Receptor tyrosine kinases CAD96CA and FGFR1 function as the cell membrane receptors of insect juvenile hormone.

Juvenile hormone (JH) is important to maintain insect larval status; however, its cell membrane receptor has not been identified. Using the lepidopteran insect (cotton bollworm), a serious agricultural pest, as a model, we determined that receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) cadherin 96ca (CAD96CA) and fibroblast growth factor receptor homologue (FGFR1) function as JH cell membrane receptors by their roles in JH-regulated gene expression, larval status maintaining, rapid intracellular calcium increase, phosphorylation of JH intracellular receptor MET1 and cofactor Taiman, and high affinity to JH III. Gene knockout of and by CRISPR/Cas9 in embryo and knockdown in various insect cells, and overexpression of CAD96CA and FGFR1 in mammalian HEK-293T cells all supported CAD96CA and FGFR1 transmitting JH signal as JH cell membrane receptors.

Rational Construction of a Pyrimido[2,1-b] Benzothiazole-Based Photoswitchable Smart AIE Material: A Theoretical Insight into Fluorescence Switching Mechanism of the Chimeric Dyad.

Currently, AIEgen-photochromics conjugates and intrinsic photochromic AIEgens are the two major molecular design strategies for photoresponsive AIE materials. However, these two strategies still have their own limitations. In our previous research, we discovered pyrimido[2,1-b][1,3]benzothiazole (PBT) as a novel core structure of AIEgens.

Succinylation enables IDE to act as a hub of larval tissue destruction and adult tissue reconstruction during insect metamorphosis.

Metamorphosis is an important way for insects to adapt to the environment. In this process, larval tissue destruction regulated by 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and adult tissue reconstruction regulated by insulin-like peptides (ILPs) occur simultaneously, but the detailed mechanism is still unclear. Here, the results of succinylome, subcellular localization, and protein interaction analysis show that non-succinylated insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) localizes in the cytoplasm, binds to insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2-like), and degrades it.

The steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone induces lipophagy via the brain-adipose tissue axis by promoting the adipokinetic hormone pathway.

Lipophagy is a way to degrade lipids; however, the molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Using the holometabolous lepidopteran insect Helicoverpa armigera, cotton bollworm, as a model, we revealed that the larval fat body undergoes lipophagy during metamorphosis, and lipophagy is essential for metamorphosis. The steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) induced lipophagy by promoting the expression of the peptide hormone adipokinetic hormone (AKH, the insect analog of glucagon) and the adipokinetic hormone receptor (AKHR).

The steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone inhibits RAPTOR expression by repressing Hox gene transcription to induce autophagy.

Regulatory-associated protein of TOR (RAPTOR) is a key component of TOR complex 1, which determines the lysosomal location and substrate recruitment of TOR complex 1 to promote cell growth and prevent autophagy. Many studies in recent decades have focused on the post-translational modification of RAPTOR; however, little is known about the transcriptional regulatory mechanism of Raptor. Using the lepidopteran insect cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) as model, we reveal the transcriptional regulatory mechanism of Raptor.

Lipases are differentially regulated by hormones to maintain free fatty acid homeostasis for insect brain development.

Background: Free fatty acids (FFAs) play vital roles as energy sources and substrates in organisms; however, the molecular mechanism regulating the homeostasis of FFA levels in various circumstances, such as feeding and nonfeeding stages, is not fully clarified. Holometabolous insects digest dietary triglycerides (TAGs) during larval feeding stages and degrade stored TAGs in the fat body during metamorphosis after feeding cessation, which presents a suitable model for this study.

Results: This study reported that two lipases are differentially regulated by hormones to maintain the homeostasis of FFA levels during the feeding and nonfeeding stages using the lepidopteran insect cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera as a model.

Mechanistic insights into diversified photoluminescence behaviours of BF complexes of -benzoyl 2-aminobenzothiazoles.

Many BF complexes of heteroaromatics are well known for their dual-state emission (DSE) properties. However, AIE and ACQ effects have also been observed in certain cases. To date, no rational explanations have been proposed for these uncommon photoluminescence (PL) behaviours.

20-hydroxyecdysone reprograms amino acid metabolism to support the metamorphic development of Helicoverpa armigera.

Amino acid metabolism is regulated according to nutrient conditions; however, the mechanism is not fully understood. Using the holometabolous insect cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) as a model, we report that hemolymph metabolites are greatly changed from the feeding larvae to the wandering larvae and to pupae. Arginine, alpha-ketoglutarate (α-KG), and glutamate (Glu) are identified as marker metabolites of feeding larvae, wandering larvae, and pupae, respectively.

Scavenger receptor B2, a type III membrane pattern recognition receptor, senses LPS and activates the IMD pathway in crustaceans.

The immune deficiency (IMD) pathway is critical for elevating host immunity in both insects and crustaceans. The IMD pathway activation in insects is mediated by peptidoglycan recognition proteins, which do not exist in crustaceans, suggesting a previously unidentified mechanism involved in crustacean IMD pathway activation. In this study, we identified a B class type III scavenger receptor, SRB2, as a receptor for activation of the IMD pathway.

20-Hydroxyecdysone counteracts insulin to promote programmed cell death by modifying phosphoglycerate kinase 1.

Background: The regulation of glycolysis and autophagy during feeding and metamorphosis in holometabolous insects is a complex process that is not yet fully understood. Insulin regulates glycolysis during the larval feeding stage, allowing the insects to grow and live. However, during metamorphosis, 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) takes over and regulates programmed cell death (PCD) in larval tissues, leading to degradation and ultimately enabling the insects to transform into adults.

Impact of mature tertiary lymphoid structures on prognosis and therapeutic response of Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric cancer patients.

Background: Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC) exhibits unique histological characteristics within the immune-cell-rich microenvironment, but the role of tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) in EBVaGC is not yet fully understood.

Methods: We retrospectively identified EBVaGC from 8517 consecutive GC cases from the two top cancer centers in China. Furthermore, we evaluated the prognostic value of TLS in 148 EBVaGC patients from our institute and then validated it in an external cohort (76 patients).

Pathologic responses and surgical outcomes after neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy versus neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Currently, the role of immunotherapy in neoadjuvant setting for patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is gradually attracting attention. Few studies compared the efficacy of neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy (NICT) and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT). Our study aimed to compare treatment response and postoperative complications after NICT followed by surgery with that after conventional NCRT in patients with locally advanced ESCC.

No long-term survival benefit with sustained-release 5-fluorouracil implants in patients with stages II and III gastric cancer.

Background: The prognosis of gastric cancer in an advanced stage remains poor. The exact efficacy of the use of intraoperative sustained-release chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in advanced-stage gastric cancer is still unelucidated.

Aim: To explore the long-term survival benefit of using sustained-release 5-FU implants in stage II and stage III gastric cancer patients.

Preoperative Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy Versus Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer: Phase II Randomized Study.

Objective: We evaluated and compared the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) versus neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC) in a single-center randomized phase II trial.

Methods: Patients with LAGC were enrolled and received either NACT or NACRT, followed by gastrectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was an R0 resection rate.

Identification and Functional Analysis of G Protein-Coupled Receptors in 20-Hydroxyecdysone Signaling From the Genome.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of membrane receptors in animals and humans, which transmit various signals from the extracellular environment into cells. Studies have reported that several GPCRs transmit the same signal; however, the mechanism is unclear. In the present study, we identified all 122 classical GPCRs from the genome of , a lepidopteran pest species.

The homotetramerization of a GPCR transmits the 20-hydroxyecdysone signal and increases its entry into cells for insect metamorphosis.

Animal steroid hormones initiate signaling by passive diffusion into cells and binding to their nuclear receptors to regulate gene expression. Animal steroid hormones can initiate signaling via G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs); however, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we show that a newly discovered ecdysone-responsive GPCR, ErGPCR-3, transmits the steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) signal by binding 20E and promoting its entry into cells in the lepidopteran insect Knockdown of in larvae caused delayed and abnormal pupation, inhibited remodeling of the larval midgut and fat body, and repressed 20E-induced gene expression.

Juvenile hormone induces methoprene-tolerant 1 phosphorylation to increase interaction with Taiman in Helicoverpa armigera.

Methoprene-tolerant 1 (Met1) is a basic-helix-loop-helix Per/Arnt/Sim (bHLH-PAS) protein identified as the intracellular receptor of juvenile hormone (JH). JH induces phosphorylation of Met1; however, the phosphorylation site and outcomes of phosphorylation are not well characterized. In the present study, using the lepidopteran insect and serious agricultural pest Helicoverpa armigera (cotton bollworm) as a model, we showed that JH III induced threonine-phosphorylation of Met1 at threonine 393 (Thr393) in the Per-Arnt-Sim (PAS) B domain.

Esophageal Histological Precursor Lesions and Subsequent 8.5-Year Cancer Risk in a Population-Based Prospective Study in China.

Introduction: Data on the associations between esophageal histological lesions and risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in general populations are limited. We aimed to investigate these associations in a large Chinese general population to inform future Chinese ESCC screening guidelines.

Methods: We performed endoscopic screening of 21,111 participants aged 40-69 years from 3 high-risk areas of China in 2005-2009, and followed the cohort through 2016.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy upfront surgery for gastric signet ring cell carcinoma: A retrospective, propensity score-matched study.

Background: The benefit of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with signet-ring cell carcinoma of the stomach is controversial.

Aim: To evaluate the perioperative and long-term outcomes of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma.

Methods: This retrospective study identified patients with locally advanced signet-ring cell carcinomas of the stomach (cT3/4 and cN any) diagnosed from January 2012 to December 2017 by using the clinical Tumor-Node-Metastasis (cTNM) staging system.

Leiomyosarcoma of the stomach: A case report.

Background: Leiomyosarcoma of the stomach is extremely rare, and only 13 cases have been reported in the literature. Before the advent of immunohistochemistry, gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) were misdiagnosed as leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas. Leiomyosarcoma rarely occurs in organs besides the uterus and is rarely located in the stomach.

Surgical resection of gastric stump cancer following proximal gastrectomy for adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction.

Background: Proximal gastrectomy (PG) is performed widely as a function-preserving operation for early gastric cancer located in the upper third of the stomach and is an important function-preserving approach for esophagogastric junction (EGJ) adenocarcinoma. The incidence of gastric stump cancer (GSC) after PG is increasing. However, little is known about the GSC following PG because very few studies have been conducted on the disease.

Unnecessity of lymph node regression evaluation for predicting gastric adenocarcinoma outcome after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been applied worldwide to improve the survival of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC). The evaluation of histological regression in primary tumors is valuable for predicting prognosis. However, the prognostic effect of regression change in lymph nodes (LNs) remains unclear.

Clinicopathological parameters predicting recurrence of pT1N0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Aim: To identify the clinicopathological characteristics of pT1N0 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) that are associated with tumor recurrence.

Methods: We reviewed 216 pT1N0 thoracic ESCC cases who underwent esophagectomy and thoracoabdominal two-field lymphadenectomy without preoperative chemoradiotherapy. After excluding those cases with clinical follow-up recorded fewer than 3 mo and those who died within 3 mo of surgery, we included 199 cases in the current analysis.