Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Margherita Sisto, Sabrina Lisi
Summary: Autoimmunity is a chronic process that leads to inflammation, tissue damage, and subsequent tissue remodelling and organ fibrosis. Most chronic autoimmune fibrotic disorders have in common a persistent and sustained production of growth factors, proteolytic enzymes, angiogenic factors, and fibrogenic cytokines, resulting in the deposition of connective tissue elements or epithelial to mesenchymal transformation (EMT) that progressively remodels and destroys normal tissue architecture leading to organ failure. However, there are currently no approved treatments that directly target the molecular mechanisms of fibrosis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
ChunYan Yuan
Summary: IL-33 is a cytokine that modulates inflammation and immune responses, primarily associated with the development of Th2 immunological responses. It has been shown to be elevated in various autoimmune disorders, suggesting a role in inducing autoimmunity and inflammatory damage. The IL-33/ST2 axis holds promising potential as a therapeutic target for autoimmune disease treatment.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Ophthalmology
Zhenyu Zhong, Guannan Su, Aize Kijlstra, Peizeng Yang
Summary: Uveitis is a group of diseases characterized by intraocular inflammation, some of which are driven by auto inflammatory or autoimmune responses, and share the activation of the IL-23/IL-17 pathway. Emerging drugs blocking this pathway have been assessed for the treatment of uveitis.
PROGRESS IN RETINAL AND EYE RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Mansur Aliyu, Fatema Tuz Zohora, Abubakar Umar Anka, Kashif Ali, Shayan Maleknia, Mohammad Saffarioun, Gholamreza Azizi
Summary: IL-6 is a multifunctional cytokine with both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory activity, playing a crucial role in immune response. Aberrant production of IL-6 is involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases. Drugs targeting IL-6 have been used to treat autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Understanding different mechanisms that modulate IL-6 expression can provide potential solutions for future treatments.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Yun Xing, Saiyang Xie, Wenke Shi, Xiaofeng Zeng, Wei Deng, Qizhu Tang
Summary: This study reveals that IL-21 plays a role in promoting inflammation, apoptosis, and fibrosis in pressure-induced cardiac remodeling, and this effect is mediated through the activation of the TIMP4/MMP9 signaling pathway. These findings provide important insights into the mechanisms of cardiac diseases and offer potential therapeutic strategies.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Chris M. Li, Zhibin Chen
Summary: Recent epidemiological studies have shown an alarming trend of increased cancer incidence in adults younger than 50 years old, particularly in non-cardia gastric cancer and non-Hispanic white females. The rising incidence of autoimmune diseases in industrialized countries suggests a potential causal link between autoimmunity and cancer, but the exact mechanisms remain unclear.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jordyn M. Thomas, Brooke M. Huuskes, Christopher G. Sobey, Grant R. Drummond, Antony Vinh
Summary: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an inflammatory condition, and the inflammasome and pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-18 play important roles in its development. Regulating the signaling pathways of the inflammasome and IL-18 may serve as potential targets for CKD treatment.
PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Rezbieara P. Rahman, Lauren McEwan, David K. Ryan, Dipender Gill
Summary: Using genetic variants related studies, it was found that increased IL-6R signaling is associated with reduced levels of various circulating cytokines, revealing the regulatory mechanisms of IL-6R signaling in inflammatory responses.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ophthalmology
Shruti Singh Kakan, Xiaoyang Li, Maria C. Edman, Curtis T. Okamoto, Brooke E. Hjelm, Sarah F. Hamm-Alvarez
Summary: This study analyzed the changes in lacrimal gland miRNAome in male nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice with autoimmune dacryoadenitis compared to healthy male BALB/c and dacryoadenitis-free female NOD mice. Dysregulated miRNAs were identified through small RNA sequencing and validated by RT-qPCR. Dysregulation of validated miRNAs within immune cell-enriched and epithelial-enriched cell fractions from the lacrimal gland was examined. The study found dysregulation of multiple miRNAs in male NOD mouse lacrimal glands, which may contribute to the increased IL-6 and IL-6-like cytokine signaling.
INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Oncology
James L. Alexander, Hajir Ibraheim, Bhavisha Sheth, Jessica Little, Muhammad Saheb Khan, Camellia Richards, Nikki Hunter, Dharmisha Chauhan, Raguprakash Ratnakumaran, Kathleen McHugh, David J. Pinato, Paul Nathan, Julia Choy, Shanthini M. Crusz, Andrew Furness, Samra Turajlic, Lisa Pickering, James Larkin, Julian P. Teare, Sophie Papa, Ally Speight, Anand Sharma, Nick Powell
Summary: This study investigated the outcomes of patients with corticosteroid-refractory CPI-induced enterocolitis treated with IFX, finding that less than half of patients achieved corticosteroid-free clinical remission. The data also suggest that cancer outcomes may be better in patients developing prolonged and severe inflammatory side effects of CPI therapy.
JOURNAL FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY OF CANCER
(2021)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Diego Moriconi, Luca Antonioli, Stefano Masi, Rosario Bellini, Carolina Pellegrini, Eleni Rebelos, Stefano Taddei, Monica Nannipieri
Summary: Obesity is associated with glomerular hyperfiltration, and inflammasome signaling may play a role in this process. This study found that weight loss can reduce hyperfiltration in most obese patients, but not all. Patients who did not show a decrease in IL-1 beta/Caspase-1 levels had persistent hyperfiltration. Early intervention targeting inflammasome signaling may be important in preventing the development of obesity-related kidney disease.
Review
Immunology
Hanna Grasshoff, Sara Comduehr, Luisa R. Monne, Antje Mueller, Peter Lamprecht, Gabriela Riemekasten, Jens Y. Humrich
Summary: Regulatory T cells (Treg) are crucial for maintaining peripheral tolerance and controlling inflammation and autoimmunity, with the cytokine interleukin-2 (IL-2) playing a key role in their growth and survival. Many autoimmune and rheumatic diseases show disruptions in Treg biology, leading to an imbalance between protective and pathogenic immune cells. Low-dose IL-2 therapy aims to restore physiological balance by compensating for IL-2 deficiency and strengthening the Treg population to counteract inflammation effectively.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Margherita Sisto, Sabrina Lisi
Summary: Fibrosis, which can develop spontaneously or as a result of underlying diseases, is characterized by immune cells infiltration and the production of pro-inflammatory molecules. Defects in the abilities of non-immune cells to regulate immune responses may contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. However, the precise cellular mechanisms involved in this process have not been fully elucidated.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Immunology
Cecilia Garlanda, Domenico Supino
Summary: The researchers in this study designed a new drug to selectively inhibit IL-1 by analyzing an IL-1 receptor missense mutation associated with un-leashed IL-1-mediated inflammation.
Article
Immunology
Karen Yu, Luna Dillemans, Mieke Gouwy, Helena Bessa, Mieke Metzemaekers, Erik Martens, Patrick Matthys, Xavier Bossuyt, Patrick Verschueren, Carine Wouters, Lien De Somer, Paul Proost
Summary: In this study, a fluorescent in vitro assay was improved to characterize endogenous PAD activity in complex samples. The results showed similar levels of PAD activity in synovial fluids of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients, while citrullination was limited in joints of patients with gout or Lyme's disease. Interestingly, a higher level of extracellular citrullination was only found in blood of anti-CCP-positive RA patients.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
