Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Lorna M. Cryan, Tsz-Ming Tsang, Jessica Stiles, Lauren Bazinet, Sai Lun Lee, Samuel Garrard, Erika Madrian, Cody Roberts, Jessie Payne, Andrew Jensen, Arthur E. Frankel, P. Christine Ackroyd, Kenneth A. Christensen, Michael S. Rogers
Summary: Anthrax protective antigen (PA) inhibits pathological angiogenesis by interacting with capillary morphogenesis gene 2 (CMG2). Inhibiting CMG2, but not TEM8, reduces growth-factor-induced angiogenesis, highlighting CMG2 as a therapeutic target for inhibiting angiogenesis.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Xizhong Cui, Jeffrey Wang, Yan Li, Zoe G. Couse, Thomas F. Risoleo, Mahtab Moayeri, Stephen H. Leppla, Daniela Malide, Zu-Xi Yu, Peter Q. Eichacker
Summary: This study shows that Bacillus anthracis edema toxin can inhibit hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, potentially worsening hypoxemia during invasive anthrax lung infection. The findings suggest that both edema toxin and lethal toxin can contribute to pulmonary pathophysiology during infection, highlighting the importance of antitoxin therapies in managing severe anthrax disease.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-HEART AND CIRCULATORY PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Weiming Ouyang, Tao Xie, Hui Fang, David M. Frucht
Summary: Anthrax toxin is a key virulence factor of Bacillus anthracis. Anti-PA antibodies have been developed for the treatment of anthrax infection, but current assays do not fully capture the pathological functions of anthrax toxin. This study reports the development of a cell-based gene reporter potency assay to measure the effectiveness of anti-PA antibodies.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Zoe Couse, Xizhong Cui, Yan Li, Mahtab Moayeri, Stephen Leppla, Peter Q. Eichacker
Summary: Anti-toxin agents for severe B. anthracis infection are only effective when combined with antibiotic therapy and titrated hemodynamic support. Three anti-toxin antibody preparations have received FDA approval, but only one has been administered to infected patients. Controlled preclinical studies in animal models have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of these agents.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Harry Scott, Wei Huang, Kiran Andra, Sireesha Mamillapalli, Srinivas Gonti, Alexander Day, Kaiming Zhang, Nurjahan Mehzabeen, Kevin P. Battaile, Anjali Raju, Scott Lovell, James G. Bann, Derek J. Taylor
Summary: This study reveals the structure and transition mechanism of the tripartite protein complex produced by anthrax bacteria, which contributes to the understanding of the molecular mechanism of anthrax infection.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Soo-Jin Park, Dong-Soon Im
Summary: 2-ARA-LPE has been shown to inhibit M1 macrophage polarization and reduce inflammation in mouse peritoneal macrophages, as well as suppress carrageenan-induced paw edema in vivo. This compound may have potential anti-inflammatory effects by modulating macrophage phenotypes and gene expression related to inflammation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yanni Ge, Jiaojiao Zhang, Kai Jin, Ziqiang Ye, Wei Wang, Zhuxian Zhou, Juan Ye
Summary: This study developed a photothermal agent, copper sulfide@ovalbumin (CuS@OVA), with an effective photothermal effect on tumors. CuS@OVA can optimize the tumor microenvironment and stimulate an adaptive immune response, enhancing the antitumor efficiency of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and suppressing tumor growth and metastasis.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Perry Ayn Mayson A. Maza, Ji-Hyun Lee, Yong-Su Kim, Gyu-Min Sun, Youn-Joo Sung, Ludmila P. Ponomarenko, Valentine A. Stonik, Minsook Ryu, Jong-Young Kwak
Summary: The study found that Inotodiol can promote the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) and induce T cell activation. Additionally, Inotodiol-treated DCs enhance T cell proliferation and IL-2 secretion.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Xi Wang, Jingying Dai, Jingyi Xia, Zichen Ye, Xiaobing Huang, Wanjun Cao, Rong Xiao, Lin He
Summary: The study aims to investigate the effect of pomalidomide on the maturation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) from healthy donors (HDs) and multiple myeloma (MM) patients. The results show that pomalidomide enhances the maturation of moDCs and increases the expression of CD40 and HLA-DR on cells. However, the impact of pomalidomide on cytokine secretion levels varies between different sources of moDCs.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Alexander Muik, Homer C. Adams, Friederike Gieseke, Isil Altintas, Kristina B. Schoedel, Jordan M. Blum, Bianca Sanger, Saskia M. Burm, Eliana Stanganello, Dennis Verzijl, Vanessa M. Spires, Fulvia Vascotto, Aras Toker, Juliane Quinkhardt, Mark Fereshteh, Mustafa Diken, David P. E. Satijn, Sebastian Kreiter, Tahamtan Ahmadi, Esther C. W. Breij, Ozlem Tureci, Kate Sasser, Ugur Sahin, Maria Jure-Kunkel
Summary: DuoBody-CD40x4-1BB is a novel antibody capable of enhancing antitumor immunity by modulating the functions of immune cells. In vitro and in vivo experiments have demonstrated its ability to enhance dendritic cell and T-cell functions, as well as its biological activity in patients with advanced solid tumors. These findings suggest that targeting CD40 and 4-1BB with an Fc-inert bispecific antibody may be an effective approach for cancer treatment.
JOURNAL FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY OF CANCER
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Xin Qin, Bowen Zhang, Xiaoqin Sun, Mei Zhang, Dexuan Xiao, Shiyu Lin, Zhiqiang Liu, Weitong Cui, Yunfeng Lin
Summary: In this study, a complex called T-155, consisting of a tetrahedral framework nucleic acid delivery system and MicroRNA-155, was synthesized as an immunomodulator for immunosuppression. The experimental results showed that T-155 could improve spleen and thymus damage and hematopoiesis suppression in immunosuppressed mice by promoting T-cell proliferation against oxidative stress. In vitro, T-155 induced the differentiation of immature dendritic cells into mature ones via the ERK1/2 pathway and converted M0 macrophages into M1 type to enhance antigen-presenting cells' surveillance capabilities. These findings suggest that T-155 has therapeutic potential as an immunomodulator for immunosuppression.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Kiwamu Horiuchi, Kohei Kano, Akiho Minoshima, Taiki Hayasaka, Atsushi Yamauchi, Takamitsu Tatsukawa, Risa Matsuo, Yuri Yoshida, Yui Tomita, Maki Kabara, Naoki Nakagawa, Naofumi Takehara, Naoyuki Hasebe, Jun-Ichi Kawabe
Summary: The study shows that Ninj1 plays an important role in the maturation of adventitial microvessels and vascular remodeling during vascular injury, with deletion of Ninj1 in pericytes exacerbating adventitial inflammation and increasing intimal hyperplasia.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-HEART AND CIRCULATORY PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Taoran Zhao, Ruihua Li, Mengyin Qian, Meirong Wang, Xiaozheng Zhang, Yuhan Wang, Xinghui Zhao, Jun Xie
Summary: This study used RNA sequencing to investigate the transcriptional changes in RAW264.7 cells treated with the toxin ET. The results showed that ET inhibited TNF-alpha expression through the cAMP/PKA pathway, affected the expression of genes involved in various macrophage functions, and modulated the ERK1/2 and NF-alpha B signaling pathways. These findings suggest that B. anthracis may manipulate macrophages and establish systemic infection through these mechanisms.
Article
Acoustics
Lifei Yang, Lingzi Chen, Ye Fang, Suya Ma
Summary: The study demonstrates that downregulation of GSK-3 beta expression via UTMD effectively suppresses vulnerable plaque factors and inflammation in atherosclerosis, leading to increased plaque stability. Additionally, UTMD does not affect the viability of foam cells.
ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hye-Soo Park, Seunga Choi, Yong-Woo Back, Kang-In Lee, Han-Gyu Choi, Hwa-Jung Kim
Summary: The study found that PGE2 produced by RpfE-activated dendritic cells via the MAPK and cyclooxygenase 2 signaling pathways induces Th1 and Th17 cell responses mainly via the EP4 receptor, contributing to defense against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Moreover, adding optimal amount of PGE2 to IL-2-IL-6-IL-23p19-IL-1 beta is essential for promoting differentiation into Th1/Th17 cells with strong bactericidal activity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)