Augmentation of antibody responses by retinoic acid and costimulatory molecules

Plasma metabolomic characterization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection

Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 have spread rapidly worldwide; however, most infected patients have mild or no symptoms. This study aimed to understand the host response to Omicron infections by performing metabolomic profiling of plasma. We observed that Omicron infections triggered an inflammatory response and innate immune, and adaptive immunity was suppressed, including reduced T-cell response and immunoglobulin antibody production. Similar to the original SARS-CoV-2 strain circulating in 2019, the host developed an anti-inflammatory response and accelerated energy metabolism in response to Omicron infection. However, differential regulation of macrophage polarization and reduced neutrophil function has been observed in Omicron infections. Interferon-induced antiviral immunity was not as strong in Omicron infections as in the original SARS-CoV-2 infections. The host response to Omicron infections increased antioxidant capacity and liver detoxification more than in the original strain. Hence, these findings suggest that Omicron infections cause weaker inflammatory alterations and immune responses than the original SARS-CoV-2 strain.

Assessment of cytochrome P450 1A1 gene polymorphism and vitamin A serum level in psoriasis vulgaris

Psoriasis is characterized by cutaneous hyperproliferation, secondary to immune system dysregulation. Vitamin A regulates the immune response and sustains epithelial tissue hemostasis. The CYP1A1 gene, has many biological actions, including vitamin A metabolism. To evaluate CYP1A1 gene polymorphism and serum vitamin A level in patients with psoriasis vulgaris, a case-control study involving two groups was conducted: group 1 (45 patients with psoriasis vulgaris) served as the cased group and group 2 (45 healthy participants who were sex and age matched) acted as the control group. CYP1A1 (rs1048943) gene polymorphism and vitamin A serum level were assessed by TaqMan allelic discrimination (PCR) and ELISA, respectively. AG genotype was present only in cases (22.2%), while AA genotype was present in all controls (P=.001). Vitamin A levels were lower in cases than in controls (32.0 ± 7.41 vs. 46.2 ± 15.7 μg/ml, respectively) (P<.001). AG genotype was associated with a lower vitamin A level (P=.001). The detected genotype difference between psoriasis patients and controls, which was associated with a lower serum vitamin A level and was also lower in more severe cases, suggests a role of the CYP1A1 gene and vitamin A in disease pathogenesis and prognosis.

Identification of Costimulatory Molecule–Related lncRNAs Associated With Gastric Carcinoma Progression: Evidence From Bioinformatics Analysis and Cell Experiments

Costimulatory molecules (CMGs) play essential roles in multiple cancers. However, lncRNAs regulating costimulatory molecules have not been fully explored in gastric cancer (GC). Public data of GC patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. R software v4.1.1, SPSS v13.0, and GraphPad Prism 8 were used to perform all the analyses. The Limma package was used for differential expression analysis. The survival package was used for patient prognosis analysis. The gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), gene ontology (GO), and the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) analysis were used for pathway enrichment analysis. qRT-PCR was used to detect the RNA level of target lncRNA. CCK-8 and colony formation assay were used to assess the proliferation ability of GC cells. The transwell assay was used to evaluate the invasion and migration ability of GC cells. We first identified CMG-related lncRNAs (CMLs) through co-expression analysis. Then, an eight-CML-based signature was constructed to predict patient overall survival (OS), which showed satisfactory predictive efficiency (the training cohort: 1-year AUC = 0.764, 3-year AUC = 0.810, 5-year AUC = 0.840; the validation cohort: 1-year AUC = 0.661, 3-year AUC = 0.718, 5-year AUC = 0.822). The patients in the high-risk group tend to have a worse prognosis. GSEA showed that epithelial–mesenchymal transition, KRAS signaling, and angiogenesis were aberrantly activated in high-risk patients. GO and KEGG analyses indicated that the biological difference between high- and low-risk patients was mainly enriched in the extracellular matrix. Immune infiltration analysis showed that macrophages (M1 and M2), dendritic cells, monocytes, Tregs, and T regulatory cells were positively correlated with the risk scores, partly responsible for the worsening OS of high-risk patients. Finally, lncRNA AP000695.2 was selected for further experiments. The result showed that AP000695.2 was upregulated in GC cell lines and could facilitate the proliferation, invasion, and migration of GC cells. In summary, this study established an effective prognosis model based on eight CMLs, which would be helpful for further therapy options for cancer. Also, we found that AP000695.2 could promote GC cell malignant phenotype, making it an underlying therapy target in GC.

Multiple Vaccinations and the Enigma of Vaccine Injury

A growing number of vaccines are administered at the same time or in close succession, increasing the complexity of assessing vaccine safety. Individual vaccines are assumed to have no other effect than protection against the targeted pathogen, but vaccines also have nonspecific and interactive effects, the outcomes of which can be beneficial or harmful. To date, no controlled trials and very few observational studies have determined the impact of vaccination schedules on overall health. The balance of the risks and benefits from mass vaccination therefore remains uncertain. Recent studies worryingly suggest links between multiple vaccinations and increased risks of diverse multisystem health problems, including allergies, infections, and neuropsychiatric or neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we propose that, in susceptible persons, multiple vaccinations activate the retinoid cascade and trigger apoptotic hepatitis, leading to cholestatic liver dysfunction, in which stored vitamin A compounds (retinyl esters and retinoic acid) enter the circulation in toxic concentrations; this induces endogenous forms of hypervitaminosis A, with the severity of adverse outcomes being directly proportional to the concentration of circulating retinoids. In very low concentrations, vitamin A and its major metabolite retinoic acid contribute to immune function and to the process of immunization, whereas excess vitamin A increases the risk of adverse events, including common "side-effects" as well as chronic adverse outcomes. The increasing rates of allergy, ear infections, and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in countries with high rates of vaccination could be related to mass vaccination and to its impact on liver function and vitamin A metabolism, collectively representing endogenous manifestations of hypervitaminosis A. Further studies of health outcomes in vaccinated and unvaccinated groups are urgently needed, to increase understanding of the pathophysiology and treatment of vaccine injury, to identify the risk factors and screen for vaccine injury, to inform public health policy on potential hazards related to vaccination schedules, and to optimize the safety and benefits of vaccines.

A Liposome-Based Adjuvant Containing Two Delivery Systems with the Ability to Induce Mucosal Immunoglobulin A Following a Parenteral Immunization

Worldwide, enteric infections rank third among all causes of disease burdens, and vaccines able to induce a strong and long-lasting intestinal immune responses are needed. Parenteral immunization generally do not generate intestinal IgA. Recently, however, injections of retinoic acid (RA) dissolved in oil, administered multiple times before vaccination to precondition the vaccine-draining lymph nodes, enabled a parenteral vaccine strategy to induce intestinal IgA. As multiple injections of RA before vaccination is not an attractive strategy for clinical practice, we aimed to develop a "one injection" vaccine formulation that upon parenteral administration induced intestinal IgA. Our vaccine formulation contained two liposomal delivery systems. One delivery system, based on 1,2-distearoyl- sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine stabilized with PEG, was designed to exhibit fast drainage of RA to local lymph nodes to precondition these for a mucosal immune response before being subjected to the vaccine antigen. The other delivery system, based on the cationic liposomal adjuvant CAF01 stabilized with cholesterol, was optimized for prolonged delivery of the antigen by migratory antigen-presenting cells to the preconditioned lymph node. Combined we call the adjuvant CAF23. We show that CAF23, administered by the subcutaneous route induces an antigen specific intestinal IgA response, making it a promising candidate adjuvant for vaccines against enteric diseases.

Vitamin A Supplementation during Pregnancy Enhances Pandemic H1N1 Vaccine Response in Mothers, but Enhancement of Transplacental Antibody Transfer May Depend on When Mothers Are Vaccinated during Pregnancy

Background

In the growing embryo, the vitamin A requirement is tightly regulated. Maternal vitamin A deficiency during pregnancy may alter maternal immune function to accommodate the fetus.

Objective

Our primary objective was to determine the effect of oral vitamin A supplementation (VAS) during pregnancy and until 6 mo postpartum on pandemic H1N1-vaccine responses in mothers and their infants at 6 mo of age.

Methods

In this randomized controlled clinical trial, pregnant women (n = 112) during the second trimester (mean ± SD: 14 ± 1 wk) were assigned to receive either an oral dose of 10,000 IU vitamin A or placebo weekly until 6 mo postpartum. During the third trimester, mothers received a single dose of inactivated pandemic H1N1-influenza vaccine. Hemagglutination-inhibition (HAI) titer was measured in cord, infant, and maternal blood samples. Multivariate regressions with adjustments were used for data analysis.

Results

Seventy-six percent of women had low plasma retinol concentrations (<1.05 μmol/L) in their second trimester. VAS of mothers increased vitamin A concentrations in cord blood by 21.4% and in colostrum by 40.7%. At 6 mo postpartum, women in the vitamin A group had 38.7% higher HAI titers and a higher proportion of HAI titer of ≥1:40 of the cutoff compared with the placebo group. A total of 54.5% of infants had an HAI titer ≥1:40 at 6 mo of age, but there was no difference in HAI titer in infants between groups. Overall, HAI in cord blood did not differ between groups, but in the placebo group, cord blood HAI was negatively associated with maternal "vaccination-to-delivery intervals" (rs = -0.401; P = 0.5), and maternal VAS increased cord blood HAI 6-fold if antenatal immunization was administered ≥10 wk before delivery.

Conclusions

In a community with low vitamin A status, weekly maternal VAS during pregnancy and postpartum increases the breast-milk vitamin A concentration and enhances prenatal H1N1-vaccine responses in mothers, but the benefits of maternal VAS in transplacental antibody transfer may depend on the time of gestation when mothers were vaccinated. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00817661.

Impact of Childhood Malnutrition on Host Defense and Infection

The global impact of childhood malnutrition is staggering. The synergism between malnutrition and infection contributes substantially to childhood morbidity and mortality. Anthropometric indicators of malnutrition are associated with the increased risk and severity of infections caused by many pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and helminths. Since childhood malnutrition commonly involves the inadequate intake of protein and calories, with superimposed micronutrient deficiencies, the causal factors involved in impaired host defense are usually not defined. This review focuses on literature related to impaired host defense and the risk of infection in primary childhood malnutrition. Particular attention is given to longitudinal and prospective cohort human studies and studies of experimental animal models that address causal, mechanistic relationships between malnutrition and host defense. Protein and micronutrient deficiencies impact the hematopoietic and lymphoid organs and compromise both innate and adaptive immune functions. Malnutrition-related changes in intestinal microbiota contribute to growth faltering and dysregulated inflammation and immune function. Although substantial progress has been made in understanding the malnutrition-infection synergism, critical gaps in our understanding remain. We highlight the need for mechanistic studies that can lead to targeted interventions to improve host defense and reduce the morbidity and mortality of infectious diseases in this vulnerable population.

Nanoformulation of synergistic TLR ligands to enhance vaccination against Entamoeba histolytica

Diarrheal infectious diseases represent a major cause of global morbidity and mortality. There is an urgent need for vaccines against diarrheal pathogens, especially parasites. Modern subunit vaccines rely on combining a highly purified antigen with an adjuvant to increase their efficacy. In the present study, we evaluated the ability of a nanoliposome adjuvant system to trigger a strong mucosal immune response to the Entamoeba histolytica Gal/GalNAc lectin LecA antigen. CBA/J mice were immunized with alum, emulsion or liposome based formulations containing synthetic TLR agonists. A liposome formulation containing TLR4 and TLR7/8 agonists was selected based on its ability to generate intestinal IgA, plasma IgG2a/IgG1, IFN-γ and IL-17A. Immunization with a mucosal prime followed by a parenteral boost generated a high mucosal IgA response that inhibited adherence of parasites to mammalian cells. Inclusion of the immune potentiator all-trans retinoic acid in the regimen further improved the mucosal IgA response. Immunization protected from infection with up to 55% efficacy. Our results show that a nanoliposome delivery system containing TLR agonists is a promising prospect for the development of vaccines against enteric pathogens, especially when a multifaceted immune response is desired.

Retinoic Acid Signaling in B Cells Is Required for the Generation of an Effective T-Independent Immune Response

Retinoic acid (RA) plays an important role in the balance of inflammation and tolerance in T cells. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that RA facilitates IgA isotype switching in B cells in vivo. However, it is unclear whether RA has a direct effect on T-independent B cell responses in vivo. To address this question, we generated a mouse model where RA signaling is specifically silenced in the B cell lineage. This was achieved through the overexpression of a dominant negative receptor α for RA (dnRARα) in the B cell lineage. In this model, we found a dramatic reduction in marginal zone (MZ) B cells and accumulation of transitional 2 B cells in the spleen. We also observed a reduction in B1 B cells in the peritoneum with a defect in the T-independent B cell response against 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl. This was not a result of inhibited development of B cells in the bone marrow, but likely the result of both defective expression of S1P₁ in MZ B cells and a defect in the development of MZ and B1 B cells. This suggests that RARα expression in B cells is important for B cell frequency in the MZ and peritoneum, which is crucial for the generation of T-independent humoral responses.

Myeloid cell leukaemia 1 has a vital role in retinoic acid-mediated protection of Toll-like receptor 9-stimulated B cells from spontaneous and DNA damage-induced apoptosis

Vitamin A is an essential anti-infective agent with pleiotropic effects on cells of the immune system. The goal of the present study was to unravel the impact of the vitamin A metabolite retinoic acid (RA) on B-cell survival related both to normal B-cell homeostasis and to the detrimental effects imposed by DNA-damaging agents. By combining RA with Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) ligands, we show that RA prevents spontaneous, irradiation- and doxorubicin-induced apoptosis of human B cells in an RA receptor-dependent manner. RA-mediated survival involved up-regulation of the anti-apoptotic protein myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL1) at the transcriptional level, and knock down of MCL1 by small interfering RNA partially reversed the effects of RA. To ensure that the combination of TLR9-ligands and RA would not promote the survival of malignant B cells, the combined effects of stimulation with RA and TLR9 ligands was assessed on cells from patients with B-cell malignancies. In contrast to the effects on normal B cells, the combination of TLR9 stimulation and RA neither enhanced the MCL1 levels nor inhibited the death of malignant B cells challenged by DNA-damaging agents. Taken together, the present results reveal a vital role of MCL1 in RA-mediated survival of normal B cells. Moreover, the findings suggest that RA in combination with TLR9 ligands might be useful adjuvants in the treatment of B-cell malignancies by selectively protecting normal and not malignant B cells from DNA-damage-induced cell death.

Retinoic acid-induced IgG production in TLR-activated human primary B cells involves ULK1-mediated autophagy

In the present study we have established a vital role of autophagy in retinoic acid (RA)-induced differentiation of toll-like receptor (TLR)-stimulated human B cells into Ig-secreting cells. Thus, RA enhanced autophagy in TLR9- and CD180-stimulated peripheral blood B cells, as revealed by increased levels of the autophagosomal marker LC3B-II, enhanced colocalization between LC3B and the lysosomal marker Lyso-ID, by a larger percentage of cells with more than 5 characteristic LC3B puncta, and by the concomitant reduction in the level of SQSTM1/p62. Furthermore, RA induced expression of the autophagy-inducing protein ULK1 at the transcriptional level, in a process that required the retinoic acid receptor RAR. By inhibiting autophagy with specific inhibitors or by knocking down ULK1 by siRNA, the RA-stimulated IgG production in TLR9- and CD180-mediated cells was markedly reduced. We propose that the identified prominent role of autophagy in RA-mediated IgG-production in normal human B cells provides a novel mechanism whereby vitamin A exerts its important functions in the immune system.

Vitamin A Deficiency Impairs Induction of Oral Tolerance in Mice

Oral tolerance is a phenomenon of induction of systemic unresponsiveness to antigens ingested by the oral route and loss of immune response. Studies have shown the importance of vitamin A in oral tolerance in vitro but not in an in vivo experimental model. Therefore, we carried out experiments to determine how vitamin A deficiency affects tolerance induction and the ability of mesenteric lymph node (MLN) CD11c(+) cells to induce regulatory T cells (Tregs). Immunological tolerance was induced by oral ovalbumin (OVA) administration in vitamin A-sufficient mice. OVA-specific antibody and cytokine production were significantly reduced. On the other hand, in vitamin A-deficient mice, both OVA-specific antibody and cytokine production were not suppressed by oral OVA administration. Regarding induction of Tregs, the conversion rate of Foxp3(+) cells from naïve CD4(+) cell by CD11c(+) cells was decreased in vitamin A-deficient mice. Our study indicates that vitamin A deficiency causes the breakdown of oral tolerance in vivo.

Retinoic acid prevents mesenteric lymph node dendritic cells from inducing IL-13-producing inflammatory Th2 cells

The vitamin A (VA) metabolite retinoic acid (RA) affects the properties of T cells and dendritic cells (DCs). In VA-deficient mice, we observed that mesenteric lymph node (MLN)-DCs induce a distinct inflammatory T helper type 2 (Th2)-cell subset that particularly produces high levels of interleukin (IL)-13 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). This subset expressed homing receptors for skin and inflammatory sites, and was mainly induced by B220(-)CD8α(-)CD11b(+)CD103(-) MLN-DCs in an IL-6- and OX40 ligand-dependent manner, whereas RA inhibited this induction. The corresponding MLN-DC subset of VA-sufficient mice induced a similar T-cell subset in the presence of RA receptor antagonists. IL-6 induced this subset differentiation from naive CD4(+) T cells upon activation with antibodies against CD3 and CD28. Transforming growth factor-β inhibited this induction, and reciprocally enhanced Th17 induction. Treatment with an agonistic anti-OX40 antibody and normal MLN-DCs enhanced the induction of general inflammatory Th2 cells. In VA-deficient mice, proximal colon epithelial cells produced TNF-α that may have enhanced OX40 ligand expression in MLN-DCs. The repeated oral administrations of a T cell-dependent antigen primed VA-deficient mice for IL-13-dependent strong immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) responses and IgE responses that caused skin allergy. These results suggest that RA inhibits allergic responses to oral antigens by preventing MLN-DCs from inducing IL-13-producing inflammatory Th2 cells.

Vitamin A deficiency is associated with gastrointestinal and respiratory morbidity in school-age children

Infection is an important cause of morbidity throughout childhood. Poor micronutrient status is a risk factor for infection-related morbidity in young children, but it is not clear whether these associations persist during school-age years. We examined the relation between blood concentrations of micronutrient status biomarkers and risk of gastrointestinal and respiratory morbidity in a prospective study of 2774 children aged 5-12 y from public schools in Bogotá, Colombia. Retinol, zinc, ferritin, mean corpuscular volume, hemoglobin, erythrocyte folate, and vitamin B-12 concentrations were measured in blood at enrollment into the cohort. Children were followed for 1 academic year for incidence of morbidity, including diarrhea with vomiting, cough with fever, earache or ear discharge with fever, and doctor visits. Compared with adequate vitamin A status (≥30.0 μg/dL), vitamin A deficiency (<10.0 μg/dL) was associated with increased risk of diarrhea with vomiting [unadjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR): 2.17; 95% CI: 0.95, 4.96; P-trend = 0.03] and cough with fever (unadjusted IRR: 2.36; 95% CI: 1.30, 4.31; P-trend = 0.05). After adjustment for several sociodemographic characteristics and hemoglobin concentrations, every 10 μg/dL plasma retinol was associated with 18% fewer days of diarrhea with vomiting (P < 0.001), 10% fewer days of cough with fever (P < 0.001), and 6% fewer doctor visits (P = 0.01). Every 1 g/dL of hemoglobin was related to 17% fewer days with ear infection symptoms (P < 0.001) and 5% fewer doctor visits (P = 0.009) after controlling for sociodemographic factors and retinol concentrations. Zinc, ferritin, mean corpuscular volume, erythrocyte folate, and vitamin B-12 status were not associated with morbidity or doctor visits. Vitamin A and hemoglobin concentrations were inversely related to rates of morbidity in school-age children. Whether vitamin A supplementation reduces the risk or severity of infection in children over 5 y of age needs to be determined.

Ex vivo immunomodulatory effect of all-trans-retinoic acid during Behçet's disease: a study in Algerian patients

Uveitis, recurrent oral and genital ulcerations associated with skin lesions are the major symptoms of a chronic multisystemic inflammatory disorder known as Behçet's disease (BD). High prevalence of this dreaded disease has been observed in the Mediterranean basin, including Algeria and along the Silk Road. Although the etiologic agent of this disease remains uncertain, many hypotheses have been advanced in its pathogenesis. Our team has previously reported high levels of nitric oxide (NO) in sera of BD patients, suggesting its deleterious effect during chronic inflammation. In our current study, the aim is to investigate the ex vivo immunomodulatory effect of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) on NO pathway in Algerian BD patients. First, peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from active and inactive BD patients and healthy controls were cultured with different concentrations of ATRA. NO production was estimated with the Griess method. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of ATRA effect on NO production, we analyze inducible nitric oxide synthase expression and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity by immunofluorescence test. Our results revealed a higher production of NO in active BD compared with the inactive stage and healthy controls. We observed that ATRA inhibits NO production in BD both in active and inactive stages and inhibits NF-κB translocation. In conclusion, we report a relationship between NO production and the disease activity. ATRA down-regulates NO production in BD patients. This immunomodulatory effect seems to be mediated through NF-κB pathway. All these findings suggest that ATRA could be considered as a promising therapy for BD.

The effects of cocoa on the immune system

Cocoa is a food relatively rich in polyphenols, which makes it a potent antioxidant. Due to its activity as an antioxidant, as well as through other mechanisms, cocoa consumption has been reported to be beneficial for cardiovascular health, brain functions, and cancer prevention. Furthermore, cocoa influences the immune system, in particular the inflammatory innate response and the systemic and intestinal adaptive immune response. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that a cocoa-enriched diet modifies T cell functions that conduce to a modulation of the synthesis of systemic and gut antibodies. In this regard, it seems that a cocoa diet in rats produces changes in the lymphocyte composition of secondary lymphoid tissues and the cytokines secreted by T cells. These results suggest that it is possible that cocoa could inhibit the function of T helper type 2 cells, and in line with this, the preventive effect of cocoa on IgE synthesis in a rat allergy model has been reported, which opens up new perspectives when considering the beneficial effects of cocoa compounds. On the other hand, cocoa intake modifies the functionality of gut-associated lymphoid tissue by means of modulating IgA secretion and intestinal microbiota. The mechanisms involved in these influences are discussed here. Further research may elucidate the cocoa compounds involved in such an effect and also the possible medical approaches to these repercussions.

All-trans-retinoic acid and the glycolipid α-galactosylceramide combined reduce breast tumor growth and lung metastasis in a 4T1 murine breast tumor model

Vitamin A compounds are promising for cancer prevention and reducing risk of recurrence. Herein we have evaluated the combination of all-trans-retinoic acid (RA), a vitamin A metabolite, and alpha-galactosylceramide (αGalCer), a lipid immune activator, in Balb/C mice inoculated with syngeneic 4T1 breast tumor cells on reduction in breast tumor growth and lung metastasis. In Balb/c inoculated with the syngenic 4T1 primary tumor, and administered dendritic cells treated with RA + αGalCer, the size of the primary tumor and the number of lung metastatic foci were reduced. When 4T1 cells were introduced into the circulation as a model of hematogenous spread of tumor cells and RA and αCalCer were administered directly to mice without dendritic cells, lung metastatic foci were reduced 70% (P < 0.05), whereas each agent alone resulted in an intermediate decrease. Concomitantly, the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), membrane type-1 (MT1)-MMP and MMP3, were reduced by RA + αGalCer in lung. MMP3 protein was also reduced in plasma and culture supernatants from RA + αGalCer-treated 4T1 cells. Together, our results provide new evidence that a nutritional-immunological combination of RA + αGalCer may be promising for preventing or slowing the growth of metastatic foci, and suggest reduced MMP production as a possible mechanism.

A crucial role for retinoic acid in the development of Notch-dependent murine splenic CD8- CD4- and CD4+ dendritic cells

The vitamin A metabolite retinoic acid is important for the function of the adaptive immune system, but the mechanism is not completely understood. Here we show that vitamin A is essential for the generation of Notch-dependent CD8(-) dendritic cells (DCs) in the spleen. We observed that CD8(-) CD4(-) (double negative (DN)) and CD4(+) DCs, but not CD8(+) DCs, express vitamin A regulated genes. To determine whether vitamin A levels influence splenic DC development, we generated mice that were fed a vitamin A-deficient diet. We detected a specific reduction of CD4(+) and DN DCs in the spleens of mice fed a vitamin A-deficient diet, while pre-DC numbers in both spleen and bone marrow were not affected. Vitamin A was specifically necessary for the development of RelB(high) , Notch-dependent CD4(+) , and DN DCs. In addition, DN DCs showed reduced proliferation during vitamin A deficiency. In contrast, mice that had received a diet with increased amounts of retinoic acid showed a significant expansion of Notch-dependent DN DCs. These data demonstrate that vitamin A stimulates the development of Notch-dependent splenic DCs and indicate that inefficient generation of DCs may contribute to the immune deficits observed during vitamin A deficiency.

Vitamin A and retinoic acid in T cell-related immunity

Interest in vitamin A as a regulator of immune function goes back to the early 1900s. Recently, several lines of evidence have converged to show that retinoic acid (RA), a major oxidative metabolite of vitamin A, plays a key role in the differentiation of T cell subsets, the migration of T cells into tissues, and the proper development of T cell-dependent antibody responses. This review discusses evidence from experimental studies that RA promotes the differentiation of regulatory T cells, which help to suppress inflammatory reactions, and plays a significant role in normal mucosal immunity by modulating T cell activation and regulating cell trafficking. RA also promotes antibody responses to T cell-dependent antigens. Conversely, in a state of vitamin A deficiency, inflammatory T cell reactions may be inadequately opposed and therefore become dominant. Although data from human studies are still needed, the framework now developed from studies in mice and rat models suggests that adequate vitamin A status, whether derived from ingestion of preformed retinol or β-carotene, is important for maintaining a proper balance of well-regulated T cell functions and for preventing excessive or prolonged inflammatory reactions.

9-cis-retinoic acid promotes cell adhesion through integrin dependent and independent mechanisms across immune lineages

Retinoids are essential in the proper establishment and maintenance of immunity. Although retinoids are implicated in immune related processes, their role in immune cell adhesion has not been well established. In this study, the effect of 9-cis-retinoic acid (9-cis-RA) on human hematopoietic cell adhesion was investigated. 9-cis-RA treatment specifically induced cell adhesion of the human immune cell lines HuT-78, NB4, RPMI 8866 and U937. Due to the prominent role of integrin receptors in mediating immune cell adhesion, we sought to evaluate if cell adhesion was integrin-dependent. By employing a variety of integrin antagonist including function-blocking antibodies and EDTA, we establish that 9-cis-RA prompts immune cell adhesion through established integrin receptors in addition to a novel integrin-independent process. The novel integrin-independent adhesion required the presence of retinoid and was attenuated by treatment with synthetic corticosteroids. Finally, we demonstrate that 9-cis-RA treatment of primary murine B-cells induces ex vivo adhesion that persists in the absence of integrin function. Our study is the first to demonstrate that 9-cis-RA influences immune cell adhesion through at least two functionally distinct mechanisms.

Mechanisms involved in down-regulation of intestinal IgA in rats by high cocoa intake

Previous studies have shown that rat intestinal immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentration and lymphocyte composition of the intestinal immune system were influenced by a highly enriched cocoa diet. The aim of this study was to dissect the mechanisms by which a long-term high cocoa intake was capable of modifying gut secretory IgA in Wistar rats. After 7 weeks of nutritional intervention, Peyer's patches, mesenteric lymph nodes and the small intestine were excised for gene expression assessment of IgA, transforming growth factor β, C-C chemokine receptor-9 (CCR9), interleukin (IL)-6, CD40, retinoic acid receptors (RARα and RARβ), C-C chemokine ligand (CCL)-25 and CCL28 chemokines, polymeric immunoglobulin receptor and toll-like receptors (TLR) expression by real-time polymerase chain reaction. As in previous studies, secretory IgA concentration decreased in intestinal wash and fecal samples after cocoa intake. Results from the gene expression showed that cocoa intake reduced IgA and IL‑6 in Peyer's patches and mesenteric lymph nodes, whereas in small intestine, cocoa decreased IgA, CCR9, CCL28, RARα and RARβ. Moreover, cocoa-fed animals presented an altered TLR expression pattern in the three compartments studied. In conclusion, a high-cocoa diet down-regulated cytokines such as IL-6, which is required for the activation of B cells to become IgA-secreting cells, chemokines and chemokine receptors, such as CCL28 and CCR9 together with RARα and RARβ, which are involved in the gut homing of IgA-secreting cells. Moreover, cocoa modified the cross-talk between microbiota and intestinal cells as was detected by an altered TLR pattern. These overall effects in the intestine may explain the intestinal IgA down-regulatory effect after the consumption of a long-term cocoa-enriched diet.

Retinoic acid and α-galactosylceramide differentially regulate B cell activation in vitro and augment antibody production in vivo

All-trans-retinoic acid (RA) promotes the maturation and differentiation of B cells, which are known as a type of professional antigen-presenting cells. We show here that CD1d, a major histocompatibility complex class I-like molecule that presents lipid antigens, is expressed in the mouse spleen B cells and is increased by RA. Thus, we hypothesized that RA and the CD1d ligand, α-galactosylceramide (αGalCer), could interact to promote the differentiation, maturation, and antibody response of antigen-activated B cells. In isolated B cells, αGalCer alone markedly stimulated, and RA further increased B cell proliferation, synergizing with the B cell antigen receptor ligation via anti-μ antibody (P < 0.05). The significantly increased cell proliferation stimulated by αGalCer was abrogated in the B cells of CD1d-null mice. RA alone and combined with αGalCer also promoted B cell differentiation by the enrichment of sIgG1-, CD138-, and PNA/Fas-positive B cells (P < 0.05), suggesting a plasmacytic cell differentiation. In vivo, wild-type mice treated with RA and/or αGalCer during primary immunization with tetanus toxoid produced a higher serum anti-tetanus IgG response and had more bone marrow anti-tetanus antibody-secreting cells as determined by enzyme-linked immunospot assay (P < 0.05) in the secondary response, a finding indicative of heightened long-term memory; however, the increased antibody secretion after αGalCer treatment was abolished in CD1d-null mice. We provide evidence here that RA, together with αGalCer, can effectively regulate B cell proliferation and differentiation, ultimately promoting a more efficient antibody response to protein antigen. The results suggest that the combination of RA and αGalCer could be a useful adjuvant combination in vaccine strategies.

Cocoa-enriched diets modulate intestinal and systemic humoral immune response in young adult rats

SCOPE

Previous studies have shown that a highly enriched cocoa diet affects both intestinal and systemic immune function in young rats. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether diets containing lower amounts of cocoa could also influence the systemic and intestinal humoral immune response.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Fecal and serum samples were collected during the study and, at the end, intestinal washes were obtained and mesenteric lymph nodes and small-intestine walls were excised for gene expression assessment. IgA, IgM, IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG2c concentrations were quantified in serum whereas S-IgA and S-IgM were determined in feces and intestinal washes. Animals receiving 5 and 10% cocoa for 3 wk showed no age-related increase in serum IgG1 and IgG2a concentrations, and IgG2a values were significantly lower than those in reference animals. Serum IgM was also decreased by the 10% cocoa diet. The 5 and 10% cocoa diets dramatically reduced intestinal S-IgA concentration and modified the expression of several genes involved in IgA synthesis. A diet containing 2% cocoa had no effect on most of the studied variables.

CONCLUSION

The results demonstrate the downregulatory effect of a 5% or higher cocoa diet on the systemic and intestinal humoral immune response in adult rats.

All-trans-retinoic acid and Erk1/2 signaling synergistically regulate the expression of CD300B in human monocytic cells

The regulation of the cell-surface receptors that constitute the gene cluster, CD300, also known as the Myeloid Activating/Inhibitory Receptor (MAIR) family, is poorly understood. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that all-trans-RA (RA), a bioactive form of vitamin A long recognized for its role in regulation of immune cell activities, may be a potent regulator of the expression of human CD300B. In monocytic THP-1 cells, RA (20nM) alone significantly increased CD300B mRNA within 2h and up to 20-fold after 24h; however, CD300B protein determined by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy showed little change. A search for coactivating molecules revealed that phorbol myristyl acetate (PMA), a mimetic of diacylglycerol, alone increased CD300B mRNA by less than 5-fold; however, the combination of at-RA and PMA increased CD300B mRNA nearly 60-fold. Moreover, CD300B protein was increased. CD300B molecules were mainly located on the plasma membrane and in the endosomal compartment, sharing a distribution/recycling pattern similar to transferrin receptor CD71. The induction of CD300B mRNA by PMA required signaling through the MEK/ERK branch of the MAP kinase pathway, as PD98059, a MEK1/2 inhibitor, abrogated this response, while SB203580, an inhibitor of the p38 pathway, had no effect. Our data suggest a model in which RA alone induces a CD300B mRNA response in which transcripts accumulate but remain untranslated and therefore "sterile," whereas RA combined with signals from the ERK1/2 pathway results in both increased CD300B transcription and protein expression on the cell surface and in endocytic vesicles.

Vitamin A and retinoic acid in the regulation of B-cell development and antibody production

Signaling by vitamin A through its active metabolite retinoic acid (RA) is critical for the normal development and functions of the hematopoietic and immune systems. B cells, as both factories for antibody production and part of the immune regulatory system, are critical to a successful vaccination response. RA is a factor in the development and competence of mature B cells, in B cell proliferation, and in the regulation of transcription factors associated with B cell differentiation, class switch recombination, and the generation of antibody-secreting plasma cells. Emerging evidence suggests that RA can function alone and in combination with other immune system stimuli to augment the formation of germinal centers, leading to increased primary and secondary antibody responses. Taken together, RA could be a useful component in vaccine strategies and/or for immunotherapy.

Retinoic acid production by intestinal dendritic cells

Subpopulations of dendritic cells (DCs) in the small intestine and its related lymphoid organs can produce retinoic acid (RA) from vitamin A (retinol). Through the RA production, these DCs play a pivotal role in imprinting lymphocytes with gut-homing specificity, and contribute to the development of immune tolerance by enhancing the differentiation of Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells and inhibiting that of inflammatory Th17 cells. The RA-producing capacity in these DCs mostly depends on the expression of retinal dehydrogenase 2 (RALDH2, ALDH1A2). It is likely that the RALDH2 expression is induced in DCs by the microenvironmental factors in the small intestine and its related lymphoid organs. The major factor responsible for the RALDH2 expression appears to be GM-CSF. RA itself is essential for the GM-CSF-induced RALDH2 expression. IL-4 and IL-13 also enhance RALDH2 expression, but are dispensable. Toll-like receptor-mediated signals can also enhance the GM-CSF-induced RALDH2 expression in immature DCs.

The effect of vitamin A supplementation and diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccination on parasitaemia in an experimental murine malaria model

BACKGROUND

Vitamin A supplementation (VAS) decreases overall child mortality in low-income countries. For logistical reasons, VAS has been linked to routine childhood immunizations. However, several recent studies have indicated that VAS may increase mortality and morbidity from infectious diseases when given with the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine. The immunological effects of combining the 2 treatments are unknown.

METHODS

We studied the effect of treating C57BL/6 mice with VAS and DTP, 1 week prior to infection with Plasmodium berghei ANKA. The progression of disease was monitored through parasite load and time to death.

RESULTS

We found significantly higher levels of parasitaemia in VAS/DTP-treated mice than in control mice (crude geometric mean parasitaemia ratio 2.02 (1.08-3.76), p = 0.03). There was no effect of administering either VAS or DTP alone, indicating that the increase in parasitaemia was due to a synergistic effect of VAS and DTP (p for interaction = 0.02). The effect of VAS/DTP on levels of parasitaemia was modified by the specific parasite variant used. No effect was observed on time to death.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that VAS/DTP can negatively influence the outcome of malaria infection in mice, adding to the concerns about simultaneous VAS and DTP administration to children in low-income, malaria endemic countries.

Educating CD4 T cells with vaccine adjuvants: lessons from lipopolysaccharide

Toll-like receptor (TLR) adjuvants are capable of driving T cell immunity. The TLR4 agonist LPS activates antigen-presenting cells through myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88) and TIR domain-containing adaptor inducing interferon-beta (TRIF)-dependent signaling pathways, initiating CD4 T helper cell clonal expansion and differentiation. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) supports the development of diverse T helper (Th) lineages depending on the tissue microenvironment. For instance, peripheral immunization with LPS drives Th1 priming in lymphoid tissue and Th17 priming in the gut. This could be due to commensal bacteria inducing Th17-stabilizing cytokines within the intestinal lamina propria. Here, we detail how the response to LPS stimulates CD4 T cell priming in lymphoid tissue and the intestinal mucosa. How this knowledge might be exploited to target specific features of T cell immunity by vaccine adjuvants is also considered.

Toll-like receptor 3 ligand and retinoic acid enhance germinal center formation and increase the tetanus toxoid vaccine response

Immunizations with T-cell-dependent antigens induce the formation of germinal centers (GC), unique lymphoid microenvironments in which antigen-activated B cells undergo class switching, affinity maturation, and differentiation into memory B cells. Poly(I:C) (PIC), a double-stranded RNA, and retinoic acid (RA), a metabolite of vitamin A which induces cell differentiation, have been shown to augment both primary and memory anti-tetanus toxoid (anti-TT) IgG responses. However, their influence on the GC reaction is unknown. In the present study, 6-week-old C57BL/6 mice were immunized with TT and cotreated with PIC, RA, or both. The splenic GC reaction was evaluated using immunofluorescence staining 10 days after TT priming. Each treatment enhanced the TT-induced GC formation (number of GC/follicle and GC area) about two- to threefold, which correlated with the titers of plasma anti-TT immunoglobulin G (IgG). Isotype switching to IgG1 was dramatically stimulated, with the greatest increase in IgG1-positive GC B cells induced by RA-PIC (P < 0.001). Moreover, PIC alone and RA-PIC robustly promoted the formation of the follicular dendritic cell (FDC) network in the GC light zone. PIC and RA-PIC also increased IgG1-positive B cells in the periarterial lymphatic sheath regions, where most IgG1-positive cells were plasma cells (CD138/syndecan-1 positive), suggesting that plasma cell generation was also enhanced in non-GC regions. The stimulation of several processes, including antigen-induced GC formation, isotype switching, FDC network formation within GC, and plasma cell differentiation by RA and/or PIC, suggests that this nutritional-immunological combination could be an effective means of promoting a robust vaccine response.

All-trans retinoic acid potentiates the antibody response in mice to a lipopeptide antigen adjuvanted with liposomal lipid A

Retinoic acid (RA), the bioactive metabolite of retinol, is essential for robust humoral immunity in animals and humans. Recent interest in RA as a vaccine adjuvant has been encouraged by reports showing cooperative enhancement of antibody responses to tetanus toxin in rodents by all-trans RA (ATRA) and a Toll-like receptor-3 agonist. We hypothesized that RA would augment the antibody response to a co-delivered lipopeptide immunogen derived from the membrane proximal region (MPR) of HIV-1 gp41. The MPR is weakly immunogenic and could benefit from potent new humoral adjuvants. When co-formulated in liposomes and administered to BALB/C mice, ATRA alone did not elicit serum anti-peptide antibodies to an MPR-derived lipopeptide. However, addition of ATRA, but not 13-cis RA, to a liposomal formulation containing the Toll-like receptor-4 agonist monophosphoryl lipid A resulted in a fourfold enhancement of serum anti-peptide IgG titers as compared with a formulation containing lipid A alone (P=0.00039). The difference did not arise from biophysical changes in the liposome formulation, including vesicle size, vesicle charge and liposome association of antigen. Thus, ATRA warrants further study as a vaccine adjuvant.

Retinoic acid production by intestinal dendritic cells and its role in T-cell trafficking

Vitamin A deficiency causes a marked reduction in the number of T and B cells in the small intestinal tissues. The vitamin A metabolite retinoic acid imprints lymphocytes with gut-homing specificity upon antigenic stimulation. In the small intestinal lamina propria, Peyer's patches, and mesenteric lymph nodes, there are dendritic cells capable of producing retinoic acid. Their capacity depends on the expression of retinal dehydrogenases (RALDH). RALDH2, encoded by Aldh1a2, is a major isoform of RALDH in the intestinal dendritic cells under specific pathogen-free conditions, and can be induced by multiple factors constitutively present or induced in the small intestinal microenvironment.