Article
Immunology
Akemi Kosaka, Kei Ishibashi, Toshihiro Nagato, Hidemitsu Kitamura, Yukio Fujiwara, Syunsuke Yasuda, Marino Nagata, Shohei Harabuchi, Ryusuke Hayashi, Yuki Yajima, Kenzo Ohara, Takumi Kumai, Naoko Aoki, Yoshihiro Komohara, Kensuke Oikawa, Yasuaki Harabuchi, Masahiro Kitada, Hiroya Kobayashi, Takayuki Ohkuri
Summary: Activation of the STING signaling pathway is crucial in anti-tumor immunity, while CD47 overexpression in breast cancer patients is associated with poor survival. Combination therapy with cGAMP and an antagonistic anti-CD47 mAb inhibits tumor growth, enhances phagocytosis of tumor cells, and induces systemic anti-tumor immune responses relying on STING and type I IFN signaling.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Virology
Thi Thu Phuong Tran, Tuan Hiep Tran, Eric J. Kremer
Summary: Most adults develop long-lived B- and T-cell responses after exposure to various human adenoviruses (HAdVs), protecting them from re-infections by the same HAdV type. However, certain HAdV types may lead to persistent infections, especially when an individual's T-cell response is compromised. Interestingly, patients with B-cell deficiencies do not seem to be at a greater risk of HAdV disease.
Article
Oncology
Wenyong Huang, Dongmei Ye, Wenjing He, Xiaoshun He, Xiaomin Shi, Yifang Gao
Summary: The study found that MAIT cells in patients with HCC had lower levels in both peripheral blood and liver compared to healthy controls, with reduced IFN-γ production. While peripheral MAIT cells showed upregulation of HLA-DR and PD-1, intrasinusoidal MAIT cells did not exhibit significant differences. Additionally, MAIT cells were significantly enriched in the livers of HCC patients, showing high levels of activation and exhaustion markers.
JOURNAL FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY OF CANCER
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Michiel M. Kroes, Alberto Miranda-Bedate, Elise S. Hovingh, Ronald Jacobi, Corrie Schot, Elder Pupo, Rene H. M. Raeven, Arno A. J. van der Ark, Jos P. M. van Putten, Jelle de Wit, Rob Mariman, Elena Pinelli
Summary: Despite high pertussis vaccination coverage, respiratory infections caused by Bordetella pertussis are reemerging. Studies show that strains lacking pertactin (Prn) component of the vaccine induce stronger immune activation. The findings highlight the role of pathogen adaptation and vaccine pressure in the resurgence of pertussis.
EMERGING MICROBES & INFECTIONS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Benjamin J. Swartzwelter, Sara Michelini, Tobias Frauenlob, Francesco Barbero, Alessandro Verde, Anna Chiara De Luca, Victor Puntes, Albert Duschl, Jutta Horejs-Hoeck, Paola Italiani, Diana Boraschi
Summary: The study found that engineered gold nanoparticles can influence the memory response of human primary monocytes, but the impact is limited. Different combinations of microbial agents and AuNPs can lead to varied memory responses, indicating a significant dependency of innate immune memory on individual exposure histories.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Guolei Wang, Zhiqiang Li, Mingfu Tian, Xianghua Cui, Jun'e Ma, Siyu Liu, Chenglin Ye, Li Yuan, Muhammad Suhaib Qudus, Uzair Afaq, Kailang Wu, Xinghui Liu, Chengliang Zhu
Summary: Several studies have demonstrated that beta-glucan can induce trained immunity in innate immune cells to defend against bacterial and fungal infections, but its role in antiviral infection remains unclear. This study investigated the role of trained immunity induced by Candida albicans and beta-glucan in antiviral innate immunity. It showed that C. albicans and beta-glucan promoted the expression of IFN-beta and IL-6 in mouse macrophages triggered by viral infection. Mechanistically, beta-glucan could promote the phosphorylation and ubiquitination of TBK1, a key protein of the innate immune pathway. These findings suggest that beta-glucan can enhance innate antiviral immunity and may serve as a potential therapeutic target for antiviral treatment.
Article
Cell Biology
Arshad Khan, Ekramy E. Sayedahmed, Vipul K. Singh, Abhishek Mishra, Stephanie Dorta-Estremera, Sita Nookala, David H. Canaday, Min Chen, Jin Wang, K. Jagannadha Sastry, Suresh K. Mittal, Chinnaswamy Jagannath
Summary: Despite partial protection provided by the BCG vaccine, tuberculosis remains a leading cause of infectious disease death, claiming approximately 1.5 million lives annually. The development of mucosal vaccines expressing autophagy-inducing peptide C5 and mycobacterial Ag85B-p25 epitope using replication-defective human adenovirus (HAdv(85C5)) and bovine adenovirus (BAdv(85C5)) vectors showed promising results in protecting mice against tuberculosis, with enhanced antigen presentation and robust T cell expansion. BAdv(85C5) demonstrated significant reductions in Mycobacterium tuberculosis lung burden in BCG-vaccinated mice, highlighting its potential as a mucosal vaccine for tuberculosis.
CELL REPORTS MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Tamara Munoz-Caro, Marcela Gomez-Ceruti, Liliana M. R. Silva, Daniel Gutierrez-Exposito, Henrik Wagner, Anja Taubert, Carlos Hermosilla
Summary: This study investigates the potential role of F. hepatica soluble antigens (FhAg) in triggering neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation and innate immune reactions in ovine polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN). The results show that FhAg can induce various phenotypes of NETs in vitro, with spread NETs being the most commonly detected. Moreover, FhAg stimulation leads to degranulation of PMN and an increase in PMN migration and intracellular ROS production. However, the metabolic activities of FhAg-exposed PMN do not show a significant increase. In vivo histopathological analysis confirms the presence of NETs in F. hepatica-parasitized liver tissue sections of sheep. Overall, the findings suggest that NET formation may play a role in the pathogenesis of fasciolosis.
VETERINARY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Feifei Yu, Yishan Lu, Zhiming Zhong, Bingliang Qu, Meifang Wang, Xiangyong Yu, Jiayu Chen
Summary: The study characterized the Mitf gene in Pteria penguin, showing its involvement in melanin synthesis and innate immunity in the bivalve. PpMitf plays a key role in regulating melanin synthesis and innate immunity through controlling tyrosinase expression in P. penguin.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Wen Song, Shu-Jun Song, Jing Kuang, Hang Yang, Tao Yu, Fan Yang, Tao Wan, Yi Xu, Si-Tian Wei, Mu-Xuan Li, Yuan Xiong, Ying Zhou, Wen-Xiu Qiu
Summary: In this study, M@P@HA nanoparticles were used as a STING signal amplifier to enhance innate immunotherapy in tumors. The nanoparticles released reactive oxygen species under light irradiation, disrupting cellular redox homeostasis and initiating the STING signal through damaged mitochondrial dsDNA. The immunoregulator Mn2+ increased the activity of cGAS and STING, further amplifying the STING signal in tumor cells. Additionally, the STING signal of TAMs was activated by capturing dsDNA and Mn2+ that escaped from tumor cells, enhancing innate immunity.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Lili Cheng, Peng Zhang, Yadong Liu, Zhuoyin Liu, Junjie Tang, Langtao Xu, Jie Liu
Summary: Due to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (ITM), immune checkpoint blockade and vaccine therapies often lead to an inadequate immune response. However, the activation of the STING pathway through the use of multifunctional hybrid exosomes has shown promising results in enhancing cancer immunotherapy. These hybrid exosomes can induce polarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) to the M1 phenotype, release DNA-targeting agents to induce DNA damage, and stimulate cGAS/STING activation, resulting in significant anti-tumor and antimetastatic efficacy.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Alexandra E. Cuaycal, Leandro Dias Teixeira, Graciela L. Lorca, Claudio F. Gonzalez
Summary: Shifts in the gut microbiota composition, called dysbiosis, have been associated with diseases and their underlying biological systems are not well understood. Phospholipids act as precursors to inflammatory and resolving mediators and their dysregulation is linked to chronic diseases. Gut microbial-derived lipids have unique structures and can modulate host immunity. Lactobacillus johnsonii N6.2 is a probiotic symbiont that reduces autoimmunity and promotes anti-inflammatory responses.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Duo Fu, Mengjia Wang, Tao Yang, Min Li, Zhihui Liang, Chen Chen, Lei Zhang, Changying Xue, Bingbing Sun, Chuanbin Mao
Summary: This study investigated the interaction between nanofibers and the mucosal interface, as well as the impact of nanofiber length on immune responses. The results showed that shorter nanofibers had a stronger ability to activate immune responses and enhance mucosal and systematic antibody responses. Additionally, vaccines adjuvanted with shorter nanofibers were able to induce cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses, effectively inhibiting tumor growth.
Article
Biology
Jennifer Connors, David Joyner, Nathan J. J. Mege, Gina M. M. Cusimano, Matthew R. R. Bell, Jennifer Marcy, Bhavani Taramangalam, Kenneth M. M. Kim, Paulo J. C. Lin, Ying K. K. Tam, Drew Weissman, Michele A. A. Kutzler, Mohamad-Gabriel Alameh, Elias K. K. Haddad
Summary: The role of empty lipid nanoparticles (eLNP) in dendritic cell maturation and innate immune signaling is impaired in older adults, leading to lower immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-based vaccines. eLNP can induce maturation of monocyte derived dendritic cells (MDDCs) and upregulate CD40 expression and cytokine production in multiple DC subsets and monocytes. However, healthy older adults (>65 yrs) exhibit decreased CD40 expression, IFN-gamma output, and dysregulated anti-viral signaling response to eLNP stimulation, including defective type I IFN production and phagocytosis.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nell G. Bond, Marissa D. Fahlberg, Shan Yu, Namita Rout, Dollnovan Tran, Taylor Fitzpatrick-Schmidt, Lesli M. Sprehe, Elizabeth A. Scheef, Joseph C. Mudd, Robert Schaub, Amitinder Kaur
Summary: This study reports the effects of in vivo iNKT activation in Mauritian-origin cynomolgus macaques using a humanized monoclonal antibody, NKTT320. The results show that NKTT320 rapidly activates iNKT, increases its polyfunctionality, and upregulates inflammation-modulating genes. The study suggests that NKTT320 has a sustained effect on iNKT activation and could be used as an immunotherapeutic.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Sabine K. Urban, Hanna Saenger, Marcin Krawczyk, Henrike Julich-Haertel, Arnulf Willms, Joanna Ligocka, Mikel Azkargorta, Tudor Mocan, Christoph Kahlert, Beata Kruk, Krzysztof Jankowski, Waldemar Patkowski, Marek Krawczyk, Krzysztof Zieniewicz, Waclaw Holowko, Lukasz Krupa, Mateusz Rzucidlo, Krzysztof Gutkowski, Wojciech Wystrychowski, Robert Krol, Joanna Raszeja-Wyszomirska, Artur Slomka, Robert Schwab, Aliona Woehler, Maria A. Gonzalez-Carmona, Sebastian Gehlert, Zeno Sparchez, Jesus M. Banales, Christian P. Strassburg, Frank Lammert, Piotr Milkiewicz, Miroslaw Kornek
LIVER INTERNATIONAL
(2020)
Review
Oncology
Artur Slomka, Tudor Mocan, Bingduo Wang, Iuliana Nenu, Sabine K. Urban, Maria A. Gonzalez-Carmona, Ingo G. H. Schmidt-Wolf, Veronika Lukacs-Kornek, Christian P. Strassburg, Zeno Sparchez, Miroslaw Kornek
Article
Oncology
Yutao Li, Amit Sharma, Maurits Bloemendal, Roland Schmidt-Wolf, Miroslaw Kornek, Ingo Schmidt-Wolf
Summary: CIK cells have cytotoxic effects on B-NHL cells, and a combination therapy of PD-1 inhibitors with CIK cells may offer a potential treatment option for this type of lymphoma. Further in vivo experiments are needed to determine the extent of enhancement of antitumor activity in B-NHL by PD-1 inhibitors.
Article
Oncology
Annabelle Vogt, Farsaneh Sadeghlar, Tiyasha H. Ayub, Carlo Schneider, Christian Moehring, Taotao Zhou, Robert Mahn, Alexandra Bartels, Michael Praktiknjo, Miroslaw T. Kornek, Marieta Toma, Ingo G. H. Schmidt-Wolf, Vittorio Branchi, Hanno Matthaei, Joerg C. Kalff, Christian P. Strassburg, Maria A. Gonzalez-Carmona
Summary: The combined strategy of subcutaneous vaccination with DCs transduced with AFP-coding adenoviruses and intratumoral treatment with DCs transduced with CD40L-coding adenoviruses showed promising results in inducing antitumoral immune response and leading to complete remissions and long-term survival in mice with HCC. This approach caused rapid and profound changes in the tumor environment, enhancing Th1-cytokine expression, tumor infiltration of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and DC, and tumor apoptosis, ultimately resulting in effective tumor regression of HCC.
Editorial Material
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Artur Slomka, Bingduo Wang, Tudor Mocan, Maria Gonzalez-Carmona, Christian P. Strassburg, Veronika Lukacs-Kornek, Miroslaw T. Kornek
HEPATOBILIARY SURGERY AND NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Biology
Yulu Wang, Fangfang Ge, Amit Sharma, Oliver Rudan, Maria F. Setiawan, Maria A. Gonzalez-Carmona, Miroslaw T. Kornek, Christian P. Strassburg, Matthias Schmid, Ingo G. H. Schmidt-Wolf
Summary: The immuno-autophagy-related long non-coding RNA (IARlncRNA) signature established in this study demonstrates prognostic ability in hepatocellular carcinoma, with potential clinical implications. This study represents the first attempt to combine immune, autophagy, and long non-coding RNAs as determinants in HCC, necessitating further molecular validation in clinical samples.
Article
Biology
Yulu Wang, Maria F. Setiawan, Hongde Liu, Tikam Chand Dakal, Hongjia Liu, Fangfang Ge, Oliver Rudan, Peng Chen, Chunxia Zhao, Maria A. Gonzalez-Carmona, Miroslaw T. Kornek, Christian P. Strassburg, Matthias Schmid, Jarek Maciaczyk, Amit Sharma, Ingo G. H. Schmidt-Wolf
Summary: This study investigated the role of RGS20 as a potential prognostic marker, with a particular focus on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The results showed that RGS20 was strongly upregulated in tumor tissue compared to adjacent normal tissue in HCC patients. It was also found to be associated with important clinical parameters and survival in HCC as well as other cancers. Additionally, RGS20 was significantly associated with tumor-related signaling pathways and lincRNAs with oncogenic potential.
Review
Cell Biology
Artur Slomka, Miroslaw Kornek, William C. Cho
Summary: Extracellular vesicles, particularly exosomes or small EVs (sEVs), have been found to play a significant role in modulating the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents through the delivery of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). The mechanisms involved include translational repression of anti-oncogenes by exosomal microRNAs (miRs) and lack of translational repression of oncogenes by sponging of miRs through long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs). These processes ultimately result in increased proliferation and survival of cancer cells, enhanced metastasis, and resistance to apoptosis, leading to chemotherapy failures in different types of cancer patients.
Review
Oncology
Natalia Piekus-Slomka, Lavinia Patricia Mocan, Rezarta Shkreli, Cristiana Grapa, Kinga Denkiewicz, Oliwia Wesolowska, Miroslaw Kornek, Zeno Sparchez, Artur Slomka, Rares Craciun, Tudor Mocan
Summary: Statins, originally developed for cardiovascular diseases, have been shown to have potential use in treating liver cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths.
Article
Immunology
Bingduo Wang, Aliona Woehler, Johannes Greven, Rebekka J. S. Salzmann, Cindy M. Keller, Tobias Tertel, Qun Zhao, Uemit Mert, Klemens Horst, Ludmila Lupu, Markus Huber-Lang, Martijn van Griensven, Tom Erik Mollnes, Sebastian Schaaf, Robert Schwab, Christian P. Strassburg, Ingo G. H. Schmidt-Wolf, Bernd Giebel, Frank Hildebrand, Veronika Lukacs-Kornek, Arnulf G. Willms, Miroslaw T. Kornek
Summary: This study investigated the potential of serum-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) as biomarkers for decision-making in polytrauma. The findings suggest that specific types of small EVs may serve as valuable, non-invasive, and objective biomarkers for assessing and monitoring the severity of polytrauma and associated organ damage.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Artur Slomka, Bingduo Wang, Tudor Mocan, Adelina Horhat, Arnulf G. Willms, Ingo G. H. Schmidt-Wolf, Christian P. Strassburg, Maria A. Gonzalez-Carmona, Veronika Lukacs-Kornek, Miroslaw T. Kornek
Summary: Liquid biopsies, as biomarkers in cancer diagnosis, have great potential but also limitations. This review focuses on comparing extracellular vesicles (EVs) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and discussing their similarities in characterization and quantification. While it is not concluded which is better between CTCs and EVs, the review provides reasons to intensify research on both.
Meeting Abstract
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Bingduo Wang, Tudor Mocan, Sabine K. Urban, Adelina Horhat, Dominik Zoelzer, Zeno Sparchez, Alex Shephard, Ben Owen, Arnulf Willms, Ingo G. Schmidt-Wolf, Maria Angeles Gonzalez-Carmona, Christian Strassburg, Veronika Lukacs-Kornek, Miroslaw Kornek
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Marcin Krawczyk, Bingduo Wang, Joanna Ligocka, Krzysztof Zieniewicza, Waldemar Patkowski, Sabine K. Urban, Arnulf G. Willms, Tudor Mocan, Piotr Milkiewicz, Veronika Lukacs-Kornek, Christian P. Strassburg, Miroslaw Kornek
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Farsaneh Sadeghlar, Annabelle Vogt, Raphael U. Mohr, Robert Mahn, Katrin van Beekum, Miroslaw Kornek, Tobias J. Weismueller, Vittorio Branchi, Hanno Matthaei, Marieta Toma, I. G. H. Schmidt-Wolf, Joerg C. Kalff, Christian P. Strassburg, Maria A. Gonzalez-Carmona
Summary: Activation of the CD40/CD40L immune checkpoint through in vitro stimulation enhances the antitumor effect of DC on bile duct, pancreatic, and colorectal cancer, leading to increased proliferation and cytotoxicity of effector cells towards tumor cells.
CANCER IMMUNOLOGY IMMUNOTHERAPY
(2021)
Meeting Abstract
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Sabine Urban, Hanna Saenger, Marcin Krawczyk, Arnulf Willms, Joanna Ligocka, Mikel Azkargorta, Tudor Mocan, Christoph Kahlert, Robert Schwab, Aliona Woehler, Maria Angeles Gonzalez-Carmona, Zeno Sparchez, Jesus M. Banales, Christian Strassburg, Piotr Milkiewicz, Veronika Lukacs-Kornek, Miroslaw Kornek
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
(2020)