Activating receptor NKG2D targets RAE-1-expressing allogeneic neural precursor cells in a viral model of multiple sclerosis

The Plasticity of Immune Cell Response Complicates Dissecting the Underlying Pathology of Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of the myelin sheath of the neuronal axon in the central nervous system. Many risk factors, including environmental, epigenetic, genetic, and lifestyle factors, are responsible for the development of MS. It has long been thought that only adaptive immune cells, especially autoreactive T cells, are responsible for the pathophysiology; however, recent evidence has indicated that innate immune cells are also highly involved in disease initiation and progression. Here, we compile the available data regarding the role immune cells play in MS, drawn from both human and animal research. While T and B lymphocytes, chiefly enhance MS pathology, regulatory T cells (Tregs) may serve a more protective role, as can B cells, depending on context and location. Cells chiefly involved in innate immunity, including macrophages, microglia, astrocytes, dendritic cells, natural killer (NK) cells, eosinophils, and mast cells, play varied roles. In addition, there is evidence regarding the involvement of innate-like immune cells, such as γδ T cells, NKT cells, MAIT cells, and innate-like B cells as crucial contributors to MS pathophysiology. It is unclear which of these cell subsets are involved in the onset or progression of disease or in protective mechanisms due to their plastic nature, which can change their properties and functions depending on microenvironmental exposure and the response of neural networks in damage control. This highlights the need for a multipronged approach, combining stringently designed clinical data with carefully controlled in vitro and in vivo research findings, to identify the underlying mechanisms so that more effective therapeutics can be developed.

The therapeutic potential of natural killer cells in neuropathic pain

Novel disease-modifying treatments for neuropathic pain are urgently required. The cellular immune response to nerve injury represents a promising target for therapeutic development. Recently, the role of natural killer (NK) cells in both CNS and PNS disease has been the subject of growing interest. In this opinion article, we set out the case for NK cell-based intervention as a promising avenue for development in the management of neuropathic pain. We explore the potential cellular and molecular targets of NK cells in the PNS by contrasting with their reported functional roles in CNS diseases, and we suggest strategies for using the beneficial functions of NK cells and immune-based therapeutics in the context of neuropathic pain.

LncRNA MBNL1-AS1 Represses Proliferation and Cancer Stem-Like Properties of Breast Cancer through MBNL1-AS1/ZFP36/CENPA Axis

Background

Emerging studies have revealed long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) were key regulators of cancer progression. In this research, the expression and roles of MBNL1-AS1 were explored in breast cancer (BC).

Methods

In this study, the MBNL1-AS1 expression in breast cancer tissue, as well as in cell line, was studied by qRT-PCR assays. The effects of MBNL1-AS1 on proliferation and stemness were evaluated by MTT assays, colony formation assays, orthotopic breast tumor mice models, extreme limiting dilution analysis (ELDA), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), flow cytometry assays, and sphere formation assays. Flexmap 3D assays were performed to show that MBNL1-AS1 downregulated the centromere protein A (CENPA) secretion in BC cells. Western blot, RNA pull-down assays, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays, and FISH were conducted to detect the mechanism.

Results

The results showed that the expression levels of MBNL1-AS1 were downregulated in breast cancer tissues and cell lines. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that overexpression of MBNL1-AS1 markedly inhibited BC cells proliferation and stemness. RNA pull-down assay, RIP assay, western blot assay, and qRT-PCR assay showed that MBNL1-AS1 downregulated CENPA mRNA via directly interacting with Zinc Finger Protein 36 (ZFP36) and subsequently decreased the stability of CENPA mRNA. Restoration assays also confirmed that MBNL1-AS1 suppressed the CENPA-mediated proliferation and stemness in breast cancer cells.

Conclusions

The new mechanism of how MBNL1-AS1 regulates BC phenotype is elucidated, and the MBNL1-AS1/ZFP36/CENPA axis may be served as a therapeutic target for BC patients.

Promoting remyelination through cell transplantation therapies in a model of viral-induced neurodegenerative disease

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a central nervous system (CNS) disease characterized by chronic neuroinflammation, demyelination, and axonal damage. Infiltration of activated lymphocytes and myeloid cells are thought to be primarily responsible for white matter damage and axonopathy. Several United States Food and Drug Administration-approved therapies exist that impede activated lymphocytes from entering the CNS thereby limiting new lesion formation in patients with relapse-remitting forms of MS. However, a significant challenge within the field of MS research is to develop effective and sustained therapies that allow for axonal protection and remyelination. In recent years, there has been increasing evidence that some kinds of stem cells and their derivatives seem to be able to mute neuroinflammation as well as promote remyelination and axonal integrity. Intracranial infection of mice with the neurotropic JHM strain of mouse hepatitis virus (JHMV) results in immune-mediated demyelination and axonopathy, making this an excellent model to interrogate the therapeutic potential of stem cell derivatives in evoking remyelination. This review provides a succinct overview of our recent findings using intraspinal injection of mouse CNS neural progenitor cells and human neural precursors into JHMV-infected mice. JHMV-infected mice receiving these cells display extensive remyelination associated with axonal sparing. In addition, we discuss possible mechanisms associated with sustained clinical recovery. Developmental Dynamics 248:43-52, 2019. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Stem Cells as Potential Targets of Polyphenols in Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and multiple sclerosis are major neurodegenerative diseases, which are characterized by the accumulation of abnormal pathogenic proteins due to oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired autophagy, and pathogens, leading to neurodegeneration and behavioral deficits. Herein, we reviewed the utility of plant polyphenols in regulating proliferation and differentiation of stem cells for inducing brain self-repair in AD and multiple sclerosis. Firstly, we discussed the genetic, physiological, and environmental factors involved in the pathophysiology of both the disorders. Next, we reviewed various stem cell therapies available and how they have proved useful in animal models of AD and multiple sclerosis. Lastly, we discussed how polyphenols utilize the potential of stem cells, either complementing their therapeutic effects or stimulating endogenous and exogenous neurogenesis, against these diseases. We suggest that polyphenols could be a potential candidate for stem cell therapy against neurodegenerative disorders.

Beneficial Effects of Human Anti-Interleukin-15 Antibody in Gluten-Sensitive Rhesus Macaques with Celiac Disease

Overexpression of interleukin-15 (IL-15) is linked with immunopathology of several autoimmune disorders including celiac disease. Here, we utilized an anti-human IL-15 antibody 04H04 (anti-IL-15) to reverse immunopathogenesis of celiac disease. Anti-IL-15 was administered to six gluten-sensitive rhesus macaques with celiac disease characteristics including gluten-sensitive enteropathy (GSE), and the following celiac-related metrics were evaluated: morphology (villous height/crypt depth ratio) of small intestine, counts of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes, IFN-γ-producing CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, plasma levels of anti-gliadin and anti-intestinal tissue transglutaminase IgG antibodies, as well as peripheral effector memory (CD3+CD28-CD95+) T cells. Anti-IL-15 treatment reversed the clinically relevant disease endpoints, intraepithelial lymphocyte counts, and villous height/crypt depth ratios within jejunal biopsies to normal levels (P < 0.001). Additionally, intestinal CD8+ and CD4+ T cell IFN-γ production was reduced (P < 0.05). Extra-intestinally, anti-IL-15 treatment reduced peripheral NK cell counts (P < 0.001), but otherwise, non-NK peripheral lymphocytes including effector memory T cells and serum blood chemistry were unaffected. Overall, providing the beneficial disease-modulatory and immunomodulatory effects observed, anti-IL-15 treatment might be considered as a novel therapy to normalize intestinal lymphocyte function in celiac disease patients with GSE.

Neural precursor cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells exhibit reduced susceptibility to infection with a neurotropic coronavirus

The present study examines the susceptibility of mouse induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural precursor cells (iPSC-NPCs) to infection with the neurotropic JHM strain of mouse hepatitis virus (JHMV). Similar to NPCs derived from striatum of day 1 postnatal GFP-transgenic mice (GFP-NPCs), iPSC-derived NPCs (iPSC-NPCs) are able to differentiate into terminal neural cell types and express MHC class I and II in response to IFN-γ treatment. However, in contrast to postnatally-derived NPCs, iPSC-NPCs express low levels of carcinoembryonic antigen-cell adhesion molecule 1a (CEACAM1a), the surface receptor for JHMV, and are less susceptible to infection and virus-induced cytopathic effects. The relevance of this in terms of therapeutic application of NPCs resistant to viral infection is discussed.

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The neurotropic virus JHMV infects and kills mouse post-natal neural progenitor cells (NPCs).

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This study examines if JHMV infects mouse inducible pluripotent stem cell-derived NPCs.

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iPSC-NPCs are less susceptible to infection with JHMV and subsequent lytic effects.

Attribution of NKG2DL to the inhibition of early stage allogeneic tumors in mice

Allogeneic tumors are eventually rejected by adaptive immune responses, however, little is known about how allogeneic tumors are eradicated at the early stage of tumor development. In present study, we found that NKG2DL low expressing cancer cells were developed into palpable allogeneic tumors in mice within a week after the inoculation, while NKG2DL high expressing cancer cells failed to. The NKG2DL high expressing cancer cells could increase NKG2D⁺ NK cells in the allogeneic mice after being inoculated for 3 days. Artificially up-regulating NKG2DL on cancer cells with low level expressed NKG2DL by a CpG ODN resulted in the retardation and rejection of the allogeneic tumors at the early stage. The contribution of up-regulated NKG2DL to the early rejection was further confirmed by the results that the development of allogeneic tumors from cancer cells transfected with NKG2DL genes was significantly inhibited in mice at the early stage. Overall, hopefully, the data may provide insights for combining the allogeneic NK cell adoptive transfer with the approaches of up-regulating NKG2DL to treat cancer patients.

Promoting remyelination: utilizing a viral model of demyelination to assess cell-based therapies

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the CNS. While a broad range of therapeutics effectively reduce the incidence of focal white matter inflammation and plaque formation for patients with relapse-remitting forms of MS, a challenge within the field is to develop therapies that allow for axonal protection and remyelination. In the last decade, growing interest has focused on utilizing neural precursor cells (NPCs) to promote remyelination. To understand how NPCs function in chronic demyelinating environments, several excellent pre-clinical mouse models have been developed. One well accepted model is infection of susceptible mice with neurotropic variants of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) that undergo chronic demyelination exhibiting clinical and histopathologic similarities to MS patients. Combined with the possibility that an environmental agent such as a virus could trigger MS, the MHV model of demyelination presents a relevant mouse model to assess the therapeutic potential of NPCs transplanted into an environment in which inflammatory-mediated demyelination is established.