Immunosuppression mediated by regulatory T cells (Tregs) is a key facilitator of tumor immune evasion, but the source of these Tregs and their contribution to human cancer progression remains unclear. This study investigated the properties of FoxP3+ Tregs, their prognostic value in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the underlying mechanisms of FoxP3+ Treg intratumoral accumulation. In addition to an increased number of circulating FoxP3+ Tregs, the results also showed that FoxP3+ Tregs gathered in the tumor site, where they suppressed tissue‐derived CD4+CD25− T‐cell activation (p < 0.001), promoting disease progression and poor prognosis in HCC patients (< 0.01). The intratumoral prevalence of FoxP3+ Tregs was associated with a high density of macrophages (Mφ) (p < 0.001). Depletion of tissue Mφ thus attenuated the increase of liver FoxP3+ Treg frequency attributed to in vivo inoculation with hepatoma (p = 0.01), whereas Mφ exposed to tumor culture supernatants from hepatoma‐derived cell lines increased FoxP3+ Treg frequency in vitro (p < 0.001). This increase was partially blocked by antiinterleukin‐10 antibody (p < 0.01). In conclusion, tumor‐associated Mφ may trigger a rise of the intratumoral FoxP3+ Treg population, which in turn may promote HCC progression. © 2009 UICC

Follistatin-like 1 (Fstl1) is induced in response to lung injury and promotes the accumulation of myofibroblasts and subsequent fibrosis via regulation of TGF-β and BMP. Reducing Fstl1 in mice reduces bleomycin-induced fibrosis in vivo, offering a potential therapeutic target for progressive lung fibrosis.

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The present meta-analysis indicated that short sleep duration increased the risk of childhood obesity. Public health efforts that encourage children to have sufficient sleep time may be important in combating obesity.