Elevated DLL3 in stomach cancer by tumor-associated macrophages enhances cancer-cell proliferation and cytokine secretion of macrophages.

Background: The notch signal pathway is important in the development of both tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and stomach cancer, but how Notch signaling affects TAMs in stomach cancer is barely understood. Methods: The expressions of Notch1, Notch2, Notch3, Notch4, hes family bHLH transcription factor 1 (Hes1), and delta-like canonical Notch ligand 3 (DLL3) were detected by Western blot and the expressions of interleukin (IL)-10, IL-12, and IL1-ß were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay after the co-culture of macrophages and stomach-cancer cells. The proliferation and migration of cancer cells were detected using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and scratch assay, respectively, and the cell cycle was detected using Annexin V/propidium iodide assay. The protein interactions with DLL3 were detected using co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry. Results: The co-culture of macrophages and stomach-cancer cells MKN45 and BGC823 could enhance cell proliferation accompanied by the activation of Notch1/Notch2 signaling and upregulation of DLL3. Notch signaling gamma-secretase inhibitor (DAPT) blocked this process. The overexpression of DLL3 in stomach-cancer cells could promote the proliferation of cancer cells, enhance the activation of Notch1/Notch2 signaling, induce the expression of IL-33, lead to the degradation of galectin-3-binding protein (LG3BP) and heat shock cognate 71 kDa protein (HSPA8), and result in elevated IL-1ß, IL-12, and IL-10 secretion by macrophages. Higher expression of DLL3 or IL-33 could lead to a lower survival rate based on University of California, Santa Cruz Xena Functional Genomics Explorer and The Cancer Genome Atlas data set. Conclusions: This is evidence that DLL3 regulates macrophages in stomach cancer, suggesting that DLL3 may be a novel and potential target for stomach-cancer therapy.

High-Performance Organic Dyes with Electron-Deficient Quinoxalinoid Heterocycles for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells under One Sun and Indoor Light.

A series of Y-shaped sensitizers incorporating quinoxaline or quinoxalinoid moieties were prepared and applied in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). By the introduction of quinoxalinoid functionalities, the absorption extinction coefficients could be enhanced. The molecular structures were modified by introducing an extra acceptor group (A) between a donor (D) and a π-bridge (D-A-π-A) and also by incorporating electron-donating substituents at various positions of the quinoxalinoid moiety. Some of the dyes and mixtures thereof were found to exhibit good light-harvesting efficiencies under both sunlight and indoor light, with efficiencies up to 7.92 % under one sun (AM 1.5G). When operated under indoor light, the efficiency could be boosted to 27.76, 28.74, and 30.45 % under 600, 1000, 2500 lux illumination, respectively. The best performance could be ascribed partly to an improved dye coverage on the TiO2 surface.

Of pH and Eh on release of nitrogen and phosphorus from sediments of West Lake.

The effects of pH and Eh on release of nitrogen and phosphorus from sediments of West Lake under different conditions were investigated by simulation test. Results showed that the net flux of NH4(+) -N release from sediments increased with pH, but NO3(-) -N showed negative-going release at all tested pH levels. The net flux of NH4(+) -N release from sediments was higher under anaerobic or aerobic condition of the overlying water, but only under aerobic condition would net release of NO3(-) -N occur. It was also shown that phosphorus released was mainly in its inorganic form, higher pH and anaerobic conditions of overlying water greatly stimulated release of phosphorus. In situ measurement at several West Lake locations indicated that sediment resuspension induced by boat propeller stimulated nutrients release from sediment into overlying water.