Emerging Novel Combined CAR-NK Cell Therapies in Cancer Treatment: Finding a Dancing Partner.

In recent decades, immunotherapy with chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) has revolutionized cancer treatment and given hope where other cancer therapies have failed. CAR-NK cells are NK cells that have been engineered ex vivo with a CAR on the cell membrane with high specificity for specific target antigens of tumor cells. The impressive results of several studies suggest that CAR-NK cell therapy has significant potential and successful performance in cancer treatment.

Silk protein: A novel antifungal and edible coating for strawberry preservation.

In this study, an antimicrobial component, silk protease inhibitors (SPIs), was extracted from discarded silkworm cocoons, and a suitable degumming method for obtaining regenerated silk fibroin (SF) was screened. An edible antimicrobial coating was prepared by mixing SPIs with SF for evaluation of potential in strawberries preservation. Results demonstrated that SPI could effectively inhibit mycelial growth and spore germination.

Black raspberry-mediated metabolic changes in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis associated with rectal polyp regression.

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) patients face an almost certain 100% risk of developing colorectal cancer, necessitating prophylactic colectomy to prevent disease progression. A crucial goal is to hinder this progression. In a recent clinical trial involving 14 FAP patients, half received 60 g of black raspberry (BRB) powder orally and BRB suppositories at bedtime, while the other half received only BRB suppositories at bedtime over 9 months.

Simulated gastrointestinal digestion of walnut protein yields anti-inflammatory peptides.

The impact of the simulated gastrointestinal digestion process on walnut protein and the potential anti-inflammatory properties of its metabolites was studied. Structural changes induced by digestion, notably in α-Helix, β-Turn, and Random Coil configurations, were unveiled. Proteins over 10,000 Da significantly decreased by 35.

Effects of Black Raspberry Supplementation on Methylation Pathways in Double Knockout Mice with Early-stage Myelodysplastic Syndrome.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a subset of myeloid malignancies defined by clonality of immature hematopoietic stem cells that leads to faulty blood cell development. These syndromes can lead to an increased risk of infection and may transform into acute myeloid leukemia, making it critical to determine effective treatments for the condition. While hypomethylating agents such as azacitidine and decitabine, as well as stem cell transplants, have been delineated as favored treatments for MDS, not all patients are physiologically receptive to these treatments.

From support to therapy: rethinking the role of nutrition in acute graft-versus-host disease.

Allogeneic Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) offers a potential cure for patients with hematologic malignancies. Unfortunately, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains a major obstacle to the greater success of this treatment. Despite intensive research efforts over the past several decades, GVHD is still a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients receiving allogeneic HSCT.

Oyster ferritin can efficiently alleviate ROS-mediated inflammation attributed to its unique micro-environment around three-fold channels.

The conversion of toxic Fe into non-toxic Fe stored in the inner cavity of ferritin nanocage could effectively reduce the occurrence of the Fenton reaction and inhibit the formation of harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we reveal that oyster ferritin (GF1) can rely on its high catalytic activity (7.7 times that of rHuHF) and high binding ability of Fe (9.

Label compliance for ingredient verification: regulations, approaches, and trends for testing botanical products marketed for "immune health" in the United States.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the botanical product market saw a consumer interest increase in immune health supplements. While data are currently insufficient to support public health guidance for using foods and dietary supplements to prevent or treat COVID-19 and other immune disorders, consumer surveys indicate that immune support is the second-most cited reason for supplement use in the United States. Meanwhile, consumers showed increased attention to dietary supplement ingredient labels, especially concerning authenticity and ingredient claims.

Modification of Diet to Reduce the Stemness and Tumorigenicity of Murine and Human Intestinal Cells.

Scope: Black raspberries (BRBs) have colorectal cancer (CRC) chemo-preventative effects. As CRC originates from an intestinal stem cell (ISC) this study has investigated the impact of BRBs on normal and mutant ISCs.

Methods And Results: Mice with an inducible Apc mutation in either the ISC (Lgr5CreER ) or intestinal crypt (AhCre/VillinCreER ) are fed a control or 10% BRB-supplemented diet.

A Pilot Clinical Study to Investigate the Hypomethylating Properties of Freeze-dried Black Raspberries in Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndrome or Myeloproliferative Neoplasm.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms (MDS/MPN) are bone marrow disorders characterized by cytopenias and progression to acute myeloid leukemia. Hypomethylating agents (HMAs) are Food and Drug Administration-approved therapies for MDS and MDS/MPN patients. HMAs have improved patients' survival and quality of life when compared with other therapies.

Protocatechuic Acid, a Gut Bacterial Metabolite of Black Raspberries, Inhibits Adenoma Development and Alters Gut Microbiome Profiles in Mice.

Administration of black raspberries (BRBs) and their anthocyanin metabolites, including protocatechuic acid (PCA), has been demonstrated to exert chemopreventive effects against colorectal cancer through alteration of innate immune cell trafficking, modulation of metabolic and inflammatory pathways, etc. Previous research has shown that the gut microbiome is important in the effectiveness of chemoprevention of colorectal cancer. This study aimed to assess the potency of PCA versus BRB dietary administration for colorectal cancer prevention using an mouse model and determine how bacterial profiles change in response to PCA and BRBs.

Dietary supplementation with black raspberries prolongs survival in Apc mice.

A diet supplemented with freeze-dried black raspberries (BRBs) has been demonstrated to modulate various biochemical and physiological pathways in both colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and Apc mice, which are utilized to model CRC. These changes have been previously shown to exert beneficial chemopreventive effects against CRC, with outcomes such as reduction of adenoma development and inflammation. This study aimed to assess whether these effects manifest in a meaningful change in survival rates by comparing these rates between Apc mice administered a 5% BRB-supplemented diet or a control AIN-76A diet.

PDGF-D-PDGFRβ signaling enhances IL-15-mediated human natural killer cell survival.

The axis of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and PDGF receptor-beta (PDGFRβ) plays prominent roles in cell growth and motility. In addition, PDGF-D enhances human natural killer (NK) cell effector functions when binding to the NKp44 receptor. Here, we report an additional but previously unknown role of PDGF-D, whereby it mediates interleukin-15 (IL-15)-induced human NK cell survival but not effector functions via its binding to PDGFRβ but independent of its binding to NKp44.

Retinoic Acid Signaling Modulates Recipient Gut Barrier Integrity and Microbiota After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Mice.

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains a major complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). An impaired intestinal epithelial barrier is an important component of GVHD pathogenesis. However, contributing host factors that modulate mucosal barrier integrity during GVHD are poorly defined.

The K18-Human ACE2 Transgenic Mouse Model Recapitulates Non-severe and Severe COVID-19 in Response to an Infectious Dose of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus.

A comprehensive analysis and characterization of a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection model that mimics non-severe and severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in humans is warranted for understating the virus and developing preventive and therapeutic agents. Here, we characterized the K18-hACE2 mouse model expressing human (h)ACE2 in mice, controlled by the human keratin 18 (K18) promoter, in the epithelia, including airway epithelial cells where SARS-CoV-2 infections typically start. We found that intranasal inoculation with higher viral doses (2 × 10 and 2 × 10 PFU) of SARS-CoV-2 caused lethality of all mice and severe damage of various organs, including lung, liver, and kidney, while lower doses (2 × 10 and 2 × 10 PFU) led to less severe tissue damage and some mice recovered from the infection.

Effects of Dietary Interventions on Gut Microbiota in Humans and the Possible Impacts of Foods on Patients' Responses to Cancer Immunotherapy.

The gut microbiota-the community of microorganisms in the gut-has been implicated in many physical and mental disorders in addition to intestinal diseases. Diets are the most studied and promising factors for altering it. Indeed, certain dietary interventions that increase fiber intake rapidly change levels of certain nutrients that can modify the composition of the microbiota, promoting richness and diversity.

Transplanting fecal material from wild-type mice fed black raspberries alters the immune system of recipient mice.

By constantly stimulating intestinal immunity, gut microbes play important regulatory roles, and their possible involvement in human physical and mental disorders beyond intestinal diseases suggests the importance of maintaining homeostasis in the gut microbiota. Both transplantation of fecal microbiota and dietary interventions have been shown to restore microbial homeostasis in recipients. In the current study with wild-type mice, we combined these two approaches to determine if transplanting fecal material from mice fed black raspberries (BRB, 5%) altered recipients' immune system.

Transcranial sonography in differential diagnosis of Parkinson disease and other movement disorders.

Background: Reports evaluating the efficacy of transcranial sonography (TCS) for the differential diagnosis of Parkinson disease (PD) and other movement disorders in China are scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the application of TCS for the differential diagnosis of PD, multiple system atrophy (MSA), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and essential tremor (ET) in Chinese individuals.

Methods: From 2017 to 2019, 500 inpatients treated at the Department of Dyskinesia, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University underwent routine transcranial ultrasound examination.

The RNA m6A reader YTHDF2 controls NK cell antitumor and antiviral immunity.

N 6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent posttranscriptional modification on RNA. NK cells are the predominant innate lymphoid cells that mediate antiviral and antitumor immunity. However, whether and how m6A modifications affect NK cell immunity remain unknown.

Dysregulated Free Fatty Acid Receptor 2 Exacerbates Colonic Adenoma Formation in Mice: Relation to Metabolism and Gut Microbiota Composition.

Free fatty acid receptor 2 () has been reported as a tumor suppressor in colon cancer development. The current study investigated the effects of signaling on energy metabolism and gut microbiota profiling in a colorectal cancer mouse model ( ). deficiency promoted colonic polyp development and enhanced fatty acid oxidation and bile acid metabolism.