Article
Biology
Wei-Jia Luo, Sung-Liang Yu, Chia-Ching Chang, Min-Hui Chien, Ya-Ling Chang, Keng-Mao Liao, Pei-Chun Lin, Kuei-Pin Chung, Ya-Hui Chuang, Jeremy J. W. Chen, Pan-Chyr Yang, Kang-Yi Su
Summary: HLJ1 knockout mice show reduced organ injury and mortality in lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxic shock. HLJ1 deletion affects IFN-gamma-related gene signatures in distinct immune cell clusters. HLJ1 deficiency leads to reduced IL-12 levels, dampened IFN-gamma production in natural killer cells, and improved survival rate. HLJ1 converts misfolded IL-12p35 homodimers to monomers, maintaining bioactive IL-12p70 heterodimerization and secretion.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
He-Zhou Guo, Zi-Hua Guo, Shan-He Yu, Li-Ting Niu, Wan-Ting Qiang, Meng-Meng Huang, Yuan-Yuan Tian, Juan Chen, Hui Yang, Xiang-Qin Weng, Yi Zhang, Wu Zhang, Shao-Yan Hu, Jun Shi, Jiang Zhu
Summary: Abnormal IL-36 production in leukemic progenitor cells is a key feature of AML, promoting inflammation and preventing leukemia clearance by CD8(+) T cells. Chemotherapy-induced IL-36 production from residual leukemic cells allows for the persistence of an immunosuppressive axis post-treatment. Depletion of inflammatory monocytes, in combination with chemotherapy and PD-1 blockade, shows promise in restricting AML progression and relapse.
Article
Immunology
Marilena P. Etna, Martina Severa, Valerio Licursi, Manuela Pardini, Melania Cruciani, Fabiana Rizzo, Elena Giacomini, Gianfranco Macchia, Orazio Palumbo, Raffaella Stallone, Massimo Carella, Mark Livingstone, Rodolfo Negri, Sandra Pellegrini, Eliana M. Coccia
Summary: Rapamycin, an autophagy inducer and protein synthesis inhibitor, promotes a Th1 response in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected DCs by modulating the expression of various genes involved in cytokine production and immune response pathways. The study also highlights the role of GSK-3 beta as a molecular switch in regulating the cytokine balance in Mtb-infected DCs, suggesting rapamycin and GSK-3 beta modulators as potential compounds for host-directed therapy against Mtb infection.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Pavithra Sampath, Manju Moorthy, Athul Menon, Lekshmi Madhav, Aishwarya Janaki, Madhavan Dhanapal, Alangudi Palaniappan Natarajan, Syed Hissar, Uma Devi Ranganathan, Gopalakrishna Ramaswamy, Ramalingam Bethunaickan
Summary: This study examined the miRNA profile of monocytes in different stages of tuberculosis (TB) and healthy individuals, and revealed differential expression of miRNAs. The study found that miRNA expression was downregulated in the active TB groups. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) showed bidirectional responses between active disease and latent infection, as well as hyper immune activation in the drug-resistant TB group. Therefore, monocyte miRNA signatures can serve as pathological clues and shed light on the immune regulatory mechanism for tuberculosis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Matthew J. Camiolo, Xiuxia Zhou, Qi Wei, Humberto E. Trejo Bittar, Naftali Kaminski, Anuradha Ray, Sally E. Wenzel
Summary: Asthma is a common disease with highly variable natural history and patient morbidity. Previous studies have linked gene expression changes in severe asthma to specific clinical and physiological characteristics. Using bronchial epithelial cell gene expression data, a transcriptional signature was identified for participants with exacerbation-prone asthma and impaired lung function. This approach identified a set of 31 genes that classified patients accurately and highlighted IL-18 signaling in severe asthma pathogenesis.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Hyun-Sik Yang, Can Zhang, Becky C. Carlyle, Sherri Y. Zhen, Bianca A. Trombetta, Aaron P. Schultz, Jeremy J. Pruzin, Colleen D. Fitzpatrick, Wai-Ying W. Yau, Dylan R. Kirn, Dorene M. Rentz, Steven E. Arnold, Keith A. Johnson, Reisa A. Sperling, Jasmeer P. Chhatwal, Rudolph E. Tanzi
Summary: The study found that IL-12p70 and IFN-γ are associated with cognitive decline in cognitively unimpaired elderly, and this association may be related to Aβ levels. This suggests that immune dysregulation plays an important role in early-stage cognitive decline.
ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA
(2022)
Article
Biology
Avijit Dutta, Chen-Yiu Hung, Tse-Ching Chen, Sung-Han Hsiao, Chia-Shiang Chang, Yung-Chang Lin, Chun-Yen Lin, Ching-Tai Huang
Summary: Adaptive transfer experiments using an influenza hemagglutinin antigen-specific mouse model suggest that viral neuraminidase-activated TGF-beta from Th1 cells guides Th17 evolution to promote protection from lung inflammation in severe influenza.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Tania Lebratti, Ying Shiang Lim, Adjoa Cofie, Prabhakar Andhey, Xiaoping Jiang, Jason Scott, Maria Rita Fabbrizi, Ayse Naz Ozanturk, Christine Pham, Regina Clemens, Maxim Artyomov, Mary Dinauer, Haina Shin
Summary: The study reveals that sustained type I interferon signaling drives pathogenic neutrophil responses and identifies IL-18 as a novel component of disease during genital HSV-2 infection. Therapeutic interventions targeting IFN signaling and IL-18 may have potential in treating HSV-2 genital disease.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yosuke Fukuda, Tetsuya Homma, Hideki Inoue, Yuiko Goto, Yoko Sato, Hitoshi Ikeda, Chisato Onitsuka, Hiroki Sato, Kaho Akimoto, Takaya Ebato, Hiromitsu Suganuma, Tomoko Kawahara, Hatsuko Mikuni, Yoshitaka Uchida, Shintaro Suzuki, Akihiko Tanaka, Hironori Sagara
Summary: This study found that the expression of type III interferons (IFNs) is associated with disease severity in COVID-19 patients. The low expression of IL-28A/IFN-lambda 2 may predict the severity of COVID-19 and possibly through the mechanism of delayed viral elimination.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ella Larissa Ndoricyimpaye, Jacques Van Snick, Rutayisire Robert, Emmanuel Bikorimana, Onesphore Majyambere, Enatha Mukantwari, Thaddee Nshimiyimana, Valens Mbonigaba, Jean Paul Coutelier, Nadine Rujeni
Summary: To effectively treat and prevent severe COVID-19, it is important to identify early markers of disease severity in different populations. This study analysed cytokine kinetics in COVID-19 patients in Rwanda and found that severe cases had significantly higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and gene expressions compared to mild cases on the first day of infection. IFN gamma was identified as a severity marker throughout the disease course, while TGF beta 1, IL-6, and IL-17 were markers of severity only at an early phase. Additionally, low IL-9 levels and a high IFN gamma/IL-9 ratio were observed in patients who later died, suggesting that this could be an important biomarker for predicting COVID-19 severity and post-COVID-19 syndrome.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Rui Yang, Ying Peng, Jiang Pi, Yidian Liu, Enzhuo Yang, Xiaona Shen, Lan Yao, Ling Shen, Robert L. Modlin, Hongbo Shen, Wei Sha, Zheng W. Chen
Summary: The primary CD4+CD161+ T-cell subset in unexposed individuals can quickly inhibit the growth of intracellular Mtb and BCG, but these cells lose this ability in TB patients.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Julio Flores-Gonzalez, Alexia Urban-Solano, Lucero A. Ramon-Luing, Juan Carlos Cancino-Diaz, Araceli Contreras-Rodriguez, Everardo Curiel-Quesada, Rogelio Hernandez-Pando, Leslie Chavez-Galan
Summary: This study evaluated the distribution of circulating B cell subsets in tuberculosis (TB) patients and their response to stimuli from M.tb. The results showed that patients with different types of TB have altered frequencies of circulating B cells. Drug-sensitive and drug-resistant TB patients displayed unique characteristics and produced different levels of cytokines.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Jean De Dieu Harelimana, Hubert Senanu Ahor, Bastian Benner, Sabine Hellmuth, Ernest Adankwah, Difery Minadzi, Wilfred Aniagyei, Millicent Naa Koshie Lamptey, Joseph Arthur, Augustine Yeboah, Mohammed K. Abass, Linda Batsa Debrah, Dorcas O. Owusu, Ertan Mayatepek, Julia Seyfarth, Richard O. Phillips, Marc Jacobsen
Summary: This study investigated the regulation of IL-7R alpha expression in monocytes by bacterial components and cytokines, as well as the effects of tuberculosis serum on IL-7R alpha expression. The results showed that certain cytokines induced IL-7R alpha expression in monocytes, and blocking these cytokines decreased the IL-7R alpha expression induced by bacterial components. Additionally, the study found that the in vitro-induced IL-7R alpha expression was transient and dependent on FoxO1 expression.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sajjad Ahmad, Jawad Ahmed, Eman H. Khalifa, Farhad Ali Khattak, Anwar Sheed Khan, Syed Umar Farooq, Sannaa M. A. Osman, Magdi M. Salih, Nadeem Ullah, Taj Ali Khan
Summary: This study aimed to characterize the mutations in genes of the IL-12/23/ISG15-IFN-gamma pathway in severe tuberculosis patients. Through the investigation of four clinically suspected tuberculosis patients, mutations were identified in IL-12R beta 1, STAT1, NEMO, and CYBB genes, which are associated with the onset of tuberculosis and immune dysfunction.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Panpan Guo, Limin Yang, Mengfan Zhang, Yuyan Zhang, Yuanyuan Tong, Yanlan Cao, Jianghuai Liu
Summary: Type I IFNs play a crucial role in tumor immune surveillance and therapeutic responses, but may also have protumoral activities. Research has shown that IFN-I stimulation can lead to high expression of ARG1 in tumor-associated macrophages, and that there is a surprising IFN-to-IL-4 cytokine axis in transitional monocytes which affects macrophage phenotype conversion. This study highlights the complex interplay between IFN-I and IL-4 in regulating the tumor microenvironment and therapeutic responses.
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Laura Dirkx, Sarah Hendrickx, Margot Merlot, Dimitri Bulte, Marick Starick, Jessy Elst, Andre Bafica, Didier G. Ebo, Louis Maes, Johan Van Weyenbergh, Guy Caljon
Summary: Long-term hematopoietic stem cells may serve as protective niches for the Leishmania parasite, leading to treatment failure in cases of visceral leishmaniasis. This study identified long-term hematopoietic stem cells as a niche with high parasite burdens in the bone marrow, which are more tolerant to antileishmanial drugs and contribute to relapse. A unique transcriptional signature in these cells was identified, showing overlap with human VL and HIV co-infected blood transcriptomes.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Beatriz G. S. Rocha, Caroline C. Picoli, Bryan O. P. Goncalves, Walison N. Silva, Alinne C. Costa, Michele M. Moraes, Pedro A. C. Costa, Gabryella S. P. Santos, Milla R. Almeida, Luciana M. Silva, Youvika Singh, Marcelo Falchetti, Gabriela D. A. Guardia, Pedro P. G. Guimaraes, Remo C. Russo, Rodrigo R. Resende, Mauro C. X. Pinto, Jaime H. Amorim, Vasco A. C. Azevedo, Alexandre Kanashiro, Helder I. Nakaya, Edroaldo L. Rocha, Pedro A. F. Galante, Akiva Mintz, Paul S. Frenette, Alexander Birbrair
Summary: This study reveals the presence of perivascular GFAP+/Plp1+ cells derived from tissue-resident Schwann cells in the tumor microenvironment. Genetic ablation of Schwann cells slows down tumor growth and angiogenesis, while boosting immune surveillance by increasing tumor-infiltrating anti-tumor lymphocytes and reducing immune-suppressor cells. In humans, increased expression of Schwann cell-related genes within melanoma is associated with improved survival.
Meeting Abstract
Infectious Diseases
Simon Feys, Samuel M. Goncalves, Mona Khan, Sumin Choi, Bram Boeckx, Denis Chatelain, Cristina Cunha, Yves Debaveye, Greet Hermans, Marjan Hertoghs, Stephanie Humblet-Baron, Cato Jacobs, Katrien Lagrou, Lukas Marcelis, Julien Maizel, Philippe Meersseman, Remy Nyga, Laura Seldeslachts, Marick Rodrigues Starick, Karin Thevissen, Christophe Vandenbriele, Lore Vanderbeke, Greetje Vande Velde, Niels Van Regenmortel, Arno Vanstapel, Sam Vanmassenhove, Alexander Wilmer, Frank L. Van De Veerdonk, Gert De Hertogh, Peter Mombaerts, Diether Lambrechts, Agostinho Carvalho, Johan Van Weyenbergh, Joost Wauters
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Simon Feys, Samuel M. Goncalves, Mona Khan, Sumin Choi, Bram Boeckx, Denis Chatelain, Cristina Cunha, Yves Debaveye, Greet Hermans, Marjan Hertoghs, Stephanie Humblet-Baron, Cato Jacobs, Katrien Lagrou, Lukas Marcelis, Julien Maizel, Philippe Meersseman, Remy Nyga, Laura Seldeslachts, Marick Rodrigues Starick, Karin Thevissen, Christophe Vandenbriele, Lore Vanderbeke, Greetje Vande Velde, Niels Van Regenmortel, Arno Vanstapel, Sam Vanmassenhove, Alexander Wilmer, Frank L. Van de Veerdonk, Gert De Hertogh, Peter Mombaerts, Diether Lambrechts, Agostinho Carvalho, Johan Van Weyenbergh, Joost Wauters
Summary: This study revealed a three-level breach in antifungal immunity in IAPA and CAPA, affecting the integrity of the epithelial barrier, the capacity to phagocytise and kill Aspergillus spores, and the ability to destroy Aspergillus hyphae, which is mainly mediated by neutrophils.
LANCET RESPIRATORY MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Daniel de Oliveira Patricio, Greicy Brisa Malaquias Dias, Lucilene Wildner Granella, Ben Trigg, Helena Claire Teague, Dina Bittencourt, Andre Bafica, Alfeu Zanotto-Filho, Brian Ferguson, Daniel Santos Mansur
Summary: DNA-PKcs plays a role in restricting the spread of Zika virus infection in human cells by influencing the transcription of interferons and related genes. This mechanism is independent of DNA breaks.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Rodrigo de Oliveira Formiga, Flavia C. Amaral, Camila F. Souza, Daniel A. G. B. Mendes, Carlos W. S. Wanderley, Cristina B. Lorenzini, Adara A. Santos, Juliana Antonia, Lucas F. Faria, Caio C. Natale, Nicholas M. Paula, Priscila C. S. Silva, Fernanda R. Fonseca, Luan Aires, Nicoli Heck, Marick R. Starick, Celso M. Queiroz-Junior, Felipe R. S. Santos, Filipe R. O. de Souza, Vivian V. Costa, Shana P. C. Barroso, Alexandre Morrot, Johan Van Weyenbergh, Regina Sordi, Frederico Alisson-Silva, Fernando Q. Cunha, Edroaldo L. Rocha, Sylvie Chollet-Martin, Maria Margarita Hurtado-Nedelec, Clemence Martin, Pierre-Regis Burgel, Daniel S. Mansur, Rosemeri Maurici, Matthew S. Macauley, Andre Bafica, Veronique Witko-Sarsat, Fernando Spiller
Summary: This study investigated the role of host neuraminidase (NEU) in neutrophil dysregulation during severe infections. The researchers found that oseltamivir and zanamivir can inhibit NEU activity and reduce neutrophil overactivation, suggesting NEU as a potential host-directed target to regulate neutrophil dysfunction.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Letter
Critical Care Medicine
Simon Feys, Jannes Heylen, Agostinho Carvalho, Johan L. Van Weyenbergh, Joost Wauters, Variomic Study Grp
INTENSIVE CARE MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Tatiane Assone, Soraya Maria Menezes, Fernanda de Toledo Goncalves, Victor Angelo Folgosi, Gabriela da Silva Prates, Tim Dierckx, Marcos Braz, Jerusa Smid, Michel E. Haziot, Rosa M. N. Marcusso, Flavia E. Dahy, Evelien Vanderlinden, Sandra Claes, Dominique Schols, Roberta Bruhn, Edward L. Murphy, Augusto Cesar Penalva de Oliveira, Dirk Daelemans, Jurgen Vercauteren, Jorge Casseb, Johan Van Weyenbergh
Summary: This study investigated potential biomarkers of immunopathogenesis and therapeutic response in HAM/TSP. The results showed that older age, female sex, and higher proviral load are risk factors for HAM/TSP. Systemic cytokine IL-6 and the chronic inflammatory marker GlycA displayed an "inflammaging" signature in asymptomatic individuals, but not in HAM/TSP patients. IFN-gamma and IL-17A were identified as biomarkers of untreated HAM/TSP, while pre-treatment GlycA and TNF levels predicted therapeutic response to prednisolone pulse therapy.
JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dorien Mabille, Laura Dirkx, Sofie Thys, Marjorie Vermeersch, Daniel Montenye, Matthias Govaerts, Sarah Hendrickx, Peter Takac, Johan Van Weyenbergh, Isabel Pintelon, Peter Delputte, Louis Maes, David Perez-Morga, Jean-Pierre Timmermans, Guy Caljon
Summary: Trypanosoma brucei, the parasite responsible for sleeping sickness, rapidly and permanently colonizes the lungs and affects the immune response, potentially making individuals more susceptible to opportunistic infections.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Correction
Immunology
Bram Decru, Jan Van Elslande, Sophie Steels, Gijs Van Pottelbergh, Lode Godderis, Bram Van Holm, Xavier Bossuyt, Johan Van Weyenbergh, Piet Maes, Pieter Vermeersch
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Erica C. Larson, Amy L. Ellis, Mark A. Rodgers, Abigail K. Gubernat, Janelle L. Gleim, Ryan V. Moriarty, Alexis J. Balgeman, Yonne K. Menezes, Cassaundra L. Ameel, Daniel J. Fillmore, Skyler M. Pergalske, Jennifer A. Juno, Pauline Maiello, Alexander G. White, H. Jacob Borish, Dale I. Godfrey, Stephen J. Kent, Lishomwa C. Ndhlovu, Shelby L. O'Connor, Charles A. Scanga
Summary: Pre-existing HIV infection increases the risk of tuberculosis (TB) in children, and antiretroviral therapy (ART) can reduce but not eliminate this risk. This study modeled HIV/Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) coinfection in juvenile macaques treated with ART and found that the progression of TB and T cell responses were similar to those in Mtb-infected macaques without HIV infection. This study provides insights into the immune mechanisms of TB progression in HIV-infected and HIV-naive children.
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Thulaj Meharwade, Loick Joumier, Maxime Parisotto, Vivian Huynh, Edroaldo Lummertz da Rocha, Mohan Malleshaiah
Summary: Embryonic stem cells can simulate multiple states resembling different stages of early embryogenesis, and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling can induce the totipotent state. Cross-activated pathways can constrain the role of BMP, but by inhibiting these pathways, we can enhance the proportion of totipotent cells.
Article
Oncology
William Marion, Tiago Koppe, Chun-Chin Chen, Dahai Wang, Katie Frenis, Sara Fierstein, Prerana Sensharma, Olivia Aumais, Michael Peters, Sonya Ruiz-Torres, Tafadzwa Chihanga, Steffen Boettcher, Akiko Shimamura, Daniel E. Bauer, Thorsten Schlaeger, Susanne I. I. Wells, Benjamin L. L. Ebert, Daniel Starczynowski, Edroaldo Lummertz da Rocha, R. Grant Rowe
Summary: Inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFSs) have a high risk of transformation to myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Through undefined mechanisms, hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) gain ectopic, dysregulated self-renewal secondary to somatic mutations during IBMFS transformation. In the context of Fanconi anemia (FA), multiplexed gene editing was performed in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to study MDS-associated genes, leading to the development of a model for IBMFS-associated MDS and the identification of a therapeutic target in FA-associated MDS.
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Ana T. Semeano, Fabiano A. Tofoli, Juliana C. Correa-Velloso, Ana P. de Jesus Santos, Agatha Oliveira-Giacomelli, Rafaela R. Cardoso, Mateus A. Pessoa, Edroaldo Lummertz da Rocha, Gustavo Ribeiro, Merari F. R. Ferrari, Lygia Pereira, Yang D. Teng, Denise F. S. Petri, Henning Ulrich
Summary: This study investigated the effects of magnetic nanoparticles and external magnetic fields on neural induction of pluripotent stem cells. The presence of magnetic nanoparticles facilitated cell migration and neuronal maturation, while the application of magnetic fields stimulated cell proliferation and fate decisions, depending on the origin and developmental stage of the stem cells. Mechanistic analysis revealed the modulation of ionic homeostasis and proteins involved in cytostructural, liposomal, and cell cycle checkpoint functions as the underlying mechanisms. These findings highlight the potential of magnetic stimulation for neural differentiation and function modulation, as well as the risks associated with excessive stimulation.
STEM CELL REVIEWS AND REPORTS
(2022)