W. Du

A prefrontal cortex-lateral hypothalamus circuit controls stress-driven increased food intake

This study identifies a prefrontal cortex-lateral hypothalamus circuit that mediates stress-driven increased food intake in mice.

High-motility pro-tumorigenic monocytes drive macrophage enrichment in the tumor microenvironment

This study identifies high-motility tumor-associated monocytes (TAMos) that drive macrophage infiltration and cancer cell proliferation via IL-6 and MAPK pathways, suggesting IL-6 as a therapeutic target.

CLCC1 Governs Bilayer Equilibration at the Endoplasmic Reticulum to Maintain Cellular and Systemic Lipid Homeostasis

This study identifies CLCC1 as a key regulator of phospholipid trans-bilayer equilibration at the ER, essential for lipid homeostasis and preventing metabolic diseases.

A 3D in vitro assay to study combined immune cell infiltration and cytotoxicity

This paper introduces a 3D in vitro assay to study immune cell infiltration and cytotoxicity in solid tumors, showing it captures key steps of immune cell interaction with the tumor microenvironment.

Stable and Oscillatory Hypoxia Differentially Regulate Invasibility of Breast Cancer Associated Fibroblasts

This study shows that stable and oscillatory hypoxia differentially regulate the invasiveness of breast cancer-associated fibroblasts through distinct molecular and mechanical mechanisms.

Gene editing of CD3 epsilon gene to redirect regulatory T cells for adoptive T cell transfer

This paper develops a non-viral CRISPR-Cas12a method to redirect Tregs with CARs by integrating an antigen-binding domain into the CD3 epsilon gene, showing improved antigen-specific function and graft protection in a mouse model.

Oscillatory Hypoxia Induced Unfolded Protein Folding Response Gene Expression Predicts Low Survival in Human Breast Cancer Patients

The paper shows oscillatory hypoxia induces a unique gene expression signature in breast cancer linked to poor survival.

The J-Like Protein ARC6 Regulates Chloroplast FtsZ-Ring Assembly through Fine-tuning ARC3 Activity in Arabidopsis

The paper identifies ARC6 as a regulator of chloroplast division by modulating ARC3 activity through its J-like domain, ensuring proper Z-ring assembly and positioning.

Engineering self-propelled tumor-infiltrating CAR T cells using synthetic velocity receptors

This paper develops velocity receptors (VRs) to enhance CAR T cell migration through solid tumors, improving tumor infiltration and survival.

Integration of ζ-deficient CARs into the CD3-zeta gene conveys potent cytotoxicity in T and NK cells

This paper develops a method to integrate ζ-deficient CARs into the CD3ζ gene to create functional CAR-T and CAR-NK cells with improved safety and efficacy for off-the-shelf therapies.

Targeted genome editing restores auditory function in adult mice with progressive hearing loss caused by a human microRNA mutation

This study uses genome editing in adult mice with a MIR96 mutation to restore hearing, showing efficacy that improves with earlier intervention.

Matching or genetic engineering of HLA Class I and II facilitates successful allogeneic 'off-the-shelf' regulatory T cell therapy

This study shows that matching or engineering HLA-I and HLA-II improves the efficacy of allogeneic regulatory T cells for immunoregulation.

Mechano-induced homotypic patterned domain formation by monocytes

This study shows human monocytes form patterned multicellular domains on soft matrices through local adhesion and global inhibition, with a computational model validating the mechanism.

Small extracellular vesicles promote stiffness-mediated metastasis

The paper shows that breast cancer cell-derived small extracellular vesicles (EVs) become more adhesive and metastatic when produced in stiff matrices, promoting cancer spread through enhanced chemotaxis and fibroblast reprogramming.

Tiny Earth CURE improves student persistence in science

This study shows that the Tiny Earth CURE improves scientific self-efficacy, identity, and persistence intentions among students, particularly those from historically excluded communities.

Calorie Restriction activates a gastric Notch-FOXO1 pathway to expand Ghrelin cells

This study shows calorie restriction increases gastric ghrelin cells via a Notch-FOXO1 pathway, involving stem cell proliferation and differentiation changes.

Analysis of donor pancreata defines the transcriptomic signature and microenvironment of early pre-neoplastic pancreatic lesions

The paper analyzes donor pancreata to define the transcriptomic signature and microenvironment of early pre-neoplastic lesions, finding PanIN lesions are common in healthy individuals and show transcriptional similarity to cancer cells.

Notch signaling regulates immunosuppressive tumor-associated macrophage function in pancreatic cancer

This study shows Notch signaling in tumor-associated macrophages promotes immunosuppression in pancreatic cancer, and blocking it enhances immune therapy effectiveness.

A broad-spectrum macrocyclic peptide inhibitor of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein

This paper discovers a macrocyclic peptide that inhibits SARS-CoV-2 and related sarbecoviruses by targeting a conserved site in the spike protein, offering a potential broad-spectrum antiviral.

Combining different CRISPR nucleases for simultaneous knock-in and base editing prevents translocations in multiplex-edited CAR T cells

This paper combines CRISPR nucleases to simultaneously knock-in and base edit CAR T cells, reducing translocations to 1.5% and improving safety.

Profiling Dynamic Patterns of Single-cell Motility

This study introduces CaMI, a framework to classify single-cell motility patterns, revealing heterogeneity and dynamics not captured by traditional ensemble methods.

IFNγ and antibody synergize to enhance protective immunity against Chlamydia dissemination and female reproductive tract reinfections

This study shows that IFNγ and B cells work together to prevent Chlamydia dissemination and reinfections, but other mechanisms also contribute to resistance in the female reproductive tract.

Arginase 1 is a key driver of immune suppression in pancreatic cancer

This study shows that Arginase 1 suppresses immune responses in pancreatic cancer by inhibiting T cell activation, and targeting it enhances immunotherapy effectiveness.

Single-agent Foxo1 inhibition normalizes glycemia and induces gut β-like cells in streptozotocin-diabetic mice

This study shows that Foxo1 inhibitors reduce blood glucose and generate gut β-like cells in diabetic mice, suggesting they could be an alternative to insulin.

Cyb5r3-based mechanism and reversal of secondary failure to sulfonylurea

This study identifies Cyb5r3 downregulation as a mechanism of sulfonylurea failure and shows that a Cyb5r3 activator can reverse this failure in an animal model.

Triple Notch/Tgfβ/FoxO1 blockade converts multiple intestinal sub-lineages into β-like cells and lowers glycemia in diabetic animals

An ACE2-blocking antibody confers broad neutralization and protection against Omicron and other SARS-CoV-2 variants

Comparative miRNA Transcriptomics of Mouse and Macaque Reveals MYOC is An Inhibitor for C. neoformans Invasion into Brain

Cell transcriptomic atlas of the non-human primate Macaca fascicularis

The paper presents a single-cell transcriptomic atlas of Macaca fascicularis, identifying cell interactions and disease associations.

Isolation and characterization of fucosylated extracellular vesicles based on a novel high-throughput GlyExo-Capture technique

This paper develops a high-throughput GlyExo-Capture technique to isolate fucosylated extracellular vesicles and identifies a 4-miRNA signature for hepatocellular carcinoma detection.