Blood Transcriptomes of SARS-CoV-2-Infected Kidney Transplant Recipients Associated with Immune Insufficiency Proportionate to Severity.

Background: Among patients with COVID-19, kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) have poor outcomes compared with non-KTRs. To provide insight into management of immunosuppression during acute illness, we studied immune signatures from the peripheral blood during and after COVID-19 infection from a multicenter KTR cohort.

Methods: We ascertained clinical data by chart review.

Differences in Humoral and Cellular Vaccine Responses to SARS-CoV-2 in Kidney and Liver Transplant Recipients.

The antibody and T cell responses after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination have not been formally compared between kidney and liver transplant recipients. Using a multiplex assay, we measured IgG levels against 4 epitopes of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and nucleocapsid (NC) antigen, SARS-CoV-2 variants, and common coronaviruses in serial blood samples from 52 kidney and 50 liver transplant recipients undergoing mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. We quantified IFN-γ/IL-2 T cells reactive against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein by FluoroSpot.

MBP-11901 Inhibits Tumor Growth of Hepatocellular Carcinoma through Multitargeted Inhibition of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases.

Hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) are aggressive tumors with a poor prognosis. Approved first-line treatments include sorafenib, lenvatinib, and a combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab; however, they do not cure HCC. We investigated MBP-11901 as a drug candidate for HCC.

Effects of Steady Low-Intensity Exercise on High-Fat Diet Stimulated Breast Cancer Progression Via the Alteration of Macrophage Polarization.

Physical inactivity and high-fat diet, especially high saturated fat containing diet are established risk factors for breast cancer that are amenable to intervention. High-fat diet has been shown to induce tumor growth and metastasis by alteration of inflammation but steady exercise has anti-tumorigenic effects. However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of physical activity on high-fat diet stimulated breast cancer initiation and progression are currently unclear.

Decreased lymphatic HIF-2α accentuates lymphatic remodeling in lymphedema.

Pathologic lymphatic remodeling in lymphedema evolves during periods of tissue inflammation and hypoxia through poorly defined processes. In human and mouse lymphedema, there is a significant increase of hypoxia inducible factor 1 α (HIF-1α), but a reduction of HIF-2α protein expression in lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs). We questioned whether dysregulated expression of these transcription factors contributes to disease pathogenesis and found that LEC-specific deletion of Hif2α exacerbated lymphedema pathology.

Phenotypically Silent Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor 2 Mutations Predispose Rats to Inflammation-Induced Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension by Enhancing the Risk for Neointimal Transformation.

Background: (bone morphogenetic protein receptor 2) mutations are critical risk factors for hereditary pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) with approximately 20% of carriers developing disease. There is an unmet medical need to understand how environmental factors, such as inflammation, render mutants susceptible to PAH. Overexpressing 5-LO (5-lipoxygenase) provokes lung inflammation and transient PAH in mice.

Unripe Rubus coreanus Miquel suppresses migration and invasion of human prostate cancer cells by reducing matrix metalloproteinase expression.

Rubus coreanus Miquel (RCM) is used to promote prostate health and has been shown to have anti-oxidant and anti-carcinogenic activities. However, the effects and mechanisms of RCM on prostate cancer metastasis remain unclear. PC-3 and DU 145 cells were treated with ethanol or water extract of unripe or ripe RCM and examined for cell invasion, migration, and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) activity and expression.

Chemopreventive effects of Rubus coreanus Miquel on prostate cancer.

The growing incidence of prostate cancer and the traditional use of Rubus coreanus Miquel (RCM) for prostate health led us to compare RCM extracts and to test their efficacy in inhibiting the growth of prostate cancer cells differing in androgen dependency. Ethanol extracts of unripe RCM (EUR) were more effective in reducing cell viability than water extracts or ripe RCM. EUR-induced growth inhibition, as indicated by significant reductions in numbers of proliferating cells and decreases in the protein levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cyclin D1 and CDK4, was greater in the androgen-dependent LNCaP cells than in the androgen-independent DU145 cells.