Pyroptosis:A promising biomarker for predicting colorectal cancer prognosis and enhancing immunotherapy efficacy

In this editorial,we comment on the article by Zhu et al published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Clinical Oncology.We focus specifically on the characteristics and mechanisms of pyroptosis and the impact of changes in the tumor immune microenvironment(TIME)on cancer prognosis.Pyroptosis is a distinct form of programmed cell death;its occurrence can change the TIME and regulate the growth and spread of tumors and therefore is significantly correlated with cancer prognosis.Previous research has demonstrated that pyroptosis-related genes can be used in prognostic models for various types of cancer.These models enhance the mechanistic understanding of tumor evolution and serve as valuable guides for clinical treatment decision-making.Nevertheless,further studies are required to thoroughly understand the function of pyroptosis within the TIME and to assess its mode of action.Such studies should reveal new tumor therapeutic targets and more successful tumor immunotherapy strategies.

Unraveling pathological mechanisms in neurological disorders:the impact of cell-based and organoid models

Cell-based models are a promising tool in deciphering the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of neurological disorders as well as aiding in the discovery and development of future drug therapies.The greatest challenge is creating cell-based models that encapsulate the vast phenotypic presentations as well as the underlying genotypic etiology of these conditions.In this article,we discuss the recent advancements in cell-based models for understanding the pathophysiology of neurological disorders.We reviewed studies discussing the progression of cell-based models to the advancement of three-dimensional models and organoids that provide a more accurate model of the pathophysiology of neurological disorders in vivo.The better we understand how to create more precise models of the neurological system,the sooner we will be able to create patient-specific models and large libraries of these neurological disorders.While three-dimensional models can be used to discover the linking factors to connect the varying phenotypes,such models will also help to understand the early pathophysiology of these neurological disorders and how they are affected by their environment.The three-dimensional cell models will allow us to create more specific treatments and uncover potentially preventative measures in neurological disorders such as autism spectrum disorder,Parkinson’s disease,Alzheimer’s disease,and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Novel organoid model in drug screening: Past, present, and future

Advances in the field of stem cells have led to the development of a technology called organoids.Organoids are cell cluster structures formed by the cultivation of stem cells in a three-dimensional environment in vitro,and they can simulate the living environment of cells in vivo.Organoids play an important role in the screening of drugs for tumor therapy.Compared with traditional drug screening models,tumor organoid models derived from patient tumors have higher sensitivity,heterogeneity,and stability and can restore the real situation of tumors more effectively.Researchers have conducted a number of researches on the feasibility of using organoid technology in drug screening.By testing and comparing the effects of antitumor drugs in organoids and primary tumors,we can select the most appropriate treatment drugs for patients.In the past ten years,organoids from dozens of tissues and biological sample banks from several main organs have been established,and a large number of anticancer drugs have been screened out.This article summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of traditional drug screening models,discusses the development history of organoid technology,and reviews the research results on organoids from tumor drug screening.In addition,the combination of organoid technology and other modern biotechnologies is put forward to further promote the role of organoid technology in the medical field.Finally,this article reviews the history,progress,and prospect on organoids from the view of antitumor drug screening.

Mice 3D testicular organoid system as a novel tool to study Zika virus pathogenesis

Zika virus(ZIKV)poses a serious threat to global public health due to its close relationship with neurological and male reproductive damage.However,deficiency of human testicular samples hinders the in-depth research on ZIKV-induced male reproductive system injury.Organoids are relatively simple in vitro models,which could mimic the pathological changes of corresponding organs.In this study,we constructed a 3D testicular organoid model using primary testicular cells from adult BALB/c mice.Similar to the testis,this organoid system has a blood-testis barrier(BTB)-like structure and could synthesize testosterone.ZIKV tropism of testicular cells and ZIKV-induced pathological changes in testicular organoid was also similar to that in mammalian testis.Therefore,our results provide a simple and reproducible in vitro testicular model for the investigations of ZIKV-induced testicular injury.

Biomaterial strategies for the application of reproductive tissue engineering

Human reproductive organs are of vital importance to the life of an individual and the reproduction of human populations.So far,traditional methods have a limited effect in recovering the function and fertility of reproductive organs and tissues.Thus,aim to replace and facilitate the regrowth of damaged or diseased tissue,various biomaterials are developed to offer hope to overcome these difficulties and help gain further research progress in reproductive tissue engineering.In this review,we focus on the biomaterials and their four main applications in reproductive tissue engineering:in vitro generation and culture of reproductive cells;development of reproductive organoids and models;in vivo transplantation of reproductive cells or tissues;and regeneration of reproductive tissue.In reproductive tissue engineering,designing biomaterials for different applications with different mechanical properties,structure,function,and microenvironment is challenging and important,and deserves more attention.