A bulky organoborane Ar(F)2BMe (Ar(F) = 2,4,6-tris(trifluoromethyl)phenyl, 1) has been synthesized. In C6D6 solution this organoborane and pyridine form a frustrated Lewis pair. Under mild conditions, 1 can efficiently catalyze 1,4-hydroboration of a series of pyridines. This reaction is highly chemo- and regioselective. The reaction intermediate, a boronium complex [Py2Bpin][Ar(F)2B(H)Me] (3), was characterized in solution by NMR spectroscopy, which was also confirmed by DFT calculation.

No abstract

Regulatory T cells (Tregs), a key mediator in regulating anti-tumor immune suppression, tumor immune escape, metastasis and relapse, are considered an important therapeutic target in immunotherapy of human cancers. In the present investigation, elevated CD19+ CD24+ CD38+ regulatory B cells (Bregs) were observed in PBMCs of invasive carcinoma of breast (IBCa) patients compared with that in patients with fibroadenoma (FIBma) or healthy individuals, and the positive correlation existed between Bregs and CD4+ CD25+ CD127− Tregs (r = 0.316, P = 0.001). We found that PD-L1 expression was higher on Bregs in IBCa patients compared with patients with FIBma or healthy individuals (P < 0.05, respectively), and that a tight correlation exists between CD19+ CD24+ CD38+ PD-L1+ Bregs and CD19+ CD24+ CD38+ Bregs (r = 0.267, P = 0.007), poor TNM phases and up-regulated expression of PD-L1 on Bregs. The pattern of PD-1 expression on CD4+ T cells indicated that high level of PD-1hi expressed on CD4+ CD25+ CD127+ effector T cells (P < 0.001). More importantly, the presence of PD-L1 on Bregs was positively correlated with Tregs (r = 0.299, P = 0.003), but negatively correlated with PD-1hi effector T cells (r = −0.22, P = 0.031). Together, results of the present study indicated that PD-L1 is an important molecule on Bregs, mediated the generation of Tregs in IBCa.

Long intergenic noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs) have critical regulatory roles in cancer biology; however, the contributions of lincRNAs to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) have been infrequently explored. The aim of this study was to explore the contribution of lincRNAs, located at ESCC susceptibility loci identified by genome-wide association studies, to the risk and prognosis of ESCC. The associations between lincRNAs and the risk and prognosis of ESCC were analyzed in 358 diagnosed patients from eastern China, and the findings were validated in 326 additional patients from southern China. Functional relevance of lincRNAs was further examined by biochemical assays. We found that lincRNA-uc002yug.2 was commonly overexpressed in ESCC compared with paired peritumoral tissue in eastern and southern Chinese populations. The expression levels of lincRNA-uc002yug.2 in ESCC might be a prognostic factor for survival. Moreover, lincRNA-uc002yug.2 promoted a combination of RUNX1 and alternative splicing (AS) factors in the nucleus to produce more RUNX1a, the short isoform and inhibitor of RUNX1, and reduce CEBPα (CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α) gene expression, thereby promoting ESCC progression. These results indicated that lincRNA-uc002yug.2 might involve in AS of RUNX1/AML1 and serve as a predictor for esophageal cancer and prognosis.