Development of T follicular helper cells and their role in disease and immune system

The survival of B cells is compromised in kidney disease

Antibody-mediated protection against pathogens is crucial to a healthy life. However, the recent SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has shown that pre-existing comorbid conditions including kidney disease account for compromised humoral immunity to infections. Individuals with kidney disease are not only susceptible to infections but also exhibit poor vaccine-induced antibody response. Using multiple mouse models of kidney disease, we demonstrate that renal dysfunction inhibits germinal center (GC) response against T-dependent antigens. GC B cells exhibit increased apoptosis in kidney disease. Uremic toxin hippuric acid drives loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, leading to increased apoptosis of GC B cells in a G-protein-coupled receptor 109A dependent manner. Finally, GC B cells and antibody titer are diminished in mice with kidney disease following influenza virus infection, a major cause of mortality in individuals with renal disorders. These results provide a mechanistic understanding of how renal dysfunction suppresses humoral immunity in patients with kidney disease.

A Glimpse into Humoral Response and Related Therapeutic Approaches of Takayasu's Arteritis

Takayasu's arteritis (TAK) manifests as an insidiously progressive and debilitating form of granulomatous inflammation including the aorta and its major branches. The precise etiology of TAK remains elusive, with current understanding suggesting an autoimmune origin primarily driven by T cells. Notably, a growing body of evidence bears testimony to the widespread effects of B cells on disease pathogenesis and progression. Distinct alterations in peripheral B cell subsets have been described in individuals with TAK. Advancements in technology have facilitated the identification of novel autoantibodies in TAK. Moreover, emerging data suggest that dysregulated signaling cascades downstream of B cell receptor families, including interactions with innate pattern recognition receptors such as toll-like receptors, as well as co-stimulatory molecules like CD40, CD80 and CD86, may result in the selection and proliferation of autoreactive B cell clones in TAK. Additionally, ectopic lymphoid neogenesis within the aortic wall of TAK patients exhibits functional characteristics. In recent decades, therapeutic interventions targeting B cells, notably utilizing the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab, have demonstrated efficacy in TAK. Despite the importance of the humoral immune response, a systematic understanding of how autoreactive B cells contribute to the pathogenic process is still lacking. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the biological significance of B cell-mediated autoimmunity in TAK pathogenesis, as well as insights into therapeutic strategies targeting the humoral response. Furthermore, it examines the roles of T-helper and T follicular helper cells in humoral immunity and their potential contributions to disease mechanisms. We believe that further identification of the pathogenic role of autoimmune B cells and the underlying regulation system will lead to deeper personalized management of TAK patients. We believe that further elucidation of the pathogenic role of autoimmune B cells and the underlying regulatory mechanisms holds promise for the development of personalized approaches to managing TAK patients.

Inflammation in HIV and Its Impact on Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

People living with HIV have a 1.5- to 2-fold increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Despite treatment with highly effective antiretroviral therapy, people living with HIV have chronic inflammation that makes them susceptible to multiple comorbidities. Several factors, including the HIV reservoir, coinfections, clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), microbial translocation, and antiretroviral therapy, may contribute to the chronic state of inflammation. Within the innate immune system, macrophages harbor latent HIV and are among the prominent immune cells present in atheroma during the progression of atherosclerosis. They secrete inflammatory cytokines such as IL (interleukin)-6 and tumor necrosis-α that stimulate the expression of adhesion molecules on the endothelium. This leads to the recruitment of other immune cells, including cluster of differentiation (CD)8+ and CD4+ T cells, also present in early and late atheroma. As such, cells of the innate and adaptive immune systems contribute to both systemic inflammation and vascular inflammation. On a molecular level, HIV-1 primes the NLRP3 (NLR family pyrin domain containing 3) inflammasome, leading to an increased expression of IL-1β, which is important for cardiovascular outcomes. Moreover, activation of TLRs (toll-like receptors) by HIV, gut microbes, and substance abuse further activates the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. Finally, HIV proteins such as Nef (negative regulatory factor) can inhibit cholesterol efflux in monocytes and macrophages through direct action on the cholesterol transporter ABCA1 (ATP-binding cassette transporter A1), which promotes the formation of foam cells and the progression of atherosclerotic plaque. Here, we summarize the stages of atherosclerosis in the context of HIV, highlighting the effects of HIV, coinfections, and antiretroviral therapy on cells of the innate and adaptive immune system and describe current and future interventions to reduce residual inflammation and improve cardiovascular outcomes among people living with HIV.

Immunization with a peptide mimicking lipoteichoic acid induces memory B cells in BALB/c mice

BACKGROUND

There is an urgent clinical need for developing novel immunoprophylaxis and immunotherapy strategies against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). In our previous work, immunization with a tetra-branched multiple antigenic peptide, named MAP2-3 that mimics lipoteichoic acid, a cell wall component of S. aureus, successfully induced a humoral immune response and protected BALB/c mice against S. aureus systemic infection. In this study, we further investigated whether vaccination with MAP2-3 can elicit immunologic memory.

METHODS

BALB/c mice were immunized with MAP2-3 five times. After one month of the last vaccination, mice were challenged with heat-killed S. aureus via intraperitoneal injection. After a 7-day inoculation, the percentage of plasma cells, memory B cells, effector memory T cells, and follicular helper T cells were detected by flow cytometry. The levels of IL-6, IL-21, IL-2, and IFN-γ were measured by real-time PCR and ELISA. Flow cytometry results were compared by using one-way ANOVA or Mann-Whitney test, real-time PCR results were compared by using one-way ANOVA, and ELISA results were compared by using one-way ANOVA or student's t-test.

RESULTS

The percentage of plasma cells and memory B cells in the spleen and bone marrow from the MAP2-3 immunized mice was significantly higher than that from the control mice. The percentage of effector memory T cells in spleens and lymphoid nodes as well as follicular helper T cells in spleens from the MAP2-3 immunized mice were also higher. Moreover, the levels of IL-6 and IL-21, two critical cytokines for the development of memory B cells, were significantly higher in the isolated splenocytes from immunized mice after lipoteichoic acid stimulation.

CONCLUSIONS

Immunization with MAP2-3 can efficiently induce memory B cells and memory T cells.

Role of cytokine in malignant T-cell metabolism and subsequent alternation in T-cell tumor microenvironment

T cells are an important component of adaptive immunity and T-cell-derived lymphomas are very complex due to many functional sub-types and functional elasticity of T-cells. As with other tumors, tissues specific factors are crucial in the development of T-cell lymphomas. In addition to neoplastic cells, T- cell lymphomas consist of a tumor micro-environment composed of normal cells and stroma. Numerous studies established the qualitative and quantitative differences between the tumor microenvironment and normal cell surroundings. Interaction between the various component of the tumor microenvironment is crucial since tumor cells can change the microenvironment and vice versa. In normal T-cell development, T-cells must respond to various stimulants deferentially and during these courses of adaptation. T-cells undergo various metabolic alterations. From the stage of quiescence to attention of fully active form T-cells undergoes various stage in terms of metabolic activity. Predominantly quiescent T-cells have ATP-generating metabolism while during the proliferative stage, their metabolism tilted towards the growth-promoting pathways. In addition to this, a functionally different subset of T-cells requires to activate the different metabolic pathways, and consequently, this regulation of the metabolic pathway control activation and function of T-cells. So, it is obvious that dynamic, and well-regulated metabolic pathways are important for the normal functioning of T-cells and their interaction with the microenvironment. There are various cell signaling mechanisms of metabolism are involved in this regulation and more and more studies have suggested the involvement of additional signaling in the development of the overall metabolic phenotype of T cells. These important signaling mediators include cytokines and hormones. The impact and role of these mediators especially the cytokines on the interplay between T-cell metabolism and the interaction of T-cells with their micro-environments in the context of T-cells lymphomas are discussed in this review article.

Prediction of Immune-Related Adverse Events Induced by Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors With a Panel of Autoantibodies: Protocol of a Multicenter, Prospective, Observational Cohort Study

Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy is markedly improving the prognosis of patients with several types of cancer. On the other hand, the growth in the use of these drugs in oncology is associated with an increase in multiple immune-related adverse events (irAEs), whose optimal prevention and management remain unclear. In this context, there is a need for reliable and validated biomarkers to predict the occurrence of irAEs in patients treated with ICIs. Thus, the main objective of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic performance of a sensitive routinely available panel of autoantibodies consisting of antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor, and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies to identify patients at risk of developing irAEs.

Methods and Analysis: A multicenter, prospective, observational, cohort study has been designed to be conducted in patients diagnosed with cancer amenable to ICI therapy. Considering the percentage of ICI-induced irAEs to be 25% and a loss to follow-up of 5%, it has been estimated that a sample size of 294 patients is required to detect an expected sensitivity of the autoantibody panel under study of 0.90 with a confidence interval (95%) of no less than 0.75. For 48 weeks, patients will be monitored through the oncology outpatient clinics of five hospitals in Spain. Immune-related adverse events will be defined and categorized according to CTCAE v. 5.0. All the patients will undergo ordinary blood tests at specific moments predefined per protocol and extraordinary blood tests at the time of any irAE being detected. Ordinary and extraordinary samples will be frozen and stored in the biobank until analysis in the same autoimmunity laboratory when the whole cohort reaches week 48. A predictive model of irAEs will be constructed with potential risk factors of immune-related toxicity including the autoantibody panel under study.

Ethics and Dissemination: This protocol was reviewed and approved by the Ethical Committee of the Basque Country and the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices. Informed consent will be obtained from all participants before their enrollment. The authors declare that the results will be submitted to an international peer-reviewed journal for their prompt dissemination.

Identification of Novel Prognostic Signatures for Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Based on ceRNA Network Construction and Immune Infiltration Analysis

Objective. Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) carries significant morbidity and mortality globally and is often resistant to conventional radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has received attention in ccRCC patients as a promising anticancer treatment. Furthermore, competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks are crucial for the occurrence and progression of various tumors. This study was aimed at identifying reliable prognostic signatures and exploring potential mechanisms between ceRNA regulation and immune cell infiltration in ccRCC patients. Methods and Results. Gene expression profiling and clinical information of ccRCC samples were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Through comprehensive bioinformatic analyses, differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs; $n=131$ ), lncRNAs (DElncRNAs; $n=12$ ), and miRNAs (DEmiRNAs; $n=25$ ) were identified to establish ceRNA networks. The CIBERSORT algorithm was applied to calculate the proportion of 22 types of tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) in ccRCC tissues. Subsequently, univariate Cox, Lasso, and multivariate Cox regression analyses were employed to construct ceRNA-related and TIIC-related prognostic signatures. In addition, we explored the relationship between the crucial genes and TIICs via coexpression analysis, which revealed that the interactions between MALAT1, miR-1271-5p, KIAA1324, and follicular helper T cells might be closely correlated with the progression of ccRCC. Ultimately, we preliminarily validated that the potential MALAT1/miR-1271-5p/KIAA1324 axis was consistent with the ceRNA theory by qRT-PCR in the ccRCC cell lines. Conclusion. On the basis of the ceRNA networks and TIICs, we constructed two prognostic signatures with excellent predictive value and explored possible molecular regulatory mechanisms, which might contribute to the improvement of prognosis and individualized treatment for ccRCC patients.

Identification of a Five-Gene Signature Derived From MYCN Amplification and Establishment of a Nomogram for Predicting the Prognosis of Neuroblastoma

Background: Neuroblastoma (NB), the most common solid tumor in children, exhibits vastly different genomic abnormalities and clinical behaviors. While significant progress has been made on the research of relations between clinical manifestations and genetic abnormalities, it remains a major challenge to predict the prognosis of patients to facilitate personalized treatments. Materials and Methods: Six data sets of gene expression and related clinical data were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, ArrayExpress database, and Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET) database. According to the presence or absence of MYCN amplification, patients were divided into two groups. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the two groups. Enrichment analyses of these DEGs were performed to dig further into the molecular mechanism of NB. Stepwise Cox regression analyses were used to establish a five-gene prognostic signature whose predictive performance was further evaluated by external validation. Multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to explore independent prognostic factors for NB. The relevance of immunity was evaluated by using algorithms, and a nomogram was constructed. Results: A five-gene signature comprising CPLX3, GDPD5, SPAG6, NXPH1, and AHI1 was established. The five-gene signature had good performance in predicting survival and was demonstrated to be superior to International Neuroblastoma Staging System (INSS) staging and the MYCN amplification status. Finally, a nomogram based on the five-gene signature was established, and its clinical efficacy was demonstrated. Conclusion: Collectively, our study developed a novel five-gene signature and successfully built a prognostic nomogram that accurately predicted survival in NB. The findings presented here could help to stratify patients into subgroups and determine the optimal individualized therapy.

Construction of a ceRNA Network and Analysis of Tumor Immune Infiltration in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is characterized by high malignancy, frequent metastasis, and recurrence with an unfavorable prognosis. This study is aimed at constructing a prognostic model for tumor-infiltrating immune cells and a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network in PAAD and analyzing susceptibilities of chemotherapy and immunotherapy of PAAD. Gene expression profiles and clinical information of PAAD were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and divided into the tumor group and the normal group. A total of five PAAD survival-related key genes in the ceRNA network and three survival-related immune infiltrating cells were uncovered, and two survival risk models and nomograms were constructed. The efficiency and performance of the two models were verified using multi-index area under the curve analysis at different time points, decision curve analysis, and calibration curves. Co-expression analysis showed that LRRC1, MIR600HG, and RNF166 in the ceRNA network and tumor-infiltrating immune cells including CD8 T cells and M1 macrophages were likely related to the PAAD prognosis, and the expression of key ceRNA-related genes was experimently validated in tissues and cell lines by RT-qPCR. Patients with low risk scores for key genes in the ceRNA network displayed a positive response to anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1) treatment and greater sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs such as docetaxel, lapatinib, and paclitaxel. More importantly, our results suggested that the IC50 values of gemcitabine in PAAD were not significantly different between the high and low risk groups. The expression levels of immune checkpoints were significantly different in the high-risk and low-risk groups. The prognostic model, nomogram, and drug analysis may provide an essential reference for PAAD patient management in the clinic.

NK-B cell cross talk induces CXCR5 expression on natural killer cells

B cell follicles (BCFs) in lymph nodes (LNs) are generally exempt of CD8⁺ T and NK cells. African green monkeys (AGMs), a natural host of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), display NK cell-mediated viral control in BCF. NK cell migration into BCF in chronically SIVagm-infected AGM is associated with CXCR5⁺ NK cells. We aimed to identify the mechanism leading to CXCR5 expression on NK cells. We show that CXCR5⁺ NK cells in LN were induced following SIVagm infection. CXCR5⁺ NK cells accumulated preferentially in BCF with proliferating B cells. Autologous NK-B cell co-cultures in transwell chambers induced CXCR5⁺ NK cells. Transcriptome analysis of CXCR5⁺ NK cells revealed expression of bcl6 and IL6R. IL-6 induced CXCR5 on AGM and human NK cells. IL6 mRNA was detected in LN at higher levels during SIVagm than SIVmac infection and often produced by plasma cells. Our study reveals a mechanism of B cell-dependent NK cell regulation.

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IL-6 can induce CXCR5 on NK cells

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CXCR5⁺ NK cells expressed high levels of bcl6 and IL6R

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More IL-6⁺ plasmablast/plasma cells in lymph nodes in SIVagm than SIVmac infection

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B cells participate in the regulation of NK cell migration into BCF

A Germinal Center-Associated Microenvironmental Signature Reflects Malignant Phenotype and Outcome of DLBCL

The DLBCL microenvironment signature scoring system was established using nCounter-based profiling of GC-related microenvironmental genes.

DMS scores stratified DLBCL patients with different prognosis independently of existing prognostic models.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common B-cell malignancy, with varying prognosis after the gold standard rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP). Several prognostic models have been established by focusing primarily on characteristics of lymphoma cells themselves, including cell-of-origin (COO), genomic alterations, and gene/protein expressions. However, the prognostic impact of the lymphoma microenvironment and its association with characteristics of lymphoma cells are not fully understood. Using the nCounter-based gene expression profiling of untreated DLBCL tissues, we assess the clinical impact of lymphoma microenvironment on the clinical outcomes and pathophysiological, molecular signatures in DLBCL. The presence of normal germinal center (GC)-microenvironmental cells, including follicular T cells, macrophage/dendritic cells, and stromal cells in lymphoma tissue indicates a positive therapeutic response. Our prognostic model, based on quantitation of transcripts from distinct GC-microenvironmental cell markers, clearly identified patients with graded prognosis independently of existing prognostic models. We observed increased incidences of genomic alterations and aberrant gene expression associated with poor prognosis in DLBCL tissues lacking GC-microenvironmental cells relative to those containing these cells. These data suggest that the loss of GC-associated microenvironmental signature dictates clinical outcomes of DLBCL patients reflecting the accumulation of “unfavorable” molecular signatures.

Identification of Signature Genes Associated With Invasiveness and the Construction of a Prognostic Model That Predicts the Overall Survival of Bladder Cancer

Background: Bladder cancer has become the tenth most diagnosed cancer worldwide. The prognosis has been shown to differ between non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). We aimed to identify signature genes that are associated with the invasiveness and survival of bladder cancer and to identify potential treatments. Methods: We downloaded gene expression profiles of bladder cancer from the Gene Expression Omnibus database to identify differentially expressed genes and perform weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Functional enrichment was analyzed by GO and KEGG analyses. Hub genes were identified from the significant module. Another dataset was also acquired to verify the expression of hub genes. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were applied to the dataset downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Risk scores were calculated and the effect was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. A nomogram was constructed and validated using training and testing samples, respectively. Analysis of the tumor immune microenvironment was conducted with the CIBERSORT algorithm. Results: In total, 1,245 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. A distinct module was identified that was significantly correlated to invasiveness. The genes within this module were found to be significantly associated with extracellular exosomes, GTPase activity, metabolic pathways, etc. Three hub genes (VSIG2, PPFIBP2, and DENND2D) were identified as biomarkers of invasiveness; two of these (PPFIBP2 and DENND2D) were closely associated with prognosis. The risk score was regarded as an independent prognostic factor. The nomogram was associated with acceptable accuracy for predicting 1- and 5-year overall survival. The infiltrating levels of resting NK cells, activated natural killer (NK) cells, CD8⁺ T cells, activated memory CD4⁺ T cells, and T follicular helper cells, were significantly higher in the group with lower risk scores. The group with higher risk scores showed predominant infiltration by regulatory T cells (Tregs). Conclusion: We successfully identified three signature genes related to invasiveness and constructed a nomogram of bladder cancer with acceptable performance. Differences suggested by risk scores between groups of patients showing diverse patterns of immune cell infiltration may be beneficial for selecting therapeutic approaches and predicting prognosis.

Implication of immune cell signature of tumor microenvironment in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a genetically heterogeneous disease with complex tumor microenvironment (TME) alterations. However, immune cell signatures of TME and their prognostic value remain unclear in DLBCL. We aimed to identify high-risk DLBCL with specific immune cell signatures in TME. Clinical and gene expression data of DLBCL patients were obtained from previously reported retrospective datasets in Gene Expression Omnibus (GSE10846⁶ and GSE53786¹⁶ ) and a multi-center prospective clinical trial NHL001 (NCT01852435). Patients treated with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) regimen (n = 159) from GSE10846 were referred as training cohort for CHOP regimen, while patients treated with rituximab-CHOP (R-CHOP) regimen (n = 192) from GSE10846 as training cohort for R-CHOP regimen. Patients from NHL001 (n = 68) and GSE53786 (n = 57) were referred as validation cohorts for R-CHOP regimen. CIBERSORT was applied to estimate the relative proportions of 22 subtype of immune cells. We established a prognostic model for model for R-CHOP regimen included Age, performance status, lactate dehydrogenase, T cells follicular helper and macrophages M0, defining a low-risk group with 2-years OS of 92.9% and a high-risk group with 2-years OS of 52.5% (HR 6.57 [3.27-13.18], p < 0.0001). Immune cell signatures could be used as prognostic markers and provided further insights for individualized immunotherapeutic strategies in DLBCL.

Imbalance of circulating CTLA4+ follicular helper and follicular regulatory T cells in obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome

Obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (OAPS) is a systemic autoimmune disease that is characterized clinically by a variety of obstetric manifestations (fetal death and recurrent abortions) and serologically by the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs). Whether dysregulation of Follicular helper T (Tfh) and Follicular regulatory T (Tfr) cells contribute to the immunopathogenesis in OAPS is still unknown. We analyzed phenotypic characterizations of circulating Tfh cells and Tfr cells in OAPS patients and healthy individuals. CTLA4(Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4)⁺ Tfh cells and CTLA4⁺ Tfr cells were declined and CTLA4⁺ Tfr/Tfh ratio and IL-21 were increased in OAPS patients compared with healthy controls. Percentages of CTLA4⁺ Tfh cells and CTLA4⁺ Tfr cells were the lowest in OAPS patients whose antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) were triple positive. Increased CTLA4⁺ Tfr/Tfh ratio was positively correlated with anti-β2 glycoprotein I (anti-β2GPI) IgM, Complement 4(C4) or IL-21 in OAPS. Increased Th17 subtype and decreased Th1, Th2 subtypes in Tfh cells and Tfr cells, increased effector memory subtype and decreased central memory subtype of Tfh cells and Tfr cells were also observed in OAPS compared with healthy individuals. Our data demonstrated that an imbalance of circulating CTLA4⁺ Tfh cells, and Tfr cells correlates with the immunopathogenesis of OAPS.

Promising Response to Lenalidomide-Combination Therapy in a Discordant Lymphoma Consisting of EBV-Positive Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma and Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma: A Case Report

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) complicated with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is extremely rare and typically shows an aggressive clinical course and unsatisfactory prognosis. Here, we describe the case of a 77-year-old man who was referred to the hospital because of repeated fever, night sweats, and weight loss. He was finally diagnosed with a discordant lymphoma consisting of AITL and DLBCL, with significantly different maximum standardized uptake values on positron emission tomography/computed tomography. Based on his complex illness and poor performance status, the patient received six cycles of lenalidomide combined with R-miniCHOP regimen and achieved complete remission with tolerable and controlled toxicity. He subsequently received lenalidomide maintenance therapy and achieved sustained remission. We consider the possible causes of this discordance involved AITL and EBV-positive DLBCL, and the possible mechanism of lenalidomide action in both T-cell and B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Lenalidomide-combination therapy may be a preferable choice in patients with an EBV-associated discordant lymphoma.

Mucin 4 mutation is associated with tumor mutation burden and promotes antitumor immunity in colon cancer patients

At present, immunotherapy is widely used for different mismatch repair (dMMR) or highly microsatellite instability (MSI-H) colorectal cancer patients, and tumor mutation burden (TMB) is a valuable independent predictor of response to immunotherapy. However, specific gene mutations and their relationship with TMB and tumor-infiltrating immune cells in colon cancer remains unclear. In the present study, we analyzed somatic mutation data of colon cancer from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) datasets, and found that 17 frequently mutated genes were occurred in both cohorts, including APC, TP53, TNN, KRAS, MUC16, MUC4 (mucin 4), SYNE1, FLG, FAT4, OBSCN, FAT3, RYR2, PIK3CA, FBXW7, DNAH11, MUC5B and ZFHX4. Interestingly, only MUC4 mutation was associated with higher TMB and patient clinical prognosis among the 17 mutated genes. Moreover, according to gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and the CIBERSORT algorithm, we revealed that MUC4 mutation activated signaling pathways involved in the immune system and enhanced the antitumor immune response. In conclusion, MUC4 may have important clinical implications for immune therapy of colon cancer.

The Construction and Analysis of Tumor-Infiltrating Immune Cells and ceRNA Networks in Bladder Cancer

Background

Bladder cancer (BLCA) is the 11th most common malignancy worldwide. Although significant improvements have been made in screening, diagnosis, and precise management in recent years, the prognosis of BLCA remains bleak.

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of tumor-infiltrating immune cells and construct ceRNA networks in BLCA patients.

Methods

The expression data of BLCA patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. A competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was constructed to identify the hub genes involved in the prognosis of BLCA. The CIBERSORT algorithm was utilized to investigate the infiltration levels of 22 subsets of immune cells. Ultimately, the nomogram was generated to visualize the survival probability of each patient, with the calibration curve being performed to assess its performance. Furthermore, the Pearson correlation test was used to explore the correlation between the identified hub genes in the ceRNA network and the prognostic-related immune cells.

Results

A total of eight elements in the ceRNA network were considered as key members and correlated with the prognosis of BLCA, including ELN, SREBF1, DSC2, TTLL7, DIP2C, SATB1, hsa-miR-20a-5p, and hsa-miR-29c-3p. T cells CD8, T cells follicular helper (Tfh), and neutrophils were identified as independent prognostic factors in BLCA. The co-expression analysis showed that there was a significant correlation between the identified hub genes and immune cells.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that the mechanism of hsa-miR-29c-3p regulates the expression of ELN and DSC2, and the infiltration of Tfh and neutrophils might play pivotal roles in the progression of BLCA.

High Numbers and Densities of PD1+ T-Follicular Helper Cells in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Draining Lymph Nodes Are Associated with Lower Survival

Breast cancer tumor draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) display distinct morphologic changes depending on the breast cancer subtype. For triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC), draining LNs display a higher amount of secondary lymphoid follicles, which can be regarded as a surrogate marker for an activated humoral immune response. In the present study, we focus on PD1⁺ T-follicular helper cells (Tfh) in TDLNs of TNBC, since PD1⁺ Tfh are drivers of the germinal center (GC) reaction. We quantified PD1⁺ Tfh in 22 sentinel LNs with 853 GCs and interfollicular areas from 19 patients with TNBC by morphometry from digitalized immunostained tissue sections. Overall survival was significantly worse for patients with a higher number and area density of PD1⁺ Tfh within GCs of TDLNs. Further, we performed T-cell receptor gamma chain (TRG) analysis from microdissected tissue in the primary tumor and TDLNs. Eleven patients showed the same TRG clones in the tumor and the LN. Five patients shared the same TRG clones in the tumor and the GCs. In two patients, those clones were highly enriched inside the GCs. Enrichment of identical TRG clones at the tumor site vs. the TDLN was associated with improved overall survival. TDLNs are important relays of cancer immunity and enable surrogate approaches to predict the outcome of TNBC itself.

Characterization of circulating and cultured Tfh-like cells in sickle cell disease in relation to red blood cell alloimmunization status

BACKGROUND

People living with sickle cell disease (SCD) are prone to red blood cell (RBC) alloimmunization. We hypothesized that subjects with alloantibodies (responders) would have differences in circulating T-follicular helper (Tfh)-like cells compared to subjects without alloantibodies (non-responders).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected from 28 subjects, including those with SCD and controls. Circulating CD4 T-cell subsets were first evaluated at baseline. CD4 T-cell subsets were also evaluated after naïve CD4 T-cells were differentiated into Tfh-like cells following in vitro culture with CD3/CD28 beads, IL-7, IL-12, and Activin A. Transfusion and alloantibody histories were extracted from the electronic medical record.

RESULTS

Non-responders had a lower percentage of CD45RA negative Tmemory cells than responders or controls (p<0.05). Notably, there were no differences in circulating Tfh-like cells between any group. However, naïve CD4 T-cells from subjects with SCD were more likely to express CXCR5 after in vitro culture than cells from controls. After culture, CXCR5 expressing cells from responders were more likely to express PD1 and ICOS (16.43 %, sd. 20.23) compared to non-responders (3.69 %, s.d. 3.09) or controls (2.78 %, s.d. 2.04).

DISCUSSION

The tendency for naïve CD4 T-cells from responders to differentiate into Tfh-like cells after in vitro culture may suggest these cells are prepared to assist B-cells with antibody production regardless of antigen specificity. Further studies are needed, but it is possible that these results may explain why some responders form RBC alloantibodies with multiple specificities, in addition to RBC autoantibodies and HLA alloantibodies.

Comprehensive analysis of multiple parameters associated with tumor immune microenvironment in ARID1A mutant cancers

Aim: To verify the relationship between ARID1A and tumor immune microenvironment thus immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) response. Material & methods: Several public databases were used to characterize the association between ARID1A gene alteration and tumor immunity. Results: The gene mutation frequency was 8.2% in all cancer types. The ARID1A-mutated cancers have higher scores of mutation count, tumor mutational burden, neoantigen load (p < 0.001) and T cell repertoire, B cell repertoire diversity (p < 0.05). The gene mutation has tight association with multiple-activated immune cells. Survival analysis suggested that patients with ARID1A mutant cancers benefit more from ICIs treatment (p = 0.013). Conclusion: The ARID1A gene mutation was correlated with higher tumor immunogenicity and activated antitumor immune microenvironment, resulting in superior cohort that respond well to ICIs.

Exploiting Pre-Existing CD4+ T Cell Help from Bacille Calmette-Guérin Vaccination to Improve Antiviral Antibody Responses

The continuing emergence of viral pathogens and their rapid spread into heavily populated areas around the world underscore the urgency for development of highly effective vaccines to generate protective antiviral Ab responses. Many established and newly emerging viral pathogens, including HIV and Ebola viruses, are most prevalent in regions of the world in which Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection remains endemic and vaccination at birth with M. bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is widely used. We have investigated the potential for using CD4⁺ T cells arising in response to BCG as a source of help for driving Ab responses against viral vaccines. To test this approach, we designed vaccines comprised of protein immunogens fused to an immunodominant CD4⁺ T cell epitope of the secreted Ag 85B protein of BCG. Proof-of-concept experiments showed that the presence of BCG-specific Th cells in previously BCG-vaccinated mice had a dose-sparing effect for subsequent vaccination with fusion proteins containing the Ag 85B epitope and consistently induced isotype switching to the IgG2c subclass. Studies using an Ebola virus glycoprotein fused to the Ag 85B epitope showed that prior BCG vaccination promoted high-affinity IgG1 responses that neutralized viral infection. The design of fusion protein vaccines with the ability to recruit BCG-specific CD4⁺ Th cells may be a useful and broadly applicable approach to generating improved vaccines against a range of established and newly emergent viral pathogens.

Immunogenicity of Protein Therapeutics: A Lymph Node Perspective

The continuous development of molecular biology and protein engineering technologies enables the expansion of the breadth and complexity of protein therapeutics for in vivo administration. However, the immunogenicity and associated in vivo development of antibodies against therapeutics are a major restriction factor for their usage. The B cell follicular and particularly germinal center areas in secondary lymphoid organs are the anatomical sites where the development of antibody responses against pathogens and immunogens takes place. A growing body of data has revealed the importance of the orchestrated function of highly differentiated adaptive immunity cells, including follicular helper CD4 T cells and germinal center B cells, for the optimal generation of these antibody responses. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms mediating the antibody responses against therapeutics could lead to novel strategies to reduce their immunogenicity and increase their efficacy.

Interferon-α2b enhances survival and modulates transcriptional profiles and the immune response in melanoma patients treated with dendritic cell vaccines

Malignant melanoma (MM) is the most lethal cutaneous cancer and is associated with 80 % of skin cancer deaths. Recent progress into elucidating the role of the immune system in melanoma development and progression has led to promising treatments for patients with MM, including dendritic cell (DC) vaccination. Interferon-α2b is a commonly used adjuvant for MM that prolongs overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). In the present study, we examined the impact of a DC-based vaccine with subsequent delivery of high-dose systemic interferon-α2b (HDI) on gene expression profiles and the immune response in MM patients. The results indicated that patients who were randomized to receive an HDI boost following DC vaccination had significantly higher OS and PFS rates compared with patients that received DC vaccination alone. Further analysis revealed that intradermal DC immunization did not significantly alter transcriptional profiles, whereas subsequent HDI injections enhanced B cell, T cell and natural killer cell-related gene expression. Analysis of the abundance of tumor-infiltrating immune cells revealed that HDI altered the immune cell profiles. Moreover, we determined that follicular helper T (Tfh) cells and eosinophils were associated with prolonged PFS in MM patients treated with the DC vaccine.

STAT3, a Master Regulator of Anti-Tumor Immune Response

Immune cells in the tumor microenvironment regulate cancer growth. Thus cancer progression is dependent on the activation or repression of transcription programs involved in the proliferation/activation of lymphoid and myeloid cells. One of the main transcription factors involved in many of these pathways is the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). In this review we will focus on the role of STAT3 and its regulation, e.g. by phosphorylation or acetylation in immune cells and how it might impact immune cell function and tumor progression. Moreover, we will review the ability of STAT3 to regulate checkpoint inhibitors.

Blockade of CCL2/CCR2 signaling pathway prevents inflammatory monocyte recruitment and attenuates OVA-Induced allergic asthma in mice

Recent studies have reported recruitment of inflammatory monocytes by cytokines including chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) are critical in allergic responses. We aimed to investigate the role of inflammatory monocytes and CCL2 in mouse model with ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma. Mice were sensitized with OVA to induce allergic asthma. The proportion of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and peritoneal lavage fluid (PLF) were measured by flow cytometry. The expression of CCL2 and CCL2 receptor (CCR2) were determined by qPCR and western blot. The concentrations of Type 1 helper T (Th1) and Type 2 helper T (Th2) cytokines in PLF were detected by ELISA. Inflammatory monocytes are recruited in PLF, and expression of CCL2 and CCR2 were elevated in OVA-induced mice. In addition, transfer of CCR2 knockdown inflammatory monocytes decreased the levels of allergic asthma biomarkers. Injection of anti-CCL2 or anti-CCR2 antibody decreased the proportion of eosinophils and inflammatory monocytes in BALF. Blockade of CCL2/CCR2 signaling pathway suppressed the allergen-induced Th2 cytokines and enhanced the levels of Th1-associated cytokines. Blockade of CCL2/CCR2 signaling pathway in sensitization-recruited inflammatory monocytes exhibits protective effects in mouse model of OVA-induced allergic asthma by inhibiting the Th2 inflammatory responses.

Trying to treat the untreatable: experimental approaches to clear rabies virus infection from the CNS

Rabies virus causes an invariably fatal encephalitis following the onset of clinical disease. Despite the availability of safe and effective vaccines, the clinical stages of rabies encephalitis remain untreatable, with few survivors being documented. A principal obstacle to the treatment of rabies is the neurotropic nature of the virus, with the blood-brain barrier size exclusion limit rendering the delivery of antiviral drugs and molecules to the central nervous system inherently problematic. This review focuses on efforts to try and overcome barriers to molecule delivery to treat clinical rabies and overviews current progress in the development of experimental live rabies virus vaccines that may have future applications in the treatment of clinical rabies, including the attenuation of rabies virus vectors through either the duplication or mutation of existing genes or the incorporation of non-viral elements within the genome. Rabies post-infection treatment (PIT) remains the holy grail of rabies research.

TH1-Polarized TFH Cells Delay Naturally-Acquired Immunity to Malaria

Humoral immunity is a critical effector arm for protection against malaria but develops only slowly after repeated infections. T cell-mediated regulatory dynamics affect the development of antibody responses to Plasmodium parasites. Here, we hypothesize that T follicular helper cell (T_FH) polarization generated by repeated Plasmodium asexual blood-stage infections delays the onset of protective humoral responses. IFN-γ production promotes polarization toward T_FH1 and increased generation of regulatory follicular helper cells (T_FR). Delineating the mechanisms that drive T_H1 polarization will provide clues for appropriate induction of lasting, protective immunity against malaria.

CD4+CXCR5+PD-1+ T Follicular Helper Cells Play a Pivotal Role in the Development of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Background

T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are a subgroup of activated CD4⁺ T cells in the germinal centers of secondary lymphoid organs, they play critical roles in the development of many chronic autoimmune inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate whether circulating Tfh cells contribute to the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Material/Methods

Thirty patients fulfilled the diagnosis criteria that was established by the American College of Rheumatology and 30 healthy controls were recruited. The frequency of Tfh cells in patients and collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in DBA/1J mice were analyzed by flow cytometry. The serum IL-21 level was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mRNA expression of Blimp-1 and Bcl-6 were detected by qRT-PCR.

Results

RA patients had more CD4⁺PD-1⁺CXCR5⁺ Tfh cells in peripheral blood compared with healthy controls, and CIA in DBA/1J mice showed similar results. Higher mRNA expression of Bcl-6 and lower Blimp-1 mRNA expression were observed in patients with RA compared to healthy controls, and the expression level of IL-21 was higher in RA patients, which was also seen in CIA mice. Furthermore, the spleen CD4⁺ICOS⁺CXCR5⁺ Tfh cells in CIA mice show significantly higher frequency than that in the control mice. The percentage of CD4⁺PD-1⁺CXCR5⁺ Tfh cells was correlated positively with the values of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (r=0.968, P<0.001), rheumatoid factor (RF) (r=0.962, P<0.001), C-reactive protein (CRP) (r=0.953, P<0.001), and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) (r=0.966, P<0.001), and the level of serum interleukin (IL)-21 in RA patients showed positive correlation with ESR (r=0.982, P<0.001), RF (r=0.959, P<0.001), CRP (r=0.951, P<0.001), and ACPA (r=0.971, P<0.001) as well.

Conclusions

The activated Tfh cells in the peripheral blood may be responsible for the development of RA.

Immune infiltration in renal cell carcinoma

Immune infiltration of tumors is closely associated with clinical outcome in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Tumor‐infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) regulate cancer progression and are appealing therapeutic targets. The purpose of this study was to determine the composition of TIICs in RCC and further reveal the independent prognostic values of TIICs. CIBERSORT, an established algorithm, was applied to estimate the proportions of 22 immune cell types based on gene expression profiles of 891 tumors. Cox regression was used to evaluate the association of TIICs and immune checkpoint modulators with overall survival (OS). We found that CD8+ T cells were associated with prolonged OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.09, 95% confidence interval [CI].01‐.53; P = 0.03) in chromophobe carcinoma (KICH). A higher proportion of regulatory T cells was associated with a worse outcome (HR = 1.59, 95% CI 1.23‐.06; P < 0.01) in renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC). In renal papillary cell carcinoma (KIRP), M1 macrophages were associated with a favorable outcome (HR = .43, 95% CI .25‐.72; P < 0.01), while M2 macrophages indicated a worse outcome (HR = 2.55, 95% CI 1.45‐4.47; P < 0.01). Moreover, the immunomodulator molecules CTLA4 and LAG3 were associated with a poor prognosis in KIRC, and IDO1 and PD‐L2 were associated with a poor prognosis in KIRP. This study indicates TIICs are important determinants of prognosis in RCC meanwhile reveals potential targets and biomarkers for immunotherapy development.

Divergent Primary Immune Responses Induced by Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 gp120 and Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Determine Antibody Recall Responses

The development of a vaccine based on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoprotein (Env) that elicits potent protective antibodies against infection has been challenging. Recently, we compared the antibody production patterns of HIV-1 Env gp120 and hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) to provide insights into how we may improve the protective efficacy of Env-based immunogens. Our previous study showed that HIV Env and HBsAg display different mechanisms of antibody elicitation and that T cells facilitate the responses to repeated immunizations. Here, to elucidate the detailed roles of primary immunization in immune memory response formation and antibody production, we immunized C57BL/6 mice with each antigen and evaluated the development of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, germinal centers, and the memory responses involved in prime and boost immunizations. We found that after prime immunization, compared with HBsAg, gp120 induced higher frequencies of Tfh cells and programmed death (PD)-1⁺ T cells, greater major histocompatibility complex II expression on B cells, comparable activated B cells, but weaker germinal center (GC) reactions and memory B cell responses in the draining lymph nodes, accompanied by slower antibody recall responses and poor immune memory responses. The above results suggested that more PD-1⁺ T cells arising in primary immunization may serve as major contributors to the slow antibody recall response elicited by HIV-1 Env.

Functionally impaired follicular helper T cells induce regulatory B cells and CD14+ human leukocyte antigen-DR- cell differentiation in non-small cell lung cancer

Non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents one of the most common and aggressive cancers worldwide, as it typically displays irreversible progression and poor prognosis. Interaction between programmed death 1 (PD‐1) and its ligand, PD‐L1, plays important roles in tumor immunology. Follicular helper T (Tfh) cells have characteristically high PD‐1 expression; thus, in the present study, we investigated the role of circulating Tfh cells and their correlation with disease‐free survival after tumor resection in NSCLC. We found significantly higher number of Tfh cells but lower serum interleukin (IL)‐21 levels in NSCLC patients, especially in those with advanced stage (III and IV), indicating that the function of Tfh cells to produce IL‐21 was impaired. Further analysis showed that the increase in Tfh cells was attributable to an expansion of the PD‐1⁺‐Tfh2 and PD‐1⁺‐Tfh17 subtypes. Functional analysis showed that Tfh cells from NSCLC patients induced the differentiation of regulatory B cells and CD14⁺ human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐DR⁻ cells. Interestingly, the number of Tfh1 subtypes in NSCLC patients was negatively correlated with disease‐free survival after tumor resection. In short, the high number and abnormal function of Tfh cells could cause further immunosuppression and lead to tumor development in NSCLC. Rescuing Tfh functions therefore represents a potential therapeutic strategy in NSCLC.

Increased CCR7loPD-1hiCXCR5+CD4+ T Cells in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Are Correlated with Immune Activation in Patients with Chronic HBV Infection

T follicular helper cells (Tfh cells) affect essential immune pathogenesis in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The CCR7^loPD-1^hi Tfh subset has a partial Tfh effector phenotype and is associated with active Tfh differentiation, whereas the CCR7^hiPD-1^lo Tfh subset is a resting phenotype. We recruited 20 healthy volunteers and 77 patients with chronic HBV infection, including those in the immune tolerant (IT) phase (n=19), immune clearance (IC) phase (n=20), low replicative (LR) phase (n=18), and reactivation (RA) phase (n=20). The expression of CD4, CXCR5, PD-1, and CCR7 was detected in T cells from peripheral blood by flow cytometry. The frequency of the CCR7^loPD-1^hi T subset was significantly higher in the patients than in the healthy controls (14.92±4.87% vs 12.23±2.95%, p=0.018). The frequency of this Tfh subset in the IC group (18.42%±3.08) was increased compared with the IT group (11.94±2.87%, p=0.001) and LR group (13.65±4.93%, p=0.031) and was higher in the RA group than in the IT group (16.03±5.37% vs 11.94±2.87%, p=0.030). We observed a weak positive correlation between the CCR7^loPD-1^hi Tfh subset population and the alanine transaminase (ALT) level (r=0.370, p=0.001). The CCR7^loPD-1^h Tfh subset in the chronic HBV-infected patients was elevated to various degrees among the different immune phases. CCR7^loPD-1^hiCXCR5⁺CD4⁺ T cells are correlated with the immune status of chronic HBV infection patients and may be developed as a potential indicator for antiviral treatment.

Altered circulating T follicular helper cells in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia

The present study aimed to illuminate the role of circulating T follicular helper (TFH) cells in patients diagnosed with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (cITP). Fifty-four patients with cITP and 30 age-matched healthy control subjects were enrolled in the present study. TFH cell frequencies, expression of CD4⁺ TFH cell-associated cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-21 and associated regulatory mRNA expression levels including Bcl-6, c-Maf, Blimp-1 and PD-1 pre- and post-treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin and corticosteroids, were detected by flow cytometry, ELISA and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, respectively. TFH cell frequencies of patients were significantly higher compared with healthy controls pre-treatment (P<0.05). Following treatment, significantly decreased percentages of TFH cells were present in cITP responders (P<0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that the number of TFH cells was negatively correlated with the platelet count in the peripheral blood. Furthermore, analysis of inflammatory cytokines indicated significant differences in serum interleukin (IL)-21 and IL-10 between pretreated patients and healthy controls (P<0.05). Additionally, transcription factor B-cell lymphoma (Bcl)-6, c-Maf and programmed death-ligand (PD)-1 mRNA expression levels were significantly different between cITP patients prior to treatment and the healthy controls (P<0.05). However, the expression levels of Bcl-6, C-Maf and PD-1 mRNA were significantly changed post-treatment (P<0.05). These data demonstrated that circulating TFH cells and CD4⁺ TFH cell-associated cytokines may serve a role in cITP. The findings suggest that the overactivation of TFH cells may contribute to the immunopathogenesis of cITP, thus blocking the pathway of TFH cells may be reasonable for therapeutic intervention.

Gender Bias in Human Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Problem of Steroid Receptor Action?

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease resulting from abnormal interactions between T and B cells. The acquisition of SLE is linked to genetic susceptibility, and diverse environmental agents can trigger disease onset in genetically susceptible individuals. However, the strongest risk factor for developing SLE is being female (9:1 female to male ratio). The female sex steroid, estradiol, working through its receptors, contributes to the gender bias in SLE although the mechanisms remain enigmatic. In a small clinical trial, monthly administration of the estrogen receptor (ERα) antagonist, ICI182,780 (fulvestrant), significantly reduced disease indicators in SLE patients. In order to identify changes that could account for improved disease status, the present study utilized fulvestrant (Faslodex) to block ERα action in cultured SLE T cells that were purified from blood samples collected from SLE patients (n = 18, median age 42 years) and healthy control females (n = 25, median age 46 years). The effects of ERα antagonism on estradiol-dependent gene expression and canonical signaling pathways were analyzed. Pathways that were significantly altered by addition of Faslodex included T helper (Th) cell differentiation, steroid receptor signaling [glucocorticoid receptor (GR), ESR1 (ERα)], ubiquitination, and sumoylation pathways. ERα protein expression was significantly lower (p < 0.018) in freshly isolated, resting SLE T cells suggesting ERα turnover is inherently faster in SLE T cells. In contrast, ERα/ERβ mRNA and ERβ protein levels were not significantly different between SLE and normal control T cell samples. Plasma estradiol levels did not differ (p > 0.05) between SLE patients and controls. A previously undetected interaction between GR and ERα signaling pathways suggests posttranslational modification of steroid receptors in SLE T cells may alter ERα/GR actions and contribute to the strong gender bias of this autoimmune disorder.

Elevated levels of follicular T helper cells and their association with therapeutic effects in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is characterized by an abnormal expansion of mature B cells with variable progression. Follicular T helper (Tfh) cells help B cells differentiate into plasma cells or long-lived memory B cells in germinal centres (GCs). However, the role of Tfh cells in CLL is poorly understand, and whether it plays a critical role in disease progression in vivo is lacking. In this study, we investigate the dynamic change of circulating Tfh cells in peripheral blood from patients with CLL during the treatment periods to evaluate their utility to predict disease progression. Our findings revealed the expansion of circulating CD4⁺CXCR5⁺, CD4⁺ICOS⁺, CD4⁺PD-1⁺ and CD4⁺CXCR5⁺ICOS⁺PD-1⁺ (Tfh) cells but lower serum IL-21 levels and CD4⁺ T cell polarization not only to Tfh2 subtypes but also to Tfh17 subtypes in patients with CLL at pretreatment compared to patients with monoclonal B cell lymphocytosis (MBL) and healthy individuals, especially in those with advanced stage, which indicate these Tfh cells could be employed as a novel indicator for disease progression. Moreover, we observed significant correlations of Tfh17 and immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (IGHV) mutation. Importantly, significantly decreased CD4⁺ICOS⁺, CD4⁺PD-1⁺ and Tfh cells were found after effective treatments, whereas a significantly high CD4⁺ICOS⁺, CD4⁺PD-1⁺ and Tfh cells were still found in those with progressive disease after treatments, suggesting that circulating CD4⁺ICOS⁺, CD4⁺PD-1⁺, Tfh cells could predict therapeutic effects.

Inducible Co-Stimulator (ICOS) as a potential therapeutic target for anti-cancer therapy

INTRODUCTION

The recent success of checkpoint-inhibitors in cancer treatment paved the way for the development of new strategies of agonist and antagonist agents against B7 superfamily members. Inducible Co-Stimulator (ICOS), a co-stimulatory receptor for T-cell enhancement, arouses interest. Areas covered: We performed an extensive literature search with PUBMED using the keywords 'ICOS' and 'cancer' to discuss its involvement in oncogenesis, its expression in different malignancies, and its targeting in relevant preclinical studies. We also searched the Clinicaltrials.gov database for recent updates on early phase clinical trials. Expert opinion: ICOS/ICOSL axis has a dual effect and might participate in anti-tumour T cell response as well as a pro-tumour response due to its connection with regulatory T-cells (Tregs) suppressive activity. Therefore, both antagonist and agonist antibodies might be of interest in the targeting ICOS/ICOSL pathway for cancer treatment. In preclinical studies, ICOS agonist monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have shown to potentiate the effect of inhibitory checkpoint blockade. In contrast, antagonistic anti-ICOS mAbs could not only inhibit lymphoid tumour cells expressing ICOS, but also dampen immunosuppressive Tregs. Two agonist and one antagonist mAbs are evaluated in phase I/II trials. Efficacy, safety, and combination strategies with anti-ICOS agonist or antagonist have yet to be specified.

Tools to investigate and avoid drug-hypersensitivity in drug development

INTRODUCTION

Drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHRs) are common adverse effects of pharmaceuticals that clinically resemble allergies, and which are becoming an important burden to healthcare systems. Alongside accurate diagnostic techniques, tools which can predict potential drug-inducing hypersensitivity reactions in the pre-clinical phase are critical. Despite the important adverse reactions linked to immune-mediated hypersensitivity, at present, there are no validated or required in vivo or in vitro methods to screen the sensitizing potential of drugs and their metabolites in the pre-clinical phase. Areas covered: Enhanced prediction in preclinical safety evaluation is extremely important. The purpose of this review is to assess the state of the art of tools available to assess the allergenic potential of drugs and to highlight our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying inappropriate immune activation. Expert opinion: The knowledge that allergenic drugs share common mechanisms of immune cell activation with chemical allergens, and of the definition of the mechanistic pathway to adverse outcomes, can enhance targeting toxicity testing in drug development and hazard assessment of hypersensitivity. Additional efforts and extensive resources are necessary to improve preclinical testing methodologies, including optimization, better design and interpretation of data.

Increased PD-1+CD154+ Tfh cells are possibly the most important functional subset of PD-1+ T follicular helper cells in adult patients with minimal change disease

T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, especially programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)⁺ Tfh cells, exert important functions in the normal immune response. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of different subsets of PD-1⁺ Tfh cells and their functional effects in adult patients with minimal change disease (MCD). The frequencies of circulating PD-1⁺, PD-1⁺CD154⁺, and PD-1⁺interleukin (IL)-21⁺ Tfh cells, and CD38⁺CD19⁺ and CD38⁺CD19⁺CD40⁺ B cells, as well as serum IL-2, IL-4, IL-17A, IL-6, IL-21, and interferon (IFN)-γ were significantly increased in the MCD patients compared with the healthy controls (HCs) (P < 0.05). However, no significant difference was found in PD-1⁺BCL-6⁺ or PD-1⁺ICOS⁺ Tfh cells. Furthermore, the percentages of PD-1⁺ Tfh and PD-1⁺CD154⁺ Tfh cells were negatively correlated with the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), but positively correlated with the 24-h urinary protein concentration and serum IL-21 level. The percentages of PD-1⁺ Tfh and PD-1⁺CD154⁺ Tfh cells were positively correlated with the percentages of CD38⁺ plasma cells and active CD38⁺CD40⁺ plasma cells, respectively. After an 8-12-week treatment with prednisolone, the percentages of PD-1⁺, PD-1⁺CD154⁺, and PD-1⁺IL-21⁺ Tfh cells as well as the serum level of IL-21 were significantly reduced; in contrast, the serum levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were increased (P < 0.05). We conclude that increased PD-1⁺CD154⁺ Tfh cells are possibly the most important functional subset of PD-1⁺ Tfh cells and may contribute towards the pathogenesis of MCD.

Dysregulation of Circulating Tfr/Tfh Ratio in Primary biliary cholangitis

Follicular helper T (Tfh) cells and follicular regulatory T (Tfr) cells are critical for the development and maintenance of germinal centre (GC) and humoral immune responses. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that the dysregulation of either Tfh cells or Tfr cells contributes to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. We aim to investigate the roles of circulating Tfh cells and circulating Tfr cells in the pathogenesis of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). A total of 34 patients with PBC and 27 health individuals were enrolled in this study. Flow cytometry revealed that circulating Tfh (CD4⁺ CXCR5⁺ CD127^hi CD25^lo ) cells were increased, but Tfr (CD4⁺ CXCR5⁺ CD127^lo CD25^hi ) cells and ratio of Tfr/Tfh were dramatically decreased in PBC patients compared with healthy controls. The Tfr/Tfh ratio was negatively correlated with level of serum IgM. Meanwhile, we also observed effector memory (CCR7^lo PD-1^hi ) Tfh cells and Tfr cells were dramatically increased, but central memory (CCR7^hi PD-1^lo ) Tfh cells and Tfr cells were decreased in PBC patients compared with healthy controls. Effector memory Tfr cells were positively correlated with level of serum ALP. These results indicate that an imbalance of circulating Tfr cells and Tfh cells may be involved in the immunopathogenesis of PBC and may provide novel insight for the development of PBC therapies.

Impact of immunosuppressive drugs on circulating Tfh cells in kidney transplant recipients: A pilot study

BACKGROUND

T follicular helper cells (Tfh) are recently revealed to be vital in antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). However, the impact of immunosuppressive drugs on Tfh cells is not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the variation of Tfh cells phenotypically and functionally in KTRs treated with different immunosuppression regimens.

METHODS

We recruited 26 KTRs treated with tacrolimus (TAC) -based regimen, 13 with sirolimus (SRL) -based regimen and 10 healthy controls (HC) in this study. The percentage and absolute number of circulating Tfh cells and the co-expression of Tfh related molecules including inducible costimulatory molecule (ICOS), programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), interleukin-21 (IL-21) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) were analyzed by flow cytometry, while serum IL-6 was detected by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.

RESULTS

The percentage and absolute number of Tfh cells and the co-expression of PD-1, STAT3 in Tfh cells were significantly higher in TAC group than that in SRL group. While no difference was found in regard to IL-21 and ICOS co-expressed with Tfh cells among three groups. Multiple linear regression analysis results showed that pre-transplant PRA level was the significant confounder affecting the absolute numbers of Tfh and CD4+CXCR5+PD-1+ T cells. In addition, correlation analysis showed that CD4+CXCR5+STAT3+ T cells were positively correlated to Tfh cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicates that sirolimus can suppress the quantity of Tfh cells more significantly than tacrolimus. The higher level of circulating Tfh cells in tacrolimus group might be related to STAT3 signaling.

The prognostic landscape of tumor-infiltrating immune cell and immunomodulators in lung cancer

Tumor-infiltrating immune cells are closely associated with clinical outcome. However, immunohistochemistry-based analysis of tumor infiltrates can be misleading as the representative marker of an immune subpopulation might be expressed in other cell types. In this study, based on a metagene approach (known as CIBERSORT) and an online databse, The Cancer Immunome Atlas (https://tcia.at/), we comprehensively analyzed the tumor-infiltrating immune cells present in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). A total of 22 types of both adaptive and innate tumor-infiltrating immune cells were evaluated in LUAD (n=492) and LUSC (n=488). As a result, tumors lacking memory B cells or with increased number of M0 macrophages were associated with the poor prognosis in LUAD at early clinical stage. In LUSC, T follicular helper cells were associated with favorable outcome, while increased number of neutrophils predicted a poor outcome. Moreover, Kaplan-Meier analysis of the prognostic value of immune checkpoint molecules revealed that expression of ICOS was positively correlated the clinical outcome of patients with LUAD. Collectively, our data suggest that tumor-infiltrating immune cells in lung cancer are likely to be important determinants of both prognosis and response to immunotherapies.

γδTFH cells promote B cell maturation and antibody production in neuroblastoma

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that γδ TFH cells are capable of modulating antibody production in immunized and infected mouse model. In recent studies, human γδ TFH cells are shown to contribute to the activation of humoral immunity and promote the maturation of B cells. However, little information is available on their involvement in neuroblastoma (NB) pathogenesis.

RESULTS

In the present study, the frequency of γδ TFH cells in 74 NB patients was significantly higher compared with that in 60 healthy controls. Moreover, most γδ TFH cells in NB patients had a naive phenotype with up-regulation of CD25, CD69, HLA-DR and CD40L and down-regulation of ICOS. Importantly, γδ TFH cells in NB patients produced more IL-4 and IL-10 than those in healthy controls. Furthermore, serum total IgG level was significantly increased in NB patients compared with healthy controls. The expression of CD23 on B cells was up-regulated while CD80 expression was significantly down-regulated in NB patients. Further analysis of B cell compartment showed that the frequency of CD19⁺CD27^hi plasma cells was enhanced in NB patients. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed that the frequency of γδ TFH cells was positively correlated to serum total IgG level and CD19⁺CD27^hi plasma cells in NB patients, but negatively correlated to CD19⁺ B cells.

CONCLUSIONS

We concluded that γδ TFH cells might promote B cell maturation and antibody production in NB patients.