A membrane-associated MHC-I inhibitory axis for cancer immune evasion.

Immune-checkpoint blockade has revolutionized cancer treatment, but some cancers, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML), do not respond or develop resistance. A potential mode of resistance is immune evasion of T cell immunity involving aberrant major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) antigen presentation (AP). To map such mechanisms of resistance, we identified key MHC-I regulators using specific peptide-MHC-I-guided CRISPR-Cas9 screens in AML.

Clear optically matched panoramic access channel technique (COMPACT) for large-volume deep brain imaging.

To understand neural circuit mechanisms underlying behavior, it is crucial to observe the dynamics of neuronal structure and function in different regions of the brain. Since current noninvasive imaging technologies allow cellular-resolution imaging of neurons only within ~1 mm below the cortical surface, the majority of mouse brain tissue remains inaccessible. While miniature optical imaging probes allow access to deep brain regions, cellular-resolution imaging is typically restricted to a small tissue volume.

Fear conditioning and extinction induce opposing changes in dendritic spine remodeling and somatic activity of layer 5 pyramidal neurons in the mouse motor cortex.

Multiple brain regions including the amygdala and prefrontal cortex are crucial for modulating fear conditioning and extinction. The primary motor cortex is known to participate in the planning, control, and execution of voluntary movements. Whether and how the primary motor cortex is involved in modulating freezing responses related to fear conditioning and extinction remains unclear.

The Phosphodiesterase 9 Inhibitor PF-04449613 Promotes Dendritic Spine Formation and Performance Improvement after Motor Learning.

The cyclic nucleotide cGMP is an intracellular second messenger with important roles in neuronal functions and animals' behaviors. The phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are a family of enzymes that hydrolyze the second messengers cGMP and cAMP. Inhibition of phosphodiesterase 9 (PDE9), a main isoform of PDEs hydrolyzing cGMP, has been shown to improve learning and memory as well as cognitive function in rodents.

Monocular deprivation induces dendritic spine elimination in the developing mouse visual cortex.

It is well established that visual deprivation has a profound impact on the responsiveness of neurons in the developing visual cortex. The effect of visual deprivation on synaptic connectivity remains unclear. Using transcranial two-photon microscopy, we examined the effect of visual deprivation and subsequent recovery on dendritic spine remodeling of layer 5 pyramidal neurons in the mouse primary visual cortex.