This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Renal cancer affects over 400,000 people each year, and new treatment options are needed. A new study unraveled a paradox taking place in the immune systems of cancer patients. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), driven by tumor cells, have the ability to suppress the immune responses of T cells, preventing T-cell recognition of tumor cells and allowing immune escape. However, mice and humans with renal tumors do not experience systemic immunosuppression. Researchers used mice to examine renal cancer-derived exosomes (RDEs), extracellular vesicles derived from tumor cells. They found that the proportion and activity of MDSCs in the spleen and bone marrow changed after internalization of RDEs. RDE-stimulated MDSCs inhibited T cell proliferation and cytotoxicity, and these effects were antigen-specific and driven by the molecule HSP70 in RDEs and TLR2 on MDSCs, explaining the targeted immunosuppression of the renal cancer-specific immune response..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"CCL2 is a small cell-signaling protein that recruits immune cells to sites of inflammation. CCR2 is CCL2’s receptor. Together, CCL2 and CCR2 create an inflammatory and immune-suppressive microenvironment, which promotes tumor growth and progression and induces resistance to anticancer drugs. A recent review highlights research on the therapeutic potential of targeting this so-called “CCL2-CCR axis”. Circulating levels of CCL2 are particularly elevated in individuals with obesity. Studies on men with prostate cancer suggest that inhibiting CCL2 signaling can significantly inhibit tumor growth and invasion. More work is needed to differentiate natural CCL2 levels in patients from tumor-derived CCL2 involved in the formation and spread of tumors, which could lead to new ways of attacking cancer and cancer resistance..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"The immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) plays essential roles in cancer development and progression. Exosomes mediate crosstalk between tumor cells and other stromal or immune cells in the TME, but how tumor-derived exosomes promote the progression of bladder cancer, one of the most common types of cancer, remains unclear. To find out, researchers recently examined the effects of exosomes extracted from the conditioned medium (CM) of MB49 bladder cancer cells. The researchers found that the cancer-derived exosomes were ingested by mouse macrophages both in vitro and in vivo and that they induced macrophage polarization toward the immunosuppressive M2 phenotype. Exosome-secreting MB49 cells induced tumor growth in mice, but the exosome inhibitor GW4869 reduced tumor growth, macrophage M2 polarization and immunosuppression, confirming the pro-tumor effects of the cancer-derived exosomes..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent forms of cancer worldwide. Due to its complex pathology, breast cancer is often diagnosed late in its development—when it has already spread to other body parts. STAT3 is one protein known to play an important role in breast cancer, regulating gene expression within tumor cells to drive cancer progression, but growing evidence shows that STAT3 plays an equally important role outside of tumor cells—within the “tumor microenvironment”. Here, STAT3 suppresses immune defenses through interactions with various cells including myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), macrophages, and dendritic cells (DCs). Interestingly, STAT3’s capacity to bypass these defenses relies on pathways for both immune suppression and activation. These findings make STAT3 an attractive target for anticancer therapies, which could help patients with breast cancer receive effective treatment as early as possible..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Pancreatic cancer continues to have a high mortality rate due to a lack of effective early diagnostic and treatment approaches. However, secreted vesicles called exosomes could hold the key to unlock better strategies. These vesicles contain numerous cargoes, such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids and play roles in various processes, including cell–cell communication. Exosomes secreted from pancreatic cancer cells contain signaling molecules that promote cancer progression. These exosome cargoes suppress immunity, facilitate tumor blood vessel formation, and encourage fibrosis, thus creating a more pro-cancer microenvironment. Exosomes can also promote metastasis to distant regions and reprogram normal cells into cancer cells. Despite their negative effects, the molecules in cancer cell–derived exosomes can be used as valuable biomarkers for pancreatic cancer diagnosis and prognosis prediction..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multifunctional cells with the ability to reduce inflammation and repair tissue when injected directly. But MSC use is controversial, especially in patients with cancer or in cancer remission, as MSCs can release growth factors that can promote tumor growth. Fortunately, new research is showing that certain MSC contents can exert targeted beneficial effects without these drawbacks, most notably, microRNAs packaged inside exosomes. These loaded exosomes can accumulate at sites of tissue damage, and many studies suggest that MSC exosomes can be applied to cancer therapy, gene therapy, drug delivery, regenerative medicine, and other biomedical applications. Further research could reveal new and more effective ways of packaging and transferring exosomes from MSCs to recipient cells, and thereby lead to new methods of treating and monitoring various diseases..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are key participants in cell-to-cell communication that exert various effects via the diverse molecular cargoes they carry from their parent cells. However, they also play pathological roles by carrying damage and disease signals from abnormal cells. In cancer, for example, tumor cells secrete EVs that help them evade immune surveillance and target macrophages to create a pro-tumor environment. In turn, tumor-associated macrophages release EVs that target tumor cells to enhance migration and proliferation. Notably, chemo- or radiotherapy can actually increase EV secretion, contributing to immunosuppression and cancer metastasis. In the liver, EV-mediated communication between hepatocytes and macrophages or hepatic stellate cells can exacerbate injury or disease and EV signaling can eventually contribute to insulin resistance..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Cancer occurs when the body’s cells corrupt normal growth pathways. One such pathway is the Hedgehog/Glioma-associated oncogene (HH/GLI) pathway. While the pathway is critical for normal development and health in mammals, uncontrolled activation of the pathway can contribute to cancer development. HH/GLI signaling has been implicated in a wide variety of cancers, making it an attractive target for cancer therapies, but side effects and drug resistance have limited the use of HH/GLI pathway inhibitors, and improved treatment strategies are needed. A new review examines HH/GLI signaling in the context of immunosuppression and immune evasion. Critically, HH/GLI signaling can impair the immune response against a tumor. Here, the pathway drives the formation of regulatory T cells and immune checkpoints, which effectively inhibit the anti-tumoral immune response. But at the same time, the HH/GLI pathway interacts with pro-inflammatory signals to promote the division and survival of cancer cells..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Pancreatic cancer has the lowest 5-year survival rate of all cancers, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common subtype. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) that improve immune cells’ ability to kill tumor cells are useful for other cancers. but single ICIs don’t work well for PDAC, possibly because the PDAC tumor microenvironment inhibits immune activity. Some research suggests that the efficacy of ICIs can be improved by combining the ICIs with other treatments, such as chemotherapy, multiple antibodies, and drugs targeting specific components of the tumor microenvironment. Several cell types and their interactions can potentially be targeted. such as those of regulatory T cells (Tregs), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs). In addition, continued research on the diverse mechanisms of the immune checkpoint molecules and their receptors could reveal new strategies for treatment..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells, or EPCs, help repair damage to blood vessel walls and can actually be transplanted from healthy donors into patients with cardiovascular disorders. Unfortunately, transplanted EPCs tend to be rejected by host immune cells. Now, researchers have discovered one promising way to prime EPCs for improved acceptance in the body. The method relies on the molecule TNFα, one of the main mediators of EPC activation. TNFα interacts with two receptors, TNFR1 and TNFR2, in opposing ways. While TNFα-TNFR1 signaling provokes inflammation and cell death. TNFα-TNFR2 signaling leads to cell survival, activation, and proliferation. Interestingly, treating EPCs with a small amount of TNFα significantly up-regulated protective TNFR2 expression and increased their immunosuppressive function without increasing the expression of TNFR1 or other molecular markers of injury that typically accompany transplant rejection..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"A major turning point for tumor immunotherapy was the discovery of immune checkpoint proteins, which suppress immunity to facilitate tumor growth. The discovery prompted the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) that can help fight even metastatic and chemoresistant cancers. ICIs that target the proteins CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1 are particularly promising for cancer treatment. These drugs can be used either alone or with other therapies to enhance treatment efficacy. For example, they can be combined with traditional chemotherapy, radiotherapy, antiangiogenic therapy, and cancer vaccines to improve outcomes. In addition, combinations of CTLA-4- and PD-1-blocking ICIs can be used to treat cancers like melanoma. However, despite the encouraging results in some studies, many patients fail to respond to ICIs. ICIs can also exert various immune-related adverse effects on the skin, colon, liver, lungs, kidneys, and heart, and some tumors can become resistant to the drugs..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

Psychology is designed to meet scope and sequence requirements for the single-semester introduction to psychology course. The book offers a comprehensive treatment of core concepts, grounded in both classic studies and current and emerging research. The text also includes coverage of the DSM-5 in examinations of psychological disorders. Psychology incorporates discussions that reflect the diversity within the discipline, as well as the diversity of cultures and communities across the globe.Senior Contributing AuthorsRose M. Spielman, Formerly of Quinnipiac UniversityContributing AuthorsKathryn Dumper, Bainbridge State CollegeWilliam Jenkins, Mercer UniversityArlene Lacombe, Saint Joseph's UniversityMarilyn Lovett, Livingstone CollegeMarion Perlmutter, University of Michigan

By the end of this section, you will be able to:Explain the nature of psychophysiological disordersDescribe the immune system and how stress impacts its functioningDescribe how stress and emotional factors can lead to the development and exacerbation of cardiovascular disorders, asthma, and tension headaches

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Our bodies must undergo tissue self-renewal in order to remain healthy, and cell death is an important part of self-renewal. Apoptosis is a mechanism of programmed cell death that maintains homeostasis without inflammation. As dying cells begin to dismantle, they signal to phagocytes to engulf them, a process called efferocytosis. The balance between these “find-me,” “eat-me,” and “don’t-eat-me” signals is critical. Unfortunately, because efferocytosis prevents inflammatory responses, these signaling pathways are often hijacked by cancer cells to facilitate immune escape. Although traditional cancer therapies, such as chemotherapy and radiation, kill cancer cells directly, the resulting apoptosis can increase efferocytosis and suppress the immune response, allowing for progression of residual cancer. A new strategy is to combine traditional therapies with those that inhibit efferocytosis, killing tumor cells while blocking the pathways that allow them to proliferate..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Pancreatic cancer remains extremely deadly despite advances in detection and treatment, largely because the cancer microenvironment protects the cancer cells from therapies. This microenvironment consists of various cell types, connective material, and secreted factors such as small extracellular vesicles (sEVs). sEVs carry proteins, nucleic acids, and other bioactive substances and are important vehicles for cell–cell communication, including pro-metastasis communication. For example, sEVs derived from pancreatic cancer cells can recruit pancreatic stellate cells, major components of the tumor stroma, to tumor sites. They can also promote inflammation and fibrosis. In turn, sEVs derived from pancreatic stellate cells can stimulate cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. Furthermore, sEVs from tumor sites can transport proangiogenic factors to distant organs to form pre-metastatic niches..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, and metastatic breast cancer remains highly lethal. During metastasis, cancer cells migrate from the breast to areas called pre-metastatic niches, which are favorable for cancer growth. These niches are created with the help of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) released by breast cancer cells. Via their protein and RNA cargoes, sEVs encourage inflammation in the niches and suppress immunity, allowing arriving cancer cells to escape immune detection. By promoting new blood vessel formation and leakage of existing blood vessels, sEVs ensure a supply of nutrients for cancer growth in the niches. They can also transform certain cell types in the niches into cancer-supporting cells called cancer-associated fibroblasts. The expression patterns of proteins called integrins in sEVs help determine exactly where metastatic cancer cells will settle, such as in the lungs, liver, or brain..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"PD-L1 is a powerful cloaking protein for cancer cells. Abundant PD-L1 on their surface binds with the receptor PD-1 on immune cells. The PD-L1/PD-1 axis transfers inhibitory signaling to the immune system that the cancer cells pose no danger. How this cloaking process unfolds has remained unclear. Now, researchers report the prominence of the enzyme USP22. USP22 is overexpressed in malignant tumors of several types, including those of the lung. Initial experiments on human lung cancer cells showed that USP22 might regulate PD-L1. A closer look revealed that USP22 deubiquitinated and stabilized PD-L1. USP22 enlists the help another protein, CSN5, to stabilize PD-L1. By inhibiting USP22 genetically, researchers could suppress the formation of tumors. Targeting USP22 in the clinic could therefore be one way to decloak cancer cells and make them vulnerable to existing anti-cancer therapies..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.

This resource is a video abstract of a research paper created by Research Square on behalf of its authors. It provides a synopsis that's easy to understand, and can be used to introduce the topics it covers to students, researchers, and the general public. The video's transcript is also provided in full, with a portion provided below for preview:

"Proteins in the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family are known to regulate the immune system in cancers, and trials targeting these proteins are currently being conducted. However, the TNF family profile in glioma, the most common cancer originating in the adult central nervous system, is unclear. A recent study analyzed the TNF family profile and clinical characteristics of 1749 glioma cases using data from four public datasets. The expression levels of most TNF family members were positively correlated in the gliomas and were linked to patients’ overall survival. A TNF family signature was identified based on the expression levels in 702 of the cases and validated in the other cases, and a prognostic model was developed to predict 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival for individual patients with glioma. The TNF family-based signature was related to clinical, molecular and genetic characteristics of the patients..."

The rest of the transcript, along with a link to the research itself, is available on the resource itself.