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The recently identified proton-activated chloride (PAC) channel is ubiquitously expressed,and it regulates several proton-sensitive physiological and pathophysiological processes. While the PAC channel is activated by strong acids due to the binding of protons to extracellular binding sites,here,we describe the way in which weak acids inhibit the PAC channel by a mechanism involving a distinct extracellular binding site. Whole-cell patch clamp was performed on wildtype HEK293T cells,PAC-knockout HEK293 cells expressing human (h)PAC mutant constructs,and on hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. Proton-induced cytotoxicity was examined in HEK293T cells. Acetic acid inhibited endogenous PAC channels in HEK 293T cells in a reversible,concentration-dependent,and pH-dependent manner. The inhibition of PAC channels was also induced by lactic acid,propionic acid,itaconic acid,and β-hydroxybutyrate. Weak acids also inhibited recombinant wildtype hPAC channels and PAC-like currents in hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. Replacement of the extracellular arginine 93 by an alanine (hPAC–Arg93Ala) strongly reduced the inhibition by some weak acids,including arachidonic acid. Although lactic acid inhibited PAC,it did not reduce the proton-induced cytotoxicity examined in wildtype HEK 293 cells. To conclude,weak acids inhibit PAC via an extracellular mechanism involving Arg93. These data warrant further investigations into the regulation of the PAC channel by endogenous weak acids. View Publication

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are congenital vascular anomalies defined by abnormal direct connections between arteries and veins due to their complex structure or endovascular approaches. Pharmacological strategies targeting the underlying molecular mechanisms are thus gaining increasing attention in an effort to determine the mechanism involved in AVM regulation. In this study,we examined 30 human tissue samples,comprising 10 vascular samples,10 human fibroblasts derived from AVM tissue,and 10 vascular samples derived from healthy individuals. The pharmacological agents thalidomide,U0126,and rapamycin were applied to the isolated endothelial cells (ECs). The pharmacological treatments reduced the proliferation of AVM ECs and downregulated miR-135b-5p,a biomarker associated with AVMs. The expression levels of angiogenesis-related genes,including VEGF,ANG2,FSTL1,and MARCKS,decreased; in comparison,CSPG4,a gene related to capillary networks,was upregulated. Following analysis of these findings,skin samples from 10 AVM patients were reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to generate AVM blood vessel organoids. Treatment of these AVM blood vessel organoids with thalidomide,U0126,and rapamycin resulted in a reduction in the expression of the EC markers CD31 and α-SMA. The establishment of AVM blood vessel organoids offers a physiologically relevant in vitro model for disease characterization and drug screening. The authors of future studies should aim to refine this model using advanced techniques,such as microfluidic systems,to more efficiently replicate AVMs’ pathology and support the development of personalized therapies. View Publication

HexaBody-CD27 (GEN1053/BNT313) is an investigational novel agonistic CD27 antibody engineered to enhance T-cell costimulation and promote antitumor immunity. Through the introduction of a hexamerization-enhancing mutation in the IgG Fc domain,HexaBody-CD27 was designed to drive clustering and activation of CD27 via intermolecular Fc:Fc interactions between membrane-bound antibodies,independent of crosslinking by FcγR-bearing cells. HexaBody-CD27 carries an Fc-silencing mutation to prevent T-cell depletion through Fc-mediated effector functions. In vitro,HexaBody-CD27 induced CD27 receptor signaling independent of FcγR-mediated crosslinking in a reporter assay. It also enhanced T-cell proliferation,cytotoxic activity and proinflammatory cytokine secretion in primary human lymphocytes. In contrast to benchmark IgG1 CD27 antibodies,HexaBody-CD27 did not induce phagocytosis of T cells in vitro. HexaBody-CD27 promoted ex vivo tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) expansion in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) specimens,in particular of CD8 + TILs. The combination of HexaBody-CD27 with an anti-PD-1 antibody enhanced T-cell proliferation,cytokine secretion,and cytotoxic activity in vitro compared to either compound alone. In conclusion,HexaBody-CD27 enhanced T-cell activation and effector functions in an FcγR-crosslinking-independent manner,without inducing T-cell depletion. The immune agonist activity of HexaBody-CD27 was potentiated in combination with PD-1 blockade. View Publication

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG) is a nuclear receptor family transcription factor (TF) critical for adipogenesis,lipid metabolism,insulin sensitivity,and inflammation. It has also been known to play essential roles in trophoblast development and placentation. Dysregulation of PPARG in trophoblast differentiation has been implicated in pregnancy complications,such as pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes. However,the molecular mechanisms of PPARG-dependent target gene regulation and its interactions with other regulatory factors during human trophoblast differentiation remain unclear. Using human trophoblast stem cells (TSCs),mimicking placental cytotrophoblasts (CTs),and their differentiation into extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs) as our models,we reveal that PPARG has cell-type-specific targets in TSCs and EVTs. We also find that while PPARG is essential for both TSC self-renewal and EVT differentiation,only its role in EVT differentiation is ligand sensitive and requires ligand-binding domain (LBD)-mediated transcriptional activity,whereas its function in TSC self-renewal appears to be ligand insensitive. Combined analysis with chromosomal targets of previously defined key TFs in TSCs and EVTs shows that PPARG forms trophoblast cell-type-specific regulatory circuitries,leading to differential target gene regulation via transcriptional re-wiring during EVT differentiation. Additionally,the enhanced invasiveness of EVTs treated with a PPARG agonist suggests a potential connection between PPARG pathways and human placenta accreta. View Publication

The hypoxic tumor microenvironment,particularly hypoxia-conditioned cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs),drives breast cancer (BC) progression and therapy resistance. However,the molecular mechanisms linking hypoxic CAFs to BC plasticity and chemoresistance remain elusive. Primary CAFs were isolated from high-grade BC tissues (Grade III) and characterized (α-SMA⁺/CD34⁻/pan-CK⁻),with normal fibroblasts (NFs) from reduction mammoplasty as controls. Hypoxic CAF-derived exosomal circSTAT3 stability was validated using RNase R resistance and actinomycin D assays. Exosomes were characterized via transmission electron microscopy (TEM),dynamic light scattering (DLS),and marker profiling (CD63⁺/TSG101⁺/Alix⁺,calnexin⁻). Functional effects of hypoxic CAF exosomes on TNBC cells (MDA-MB-231,SUM159) were assessed through proliferation/migration assays,stemness/epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker analysis,and siRNA-mediated circSTAT3 knockdown. Mechanistic studies employed luciferase assays and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP). Chemoresistance was evaluated by cisplatin half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀). In vivo tumor growth and stemness enrichment were analyzed in xenografts. Clinical validation used BC tissues (n = 60) and plasma exosomes from BC patients (n = 40) versus healthy controls (n = 25). Hypoxic CAF-derived exosomes efficiently transferred circSTAT3 to TNBC cells,promoting proliferation,migration,EMT,and stemness marker expression. SiRNA-mediated circSTAT3 knockdown reversed these effects. Mechanistically,circSTAT3 acted as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA),sponging miR-671-5p to derepress NOTCH1. Hypoxic CAF exosomes increased cisplatin IC₅₀ in TNBC cells,while circSTAT3 depletion restored chemosensitivity. In vivo,hypoxic CAF exosomes accelerated tumor growth,enriched CD44⁺/NOTCH1⁺ populations,and elevated circulating exosomal circSTAT3. Clinically,circSTAT3 was significantly upregulated in advanced BC tissues (p < 0.01) and patient plasma exosomes (p < 0.01),correlating with lymph node metastasis. This study identifies a hypoxia-driven feedforward loop wherein CAF-derived exosomal circSTAT3 promotes TNBC stemness and chemoresistance via miR-671-5p/NOTCH1 signaling. CircSTAT3 redefines stromal-tumor crosstalk as a circRNA-driven process and serves as both a circulating non-invasive biomarker and a promising therapeutic target to disrupt stromal-mediated resistance in aggressive TNBC. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-025-06794-8. View Publication

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in the upper respiratory tract promotes disease progression and transmission,with excessive inflammation contributing to severe lower respiratory tract involvement. This study investigates the immunomodulatory effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus D3189 on viral kinetics and innate immune responses in well-differentiated nasal epithelial cells (WD-NECs). WD-NECs from healthy adult donors (N = 8) were cultured in vitro,treated with L. rhamnosus D3189,and then infected with RSV (strain RS4) 24 hours later. Viral replication and shedding were assessed via RT-qPCR and plaque assays. Cytotoxicity and epithelial integrity were evaluated using LDH release and transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER). Inflammatory and antiviral responses were investigated using multiplex immunoassays,AlphaLISA,and ELISA. RSV infection induced robust viral replication and shedding,disrupted epithelial barrier integrity,and triggered the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and type I/III interferons. L. rhamnosus D3189 alone did not induce cytotoxicity or inflammation. While it had no effect on viral replication,TEER,LDH release,or IFN-λ1/3 levels,D3189 significantly enhanced IFN-β production,reduced viral shedding,and attenuated RSV-induced cytokine and chemokine responses. L. rhamnosus D3189 modulates the epithelial immune response to RSV,reducing inflammation and viral shedding without compromising epithelial integrity. These findings support its potential as a novel strategy to limit RSV-associated infection and transmission. View Publication

Borisyuk et al. identify a signaling regulatory network of peroxisome proliferation,uncovering PKC as a positive regulator of peroxisome–ER interaction. During neuronal differentiation,activation of PKC contributes to an increase in peroxisome formation. View Publication

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness worldwide,with a clinical presentation that varies between sexes. In late-stage AMD,choroidal neovascularization (CNV) triggers retinal inflammation and degeneration,processes that are exacerbated by an overactive response of retinal microglial cells. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) have emerged as potential treatments for AMD due to their anti-inflammatory properties. In this study,we investigate the effects of SCFA treatment in a laser-induced CNV mouse model,focusing on sex-dependent differences in disease progression and microglial response. Our findings demonstrate distinct sex-specific patterns in the development of CNV and associated pathological hallmarks. SCFA treatment resulted in a slight increase in density of Iba1 + microglial cells in females at 3 days post-laser (3dpl),while it prevented an increase in males at 7 dpl,with both sexes showing enhanced microglial ramification. The dynamics of microglial density were likely linked to protective effects on CNV lesion,leakage size,and inflammation,which occurred earlier in females and later in males. At transcriptional level,SCFA showed mixed effects,mainly targeting inflammation resolution,mitochondrial support,and neuronal repair in a sex-dependent manner. In vitro,SCFAs reduced microglial phagocytosis of retinal debris,suggesting a potential anti-inflammatory action. This study underscores the importance of considering sex-specific responses in the development of AMD treatments,such as SCFAs,and highlights the need for personalized therapeutic strategies. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12974-025-03508-1. View Publication

The irreversible erosion of X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) due to repression of the long non-coding RNA XIST presents a major challenge for disease modeling and raises safety concerns for the clinical application of female human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) due to the aberrant overexpression of X-linked genes. While Cas9-mediated non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) targeting the XIST promoter can induce DNA demethylation and restore XCI by reactivating XIST,its efficiency remains low. Here,we introduce a highly efficient strategy for XIST reactivation by combining TP53 inhibition with suppression of DNA methylation maintenance during Cas9-mediated NHEJ. This dual-inhibition approach increased the proportion of XIST -positive hPSCs from ~ 5 to ~ 43.7%,providing a robust method for stabilizing XCI in female hPSCs for diverse applications. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-025-04501-4. View Publication

Organoids are pivotal for bridging cellular-level and organism-level biological studies; however,significant challenges persist in their three-dimensional (3D) visualization. This study presents a nylon mesh chip designed to overcome these obstacles specifically for intestinal organoids (IOs). The chip,meticulously fabricated and assembled,comprises an upper glass layer,a nylon mesh,and a lower glass layer. We cultured IOs from mouse intestinal crypts and performed fluorescent labeling on the chip. For enhanced visualization,fluorescent labeling combined with 3D reconstruction techniques was employed. Results demonstrate that the chip’s structure stabilizes IOs in liquid environments. While conventional fluorescence imaging is limited by mesh interference,laser confocal 3D reconstruction achieves high-quality visualization by effectively filtering out redundant signals. The nylon mesh chip is a robust tool for 3D visualization of IOs and holds potential for other budding organoid types. This innovation is poised to advance organoid 3D visualization research. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-12015-5. View Publication

Biological mechanisms are inherently dynamic,requiring precise and rapid manipulations for effective characterization. Traditional genetic manipulations operate on long timescales,making them unsuitable for studying dynamic processes or characterizing essential genes,where chronic depletion can cause cell death. We compare five inducible protein degradation systems—dTAG,HaloPROTAC,IKZF3,and two auxin-inducible degrons (AID) using OsTIR1 and AtFB2—evaluating degradation efficiency,basal degradation,target recovery after ligand washout,and ligand impact. This analysis identifies OsTIR1-based AID 2.0 as the most robust system. However,AID 2.0’s higher degradation efficiency comes with target-specific basal degradation and slower recovery rates. To address these limitations,we employ base-editing-mediated mutagenesis followed by several rounds of functional selection and screening. This directed protein evolution generates several gain-of-function OsTIR1 variants,including S210A,that significantly enhance the overall degron efficiency. The resulting degron system,named AID 2.1,maintains effective target protein depletion with minimal basal degradation and faster recovery after ligand washout,enabling characterization and rescue experiments for essential genes. Our comparative assessment and directed evolution approach provide a reference dataset and improved degron technology for studying gene functions in dynamic biological contexts. Subject terms: Genetic engineering,CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing,Peptides View Publication

During lung cancer metastasis,tumor cells undergo epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT),enabling them to intravasate through the vascular barrier and enter the circulation before colonizing secondary sites. Here,a human in vitro microphysiological model of EMT-driven lung cancer intravasation-on-a-chip was developed and coupled with machine learning (ML)-assisted automatic identification and quantification of intravasation events. A robust EMT-inducing cocktail (EMT-IC) was formulated by augmenting macrophage-conditioned medium with transforming growth factor-β1. When introduced into microvascular networks (MVNs) in microfluidic devices,EMT-IC did not affect MVN stability and physiologically relevant barrier functions. To model lung cancer intravasation on-a-chip,EMT-IC was supplemented into co-cultures of lung tumor micromasses and MVNs. Wihin 24 h of exposure,EMT-IC facilitated the insertion of membrane protrusions of migratory A549 cells into microvascular structures,followed by successful intravasation. EMT-IC reduced key basement membrane and vascular junction proteins - laminin and VE-Cadherin - rendering vessel walls more permissive to intravasating cells. ML-assisted vessel segmentation combined with co-localization analysis to detect intravasation events confirmed that EMT induction significantly increased the number of intravasation events. Introducing metastatic (NCI-H1975) and non-metastatic (BEAS-2B) cell lines demonstrated that both,baseline intravasation potential and responsiveness to EMT-IC,are reflected in the metastatic predisposition of lung cancer cell lines,highlighting the model's universal applicability and cell-specific sensitivity. The reproducible detection of intravasation events in the established model provides a physiologically relevant platform to study processes of cancer metastasis with high spatio-temporal resolution and short timeframe. This approach holds promise for improved drug development and informed personalized patient treatment plans. View Publication