Gut microbiota dependent anti-tumor immunity restricts melanoma growth in Rnf5−/− miceYan Li, Roberto Tinoco, Lisa Elmeń et al.|Nature Communications|2019 Abstract Accumulating evidence points to an important role for the gut microbiome in anti-tumor immunity. Here, we show that altered intestinal microbiota contributes to anti-tumor immunity, limiting tumor expansion. Mice lacking the ubiquitin ligase RNF5 exhibit attenuated activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) components, which coincides with increased expression of inflammasome components, recruitment and activation of dendritic cells and reduced expression of antimicrobial peptides in intestinal epithelial cells. Reduced UPR expression is also seen in murine and human melanoma tumor specimens that responded to immune checkpoint therapy. Co-housing of Rnf5 −/− and WT mice abolishes the anti-tumor immunity and tumor inhibition phenotype, whereas transfer of 11 bacterial strains, including B. rodentium , enriched in Rnf5 −/− mice, establishes anti-tumor immunity and restricts melanoma growth in germ-free WT mice. Altered UPR signaling, exemplified in Rnf5 −/− mice, coincides with altered gut microbiota composition and anti-tumor immunity to control melanoma growth.
Human menstrual synchrony in families and among close friends: Examining the importance of mutual exposure.Leonard Weller, Aron Weller, Shoshana Roizman|Journal of comparative psychology|1999 Human menstrual synchrony was examined in a sample of 73 urban households with a relatively high degree of mutual contact and interaction but less than that of a previously studied, possibly unique sample of Bedouin families with an extremely high degree of contact, interaction, and sexual segregation (A. Weller & Weller, 1997). In addition, for the first time, menstrual synchrony was studied among best friends who did not live together and among sisters who did versus did not share a bedroom. A very high degree of synchrony was found among families (51%) and among sisters (51%), and a relatively high degree of synchrony was found among close friends (30%). The results suggest that synchrony can be attained without sleeping in the same bedroom or even in the same house. The findings also suggest that an effective range of mutual exposure is an attribute of human menstrual synchrony; below or above this range, the phenomenon may not occur.