Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gholamhossein Hassanshahi, Mohammad Amin Roohi, Seyed-Alireza Esmaeili, Hossein Pourghadamyari, Reza Nosratabadi
Summary: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic immune-mediated disease with no known treatment yet. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) show promise in MS treatment by their ability to migrate and home into the CNS. The chemokine/chemokine receptor axes play a pivotal role in MSC trafficking and their targeted tropism to the CNS in MS patients.
Article
Biology
Yu Li, Pablo Guaman Tipan, Hilary J. Selden, Jayashree Srinivasan, Laura P. Hale, Lauren I. R. Ehrlich
Summary: Central tolerance ensures elimination or diversion of autoreactive T cells, and CCR4 and CCR7 play distinct roles in this process. CCR4 promotes medullary entry and clonal deletion of immature thymocytes after positive selection, while CCR7 is required for medullary localization and negative selection of mature thymocytes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Haneen A. Al-Mazroua, Ahmed Nadeem, Mushtaq A. Ansari, Sabry M. Attia, Saleh A. Bakheet, Thamer H. Albekairi, Nemat Ali, Fawaz Alasmari, Mohammad Algahtani, Abdulaziz M. S. Alsaad, Sheikh F. Ahmad
Summary: The study demonstrated that J-113863 treatment effectively reduced clinical scores and demyelination in EAE mice by suppressing Th9/Th22 cells. These findings suggest that J-113863 has the potential to be a novel drug candidate for the treatment of MS.
MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Orsolya Toeroek, Bettina Schreiner, Johanna Schaffenrath, Hsing-Chuan Tsai, Upasana Maheshwari, Sebastian A. Stifter, Christina Welsh, Ana Amorim, Sucheta Sridhar, Sebastian G. Utz, Wiebke Mildenberger, Sina Nassiri, Mauro Delorenzi, Adriano Aguzzi, May H. Han, Melanie Greter, Burkhard Becher, Annika Keller
Summary: Pericytes regulate leukocyte infiltration in the adult central nervous system and play a role in neuroinflammation.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Aaron H. S. Heng, Caleb W. Han, Caitlin Abbott, Shaun R. McColl, Iain Comerford
Summary: Pro-inflammatory CD4(+) T helper cells play a crucial role in autoimmune diseases. Recent research has revealed the heterogeneity of chemokine receptors expressed by these cells, which are responsible for recruiting different subsets of pro-inflammatory Th cells in autoimmune inflammation. Understanding these receptors may lead to potential therapeutic targets for intervention.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Hayato Une, Ryo Yamasaki, Satoshi Nagata, Hiroo Yamaguchi, Yuko Nakamuta, Ulfa Camelia Indiasari, Yiwen Cui, Koji Shinoda, Katsuhisa Masaki, Magdalena Goetz, Jun-ichi Kira
Summary: By knocking out the Cx43 gene in astroglia, EAE clinical symptoms can be alleviated, reducing inflammation cell infiltration and demyelination in the spinal cord, meanwhile promoting anti-inflammatory gene expression and inhibiting proinflammatory gene expression.
JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lan Li, Jiasong Cao, Sheng Li, Tianyi Cui, Jingyu Ni, Han Zhang, Yan Zhu, Jingyuan Mao, Xiumei Gao, Adam C. Midgley, Meifeng Zhu, Guanwei Fan
Summary: Tissue-resident cardiac macrophage subsets play important roles in cardiac tissue inflammation and repair after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2)-expressing macrophages recruit circulating monocytes to infarcted myocardium and promote inflammation. However, small extracellular vesicles (sEV) derived from CCR2 macrophages, which resemble M2-polarized macrophages, have anti-inflammatory effects and contribute to cardiac repair.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhongwang Yu, Xue Fang, Weili Liu, Rui Sun, Jintao Zhou, Yingyan Pu, Ming Zhao, Dingya Sun, Zhenghua Xiang, Peng Liu, Yuqiang Ding, Li Cao, Cheng He
Summary: Microglia plays an important role in regulating BBB integrity in inflammatory demyelination. Manipulating microglia can protect BBB integrity and ameliorate inflammatory demyelination.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Belinda Lennox, Wenzheng Xiong, Patrick Waters, Alasdair Coles, Peter B. Jones, Tianrong Yeo, Jeanne Tan May May, Ksenija Yeeles, Daniel Anthony, Fay Probert
Summary: Some studies suggest that a proportion of psychosis may have an autoimmune basis, but there is currently no biochemical test able to accurately identify inflammation-related psychosis. In a study of acute psychosis patients, distinct clinical and biochemical phenotypes were found in a subgroup of patients, indicating a potential inflammatory subtype.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Peng Xiong, Tonglin Liu, Hao Huang, Yi Yuan, Wendi Zhang, Lina Fu, Yu Chen
Summary: IL-27 overexpression inhibits Th9 differentiation and regulates the imbalance of Th1/Th2, thereby alleviating inflammatory response in allergic asthma. The findings suggest that IL-27 overexpression may be a potential strategy for clinical treatment of allergic asthma.
IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY AND IMMUNOTOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Jillian N. Pearring, Jorge Martinez-Marquez, Jason R. Willer, Eric C. Lieu, Raquel Y. Salinas, Vadim Y. Arshavsky
Summary: The study found that the targeted delivery of the rod cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channel to the outer segment uses the conventional secretory pathway and requires preassembly of its constituent alpha 1 and beta 1 subunits. The N-terminal glutamic acid-rich protein domain of CNG beta 1 encodes specific information targeting the channel to rod outer segments and connects the channel to photoreceptor disk rims through an interaction with peripherin-2. These findings reveal fine functional specializations within the CNG channel's structural domains and suggest that its sequestration to the outer segment plasma membrane requires an interaction with peripherin-2.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biology
Xinle Zou, Sri Karthika Shanmugam, Scott A. Kanner, Kevin J. Sampson, Robert S. Kass, Henry M. Colecraft
Summary: The study investigated the reconstitution of PKA regulation of I-Ks in the absence of AKAP9 using a targeted protein phosphorylation approach. The results showed that targeted recruitment of endogenous Ca to E1-YFP enhanced I-Ks while recruitment to Q1-YFP inhibited IKs. Proteomic analysis revealed different phosphorylation sites modified by Ca targeting Q1-YFP compared to free Ca. This study provides insights into the regulation of IKs by phosphorylation and suggests a potential approach to prevent exercise-induced sudden cardiac death.
Review
Biology
Eri Sakamoto, Yasuhiro Katahira, Izuru Mizoguchi, Aruma Watanabe, Yuma Furusaka, Ami Sekine, Miu Yamagishi, Jukito Sonoda, Satomi Miyakawa, Shinya Inoue, Hideaki Hasegawa, Kazuyuki Yo, Fumiya Yamaji, Akemi Toyoda, Takayuki Yoshimoto
Summary: Allergic, inflammatory, or autoimmune diseases result from exaggerated immune responses to harmless proteins and have been increasing over the last 50 years. This review summarizes recent advances in the chemical- and drug-induced development of these diseases through haptenation, discusses possible molecular mechanisms, and suggests in vitro testing alternatives.
Article
Rheumatology
Yuya Shirai, Yoshimitsu Nakanishi, Akari Suzuki, Hachirou Konaka, Rika Nishikawa, Kyuto Sonehara, Shinichi Namba, Hiroaki Tanaka, Tatsuo Masuda, Moto Yaga, Shingo Satoh, Mayuko Izumi, Yumiko Mizuno, Tatsunori Jo, Yuichi Maeda, Takuro Nii, Eri Oguro-Igashira, Takayuki Morisaki, Yoichiro Kamatani, Shingo Nakayamada, Chikako Nishigori, Yoshiya Tanaka, Yoshito Takeda, Kazuhiko Yamamoto, Atsushi Kumanogoh, Yukinori Okada
Summary: Our study used multi-trait and cross-population genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis to identify genetic correlations and shared components between autoimmune and allergic diseases. We found that there are genetic similarities and shared loci between these diseases, and enrichment analyses highlighted common pathways and cell types involved.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Deming Sun, Nymph Chan, Hui Shao, Willi K. Born, Henry J. Kaplan
Summary: Gamma delta T cells play a significant role in immune regulation, and their activation status and pathway impact their functions. In this study, it was shown that activated gamma delta T cells under different inflammatory conditions differ in functions.
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Bart A. Eijkelkamp, Jacqueline R. Morey, Stephanie L. Neville, Aimee Tan, Victoria G. Pederick, Nerida Cole, Prashina P. Singh, Cheryl-Lynn Y. Ong, Raquel Gonzalez de Vega, David Clases, Bliss A. Cunningham, Catherine E. Hughes, Iain Comerford, Erin B. Brazel, Jonathan J. Whittall, Charles D. Plumptre, Shaun R. McColl, James C. Paton, Alastair G. McEwan, Philip A. Doble, Christopher A. Mcdevitt
Article
Immunology
Carly E. Whyte, Maleika Osman, Ervin E. Kara, Caitlin Abbott, Jade Foeng, Duncan R. McKenzie, Kevin A. Fenix, Yuka Harata-Lee, Kerrie L. Foyle, Sarah T. Boyle, Marina Kochetkova, Amelia Roman Aguilera, Jiajie Hou, Xian-Yang Li, Mark A. Armstrong, Stephen M. Pederson, Iain Comerford, Mark J. Smyth, Shaun R. McColl
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2020)
Letter
Otorhinolaryngology
Rachel K. Goggin, Catherine A. Bennett, Mahnaz Ramezanpour, Hua Hu, Kevin Fenix, Ahmed Bassiouni, Shari Javadiyan, Seweryn Bialasiewicz, Peter-John Wormald, Alkis J. Psaltis, Sarah Vreugde
INTERNATIONAL FORUM OF ALLERGY & RHINOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kevin Fenix, Danushka K. Wijesundara, Allison J. Cowin, Branka Grubor-Bauk, Zlatko Kopecki
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Cameron R. Bastow, Mark D. Bunting, Ervin E. Kara, Duncan R. McKenzie, Adriana Caon, Sapna Devi, Lynn Tolley, Scott N. Mueller, Ian H. Frazer, Natasha Harvey, Mark R. Condina, Clifford Young, Peter Hoffmann, Shaun R. McColl, Iain Comerford
Summary: This study reveals the mechanism by which ACKR4 controls DC migration in barrier tissues, identifying the existence of two forms of CCL21 in steady-state conditions and their regulation by ACKR4. It enhances understanding of functional chemokine gradient formation by showing how ACKR4 affects CCL21 gradients in barrier tissues and downstream lymph nodes.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Biju Balakrishnan, Qi Liang, Kevin Fenix, Bunu Tamang, Ehud Hauben, Linlin Ma, Wei Zhang
Summary: The study reviewed the anticancer and immunomodulating properties of Astragalus root and Shiitake mushrooms, and assessed the potential of developing medicinal food by transferring Astragalus polysaccharides into edible Shiitake with increased therapeutic potential through a novel manufacturing process. Further research efforts are needed to validate the therapeutic potential of this new Hengshan Astragalus Shiitake medicinal food.
Article
Immunology
Timona S. S. Tyllis, Kevin A. A. Fenix, Todd S. S. Norton, Ervin E. E. Kara, Duncan R. R. McKenzie, Shannon C. C. David, Mohammed Alsharifi, Di Yu, Shaun R. R. McColl, Iain Comerford
Summary: The interaction between T and B cells is crucial for high-affinity antibody responses, with CD8(+) T cells playing a role in regulating antibody responses. A novel population of effector CD8(+) T cells has been identified, showing characteristics of Tfh cells and impacting B cell responses in protein immunisation and peripheral viral infection models, promoting class switching to IgG2c in responding B cells.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Bimala Dhakal, Celine Man Ying Li, Runhao Li, Kenny Yeo, Josephine A. Wright, Krystyna A. Gieniec, Laura Vrbanac, Tarik Sammour, Matthew Lawrence, Michelle Thomas, Mark Lewis, Joanne Perry, Daniel L. Worthley, Susan L. Woods, Paul Drew, Benedetta C. Sallustio, Eric Smith, John D. Horowitz, Guy J. Maddern, Giovanni Licari, Kevin Fenix
Summary: Cancer cells have altered metabolism to support their activities, and Perhexiline, a cardiovascular drug, can inhibit these changes and kill colorectal cancer cells. This drug has been used clinically and has the potential for repurposing in colorectal cancer management.
Article
Biology
Mahnaz Ramezanpour, Harrison Bolt, Karen Hon, Gohar Shaghayegh, Hadi Rastin, Kevin Aaron Fenix, James Psaltis Alkis, Peter -John Wormald, Sarah Vreugde
Summary: This study investigates the characteristics and cellular morphology of organoids derived from primary human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs) of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients. The results showed that nasal organoids expressed stem cell markers and markers for ciliated cells, and could regrow and expand well after freezing and thawing. This study provides an effective and feasible method for the development of human nasal organoids suitable for phenotypic high-throughput screening and drug response research.
Article
Immunology
Paris M. M. Kollis, Lisa M. M. Ebert, John Toubia, Cameron R. R. Bastow, Rebecca J. J. Ormsby, Santosh I. I. Poonnoose, Sakthi Lenin, Melinda N. N. Tea, Stuart M. M. Pitson, Guillermo A. A. Gomez, Michael P. P. Brown, Tessa Gargett
Summary: This study characterized the chemokine receptor and integrin expression profiles of endogenous glioblastoma-infiltrating T cells and identified potential homing receptor-ligand pairs that could enhance the tumour-homing properties of future T-cell immunotherapies for glioblastoma.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Cameron R. Bastow, Ervin E. Kara, Timona S. Tyllis, Carola G. Vinuesa, Shaun R. McColl, Iain Comerford
Summary: Follicular T cells, including T follicular helper (T-FH) and T follicular regulatory (T-FR) cells, play essential roles in supporting and regulating antibody responses. This study found that follicular T cells express not only CXCR5 and CXCR4, but also CCR6, CCR2 and CXCR3. CCR6 is particularly highly expressed in T-FR cells and gating on CCR6(+)CXCR5(hi)PD-1(hi) T cells enriches for T-FR cells. However, CCR6 is not essential for development of the germinal center response and does not affect T-FR cell development and localization during splenic humoral responses.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Gohar Shaghayegh, Clare Cooksley, George Bouras, Roshan Nepal, Ghais Houtak, Beula Subashini Panchatcharam, Kevin Aaron Fenix, Alkis James Psaltis, Peter-John Wormald, Sarah Vreugde
Summary: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a chronic inflammation of the sinus mucosa characterized by dysfunction of the sinuses' defense mechanisms and induction of different inflammatory pathways. The presence of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in the sinonasal mucosa is associated with CRS, but it is also observed in healthy individuals, which challenges its significance in CRS pathogenesis. This study investigated the relationship between CRS inflammatory markers, S. aureus biofilm properties/virulence genes, and disease severity.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bimala Dhakal, Yoko Tomita, Paul Drew, Timothy Price, Guy Maddern, Eric Smith, Kevin Fenix
Summary: Cancer metabolic plasticity, particularly fatty acid metabolism, plays a crucial role in cancer cell growth and malignancy. The drug perhexiline, which inhibits mitochondrial enzymes involved in fatty acid metabolism, has shown promising anti-cancer properties both as a monotherapy and in combination with traditional chemotherapeutics. This review explores the mechanisms of perhexiline's anti-cancer activities, including both CPT1/2 dependent and independent pathways, and discusses its potential as an anti-cancer agent, limitations, and ability to reduce cardiotoxicity induced by other chemotherapeutics.
Article
Immunology
Bimala Dhakal, Celine Man Ying Li, Mahnaz Ramezanpour, Ghais Houtak, Runhao Li, George Bouras, Alex Collela, Nusha Chegeni, Tim Kennion Chataway, Paul Drew, Benedetta C. Sallustio, Sarah Vreugde, Eric Smith, Guy Maddern, Giovanni Licari, Kevin Fenix
Summary: This study investigated the effect of Perhexiline (PHX) treatment on macrophage activation and polarization. The results showed that PHX promoted M1 macrophage polarization and led to changes in metabolic and immune signaling pathways.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Celine Man Ying Li, Yoko Tomita, Bimala Dhakal, Runhao Li, Jun Li, Paul Drew, Timothy Price, Eric Smith, Guy J. Maddern, Kevin Aaron Fenix
Summary: This review systematically assessed the efficacy of cytokine-induced killer cell (CIK) therapy for colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment and found that CIK therapy improved overall survival, progression-free survival, and overall response rate without increasing toxicity. Further investigation into CIK therapy for CRC treatment is warranted.
JOURNAL FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY OF CANCER
(2023)