Soelbergrush4547
The aqueous chemistry of uranium is dominated by the linear uranyl cation [UO2]2+, yet the isoelectronic nitrogen-based analogue of this ubiquitous cation, molecular [UN2], has so far only been observed in an argon matrix. Here, we present three different complexes of [UN2] obtained by the reaction of the uranium pentahalides UCl5 or UBr5 with anhydrous liquid ammonia. GSK583 cell line The [UN2] moieties are linear, with the U atoms coordinated by five additional ligands (ammonia, chloride or bromide), resulting in a pentagonal bipyramidal coordination sphere that is also commonly adopted by the uranyl cation [UO2(L)5]2+ (L, ligand). In all three cases, the nitrido ligands are further coordinated through their lone pairs by the Lewis-acidic ligands [U(NH3)8]4+ to form almost linear, trinuclear complex cations. Those were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, Raman and infrared spectroscopy, 14N/15N isotope studies and quantum chemical calculations, which support the presence of two U≡N triple bonds within the [UN2] moieties.An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.In order to overcome the challenges associated with a limited number of airway epithelial cells that can be obtained from clinical sampling and their restrained capacity to divide ex vivo, miniaturization of respiratory drug discovery assays is of pivotal importance. Thus, a 96-well microplate system was developed where primary human small airway epithelial (hSAE) cells were cultured at an air-liquid interface (ALI). After four weeks of ALI culture, a pseudostratified epithelium containing basal, club, goblet and ciliated cells was produced. The 96-well ALI cultures displayed a cellular composition, ciliary beating frequency, and intercellular tight junctions similar to 24-well conditions. A novel custom-made device for 96-parallelized transepithelial electric resistance (TEER) measurements, together with dextran permeability measurements, confirmed that the 96-well culture developed a tight barrier function during ALI differentiation. 96-well hSAE cultures were responsive to transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in a concentration dependent manner. Thus, the miniaturized cellular model system enables the recapitulation of a physiologically responsive, differentiated small airway epithelium, and a robotic integration provides a medium throughput approach towards pharmaceutical drug discovery, for instance, in respect of fibrotic distal airway/lung diseases.Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) is an aggressive T-cell neoplasm. While ATL cells in peripheral blood (PB-ATL) are sensitive to anti-CC chemokine receptor 4 treatment, non-PB-ATLs, including lymph node ATLs (LN-ATLs), are more aggressive and resistant. We examined characteristic cytokines and growth factors that allow non-PB-ATLs to proliferate and invade compared with PB-ATLs. Protein array analysis revealed hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and C-C motif chemokine 2 (CCL2) were significantly upregulated in non-PB-ATLs compared with PB-ATLs. The HGF membrane receptor, c-Met, was expressed in PB-ATL and non-PB-ATL cell lines, but CCR2, a CCL2 receptor, was not. Immunohistochemical analysis in clinical ATLs revealed high HGF expression in LNs, pharynx, bone marrow, and tonsils. The HGF/c-Met signaling pathway was active downstream in non-PB-ATLs. Downregulation of HGF/c-Met by siRNA or chemical inhibitors decreased in vitro and in vivo proliferation and invasion by non-PB-ATLs. Treatment with bromodomain and extra-terminal motif inhibitor suppressed HGF expression and decreased levels of histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27Ac) and bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) binding promoter and enhancer regions, suppressing non-PB-ATL cellular growth. Our data indicate H3K27Ac/BRD4 epigenetics regulates the HGF/c-MET pathway in ATLs; targeting this pathway may improve treatment of aggressive non-PB-ATLs.Genome editing is a powerful tool, enabling scientists to alter DNA sequence at virtually any genome locus in any species. Different technologies have been developed employing programmable nucleases including meganuclease, zinc-finger nucleases, transcription activator-like effector nucleases, and most recently CRISPR-Cas systems. Chinese research groups are making important contributions at an increasing speed in genome editing field in recent years. In this review, we summarize recent progress made by Chinese scientists on the technological development of genome editing and beyond, focusing on the optimization and expanded application of existing genome editing tools, as well as the exploration of novel proteins as potential genome editing tools.
BTC is an aggressive disease exacerbated by inflammation and immune suppression. Expansion of immunosuppressive cells occurs in biliary tract cancer (BTC), yet the role of BTC-derived cytokines in this process is unclear.
Activated signalling pathways and cytokine production were evaluated in a panel of human BTC cell lines. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were cultured with BTC supernatants, with and without cytokine neutralising antibodies, and analysed by flow cytometry or immunoblot. A human BTC tissue microarray (TMA, n = 69) was stained for IL-6, GM-CSF, and CD33
S100a9
cells and correlated with clinical outcomes.
Immunomodulatory factors (IL-6, GM-CSF, MCP-1) were present in BTC supernatants. BTC supernatants expanded CD33
CD11b
HLA-DR
myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) from human PBMCs. Neutralisation of IL-6 and GM-CSF in BTC supernatants inhibited activation of STAT3/5, respectively, in PBMCs, with heterogeneous effects on MDSC expansion in vitro. Staining of a BTC TMA revealed a positive correlation between IL-6 and GM-CSF, with each cytokine and more CD33
S100a9
cells. Increased CD33
S100a9
staining positively correlated with higher tumour grade, differentiation and the presence of satellite lesions.
BTC-derived factors promote suppressive myeloid cell expansion, and higher numbers of CD33
S100a9
cells in resectable BTC tumours correlates with more aggressive disease.
BTC-derived factors promote suppressive myeloid cell expansion, and higher numbers of CD33+S100a9+ cells in resectable BTC tumours correlates with more aggressive disease.
