Immunometabolic cues recompose and reprogram the microenvironment around implanted biomaterials.

Circulating monocytes infiltrate and coordinate immune responses in tissues surrounding implanted biomaterials and in other inflamed tissues. Here we show that immunometabolic cues in the biomaterial microenvironment govern the trafficking of immune cells, including neutrophils and monocytes, in a manner dependent on the chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) and the C-X3-C motif chemokine receptor 1 (CX3CR1). This affects the composition and activation states of macrophage and dendritic cell populations, ultimately orchestrating the relative composition of pro-inflammatory, transitory and anti-inflammatory CCR2, CX3CR1 and CCR2 CX3CR1 immune cell populations.

Plasma concentration of fucosyltransferase 7 is not associated with the number of clinically overt vaso-occlusive events in sickle cell disease.

Objective: To determine if the number of vaso-occlusive events in SCD relates to plasma concentration of fucosyltransferase 7 (FUT7), which catalyses the synthesis of selectin ligands.

Design: A prospective, analytical study.

Setting: Haematology and Chemical Pathology Departments of tertiary healthcare centres.

Regulating the proinflammatory response to composite biomaterials by targeting immunometabolism.

Composite biomaterials comprising polylactide (PLA) and hydroxyapatite (HA) are applied in bone, cartilage and dental regenerative medicine, where HA confers osteoconductive properties. However, after surgical implantation, adverse immune responses to these composites can occur, which have been attributed to size and morphology of HA particles. Approaches to effectively modulate these adverse immune responses have not been described.

Reversible Intracellular Gelation of MCF10A Cells Enables Programmable Control Over 3D Spheroid Growth.

In nature, some organisms survive extreme environments by inducing a biostatic state wherein cellular contents are effectively vitrified. Recently, a synthetic biostatic state in mammalian cells is achieved via intracellular network formation using bio-orthogonal strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloaddition (SPAAC) reactions between functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) macromers. In this work, the effects of intracellular network formation on a 3D epithelial MCF10A spheroid model are explored.

Flavinated SDHA underlies the change in intrinsic optical properties of oral cancers.

The molecular basis of reduced autofluorescence in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells relative to normal cells has been speculated to be due to lower levels of free flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). This speculation, along with differences in the intrinsic optical properties of extracellular collagen, lies at the foundation of the design of currently-used clinical optical detection devices. Here, we report that free FAD levels may not account for differences in autofluorescence of OSCC cells, but that the differences relate to FAD as a co-factor for flavination.