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Li K, Chen Y, Zhu N, Chen S, Jia M, Xue L, Hao M, Zhang C. Real-time detection of T cell activation by visualizing TCR nanoclusters with a cholesterol derived aggregation-induced emission probe. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 247:115073. [PMID: 36603511 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.115073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Successful T-cell based immunotherapy usually depends on the activation of T cells. Most of commonly used methods for assessing T cell activity rely on the antibody-based technology, which focus on detecting protein-centered activation markers, including CD25, cytokines and so on. However, these methods always involve tedious sample-preparation process, labor-consuming and costly, which could not be utilized in real-time detection. The T cell receptor (TCR) clustering is another kind of essential T cell activation marker on the membrane, which increases during the activation state of T cells. We herein developed a cholesterol derived aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorescent probe (R-TPE-PEG-Chol) for detecting T cell activation in real-time. Five probes were first designed and synthesized and among them COOH-TPE-PEG-Chol displayed the best imaging effects, which had no significant impact on the key physiological functions of T cells. In addition, we have proved that COOH-TPE-PEG-Chol was introduced onto the naïve T cell membrane in its molecularly dissolved form without fluorescent emission. While during T cell activation, the formation of TCR nanoclusters would induce aggregation of membrane cholesterol, which could provoke the fluorescence signal of the COOH-TPE-PEG-Chol due to the AIE characteristic. Moreover, the enhancement of the fluorescence intensity was positively related to the activation state of T cells. Our study demonstrated the concept of cholesterol-derived AIE fluorescent probes for deciphering the spatiotemporal arrangements of TCR on the membrane during T cell activation, and consequently provided a novel and complementary strategy for detecting T cell activation in real-time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiming Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Diseases, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Center of Advanced Pharmaceuticals and Biomaterials, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China; Chongqing Innovation Institute of China Pharmaceutical University, Chongqing, 401135, China
| | - Yue Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Diseases, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Center of Advanced Pharmaceuticals and Biomaterials, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Nianci Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Diseases, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Center of Advanced Pharmaceuticals and Biomaterials, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China; Chongqing Innovation Institute of China Pharmaceutical University, Chongqing, 401135, China
| | - Sijia Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Diseases, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Center of Advanced Pharmaceuticals and Biomaterials, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China; Chongqing Innovation Institute of China Pharmaceutical University, Chongqing, 401135, China
| | - Meng Jia
- Nanjing University, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing, 210093, China
| | - Lingjing Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Diseases, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Center of Advanced Pharmaceuticals and Biomaterials, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China; Chongqing Innovation Institute of China Pharmaceutical University, Chongqing, 401135, China
| | - Meixi Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Diseases, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Center of Advanced Pharmaceuticals and Biomaterials, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China; Chongqing Innovation Institute of China Pharmaceutical University, Chongqing, 401135, China.
| | - Can Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery for Metabolic Diseases, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, Center of Advanced Pharmaceuticals and Biomaterials, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China; Chongqing Innovation Institute of China Pharmaceutical University, Chongqing, 401135, China.
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Feng Y, Yin Z, Zhang D, Srivastava A, Ling C. Chinese Medicine Protein and Peptide in Gene and Cell Therapy. Curr Protein Pept Sci 2018; 20:251-264. [PMID: 29895243 DOI: 10.2174/1389203719666180612082432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2018] [Revised: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The success of gene and cell therapy in clinic during the past two decades as well as our expanding ability to manipulate these biomaterials are leading to new therapeutic options for a wide range of inherited and acquired diseases. Combining conventional therapies with this emerging field is a promising strategy to treat those previously-thought untreatable diseases. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has evolved for thousands of years in China and still plays an important role in human health. As part of the active ingredients of TCM, proteins and peptides have attracted long-term enthusiasm of researchers. More recently, they have been utilized in gene and cell therapy, resulting in promising novel strategies to treat both cancer and non-cancer diseases. This manuscript presents a critical review on this field, accompanied with perspectives on the challenges and new directions for future research in this emerging frontier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinlu Feng
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 401 Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Qingdao, Shandong 266071, China.,Division of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611, FL, United States
| | - Zifei Yin
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611, FL, United States
| | - Daniel Zhang
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611, FL, United States
| | - Arun Srivastava
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611, FL, United States
| | - Chen Ling
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611, FL, United States
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Gong Q, Deng D, Ding J, Wang C, Bian Z, Ye Z, Xu J. Trichosanthin, an extract of Trichosanthes kirilowii, effectively prevents acute rejection of major histocompatibility complex-mismatched mouse skin allograft. Transplant Proc 2009; 40:3714-8. [PMID: 19100472 DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2008.07.132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2008] [Revised: 04/01/2008] [Accepted: 07/07/2008] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Trichosanthin is an active component extracted from the root tuber of the Chinese medicinal herb Trichosanthes kirilowii. Trichosanthin has abortifacient, anti-tumor, anti-HIV, and immunoregulatory functions. In the current study, we explored its potential effect on allograft rejection in a murine skin transplantation model across a fully mismatched major histocompatibility complex. It was found that treatment of recipient mice with trichosanthin (0.25 or 1 mg/kg, IP) significantly delayed allograft rejection. T cells that originated from recipients treated with trichosanthin were restimulated with donor-specific splenocytes showed a significantly reduced response compared with that of control recipients. In line with these results, the mRNA levels for interleukin (IL)-2 and interferon-gamma were decreased and the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were increased in splenic T cells originating from trichosanthin-treated recipients. These results indicated that trichosanthin may have potential therapeutic value for transplantation rejection and other inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Q Gong
- Department of Immunology, Medical School of Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
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Zhou H, Jiao Z, Pan J, Hong J, Tao J, Li N, Zhou Y, Zhang J, Chou KY. Immune suppression via IL-4/IL-10-secreting T cells: A nontoxic property of anti-HIV agent Trichosanthin. Clin Immunol 2007; 122:312-22. [PMID: 17182284 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2006.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2006] [Revised: 10/11/2006] [Accepted: 11/02/2006] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The activity of Trichosanthin (Tk) has been attributed to its toxicity since this plant protein was used as an anti-HIV agent. However, in this study strong inhibition of human lymphoproliferation to soluble and allogeneic antigens was induced by Tk at 0.005-0.5 microg/ml without causing cell damages including apoptosis. The suppression was dependent on the presence of monocytes that are able to internalize and process Tk molecules as exogenous antigens. Among 39 Tk-primed T cell lines established, those with strong suppressive activity were CD8(+) TCRalphabeta(+) with type 2 cytokine secretion profile. Depletion of CD8 cells from total T cells or blocking expression of HLA-DQ molecules diminished Tk's inhibitory activity. In addition, healthy subjects with HLA haplotype DRB1*0301-DQA1*0501-DQB1*0201 were susceptible to the hyporeaction induced by Tk or a Tk-derived peptide. This indicates that Tk could induce an HLA-associated immune suppression via activating IL-4/IL-10-secreting T cells, which might belong to CD8 Tc2 subset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Zhou
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
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Li F, Mei Y, Wang Y, Chen C, Tu J, Xiao B, Xu L. Trichosanthin inhibits antigen-specific T cell expansion through nitric oxide-mediated apoptosis pathway. Cell Immunol 2005; 234:23-30. [PMID: 15967422 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2005.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2005] [Revised: 04/22/2005] [Accepted: 04/22/2005] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Trichosanthin (TCS) has been found to exhibit inflammation-suppressing effect but the underlying mechanisms are not clear. In this study, we found that TCS inhibited OVA-specific T cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Such inhibition was correlated with enhanced cell death. At the same time, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression and protein levels were found increased in cells treated with TCS, and nitric oxide (NO) production by cells was elevated in the presence of TCS. When L-NIL, the specific inhibitor of iNOS, was added to suppress NO production induced by TCS, OVA-specific cell death was significantly inhibited, meanwhile, thymidine incorporation of cells was rescued towards normal levels. These results indicate that TCS could inhibit antigen-specific T cell activation via NO-mediated apoptosis pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Li
- Joint Immunology Laboratory of Institute of Health Sciences and Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences/Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200025, China
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