenicity among BC subtypes, and thus warrants the immunotherapeutic option for TNBC.     

Skin Allografting Activates Anti-tumor Immunity and Suppresses Growth of Colon Cancer in Mice

INTRODUCTION: The tumor cells could escape from the immune elimination through the immunoediting mechanisms including the generation of immunosuppressive or immunoregulative cells. By contrast, allograft transplantation could activate the immune system and induce a strong allogenic response. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of allogenic skin transplantation in the inhibition of tumor growth through the activation of allogenic immune response. METHODS: Full-thickness skin transplantation was performed from C57BL/6 (H-2^b) donors to BALB/c (H-2^d) recipients that were receiving subcutaneous injection of isogenic CT26 colon cancer cells (2?×?10⁶ cells) at the same time. The tumor size and pathological changes, cell populations and cytokine profiles were evaluated at day 14 post-transplantation. RESULTS: The results showed that as compared to non-transplant group, the allogenic immune response in the skin-grafting group inhibited the growth of tumors, which was significantly associated with increased numbers of intra-tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, increased populations of CD11c⁺MHC-classII⁺CD86⁺ DCs, CD3⁺CD4⁺ T cells, CD3⁺CD8⁺ T cells, and CD19⁺ B cells, as well as decreased percentage of CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ T cells in the spleens. In addition, the levels of serum IgM and IgG, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (IFN)-γ were significantly higher within the tumor in skin transplant groups than that in non-transplant group. CONCLUSIONS: Allogenic skin transplantation suppresses the tumor growth through activating the allogenic immune response, and it may provide a new immunotherapy option for the clinical refractory tumor treatment.     

Multiple binding sites for local anesthetics on reconstituted acetylcholine receptor membranes

Using electron spin resonance spectroscopy and a spin-labeled analog of a tertiary amine local anesthetic, we have identified several populations of the local anesthetic within reconstituted lipid membranes containing purified acetylcholine receptors. These populations represent the local anesthetic interacting with membrane lipid and with the acetylcholine receptor. The data also suggest the existence of at least two classes of binding sites for the local anesthetic on the acetylcholine receptor.     

Nystroemiaceae,a new family of Permian gymnosperms from China with an unusual combination of features

Nystroemiaceae is proposed as a new family of gymnosperms from the Permian of Cathaysia that adds to the diversity of gymnosperms known from this critical time in seed plant evolution. This family is characterized by bifurcating and highly branched pinnate ovuliferous organs bearing bicornute ovules (seeds) and entire leaves with anastomozing veins that are born on complex and modern-looking branching systems with clear axillary branching. The reconstruction is based on numerous large specimens from two localities in North China, in which the different plant parts are attached to each other. The ovulate structures show some apparently plesiomorphic (primitive) character states more typical of early seed plants, whereas the leaves and branches show the clearly apomorphic (derived) character states of broad-leaved gymnosperms.     

两种树脂对固相法合成丙型肝炎疫苗多肽的影响

本实验采用固相法合成丙型肝炎疫苗多肽,比较Wang树脂和二氯三苯甲基树脂（以下简称二氯树脂）作为载体时的连接率以及目标肽的产率和纯度。通过质谱鉴定分析所得目标多肽的分子量,用茚三酮法对两种树脂与氨基酸的连接率进行比较,用反相高效液相色谱（RP-HPLC）进行粗肽的分析和纯化。结果显示以二氯树脂作载体,第一个氨基酸的连接率,以及目标肽的纯度和产率都要明显高于Wang树脂,因此二氯树脂作载体合成丙型肝炎疫苗多肽更适合大规模工业化生产的要求。     

水淹深度、持续时间及发生频率对扬子狐尾藻早期生长的影响

研究了水淹扰动包括不同的深度(0,10,60 cm)、持续时间(1周、2周)和发生频率(1次、2次)对扬子狐尾藻(Myriophyllum oguraense Miki subsp.yangtzense Wang)早期生长的影响。结果表明,湿生状态下未经过水淹处理的植株的总生物量最大、所产生的分枝数最多、株高最小;在经过水淹处理后,植株的总生物量、植株所产生的分枝数显著减少,而株高则显著增加。随着水淹深度的增大和持续时间的增加,植株的总生物量、分枝数显著减小,而株高则在浅水位处理下(10 cm)随着水淹持续时间的增加而增加,在深水位处理下(60 cm)随着水淹持续时间的增加而减小。总生物量在较长时间持续于浅水位下(2周,10 cm)和较短时间持续于深水位下(1周,60 cm)时随水淹发生频率的增高而增大,分枝数也呈增多趋势。随着水淹发生频率的增高,深水位(60 cm)显著促进株高的增加。此外,水淹处理后,茎生物量比增大,而根生物量比、叶生物量比、分枝生物量比则呈减小趋势。这些研究结果表明水淹扰动是影响扬子狐尾藻早期生长和克隆繁殖的重要因子之一,同时也说明扬子狐尾藻对不同的水淹扰动有不同的生长和克隆繁殖对策。     

云南苦苣苔科一新记录属——单座苣苔属

报道了云南苦苣苔科一新记录属——单座苣苔属(Metabriggsia W.T.Wang)。该属为中国特有属,仅单座苣苔(Metabriggsia ovalifolia W.T.Wang)和紫叶单座苣苔(Metabriggsia purpureotincta W.T.Wang)2种,分布于广西西部、北部及贵州南部,在云南的发现对研究其地理与区系有重要的意义。     

单叶黄荆的分类学修订

根据对单叶黄荆（Vitex simplicifolia）模式标本的研究,结合在其模式产地的野外调查,发现单叶黄荆与黄荆（V.negundo）并无本质区别,不宜作为独立的种,但其叶片为单叶而且比较稳定,将其降级并组合为黄荆的变种。     

单叶黄荆的分类学修订

根据对单叶黄荆(Vitex simplicifolia)模式标本的研究,结合在其模式产地的野外调查,发现单叶黄荆与黄荆(V.negundo)并无本质区别,不宜作为独立的种,但其叶片为单叶而且比较稳定,将其降级并组合为黄荆的变种。