Review
Immunology
Torin Halvorson, Karoliina Tuomela, Megan K. Levings
Summary: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are important for maintaining immune homeostasis, but they can also hinder anti-tumor immunity. Targeting metabolic pathways can selectively promote or inhibit Treg function, offering potential therapeutic opportunities. This review explores the current understanding of Treg metabolism and discusses emerging metabolic targeting strategies in transplantation, autoimmunity, and cancer. Manipulating Treg metabolism during ex vivo expansion for adoptive cell therapy (ACT) and modulating Treg metabolism in disease states through nutritional and pharmacological interventions are also discussed.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Qi Jiang, Xin Wang, Enyu Huang, Qiao Wang, Chengping Wen, Guocan Yang, Liwei Lu, Dawei Cui
Summary: Inflammasome is a cellular complex involved in the innate inflammatory response, and its excessive or abnormal activation has been implicated in various diseases. In rheumatoid arthritis, inflammasome activation plays a key role in immune dysregulation and joint inflammation. This review summarizes recent research on inflammasome activation and its effector mechanisms in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, as well as potential therapeutic strategies.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Physiology
Victoria R. Kwiat, Gisienne Reis, Isela C. Valera, Kislay Parvatiyar, Michelle S. Parvatiyar
Summary: Obesity is closely associated with autoimmune diseases, with leptin playing a crucial role. Obesity not only enhances immune system activation but also leads to chronic inflammation and development of autoimmune diseases. In addition, other factors such as sustained platelet activation, gut dysbiosis, and aging are also linked to obesity and autoimmune diseases.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Javier Maria Peralta Ramos, Denise Kviatcovsky, Michal Schwartz
Summary: The incidence of age-related dementia is increasing, but there are currently no effective treatments available. Recent studies have shown that the immune system plays a crucial role in supporting brain maintenance and repair, and modulating immune cell fate may be a potential therapeutic target for combating brain aging and neurodegeneration.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Ji Feng, Jing Zhou, Yong Wu, Han-Ming Shen, Tao Peng, Guo-Dong Lu
Summary: Ischemia is a common pathological process that restricts nutrient availability and induces autophagy. Although autophagy helps sustain nutrient/energy and restrict damages in short-term scenarios, it leads to cell death in long-term scenarios. Ischemia has been used as a clinical application for cancer treatment, but its efficacy is limited. Our recent research shows that combining sorafenib with glucose starvation can enhance cell death in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by impairing mitophagy. We also identified SIAH1 as an important E3 ubiquitin ligase for mitophagic induction in HCC cells.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ghazaleh Khalili-Tanha, Nima Khalili-Tanha, Seyedeh Elnaz Nazari, Negin Chaeichi-Tehrani, Majid Khazaei, Mohsen Aliakbarian, Seyed Mahdi Hassanian, Majid Ghayour-Mobarhan, Gordon A. Ferns, Amir Avan
Summary: This study provides an overview of using Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) antagonists to treat post-surgical adhesion. The RAS signaling pathway has been found to play a significant role in inflammation, proliferation, and fibrosis pathways related to adhesion. Several FDA-approved drugs, such as telmisartan and valsartan, have shown promise in reducing fibrosis and improving adhesion after surgery.
CURRENT PHARMACEUTICAL DESIGN
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Patience Odeniyide, Marielle E. Yohe, Kai Pollard, Angelina V. Vaseva, Ana Calizo, Lindy Zhang, Fausto J. Rodriguez, John M. Gross, Amy N. Allen, Xiaolin Wan, Romel Somwar, Karisa C. Schreck, Linda Kessler, Jiawan Wang, Christine A. Pratilas
Summary: This study suggests that the FTase inhibitor tipifarnib may be an effective therapeutic strategy for a subset of fusion-negative RMS patients, especially those with HRAS mutations.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Yufei Chen, Xueting Li, Siyuan Wang, Ran Miao, Jiuchang Zhong
Summary: Iron plays a crucial role in the cardiovascular system, and dysregulation of iron metabolism and ferroptosis are involved in the pathogenesis of various cardiovascular diseases. Iron chelators and lipophilic antioxidants have been shown to inhibit ferroptosis and lipid peroxidation in atherosclerosis, cardiomyopathy, and hypertension. Inhibition of ferroptosis can alleviate cardiac impairments and fibrosis in hypertension by enhancing GPX4 signaling. Novel small molecules targeting ferroptosis may be effective in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. This article summarizes the regulatory roles and underlying mechanisms of iron metabolism dysregulation and ferroptosis in cardiovascular diseases and suggests targeting iron metabolism and ferroptosis as potential therapeutic strategies.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alkeiver S. Cannon, Prakash S. Nagarkatti, Mitzi Nagarkatti
Summary: Activation of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) was previously excluded from therapeutic approaches due to potential toxic effects and induction of Cyp1a1 enzyme. However, it is now understood that AhR activation functions as an environmental sensor and immunomodulator, attenuating inflammation. This review summarizes research on AhR and its role in regulating inflammation, highlighting its potential in immune response modulation for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The opportunities and challenges of developing AhR-based therapies to suppress inflammation are also discussed.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Ignatius Ryan Adriawan, Faranaz Atschekzei, Oliver Dittrich-Breiholz, Panagiotis Garantziotis, Stefanie Hirsch, Linus Maximillian Risser, Maike Kosanke, Reinhold Ernst Schmidt, Torsten Witte, Georgios Sogkas
Summary: The study found that GCA patients' Tregs have dysregulated pro-inflammatory genes and functions, associated with low glycolysis and calcium signaling pathways in Tregs.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Rohan Wedam, Yoshimi Endo Greer, David J. Wisniewski, Sarah Weltz, Manjari Kundu, Donna Voeller, Stanley Lipkowitz
Summary: Mitochondria, known as the powerhouse of the cell, play a crucial role in energy production and various functions in cells. It has been found that mitochondrial function is reprogrammed in breast cancers to promote tumor progression. Targeting mitochondria has become a focus in breast cancer research, and ClpP agonists have emerged as a novel class of mitochondria-targeting drugs with potential therapeutic benefits in breast cancer treatment.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Haoran Liu, Suhong Wu, Hyunho Lee, Gherardo Baudo, Matteo Massaro, Aijun Zhang, Dale J. Hamilton, Elvin Blanco
Summary: The research focuses on inducing favorable metabolic phenotypes in M1 macrophages to reduce inflammatory response and prevent plaque progression by utilizing a mitochondrial transplantation strategy.
ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Eleanor C. Murray, Ryszard Nosalski, Neil MacRitchie, Maciej Tomaszewski, Pasquale Maffia, David G. Harrison, Tomasz J. Guzik
Summary: Both animal models and human studies have demonstrated the significant role of immune and inflammatory mechanisms in hypertension and its related complications. Immune-modulating interventions, including non-specific approaches and targeted medications, have shown promise in lowering blood pressure, reducing organ damage, and managing cardiovascular risk in both experimental and small clinical studies. Further targeted studies are needed to evaluate their effects in hypertensive individuals.
CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aleksandra Kozlowska, Tomasz Dzierzanowski
Summary: Anthocyanins play a promising role in regulating inflammation and activating antioxidant defenses. Clinical studies have shown that anthocyanins supplementation can regulate inflammatory markers in both healthy individuals and those with chronic diseases. However, long-term clinical trials are needed to quantify the progression of inflammation effectively.
Article
Immunology
Hantao Lou, Guang Sheng Ling, Xuetao Cao
Summary: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by organ damage and a wide range of autoantibodies. The mechanisms of tissue damage and inflammation caused by autoantibodies are not fully understood, but studying autoreactive B cells and pathogenic autoantibodies can enhance our understanding of the origins and targets of SLE. Developing specific therapies targeting pathogenic B cell subsets and autoantibodies remains a challenge. Comprehensive autoantibody profiling and functional characterization can provide new insights into the etiology and pathogenesis of SLE.
JOURNAL OF AUTOIMMUNITY
(2022)