Efficient gene delivery by multifunctional star poly (β-amino ester)s into difficult-to-transfect macrophages for M1 polarization.

Gene delivery to macrophages holds great promise for cancer immunotherapy. However, traditional gene delivery methods exhibit low transfection efficiency in macrophages. The star-shaped topological structure of polymers is known to encapsulate genes inside their cores, thereby facilitating sustained release of the genetic material.

Inactivated vaccines reduce the risk of liver function abnormality in NAFLD patients with COVID-19: a multi-center retrospective study.

Background: Abnormal liver function was frequently observed in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Our aim was to explore the effect of SARS-CoV-2 inactivated vaccines on liver function abnormality among NAFLD patients with COVID-19.

Methods: The multi-center retrospective cohort included 517 NAFLD patients with COVID-19 from 1 April to 30 June 2022.

Smurf2, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, interacts with PDE4B and attenuates liver fibrosis through miR-132 mediated CTGF inhibition.

We previously reported that Smad ubiquitin regulatory factor 2 (Smurf2) activity was decreased in human fibrotic livers. Here, we overexpressed Smurf2 in livers of transgenic mice and observed inhibited collagen deposition and hepatic stellate cell activation in fibrotic model induced by carbon tetrachloride treatment or bile duct ligation. Hepatic Smurf2 overexpression also inhibited the production of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), a central mediator of liver fibrosis.

Overexpression of protein O-fucosyltransferase 1 accelerates hepatocellular carcinoma progression via the Notch signaling pathway.

Aberrant activation of Notch signaling frequently occurs in liver cancer, and is associated with liver malignancies. However, the mechanisms regulating pathologic Notch activation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. Protein O-fucosyltransferase 1 (Pofut1) catalyzes the addition of O-linked fucose to the epidermal growth factor-like repeats of Notch.