It has been found that the development of some cancers can be attributed to obesity, which is associated with the excessive intake of lipids. Cancer cells undergo metabolic reprogramming, shifting from utilizing glucose to fatty acids (FAs) for energy. CD36, a lipid transporter, is highly expressed in certain kinds of cancer cells. High expressions of CD36 in tumor cells triggers FA uptake and lipid accumulation, promoting rapid tumor growth and initiating metastasis. Meanwhile, immune cells in the tumor microenvironment overexpress CD36 and undergo metabolic reprogramming. CD36-mediated FA uptake leads to lipid accumulation and has immunosuppressive effects. This paper reviews the types of FAs associated with cancer, high expressions of CD36 that promote cancer development and progression, effects of CD36 on different immune cells in the tumor microenvironment, and the current status of CD36 as a therapeutic target for the treatment of tumors with high CD36 expression.

The species in Sanghuangporus are a group of edible mushrooms with a long history of oral use in East Asia as a health-improvement method. They should be classified under the genus Sanghuangporus rather than mistakenly in Phellinus or Inonotus. The major components in this genus consist of polysaccharides, polyphenols, triterpenoids, and flavonoids, all of which exist in the fruiting bodies and mycelia. For extraction, studies have shown methods using hot water, ethanol, DES solvent, and alkaline, followed by purification methods including traditional anion column, Sevag solution, macroporous resin, and magnetic polymers. Proven by modern medical technology, these components possess promising anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antitumor, and immunoregulation effects; additionally, they have health-improving effects including pulmonary protection, hypoglycemic properties, sleep improvement, gout mitigation, antiaging, neuroprotection, and muscle-strengthening abilities. Several toxicity studies have revealed their safety and recommend a dose of 1 g/kg for mice. As a newly emerged concept, functional food can provide not only life-sustaining nutrients but also some health-improving effects. In conclusion, we substantiate Sanghuang as a functional food by comprehensively presenting information on extraction and purification methods, component medical and structural properties, and nontoxicity, hoping to benefit the development of Sanghuang species as a group of functional food.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is caused by the novel coronavirus that has spread rapidly around the world, leading to high mortality because of multiple organ dysfunction; however, its underlying molecular mechanism is unknown. To determine the molecular mechanism of multiple organ dysfunction, a bioinformatics analysis method based on a time-order gene co-expression network (TO-GCN) was performed. First, gene expression profiles were downloaded from the gene expression omnibus database (GSE161200), and a TO-GCN was constructed using the breadth-first search (BFS) algorithm to infer the pattern of changes in the different organs over time. Second, Gene Ontology enrichment analysis was used to analyze the main biological processes related to COVID-19. The initial gene modules for the immune response of different organs were defined as the research object. The STRING database was used to construct a protein–protein interaction network of immune genes in different organs. The PageRank algorithm was used to identify five hub genes in each organ. Finally, the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database played an important role in exploring the potential compounds that target the hub genes. The results showed that there were two types of biological processes: the body’s stress response and cell-mediated immune response involving the lung, trachea, and olfactory bulb (olf) after being infected by COVID-19. However, a unique biological process related to the stress response is the regulation of neuronal signals in the brain. The stress response was heterogeneous among different organs. In the lung, the regulation of DNA morphology, angiogenesis, and mitochondrial-related energy metabolism are specific biological processes related to the stress response. In particular, an effect on tracheal stress response was made by the regulation of protein metabolism and rRNA metabolism-related biological processes, as biological processes. In the olf, the distinctive stress responses consist of neural signal transmission and brain behavior. In addition, myeloid leukocyte activation and myeloid leukocyte-mediated immunity in response to COVID-19 can lead to a cytokine storm. Immune genes such asSRC,RHOA,CD40LG,CSF1,TNFRSF1A,FCER1G,ICAM1,LAT,LCN2,PLAU,CXCL10,ICAM1,CD40,IRF7, andB2Mwere predicted to be the hub genes in the cytokine storm. Furthermore, we inferred that resveratrol, acetaminophen, dexamethasone, estradiol, statins, curcumin, and other compounds are potential target drugs in the treatment of COVID-19.

This study explored the role of lymphocyte antigen 6 family member D (LY6D) in colon cancer stem cells’ (CCSCs) proliferation and invasion. LY6D was knocked down using siRNA, and the down-regulation of LY6D was verified using Western blotting. After LY6D knockdown, CCSCs’ proliferation, stemness, and invasion were suppressed, whereas apoptosis was increased. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between siLY6D and the negative control groups were significantly enriched in the cell–substrate adherens junction, focal adhesion, and cell–substrate junction terms. Meanwhile, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis revealed that the DEGs were significantly enriched in the MAPK pathway. In addition, Western blotting results showed that pBRAF and pERK1/2, cascade kinases of the MAPK pathway, were significantly down-regulated after LY6D knockdown. In addition, nude mice xenograft experiments showed that the siLY6D treatment decreased tumor sizes and weights and improved tumor-bearing mice survival rates compared with the control group. In conclusion, these findings indicate that LY6D, which is highly expressed in CCSCs, is a key factor involved in tumor growth and development and might be a potential cancer marker and therapeutic target for colon cancer.

Background: Cervical cancer stem cells (CCSCs), a small part of tumor population, are one of the important reasons for metastasis and recurrence of cervical cancer. Targeting CCSCs may be an effective way to eliminate tumors. Salinomycin (Sal) has been proved to be an effective anticancer drug in many studies, especially for cancer stem cells (CSCs). However, the cytotoxicity of salinomycin limits its further research as an anticancer drug. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) nanoparticles are an excellent drug carrier, which can reduce the toxicity of Sal, have a certain targeting effect and improve the clinical benefit of Sal. Methods: Salinomycin-loaded high-density lipoprotein (S-HDL) was synthesized and characterized by various analytical techniques. CD44^highCD24^low CCSCs were isolated from HeLa cells by magnetic separation. The uptake of HDL nanoparticles was observed by laser confocal microscopy, and the effect of S-HDL on the proliferation of CCCs and CCSCs was detected by cell viability analysis. Genome-wide analysis was used to analyze the effects of S-HDL on the biological processes of CCCs and then cell apoptosis, cell cycle and cell migration were selected for verification. Results: S-HDL had a particle size of 38.98 ± 1.78 nm and an encapsulation efficiency of 50.73 ± 4.29%. Cell uptake analysis showed that HDL nanoparticles could enhance the drug uptake of CCCs and CCSCs and may target CCCs and CCSCs. In cell viability analysis, CCCs and CCSCs showed high sensitivity to S-HDL. S-HDL can more efficiently prevent CCSCs from developing tumorspheres than Sal in tumorsphere formation study. S-HDL had stronger ability to induce cell cycle arrest, promote cell apoptosis and inhibit cell migration compared with free Sal, which was consistent with the results of Genome Wide analysis. Conclusion: S-HDL can effectively target and eliminate CCCs and CCSCs, which is a potential drug for the treatment of cervical cancer.

Background: Effective treatments for ovarian cancer remain elusive, and survival rates have long been considered grim. Ovarian cancer stem cells (OCSCs) and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) are associated with cancer progression and metastasis, as well as drug resistance and eventual treatment failure. Salinomycin (Sal) has an extensive effect on a variety of cancer stem cells (CSCs); however, its poor water solubility and toxicity to healthy tissues at high doses limit further research into its potential as an anti-cancer drug. We proposed a therapeutic strategy by constructing a tumor-targeting carrier that mimics high-density lipoprotein (HDL) to synthesize salinomycin-loaded high-density lipoprotein (S-HDL). This strategy helps reduce the side effects of salinomycin, thereby improving its clinical benefits. Methods: OCSCs were isolated from ovarian cancer cells (OCCs) and the uptake of HDL nanoparticles was observed using laser confocal microscopes. After the cell viability analysis revealed the inhibitory effect of S-HDL on OCCs and OCSCs, the main biological processes influenced by S-HDL were predicted with a transcriptome sequencing analysis and verified in vitro and in vivo. Results: Cellular uptake analysis showed that the HDL delivery system was able to significantly enhance the uptake of Sal by OCCs, tentatively validating the targeting role of recombinant HDL, so that S-HDL could reduce the toxicity of Sal and increase its anti-ovarian cancer effects. Conversely, S-HDL could exert anti-ovarian cancer effects by inhibiting the proliferation of OCCs and OCSCs, promoting apoptosis, blocking EMT, and suppressing stemness and angiogenesis-related protein expression in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion: S-HDL had stronger anti-ovarian cancer effects than unencapsulated Sal. Thus, it may be a potential agent for ovarian cancer treatment in the future.