BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- The following is a summary of published science and technology news of China.

CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY

Chinese researchers have made a breakthrough in the treatment of cancer through immunotherapy, identifying a particular hormone receptor as a potential target for the treatment, the University of Science and Technology of China said.

The receptor, MC5R, acts with a hormone called α-MSH, which is produced by the pituitary gland, to promote the growth of tumors, according to a paper published in the journal Science.

The find was made by a team led by researchers at the university who were exploring the role of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis in tumor immunity. They examined the levels of various hormones in mice with tumors, finding that they had a significantly increased level of α-MSH.

DECREASE LIPID LEVELS

Chinese researchers have found that inhibiting a kind of receptor in liver could decrease lipid levels in serum and liver, thereby reducing cardiovascular disease risk, according to a study paper published in the journal Nature.

The receptor, ASGR1, is exclusively expressed in liver, said the paper. It added that little has been known how the receptor affects the metabolism of cholesterol, whose accumulation can lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Lipid-lowering is necessary to prevent and treat the diseases.

A research team from the Wuhan University found that inhibiting ASGR1 could promote the excretion of cholesterol into the bile and further excretion through feces, thus reducing lipid levels in serum and liver.

ELECTRONIC INFORMATION MANUFACTURING

China's electronic information manufacturing industry maintained stable expansion in the first half of the year, data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology showed.

The added value of major electronic information manufacturers rose 10.2 percent year on year during the period, the ministry said.

In June alone, electronic information manufacturers logged a rapid increase of 11 percent in added value, up 3.7 percentage points from May.