Article
Immunology
William H. Palmer, Laura Ann Leaton, Ana Campos Codo, Bergren Crute, James Roest, Shiying Zhu, Jan Petersen, Richard P. Tobin, Patrick S. Hume, Matthew Stone, Adrie van Bokhoven, Mark E. Gerich, Martin D. McCarter, Yuwen Zhu, William J. Janssen, Julian P. Vivian, John Trowsdale, Andrew Getahun, Jamie Rossjohn, John Cambier, Liyen Loh, Paul J. Norman
Summary: Most human killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) are expressed by natural killer (NK) cells and recognize HLA class I molecules as ligands. However, KIR3DL3 is expressed in γδ and CD8(+) T cells and recognizes the B7 family ligand HHLA2, playing a role in immune checkpoint targeting. KIR3DL3(+) T cells in peripheral blood have an activated transitional memory phenotype and are hypofunctional, with biased T cell receptor (TCR) usage. Additionally, KIR3DL3 expression can be influenced by polymorphisms and variants in the proximal promoter and residue 86. These findings have implications for personalized targeting of KIR3DL3/HHLA2 checkpoint inhibition.
SCIENCE IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marjan Hematian Larki, Elham Ashouri, Shaghik Barani, Seiyed Mohammad Ali Ghayumi, Abbas Ghaderi, Raja Rajalingam
Summary: The study reveals the association between KIR and HLA class I ligands with genetic predisposition to lung cancer in the native population of southern Iran. Specific KIR genes and HLA-C1 ligands show significant increase in patients with lung cancer, certain genotypes are positively correlated with disease risk, and iKIRs > aKIRs genotypes are more frequently presented in lung cancer patients.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Daun Jung, Young Seok Baek, In Jee Lee, Ki Yeon Kim, Heejoo Jang, Sohyun Hwang, Jieun Jung, Yong-wha Moon, Kyung-Soon Park, Yong-Soo Choi, Hee Jung An
Summary: This study focused on ex vivo expansion and cryopreservation of allogeneic NK cells, which showed upregulated genes related to NK cell functions and exhibited potent cytolytic activity against cancer cell lines. The research suggests the potential use of expanded and cryopreserved NK cells as a promising immunotherapy for drug-resistant cancer patients.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Siqin Duan, Shuwen Liu
Summary: This review highlights the immunotherapy strategies for HIV infection that utilize the beneficial properties of natural killer (NK) cells.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Miao Huang, Hao Cai, Bing Han, Yuhan Xia, Xiaoni Kong, Jinyang Gu
Summary: NK cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of liver ischemia-reperfusion injury and can exacerbate the damage caused by this process.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Calvin D. De Louche, Ali Roghanian
Summary: In recent decades, immunotherapeutic strategies have been used to treat a wide range of previously incurable pathologies, but a considerable number of patients do not respond or develop resistance to current immunotherapies. Therefore, developing the next generation of immune-targeted therapies is urgently needed. Human LILRBs play important roles in regulating immune functions, and blocking these inhibitory receptors can enhance immune responses.
Article
Immunology
Neha D. Patil, Olivia Domingues, Cecile Masquelier, Maud Theresine, Oceane Schlienger, Clinton Njinju Amin Asaba, Marine Thomas, Carole Seguin-Devaux, Hortense Slevogt, Markus Ollert, Jacques Zimmer
Summary: This article studies the phenotypic and functional aspects of NK cells in mice, with a focus on TAP-deficient mice. The research found that, even after strong cytokine stimulation, the initial education pattern conveyed to NK cells through inhibitory receptors remained unchanged.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Diana Cortes-Selva, Bidisha Dasgupta, Sanjaya Singh, Iqbal S. Grewal
Summary: Conventional alpha beta CAR-T cell-based therapies have significantly impacted cancer immunotherapy, but face challenges in treating solid tumors. Novel strategies incorporating alternative cell types, such as natural killer cells, NKT cells, gamma delta T cells, and macrophages, are considered promising alternatives to enhance the effectiveness of CAR therapies. These alternative cells possess unique immune properties and potential advantages compared to traditional CAR-T cells, but also come with inherent limitations that require strategies to overcome.
TRENDS IN PHARMACOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Nicole F. Bernard, Sanket Kant, Zahra Kiani, Cecile Tremblay, Franck P. Dupuy
Summary: Infection with HIV can be controlled to undetectable levels in some individuals without treatment, but this is rare. These individuals, called Elite Controllers, have specific genetic factors and immune responses that allow them to control the virus naturally. Natural Killer cells play a crucial role in both antibody independent and antibody dependent HIV control.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Valentina Cazzetta, Elena Bruni, Sara Terzoli, Claudia Carenza, Sara Franzese, Rocco Piazza, Paolo Marzano, Matteo Donadon, Guido Torzilli, Matteo Cimino, Matteo Simonelli, Lorenzo Bello, Anna Villa, Likai Tan, Sarina Ravens, Immo Prinz, Domenico Supino, Federico S. Colombo, Enrico Lugli, Emanuela Marcenaro, Eric Vivier, Silvia Della Bella, Joanna Mikulak, Domenico Mavilio
Summary: NKG2A expression identifies a subset of V delta 2 T cells with intrinsic hyper-responsiveness against cancer, which is counterbalanced by the inhibitory signaling delivered by HLA-E expressed on malignant cells. Removal of NKG2A restores the effector functions of V delta 2 T cells.
Review
Immunology
Khadijeh Dizaji Asl, Kobra Velaei, Ali Rafat, Hamid Tayefi Nasrabadi, Ali Akbar Movassaghpour, Majid Mahdavi, Hojjatollah Nozad Charoudeh
Summary: NK cells play a crucial role in diseases through the interaction between KIR and MHC-I molecules. Researchers are focusing on understanding the molecular mechanisms of KIR-MHC-I interaction to enhance disease treatment strategies.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Nurul Izza Ismail
Summary: As the placenta is semi-allogenic, it is expected that maternal immune cells would attack the invading trophoblast, but studies have shown that they cooperate with the trophoblast to disrupt the arterial wall. uNK cells, unique immune cells, play a role in pregnancy. The interaction between HLA class 1b genes and maternal uNK cells in humans is described in this review.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Arnika K. Wagner, Ulf Gehrmann, Stefanie Hiltbrunner, Valentina Carannante, Thuy T. Luu, Tanja I. Naslund, Hanna Brauner, Nadir Kadri, Klas Karre, Susanne Gabrielsson
Summary: This study demonstrates that activating NKT cells can enhance the tumor-killing ability of educated NK cells, leading to more effective rejection of MHC-I+ and MHC-I- tumor cells. This approach holds great potential for improving cancer immunotherapy by boosting NK cell-mediated tumor-killing.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Miranda H. Meeuwsen, Anne K. Wouters, Lorenz Jahn, Renate S. Hagedoorn, Michel G. D. Kester, Dennis F. G. Remst, Laura T. Morton, Dirk M. van der Steen, Christiaan Kweekel, Arnoud H. de Ru, Marieke Griffioen, Peter A. van Veelen, J. H. Frederik Falkenburg, Mirjam H. M. Heemskerk
Summary: CAR T cell therapy shows potential for the treatment of B cell malignancies, but antigen-negative escape variants limit its efficacy. This study identifies promising TCRs targeting multiple antigens for the treatment of B cell malignancies through a systematic approach.
Article
Immunology
Qian-Nan Shang, Xing-Xing Yu, Zheng-Li Xu, Xun-Hong Cao, Xue-Fei Liu, Xiao-Su Zhao, Ying-Jun Chang, Yu Wang, Xiao-Hui Zhang, Lan-Ping Xu, Kai-Yan Liu, Xiao-Jun Huang, Xiang-Yu Zhao
Summary: This study finds that DNAM-1 expression correlates with the functional competence of human NK cells through the KIR/MHC-I interaction. NK cells with donor or recipient HLA molecules regulate DNAM-1 expression, thereby affecting NK cell education. The effects of recipient cells on NK cell education are greater, and activating receptors may collaborate with DNAM-1 to induce educated NK cell hyperresponsiveness.
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Lil Meyer-Arndt, Tatjana Schwarz, Lucie Loyal, Larissa Henze, Beate Kruse, Manuela Dingeldey, Kubrah Guercan, Zehra Uyar-Aydin, Marcel A. Mueller, Christian Drosten, Friedemann Paul, Leif E. Sander, Ilja Demuth, Roland Lauster, Claudia Giesecke-Thiel, Julian Braun, Victor M. Corman, Andreas Thiel
Summary: Advanced age is a major risk factor for severe COVID-19. Vaccination in older individuals produces stronger immune responses compared to middle-aged individuals and COVID-19 convalescents, but the durability of salivary antibodies and neutralizing capacity is lower. Pre-existing spike-specific CD4(+) T cells are a predictor of an efficient COVID-19 vaccine-induced immune response in older individuals.
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Quirin Hammer, Josefine Dunst, Wanda Christ, Francesca Picarazzi, Mareike Wendorff, Pouria Momayyezi, Oisin Huhn, Herman K. Netskar, Kimia T. Maleki, Marina Garcia, Takuya Sekine, Ebba Sohlberg, Valerio Azzimato, Myriam Aouadi, Frauke Degenhardt, Andre Franke, Francesco Spallotta, Mattia Mori, Jakob Michaelsson, Niklas K. Bjorkstrom, Timo Rueckert, Chiara Romagnani, Amir Horowitz, Jonas Klingstrom, Hans-Gustaf Ljunggren, Karl-Johan Malmberg
Summary: A viral peptide encoded by the Non-structural protein 13 of SARS-CoV-2 prevents the binding of HLA-E to the inhibitory receptor NKG2A, leading to the activation of NK cells and their ability to limit viral replication. This finding provides insights into the immune response of NK cells against SARS-CoV-2 and its mechanisms.
Article
Immunology
Huilei Zhang, Shuangqing Liu, Yanan Li, Jianru Li, Chen Ni, Ming Yang, Jun Dong, Zhaoqing Wang, Zhihai Qin
Summary: The study reveals that S100A4 drives dysfunction in CD8(+) T-EM cells, leading to the loss of their protective memory response and promoting asthma worsening. CD8(+) T-EM cells can be divided into dysfunctional subsets and subsets inclined towards apoptosis based on the expression of S100A4. S100A4 affects mitochondrial metabolism, leading to a decrease in acetyl-CoA levels, which impairs the transcription of effector genes (especially IFN-γ), facilitating cell survival, tolerance, and memory potential.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Carla Cendon, Weijie Du, Pawel Durek, Yuk-Chien Liu, Tobias Alexander, Lindsay Serene, Xinyi Yang, Gilles Gasparoni, Abdulrahman Salhab, Karl Nordstroem, Tina Lai, Axel R. Schulz, Anna Rao, Gitta A. Heinz, Ana L. Stefanski, Anne Claussnitzer, Katherina Siewert, Thomas Doerner, Hyun-Dong Chang, Hans-Dieter Volk, Chiara Romagnani, Zhihai Qin, Sebastian Hardt, Carsten Perka, Simon Reinke, Jorn Walter, Mir-Farzin Mashreghi, Kevin Thurley, Andreas Radbruch, Jun Dong
Summary: CD4(+) T-RM cells are mobilized into the blood within 16 to 48 h after immunization with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, and they make significant contribution to the systemic immune reaction.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Johannes Steffen, Stefanie Ehrentraut, Ute Bank, Aindrila Biswas, Caio Andreeta Figueiredo, Oliver Hoelsken, Henning Peter Duesedau, Vladyslava Dovhan, Laura Knop, Jacqueline Thode, Silvina Romero-Suarez, Carmen Infante Duarte, Jason Gigley, Chiara Romagnani, Andreas Diefenbach, Christoph S. N. Klose, Thomas Schueler, Ildiko Rita Dunay
Summary: This study reveals that innate lymphoid cells (ILC1) accumulate in the brain during the onset of cerebral Toxoplasma gondii infection and contribute to the production of IFN-g and TNF, initiating a neuroinflammatory response and host defense factors.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Lil Meyer-Arndt, Julian Braun, Florent Fauchere, Kanika Vanshylla, Lucie Loyal, Larissa Henze, Beate Kruse, Manuela Dingeldey, Karsten Juerchott, Maike Mangold, Ardit Maraj, Andre Braginets, Chotima Boettcher, Andreas Nitsche, Kathrin de la Rosa, Christoph Ratswohl, Birgit Sawitzki, Pavlo Holenya, Ulf Reimer, Leif E. Sander, Florian Klein, Friedemann Paul, Judith Bellmann-Strobl, Andreas Thiel, Claudia Giesecke-Thiel
Summary: This study investigated the impact of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) on the immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in patients with autoimmune diseases. The results showed that patients treated with fingolimod had no immune response even after booster vaccinations, putting them at risk for severe SARS-CoV-2 infections.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY NEUROSURGERY AND PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Katja J. Jarick, Patrycja M. Topczewska, Manuel O. Jakob, Hiroshi Yano, Mohammad Arifuzzaman, Xuemei Gao, Sotiria Boulekou, Vladislava Stokic-Trtica, Pierre S. Leclere, Alexandra Preusser, Zoe A. Rompe, Anton Stamm, Amy M. Tsou, Coco Chu, Frederik R. Heinrich, Gabriela M. Guerra, Pawel Durek, Andranik Ivanov, Dieter Beule, Sofia Helfrich, Claudia U. Duerr, Anja A. Kuehl, Christina Stehle, Chiara Romagnani, Mir-Farzin Mashreghi, Andreas Diefenbach, David Artis, Christoph S. N. Klose
Summary: This article investigates the role of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) in protective immunity. Using a mouse model specific to ILCs, researchers found that ILC2s have non-redundant functions during steady state and disease, and they interact with adaptive immune cells to organize the immune system.
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mark A. Travis, Chiara Romagnani
Summary: Active control of the immune system is necessary to prevent inflammatory bowel disease. Cell populations that promote the generation of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells in the gut have been identified.
Article
Immunology
Timo Ruckert, Caleb A. Lareau, Mir-Farzin Mashreghi, Leif S. Ludwig, Chiara Romagnani
Summary: This study reveals the clonal expansion and long-term persistence of adaptive natural killer (NK) cells in human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection. The NK cell clones exhibit a convergent inflammatory memory signature and specific chromatin accessibility patterns, which shape their epigenetic memory repertoire. These findings suggest the presence of adaptive mechanisms within the human innate immune system, independent of antigen-receptor diversification.
Review
Immunology
Nils Christian Mueller, Chiara Romagnani
Summary: This review outlines the complex and diverse composition of group 1 ILC subsets in tumors, discusses how the tissue and tumor microenvironment shape their phenotype and functions, as well as describes their contrasting roles in the response to different cancers.
SEMINARS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Larissa Henze, Julian Braun, Lil Meyer-Arndt, Karsten Juerchott, Maike Schlotz, Janine Michel, Marica Grossegesse, Maike Mangold, Manuela Dingeldey, Beate Kruse, Pavlo Holenya, Norbert Mages, Ulf Reimer, Maren Eckey, Karsten Schnatbaum, Holger Wenschuh, Bernd Timmermann, Florian Klein, Andreas Nitsche, Claudia Giesecke-Thiel, Lucie Loyal, Andreas Thiel
Summary: Currently available COVID-19 vaccines include inactivated virus, live attenuated virus, mRNA-based, viral vectored and adjuvanted protein-subunit-based vaccines. All of them contain the spike glycoprotein as the main immunogen and result in reduced disease severity upon SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the effect of vector vaccines in reactivating pre-existing, cross-reactive immunity is still uncertain.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Hannes Forkel, Piotr Grabarczyk, Maren Depke, Sascha Troschke-Meurer, Stefan Simm, Elke Hammer, Stephan Michalik, Christian Hentschker, Bjoern Corleis, Lucie Loyal, Maxi Zumpe, Nikolai Siebert, Anca Dorhoi, Andreas Thiel, Holger Lode, Uwe Voelker, Christian A. Schmidt
Summary: BCL11B-depleted CD8+ T cells stimulated with IL-15 acquire innate characteristics, expressing multiple innate receptors and maintaining their T cell phenotype. These cells can effectively kill tumor cells and have promising therapeutic potential.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Jing Ma, Xu Chen, Rui Xue, Fei Wang, Jun Dong, Ning Tao, Zhihai Qin
Summary: This study screened several natural compounds for their inhibitory effects on cytokine storms and found that cinnamaldehyde can effectively inhibit the production of cytokine storms and restore the number of T cells.
PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Philipp Georg, Rosario Astaburuaga-Garcia, Lorenzo Bonaguro, Sophia Brumhard, Laura Michalick, Lena J. Lippert, Tomislav Kostevc, Christiane Gaebel, Maria Schneider, Mathias Streitz, Vadim Demichev, Ioanna Gemuend, Matthias Barone, Pinkus Tober-Lau, Elisa T. Helbig, David Hillus, Lev Petrov, Julia Stein, Hannah-Philine Dey, Daniela Paclik, Christina Iwert, Michael Muelleder, Simran Kaur Aulakh, Sonja Djudjaj, Roman D. Buelow, Henrik E. Mei, Axel R. Schulz, Andreas Thiel, Stefan Hippenstiel, Antoine-Emmanuel Saliba, Roland Eils, Irina Lehmann, Marcus A. Mall, Sebastian Stricker, Jobst Roehmel, Victor M. Corman, Dieter Beule, Emanuel Wyler, Markus Landthaler, Benedikt Obermayer, Saskia von Stillfried, Peter Boor, Munevver Demir, Hans Wesselmann, Norbert Suttorp, Alexander Uhrig, Holger Mueller-Redetzky, Jacob Nattermann, Wolfgang M. Kuebler, Christian Meisel, Markus Ralser, Joachim L. Schultze, Anna C. Aschenbrenner, Charlotte Thibeault, Florian Kurth, Leif E. Sander, Nils Bluethgen, Birgit Sawitzki
Summary: Severe COVID-19 is associated with highly activated CD16(+) T cells that exhibit cytotoxic functions and contribute to endothelial injury. These CD16(+) T cells can degranulate and induce cytotoxicity through immune-complex-mediated mechanisms independent of the T cell receptor, which is not observed in other diseases. The presence of activated CD16(+) T cells and elevated levels of complement proteins upstream of C3a are associated with a fatal outcome of COVID-19, indicating the pathological role of enhanced cytotoxicity and complement activation in the disease.