Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects an estimated 18 million people worldwide, and current anti-TNF biologics, such as adalimumab, require injections every two weeks, often for years or decades, frequently losing efficacy as anti-drug antibodies accumulate. Researchers at Tsinghua University have now engineered a novel class of CAR-T cells that specifically capture and degrade soluble tumor necrosis factor (TNF) through receptor-mediated endocytosis. By incorporating the TNFR1 ectodomain as the antigen-binding domain and applying CRISPR-mediated knockout of BCOR and ZC3H12A, the resulting TNFR1T_IF cells expanded robustly and persisted for over one year in immunocompetent mice without any lymphodepleting preconditioning. A single infusion reduced serum human TNF to near wild-type levels and conferred long-term remission in a mouse model of RA, matching the efficacy of repeated high-dose adalimumab. This work establishes a host-machinery-independent, durable cellular targeted protein degradation platform for chronic inflammatory disease.

In a paper published in Mycology, a study of fungal diversity in the Gaoligong Mountains of southwestern China discovered ten new species of Inocybe and reported one species as a new record for China. Based on detailed morphological observations and combined ITS-LSU-rpb2 phylogenetic analyses, the study resolved the systematic positions of these taxa and recognized six major lineages within the genus. As an ecologically important ectomycorrhizal group, Inocybe plays a key role in forest ecosystems, while many species also contain toxic compounds that may cause poisoning in humans or animals. This work provides important taxonomic evidence for understanding the species diversity of Inocybe in China and highlights the Gaoligong Mountains as an underexplored hotspot of fungal diversity.

A team of gas sensors led by Ronghan Wei from Zhengzhou University in Zhengzhou, China, synthesized In₂O₃ with oxygen vacancies (In₂O₃-L) and anchored Pt single atoms, enabling real-time detection of low-concentration acetone. The In₂O₃-L-Pt sensor demonstrated a 5-fold improvement in response to 20 ppm acetone at 220 °C compared to In₂O₃, exhibiting rapid response/recovery times (2/30 s), ultra-low theoretical detection limits, excellent selectivity, and outstanding long-term stability.

In cell biology, organelles have long been regarded as the “functional components” within cells. Recent research reveals that organelles are not merely internal “factories”; they can also function as ‘couriers’ between cells through various transfer mechanisms, enabling intercellular communication and functional regulation. This organelle transfer phenomenon resembles an “asset-light transfer” between cells, allowing cells to rapidly acquire necessary “functional components” to adapt to environmental changes. Moreover, the signals carried by these organelles facilitate damage repair or disease progression.