Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chi Ma, Verena Martinez-Rodriguez, Peter R. Hoffmann
Summary: The selenoprotein family comprises 25 members, with SELENOI being a unique member functioning as an ethanolamine phosphotransferase. SELENOI plays a crucial role in the synthesis of cellular membrane constituents, impacting metabolic reprogramming and proliferative capacity in T cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Antonella Nicolo, Timm Amendt, Omal El Ayoubi, Marc Young, Stephanie Finzel, Makbule Senel, Reinhard E. Voll, Hassan Jumaa
Summary: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease characterized by joint inflammation due to autoantibodies targeting self-proteins. Autoreactive antibodies play a crucial role in regulating physiological processes by neutralizing or protecting autoantigens based on affinity levels. Imbalance in this regulation may impact the progression of autoimmune diseases.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Lindsey D. Hughes, Yaqiu Wang, Alexandre P. Meli, Carla V. Rothlin, Sourav Ghosh
Summary: Programmed cell death is essential for development and homeostasis, but can also indicate infections, injuries, and pathologies. Different effector responses occur after cell death, including tissue morphogenesis, homeostatic turnover, host defense, inflammation suppression, and tissue repair.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF IMMUNOLOGY, VOL 39
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jianlong Li, Sonia Sudiwala, Lionel Berthoin, Seayar Mohabbat, Eliza A. Gaylord, Hanan Sinada, Noel Cruz Pacheco, Jiun Chiun Chang, Oju Jeon, Isabelle M. A. Lombaert, Alison J. May, Eben Alsberg, Chelsea S. Bahney, Sarah M. Knox
Summary: Researchers have found that radiation-damaged salivary glands can be functionally regenerated using the neurogenic muscarinic receptor agonist Cevimeline. By continuously delivering Cevimeline-alginate hydrogel, the innervated acini can be regenerated and physiological saliva secretion can be restored over the long term.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xinran Cai, Gregory M. Young, Wen Xie
Summary: PXR and CAR, two nuclear receptors highly expressed in the liver, have major potentials to affect liver pathophysiology by regulating the homeostasis of endobiotics.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Giulia Belluccini, Martin Lopez-Garcia, Grant Lythe, Carmen Molina-Paris
Summary: This study investigates cellular division and death in lymphocyte populations using a multi-stage model. The growth rate of the cell population is determined by calculating cell proportions at different stages and generations. The multi-stage representation is shown to be more accurate than a simple exponential distribution, with longer average time to first division compared to subsequent divisions.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Han Jiang, Zhaohui Li, Long Yu, Ying Zhang, Li Zhou, Jianhua Wu, Jing Yuan, Mengyao Han, Tao Xu, Junwen He, Shan Wang, Chengfeng Yu, Sha Pan, Min Wu, Hangyu Liu, Haihong Zeng, Zhu Song, Qiangqiang Wang, Shen Qu, Junwei Zhang, Yafei Huang, Junyan Han
Summary: The study revealed that VKH patients have abnormal activation and differentiation of peripheral lymphocytes, and GC therapy with methylprednisolone (MP) can suppress the pathogenic immune response by directly inhibiting T cell activation and affecting monocyte subsets.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Rheumatology
Changrong Ge, Sylvia Weisse, Bingze Xu, Doreen Dobritzsch, Johan Viljanen, Jan Kihlberg, Nhu-Nguyen Do, Nadine Schneider, Harald Lanig, Rikard Holmdahl, Harald Burkhardt
Summary: This study characterizes the autoantigen-presenting function of DRB1*04:01 and investigates T-cell responses to a specific peptide in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, revealing the importance of glycosylation of lysine residues in T-cell recognition.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2022)
Review
Developmental Biology
Judith E. Mank, Elizabeth J. Rideout
Summary: Male-female differences exist in various developmental mechanisms, impacting organ formation, function, and whole-body physiology. Even traits that do not show obvious male-female differences are affected by sex-specific processes. Including both sexes is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of animal development.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Roberta Ceci, Guglielmo Duranti, Stefano Giuliani, Marianna Nicoletta Rossi, Ivan Dimauro, Stefania Sabatini, Paolo Mariottini, Manuela Cervelli
Summary: A naturally occurring polyamine called spermidine (Spd) has been found to restore compromised viability and redox status of muscle cells, and reduce cell death. This study suggests that Spd treatment can protect skeletal muscle cells by restoring redox balance, promoting wound recovery, and improving the ability to withstand oxidative damage.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuhang Jin, Zhian Zhai, Hai Jia, Jinhua Lai, Xuemeng Si, Zhenlong Wu
Summary: Kaempferol can attenuate diquat-induced oxidative damage and apoptosis in intestinal porcine epithelial cells by enhancing the expression of genes related to cell cycle progression and antioxidant system, increasing the abundance of tight junction proteins, and activating the antioxidant transcription factor Nrf2.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Junha Lim, Junseok Lee, Yeonju Boo, Won Jong Kim
Summary: The use of ferroptosis as a treatment for cancer has gained attention due to its potential. However, the effectiveness is often limited in cancer cells due to their inherent redox system and the presence of ferritin. To address this issue, researchers have developed a polymeric iron oxide nanocomplex loaded with sulfasalazine as a ferritinophagy-assisted ferroptosis inducing agent. The nanocomplex releases sulfasalazine at a specific pH, causing the degradation of ferritin and the production of labile iron ions, leading to an enhanced ferroptosis effect. In vivo models have shown that the nanocomplex effectively regresses tumors. This ferritinophagy-assisted ferroptosis strategy provides a promising solution for iron-based anti-cancer therapy.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daniela Rubanova, Petra Dadova, Ondrej Vasicek, Lukas Kubala
Summary: The study revealed that pseurotin D significantly inhibits the activation of human T cells and affects their apoptosis, as well as the phosphorylation of STAT3 and STAT5. Furthermore, it was found that pseurotin D does not significantly inhibit the activation of human B cells, but instead affects their differentiation process.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Bumin Xie, Yuan Guo
Summary: Ferroptosis is a newly identified form of regulated cell death characterized by iron-dependent accumulation of lipid reactive oxygen species, closely related to various diseases and tumor treatment. Noncoding RNAs play a crucial role in regulating the molecular mechanism of ferroptosis in tumor cells.
CELL DEATH DISCOVERY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Leila Abdelhamid, Xin M. Luo
Summary: The immune system plays a crucial role in defending against pathogens and maintaining homeostasis, but the impact of environmental factors like diet and hygiene on autoimmunity is not fully understood.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Medical Laboratory Technology
Laura Casamayor-Polo, Marta Lopez-Nevado, Estela Paz-Artal, Alberto Anel, Frederic Rieux-Laucat, Luis M. Allende
Summary: Apoptosis plays a crucial role in controlling the adaptive immune response and immune cell homeostasis, and impaired apoptosis can lead to autoimmunity and immune dysregulation. Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is a genetic disorder characterized by nonmalignant lymphoproliferation, autoimmunity, and an increased risk of lymphoma due to defects in lymphocyte apoptosis. The genetic defects associated with ALPS include mutations in ALPS-FAS, ALPS-FASLG, ALPS-CASP10, ALPS-FADD, and ALPS-CASP8. Efficient genetic and immunological diagnostic approaches are essential for patients suspected of having ALPS or ALPS-like syndromes to establish specific therapeutic strategies for improving patient prognosis and quality of life.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN CLINICAL LABORATORY SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Virology
Indra Sarabia, Szu-Han Huang, Adam R. Ward, R. Brad Jones, Alberto Bosque
Summary: The establishment of HIV-1 latency has posed challenges for curing HIV-1. Current strategies to shock and kill the virus reservoir are not effective in inducing the majority of intact HIV-1 proviruses. The mechanisms behind the non-inducible HIV-1 reservoir still need further investigation.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Yanqin Ren, Szu Han Huang, Amanda B. Macedo, Adam R. Ward, Winiffer D. Conce Alberto, Thais Klevorn, Louise Leyre, Dennis C. Copertino, Talia M. Mota, Dora Chan, Ronald Truong, Thomas Rohwetter, Paul Zumbo, Friederike Dundar, Doron Betel, Colin Kovacs, Erika Benko, Alberto Bosque, R. Brad Jones
Summary: Research has shown that overexpression of BCL-X-L family members in HIV-infected CD4(+) T cells, selective antagonists can induce selective toxicity to these cells, however, the effect on reservoir cells in patients remains limited.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Immunology
Maria Salgado, Alberto Bosque, Carolina Garrido
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Indra Sarabia, Camille L. Novis, Amanda B. Macedo, Hiroshi Takata, Racheal Nell, Juyeon C. Kakazu, Robert L. Furler, Binita Shakya, Heidi L. Schubert, Christopher P. Hill, Ana Beatriz DePaula-Silva, Adam M. Spivak, Lydie Trautmann, Vicente Planelles, Alberto Bosque
Summary: Research has shown that RIG-I agonists require full length-MAVS, while the AOS response induced by Dynasore through its catechol group can reactivate latent HIV-1 in a MAVS dependent manner through miniMAVS isoform. Furthermore, PKC agonists induce an AOS response in CD4 T cells and require miniMAVS to fully reactivate latent HIV-1.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
E. A. Innis, C. Levinger, M. A. Szaniawski, E. S. C. P. Williams, J. Alcami, A. Bosque, J. T. Schiffer, M. Coiras, A. M. Spivak, V Planelles
Summary: This study investigated FDA-approved oncology drugs and found that dasatinib, ponatinib, and trametinib can significantly reduce proliferation of memory CD4 T cells in HIV-infected individuals. Dasatinib, in particular, blocks both homeostatic and antigen-driven proliferation and aids in reducing the reservoir size. By inhibiting STAT5 phosphorylation, dasatinib hinders IL-7 induced proliferation and prevents spontaneous rebound in cells from people living with HIV-1.
BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Callie Levinger, J. Natalie Howard, Jie Cheng, Pingtao Tang, Amit Joshi, Marta Catalfamo, Alberto Bosque
Summary: The assessment of HIV-1 persistence is challenging, with most commercially available tests focusing on the measurement of nucleic acid. Despite their high sensitivity, these assays have limitations in evaluating translational competent viral reservoirs.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Alicia Usategui, Cristina Municio, Elena G. Arias-Salgado, Maria Martin, Beatriz Fernandez-Varas, Manuel J. Del Rey, Patricia Carreira, Antonio Gonzalez, Gabriel Criado, Rosario Perona, Jose L. Pablos
Summary: Cell senescence is associated with telomere shortening in systemic sclerosis (SSc), especially in patients with lung disease or anti-topoisomerase I antibodies. Targeting DNA damage with the GSE4 peptide attenuates experimental skin fibrosis and reduces profibrotic factor expression in fibroblasts, suggesting a role for oxidative DNA damage in scleroderma.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Irene Perez, Elena Campos-Pardos, Caridad Diaz, Santiago Uranga, Fadel Sayes, Francisca Vicente, Nacho Aguilo, Roland Brosch, Carlos Martin, Jesus Gonzalo-Asensio
Summary: Cyclic (di)nucleotides act as universal second messengers and are produced by several pathogens. In this study, the researchers investigated the role of c-di-AMP in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its contribution to tuberculosis vaccines. They found that c-di-AMP synthesis is regulated by the M. tuberculosis PhoPR virulence system and that MTBVAC, a live attenuated tuberculosis vaccine, produces higher levels of c-di-AMP compared to wild-type M. tuberculosis or the current BCG vaccine. They also discovered that c-di-AMP levels are dependent on the growth phase and medium during in vitro cultivation of M. tuberculosis. Furthermore, they demonstrated that increasing c-di-AMP levels correlated with a safer profile of tuberculosis vaccines in an immunodeficient mouse model.
MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS
(2022)
Article
Virology
Rachel S. Resop, Alberto Bosque
Summary: Inhibition of SPHK can reduce HIV-1 transmission between CD4 T cells and decrease susceptibility to infection, which may serve as a basis for developing strategies to prevent HIV-1 infection.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Amanda B. Macedo, Callie Levinger, Bryan N. Nguyen, Jonathan Richard, Mamta Gupta, Conrad Russell Y. Cruz, Andres Finzi, Katherine B. Chiappinelli, Keith A. Crandall, Alberto Bosque
Summary: In this study, we found that HODHBt enhances IL-15 signaling in natural killer cells, leading to increased cytotoxicity and memory-like functions. This suggests that pharmacological enhancement of IL-15-mediated STAT activation could be a new approach for HIV treatment.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Eduardo Moreo, Santiago Uranga, Ana Pico, Ana Belen Gomez, Denise Nardelli-Haefliger, Carlos del Fresno, Ingrid Murillo, Eugenia Puentes, Esteban Rodriguez, Mar Vales-Gomez, Julian Pardo, David Sancho, Carlos Martin, Nacho Aguilo
Summary: By comparing the antitumoral efficacy of BCG and MTBVAC in a mouse model, this study found that MTBVAC can enhance bladder colonization by expressing specific absent proteins and stimulate cytotoxic responses to improve immune response against tumor antigens. Furthermore, intravesical bacterial immunotherapy using MTBVAC can lead to complete eradication of bladder tumors, either as a monotherapy or in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
JOURNAL FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY OF CANCER
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Eva M. Stevenson, Sandra Terry, Dennis Copertino, Louise Leyre, Ali Danesh, Jared Weiler, Adam R. Ward, Pragya Khadka, Evan McNeil, Kevin Bernard, Itzayana G. Miller, Grant B. Ellsworth, Carrie D. Johnston, Eli J. Finkelsztein, Paul Zumbo, Doron Betel, Friederike Dundar, Maggie C. Duncan, Hope R. Lapointe, Sarah Speckmaier, Nadia Moran-Garcia, Michelle Premazzi Papa, Samuel Nicholes, Carissa J. Stover, Rebecca M. Lynch, Marina Caskey, Christian Gaebler, Tae-Wook Chun, Alberto Bosque, Timothy J. Wilkin, Guinevere Q. Lee, Zabrina L. Brumme, R. Brad Jones
Summary: In a cohort of people with HIV, COVID mRNA vaccination leads to a temporary increase in a specific profile of HIV-specific T-cell responses and a corresponding decrease in residual HIV RNA, indicating productive immune engagement with infected cells.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Preethi B. Balakrishnan, Carissa S. Holmberg, Debbie K. Ledezma, Alberto Bosque, Rohan Fernandes
Summary: This study investigates the use of nanoparticles as carriers to deliver drugs for the reactivation of latent HIV infection. The results show that polymeric-coated nanoparticles are more effective than free polymers in activating latent HIV and enhancing immune activation.
Review
Virology
J. Natalie Howard, Alberto Bosque
Summary: Despite advances in antiretroviral therapy, the latent reservoir of HIV-infected cells remains a major hurdle in finding a cure. IL-15 and N-803 have shown potential in reactivating latent HIV and enhancing immune effector function, which are crucial for reducing latent reservoirs.