Review
Oncology
Cui Fan, Jichang Wu, Yilin Shen, Haixia Hu, Quan Wang, Yufeng Mao, Bin Ye, Mingliang Xiang
Summary: This review focuses on the roles of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), particularly exploring the effects of hypoxia on pDCs. The findings suggest that in the HNSCC tumor microenvironment, hypoxia enhances the migration of pDCs, inhibits their maturation, and contributes to a protumor phenotype of pDCs.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jason Tasoulas, Sonal Srivastava, Xiaonan Xu, Valentina Tarasova, Anastasios Maniakas, Florian A. Karreth, Antonio L. Amelio
Summary: The head and neck region is highly susceptible to cancer, with over 1.5 million new cases reported worldwide in 2020. Significant progress has been made in understanding the disease mechanisms and tailoring treatments to individual tumor characteristics using genetically engineered mouse models. These models have successfully replicated various aspects of head and neck cancers.
Review
Oncology
Xavier Roussel, Francine Garnache Ottou, Florian Renosi
Summary: Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) are the main type I interferon-producing cells in humans and are capable of regulating innate and adaptive immune responses. Tumor infiltration by pDC is well-documented in various cancers and is associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes. While Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Neoplasm (BPDCN) is a well-described aggressive leukemia derived from pDCs, the understanding of tumor infiltration by mature pDCs in Myeloid Neoplasms (MN) is limited. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of pDC biology in MN, emphasizing the need for further research into pDC oncogenesis and immune responses for better therapeutic strategies.
Article
Cell Biology
Bettina Stolp, Marcel Stern, Ina Ambiel, Katharina Hofmann, Katharina Morath, Lara Gallucci, Mirko Cortese, Ralf Bartenschlager, Alessia Ruggieri, Frederik Graw, Martina Rudelius, Oliver Till Keppler, Oliver Till Fackler
Summary: SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) exhibit enhanced transmissibility and resistance to antibody neutralization, resulting in a broader spectrum of symptoms and systemic infection. These variants also deplete natural killer cells, trigger variant-specific cytokine production, and induce accelerated disease progression with increased immune activation and inflammation.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Zhi-Min Yang, Bing Liao, Si-Si Yang, Tong Su, Jing Zhang, Wei-Ming Wang
Summary: NEK6 is up-regulated in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and predicts poor prognosis. It is associated with immune cell infiltration and expression of immune checkpoints, potentially serving as a predictor for prognosis and response to immunotherapy in HNSCC patients.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giulio Verna, Marina Liso, Elisabetta Cavalcanti, Giusy Bianco, Veronica Di Sarno, Angelo Santino, Pietro Campiglia, Marcello Chieppa
Summary: Dendritic cells can be divided into myeloid dendritic cells and plasmacytoid dendritic cells, which play important roles in regulating immune responses. Inflammatory bowel diseases are characterized by leaky intestinal barrier and translocation of bacterial lipopolysaccharide. It was found that quercetin can modulate dendritic cell responses through a specific molecular pathway.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Florian Renosi, Mary Callanan, Christine Lefebvre
Summary: This review discusses the differential diagnosis between Blastic pDC Neoplasm (BPDCN) and Acute Myeloid Leukemia with pDC expansion (pDC-AML) and their genomic features. Understanding the distinct characteristics of these two diseases is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
Article
Immunology
Oscar Badillo-Godinez, Adolfo Pedroza-Saavedra, Veronica Valverde-Garduno, Victor Bermudez-Morales, Minerva Maldonado-Gama, Ricardo Leon-Letelier, Laura C. Bonifaz, Fernando Esquivel-Guadarrama, Lourdes Gutierrez-Xicotencatl
Summary: The study demonstrated that targeting 16E5 to DEC-205 induced a strong protective immune response, with 70% of mice controlling tumor growth and surviving. It also generated 16E5-specific memory T cells and delayed tumor growth.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Tae Jin Yun, Suzu Igarashi, Haoquan Zhao, Oriana A. Perez, Marcus R. Pereira, Emmanuel Zorn, Yufeng Shen, Felicia Goodrum, Adeeb Rahman, Peter A. Sims, Donna L. Farber, Boris Reizis
Summary: Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) can recognize live infected cells and produce a unique antiviral immune response, including high amounts of interferons, prolonged and efficient responses to CMV-infected cells, and activation of natural killer cells. Patients with CMV viremia show activated pDCs and increased circulating IFN-I and IFN-III.
SCIENCE IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Binhui Zhou, Wenyi Yang, Wushan Li, Le He, Liaoxun Lu, Lichen Zhang, Zhuangzhuang Liu, Ying Wang, Tianzhu Chao, Rong Huang, Yanrong Gu, Tingting Jia, Qiaoli Liu, Shuanghua Tian, Philippe Pierre, Takahiro Maeda, Yinming Liang, Eryan Kong
Summary: Zdhhc2 plays a crucial role in controlling inflammatory response in psoriasis by regulating interferon-alpha production, and its deficiency leads to reduced inflammation and pDC activation in murine skin. This study sheds light on the potential of targeting Zdhhc2 as a therapeutic approach for inflammation.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Seung-Ji Kang, Ki-Jeong Park, Hye-Mi Jin, Young-Nan Cho, Tae Hoon Oh, Seong Eun Kim, Uh Jin Kim, Kyung-Hwa Park, Sook-In Jung, Tae-Ok Kim, Hyo Shin Kim, Young-Goun Jo, Jae Kyun Ju, Seung-Jung Kee, Yong-Wook Park
Summary: This study reveals that circulating pDCs and cDCs are numerically deficient and functionally impaired in scrub typhus patients. Changes in the expression levels of surface phenotypes of pDCs and cDCs may be influenced by pro-inflammatory cytokines.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Orion Tong, Gabriel Duette, Thomas Ray O'Neil, Caroline M. Royle, Hafsa Rana, Blake Johnson, Nicole Popovic, Suat Dervish, Michelle A. E. Brouwer, Heeva Baharlou, Ellis Patrick, Grahame Ctercteko, Sarah Palmer, Eunok Lee, Eric Hunter, Andrew N. Harman, Anthony L. Cunningham, Najla Nasr
Summary: This study demonstrates that pDCs play a critical role in inhibiting HIV spread during initial mucosal acquisition by decreasing infection in myeloid cells and reactivating latent virus in resting memory CD4 T cells, ultimately enhancing CD8 T cell surveillance and immune clearance.
Article
Immunology
Kerstin H. Mair, Maria Stadler, Mahsa Adib Razavi, Armin Saalmuller, Wilhelm Gerner
Summary: This study demonstrates the expression and function of NKp46 on porcine plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). It was found that the majority of porcine pDCs express NKp46 and have an active signaling pathway upon NKp46 triggering, leading to cytokine production. However, unlike NK cells, NKp46 on porcine pDCs does not seem to be involved in cytotoxicity.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Ee Shan Pang, Ghazal Daraj, Katherine R. Balka, Dominic De Nardo, Christophe Macri, Hubertus Hochrein, Kelly-Anne Masterman, Peck S. Tan, Angus Shoppee, Zoe Magill, Nazneen Jahan, Mariam Bafit, Yifan Zhan, Benjamin T. Kile, Kate E. Lawlor, Kristen J. Radford, Mark D. Wright, Meredith O'Keeffe
Summary: This study compared the responses of mouse and human plasmacytoid DCs and conventional DC subsets upon STING activation. It was found that both mouse and human DC subsets were activated by STING stimulation and produced Type I interferons. However, only human DCs produced large amounts of IFN-lambda 1, which is not expressed in the mouse genome. Additionally, mouse plasmacytoid DCs underwent rapid cell death upon STING activation, while human plasmacytoid DCs did not.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pediatrics
Sebastian Wirsching, Marina Machtakova, Frauke Borgans, Leah Pretsch, Michael Fichter, Maximiliano L. Cacicedo, Heloise Therien-Aubin, Katharina Landfester, Stephan Gehring
Summary: Childhood mortality is a significant issue, with a large number of deaths attributed to preventable infectious diseases. The study demonstrates the superior ability of the TLR7/8 agonist R848 in activating the immune system of both adults and neonates. Furthermore, R848 can be efficiently delivered along with antigens using nanocapsules, offering new possibilities for vaccine development.
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jun-Jie Zhou, Xiao-Hong Li, Peng-Yu He, Fu-Yu Qi, Muhammad Wajid Ullah, Shu-Jin Li, Yuan-Tong Liu, Lin-Lin Bu, Guang Yang, Zhi-Jun Sun
Summary: A newly developed multifunctional nanocomposite combining photothermal therapy and immune checkpoint blockade shows potential for controlling local recurrence of HNSCC.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wen Su, Wei Qiu, Shu-Jin Li, Shuo Wang, Jun Xie, Qi-Chao Yang, Jiming Xu, Junjie Zhang, Zhigang Xu, Zhi-Jun Sun
Summary: This study reports a combinational therapeutic strategy that combines tumor microenvironment-reactive oxygen species/pH dual-responsive signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 inhibitor nanoprodrugs with oncolytic herpes simplex virus 1 virotherapy to enhance immunotherapy. This strategy successfully activates robust T-cell-dependent antitumor responses, potentiating immune checkpoint blockade effects against local recurrence and pulmonary metastasis in preclinical cold murine triple-negative breast cancer and syngeneic oral cancer models.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xianbin Ma, Wen Su, Mengjie Ye, Yuan Gao, Wei Qiu, Mengyun Liang, Peng Xue, Yuejun Kang, Zhi-Jun Sun, Zhigang Xu
Summary: In this study, an endogenous/exogenous stimulus-activatable unimolecular polyprodrug, named CCNP, is reported to precisely regulate gasdermin E (GSDME)-mediated tumor pyroptosis. The nano-inducer is specifically triggered by noninvasive laser radiation and tumor microenvironment reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH), leading to the activation of caspase-3 and the initiation of pyroptosis. This multi-stimulus-responsive nanomedicine provides a new perspective on how to induce and regulate tumor cell pyroptosis for immune checkpoint blockade therapy.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Biao Huang, Tao Tang, Shi-Hui Chen, Hao Li, Zhi-Jun Sun, Zhi-Lin Zhang, Mingxi Zhang, Ran Cui
Summary: The authors designed a near-infrared-IIb emitting Mn single-atom catalyst for imaging-guided therapy to alleviate ROS-mediated neuroinflammation and obtain feedback of therapeutic effect in mice with traumatic brain injury. The catalyst promoted the reconstruction of blood-brain barrier and recovery of neurological function.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Shu-Cheng Wan, Meng-Jie Ye, Qi-Chao Yang, Tian Zhang, Meng-Jie Zhang, Xian-Bin Ma, Ji-Ming Xu, Shuo Wang, Zhi-Zhong Wu, Lei-Lei Yang, Xue-Meng Shen, Zhigang Xu, Zhi-Jun Sun
Summary: Pyroptosis triggers antitumor immunity and this study introduces a dual-responsive diselenide-based pyroptosis inducer that has excellent tumor microenvironment targeting effects. It can remodel the immunostimulated tumor microenvironment and trigger a robust immune response. Combined with αPD-1 therapy, it effectively inhibits the growth of remote tumors and prolongs survival.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Liang Mao, Jun-Jie Zhou, Yao Xiao, Qi-Chao Yang, Shao-Chen Yang, Shuo Wang, Zhi-Zhong Wu, Hong-Gang Xiong, Hai-Jun Yu, Zhi-Jun Sun
Summary: Combining immunogenic radiotherapy with anti-PD-L1 treatment can enhance the immune response in immunotherapy-resistant HNSCC mouse models.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Boxin Zhang, Hao Li, Yuan-Tong Liu, Dian Xiong, Lu Zhang, Zhi-Jun Sun
Summary: This study investigated the spatial architecture of immune cells in tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) associated with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC). It identified chemokine receptors associated with TLSs and portrayed the cellular atlas using multiplex immunohistochemistry. The study also explored the functions and evolutionary trajectory of cells in TLSs, and proposed a method to enhance the antitumor immune response by inducing neogenesis TLSs in HNSC.
Article
Oncology
Yuan -Yuan Wang, Zhi-Zhong Wu, Cong-Fa Huang, Zhi-Jun Sun
Summary: Immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint blockade (ICB), has shown promise in cancer treatment but its efficacy is limited. This study focuses on understanding the alterations in the systemic immune system and immune macroenvironment and explores the role of the spleen, especially erythroid progenitor cells (EPCs), in tumor progression and immunotherapy. The findings suggest the potential for further research on EPCs and their mechanisms in tumor treatment.
Article
Immunology
Jie Liu, Wen -Ping Lin, Wen Su, Zhi-Zhong Wu, Qi-Chao Yang, Shuo Wang, Ting-Guan Sun, Cong-Fa Huang, Xiao-Long Wang, Zhi-Jun Sun
Summary: Combining EZH2 inhibitor and MDSC inhibitor can improve the response rate to immune-checkpoint-blocking therapy and reverse HNSCC-specific immunotherapeutic resistance, making it a promising strategy for overcoming resistance to ICB therapy.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
H. Li, S. -W. Zhu, J. -J. Zhou, D. -R Chen, J. Liu, Z. -Z Wu, W. -Y Wang, M. -J Zhang, Z. -J Sun
Summary: Immune checkpoint blockade therapy targeting PD-1/PD-L1 shows limited efficacy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), however, recent findings suggest that the presence of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) in tumor tissue is associated with better prognosis and response to therapy. This study analyzed TCGA-HNSCC data and identified an immune classification for the tumor microenvironment (TME) of HNSCC and found that TLS enrichment was correlated with improved prognosis and response to immune checkpoint blockade treatment. Further experiments demonstrated that inducing TLS formation enhanced the response to PD-1 blockade treatment in HPV- HNSCC mouse models by increasing the presence of specific immune cells in the TME. The results suggest that inducing TLS formation could be a potential therapeutic approach for improving the response rate to immune checkpoint blockade therapy in HPV- HNSCC patients.
JOURNAL OF DENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Jun Xie, Shaowei Wang, Yunhong Zhong, Ming Gao, Xuezhang Tian, Liting Zhang, Dongli Pan, Qingsong Qin, Bing Wu, Ke Lan, Zhi-Jun Sun, Junjie Zhang
Summary: Oncolytic viruses encoding various transgenes have been used to reverse the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, but the antiviral restriction factors that limit viral replication have been overlooked. In this study, researchers found that expressing a bacterial E3 ubiquitin ligase can effectively counteract a restriction factor and improve viral replication and therapeutic efficacy.
MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Qi-Chao Yang, Shuo Wang, Yuan-Tong Liu, An Song, Zhi-Zhong Wu, Shu-Cheng Wan, Hui-Min Li, Zhi-Jun Sun
Summary: PCSK9 expression is upregulated in HNSCC tissues and higher expression is associated with poorer prognosis. Inhibition of PCSK9 suppresses cancer cell stemness via LDLR-dependent mechanism. PCSK9 inhibition enhances CD8(+) T cell infiltration, reduces MDSCs, and improves the efficacy of anti-PD-1 ICB therapy in HNSCC.
Article
Oncology
Ruo-Nan Zhang, Zhi-Qian Jing, Lu Zhang, Zhi-Jun Sun
Summary: Immune checkpoint blockade therapy has revolutionized cancer treatment by providing durable responses in advanced and metastatic cancers. However, immune suppressive cells and molecules in the tumor microenvironment can hinder the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Pyroptosis, a type of programmed cell death, can transform "cold" tumors to "hot" tumors, enhancing the immune response and preventing tumor growth. Recent evidence suggests that epigenetic regulation of pyroptosis could be a promising therapeutic strategy. This review discusses the mechanism of pyroptosis and summarizes the role of three common epigenetic factors in regulating pyroptosis in cancer. Targeting epigenetic regulation of pyroptosis could provide new insights and advances in cancer therapy.
Article
Otorhinolaryngology
Meng-Jie Zhang, Jie Liu, Shu-Cheng Wan, Jia-Xing Li, Shuo Wang, Nyimi Bushabu Fidele, Cong-Fa Huang, Zhi-Jun Sun
Summary: The study reveals that CSRP2 plays a crucial role in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and its overexpression is associated with poor prognosis. CSRP2 is involved in the regulation of cancer stemness and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in HNSCC. This research provides a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of HNSCC.
HEAD AND NECK-JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES AND SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Liang Zhang, Shu-Cheng Wan, Jianyu Zhang, Meng-Jie Zhang, Qi-Chao Yang, Boxin Zhang, Wu-Yin Wang, Jianwei Sun, Ryan T. K. Kwok, Jacky W. Y. Lam, Hexiang Deng, Zhi-Jun Sun, Ben Zhong Tang
Summary: Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have shown potential as porous materials for cancer phototherapy due to their unique characteristics. However, the aggregation-caused quenching effect and apoptosis resistance limit their effectiveness. This study demonstrated that linking AIEgens into COF networks was an effective strategy for inducing pyroptosis and enhancing antitumor immunity. The synergized system of AIE COF and αPD-1 effectively eradicated tumors and inhibited recurrence and metastasis in a tumor model.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Vanita Noronha, Aditya Dhanawat, Vijay Maruti Patil, Nandini Menon, Ajay Kumar Singh, Pankaj Chaturvedi, Prathamesh Pai, Devendra Chaukar, Sarbani Ghosh Laskar, Kumar Prabhash
Summary: Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy has shown long term survival benefits in patients with locally advanced oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas.
Article
Oncology
Andrea Costantino, Claudio Sampieri, Gian Marco Pace, Bianca Maria Festa, Luca Cerri, Giorgio Gregory Giordano, Michael Dale, Giuseppe Spriano, Giorgio Peretti, Armando De Virgilio
Summary: This study aimed to predict the necessity of enteral nutrition at 28 days after surgery in patients with head and neck cancers. The results showed that the machine learning models had optimistic accuracy in predicting the need for enteral nutrition, but had moderate sensitivity.
Article
Oncology
Lirui Zhang, Qiaoshi Xu, Zhien Feng
Summary: This study presents a comprehensive clinical, genomic, and transcriptomic analysis of primary ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma (GCOC). The results provide the first comprehensive molecular atlas for primary GCOC, including previously identified CTNNB1 mutation and novel alterations in MAP3K, EP300, and the 22q11.21 region. The transcriptome analysis reveals significant involvement of cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. More GCOC cases should be compared to validate these findings for accurate clinical guidance.
Article
Oncology
Emily Capone, Vittoria Perrotti, Ilaria Cela, Rossano Lattanzio, Lucrezia Togni, Corrado Rubini, Vito Carlo Alberto Caponio, Lorenzo Lo Muzio, Martina Colasante, Francesco Giansanti, Rodolfo Ippoliti, Stefano Iacobelli, Michael J. Wick, Nicole Spardy Burr, Gianluca Sala
Summary: This study explores the potential of galectin-3 binding protein (LGALS3BP) as a novel target for antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapy in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC). The results show that LGALS3BP is highly expressed in ACC tissues and treatment with anti-LGALS3BP ADC leads to durable tumor growth inhibition in animal models.
Article
Oncology
Andrea Costantino, Claudio Sampieri, Piero Giuseppe Meliante, Armando De Virgilio, Se-Heon Kim
Summary: This study compares the outcomes of transoral resections using the da Vinci SP and da Vinci Xi systems for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). The results indicate that the da Vinci SP system has advantages in terms of reduced docking and console times, as well as improved rates of wide negative resection margins. However, there were no significant differences in complication rates or postoperative functional outcomes between the two systems.
