The paradox of immunotherapy in NASH-HCC

A recent study published in Nature by Dominik Pfister et al.1 unveiled a darker side of immune checkpoint blockade(ICB)immunotherapy in the context of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis-associated hepatocellular carcinoma(NASH-HCC),whereby anti-PD1 treatment paradoxically accelerates hepatocarcinogenesis.

Correction:Targeted prebiotics alter the obese gut microbiome in humans

In the original version of this article1 given name of first author Junjun She was supplied and published incorrectly as Junyun She.The original article has been corrected.

Targeted prebiotics alter the obese gut microbiome in humans

A recent study published in Nature by Delannoy-Bruno et al.1 described the role of formulated fibre snacks on the obese gut microbiome utilizing mouse-human co-clinical trial,and demonstrated that precise dietary fibre intervention directed at the obese gut microbiome modulates the host’s physiological state.Epidemiological and observational studies2 have long linked a diet rich in fibre to protection against chronic diseases.Dietary fibre functions as a prebiotic that can be utilized by gut microbes.Given accumulating evidence showing roles of gut microbes in health and disease,there is renewed interest in harnessing fibre as a prebiotic to promote a healthy gut microbiome.Dietary fibres are safe,inexpensive,and readily incorporated into our diet.However,the development of evidenced-based fibre preparations that selectively induce the abundance of desirable gut microbes pose a huge challenge,as fibre and the gut microbiome are complex identities that remain poorly characterized.This is confounded by their dynamic interactions and inter-and intra-personal variations.

MHC class I-LILRB3 delivers a punch to eliminate precancerous cells

In the study by Ayukawa et al.[1],the authors presented an innate defense mechanism whereby normal epithelial cells actively remove precancerous cells from the epithelium via mechanical extrusion(Fig.1).