Article
Immunology
Davinder Kaur, Latifa Chachi, Edith Gomez, Nicolas Sylvius, Christopher E. Brightling
Summary: In asthma, IL-18, IL-18BP, and IL-18R expression show differences between airway compartments, with IL-18 promoting epithelial activation and cellular differentiation.IL-18 stimulation of bronchial epithelial cells leads to increased intracellular calcium, wound repair, metabolic activity, morphological changes, and epithelial cellular differentiation.
CLINICAL & TRANSLATIONAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Emily W. Sun, Eva W. Iepsen, Nektaria Pezos, Amanda L. Lumsden, Alyce M. Martin, Gudrun Schober, Nichole J. Isaacs, Christopher K. Rayner, Nam Q. Nguyen, Dayan de Fontgalland, Philippa Rabbitt, Paul Hollington, David A. Wattchow, Torben Hansen, Jens-Christian Holm, Alice P. Liou, V. Margaret Jackson, Signe S. Torekov, Richard L. Young, Damien J. Keating
Summary: This study revealed a previously unidentified signaling nexus in the human gastrointestinal tract involving the release of a-MSH and the activation of MC4R on L cells in an autocrine and paracrine fashion. The findings have direct implications for targeting mucosal MC4R as a treatment for human metabolic disorders.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Suzhao Li, Liqiong Jiang, Karsten Beckmann, Jesper Falkesgaard Hojen, Ulrich Pessara, Nicholas E. Powers, Dennis M. de Graaf, Tania Azam, Jared Lindenberger, Elan Z. Eisenmesser, Stephan Fischer, Charles A. Dinarello
Summary: Unchecked inflammation can lead to severe diseases with high mortality, such as macrophage activation syndrome (MAS). Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is elevated in MAS and COVID-19 patients, correlating with the severity of COVID-19 symptoms, and initiates inflammatory signaling through the IL-1R5 and IL-1R7 receptor complex. A novel anti-IL-1R7 antibody has been developed to specifically block IL-18-mediated inflammation, showing promising results in human cell lines and blood samples.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
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
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Dong-Hyun Kim, Kyeong-Jin Lee, Jinjoo Park, Susan Chi, Jaekyu Han, Yewon Bang, Sun-Mi Kim, Seung Goo Kang, Sang-Hoon Cha, Yong-Hyun Han
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effects of APB-R3 on biliary injuries in the experimental PSC rodent model. The findings showed that APB-R3 administration effectively alleviated PSC symptoms, suppressed ductular reactive and proliferative phenotypes, reduced periductal fibrosis, and diminished senescence associated secretory phenotype (SASP) markers in cholestatic liver disease. These results suggest that APB-R3 could be a promising therapeutic option for PSC.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Mengying Xie, Mingying Zhang, Mengyuan Dai, Shan Yue, Zhao Li, Ju Qiu, Chenqi Lu, Wei Xu
Summary: This study characterized a population of IL-7R alpha+IL-18R alpha(+) ILC progenitors in mouse bone marrow with multi-ILC lineage potential. Single-cell gene expression analysis revealed the heterogeneity of this population and identified several subpopulations with specific ILC subset-biased gene expression profiles. The role of IL-18 signaling in the regulation of IL-18R alpha(+) ILC progenitors and ILC development was found to be limited.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Haiting Zhang, Yu Wei, Huanhuan Jia, Diling Chen, Xiaocui Tang, Jian Wang, Meili Chen, Yinrui Guo
Summary: Understanding the communication and interaction mechanisms between the host and its resident microorganisms is crucial for precise diagnosis and treatment. This study investigated the gut mycobiota and microbiota in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) monkeys and healthy controls. The results showed a clear difference in gut fungi and bacteria composition between the two groups, suggesting a close link between fungal and bacterial dysbiosis and AS. K. pintolopesii was identified as a potential marker microorganism for AS, although further research is needed to fully understand its specific mechanism.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Garrett R. R. Overcast, Hannah E. E. Meibers, Emily M. M. Eshleman, Irene Saha, Lisa Waggoner, Krupaben N. N. Patel, Viral G. G. Jain, David B. B. Haslam, Theresa Alenghat, Kelli L. L. VanDussen, Chandrashekhar Pasare
Summary: Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) are critical in defending against microbes, with interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R) signaling playing a dual role in regulating intestinal homeostasis and inflammation. IL-1R enhances IL-22-induced antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) production in IECs, providing protection against infections. However, IL-1R signaling in IECs also induces chemokines and reactive oxygen species genes, contributing to inflammation during colitis induced by epithelial damage.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Fumihiro Fujiki, Soyoko Morimoto, Akiko Katsuhara, Akane Okuda, Saeka Ogawa, Eriko Ueda, Maki Miyazaki, Ayako Isotani, Masahito Ikawa, Sumiyuki Nishida, Hiroko Nakajima, Akihiro Tsuboi, Yoshihiro Oka, Jun Nakata, Naoki Hosen, Atsushi Kumanogoh, Yusuke Oji, Haruo Sugiyama
Summary: In this study, researchers identified a key molecule called retinol dehydrogenase 10 (Rdh10) that plays a crucial role in regulating T cell differentiation. They found that vitamin A metabolites activate retinoic acid receptor (RAR) signaling, leading to comprehensive epigenetic repression of memory T cell-associated genes and promoting effector T cell differentiation. Importantly, memory T cells generated through blocking RAR signaling showed strong anti-tumor responses in adoptive T cell transfer setting. This study highlights the importance of vitamin A metabolism and its signaling in memory T cell-based cancer immunotherapy.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Shuai Qiao, Xiangrui Zhang, Ziyi Chen, Ye Zhao, Chi-Meng Tzeng
Summary: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of alloferon-1 in preventing estrogen deficiency-induced osteoporosis. It restores bone density and microstructure, affects biochemical markers of bone turnover, and suppresses the expression of inflammatory cytokines in bone tissues. These findings suggest that alloferon-1 could be a potential alternative drug or auxiliary modulator for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Xiaozhou Qi, Yong Zhang, Yilin Zhang, Fei Luo, Kaige Song, Gaoxue Wang, Fei Ling
Summary: This study found that the effect of probiotics in enhancing host resistance to pathogen infections depended on the function of -B-12 produced by an anaerobic indigenous gut microbe, Cetobacterium. Furthermore, as a gut microbial regulator, -B-12 exhibited the ability to strengthen the interactions within the gut microbiota and gut barrier tight junctions, thereby improving host resistance against pathogen infection.
Article
Cell Biology
Xinxuan Cheng, Danxue He, Chunyan Liao, Sijie Lin, Liying Tang, Yuan-Liang Wang, Jiaoyue Hu, Wei Li, Zuguo Liu, Yalin Wu, Yi Liao
Summary: The accumulation of all-trans-retinal (atRAL) has been proposed as a pathogenic factor in Stargardt disease type 1 (STGD1) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The study showed that atRAL induced complement activation through the alternative pathway in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, and led to the production of interleukin-1 beta. Inhibition of p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathways ameliorated complement activation in RPE cells, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for macular degeneration.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ophthalmology
Jin-Miao Li, Rong Lu, Yun Zhang, Jing Lin, Xia Hua, Stephen C. Pflugfelder, De-Quan Li
Summary: IL-36 cytokines, particularly IL-36 alpha, show differential expression in primary HCECs, with pro-inflammatory effects at hyperosmotic conditions. The antagonists IL-36RA and IL-38 are suppressed under hyperosmotic stress, suggesting a novel mechanism of inflammation induction in dry eye. Further research is needed to explore the therapeutic potential of IL-36RA and IL-38 in dry eye disease.
Article
Immunology
Shannon M. Kahan, Rakesh K. Bakshi, Jennifer T. Ingram, R. Curtis Hendrickson, Elliot J. Lefkowitz, David K. Crossman, Laurie E. Harrington, Casey T. Weaver, Allan J. Zajac
Summary: The ability to produce IL-2 identifies constituents of the expanded CD8 T cell effector pool with stem-like features, which exhibit superior protective powers. The production of IL-2 by cells attenuates the ability to receive IL-2 signals, limiting terminal effector formation and conferring superior protection. Non-producing effector cells, on the other hand, gain effector traits at the expense of memory formation. Despite distinct properties during the effector phase, IL-2-producing and non-producing CD8 T cells converge transcriptionally as memory matures, forming populations with equal recall abilities.
SCIENCE IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Michelle K. Becker-Hapak, Niraj Shrestha, Ethan McClain, Michael J. Dee, Pallavi Chaturvedi, Gilles M. Leclerc, Lynne I. Marsala, Mark Foster, Timothy Schappe, Jennifer Tran, Sweta Desai, Carly C. Neal, Patrick Pence, Pamela Wong, Julia A. Wagner, David A. Russler-Germain, Xiaoyun Zhu, Catherine M. Spanoudis, Victor L. Gallo, Christian A. Echeverri, Laritza L. Ramirez, Lijing You, Jack O. Egan, Peter R. Rhode, Jin-an Jiao, Gabriela J. Muniz, Emily K. Jeng, Caitlin A. Prendes, Ryan P. Sullivan, Melissa M. Berrien-Elliott, Hing C. Wong, Todd A. Fehniger
Summary: NK cells show promise as a cellular therapy for cancer, but challenges in production of required reagents exist. A novel HFPC platform was developed to activate NK cells against cancer, showing potential for advancement in clinical GMP-grade memory-like NK cell production.
CANCER IMMUNOLOGY RESEARCH
(2021)