Cataloged from PDF version of article.The in silico design of tetraradical S 1 states was validated experimentally through synthesis, followed by characterization including phosphorescence measurements, use of trap molecules, and cell culture studies, leading to a series of orthogonal dimers of Bodipy chromophores with remarkable singlet oxygen efficiencies (see picture). A new path for the rational development of efficient photosensitizers is thus revealed. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Fibroblasts turn into cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumour microenvironment. CAFs have recently attracted attention for their function as a regulator of immune cell recruitment and function in addition to their tumour-promoting roles. In this study, we aimed to determine the role of CAFs on monocyte recruitment and macrophage polarization in breast cancer. CAFs, which were α-SMA expressing fibroblasts in contrast to normal fibroblasts (NFs), effectively recruited monocytes. Recruitment of monocytes by CAFs might be mediated by monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) as well as stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) cytokines. CAFs differentiated the recruited monocytes into M2-like macrophages which are capable of exerting their immunosuppressive roles via the PD-1 axis. CAF-educated monocytes exhibited strong immune suppression unlike NF-educated monocytes and enhanced the motility/invasion of breast cancer cells in addition to increasing the expressions of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes and vimentin protein in cancer cells. CAF-educated M1 macrophages displayed increased expression of M2 markers and production of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in contrast to decreased production of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-12 compared with control M1 macrophages; suggesting that CAFs were also able to induce the trans-differentiation of M1 macrophages to M2 macrophages. We then investigated the relationship between the infiltration of CAFs and tumour associated macrophages (TAMs) using tissue samples obtained from breast cancer patients. High grade of CAFs significantly correlated with the number of TAMs in human breast cancer tissue samples. It was also associated with higher Ki-67 proliferation index, and higher tumour volume. This result is in line with our finding of increased breast cancer cell proliferation due to the effects of CAF-educated monocytes in vitro . Our results concluded that CAFs play pivotal roles in sculpturing the tumour microenvironment in breast cancer, and therapeutic strategies to reverse the CAF-mediated immunosuppressive microenvironment should be taken into consideration.

We introduce a novel class of water soluble, extended conjugation boradiazaindacene dyes which are efficient singlet oxygen generators and have spectacular photoinduced cytotoxicity when excited in the "therapeutic window" of the electromagnetic spectrum.

This is a hypothesis-generating study pointing out that serum galectin-3 level is significantly associated with atrial remodeling in paroxysmal AF patients with preserved LV function. Further studies are necessary to provide exact pathophysiological mechanisms.

Das rechnergestützte Design tetraradikalischer S1‐Zustände wurde experimentell durch Synthese und anschließende Charakterisierung einschließlich Phosphoreszenzmessungen, Gebrauch von Einfangmolekülen und Zellkultur‐Untersuchungen bestätigt. Dies führte zu einer Reihe orthogonaler Bodipy‐Chromophor‐Dimere mit bemerkenswerten Singulett‐Sauerstoff‐Effizienzen (siehe Bild). Ein neuer Weg für die rationale Entwicklung effizienter Photosensibilisatoren wird somit vorgestellt.