In the current research context of precision treatment of malignant tumors, the advantages of immunotherapy are unmatched by conventional antitumor therapy, which can prolong progression-free survival and overall survival. The search for new targets and novel combination therapies can improve the efficacy of immunotherapy and reduce adverse effects. Since current research targets for immunotherapy mainly focus on lymphocytes, little research has been done on erythrocytes. Nucleated erythroid precursor stem cells have been discovered to play an essential role in tumor progression. Researchers are exploring new targets and therapeutic approaches for immunotherapy from the perspective of erythroid progenitor cells (EPCs). Recent studies have shown that different subtypes of EPCs have specific surface markers and distinct biological roles in tumor immunity. CD45⁺ EPCs are potent myeloid-derived suppressor cell-like immunosuppressants that reduce the patient’s antitumor immune response. CD45⁻ EPCs promote tumor invasion and metastasis by secreting artemin. A specific type of EPC also promotes angiogenesis and provides radiation protection. Therefore, EPCs may be involved in tumor growth, infiltration, and metastasis. It may also be an important cause of anti-angiogenesis and immunotherapy resistance. This review summarizes recent research advances in erythropoiesis, EPC features, and their impacts and processes on tumors.

The recurrence rate of lymphoma is very high, and tumor stem cells may be an important mechanism. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) can inhibit antitumor immunity and promote cancer progression, but its role and mechanism in lymphoma are still unclear. Here we collected lymphoma tissue and peripheral blood from patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Results showed that CTLA-4 expression and CD44+ cell in the high-risk group were significantly higher than that in the low-risk group. Correlation analysis showed that CTLA-4 expression positively correlated with CD44+ cell in lymphoma tissue and regulatory T (Treg) cells in lymphocytes. In vitro experiment showed that CTLA-4 increased the ratio of lymphoma stem cells, and proliferation and invasion of lymphoma cells through TGF-β pathway. Moreover, CTLA-4 enhanced the proliferation of Treg cells induced by lymphoma cells. Animal experiments showed that CTLA-4 can promote transplanted lymphoma growth. Immunohistochemistry results showed that both Ki-67 and CD44+ cells increased significantly in the CTLA-4 group. TGF-β neutralization can significantly block these effects of CTLA-4. In conclusion, CTLA-4 promoted DLBCL progression through lymphoma stem cell enrichment and immunosuppression.

Fibroblast behaviour is a key determinant of outcomes in interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), yet mechanisms governing the switch between reversible repair and progressive fibrosis remain unclear. How disease-specific cellular niches shape fibroblast fate across ILD phenotypes has not been compared in situ. We profiled peripheral lung tissues from controls, organising pneumonia (OP), connective tissue disease-associated ILD (CTD-ILD), and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) using High-Definition Visium spatial transcriptomics. A matched single-cell RNA-seq atlas was integrated via robust cell-type deconvolution to map cellular neighbourhoods. Differential expression and pathway activity were validated by immunofluorescence. Predicted ligand-receptor mechanisms and fibroblast responses were tested in vitro under glucocorticoid (GC), TGF-β1, and B-cell/MIF perturbations with receptor blockade. Disease-specific niches were tightly coupled to fibroblast states. OP exhibited B-cell-AT2-myofibroblast-enriched niches with high GC responsiveness and apoptosis. IPF was dominated by bronchiolised epithelium, alongside myofibroblasts exhibiting glucocorticoid resistance and strong matrix programmes. CTD-ILD exhibited macrophage-rich niches with multinucleated giant cells. In vitro, GC induced NR3C1-mediated apoptosis in fibroblasts, whereas TGF-β1 drove a senescent, GC-resistant phenotype. IgD + B-cell-derived MIF enhanced fibroblast migration via CD74, an effect blunted by TGF-β1. Thus, niche composition dictates fibroblast fate, distinguishing GC-sensitive resolution from apoptosis-resistant fibrosis. A GC-sensitive, apoptosis-prone myofibroblast niche in OP may underpin reversibility, whereas CTD-ILD and IPF follow distinct trajectories driven by immune dysregulation and epithelial-stromal maladaptation. These spatial microenvironmental signatures nominate therapeutic targets and may inform precision therapy for fibrotic lung disease. The National Natural Science Foundation of China (82172109 to L.X., 82570001 to H.C.), the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China (2023YFC3502605, 2024YFA1108906) (H.C.), the Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin, China (25JCZDJC01260) (H.C.); the Key Laboratory of Medical Rescue Key Technology and Equipment, Ministry of Emergency Management (Open Fund Project No. YJBKFKT202410).

Rapid endothelialization is an effective way to treat intimal hyperplasia after intravascular stent implantation. Blood vessels and nerves coordinate with each other in function, while neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) is an important class of nerve growth factors. Our study found that NT-3 promoted endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) mobilization, and the proportion of EPCs in peripheral blood was increased by 1.774 times compared with the control group. Besides, NT-3 promoted the expression of stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9), and chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 4 (CXCR4) in EPCs, which increased by 59.89%, 74.46%, and 107.7%, respectively, compared with the control group. Transwell experiments showed that NT-3 enhanced the migration of EPCs by 1.31 times. Flow chamber experiments demonstrated that NT-3 captured more circulating EPCs. As shown by ELISA results, NT-3 can promote the paracrine of vascular endothelial growth factor, interleukin-8, MMP-9, and SDF-1 from EPCs. Such increased angiogenic growth factors further accelerated the closure of endothelial cell scratches. Additionally, EPC-conditioned medium in the NT-3 group significantly inhibited the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. Then animal experiments also illustrated that NT-3 prominently accelerated the endothelialization of injured carotid artery. In short, NT-3 accelerated rapid reendothelialization of injured carotid artery through promoting EPC mobilization and homing.