Journal: Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica. B

Article Title: A triple combination strategy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Aptamer-guided liposomal chemotherapy, engineered NK cells, and Fc-enhanced PD-L1 antibody therapy

doi: 10.1016/j.apsb.2025.10.007

Figure Lengend Snippet: Aptamer-engineered NK cells exhibit enhanced targeted cytotoxicity and effector functions against NPC cells. (A) Cytotoxicity of NK, S3-NK, P-NK, and S3-P-NK cells against 5-8F target cells, measured by LDH release assay across a range of effector-to-target (E:T) ratios after a 2 h co-culture. (B) Flow cytometry images demonstrated that NP69, 5-8F, and C666-1 cells were co-cultured with NK cells at a 10:1 E:T ratio for 2 h, washed with PBS, and co-incubated for 24 h, leading to apoptosis and necrosis. (C) Quantification of total apoptotic (early + late) and necrotic cell populations from the analysis shown in (B). (D) Schematic of the proposed mechanism for S3-P-NK cell-mediated antitumor immunity, involving targeted recognition followed by the release of cytotoxic granules (perforin, granzyme B) and immunostimulatory cytokines (IFN- γ ). (E–G) ELISA quantification of effector molecules released into the supernatant after co-culture of NK cells with 5-8F or C666-1 target cells (E:T = 10:1) for 2 h, PBS washing, and co-incubation for 24 h: (E) IFN- γ , (F) Granzyme B, (G) Perforin. Data in (A, C, E, F, G) are presented as mean ± SD ( n = 3). Statistical significance was determined by one-way ANOVA. ∗ P < 0.05, ∗∗ P < 0.01, ∗∗∗ P < 0.001, ∗∗∗∗ P < 0.0001; ns, not significant.

Article Snippet: ELISA kits for human IFN- γ (CSB-E08636h), granzyme B (CSB-E08718h), and perforin (CSB-E09313h) were acquired from Cusabio (Wuhan, China).

Techniques: Lactate Dehydrogenase Assay, Co-Culture Assay, Flow Cytometry, Cell Culture, Incubation, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay

Journal: Communications Biology

Article Title: SREBF2 enhances lipid metabolism and represses anti-tumor immune responses in cervical cancer by increasing ACAT2

doi: 10.1038/s42003-026-09678-9

Figure Lengend Snippet: A IOD of ACAT2 expression in CC tissues and adjacent tissues was examined using immunohistochemical staining ( n = 47 biologically independent samples). IOD of DHCR7 B and MSMO1 C expression in CC patients with high ( n = 27 biologically independent samples) or low ( n = 20 biologically independent samples) expression of ACAT2 was examined using immunohistochemical staining. The number of activated CD8 T cells (CD8A + GZMB + ) D or activated NK cells (CD56 + GZMB + ) E infiltrated in the tumor tissues of patients with high ( n = 27 biologically independent samples) and low ACAT2 ( n = 20 biologically independent samples) expression was detected. Data represent mean ± SEM. Statistical analysis was performed using the paired A or unpaired ( B – E ) t-test.

Article Snippet: The cell culture medium of the co-culture system of CC cells and immune cells, or the medium of CC cells alone, was collected and centrifuged at 4 °C, 1000 × g for 20 min. Cytokine levels in the supernatant were detected by human IFN-γ ELISA Kit (E-EL-H0108, Elabscience, Wuhan, Hubei, China), human GZMB ELISA Kit (E-EL-H1617, Elabscience), and human TGF-β1 ELISA Kit (PT880, Beyotime).

Techniques: Expressing, Immunohistochemical staining, Staining

Journal: Communications Biology

Article Title: SREBF2 enhances lipid metabolism and represses anti-tumor immune responses in cervical cancer by increasing ACAT2

doi: 10.1038/s42003-026-09678-9

Figure Lengend Snippet: ACAT2 expression in HCeEpiC and CC cell lines was examined using RT-qPCR A and Western blot analysis B ( n = 5 independent experiments). C ACAT2, DHCR7, and MSMO1 expression in CC cells after infection with Scramble-sh, ACAT2-sh #1, and ACAT2-sh #2 was examined using Western blot analysis ( n = 5 independent experiments). D Detection of total cholesterol, free cholesterol, and cholesteryl ester levels in CC cells ( n = 5 independent experiments). The proliferation of CC cells was examined using CCK8 ( E ) and colony formation assays F (n = 5 independent experiments). G CC cells were co-cultured with (E: T = 3:1) with NK cells or CD8 T cells for 6 h, respectively, and the death of CC cells was detected ( n = 5 independent experiments). H IFN-γ and GZMB released from immune cells in a co-culture system with CC cells were examined using ELISA ( n = 5 independent experiments). Data represent mean ± SEM. Statistical analysis was performed using the one-way ( A , B ) or two-way ( C - H ) ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test ( A – H ).

Article Snippet: The cell culture medium of the co-culture system of CC cells and immune cells, or the medium of CC cells alone, was collected and centrifuged at 4 °C, 1000 × g for 20 min. Cytokine levels in the supernatant were detected by human IFN-γ ELISA Kit (E-EL-H0108, Elabscience, Wuhan, Hubei, China), human GZMB ELISA Kit (E-EL-H1617, Elabscience), and human TGF-β1 ELISA Kit (PT880, Beyotime).

Techniques: Expressing, Quantitative RT-PCR, Western Blot, Infection, Cell Culture, Co-Culture Assay, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay

Journal: Communications Biology

Article Title: SREBF2 enhances lipid metabolism and represses anti-tumor immune responses in cervical cancer by increasing ACAT2

doi: 10.1038/s42003-026-09678-9

Figure Lengend Snippet: A ACAT2 knockdown efficiency in U14 cells was examined using western blot analysis ( n = 10 independent experiments). B Volume changes of transplanted tumors in mice subcutaneously inoculated with U14 cells (n = 10 animals). C The images and weight of the tumors harvested on day 21 ( n = 10 animals). D Protein expression of ACAT2, MSMO1, DHCR7, and PCNA in transplanted tumors was examined using western blot analysis ( n = 10 animals). E Detection of total cholesterol, free cholesterol, and cholesteryl ester levels in transplanted tumors ( n = 10 animals). The gating strategy for GZMB + NK cells and CD8 + T cells F and quantification G were analyzed using flow cytometry ( n = 10 animals). H Survival of mice over 60 days after subcutaneous inoculation of U14 cells was analyzed using the log-rank test ( n = 20 animals). Data represent mean ± SEM. Statistical analysis was performed using the one-way ( A , C , E , G ) or two-way ( B , D ) ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test.

Article Snippet: The cell culture medium of the co-culture system of CC cells and immune cells, or the medium of CC cells alone, was collected and centrifuged at 4 °C, 1000 × g for 20 min. Cytokine levels in the supernatant were detected by human IFN-γ ELISA Kit (E-EL-H0108, Elabscience, Wuhan, Hubei, China), human GZMB ELISA Kit (E-EL-H1617, Elabscience), and human TGF-β1 ELISA Kit (PT880, Beyotime).

Techniques: Knockdown, Western Blot, Expressing, Flow Cytometry

Journal: Communications Biology

Article Title: SREBF2 enhances lipid metabolism and represses anti-tumor immune responses in cervical cancer by increasing ACAT2

doi: 10.1038/s42003-026-09678-9

Figure Lengend Snippet: The proliferation of CC cells was examined using CCK8 A and colony formation assays B ( n = 5 independent experiments). C CC cells were co-cultured with (E: T = 3:1) with NK cells or CD8 + T cells, and the death of CC cells was detected ( n = 5 independent experiments). D IFN-γ and GZMB released from immune cells in a co-culture system with CC cells were examined using ELISA ( n = 5 independent experiments). E TGF-β1 released by CC cells was examined using ELISA ( n = 5 independent experiments). F PD-L1 expression levels in CC cells were observed using immunofluorescence staining ( n = 5 independent experiments). Data represent mean ± SEM. Statistical analysis was performed using the two-way ( A – F ) ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test.

Article Snippet: The cell culture medium of the co-culture system of CC cells and immune cells, or the medium of CC cells alone, was collected and centrifuged at 4 °C, 1000 × g for 20 min. Cytokine levels in the supernatant were detected by human IFN-γ ELISA Kit (E-EL-H0108, Elabscience, Wuhan, Hubei, China), human GZMB ELISA Kit (E-EL-H1617, Elabscience), and human TGF-β1 ELISA Kit (PT880, Beyotime).

Techniques: Cell Culture, Co-Culture Assay, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Expressing, Immunofluorescence, Staining

Journal: Communications Biology

Article Title: SREBF2 enhances lipid metabolism and represses anti-tumor immune responses in cervical cancer by increasing ACAT2

doi: 10.1038/s42003-026-09678-9

Figure Lengend Snippet: A Volume changes of transplanted tumors in mice subcutaneously inoculated with U14 cells ( n = 5 animals). B The images and weight of the tumors harvested on day 21 ( n = 5 animals). The gating strategy for GZMB + NK cells and CD8 + T cells C and quantification D were analyzed using flow cytometry ( n = 5 animals). Data represent mean ± SEM. Statistical analysis was performed using the one-way ( B , D ) or two-way A ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test.

Article Snippet: The cell culture medium of the co-culture system of CC cells and immune cells, or the medium of CC cells alone, was collected and centrifuged at 4 °C, 1000 × g for 20 min. Cytokine levels in the supernatant were detected by human IFN-γ ELISA Kit (E-EL-H0108, Elabscience, Wuhan, Hubei, China), human GZMB ELISA Kit (E-EL-H1617, Elabscience), and human TGF-β1 ELISA Kit (PT880, Beyotime).

Techniques: Flow Cytometry