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)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yu Gu, Xiali Qin, Guoqiong Zhou, Chen Wang, Chenlu Mu, Xiang Liu, Weilong Zhong, Xin Xu, Bangmao Wang, Kui Jiang, Jinghua Liu, Hailong Cao
Summary: In this study, it was found that LGGs upregulated the expression of 5-HT4R, promoting the production of MUC2 and regulating the gut microbiota. These findings provide new evidence for the application of LGG in relieving gastrointestinal motility disorders.
Article
Immunology
Zhen Xiong, Xiaoxiao Zhu, Jingjing Geng, Yuwei Xu, Runyuan Wu, Cunzhen Li, Dongdong Fan, Xiwen Qin, Ying Du, Yong Tian, Zusen Fan
Summary: This study surveyed the acceptance and concerns regarding mRNA vaccines among participants from the United States and China, revealing differences in attitudes between the two countries. The study suggests strengthening public awareness and education to enhance people's knowledge and acceptance of mRNA vaccines.
Review
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Daniela P. Vasconcelos, Artur P. Aguas, Judite N. Barbosa
Summary: Inflammasomes are intracellular structures that play a crucial role in innate immune responses as key players in host defense. They are assembled upon the perception of pathogens or danger signals and activate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The inflammasome is involved in various inflammatory processes and tissue repair, making it a potential target for regenerative medicine.
JOURNAL OF TISSUE ENGINEERING AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Lisa Perruzza, Francesco Strati, Matteo Raneri, Hai Li, Giorgio Gargari, Tanja Rezzonico-Jost, Martina Palatella, Ivo Kwee, Diego Morone, Frauke Seehusen, Paolo Sonego, Claudio Donati, Pietro Franceschi, Andrew J. Macpherson, Simone Guglielmetti, Victor Greiff, Fabio Grassi
Summary: This study demonstrates that hydrolysis of extracellular ATP by apyrase results in amplification of the SIgA repertoire, influencing the distribution of bacteria and gene expression in the intestinal epithelium in mice. Apyrase-induced SIgA improves intestinal homeostasis, attenuating barrier impairment and susceptibility to infection.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Charlotte van Gorp, Ilse H. de Lange, Kimberly R. I. Massy, Lilian Kessels, Alan H. Jobe, Jack P. M. Cleutjens, Matthew W. Kemp, Masatoshi Saito, Haruo Usada, John Newnham, Matthias Hutten, Boris W. Kramer, Luc J. Zimmermann, Tim G. A. M. Wolfs
Summary: Research in an ovine chorioamnionitis model revealed a biphasic reduction in goblet cell numbers, with the second decrease associated with intestinal inflammation, apoptosis, and ER stress. The findings suggest that ER stress leads to apoptosis of maturing goblet cells, ultimately reducing their numbers. This insight could be important for understanding the pathogenesis of NEC and developing potential therapeutic strategies targeting ER stress.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Wei Wu, Jiawei Zhou, Rongrong Xuan, Juanjuan Chen, Hui Han, Jingwangwei Liu, Tingting Niu, Haimin Chen, Feng Wang
Summary: Research suggests that kappa-CGN may not directly cause inflammation, but rather creates an environment that promotes inflammation by altering gut microbiota composition, leading to a decrease in short-chain fatty acids and thinning of the mucus layer. In the presence of pathogenic bacteria, the inflammation and mucosal damage are aggravated. Fecal transplantation from kappa-CGN-fed mice can reproduce these symptoms, which can be partially reversed by administering probiotics.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Sergio D. Catz
Summary: S100A8 and S100A9, cytosolic alarmins with autocrine functions, are shown to be secreted in response to E-selectin through rapid and transient gasdermin-D pore formation, without inducing pyroptosis.
Review
Immunology
David Illig, Daniel Kotlarz
Summary: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a disorder caused by imbalances of the microbiome and immune dysregulations. Multimeric inflammasomes play a critical role in regulating host defense and gut homeostasis. Excessive production of pro-inflammatory Interleukin-1 beta has been detected in IBD patients and associated with disease severity. Genome-wide association studies suggest that inflammasome components may be associated with IBD development.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maria A. Duque-Correa, David Goulding, Faye H. Rodgers, Claire Cormie, Kate Rawlinson, J. Andrew Gillis, Allison J. Bancroft, Hayley M. Bennett, Magda Lotkowska, Adam J. Reid, Anneliese Speak, Paul Scott, Nicholas Redshaw, Catherine McCarthy, Cordelia Brandt, Catherine Sharpe, Caroline Ridley, Judit Gali Moya, Claudia M. Carneiro, Tobias Starborg, Kelly S. Hayes, Nancy Holroyd, Mandy Sanders, David J. Thornton, Richard K. Grencis, Matthew Berriman
Summary: Whipworms are large parasites causing chronic disease in humans and other mammals. Researchers have discovered how the larvae invade host epithelial cells, establishing infection by degrading mucus layers and creating tunnels. This interaction between the whipworm and the host triggers an immune response and tissue repair.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yaoyao Xia, Fang He, Xiaoyan Wu, Bie Tan, Siyuan Chen, Yuexia Liao, Ming Qi, Shuai Chen, Yuanyi Peng, Yulong Yin, Wenkai Ren
Summary: Accumulating evidence suggests that the GABAergic system, specifically GABA transporter 2 (GAT2), plays a crucial role in modulating macrophage function. GAT2 deficiency leads to decreased IL-1β production in proinflammatory macrophages by altering metabolic pathways and DNA methylation. Targeting GABAergic system, such as GAT2, may offer new therapeutic opportunities for macrophage-related diseases.
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Igor Soares, Bruna L. Belote, Elizabeth Santin, Gabriela C. Dal Pont, Michael H. Kogut
Summary: Production animals are frequently exposed to environmental and dietary factors that may lead to chronic intestinal inflammation. This condition affects their productivity and well-being, necessitating research to understand its causes and develop control strategies. By measuring cellular components released into the blood and/or feces, biomarkers can be identified and used to diagnose and quantify the inflammatory process without invasive methods.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jiayan Jiang, Ke Li, Yu Xiao, Aiai Zhong, Jiaojiao Tang, Yufan Duan, Zongjun Li
Summary: Probiotics, such as L. reuteri, have wide applications in daily life due to their ability to remodel the intestinal microbiota, regulate intestinal function, and impact overall health. L. reuteri improves intestinal organ development and mucin secretion by increasing the expression of mucin genes. It also reduces inflammation by downregulating the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and stimulates the production of immunoglobulin A to inhibit the growth of pathogens.
FERMENTATION-BASEL
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Vineet Singh, GyuDae Lee, HyunWoo Son, Hong Koh, Eun Soo Kim, Tatsuya Unno, Jae-Ho Shin
Summary: Gut-microbial butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid, has significant physiological importance. Butyrate producers, belonging to the Clostridium cluster, metabolize carbohydrates to produce butyrate. They play a vital role in various gut-associated metabolisms.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Hui Wang, Gangduo Wang, Nivedita Banerjee, Yuejin Liang, Xiaotang Du, Paul J. Boor, Kristi L. Hoffman, M. Firoze Khan
Summary: The study found that dysbiosis of gut microbiome is associated with increased colonic oxidative stress, barrier dysfunction, inflammatory responses, and systemic autoimmune markers. Antioxidant treatment influenced the microbial composition and attenuated systemic autoimmunity in the MRL/lpr mice.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Silvio Danese, Marc Ferrante, Brian G. Feagan, Laurent Peyrin-Biroulet, Toshifumi Hibi, William J. Sandborn, Stefan Schreiber, Timothy Ritter, Edward V. Loftus, Gerhard Rogler, Alessandra Oortwijn, Chohee Yun, Franck-Olivier Le Brun, Jason Dinoso, Jeremy Hsieh, Severine Vermeire
Summary: This study evaluated the efficacy and sustainability of filgotinib in treating moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC) patients using the Mayo Clinic Score (pMCS) and patient-reported subscores. The results showed that treatment with filgotinib improved UC symptoms within 7 days and a higher proportion of patients achieved clinical remission at weeks 10 and 58.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Allergy
Florian Ingelfinger, Colin Sparano, David Bamert, David Reyes-Leiva, Aakriti Sethi, Lukas Rindlisbacher, Pascale Zwicky, Stefanie Kreutmair, Corinne C. Widmer, Sarah Mundt, Elena Cortes-Vicente, Sonia Tugues, Burkhard Becher, Bettina Schreiner
Summary: This study comprehensively investigates the risks and immune dysfunction associated with azathioprine therapy. Using single-cell mass and spectral flow cytometry, the specific effects of azathioprine on the systemic immune signature were analyzed. Clinical features associated with therapy were analyzed in two independent cohorts of myasthenia gravis patients. The study highlights the risk of adverse events during azathioprine therapy and suggests that monitoring natural killer cells could be valuable in clinical practice.
JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Giuseppe Locatelli, Filipa Marques-Ferreira, Antonis Katsoulas, Vasileia Kalaitzaki, Martin Krueger, Barbara Ingold-Heppner, Sabrina Walthert, Roman Sankowski, Olivia Prazeres da Costa, Amalia Dolga, Magdalena Huber, Maike Gold, Carsten Culmsee, Ari Waisman, Ingo Bechmann, Vladislava Milchevskaya, Marco Prinz, Achim Tresch, Burkhard Becher, Thorsten Buch
Summary: Research suggests that insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling is not necessary for the function and survival of mature oligodendrocytes (ODCs) in the central nervous system (CNS). Lack of IGF-1 receptor in ODCs does not affect ODC survival and myelin status in toxin-induced and autoimmune demyelination models. Surprisingly, the absence of IGF-1 receptor in ODCs protects against clinical neuroinflammation in the autoimmune demyelination model.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alessandra Gurtner, Costanza Borrelli, Ignacio Gonzalez-Perez, Karsten Bach, Ilhan E. Acar, Nicolas G. Nunez, Daniel Crepaz, Kristina Handler, Vivian P. Vu, Atefeh Lafzi, Kristin Stirm, Deeksha Raju, Julia Gschwend, Konrad Basler, Christoph Schneider, Emma Slack, Tomas Valenta, Burkhard Becher, Philippe Krebs, Andreas E. Moor, Isabelle C. Arnold
Summary: In the past decade, single-cell transcriptomics has provided insights into the biology of eosinophils, a difficult-to-sequence cell type, and their roles in intestinal homeostasis, immune regulation, and host defense. The study reveals the heterogeneity of eosinophils and the gene programs that underpin their pleiotropic functions. It also explains the mechanism by which interleukin-33 (IL-33) and interferon-gamma (IFN gamma) induce the accumulation of active eosinophils in the inflamed colon and their association with CD4(+) T cells.
Article
Dermatology
Bruno Marcel Silva de Melo, Flavio Protasio Veras, Pascale Zwicky, Diogenes Lima, Florian Ingelfinger, Timna Varela Martins, Douglas da Silva Prado, Stefanie Scharli, Gabriel Publio, Carlos Hiroji Hiroki, Paulo Henrique Melo, Andre Saraiva, Thaina Norbiato, Leonardo Lima, Bernhard Ryffel, Thomas Vogl, Johannes Roth, Ari Waisman, Helder I. Nakaya, Cacilda da Silva Souza, Fernando Q. Cunha, Thiago M. Cunha, Burkhard Becher, Jose C. Alves-Filho
Summary: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder driven by the IL-23/type 3 immune response. This study identified S100A9 as a highly up-regulated gene in psoriatic skin, which is produced by keratinocytes and induces IL-23 production by dendritic cells, driving the IL-23/type 3 immunity in psoriasiform inflammation.
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Veronika Lysenko, Patrick M. Schurch, Selma Tuzlak, Nicole Wildner-Verhey van Wijk, Larisa V. Kovtonyuk, Burkhard Becher, Markus G. Manz, Stefanie Kreutmair, Alexandre P. A. Theocharides
Summary: Polycythemia vera (PV) is a hematopoietic stem cell neoplasm driven by JAK2 mutations that result in uncontrolled red blood cell (RBC) production. Blocking the CD47-SIRP alpha interaction can correct the polycythemia phenotype in a PV mouse model.
Editorial Material
Immunology
Nicolas Gonzalo Nunez, Jonas Schmid, Laura Power, Chiara Alberti, Sinduya Krishnarajah, Stefanie Kreutmair, Susanne Unger, Sebastian Blanco, Brenda Konigheim, Constanza Marin, Luisina Onofrio, Jenny Christine Kienzler, Sara Costa-Pereira, Florian Ingelfinger, Fabio Cerban, Laura Chiapello, Carolina Montes, Cristina Motran, Jeremias Dutto, Laura Almada, Lucia Boffelli, Lorena Spinsanti, Adrian Diaz, Maria Elisa Rivarola, Javier Aguilar E. Bioq, Mauricio M. Beranek, Marina Pasinovich, Juan Castelli, Carla Vizzotti, Maximilian Schaefer, Juan Villar-Vesga, Sarah Mundt, Carla Helena Merten, Aakriti Sethi, Tobias Wertheimer, Mirjam Lutz, Danusia Vanoaica, Claudia Sotomayor, Adriana Gruppi, Christian Muenz, Diego Cardozo, Gabriela Barbas, Laura Lopez, Paula Carreno, Gonzalo Castro, Elias Raboy, Sandra Gallego, Gabriel V. Moron, Laura A. Cervi, Eva Acosta Rodriguez, Belkys Maletto, Mariana Maccioni, Burkhard Becher
Summary: A study analyzed the immune response of different COVID-19 vaccines (adenoviral, mRNA, and inactivated virus) in 16 combinations. Heterologous combinations of adenoviral and inactivated-virus vaccines were more immunogenic than homologous regimens. The mRNA vaccine as the second dose generated the strongest antibody response and highest frequency of spike-binding memory B cells regardless of the priming vaccine. Priming with inactivated-virus vaccine boosted the SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell response. Different vaccine combinations elicited distinct immune signatures, highlighting the importance of vaccine type and order of administration.
Article
Immunology
Giorgia Serena Gullotta, Donatella De Feo, Ekaterina Friebel, Aurora Semerano, Giulia Maria Scotti, Andrea Bergamaschi, Erica Butti, Elena Brambilla, Angela Genchi, Alessia Capotondo, Mattia Gallizioli, Simona Coviello, Marco Piccoli, Tiziana Vigo, Patrizia Della Valle, Paola Ronchi, Giancarlo Comi, Armando D'Angelo, Norma Maugeri, Luisa Roveri, Antonio Uccelli, Burkhard Becher, Gianvito Martino, Marco Bacigaluppi
Summary: Aging is associated with increased risk and worse outcome of ischemic stroke. Age-related changes in the immune system, particularly in neutrophil function, play a key role in this process. Aged mice and elderly patients with stroke exhibit enhanced granulopoiesis and accumulation of atypical mature and immature neutrophil subsets, which contribute to worse reperfusion and neurological outcome. Rejuvenation of hematopoietic stem cells can reverse aging-associated neutropoiesis and improve stroke outcome.
Article
Cell Biology
Hans-Joachim Paust, Ning Song, Donatella De Feo, Nariaki Asada, Selma Tuzlak, Yu Zhao, Jan-Hendrik Riedel, Malte Hellmig, Amirrtavarshni Sivayoganathan, Anett Peters, Anna Kaffke, Alina Borchers, Ulrich O. Wenzel, Oliver M. Steinmetz, Gisa Tiegs, Elisabeth Meister, Matthias Mack, Christian Kurts, Sibylle von Vietinghoff, Maja T. Lindenmeyer, Elion Hoxha, Rolf A. K. Stahl, Tobias B. Huber, Stefan Bonn, Catherine Meyer-Schwesinger, Thorsten Wiech, Jan-Eric Turner, Burkhard Becher, Christian F. Krebs, Ulf Panzer
Summary: Glomerulonephritis is an immune-mediated disease that causes kidney inflammation and is a major cause of end-stage renal disease. T cells play a significant role in the development of glomerulonephritis, but the specific mechanisms are not well understood. This study identifies GM-CSF-producing T cells as key players in the pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis and shows that targeting GM-CSF or MMP12 can reduce disease severity in mouse models. These findings provide a potential therapeutic target for glomerulonephritis.
SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Florian Ingelfinger, Michael Kramer, Mirjam Lutz, Corinne C. Widmer, Luca Piccoli, Stefanie Kreutmair, Tobias Wertheimer, Mark Woodhall, Patrick Waters, Federica Sallusto, Antonio Lanzavecchia, Sarah Mundt, Burkhard Becher, Bettina Schreiner
Summary: This study suggests that myasthenia gravis (MG) may be associated with hematologic malignancies such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). It is unclear whether the leukemic B cells are directly responsible for the autoimmune response in patients with MG and CLL. However, treatment with the anti-CD20 therapy obinutuzumab has shown potential in effectively treating AChR(+) MG.
NEUROLOGY-NEUROIMMUNOLOGY & NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Nicolas Gonzalo Nunez, Fiamma Berner, Ekaterina Friebel, Susanne Unger, Nina Wyss, Julia Martinez Gomez, Mette-Triin Purde, Rebekka Niederer, Maximilian Porsch, Christa Lichtensteiger, Rafaela Kramer, Michael Erdmann, Christina Schmitt, Lucie Heinzerling, Marie-Therese Abdou, Julia Karbach, Dirk Schadendorf, Lisa Zimmer, Selma Ugurel, Niklas Kluemper, Michael Hoelzel, Laura Power, Stefanie Kreutmair, Mariaelena Capone, Gabriele Madonna, Lacin Cevhertas, Anja Heider, Teresa Amaral, Omar Hasan Ali, David Bomze, Florentia Dimitriou, Stefan Diem, Paolo Antonio Ascierto, Reinhard Dummer, Elke Jaeger, Christoph Driessen, Mitchell Paul Levesque, Willem van de Veen, Markus Joerger, Martin Frueh, Burkhard Becher, Lukas Flatz
Summary: In this study, a multi-omics approach was used to characterize the systemic immune compartment of melanoma or non-small cell lung cancer patients before and during immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment. Potential predictive biomarkers for ICI-induced immune-related adverse events (irAEs) were identified, including early increase in CXCL9/CXCL10/CXCL11 and interferon-g (IFN-g) 1 to 2 weeks after treatment initiation, as well as early expansion of Ki-67+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) and Ki-67+ CD8+ T cells.
Correction
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Marianne R. Spalinger, Stephanie Kasper, Claudia Gottier, Silvia Lang, Kirstin Atrott, Stephan R. Vavricka, Sylvie Scharl, Petrus M. Gutte, Markus G. Gruetter, Hans-Dietmar Beer, Emmanuel Contassot, Andrew C. Chan, Xuezhi Dai, David J. Rawlings, Florian Mair, Burkhard Becher, Werner Falk, Michael Fried, Gerhard Rogler, Michael Scharl
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Jenny C. Kienzler, Burkhard Becher
Summary: Malignant brain tumors have a lack of effective treatment, but immunotherapy has become a focus in brain tumor research. Myeloid cells are found to dominate the tumor microenvironment and their interaction with tumor cells is complex.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Leonie Perren, Moana Busch, Cordelia Schuler, Pedro A. Ruiz, Federica Foti, Nathalie Weibel, Cheryl de Valliere, Yasser Morsy, Klaus Seuwen, Martin Hausmann, Gerhard Rogler
Summary: G-protein-coupled receptors OGR1 and TDAG8 play opposite roles in inflammatory bowel disease, with OGR1 deficiency reducing inflammation severity and TDAG8 deficiency increasing inflammation. These findings suggest the potential importance of OGR1 and TDAG8 as therapeutic targets.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
S. Vavricka, J. Zeitz, M. Madanchi, L. Biedermann, Y. Morsy, M. Scharl, M. Gassmann, T. Lutz, A. Kunz, D. Bron, G. Rogler, T. Greuter
JOURNAL OF CROHNS & COLITIS
(2022)