Cytokines and their role as immunotherapeutics and vaccine Adjuvants: The emerging concepts

Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) as adjuvant enhances the immune effects of Aeromonas veronii inactivated vaccine in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) has emerged as a significant economic fish species, with a rise in Aeromonas veronii infections in farming. However, research on adjuvants for vaccines against A. veronii in largemouth bass remains scarce. In present study, recombinant largemouth bass IL-1β (LbIL-1β) was expressed to explore its adjuvant effect on the A. veronii inactivated vaccine. Following vaccination with recombinant LbIL-1β (rLbIL-1β) and the inactivated A. veronii, higher serum SOD levels and lysozyme activities were observed in largemouth bass from inactivated A. veronii + rLbIL-1β vaccinated group. Furthermore, it was discovered that rLbIL-1β was able to boost the serum-specific antibody levels induced by the inactivated A. veronii. The qRT-PCR analysis revealed that rLbIL-1β also enhanced the expression of IgM, CD4, and MHC II in largemouth bass triggered by the inactivated A. veronii. After challenged with live A. veronii, the outcomes demonstrated that the relative percentage survival (RPS) for largemouth bass resulting from the inactivated A. veronii in combination with rLbIL-1β was 76.67 %, surpassing the RPS of 60 % in the inactivated A. veronii group. Collectively, these findings indicate that rLbIL-1β enhances the protective effect of the A. veronii inactivated vaccine on largemouth bass, showcasing potential as an adjuvant for further development.

Synergistic effects of oral inoculation with a recombinant Lactobacillus plantarum NC8 strain co-expressing interleukin-2 and interleukin-17B on the efficacy of the infectious bronchitis vaccine in chickens

Mucosal vaccination strategies are easier to implement than others in large-scale poultry farming. However, the adjuvants that are approved for veterinary use, which are predominantly aluminum- and oil-emulsion-based adjuvants, are not suitable for mucosal vaccination and carry a risk of adverse reactions. In this study, we engineered a novel Lactobacillus plantarum NC8 strain that co-expresses chicken interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-17B, which we designated NC8-ChIL2-17B, and evaluated its potential as an oral immunoadjuvant. The immunomodulatory properties of NC8-ChIL2-17B were evidenced by its ability to activate macrophages and inhibit the proliferation of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) in vitro. We then confirmed its immunoadjuvant activity in vivo by orally administering NC8-ChIL2-17B along with a commercial IBV vaccine to chicks. The results indicated that NC8-ChIL2-17B enhanced the immune response elicited by the IBV vaccine and increased the levels of IBV-specific IgG and sIgA antibodies produced in response to IBV infection. Additionally, administration of NC8-ChIL2-17B promoted weight gain and beneficially modulated the gut microbiota, resulting in improved chicken performance. These findings suggest that oral administration of NC8-ChIL2-17B is a promising strategy to enhance the immune efficacy of the IBV vaccine in chickens, offering an efficacious alternative adjuvant.

Immunostimulatory nanoparticles delivering cytokines as a novel cancer nanoadjuvant to empower glioblastoma immunotherapy

Glioblastoma (GBM) stands as a highly aggressive and deadly malignant primary brain tumor with a median survival time of under 15 months upon disease diagnosis. While immunotherapies have shown promising results in solid cancers, brain cancers are still unresponsive to immunotherapy due to immunological dysfunction and the presence of a blood-brain barrier. Interleukin-12 (IL-12) emerges as a potent cytokine in fostering anti-tumor immunity by triggering interferon-gamma production in T and natural killer cells and changing macrophages to a tumoricidal phenotype. However, systemic administration of IL-12 toxicity in clinical trials often leads to significant toxicity, posing a critical hurdle. To overcome this major drawback, we have formulated a novel nanoadjuvant composed of immunostimulatory nanoparticles (ISN) loaded with IL-12 to decrease IL-12 toxicity and enhance the immune response by macrophages and GBM cancer cells. Our in vitro results reveal that ISN substantially increase the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in GBM cancer cells (e.g. 2.6 × increase in IL-8 expression compared to free IL-12) and macrophages (e.g. 2 × increase in TNF-α expression and 6 × increase in IL-6 expression compared to the free IL-12). These findings suggest a potential modulation of the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, our study demonstrates the effective intracellular delivery of IL-12 by ISN, triggering alterations in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines at both transcriptional and protein expression levels. These results highlight the promise of the nanoadjuvant as a prospective platform for resharing the GBM microenvironment and empowering immunotherapy.

Differential Gene Expression of Checkpoint Markers and Cancer Markers in Mouse Models of Spontaneous Chronic Colitis

The presence of checkpoint markers in cancer cells aids in immune escape. The identification of checkpoint markers and early cancer markers is of utmost importance to gain clarity regarding the relationship between colitis and progressive inflammation leading to cancer. Herein, the gene expression levels of checkpoint makers, cancer-related pathways, and cancer genes in colon tissues of mouse models of chronic colitis (Winnie and Winnie-Prolapse mice) using next-generation sequencing are determined. Winnie mice are a result of a Muc2 missense mutation. The identification of such genes and their subsequent expression and role at the protein level would enable novel markers for the early diagnosis of cancer in IBD patients. The differentially expressed genes in the colonic transcriptome were analysed based on the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway. The expression of several oncogenes is associated with the severity of IBD, with Winnie-Prolapse mice expressing a large number of key genes associated with development of cancer. This research presents a number of new targets to evaluate for the development of biomarkers and therapeutics.