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Abstract Three-dimensional human intestinal organoids (hIO) are widely used as a platform for biological and biomedical research. However, reproducibility and challenges for large-scale expansion limit their applicability. Here, we establish a human intestinal stem cell (ISC) culture method expanded under feeder-free and fully defined conditions through selective enrichment of ISC populations (ISC3D-hIO) within hIO derived from human pluripotent stem cells. The intrinsic self-organisation property of ISC3D-hIO, combined with air-liquid interface culture in a minimally defined medium, forces ISC3D-hIO to differentiate into the intestinal epithelium with cellular diversity, villus-like structure, and barrier integrity. Notably, ISC3D-hIO is an ideal cell source for gene editing to study ISC biology and transplantation for intestinal diseases. We demonstrate the intestinal epithelium differentiated from ISC3D-hIO as a model system to study severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 viral infection. ISC3D-hIO culture technology provides a biological tool for use in regenerative medicine and disease modelling.

As one of the efforts to combat climate change and the biodiversity crisis, an interest in nature-based solutions (NbS) has been growing. Although there have been diverse discussions on NbS, it is still insufficient to find a quantitative evaluation of the global research trends in which field and to what extent NbS has been studied. In this regard, this study employed latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) topic modeling and keyword analysis to quantitatively evaluate the research trends of NbS. Among research papers on NbS searched on SCOPUS, 2,625 studies (2009–2022) were analyzed by LDA. As a result, NbS-related articles were classified into seven topics (i.e., Urban governance, Urban green infrastructure, Wastewater treatment, Coastal protection, Flood mitigation, Carbon sequestration, and Sustainable agriculture). Of these, the urban and water-related topics accounted for the largest proportion. In contrast, the carbon sequestration and sustainable agriculture topics accounted for a smaller proportion, but the proportion significantly increased over time. As a result of keyword analysis, the frequency of urban and water keywords remained high. In contrast, the frequency of climate change and carbon keywords was low and has recently increased. In the keyword network, the co-occurrence frequency and connection of urban and water keywords were initially high. Still, over time, keywords related to climate change and carbon increased similarly to those related to urban and water. The findings of this study imply that NbS has mainly focused on urban and water-related researches. Still, climate change and carbon-related researches may also be actively handled in relation to NbS in the near future.

Conserving tropical forests and peatlands is considered a key strategy for international forest project cooperation and the promotion of carbon neutrality. Focusing on peatlands in the Sumatra Selatan and Jambi provinces in Indonesia, this study aimed to assess land-cover changes from 1992 to 2020 and associated ecosystem services to assist in the development of effective forest and peatland-related projects. This study first analyzed the historical land-cover changes as a baseline for establishing potential project scenarios. Carbon storage, habitat suitability, water yield, and crop production were selected as the key ecosystem services in the peatlands, and these were assessed for the current land cover and two possible project scenarios in 2050 – business-as-usual (BAU) and forest and wetland restoration (FOR) – using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) tool. In terms of land-cover changes, the area of forests and wetlands decreased, but that of agriculture, grassland, and built-up areas increased in the peatlands. Based on the land-cover scenarios, the carbon storage, habitat suitability, water yield, and crop production varied on 2.32–2,74 billion tC, 92.02–93.46 %, 16.45–16,91 billion m3, and 2.34–2.73 million ton, respectively. The total economic value of the ecosystem services for the current land cover was $75.41 billion, while that predicted for BAU and FOR was estimated to be $70.59 billion and $77.79 billion, respectively. Restoration plans have the environmental and economic benefit of provincial-level assessment, so the development of appropriate projects for tropical forest and peatland conservation and restoration is necessary for international cooperation projects.

Selecting proper tree species for revegetation is important for restoring tropical peatland. Tamanu (Calophyllum inophyllum L.) has been suggested one of the promising native species in Indonesia for the revegetation of tropical peatland; however, there is a lack of understanding of its growth in peat soil with different groundwater levels. We investigated the survival rate, plant height, number of leaves, root collar diameter, and dry biomass of tamanu seedlings grown in peat soil with different groundwater levels using a randomized block design in a water tank. The study involved five groundwater level treatments and 12 tree-level replicates each: M0 (non-groundwater level, control); M1 (−15 cm below the soil surface); M2 (−10 cm); M3 (−5 cm); and M4 (0 cm, soil surface level). The results showed that all tamanu seedlings survived in every treatment. However, their plant height, number of leaves, and root collar diameter growth were significantly inhibited in the highest groundwater level condition (M4, 0 cm) at 81 days after sowing, while their growth in −15 cm of groundwater level (M1) was as good as the growth in the fully drained conditions in M0 (control). This result indicates that the groundwater level should not be higher than −15 cm for the growth of tamanu. Considering that peatlands in Indonesia are assessed to be degraded when the groundwater level is lower than −40 cm, this study suggests that maintaining groundwater levels between −40 cm and −15 cm in peatland is the best condition for rapid growth of early tamanu seedlings while protecting peatlands. Further studies are needed to extend the range of water levels and water treatment duration.

Peatlands comprise approximately 3% of the land area worldwide. Peatland exists in most countries, including tropical, subtropical, and boreal regions. Accordingly, peatland has garnered increased research attention as a potential countermeasure against climate change. Therefore, it is necessary to identify and comprise the topics constituting global peatland research. In this study, we applied BERTopic—a topic modeling technique—to analyze relatedness between research topics to classify global peatland research trends, evaluate changes over time, and analyze the relationships between topics. To this end, we searched the keyword “peatland” on ScienceDirect—a global academic publication data platform—and collected the titles and abstracts from 10,158 publications from 1953 to 2022 for dynamic topic modeling and network analysis. Eighty-two peatland research topics were identified, which were combined into 15 main topics. Over time, an increasing trend was observed in topics related to production, management, and fire. In addition, upon analysis of the relationships between topics, three groups centered on fire, peatland value, and carbon were identified. We anticipate that the findings of this study can be expanded to analyze trends in research related to fires in peatlands, regional characteristics of peat soil, prediction of greenhouse gases emission and mitigation due to peatland fires, and prediction of future peatland research topics.

Livelihood loss and lower income because of peatland mismanagement are crucial issues that must be resolved in peatland areas. Although many studies have assessed farmers’ livelihoods and income enhancement, progress in addressing these problems remains inadequate. To address this issue, this study aimed to analyze various existing alternative livelihoods in the peatland community in Ogan Komering Ilir District, South Sumatra Province, Indonesia, and analyze scenarios for creating livelihoods and increasing people’s incomes through changes in peat ecosystem management and peatland restoration programs. This study used a survey method conducted in South Sumatra Province’s OKI District, one of the four priority peat-restoration districts in the province. We used three sampling stages, while descriptive, tabulated, and mathematical methods were used for analysis. We analyzed the feasibility of livelihoods that used benefit-cost analysis. The results showed that Sonor cultivation of paddies and catching fish in Rawang (swamp) were the livelihoods of farmers in peatlands. The community has also been processing peatland commodities into other products, such as Purun woven, and Gula Puan (buffalo milk processing). Several alternative livelihood scenarios that are financially profitable and can be developed include salted and smoked fish, Purun woven handicrafts, paludiculture, and agrosilvofishery, which can provide farmers with short-, medium-, and long-term income opportunities. This study can contribute to policymaking by fully considering the role of peat resources in rural livelihoods.

As the need for sustainable use peatlands increases, the aim of this study is to identify ways to increase the application of agrosilvofishery as an alternative to the traditional sonor system. Herein, the researchers investigate the perception of peatland degradation and the willingness to participate in agrosilvofishery among peatland residents. The researchers interviewed 228 households in Perigi Village, South Sumatra, Indonesia, and surveyed 137 peatland owners. Logistic regression analysis revealed a positive correlation between the willingness to participate in agrosilvofishery and household expenses, plans to improve peatland productivity, and knowledge regarding mixed farming in farmer and non-farmer groups. Willingness to provide labor for agrosilvofishery was positively correlated with household expenses and experience with farmer organizations. For both groups, the willingness to participate had a more substantial impact on the willingness to contribute to the agrosilvofishery financially than on the willingness to provide labor. It is imperative to consider various educational, institutional, research, and cultural factors that enable peatland agrosilvofisheries to contribute to the income and livelihood of the residents of Perigi Village. Institutional arrangements should be established, including initial capital support for restoration projects and a system involving the entire village community. This study can contribute to offering guidance for implementing agrosilvofisheries and enhance the practicality of field applications for peatland restoration.

Acknowledging the critical role of accurate peatland distribution estimation, this paper underscores the significance of understanding and mapping these ecosystems for effective environmental management. Highlighting the importance of precision in estimating peatland distribution, the research aims to contribute valuable insights into ecological monitoring and conservation efforts. Prior studies lack robust validation, and while recent advancements propose machine learning for peatland estimation, challenges persist. This paper focuses on the integration of deep learning into peatland detection, underscoring the urgency of safeguarding these global carbon reservoirs. Results from convolutional neural networks (CNNs) reveal a decrease in the classified peatland area from 8226 km2 in 1999 to 5156 km2 in 2019, signifying a 37.32% transition. Shifts in land cover types are evident, with an increase in estate plantation and a decrease in swamp shrub. Human activities, climate, and wildfires significantly influenced these changes over two decades. Fire incidents, totaling 47,860 from 2000 to 2019, demonstrate a substantial peatland loss rate, indicating a correlation between fires and peatland loss. In 2020, wildfire hotspots were predominantly associated with agricultural activities, highlighting subsequent land cover changes post-fire. The CNNs consistently achieve validation accuracy exceeding 93% for the years 1999, 2009, and 2019. Extending beyond academic realms, these discoveries establish the foundation for enhanced land-use planning, intensified conservation initiatives, and effective ecosystem management—a necessity for ensuring sustainable environmental practices in Indonesian peatlands.

During the dry season, extensive peatland fires in South Sumatra and another peatland in Indonesia result in environmental damage and pose health risks to humans. The Indonesian Government has implemented several measures to prevent the recurrence of these fires. One such measure involves the establishment of observation stations to monitor hydrometeorological parameters in different peatlands across Indonesia, including those in South Sumatra. To effectively control fires in South Sumatra’s peatland and minimize hotspot occurrences, it is essential to determine hydrometeorological parameters that can serve as fire control indicators. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between groundwater levels and hotspot occurrences by analyzing groundwater level data collected from six Peat Restoration Agency stations in South Sumatra’s peatland, along with hotspot data obtained from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer satellite measurements. The findings reveal a significant correlation between groundwater levels and hotspots at the six stations. As the GWL increased, the number of hotspots tended to decrease, and vice versa. This means that GWL can be used as a controlling variable for hotspot emergence. To effectively minimize hotspot occurrences, it is recommended to maintain a minimum groundwater level of −0.45 ± 0.09 m in the peatland of South Sumatra.

Nature-based solutions (NbS) is an approach to solving climate change and social issues based on nature. Despite NbS being widely studied as an effective method to solve social problems, the trends in NbS research have hardly been analyzed. Therefore, this study examined change patterns in NbS-related research topics over time and analyzed the interactions of NbS research and relevant activities in various fields. After reviewing research papers based on the search term ‘nature-based solutions’ on Scopus, and collecting 1567 research papers, we conducted dynamic topic modeling (DTM) and network analysis. The papers were classified into 19 topics via DTM. Water, forest, and urban topics made up the greatest portion of NbS research, while NbS topics in the forest sector showed a steady increase over time. This study also found close connections between NbS studies on forests and other sectors and confirmed that the forest sector can become an integrated means of contributing to climate change responses and other resultant social issues. This study demonstrates that DTM and network analysis are useful tools for understanding the trends in NbS research and finding the linkages between various fields.

Background Emerging evidence suggests that intestinal dysbiosis contributes to systemic inflammation and cardiovascular diseases in dialysis patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of probiotic supplementation on various inflammatory parameters in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods Twenty-two patients with maintenance HD were enrolled. These patients were treated twice a day with 2.0 ×1010 colony forming units of a combination of Bifidobacterium bifidum BGN4 and Bifidobacterium longum BORI for 3 months. The microbiome and fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were analyzed. The percentages of CD14+ CD16+ proinflammatory monocytes and CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T-cells (Tregs) before and after probiotic supplementation were determined by flow cytometry. Serum levels of calprotectin and cytokine responses upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge were compared before and after probiotic supplementation. Results Fecal SCFAs increased significantly after probiotic supplementation. Serum levels of calprotectin and interleukin 6 upon LPS stimulation significantly decreased. The anti-inflammatory effects of probiotics were associated with a significant increase in the percentage of CD4+ CD25+ Tregs (3.5% vs. 8.6%, p < 0.05) and also with a decrease of CD14+ CD16+ proinflammatory monocytes (310/mm2 vs. 194/mm2, p < 0.05). Conclusion Probiotic supplementation reduced systemic inflammatory responses in HD patients and this effect was associated with an increase in Tregs and a decrease in proinflammatory monocytes. Hence, targeting intestinal dysbiosis might be a novel strategy for decreasing inflammation and cardiovascular risks in HD patients.

Little is known about the modulatory capacity of the microbiota in early intestinal development. We examined various intestinal models that respond to gut microbial metabolites based on human pluripotent stem cell-derived human intestinal organoids (hIOs): physiologically relevant in vitro fetal-like intestine, intestinal stem cell, and intestinal disease models. We found that a newly isolated Limosilactobacillus reuteri strain DS0384 accelerated maturation of the fetal intestine using 3D hIO with immature fetal characteristics. Comparative metabolomic profiling analysis revealed that the secreted metabolite N-carbamyl glutamic acid (NCG) is involved in the beneficial effect of DS0384 cell-free supernatants on the intestinal maturation of hIOs. Experiments in an intestinal stem cell spheroid model and hIO-based intestinal inflamed model revealed that the cell-free supernatant from DS0384 comprising NCG promoted intestinal stem cell proliferation and was important for intestinal protection against cytokine-induced intestinal epithelial injury. The probiotic properties of DS0384 were also evaluated, including acid and bile tolerance and ability to adhere to human intestinal cells. Seven-day oral administration of DS0384 and cell-free supernatant promoted the intestinal development of newborn mice. Moreover, NCG exerted a protective effect on experimental colitis in mice. These results suggest that DS0384 is a useful agent for probiotic applications and therapeutic treatment for disorders of early gut development and for preventing intestinal barrier dysfunction.

A hydride-forming element titanium (Ti) was selected as an additive to improve the hydrogen uptake and release properties of MgH2. The hydrogen uptake and release properties of three Ti-added MgH2 alloys [named MgH2-xTi (x = 6, 12, and 15)] prepared by milling in hydrogen (reactive mechanical grinding) were investigated and those of MgH2-12Ti were studied in more detail because it had the highest initial hydrogen uptake and release rates and the largest quantities of hydrogen absorbed and released for 60 min. At the cycle number, n, of one (n = 1), MgH2-12Ti absorbed 4.01 wt.% H for 2.5 min and 6.39 wt.% H for 60 min at 573 K in 12 bar H2, having an effective hydrogen storage capacity of 6.39 wt.%. MgH2-12Ti released 0.44 wt.% H for 2.5 min and 1.86 wt.% H for 60 min at 593 K in 1.0 bar H2. γ-MgH2, TiH1.924, and MgO were formed during reactive mechanical grinding. We believe that the brute forces and tensile, compressive, or shear stresses, which are applied to the materials during reactive mechanical grinding, introduce imperfections, fabricate cracks, expose fresh and clean surfaces, decrease the particle size, and disperse the additive among the particles. The γ-MgH2, TiH1.924, and MgO formed during reactive mechanical grinding and their pulverization during reactive mechanical grinding are believed to make these effects stronger.

Magnesium has excellent hydrogen-storage properties except low hydriding and dehydriding rates. In the present work, titanium (Ti) was chosen as an additive to increase the hydriding rate of Mg and the dehydriding rate of MgH2. 15 wt.% Ti was added to MgH2 by milling in hydrogen (reactive mechanical grinding). The hydriding and dehydriding features of the Ti-added MgH2 composite (named 85 MgH2 + 15 Ti) were investigated. At the first cycle (n = 1), 85 MgH2 + 15 Ti absorbed 2.96 wt.% H for 2.5 min and 5.51 wt.% H for 60 min at 593 K in 12 bar H2, having an effective hydrogen-storage capacity of 5.51 wt.%. β-MgH2, γ-MgH2, TiH1.924, MgO, and MgTi2O4 were formed during reactive mechanical grinding. Reactive mechanical grinding of MgH2 with Ti is believed to create imperfections, produce cracks and clean surfaces, and decrease particle sizes. The phases formed during reactive mechanical grinding and their pulverization during reactive mechanical grinding are believed to make these effects stronger. Since the γ-MgH2 phase is believed to be decomposed at n = 1, the existence of the γ-MgH2 phase in the milled sample does not contribute to the improvement of the sorption behavior of Mg.

For further commercializing proton-exchange membrane fuel cells, it is crucial to attain long-term durability while achieving high performance. In this study, a strategy for modifying commercial Nafion membranes by introducing ultrathin multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/CeO2 layers on both sides of the membrane was developed to construct a mechanically and chemically reinforced membrane electrode assembly. The dispersion properties of the MWCNTs were greatly improved through chemical modification with acid treatment, and the mixed solution of MWCNTs/CeO2 was uniformly prepared through a high-energy ball-milling process. By employing a spray-coating technique, the ultrathin MWCNTs/CeO2 layers were introduced onto the membrane surfaces without any agglomeration problem because the solvent rapidly evaporated during the layer-by-layer stacking process. These ultrathin and highly dispersed MWCNTs/CeO2 layers effectively reinforced the mechanical properties and chemical durability of the membrane while minimizing the performance drop despite their non-ion-conducting properties. The characteristics of the MWCNTs/CeO2 layers and the reinforced Nafion membrane were investigated using various in situ and ex situ measurement techniques; in addition, electrochemical measurements for fuel cells were conducted.

Graphene was chosen as an additive to improve the hydrogen uptake and release properties of magnesium (Mg). Five weight percent of graphene was added to Mg or pre-milled Mg by milling in hydrogen (reactive milling). The milling processes and hydrogen uptake and release properties of the graphene-added Mg were investigated. Adding graphene to Mg and then milling the mixture of Mg and graphene in hydrogen for 6 h [named M5G (6 h)] had little effects on the improvement of hydrogen uptake and release properties of Mg. Pre-milling of Mg (for 24 h) and then adding 5 wt.% of graphene by milling in hydrogen (for 30 min) (named M5G) significantly increased the hydrogen uptake and release rates and the quantities of hydrogen absorbed and released for 60 min of Mg. The activation of M5G was completed after cycle number, CN, of two (CN = 2). M5G had a high effective hydrogen-storage capacity of 6.21 wt.% at 623 K in 12 bar H2 at CN = 3. M5G released 0.25 wt.% hydrogen for 2.5 min and 5.28 wt.% hydrogen for 60 min H2 in 1.0 bar H2 at 623 K at CN = 3. Pre-milling of Mg and then adding graphene by milling in hydrogen and hydrogen uptake-release cycling are believed to create defects, produce cracks and clean surfaces, and decrease particle sizes. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ms.25.3.20567

The addition of CMC (Carboxymethylcellulose, Sodium Salt) may improve the hydrogen uptake-release properties of Mg since it has a relatively low melting point and the melting of CMC during transformation-involving milling may make the milled samples be in the good states to absorb and release hydrogen rapidly. Samples with compositions of 95 w/o Mg + 5 w/o CMC (named Mg-5CMC) were made through transformation-involving milling. Mg-5CMC was activated in about 3 hydrogen uptake-release cycles. After activation, Mg-5CMC had a higher beginning hydrogen uptake rate and a larger amount of hydrogen absorbed in 60 min, U (60 min), than milled Mg. At the third cycle (CN = 3), Mg-5CMC had a very high beginning hydrogen uptake rate (1.45 w/o H/min) and a very large U (60 min) (7.18 w/o H), showing that the activated Mg-5CMC has an effective hydrogen-storage capacity of about 7.2 w/o at 593 K in hydrogen of 12 bar at CN = 3. Mg-5CMC after transformation-involving milling contained Mg and very small amounts of β-MgH2 and MgO, with no evidence of the phases related to CMC. The milling in hydrogen of Mg with CMC is believed to fabricate defects and cracks and lessen the particle size. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first one in which a polymer CMC is added to Mg by transformation-involving milling to improve the hydrogen uptake-release properties of Mg.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) recognized the importance of forests in combating climate change and agreed upon financial support for REDD+ activities in developing countries through the Warsaw REDD+ Framework (WRF). The REDD+ activities for conserving carbon stored in forests to reduce GHG emissions and to enhance the carbon sink function of forests are expected to serve as an important means for achieving the climatic goal. In this study, a set of criteria was devised to assess the REDD+ Measuring, Reporting, and Verifying (MRV) implementation capabilities of developing countries, which was applied to analyze the REDD+ MRV levels in REDD+ countries. Based on the Forest Reference Emission Level/Forest Reference Level (FREL/FRL), National Strategy (NS), National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS) and Safeguard Information Summary (SIS) the countries submitted, 36 REDD+ countries submitted only the FREL/FRL (Group I), while 5 countries fulfilled the WRF requirements and registered REDD+ reduction results (Group II), and 6 received Results-Based Payments (RBP) (Group III). From longest to shortest, the periods for which the International Fund provided support were arranged in the order of Group III, II, and I, verifying the relative importance of international support. From highest to lowest, the overall MRV capability was also arranged in the order of Group III, II, and I, although Group I or Group II was at a higher level than the other groups in some elements. REDD+ countries in the Readiness Phase (Group I) would aim to have the MRV capabilities of Groups II and III to receive RBP, and international support for REDD+ MRV capacity building could enable them to do. However, in addition to the receipt of RBP, REDD+ should be reflected in the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) as consistent reduction results at the national GHG inventory level, and the advancement of REDD+ MRV is expected to be a necessary and sufficient condition for REDD+ cooperation under the Paris Agreement cooperative approach framework. For the following groups, international cooperation is essential. Countries in the Readiness Phase need to be supported with the establishment of an MRV framework, which will enable them to achieve REDD+ to receive RBP and be reflected in NDCs. For REDD+ countries that have thus far met the WRF requirements, the REDD+ scope needs to be upscaled to national levels, and the MRV system should be further advanced to establish a cooperative approach system that can achieve more ambitious reduction targets through forests.

Background/Aims The combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab is the leading treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but finding a reliable biomarker to predict treatment outcomes remains challenging. This study sought to discover exosomal miRNA biomarkers that could predict favorable responses to this therapy. Methods Blood samples were collected from patients with advanced HCC before starting atezolizumab and bevacizumab treatment. Patients were divided into two groups: responders (those showing stable disease, partial, or complete response) and non-responders (those with disease progression). Serum was concentrated using a qEV isolation kit, and exosomal RNA was extracted for small RNA sequencing using next-generation sequencing (NGS). A decision tree analysis was used to identify miRNAs from the top 100 most expressed miRNAs that could differentiate between responders and non-responders. The findings were validated with a t-test. Results The study included eight patients in each group, mostly male, with the majority having viral-induced HCC. NGS identified 1076 miRNAs, with 12 showing significant differences in expression between responders and non-responders. Among these, three miRNAs were elevated, and nine were decreased in the responder group. Specifically, let7c-5p, miR-30a-5p, and miR192-5p were significantly higher in responders. Decision tree analysis highlighted 30 miRNAs from the top 100, with miR-30a-5p being significantly higher in responders (p=0.0047). Validation using quantitative reverse transcription PCR confirmed the increased expression of miR-30a-5p in responders. Additionally, transfecting miR-30a-5p into HepG2 cells led to reduced migration and proliferation. Conclusion Exosomal miRNAs show potential as biomarkers for predicting response to atezolizumab-bevacizumab therapy in HCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims The combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab is currently used as a first-line treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite extensive research, accurately predicting the response to this therapy remains a challenge. Methods This study included patients with advanced HCC who were undergoing atezolizumab and bevacizumab therapy. Blood samples were collected on days 0 and 14 of the first treatment cycle. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from these samples. Eight patients were selected for further analysis: 4 had a complete or partial response, while 4 experienced disease progression. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was conducted on the PBMC samples. Results Before treatment, patients with a positive prognosis had higher frequencies of γδ T cells, CD4+ T cells, classical monocytes, CD8+ T cells, and non-classical monocytes in their PBMCs compared to those with a poor prognosis. After treatment, patients with favorable outcomes showed a significant increase in proliferating lymphocytes. In the CD8+ T cell group, a specific cluster (cluster 4) marked by high expression of the proliferation marker MKI67 and inhibitory checkpoint genes (PDCD1, HAVCR2, CTLA4) was more prevalent in patients with a positive prognosis prior to treatment. Furthermore, the frequency of this cluster increased post-treatment in those with better outcomes. Conclusion This study mapped the diverse circulating immune cells in patients with advanced HCC before and after treatment with atezolizumab and bevacizumab. A specific subgroup of CD8+ T cells emerged as a potential biomarker for predicting responses to this combination therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]