CD8+ T cells have a central role in antitumour immunity, but their activity is suppressed in the tumour microenvironment1–4. Reactivating the cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells is of great clinical interest in cancer immunotherapy. Here we report a new mechanism by which the antitumour response of mouse CD8+ T cells can be potentiated by modulating cholesterol metabolism. Inhibiting cholesterol esterification in T cells by genetic ablation or pharmacological inhibition of ACAT1, a key cholesterol esterification enzyme5, led to potentiated effector function and enhanced proliferation of CD8+ but not CD4+ T cells. This is due to the increase in the plasma membrane cholesterol level of CD8+ T cells, which causes enhanced T-cell receptor clustering and signalling as well as more efficient formation of the immunological synapse. ACAT1-deficient CD8+ T cells were better than wild-type CD8+ T cells at controlling melanoma growth and metastasis in mice. We used the ACAT inhibitor avasimibe, which was previously tested in clinical trials for treating atherosclerosis and showed a good human safety profile6,7, to treat melanoma in mice and observed a good antitumour effect. A combined therapy of avasimibe plus an anti-PD-1 antibody showed better efficacy than monotherapies in controlling tumour progression. ACAT1, an established target for atherosclerosis, is therefore also a potential target for cancer immunotherapy.

The performance of carbon fiber-reinforced composites is dependent to a great extent on the properties of fiber-matrix interface. To improve the interfacial properties in carbon fiber/epoxy composites, we directly introduced graphene oxide (GO) sheets dispersed in the fiber sizing onto the surface of individual carbon fibers. The applied graphite oxide, which could be exfoliated to single-layer GO sheets, was verified by atomic force microscope (AFM). The surface topography of modified carbon fibers and the distribution of GO sheets in the interfacial region of carbon fibers were detected by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The interfacial properties between carbon fiber and matrix were investigated by microbond test and three-point short beam shear test. The tensile properties of unidirectional (UD) composites were investigated in accordance with ASTM standards. The results of the tests reveal an improved interfacial and tensile properties in GO-modified carbon fiber composites. Furthermore, significant enhancement of interfacial shear strength (IFSS), interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), and tensile properties was achieved in the composites when only 5 wt % of GO sheets introduced in the fiber sizing. This means that an alternative method for improving the interfacial and tensile properties of carbon fiber composites by controlling the fiber-matrix interface was developed. Such multiscale reinforced composites show great potential with their improved mechanical performance to be likely applied in the aerospace and automotive industries.

Low-temperature catalysts of mesoporous Co 3 O 4 and Au/Co 3 O 4 with high catalytic activities for the trace ethylene oxidation at 0°C are reported in this paper. The catalysts were prepared by using the nanocasting method, and the mesostructure was replicated from three-dimensional (3D) cubic KIT-6 silicas. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) studies revealed that {110} facets were the exposed active surfaces in the mesoporous Co 3 O 4 , whereas the Co 3 O 4 nanosheets prepared by the precipitation method exhibited the most exposed {112} facets. We found that the mesoporous Co 3 O 4 was significantly more active for ethylene oxidation than the Co 3 O 4 nanosheets. The results indicated that the crystal facet {110} of Co 3 O 4 played an essential role in determining its catalytic oxidation performance. The synthesized Au/Co 3 O 4 materials, in which the gold nanoparticles were assembled into the pore walls of the Co 3 O 4 mesoporous support, exhibited stable, highly dispersed, and exposed gold sites. Gold nanoparticles present on Co 3 O 4 readily produced surface-active oxygen species and promoted ethylene oxidation to achieve a 76% conversion at 0°C, which is the highest conversion reported yet.