Characterization of TCF-1 and its relationship between CD8+ TIL densities and immune checkpoints and their joint influences on prognoses of lung adenocarcinoma patients.

BACKGROUND: T cell factor-1 (TCF-1) + stem-like tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (stem-like TILs) are important memory cells in the tumor microenvironment. However, their relationship with clinicopathological features, CD8+ TIL densities, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICs), and prognostic values remain unknown for lung adenocarcinomas (LUADs). In this study, we aimed to characterize TCF-1+ TILs and their prognostic significance in patients with surgically resected LUADs. METHODS: Expression of TCF-1, CD8, and ICs including programmed death-1 (PD-1), lymphocyte activating-3 (LAG-3), and T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3 (TIM-3) in TILs were estimated using immunohistochemistry of resected LUADs. The association between TCF-1 expressions and clinicopathological characteristics of patient prognoses were analyzed. RESULTS: Positive TCF-1 expression significantly correlated with advanced pathological stage, tumor grade, CD8+ TILs density, TIM-3 expression, LAG-3 expression, and PD-1 expression. TCF-1 positivity was significantly associated with a better recurrence-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS). Subgroup analysis revealed that the TCF-1+/CD8+ group had the best RFS and OS, while the TCF-1-/CD8- group had the worst RFS and OS. Similarly, patients with TCF-1 + PD-1- had the best prognoses and patients with TCF-1-PD-1+ had the worst prognoses. CONCLUSION: TCF-1 had relatively high positive expression and special clinicopathological features in patients with LUAD. TCF-1+ TILs were related to CD8 density, TIM-3 expression, LAG-3 expression, and PD-1 expression, and were associated with better prognoses in LUAD patients. A combination of TCF-1 and CD8 densities or PD-1 expression further stratified patients into different groups with distinct prognoses.

High Performance Aqueous Li-Ion Flow Capacitor Realized Through Microstructure Design of Suspension Electrode.

Suspension electrode is the core of flowable electrochemical energy storage systems, which are considered suitable for large-scale energy storage. Nevertheless, obtaining suspension electrodes with both low viscosity and high conductivity is still a big challenge. In present work, spinel LiMn2O4 was chosen as an example to make suspension with low viscosity and high conductivity through microstructure morphology control of solid particles and the contact mode between active materials and conductive additives in suspension electrode. By coating a thin layer of polyaniline on the surface of spherical spinel LiMn2O4, the resulting suspension showed much higher electronic conductivity (about 10 times) and lower viscosity (about 4.5 times) as compared to irregular and bare spinel LiMn2O4-based suspension counterpart. As a result, the Li-ion flow capacitor based on LiMn2O4 and activated carbon suspensions exhibited a record energy density of 27.4 W h L-1 at a power density of 22.5 W L-1 under static condition to date, and can be smoothly work under an intermittent-flow mode. The strategy reported in this work is an effective way for obtaining suspension electrodes with low viscosity and high electronic conductivity simultaneously. It can not only be used in the flow capacitors, but also can be extended to other flowable electrochemical energy storage systems.