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At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2026

Menopausal timing and senescent-immune coupling in age-related lobular involution of the human breast: a longitudinal cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Incomplete postmenopausal breast involution leaves persistent epithelial-rich lobules and elevated breast density in about 40% of women and is associated with higher breast cancer risk, but why remodelling stalls remains unclear. METHODS: We studied a longitudinal cohort of 81 women with paired benign breast biopsies (baseline age 45-55 years; follow-up 2-10 years), all with baseline NanoString transcriptomics and two-timepoint digital morphometry, and with multiplex immunofluorescence in spatial-imaging subsets (baseline n = 14-16 depending on panel; follow-up n = 14). A separate postmenopausal endpoint cohort (12 women: eight noninvoluted, four completely involuted), profiled by genome-wide expression array and multiplex immunofluorescence, defined the persistent-lobule phenotype. FINDINGS: Noninvoluted postmenopausal tissue retained a proliferation-competent, tumour-associated epithelial state and showed immune accumulation at lobular boundaries with reduced access to p16+ (senescence-associated) epithelial foci. The same SASP and innate immune programmes that predicted slower involution across the menopausal transition predicted faster involution after menopause. Follow-up boundary CD45→p16 engagement was directionally consistent with this reversal in Pre→Post and Post→Post women. Spatial imaging resolved this reversal into a perimenopausal stall architecture and a postmenopausal clearance-associated architecture marked by direct CD16+ innate-effector engagement of p16+ epithelium; macrophage targeting provided convergent support (two-sided exact permutation interaction p = 0.0077). INTERPRETATION: Menopausal timing conditions whether senescent-immune programmes couple to productive clearance or to spatially uncoupled surveillance and persistent risk-associated tissue. Biomarker interpretation should therefore be anchored to menopausal timing. FUNDING: Casey DeSantis Cancer Fund and US National Cancer Institute.

Humans↗
PubMed2025

Impact of stromal maturity and proportion on prognosis and immune landscape in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Tumour microenvironment and cancer cells have constant interaction affecting cancer progression. Tumour-stroma ratio (TSR) in the tumour centre and desmoplastic reaction (DR) classification at the invasive margin are prognostic factors based on stroma evaluation on H&E slides. However, their combined value and immunological associations remain poorly defined. This study examines the prognostic and immunological value of TSR, DR, and their combination in two large colorectal cancer cohorts. METHODS: Two colorectal cancer cohorts (N&#x2009;=&#x2009;1,876) were analyzed. We introduced a three-tiered Stromal Maturity and Proportion Score (SMAPS) based on the presence of high (>50%) TSR and myxoid stroma (immature DR classification). Alcian blue staining was used to further quantify myxoid stroma. Multiplex immunohistochemistry combined with digital image analyses, was utilized to study immune cell densities associated with SMAPS, TSR, DR, and Alcian blue intensity. RESULTS: In the study cohort (N&#x2009;=&#x2009;1,100), SMAPS was a stronger predictor of cancer-specific mortality [HR for high (vs. low) SMAPS 2.01 (95% CI 1.47-2.75), p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.0001] compared to TSR [HR for stroma-high (vs. stroma-low) 1.49 (95% CI 1.15-1.93), p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.003] and DR classification [HR for immature (vs. mature) 1.84 (95% CI 1.39-2.45), p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.0001]. High SMAPS, stroma-high TSR, and immature DR correlated with lower densities of CD3+ T cells, B cells, M1-like macrophages, CD66B+ granulocytes, and mast cells. Alcian blue staining was associated with immature DR and corresponding immune cells. The validation cohort (N&#x2009;=&#x2009;776) confirmed the association of SMAPS with survival and T cell densities. CONCLUSIONS: TSR and DR are independent prognostic factors for cancer-specific survival. SMAPS is a promising prognostic tool that integrates stromal maturity at the invasive margin and stromal proportion in the tumour centre. SMAPS has stronger prognostic value compared to TSR and DR classifications alone. A high stromal proportion and myxoid content are associated with an immunosuppressive microenvironment characterized by lower densities of antitumourigenic immune cells.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Spatial Transcriptomics Identifies Characteristic Immunological Niches in Atopic Dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is primarily driven by a Type 2 immune response, with T helper (TH2) cells producing IL-4 and IL-13, thereby promoting inflammation, itch, and a compromised skin barrier. Yet, the spatial organization of pathogenic immune cells and their interactions with stromal and epithelial compartments in human AD skin remain incompletely understood. METHODS: We performed 10&#xd7; Genomics Visium spatial transcriptomics on FFPE skin biopsies from patients with AD (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;6), psoriasis (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;2), and healthy controls (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;5). Data were integrated with AD single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets and complemented by imaging mass cytometry (IMC) and multiplex immunofluorescence (IF) to validate the spatial localization of immune cells. Cell-cell communication analysis revealed putative signaling interactions within immune niches. RESULTS: Spatial clustering resolved tissue compartments and demonstrated transcriptional dysregulation in keratinocytes in AD and psoriasis. AD lesions showed a conserved spatial organization of immune aggregates within the superficial dermis. Integration of scRNA-seq signatures revealed spatially organized co-localization of T cells and mature migratory dendritic cells (mmDCs). We developed a ring-based neighborhood analysis to characterize the cellular organization of the immune-stromal niches, revealing T cell-enriched regions surrounded by inflammatory fibroblasts and activated keratinocytes. Intercellular communication analysis further identified putative signaling within mmDC-T cell niches that may promote pathogenic T cell recruitment and activation. Application of tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) signatures indicated the presence of TLS-like regions. IMC and IF validated the close spatial proximity between activated TH2 cells and mmDCs. CONCLUSION: AD lesions contain spatially organized TLS-like immune niches at the dermal-epidermal junction, characterized by the close association of T cells and mmDCs and coordinated interactions with surrounding stromal and epithelial compartments. These mmDC-T cell niches may represent potential targets for future therapeutic strategies aimed at disrupting persistent local inflammatory pathways and improving long-term disease control.

atopic dermatitis↗
PubMed2026

Impact of spatial distribution of M2 macrophages on prognosis and neoadjuvant chemotherapy resistance in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is a crucial treatment for locally advanced gastric cancer; however, approximately 30-40% of patients experience primary resistance, the mechanisms of which urgently require elucidation. The tumor microenvironment exhibits a high degree of spatial heterogeneity. M2 macrophages, as critical immune cells within this environment, are typically associated with poor prognosis. Yet, whether their spatial distribution impacts chemotherapy efficacy remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the in situ spatial distribution characteristics of M2 macrophages and chemoresistance in gastric cancer. METHODS: Based on The Cancer Genome Atlas Stomach Adenocarcinoma (TCGA-STAD) cohort, the association between M2 markers (CD163, MRC1) and histological grade as well as overall survival (OS) was evaluated. Spearman correlation and functional enrichment analyses were conducted to explore the mechanistic link between M2 macrophages and stromal barrier construction. Multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) and digital pathology image analysis were utilized to calculate the areal density of M2 macrophages in the intratumoral core and the peritumoral stroma, respectively. The tumor-to-peritumoral ratio (TPR) was constructed, followed by a rank correlation analysis between TPR and the tumor regression grade (TRG). RESULTS: TCGA-STAD results confirmed that patients with high expression of M2 markers had worse OS (P=0.03), and the expression levels of M2 markers increased with histological grade. MRC1 was highly significantly and positively correlated with the pro-fibrotic factor TGFB1 (rho=0.447, P<0.001), with the gene set significantly enriched in pathways such as positive regulation of cytokine production and myeloid leukocyte activation. Histological examination revealed that in chemoresistant patients (TRG 3), M2 macrophages were primarily retained in the peritumoral stroma, with a median TPR of 0.50; in chemosensitive patients (TRG 1-2), a massive influx of M2 macrophages into the tumor core was observed, with a median TPR of 6.67. TPR was negatively correlated with TRG (rs=-0.65, P=0.043). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical impact of M2 macrophages in the gastric cancer microenvironment is highly dependent on their spatial distribution. The peritumoral-enriched pattern (TPR <1) mediates primary chemoresistance, whereas high infiltration in the core objectively reflects the pathological footprint following effective chemotherapy. The TPR serves as a novel tool for assessing neoadjuvant chemosensitivity in gastric cancer.

Gastric cancer (GC)↗
PubMed1977

Holographic displays for computer assisted tomography.

Generalized holographic methods may be used to provide three-dimensional displays from a series of adjacent tomograms. Two such methods are described. In the first method, the tomograms are simultaneously recorded as a single "space-multiplex" hologram, which thus reproduces the N images in proper relation to each other in space. In the second method, a single hologram of the total volume is theoretically synthesized.

Holography↗
PubMed1992

An experimental system for auditory image representations.

This paper presents an experimental system for the conversion of images into sound patterns. The system was designed to provide auditory image representations within some of the known limitations of the human hearing system, possibly as a step towards the development of a vision substitution device for the blind. The application of an invertible (1-to-1) image-to-sound mapping ensures the preservation of visual information. The system implementation involves a pipelined special purpose computer connected to a standard television camera. The time-multiplexed sound representations, resulting from a real-time image-to-sound conversion, represent images up to a resolution of 64 x 64 pixels with 16 gray-tones per pixel. A novel design and the use of standard components have made for a low-cost portable prototype conversion system having a power dissipation suitable for battery operation. Computerized sampling of the system output and subsequent calculation of the approximate inverse (sound-to-image) mapping provided the first convincing experimental evidence for the preservation of visual information in the sound representations of complicated images. However, the actual resolution obtainable with human perception of these sound representations remains to be evaluated.

Acoustics↗
PubMed1992

Simultaneous imaging of proton and fluorine at moderate field.

Simultaneous imaging of proton and fluorine nuclei distributed in a unique sample has been performed by multiplexing the receiver coil's frequency for nmr signal acquisition. Implementation of the technique and modifications of a conventional spectrometer are described for operating at 0.13 T.

Analog-Digital Conversion↗
PubMed2026

Whole-transcriptome-scale isoform-resolved spatial imaging of single cells in tissues.

Cell and tissue functions arise from complex interactions among numerous genes, and a systematic understanding of these functions requires isoform-resolved transcriptomic analysis of single cells with high spatial resolution. Here, we introduce an in situ RNA amplification method and its integration with multiplexed error-robust fluorescence in situ hybridization (MERFISH) to detect short RNA sequences and enable whole-transcriptome-scale, isoform-resolved spatial transcriptomics of individual cells in intact tissues. Using this approach, we imaged &#x223c;33,000 distinct RNAs-including &#x223c;23,000 genes and &#x223c;10,000 isoforms-in the mouse brain. Our data enabled systematic analyses of region- and cell-type-specific gene programs and ligand-receptor-based cell-cell communications. These data further revealed rich spatial diversity and cell-type specificity in isoform usage across numerous genes, as well as brain structures particularly rich in isoform specificity. We anticipate broad application of this method for characterizing the molecular and cellular basis of tissue functions, unlocking previously inaccessible discoveries in cell and organismal biology.

Animals↗
PubMed2026

Effects of exercise on muscle strength and characteristics in rheumatic diseases and sarcopenia: Protocol for the Care for Muscle (C4M) Study.

OBJECTIVE: Muscle weakness is prevalent in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA) and sarcopenia (SARC). Endurance exercises may improve mitochondrial function and oxidative capacity, while strength exercises are thought to stimulate myofibrillar protein synthesis. This study aims to compare the effects of strength and endurance exercise and explore the association between muscle characteristics and exercise outcomes in patients with RA, OA and SARC. We hypothesize that responses to endurance and strength exercises in patients with muscle weakness are influenced by intramuscular pathology including muscle morphology, mitochondrial function, and systemic inflammation, based on their disease pathology, potentially requiring personalized training schedules. METHODS: This two-arm, parallel-group exploratory trial will enroll 69 patients (23 RA, 23 OA, 23 SARC), randomized to endurance (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;35) or muscle strength exercises (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;34), using minimization to balance disease type and gender. The 8-week intervention includes two supervised sessions per week using a controlled cable pulley device (Reforter&#x2122;) and fitness equipment, plus one weekly home-based session. The primary outcome is isokinetic muscle strength (peak torque), measured with the Biodex system&#xae;. Secondary outcomes include muscle morphology, mitochondrial function, systemic inflammation and muscle endurance (by Biodex and 6 Minute Walk test). Muscle morphology will be assessed via 3D ultrasound imaging of the vastus lateralis. Mitochondrial function will be analyzed using high-resolution respirometry on muscle biopsies. Systemic inflammation will be measured using multiplex assays or ELISA on serum samples. DISCUSSION: This study will explore differential responses to muscle endurance and muscle strength exercises in patients with RA, OA, and SARC, offering novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of muscle weakness. The findings may help identify potential mechanisms underlying variability in exercise response and provide effect size estimates to guide future confirmatory studies and more targeted exercise interventions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06480643 (date of registration28-06-24).

Humans↗
PubMed2026

RNF43 Mutations Are Associated With the Classical Molecular Subtype, Vigorous Antitumor Immune Responses, and Prolonged Survival in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

RNF43 mutations were correlated with microsatellite status in colorectal cancer and with fewer and later recurrences in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Here, we undertake a detailed assessment of RNF43 mutations in PDAC. A total of 313 PDACs (308 microsatellite stable [MSS] and 5 microsatellite-instable [MSI] cases) underwent next-generation sequencing (Oncomine Tumor Mutation Load assay; Thermo Fisher). Spatial analyses (NanoString) classified PDACs according to their transcriptomic and proteomic immune signaling. Fluorescent imaging was used to define spatial compartments (tumor: pancytokeratin+/CD45- and leukocytes: pancytokeratin-/CD45+). Each of 20 PDACs with RNF43 mutations (RNF43mut) and without RNF43 mutations (RNF43wt) underwent multiplex immunofluorescence analysis to determine immune status. A total of 153 PDACs (22 RNF43mut and 131 RNF43wt cases) underwent bulk RNA sequencing to assign into molecular subtypes. Overall, 24 RNF43 mutations were identified (22 MSS PDACs and 2 MSI PDACs). The incidence of RNF43 mutations in MSS PDACs (7.1%) was consistent with The Cancer Genome Atlas (6.7%). However, RNF43 mutations were more frequent among MSI PDACs (40%). Additionally, RNF43mut had differential frequencies of other mutations (including Wnt pathway genes), higher tumor mutational burden values (5.5 mut/mb vs 1.67 mut/mb; P < .01), and significantly longer overall survival (47 vs 18 months; P < .0001) than RNF43wt. Moreover, RNF43mut exhibited significantly higher densities of CD8+ T lymphocytes, dendritic cells, and B lymphocytes (P < .001) and an upregulation of ITGAX, CD11c, CD8, and HLA-DR compared with RNF43wt. Patients with RNF43mut PDACs were more often of the classical molecular subtype (20/22, 90.9%). RNF43mut PDACs showed high tumor mutational burden values, suggesting increased neoantigen load coupled with an abundance of antigen-presenting immune cells and an upregulation of immune determinants promoting antigen presentation. All this contributes to stronger antitumor immune responses and improved clinical outcomes.

Humans↗
PubMed2026

Single-section multiplex spatial proteomics of immune microenvironments in kidney transplantation.

Characterizing kidney disease is challenged by marked cellular heterogeneity and limited tissue availability from renal biopsies. Conventional diagnostic workflows rely on multiple serial sections for parallel staining, increasing tissue consumption, sampling bias, and loss of spatial information, thereby constraining molecular characterization within intact tissue architecture. High-plex spatial proteomics may overcome these limitations by enabling comprehensive molecular profiling on a single section. Here, we present and evaluate a high-plex cyclic immunofluorescence imaging workflow (MACSima&#x2122;, Miltenyi Biotec) applied to kidney transplant biopsies, including BK virus nephropathy (BKVN) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), to characterize spatial immune organization with a focus on complement system components. Feasibility and subcellular resolution were first assessed in a lupus nephritis section, demonstrating compatibility with diagnostic immune panels and preservation of tissue morphology. A 48-marker multiplex panel interrogating immunity, oxidative stress, senescence, and fibrosis was then applied to BKVN samples, including paired pre- and post-treatment biopsies, revealing distinct proteomic patterns and dynamic changes following therapy. In FSGS, a glomerulus-focused panel identified spatially resolved innate and adaptive immune signatures, including complement-related patterns supporting exploratory analysis of glomerular immune architecture. Structural, nuclear, membrane, and phosphorylated signaling markers enabled precise delineation of renal compartments and assessment of cellular states such as proliferation, DNA damage, and pathway activation. The workflow also supported detection of extracellular vesicles in cultured renal cells, highlighting its versatility. Overall, this approach provides a robust, tissue-sparing platform for integrated spatial and molecular profiling of renal biopsies, reducing sampling bias while enabling discovery-level phenotyping from a single section. This unified strategy is particularly suited to kidney transplantation, where diagnosis, therapeutic decision-making, and longitudinal monitoring are closely interconnected.

Kidney Transplantation↗
PubMed1991

Discordance of T-cell receptor beta-chain genes in familial multiple sclerosis.

Restriction fragment length polymorphisms of the T-cell receptor beta-chain gene were studied in DNA obtained from 96 individuals from 14 multiplex families with multiple sclerosis (MS). Thirty-four family members had definite MS and two had probable MS. Five normal family members had abnormal findings on cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Linkage analysis was performed using the BglII and the KpnI polymorphisms. With penetrance values from 0.1 to 0.7, and altering the scoring of the normal individuals with abnormal findings on MRI scans from "unknown" to "affected," log of the odds scores between -4.59 to -12.76 were found for the autosomal dominant model. For the autosomal recessive model with a penetrance range from 0.1 to 1.0, the LOD scores ranged from -8.20 to -32.98. These findings do not support a direct role of T-cell receptor beta-chain gene in the inheritance of MS.

Alleles↗
PubMed2026

Downregulation of Trpv4 and Klf2 in brain microvessels is associated with the progression of neurovascular dysfunction and cognitive impairment in a model of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) shares major risk factors with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), including obesity, diabetes and hypertension. Yet VCI research often relies on single-stimulus models, whereas patients experience combined risk factors. We therefore assessed cerebrovascular and cognitive phenotypes in an HFpEF model and investigated underlying mechanisms. Male Lean and Obese ZSF1 rats underwent longitudinal assessments of blood pressure, glucose, cardiac function and behavioural performance. Cerebral blood flow and neurovascular coupling were assessed by laser speckle contrast imaging. White matter integrity, blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and vascular density were analyzed by (immuno)histochemistry. Cortical microvessels were isolated for transcriptomic profiling, and selected targets were validated using multiplex in-situ hybridization. Obese rats exhibited neurovascular uncoupling and impaired short- and long-term memory and spatial learning, accompanied by brain atrophy and reduced myelin. BBB permeability increased at 22-23&#x2009;weeks and vascular density at 34-35&#x2009;weeks in Obese versus Lean rats. Transcriptomic analysis of brain microvessels revealed altered processes related to angiogenesis, vasoreactivity, immune mechanisms and vascular remodelling, with consistent downregulation of Trpv4 and Klf2. Obese ZSF1 rats develop progressive neurovascular dysfunction associated with HFpEF onset and reduced Trpv4 and Klf2 expression in cerebral microvessels, two key vasoprotective genes.

Diastolic dysfunction↗
PubMed2026

PASTA: versatile tyramide-oligonucleotide amplification for multimodal spatial biology.

Spatial proteomics is limited by detection sensitivity, multiplexing and multimodal integration, leaving a gap between discovery and clinical assays. Here we present protein and nucleic acid serial tyramide amplification (PASTA), using horseradish peroxidase-mediated oligonucleotide deposition and cyclical imaging for high-plex, multimodal spatial profiling. Compatible with conjugated antibodies and in situ hybridization, PASTA enables simultaneous protein and RNA codetection from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples, providing a cost-effective bridge from discovery to clinical validation.

Tyramine↗
PubMed1992

A broadband system for multifrequency static imaging in electrical impedance tomography.

A widely accepted method for static imaging in electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is to measure at two frequencies. The choice of measurement frequencies is application-dependent because some different tissues cannot be distinguished when using two fixed frequencies. We have developed a system that generates signals from 8-10(3) kHz and applies two of these signals simultaneously to the body through a broadband current mirror. Great care has been taken in the design of the current injection multiplexer in order to keep the current source output capacitance as low as possible. Furthermore design of the layout of the patient interface board, in order to reduce feedthrough capacitances, also needs great care. Other parameters for driving and detection sections have been designed according to our results from FEM and circuit simulations including skin and electrode effects. Simulations using FEM with available tissue impedance data and preliminary measurements in a discrete phantom show that static imaging is possible for both the real and imaginary parts of the impedance.

Electric Conductivity↗
PubMed2026

Spatial proteomic mapping of the human and mouse retina using IBEX.

We generated a comparative spatial proteomic atlas of the human and mouse retina using a highly multiplexed immunohistochemistry technique called iterative bleaching extends multiplexity (IBEX). We refined the IBEX workflow by integrating an antibody dissociation option alongside chemical bleaching. This dual strategy enabled removal of the entire antibody complex, permitting the flexible use of antibodies from the same host species across iterative cycles. We coupled this workflow with super-resolution imaging via deconvolution and applied it to the retina of healthy humans and WT mice and the Crb1rd8 mouse model. We successfully imaged over 25 protein markers on human and mouse tissue sections, generating spatial atlases of the major retinal cell populations. Cross-species protein expression was compared to scRNA-seq datasets to identify protein and transcript disparities. Super-resolution IBEX delineated the ultrastructural features of the outer limiting membrane (OLM), identifying CD44 as a core structural component tightly colocalized with a highly organized F-actin belt within M&#xfc;ller glial endfeet. Using the Crb1rd8 mouse model, disruption of this complex was spatially associated with rosette formation and OLM structural failure. In summary, spatial proteomic atlases of the human and mouse retina were used to reveal insights into the arrangement of major retinal cell populations and OLM structure.

Animals↗