Junshanyinzhen tea extract prevents obesity by regulating gut microbiota and metabolic endotoxemia in high-fat diet fed rats

Obesity is associated with gut dysbiosis and metabolic endotoxin.Junshanyinzhen tea extract(JSTE)reduced fat accumulation and body weight in obese mice.However,the effects and mechanism of JSTE in preventing obesity were unclear.Therefore,we used different doses of JSTE(75,150 and 300 mg/(kg·day))to evaluate the effect on high-fat diet(HFD)-induced rats under 8 weeks of intervention.Here,our results showed that JSTE could significantly reduce body weight gain,blood lipid levels and fat accumulation,improve fatty damage in liver tissue(P<0.05).In addition,JSTE increased the expression of intestinal tight junction proteins(P<0.05),relieved metabolic endotoxemia(P<0.05)and chronic low-grade inflammation in HFD rats.Sequencing of fecal samples showed that JSTE could effectively reverse the microbial diversity and the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes to normal levels in HFD-fed rats.Desulfovibrioceae and Erysipelotrichaceae,which are positively related to obesity,were decreased by JSTE intervention(P<0.05).while Bifidobacteriaceae,Bacteroidaceae,Akkermansia,and Clostridium,which are negatively related to obesity,were increased.Together,these results suggested that JSTE might effectively prevent obesity by modulating gut microbiota dysbiosis,intestinal barrier dysfunction,metabolic endotoxemia and chronic low-grade infl ammation in HFD-induced rats.

Polysaccharides of Aspergillus cristatus attenuate obesity by regulating gut microbiota and gut microbiota-related metabolites

Golden-flower fungus,the only dominant microorganism determining the Fu-brick tea quality through fermentation and the important microbe in Liupao tea,is considered a potential probiotic fungus based on its anti-obesity effect.However,the classification of golden-flower fungi is still controversial;the anti-obesity effect of golden-flower fungus polysaccharides remains unknown.In this study,we identify a golden-flower strain as Aspergillus cristatus based on morphological characteristics and multigene phylogeny analysis,which resolves the controversy of classification.Moreover,we find A.cristatus polysaccharides(ACPS)attenuate obesity in rats.ACPS modulate gut bacterial composition.in which Akkermansia,Akkermansia muciniphila,Bacteroides,Romboutsia,Blautia,and Desulfovibrio are considered the core microbes regulated by ACPS.ACPS increase fecal total short-chain fatty acid content and serum,hepatic,and fecal total bile acid content.Furthermore,ACPS-induced gut microbiota alteration plays a causal role in the protection from obesity,according to a fecal transplantation experiment.Thus,ACPS ameliorate obesity by regulating gut microbiota and gut microbiota-related metabolites.

The expression and significance of the multidrug resistance-related proteins P-gp, MRP and LRP in human non-small cell lung cancer tissues

Objective: To explore the expression and significance of the multidrug resistance-related proteins P-glycopro-tein (P-gp), multidrug resistance-related protein (MRP), lung resistance protein (LRP) in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues and paratumor tissues. Methods: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to examine the expression level of proteins P-gp, MRP and LRP in 43 samples of NSCLC and 15 samples of paratumor tissues. Results: The expression rates of P-gp, MRP and LRP in 43 tumor tissues were 74.42% (32/43), 67.44% (29/43) and 88.37% (38/43), respectively, while in 15 paratumor tissues were 13.33% (2/15), 20.00% (3/15) and 6.67% (1/15), respectively. There was significant difference in the expression of proteins (P-gp, MRP and LRP) between lung cancer tissues and paratumor tissues (P < 0.05). The expres-sion of proteins P-gp, LRP in lung adenocarcinoma were higher than that in other pathological carcinomas (P < 0.05). The expression of protein MRP was not related to pathological type, clinical stage and classification of histodifferentiation (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Multidrug resistance is more common in NSCLC. The proteins of P-gp, MRP and LRP participated in the formation of multidrug resistance in lung cancer. Detection of multidrug resistance-related proteins in lung cancer tissues may be useful to choice drugs.

Sintilimab versus docetaxel as second-line treatment in advanced or metastatic squamous non-small-cell lung cancer:an open-label,randomized controlled phase 3 trial(ORIENT-3)

Background:Treatment options for Chinese patients with locally advanced or metastatic squamous-cell non-small-cell lung cancer(sqNSCLC)after failure of first-line chemotherapy are limited.This study(ORIENT-3)aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sintilimab versus docetaxel as second-line treatment in patients with locally advanced or metastatic sqNSCLC.Methods:ORIENT-3 was an open-label,multicenter,randomized controlled phase 3 trial that recruited patients with stage IIIB/IIIC/IV sqNSCLC after failure with first-line platinum-based chemotherapy.Patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either 200 mg of sintilimab or 75 mg/m^(2) of docetaxel intravenously every 3 weeks,stratified by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status.The primary endpoint was overall survival(OS)in the full analysis set(FAS).Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival(PFS),objective response rate(ORR),disease control rate(DCR),duration of response(DoR)and safety.Results:Between August 25,2017,and November 7,2018,290 patients were randomized.For FAS,10 patients fromthe docetaxel armwere excluded.Themedian OS was 11.79(n=145;95%confidence interval[CI],10.28-15.57)months with sintilimab versus 8.25(n=135;95%CI,6.47-9.82)months with docetaxel(hazard ratio[HR]:0.74;95%CI,0.56-0.96;P=0.025).Sintilimab treatment significantly prolonged PFS(median 4.30 vs.2.79 months;HR:0.52;95%CI,0.39-0.68;P<0.001)and showed higher ORR(25.50%vs.2.20%,P<0.001)and DCR(65.50%vs.37.80%,P<0.001)than the docetaxel arm.The median DoRwas 12.45(95%CI,4.86-25.33)months in the sintilimab arm and 4.14(95%CI,1.41-7.23)months in the docetaxel arm(P=0.045).Treatment-related adverse events of grade≥3were reported in 26(18.1%)patients in the sintilimab arm and 47(36.2%)patients in the docetaxel arm.Exploratory biomarker analysis showed potential predictive values of expression levels of two transcription factors,including OVOL2(HR:0.35;P<0.001)and CTCF(HR:3.50;P<0.001),for sintilimab treatment.Conclusions:Compared with docetaxel,sintilimab significantly improved the OS,PFS,and ORR of Chinese patients with previously treated locally advanced or metastatic sqNSCLC.

Multiplexed imaging of tumor immune microenvironmental markers in locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer characterizes the features of response to PD-1 blockade plus chemotherapy

Background:Although programmed cell death 1(PD-1)blockade plus chemotherapy can significantly prolong the progression-free survival(PFS)and overall survival(OS)in first-line settings in patients with driver-negative advanced non-small-cell lung cancer(NSCLC),the predictive biomarkers remain undetermined.Here,we investigated the predictive value of tumor immune microenvironmental marker expression to characterize the response features to PD-1 blockade plus chemotherapy.Methods:Tumor tissue samples at baseline were prospectively collected from 144 locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC patients without driver gene alterations who received camrelizumab plus chemotherapy or chemotherapy alone.Tumor immune microenvironmental markers,including PD-1 ligand(PDL1),CD8,CD68,CD4 and forkhead box P3,were assessed using multiplex immunofluorescence(mIF)assays.Kaplan-Meier curveswere used to determine treatment outcome differences according to their expression status.Mutational profiles were compared between tumors with distinct expression levels of these markers and their combinations.Results:Responders had significantly higher CD8/PD-L1(P=0.015)or CD68/PD-L1 co-expression levels(P=0.021)than non-responders in the camrelizumab plus chemotherapy group,while no difference was observed in the chemotherapy group.Patients with high CD8/PD-L1 or CD68/PD-L1 co-expression level was associated with significantly longer PFS(P=0.002,P=0.024;respectively)and OS(P=0.006,P=0.026;respectively)than those with low co-expression in camrelizumab plus chemotherapy group.When comparing survival in the camrelizumab plus chemotherapy with chemotherapy by CD8/PD-L1 co-expression stratification,significantly better PFS(P=0.003)and OS(P=0.032)were observed in high co-expression subgroups.The predictive value of CD8/PD-L1 and CD68/PD-L1 co-expression remained statistically significant for PFS and OS when adjusting clinicopathological features.Although the prevalence of TP53 or KRAS mutations was similar between patients with and without CD8/PD-L1 or CD68/PD-L1 co-expression,the positive groups had a significantly higher proportion of TP53/KRAS co-mutations than the negative groups(both 13.0%vs.0.0%,P=0.023).Notably,enriched PI3K(P=0.012)and cell cycle pathway(P=0.021)were found in the CD8/PD-L1 co-expression group.Conclusion:Tumor immune microenvironmental marker expression,especially CD8/PD-L1 or CD68/PD-L1 co-expression,was associated with the efficacy of PD-1 blockade plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment in patients with advanced NSCLC.

Efficient and Generic Preparation of Diverse Polyelectrolyte Nanogels by Electrostatic Assembly Directed Polymerization

Nanogels hold promise as soft and functional carriers and nanoreactors,but whether they will ever reach the stage of large-scale application depends crucially on efficient production methods,and on what interesting properties and functionalities they can have.In particular,nanogels consisting of highly charged polyelectrolyte have not yet been very much explored.Here,the authors present a novel and generic strategy for controlled and efficient synthesis of a large diversity of polyelectrolyte nanogels.The method is based on polymerizing an ionic monomer in the presence of an oppositely charged polyion-neutral diblock copolymer as template,while adding a cross-linker.The growing polymer chains assemble with the template,forming polyion complex micelles,which dissociate upon increasing salt concentration.Subsequent separation yields nanogels with well-controlled size and properties,and free template polymers that can be used again.Our design can be applied generally to a wide range of both cationic and anionic monomers,as well as various cross-linkers.Scaled-up production presents no problems as increasing monomer concentration(hundreds of mM)and reaction volume(up to 1 L)hardly compromise product quality.Moreover,the obtained nanogels with their well-controlled size,morphology,chemistry,and cross-linking degree perform well as soft nanocarriers and catalytic nanoreactors.