Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Emily Stephenson, Gary Reynolds, Rachel A. Botting, Fernando J. Calero-Nieto, Michael D. Morgan, Zewen Kelvin Tuong, Karsten Bach, Waradon Sungnak, Kaylee B. Worlock, Masahiro Yoshida, Natsuhiko Kumasaka, Katarzyna Kania, Justin Engelbert, Bayan Olabi, Jarmila Stremenova Spegarova, Nicola K. Wilson, Nicole Mende, Laura Jardine, Louis C. S. Gardner, Issac Goh, Dave Horsfall, Jim McGrath, Simone Webb, Michael W. Mather, Rik G. H. Lindeboom, Emma Dann, Ni Huang, Krzysztof Polanski, Elena Prigmore, Florian Gothe, Jonathan Scott, Rebecca P. Payne, Kenneth F. Baker, Aidan T. Hanrath, Ina C. D. Schim van der Loeff, Andrew S. Barr, Amada Sanchez-Gonzalez, Laura Bergamaschi, Federica Mescia, Josephine L. Barnes, Eliz Kilich, Angus de Wilton, Anita Saigal, Aarash Saleh, Sam M. Janes, Claire M. Smith, Nusayhah Gopee, Caroline Wilson, Paul Coupland, Jonathan M. Coxhead, Vladimir Yu Kiselev, Stijn van Dongen, Jaume Bacardit, Hamish W. King, Anthony J. Rostron, A. John Simpson, Sophie Hambleton, Elisa Laurenti, Paul A. Lyons, Kerstin B. Meyer, Marko Z. Nikolic, Christopher J. A. Duncan, Kenneth G. C. Smith, Sarah A. Teichmann, Menna R. Clatworthy, John C. Marioni, Berthold Gottgens, Muzlifah Haniffa
Summary: Transcriptomic and proteomic profiling of blood samples from individuals with COVID-19 reveals immune cell and hematopoietic progenitor cell alterations that are differentially associated with disease severity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alicia Ballester, Adriana Guijarro, Beatriz Bravo, Javier Hernandez, Rodolfo Murillas, Marta Gallego, Sara Ballester
Summary: This study investigated the role of the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway in modulating the immune response. The results showed that Hh pathway activation favored the Th2 phenotype and impaired the establishment of the Th1 phenotype. Additionally, mice with constitutive activation of the Hh pathway showed a milder response to inflammatory challenge and less spinal cord damage. These findings demonstrate the involvement of the Hh/ptch pathway in immune response modulation and highlight the potential of the ptch(+/-) mouse model for studying T-cell-mediated diseases and developing new therapeutic strategies for inflammatory diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Tatiana Lopatina, Malvina Koni, Cristina Grange, Massimo Cedrino, Saveria Femmino, Giusy Lombardo, Enrica Favaro, Maria Felice Brizzi
Summary: This study investigated the clinical impact of targeting the IL-3 signaling in the microenvironment of solid tumors and the modulation of PD-L1 expression in tumor cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) through IL-3Ra blockade. The study found that IL-3 controls the expression of its receptor on tumor-derived endothelial cells (TEC) and PBMC and that IL-3 secretion increases PD-L1 expression in myeloid cells. Additionally, the study demonstrated that TEC-derived extracellular vesicles can reshape the anti-tumor immune response, possibly through the enrichment of miR-214.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Alba Grifoni, John Sidney, Randi Vita, Bjoern Peters, Shane Crotty, Daniela Weiskopf, Alessandro Sette
Summary: This review summarizes recent studies on SARS-CoV-2 T cell epitopes, highlighting the significant correlation between epitope number and antigen size. It also presents an analysis of 1,400 different reported SARS-CoV-2 epitopes and identifies discrete immunodominant regions of the virus and more prevalently recognized epitopes.
CELL HOST & MICROBE
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Shihong Zhong, Qiong Li, Chunhua Wen, Yifan Li, Yang Zhou, Zihan Jin, Guofu Ye, Yanda Zhao, Jinlin Hou, Yongyin Li, Libo Tang
Summary: The objective of this study was to investigate the role of B cells in IFN-alpha-mediated anti-HBV cellular immunity. The results showed that B cell depletion impaired the function of T cells and delayed HBV clearance. IFN-alpha treatment enhanced the response of HBV-specific CD8+ T cells, but this effect was lost in B cell-deficient models. These findings suggest that IFN-alpha orchestrates protective HBV-specific cellular immunity in a B cell-dependent manner.
ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Claudius L. Dietsche, Elisabeth Hirth, Petra S. Dittrich
Summary: A microfluidic platform was developed to quantitatively measure the secreted proteins of individual macrophages and macrophages polarized by breast cancer cells. The study successfully distinguished differently polarized macrophages by determining three signaling proteins. The results showed that macrophages treated with cancer cell supernatant exhibited a similar signaling pattern to M2 macrophages.
Review
Immunology
Yueqi Qiu, Xingyu Zhou, Yu Liu, Siqi Tan, Yaping Li
Summary: SLE is a potentially fatal multisystem inflammatory disorder characterized by abnormal immune responses, and SIRT1, as a key regulator in immune cells, may play important roles in the pathogenesis of SLE.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Yuhan Zhong, Xiao Zhong, Liangjun Qiao, Hong Wu, Chang Liu, Ting Zhang
Summary: The Z alpha domain is a compact α/β structure that specifically binds to nucleic acids with a left-handed helical conformation. It has been identified in several proteins, including ADAR1 and ZBP1, which play important roles in immune response regulation.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Melisa Intan Barliana, Nadiya Nurul Afifah, Riezki Amalia, Laniyati Hamijoyo, Rizky Abdulah
Summary: SLE, a chronic autoimmune disease, is primarily influenced by genetic factors affecting treatment response. Research on gene polymorphisms impacting treatment is essential for advancing personalized medicine practices.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ruben Rose, Franziska Neumann, Olaf Grobe, Thomas Lorentz, Helmut Fickenscher, Andi Krumbholz
Summary: This study compared the humoral immune response after heterologous vaccination with a SARS-CoV-2 vector vaccine and mRNA vaccine, and the antibody response after homologous vaccination schemes. The study found that heterologous vaccination resulted in a strong antibody response comparable to that of a homologous BNT162b2 vaccination scheme, indicating the development of a robust humoral immunity. However, for the delta variant, a reduction in neutralizing efficacy was observed in some participants.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maria Soriano-Ramos, Estrella Esquivel-De la Fuente, Eliseo Albert Vicent, Maria de la Calle, Fernando Baquero-Artigao, Sara Dominguez-Rodriguez, Maria Cabanes, Enery Gomez-Montes, Anna Gonce, Marta Valdes-Bango, Ma Carmen Vinuela-Beneitez, Mar Munoz-Chapuli Gutierrez, Jesus Saavedra-Lozano, Irene Cuadrado Perez, Begona Encinas, Laura Castells Vilella, Maria de la Serna Martinez, Alfredo Tagarro, Paula Rodriguez-Molino, Estela Gimenez Quiles, Diana Garcia Alcazar, Antonio Garcia Burguillo, Maria Dolores Folgueira, David Navarro, Daniel Blazquez-Gamero
Summary: In this study, 135 pregnant women suspected of CMV infection were evaluated, with 60 having a primary CMV infection and providing samples. Among these, 24 mothers transmitted the infection to the fetus, while 36 did not. No association was found between the presence of CD4 or CD8 responses against CMV at the time of maternal infection diagnosis and the risk of fetal transmission. No transmission occurred among women with an undetectable CMV viral load in blood at diagnosis.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fedor Berditchevski, Eanna Fennell, Paul G. Murray
Summary: Induced waves of calcium fluxes play a crucial role in the differentiation and maturation of B-cells, while dysregulation of calcium fluxes may lead to B-cell lymphomagenesis. Several cytotoxic drugs target calcium-dependent pathways for lymphoma treatment.
Article
Immunology
Qian Xiao, Ceara K. McAtee, Xiaolei Su
Summary: Phase separation is a new biophysical principle in organizing biomolecules into fluidic clusters, with potential implications for immune signaling pathways. The formation of signaling condensates through liquid-liquid phase separation is crucial for understanding how immune responses are regulated in cells. Despite the challenges in fully understanding the mechanisms and functional consequences of these signaling clusters, studies in immunology are expected to provide new perspectives on immune responses.
NATURE REVIEWS IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Maria Botia-Sanchez, Georgina Galicia, Lorena Albaladejo-Marico, Daniel Toro-Dominguez, Maria Morell, Raquel Marcos-Fernandez, Abelardo Margolles, Marta E. Alarcon-Riquelme
Summary: Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease that can cause intestinal inflammation, leading to changes in the intestinal barrier and gut microbiota composition, which can in turn affect the interaction between the host immune system and gut microbiota.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Maria Tagliamonte, Luigi Buonaguro
Summary: Individuals are exposed to intracellular pathogens and intestinal microbiota, which can induce autoimmune reactions and potentially lead to autoimmune diseases. Recently, it has been found that self-antigens similar to tumor-associated antigens may exist in cancer cells. Selecting non-self antigens with high homology to tumor-associated antigens could greatly improve the efficacy of cancer vaccines.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Respiratory System
Isabelle Fleurot, Raquel Lopez-Galvez, Pascal Barbry, Antoine Guillon, Mustapha Si-Tahar, Andrea Bahr, Nikolai Klymiuk, Jean-Claude Sirard, Ignacio Caballero
Summary: This study reveals a defective TLR5 signaling in the airway epithelium of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, leading to excessive lung inflammation. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of CF disease and provide potential therapeutic targets.
JOURNAL OF CYSTIC FIBROSIS
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Kayla Van Buren, Yi Li, Fanghao Zhong, Yuan Ding, Amrutesh Puranik, Cynthia A. Loomis, Narges Razavian, Timothy B. Niewold
Summary: We developed a deep learning algorithm to detect and classify immune cells in biopsies of inflammatory lesions, including rare Tfh cell subsets. The algorithm can perform distance mapping between cell types in tissue and can be adapted to other disease states.
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGICAL METHODS
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Taro Iwamoto, Jessica M. Dorschner, Shanmugapriya Selvaraj, Valeria Mezzano, Mark A. Jensen, Danielle Vsetecka, Shreyasee Amin, Ashima Makol, Thomas Osborn, Kevin Moder, Vaidehi R. Chowdhary, Peter Izmirly, H. Michael Belmont, Robert M. Clancy, Jill P. Buyon, Ming Wu, Cynthia A. Loomis, Timothy B. Niewold
Summary: This study found an association between high serum IFN and subtypes of lupus nephritis, and investigated the effect of IFN on renal tissues and cells.
JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mohamed G. Ayari, Patrick Favetta, Dawid Warszycki, Virginie Vasseur, Virginie Herve, Pierre Degardin, Benjamin Carbonnier, Mustapha Si-Tahar, Luigi A. Agrofoglio
Summary: This study successfully synthesized different imprinted hydrogels using ribavirin as a template molecule, which exhibit high selective cavities for releasing antiviral substances and are biocompatible with lung epithelial cells without inflammatory response.
MACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE
(2022)
Editorial Material
Respiratory System
I. Annesi-Maesano, P. Bonniaud, G. Bouchaud, L. Boyer, S. Gazzeri, P. Gosset, D. Gras, C. Guibert, C. Guignabert, B. Mari, S. Matecki, C. Morelot, C. Pilette, C. Planes, L. Plantier, M. Polette, M. Si-Tahar, C. Taille, I. Vachier
REVUE DES MALADIES RESPIRATOIRES
(2022)
Article
Medical Laboratory Technology
Ilona Nln, Ruth Fernandez-Ruiz, Theresa L. Wampler Muskardin, Jacqueline L. Paredes, Ashira D. Blazer, Stephanie Tuminello, Mukundan Attur, Eduardo Iturrate, Christopher M. Petrilli, Steven B. Abramson, Aravinda Chakravarti, Timothy B. Niewold
Summary: The type I interferon pathway plays a critical role in defense against COVID-19 and viral infections. Common gain-of-function alleles in the pathway may be associated with protection from mortality in COVID-19.
TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Dermatology
Ruth Fernandez-Ruiz, Timothy B. Niewold
Summary: Dysregulated IFN-1 responses are important in the development of various autoimmune diseases. Enhanced IFN-1 signaling is seen in patients with lupus, systemic sclerosis, Sjogren's syndrome, and dermatomyositis. Excess IFN-1 is associated with disease severity and autoantibodies, and may be used to predict response to new therapies targeting IFN-1 pathways. This review provides an overview of IFN-1 signaling pathway and immune functions in both health and disease, as well as current therapeutic strategies targeting the IFN-1 system.
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Rheumatology
S. Louis Bridges, Timothy B. Niewold, Tony R. Merriman
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Ashira Blazer, Yingzhi Qian, Martin Paul Schlegel, Huda Algasas, Jill P. Buyon, Ken Cadwell, Michael Cammer, Sean P. Heffron, Feng-Xia Liang, Shilpi Mehta-Lee, Timothy Niewold, Sara E. Rasmussen, Robert M. Clancy
Summary: Polymorphisms in the APOL1 gene are common in African populations and are associated with kidney injury and cardiovascular disease. In this study using human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) cultures, it was found that IFN-gamma induces APOL1 expression and that cells carrying more risk variants (RV) show mitochondrial dysfunction and autophagy inhibition. This is the first description of APOL1 pathobiology in variant heterozygous cell cultures.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Aliisa Hayry, Francesca Faustini, Agneta Zickert, Anders Larsson, Timothy B. Niewold, Elisabet Svenungsson, Vilija Oke, Iva Gunnarsson
Summary: This study investigated the potential of interleukin (IL) 16 as a biomarker for lupus nephritis (LN). The results showed that IL-16 levels were elevated in active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and could differentiate between different subtypes of LN. The study also found that IL-16 was expressed in kidney infiltrating cells. These findings suggest that IL-16 could be used as a diagnostic and therapeutic target for LN.
LUPUS SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Thomas Clarke, Pan Du, Satyendra Kumar, Shinji L. Okitsu, Mark Schuette, Qi An, Jinyang Zhang, Evgeni Tzvetkov, Mark A. Jensen, Timothy B. Niewold, Elise M. N. Ferre, Julie Nardone, Michail S. Lionakis, Jaromir Vlach, Julie DeMartino, Andrew T. Bender
Summary: Autoimmune diseases can vary in the pattern and range of autoantibodies produced, and these differences may be caused by various breaks in tolerance. By comparing three different autoimmune diseases, APECED, SLE, and SjS, researchers gained insights into the triggers of autoimmunity. APECED was found to have a focused set of shared anti-cytokine antibodies, while SLE had broader autoantibody repertoires targeting mostly intracellular antigens. SjS patients showed few specific autoantibodies, with the highest reactivity against Ro-52 and La. These findings suggest different mechanisms driving autoimmunity in monogenic and polygenic disorders.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Kazusa Miyachi, Taro Iwamoto, Shotaro Kojima, Tomoaki Ida, Junya Suzuki, Takuya Yamamoto, Norihiro Mimura, Takahiro Sugiyama, Shigeru Tanaka, Shunsuke Furuta, Kei Ikeda, Kotaro Suzuki, Timothy B. Niewold, Hiroshi Nakajima
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the association between systemic interferon (IFN) activity and clinical phenotypes, disease activity, and damage accrual in treatment-naive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. The results showed that treatment-naive SLE patients had significantly higher serum IFN activity compared to other rheumatic disease patients. High serum IFN activity was associated with fever, hematologic disorders, and mucocutaneous manifestations in treatment-naive SLE patients. Serum IFN activity at baseline correlated with disease activity and decreased after induction and maintenance therapy, suggesting that it may serve as a potential biomarker for disease activity in treatment-naive SLE patients.
ARTHRITIS RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Rheumatology
Mariana Bombini, Nailu Sinicato, Jacqueline Paredes, Theresa Wampler Muskardin, Tiago Nardi Amaral, Ana Paula Del Rio, Joao Marques Neto, Timothy Niewold, Simone Appenzeller
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Rheumatology
Ruth Fernandez Ruiz, Ilona Nln, Jacqueline Paredes, Timothy Niewold
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Renan Bazuco Frittoli, Danilo Rodrigues Pereira, Aline Tamires Lapa, Mariana Postal, Nailu Angelica Sinicato, Paula Teixeira Fernandes, Fernando Cendes, Gabriela Castellano, Leticia Rittner, Roberto Marini, Timothy B. Niewold, Simone Appenzeller
Summary: This study found that childhood-onset SLE patients have axonal dysfunction, which is associated with IFN-gamma levels and depressive symptoms. Increased CHO ratios are related to cognitive impairment, while mI/Cr ratios are correlated with cumulative glucocorticoids dosage.