A pH-sensitive supramolecular nanosystem with chlorin e6 and triptolide co-delivery for chemo-photodynamic combination therapy

The combination of Ce6,an acknowledged photosensitizer,and TPL,a natural anticancer agent,has been demonstrated as a useful strategy to reinforce the tumor growth suppression,as well as decrease the systemic side effects compared with their monotherapy.However,in view of the optimal chemo-photodynamic combination efficiency,there is still short of the feasible nanovehicle to steadily co-deliver Ce6 and TPL,and stimuli-responsively burst release drugs in tumor site.Herein,we described the synergistic antitumor performance of a pH-sensitive supramolecular nanosystem,mediated by the host–guest complexing betweenβ-CD and acid pH-responsive amphiphilic co-polymer mPEG-PBAE-mPEG,showing the shell–core structural micelles with the tightβ-CD layer coating.Both Ce6 and TPLwere facilely co-loaded into the spherical supramolecular NPs(TPL+Ce6/NPs)by one-step nanoprecipitation method,with an ideal particle size(156.0 nm),acid pH-responsive drug release profile,and enhanced cellular internalization capacity.In view of the combination benefit of photodynamic therapy and chemotherapy,as well as co-encapsulation in the fabricated pH-sensitive supramolecular NPs,TPL+Ce6/NPs exhibited significant efficacy to suppress cellular proliferation,boost ROS level,lower MMP,and promote cellular apoptosis in vitro.Particularly,fluorescence imaging revealed that TPL+Ce6/NPs preferentially accumulated in the tumor tissue area,with higher intensity than that of free Ce6.As expected,upon 650-nm laser irradiation,TPL+Ce6/NPs exhibited a cascade of amplified synergistic chemo-photodynamic therapeutic benefits to suppress tumor progression in both hepatoma H22 tumor-bearingmice and B16 tumor-bearingmice.More importantly,lower systemic toxicitywas found in the tumor-bearingmice treated with TPL+Ce6/NPs.Overall,the designed supramolecular TPL+Ce6/NPs provided a promising alternative approach for chemo-photodynamic therapy in tumor treatment.

A snapshot of the Chinese SOL Project

In 2003, the International Solanaceae Project （SOL） was initiated by an international consortium of ten countries including Korea, China, the United Kingdom, India, the Netherlands, France, Japan, Spain, Italy and the United States. The first major effort of the SOL aimed to produce a DNA sequence map for euchromatin regions of 12 chromosomes of tomato （Solanum lycopersicum） before 2010. Here we present an update on Chinese effort for sequencing the euchromatin region of chromosome 3.

Liensinine attenuates inflammation and oxidative stress in spleen tissue in an LPS-induced mouse sepsis model

Sepsis is a complex syndrome caused by multiple pathogens and involves multiple organ failure,particularly spleen dysfunction.In 2017,the worldwide incidence was 48.9 million sepsis cases and 1l million sepsis-related deaths were reported(Rudd et al.,2020).Inflammation,oxidative stress,and apoptosis are the most common pathologies seen in sepsis.Liensinine(LIE)is a bisbenzylisoquinoline-type alkaloid extracted from the seed embryo of Nelumbo nucifera.Lotus seed hearts have high content of LIE which mainly has antihypertensive and antiarrhythmic pharmacological effects.It can exert anti-carcinogenicactivityby regulating cell.

Reciprocal costimulatory molecules control the activation of mucosal type 3 innate lymphoid cells during engagement with B cells

Innate lymphoid cells(ILCs)are the counterpart of T helper cells in the innate immune system and share multiple phenotypes with T helper cells.Inducible T-cell costimulator(ICOS)is recognized on T cells and participates in T-cell activation and T and B-cell engagement in lymphoid tissues.However,the role of ICOS in ILC3s and ILC3-involved interactions with the immune microenvironment remains unclear.Here,we found that ICOS expression on human ILC3s was correlated with the activated state of ILC3s.ICOS costimulation enhanced the survival,proliferation,and capacity of ILC3s to produce cytokines(IL-22,IL-17A,IFN-γ,TNF,and GM-CSF).Via synergistic effects of ICOS and CD40 signaling,B cells promoted ILC3 functions,and ILC3-induced T-cellindependent B-cell IgA and IgM secretion primarily required CD40 signaling.Hence,ICOS is essential for the nonredundant role of ILC3s and their interaction with adjacent B cells.