Blockade of miR-142-3p promotes anti-apoptotic and suppressive function by inducing KDM6A-mediated H3K27me3 demethylation in induced regulatory T cells

Inherited KDM6AA649T facilitates tumor-immune escape and exacerbates colorectal signet-ring cell carcinoma outcomes

Childhood onset of colorectal signet-ring cell carcinoma (CR-SRCC) is extremely rare and featured as highly malignant with poor prognosis. Here we reported a CR-SRCC case of 11-year-old boy with a novel inherited X-linked KDM6AA694T mutation. The H3K27me3 demethylase KDM6A was frequently mutated in varieties of tumors and acts as a tumor suppressor. In vivo H3K27me3 demethylation assay demonstrated that KDM6AA694T had dampened H3K27me3 demethylase activity. Overexpression of KDM6AA694T in SRCC cell line KATO3 promoted cell proliferation, invasion and migration, which were further confirmed in vivo by constructing orthotopic tumor growth and lung metastasis model. Besides, expression of KDM6AA694T in immune cells suppresses inflammatory macrophage response and effector T cell response. In conclusion, we characterized a novel inherited KDM6AA694T mutant from a childhood-onset SRCC case and demonstrated that the mutant with impaired H3K27me3 demethylase activity could potentiate tumor malignancy and suppress antitumor immunity.

Hypervolemia in Dialysis Patients Impairs STAT3 Signaling and Upregulates miR-142-3p: Effects on IL-10 and IL-6

Fluid overload in hemodialysis patients (HD) has been proven to be associated with inflammation. Elevated levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) appear to be inadequately counterbalanced by the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10). We initiated a cross-sectional study enrolling 40 HD patients who were categorized by a bioimpedance measurement in normovolemic (N; 23) and hypervolemic (H; 17) groups to test whether IL-10- and IL-6-related signal transduction pathways (signal transducer of transcript 3: STAT3) and/or a post-transcriptional regulating mechanism (miR-142) are impaired by hypervolemia. IL-10/IL-6 transcript and protein production by PBMCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) were determined. Phospho-flow cytometry was used to detect the phosphorylated forms of STAT3 (pY705 and pS727). miR-142-3p/5p levels were detected by qPCR. Hypervolemic patients were older, more frequently had diabetes, and showed higher CRP levels. IL-10 transcripts were elevated in H patients but not IL-10 protein levels. In spite of the elevated mRNA expression of the suppressor of cytokine expression 3 (SOCS3), IL-6 mRNA and protein expression were increased in immune cells of H patients. The percentage of cells staining positive for STAT3 (pY705) were comparable in both groups; in STAT3 (pS727), however, the signal needed for full transactivation was decreased in H patients. miR-142-3p, a proven target of IL-10 and IL-6, was significantly elevated in H patients. Insufficient phosphorylation of STAT3 may impair inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine signaling. How far degradative mechanisms induced by elevated miR-142-3p levels contribute to an inefficient anti-inflammatory IL-10 signaling remains elusive.

Coordinating single-cell and bulk RNA-seq in deciphering the intratumoral immune landscape and prognostic stratification of prostate cancer patients

INTRODUCTION

Prostate cancer is a common cancer among male population. The aberrant expression of histone modifiers has been identified as a potential driving force in numerous cancer types. However, the mechanism of histone modifiers in the development of prostate cancer remains unknown.

METHODS

Expression profiles and clinical data were obtained from GSE70769, GSE46602, and GSE67980. Seruat R package was utilized to calculate the gene set enrichment of the histone modification pathway and obtain the Histone score. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and Cox regression analyses were employed to identify marker genes with prognostic value. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was conducted to assess the efficacy of the prognostic model. In addition, microenvironment cell populations counter (MCPcounter), single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA), and xCell algorithms were employed for immune infiltration analysis. Drug sensitivity prediction was performed using oncoPredict R package.

RESULTS

We screened differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between Histone-high score (Histone-H) and Histone-low score (Histone-L) groups, which were enriched in RNA splicing and DNA-binding transcription factor binding pathways. We retained four prognostic marker genes, including TACC3, YWHAH, TAF1C and TTLL5. The risk model showed significant efficacy in stratification of the prognosis of prostate cancer patients in both internal and external cohorts (p < .0001 and p = .032, respectively). In addition, prognostic gene YWHAH was infiltrated in abundance of fibroblasts and highly correlated with Entinostat_1593 drug sensitivity score and the value of risk score.

CONCLUSION

We innovatively developed a histone modification-related prognostic model with high prognostic potency and identified YWHAH as possible diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers for prostate cancer. It provides novel insights to address prostate cancer and enhance clinical outcomes, thereby opening up a new avenue for customized treatment alternatives.

The miR-142 miRNAs: Shaping the naïve immune system

Immunity in a naïve organism is tightly controlled. Adequate proportions of the many immune cell subsets must be produced to mount efficient responses to eventual challenges. In addition, a functioning immune system is highly dynamic at steady state. Mature immune cells must be positioned properly and/or circulate to facilitate the detection of dangers. They must also be poised to promptly react to unusual encounters, while ignoring innocuous germs and self. Numerous regulatory mechanisms act at the molecular level to generate such an exquisite structure, including miRNA-mediated repression of protein synthesis. Notably, the miRNAs from the miR-142 locus are preferentially expressed in hematopoietic cells. Their importance is underscored by the deeply disturbed immune system seen upon inactivation of the locus in mice. In this review, we explore reported roles for the miR-142 miRNAs in the shaping of immunity in vertebrates, discussing in particular their contributions to the generation, migration and survival of hematopoietic cells.

miR-142-3p encapsulated in T lymphocyte-derived tissue small extracellular vesicles induces Treg function defect and thyrocyte destruction in Hashimoto's thyroiditis

BACKGROUND

Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is an organ-specific autoimmune disease characterized by lymphocyte infiltration that destroys thyrocyte cells. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the role and mechanisms of tissue small extracellular vesicle (sEV) microRNAs (miRNAs) in the pathogenesis of HT.

METHODS

Differentially expressed tissue sEV miRNAs were identified between HT tissue and normal tissue by RNA sequencing in the testing set (n = 20). Subsequently, using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‒PCR) assays and logistic regression analysis in the validation set (n = 60), the most relevant tissue sEV miRNAs to HT were verified. The parental and recipient cells of that tissue sEV miRNA were then explored. In vitro and in vivo experiments were further performed to elucidate the function and potential mechanisms of sEV miRNAs that contribute to the development of HT.

RESULTS

We identified that miR-142-3p encapsulated in T lymphocyte-derived tissue sEVs can induce Treg function defect and thyrocyte destruction through an intact response loop. Inactivation of miR-142-3p can effectively protect non-obese diabetic (NOD).H-2^h4 mice from HT development display reduced lymphocyte infiltration, lower antibody titers, and higher Treg cells. Looking at the mechanisms underlying sEV action on thyrocyte destruction, we found that the strong deleterious effect mediated by tissue sEV miR-142-3p is due to its ability to block the activation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway by downregulating RAC1.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings highlight the fact that tissue sEV-mediated miR-142-3p transfer can serve as a communication mode between T lymphocytes and thyrocyte cells in HT, favoring the progression of HT.

Axonal Regeneration: Underlying Molecular Mechanisms and Potential Therapeutic Targets

Axons in the peripheral nervous system have the ability to repair themselves after damage, whereas axons in the central nervous system are unable to do so. A common and important characteristic of damage to the spinal cord, brain, and peripheral nerves is the disruption of axonal regrowth. Interestingly, intrinsic growth factors play a significant role in the axonal regeneration of injured nerves. Various factors such as proteomic profile, microtubule stability, ribosomal location, and signalling pathways mark a line between the central and peripheral axons' capacity for self-renewal. Unfortunately, glial scar development, myelin-associated inhibitor molecules, lack of neurotrophic factors, and inflammatory reactions are among the factors that restrict axonal regeneration. Molecular pathways such as cAMP, MAPK, JAK/STAT, ATF3/CREB, BMP/SMAD, AKT/mTORC1/p70S6K, PI3K/AKT, GSK-3β/CLASP, BDNF/Trk, Ras/ERK, integrin/FAK, RhoA/ROCK/LIMK, and POSTN/integrin are activated after nerve injury and are considered significant players in axonal regeneration. In addition to the aforementioned pathways, growth factors, microRNAs, and astrocytes are also commendable participants in regeneration. In this review, we discuss the detailed mechanism of each pathway along with key players that can be potentially valuable targets to help achieve quick axonal healing. We also identify the prospective targets that could help close knowledge gaps in the molecular pathways underlying regeneration and shed light on the creation of more powerful strategies to encourage axonal regeneration after nervous system injury.

Recent highlights in the immunomodulatory aspects of Treg cell-derived extracellular vesicles: special emphasis on autoimmune diseases and transplantation

In order to maintain immunological tolerance to self and non-self antigens, one’s T regulatory (Treg) cells play a critical role in the regulation of detrimental inflammation. Treg cells inhibit the immune system in a variety of ways, some of which are contact-dependent and the others are soluble factors. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are mainly secretory membrane structures that play a pivotal role in intercellular communication in both the local and systemic environments, enabling the transport of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids between immune and non-immune cells. A number of studies have shown that Treg-derived EVs are specially formulated intercellular exchanging devices capable of regulating immunological responses by producing a cell-free tolerogenic milieu. Some of the processes suggested include miRNA-induced gene shutdown and upmodulation, surface protein activity, and enzyme transfer. Instead of being influenced by external circumstances like Tregs, exosomes’ cohesive structure allows them to transmit their charge intact across the blood–brain barrier and deliver it to the target cell with particular receptors. These properties have resulted in the use of Treg-derived EVs' immunomodulatory effects moving beyond laboratory research and into preclinical applications in animal models of a variety of inflammatory, autoimmune, and transplant rejection disorders. However, insufficient evidence has been produced to permit enrollment in human clinical studies. As such, we begin our research by introducing the most potent immunosuppressive elements discovered in Treg-derived EVs elucidating likely mechanisms of action in inhibiting immunological responses. Following that, we address recent research on the potential of suppressive EVs to regulate autoimmune inflammatory responses and improve tissue transplant survival.

Nature vs. nurture: FOXP3, genetics, and tissue environment shape Treg function

The importance of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in preventing autoimmunity has been well established; however, the precise alterations in Treg function in autoimmune individuals and how underlying genetic associations impact the development and function of Tregs is still not well understood. Polygenetic susceptibly is a key driving factor in the development of autoimmunity, and many of the pathways implicated in genetic association studies point to a potential alteration or defect in regulatory T cell function. In this review transcriptomic control of Treg development and function is highlighted with a focus on how these pathways are altered during autoimmunity. In combination, observations from autoimmune mouse models and human patients now provide insights into epigenetic control of Treg function and stability. How tissue microenvironment influences Treg function, lineage stability, and functional plasticity is also explored. In conclusion, the current efficacy and future direction of Treg-based therapies for Type 1 Diabetes and other autoimmune diseases is discussed. In total, this review examines Treg function with focuses on genetic, epigenetic, and environmental mechanisms and how Treg functions are altered within the context of autoimmunity.

Differentially Expressed miRNAs in Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease

Differential microRNA (miRNA or miR) regulation is linked to the development and progress of many diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It is well-established that miRNAs are involved in the differentiation, maturation, and functional control of immune cells. miRNAs modulate inflammatory cascades and affect the extracellular matrix, tight junctions, cellular hemostasis, and microbiota. This review summarizes current knowledge of differentially expressed miRNAs in mucosal tissues and peripheral blood of patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. We combined comprehensive literature curation with computational meta-analysis of publicly available high-throughput datasets to obtain a consensus set of miRNAs consistently differentially expressed in mucosal tissues. We further describe the role of the most relevant differentially expressed miRNAs in IBD, extract their potential targets involved in IBD, and highlight their diagnostic and therapeutic potential for future investigations.

Roles and Regulation of BCL-xL in Hematological Malignancies

Members of the Bcl-2 family are proteins that play an essential role in the regulation of apoptosis, a crucial process in development and normal physiology in multicellular organisms. The essential mechanism of this family of proteins is given by the role of pro-survival proteins, which inhibit apoptosis by their direct binding with their counterpart, the effector proteins of apoptosis. This family of proteins was named after the typical member Bcl-2, which was named for its discovery and abnormal expression in B-cell lymphomas. Subsequently, the structure of one of its members BCL-xL was described, which allowed one to understand much of the molecular mechanism of this family. Due to its role of BCL-xL in the regulation of cell survival and proliferation, it has been of great interest in its study. Due to this, it is important to research its role regarding the development and progression of human malignancies, especially in hematologic malignancies. Due to its variation in expression in cancer, it has been suggested that BCL-xL can or cannot play a role in cancer depending on the cellular or tissue context. This review discusses recent advances in its transcriptional regulation of BCL-xL, as well as the advances regarding the activities of BCL-xL in hematological malignancies, its possible role as a biomarker, and its possible clinical relevance in these malignancies.

microRNA-142 guards against autoimmunity by controlling Treg cell homeostasis and function

Regulatory T (Treg) cells are critical in preventing aberrant immune responses. Posttranscriptional control of gene expression by microRNA (miRNA) has recently emerged as an essential genetic element for Treg cell function. Here, we report that mice with Treg cell-specific ablation of miR-142 (hereafter Foxp3CremiR-142fl/fl mice) developed a fatal systemic autoimmune disorder due to a breakdown in peripheral T-cell tolerance. Foxp3CremiR-142fl/fl mice displayed a significant decrease in the abundance and suppressive capacity of Treg cells. Expression profiling of miR-142-deficient Treg cells revealed an up-regulation of multiple genes in the interferon gamma (IFNγ) signaling network. We identified several of these IFNγ-associated genes as direct miR-142-3p targets and observed excessive IFNγ production and signaling in miR-142-deficient Treg cells. Ifng ablation rescued the Treg cell homeostatic defect and alleviated development of autoimmunity in Foxp3CremiR-142fl/fl mice. Thus, our findings implicate miR-142 as an indispensable regulator of Treg cell homeostasis that exerts its function by attenuating IFNγ responses.

An update on the roles of immune system-derived microRNAs in cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a leading cause of human death worldwide. Over the past two decades, the emerging field of cardioimmunology has demonstrated how cells of the immune system play vital roles in the pathogenesis of CVD. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are critical regulators of cellular identity and function. Cell-intrinsic, as well as cell-extrinsic, roles of immune and inflammatory cell-derived miRNAs have been, and continue to be, extensively studied. Several 'immuno-miRNAs' appear to be specifically expressed or demonstrate greatly enriched expression within leucocytes. Identification of miRNAs as critical regulators of immune system signalling pathways has posed the question of whether and how targeting these molecules therapeutically, may afford opportunities for disease treatment and/or management. As the field of cardioimmunology rapidly continues to advance, this review discusses findings from recent human and murine studies which contribute to our understanding of how leucocytes of innate and adaptive immunity are regulated-and may also regulate other cell types, via the actions of the miRNAs they express, in the context of CVD. Finally, we focus on available information regarding miRNA regulation of regulatory T cells and argue that targeted manipulation of miRNA regulated pathways in these cells may hold therapeutic promise for the treatment of CVD and associated risk factors.

MiR-142-3p regulates synaptopathy-driven disease progression in multiple sclerosis

Aim

We recently proposed miR‐142‐3p as a molecular player in inflammatory synaptopathy, a new pathogenic hallmark of multiple sclerosis (MS) and of its mouse model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), that leads to neuronal loss independently of demyelination. MiR‐142‐3p seems to be unique among potential biomarker candidates in MS, since it is an inflammatory miRNA playing a dual role in the immune and central nervous systems. Here, we aimed to verify the impact of miR‐142‐3p circulating in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of MS patients on clinical parameters, neuronal excitability and its potential interaction with disease modifying therapies (DMTs).

Methods and Results

In a cohort of 151 MS patients, we found positive correlations between CSF miR‐142‐3p levels and clinical progression, IL‐1β signalling as well as synaptic excitability measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation. Furthermore, therapy response of patients with ‘low miR‐142‐3p’ to dimethyl fumarate (DMF), an established disease‐modifying treatment (DMT), was superior to that of patients with ‘high miR‐142‐3p’ levels. Accordingly, the EAE clinical course of heterozygous miR‐142 mice was ameliorated by peripheral DMF treatment with a greater impact relative to their wild type littermates. In addition, a central protective effect of this drug was observed following intracerebroventricular and ex vivo acute treatments of EAE wild type mice, showing a rescue of miR‐142‐3p‐dependent glutamatergic alterations. By means of electrophysiology, molecular and biochemical analysis, we suggest miR‐142‐3p as a molecular target of DMF.

Conclusion

MiR‐142‐3p is a novel and potential negative prognostic CSF marker of MS and a promising tool for identifying personalised therapies.

KDM1A Promotes Immunosuppression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Regulating PD-L1 through Demethylating MEF2D

Background

Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy targeting antiprogrammed cell death-1 (anti-PD-1) or its ligand (anti-PD-L1) is effective in the treatment of some hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). Hence, further identification of biological targets related to PD-L1 regulation in HCC is beneficial to improve the clinical efficacy of immunotherapy. Some HCC cells express lysine-specific demethylase 1A (KDM1A), which is implicated in the reduced survival time of patients. Here, we studied whether the level of PD-L1 and the immunosuppression are regulated by KDM1A and its miRNA in HCC cells.

Methods

In the present study, we studied clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. We performed qPCR and western blotting assays to measure the expression level of genes of interest. PD-L1 expression was also analyzed by FACS. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 was used to generate gene knockout cells to investigate the relationships of genes of interest. We also developed a reporter gene assay (RGA) to explore the changes in T cell-induced antitumor immunity relative to PD-L1 expression in HCC cells. The binding between proteins and promoters or miRNAs and their target genes was explored by luciferase reporter assays.

Results

The results showed that PD-L1 and KDM1A were increased in HCC patients and cells, and KDM1A promoted the expression of PD-L1 in HCC cells. Our findings showed that the enhancement of PD-L1 expression was not attributed to mitochondrial dysfunction caused by increases in KDM1A in HCC cells. Furthermore, we observed a lower level of MEF2D methylation in HCC cells than in normal human liver cells. Demethylated MEF2D could bind to the promoter of PD-L1 and activate its expression, while KDM1A interacted with MEF2D and acted as a demethylase to reduce its methylation. Moreover, a new miRNA, miR-329-3p, targeting KDM1A was found to regulate the PD-L1 expression profile in HCC cells. In the xenograft model, the tumors treated with miR-329-3p showed growth inhibition.

Conclusions

Mechanistically, miR-329-3p inhibits tumor cellular immunosuppression and reinforces the response of tumor cells to T cell-induced cytotoxic effect by targeting KDM1A mRNA and downregulating its expression, which contributed to MEF2D demethylation and activation of PD-L1 expression.

hsa-miR-199b-3p Prevents the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Dysfunction of the Renal Tubule by Regulating E-cadherin through Targeting KDM6A in Diabetic Nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. The association between epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and fibrosis is quite ascertained, but its link to eventual tubule dysfunction is missing. Here, we show that human microRNA- (hsa-miR-) 199b-3p protects renal tubules from diabetic-induced injury by repressing KDM6A, a histone lysine demethylase regulating E-cadherin expression. Lower E-cadherin expression is related to a higher level of KDM6A, while E-cadherin is promoted upon treatment with the KDM6A inhibitor GSK-J4 in both high glucose- (HG-) induced HK2 cells and the kidneys from streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced type 1 diabetic mice. However, overexpression or RNA silencing of E-cadherin fails to alter KDM6A expression. We also show that the upregulation of KDM6A is associated with the increased methylation level of the E-cadherin promoter. Then, the target prediction results and a dual-luciferase assay show that hsa-miR-199b-3p is a new miRNA that targets KDM6A. Overexpression of hsa-miR-199b-3p increases E-cadherin expression and prevents EMT through repressing KDM6A expression in HG-induced HK2 cells. In contrast, inhibitor-induced hsa-miR-199b-3p knockdown has opposite effects, as it decreases E-cadherin level and worsens EMT, accompanied by increased levels of KDM6A. Besides, Mir199b-knockout mice without mmu-miR-119b-3p expression exhibit more renal tubule dysfunction and more serious kidney tissue damage upon treatment with STZ. These results demonstrate that hsa-miR-199b-3p improves E-cadherin expression and prevents the progression of DN through targeting KDM6A. miR-199b-3p could be a future biomarker or target for the diagnosis or treatment of DN.

Regulatory T Cells in GVHD Therapy

Graft versus host disease (GVHD) is a common complication and the leading cause of morbidity and mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Pharmacological immunosuppression used in GVHD prophylaxis and treatment lacks specificity and can increase the likelihood of infection and relapse. Regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs) play a vital role in restraining excessive immune responses and inducing peripheral immune tolerance. In particular, clinical trials have demonstrated that Tregs can prevent and treat GVHD, without increasing the risk of relapse and infection. Hence, adoptive transfer of Tregs to control GVHD using their immunosuppressive properties represents a promising therapeutic approach. To optimally apply Tregs for control of GVHD, a thorough understanding of their biology is necessary. In this review, we describe the biological characteristics of Tregs, including how the stability of FOXP3 expression can be maintained. We will also discuss the mechanisms underlying Tregs-mediated modulation of GVHD and approaches to effectively increase Tregs’ numbers. Finally, we will examine the developing trends in the use of Tregs for clinical therapy.

The expression profile of platelet-derived miRNA in coronary artery disease patients with clopidogrel resistance

Clopidogrel is widely used for antiplatelet therapy in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), but clopidogrel resistance (CR) is relatively common in these patients. The goal of our study was to explore the platelet-derived miRNA expression profile of CR in CAD patients. In this study, 66 CAD patients treated with dual antiplatelet therapy (clopidogrel 75 mg once daily plus aspirin 100 mg once daily) were included. According to inhibition of platelet aggregation (IPA), we divided these patients into CR group (IPA <30%) and control group (IPA ≥30%). The concentrations of clopidogrel and clopidogrel active metabolites in plasma were obtained using UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS method. The platelet-derived miRNA expression profiles of these subjects were detected by high-throughput sequencing and qRT-PCR. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were used for function prediction of differentially expressed miRNAs. Our results suggested no significant difference of clopidogrel and active metabolic derivative concentrations between CR group and control group. Correlation analysis showed no significant association between clopidogrel concentration and IPA; active metabolic derivative and IPA. In addition, 67 platelet-derived miRNAs were differentially expressed between three CR and three control patients. After adjusting, eight miRNAs might be related to CR in CAD. In our validation cohort (30 CR patients and 30 control group), miRNA-142-3p and miRNA-24-3p expression levels were significantly upregulated, and miRNA-411-3p expression was significantly downregulated in the CR group. In conclusion, the miRNA-142-3p, miRNA-24-3p, and miRNA-411-3p might be potential markers for CR in CAD patients.

Inhibition of Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3β Increases the Proportion and Suppressive Function of CD19+CD24hiCD27+ Breg Cells

CD19⁺CD24^hiCD27⁺ memory Breg cells exhibit decreased abundance in patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) after liver transplantation and produce less IL-10 than those from patients without cGVHD and healthy donors. Due to the lack of Breg cells and the difficulty in expanding them in vitro, in mouse models and early human clinical trials, the adoptive transfer of Breg cells to autoimmune diseases is greatly restricted. Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) is a multifunctional serine/threonine (ser/thr) protein kinase that can participate in B cell growth, metabolic activity, and proliferation. Phosphoprotein array analysis showed that p-GSK-3β-s9 was highly expressed in mBreg cells. Furthermore, here, we demonstrated that GSK-3β expression in mBreg cells is lower than that observed in B cells by flow cytometry. We found that the treatment of B cells with the specific GSK-3β inhibitor SB216763 can significantly increase the proportion and immunosuppressive function of mBreg cells in vitro. Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) is one of a pivotal regulator of gene expression in adaptive immune system. Here, we observed that inhibition of GSK-3β by SB216763 results in enhanced expression of NFATc1 in B cells, which is essential in regulating the ability of B cells to secrete IL-10. By constructing a xGVHD mouse model, we observed that SB216763-treated mBreg cells effectively prevent xenogeneic GVHD. Here we propose a novel strategy using SB216763 to inhibit GSK-3β and then enhance the proportion and immunosuppressive function of mBreg cells by increasing the expression of NFATc1. This approach may be used as a therapy to ameliorate GVHD and inflammatory diseases.

Molecular mechanism for impaired suppressive function of Tregs in autoimmune diseases: A summary of cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic factors

Regulatory T (Treg) cells are responsible for maintaining immune homeostasis and preventing autoimmunity. In immune homeostasis condition, Tregs exert their suppressive function through inhibiting the proliferation of effector T cells. In response to environmental signals, Tregs display phenotypic heterogeneity and altered stability, which endows their suppressive function in a context-dependent manner. Compelling evidence indicates deficiency of Treg suppressive function is related to the immunopathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases. Consequently, it is vital to further our understanding of the molecular mechanism accounting for the regulation of Treg suppressive functions. In this review, we outline the current knowledge that highlights how cell-intrinsic factors, such as inflammatory cytokines, transcription factors, signalling pathways, post-translational modification (PTM), miRNAs, protein and protein complex, and cell-extrinsic factors orchestrate the suppressive function of Tregs. Improved understanding of the molecular mechanism related to the suppressive functional property of Tregs should provide new insights into autoimmunity and disease pathogenesis, which offers opportunity for identifying new therapeutic targets for Treg-related autoimmune diseases and cancers.

Study of the Female Sex Survival Advantage in Melanoma-A Focus on X-Linked Epigenetic Regulators and Immune Responses in Two Cohorts

BACKGROUND

Survival from melanoma is strongly related to patient sex, with females having a survival rate almost twice that of males. Many explanations have been proposed but have not withstood critical scrutiny. Prior analysis of different cancers with a sex bias has identified six X-linked genes that escape X chromosome inactivation in females and are, therefore, potentially involved in sex differences in survival. Four of the genes are well-known epigenetic regulators that are known to influence the expression of hundreds of other genes and signaling pathways in cancer.

METHODS

Survival and interaction analysis were performed on the skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) cohort in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), comparing high vs. low expression of KDM6A, ATRX, KDM5C, and DDX3X. The Leeds melanoma cohort (LMC) on 678 patients with primary melanoma was used as a validation cohort.

RESULTS

Analysis of TCGA data revealed that two of these genes-KDM6A and ATRX-were associated with improved survival from melanoma. Tumoral KDM6A was expressed at higher levels in females and was associated with inferred lymphoid infiltration into melanoma. Gene set analysis of high KDM6A showed strong associations with immune responses and downregulation of genes associated with Myc and other oncogenic pathways. The LMC analysis confirmed the prognostic significance of KDM6A and its interaction with EZH2 but also revealed the expression of KDM5C and DDX3X to be prognostically significant. The analysis also confirmed a partial correlation of KDM6A with immune tumor infiltrates.

CONCLUSION

When considered together, the results from these two series are consistent with the involvement of X-linked epigenetic regulators in the improved survival of females from melanoma. The identification of gene signatures associated with their expression presents insights into the development of new treatment initiatives but provides a basis for exploration in future studies.

microRNAs: key modulators of disease-modifying therapies in multiple sclerosis

There is a high level of heterogeneity in symptom manifestations and response to disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in multiple sclerosis (MS), an immune-based neurodegenerative disease with ever-increasing prevalence in recent decades. Because of unknown aspects of the etiopathology of MS and mechanism of action of DMTs, the reason for this variability is undetermined, and much remains to be understood. Traditionally, physicians consider switching to other DMTs based on the exacerbation of symptoms and/or change in the results of magnetic resonance imaging and biochemical factors. Therefore, identifying biological treatment response markers that help us recognizing non-responders rapidly and subsequently choosing another DMTs is necessary. microRNAs (miRNAs) are micromanagers of gene expression which have been profiled in different samples of MS patients, highlighting their role in pathogenetic of MS. Recent studies have investigated expression profiling of miRNAs after treatment with DMTs to clarify possible DMTs-mediated mechanism and obtaining response to therapy biomarkers. In this review, we will discuss the modulation of miRNAs by DMTs in cells and pathways involved in MS.

microRNAs involved in T-cell development, selection, activation, and hemostasis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) characterized by small, noncoding RNAs have a fundamental role in the regulation of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Additionally, miRNAs have recently been identified as potential regulators of various genes involved in the pathogenesis of the autoimmune and inflammatory disease. So far, the interaction between miRNAs and T lymphocytes in the immune response as a new and significant topic has not been emphasized substantially. The role of miRNAs in different biological processes including apoptosis, immune checkpoints and the activation of immune cells is still unclear. Aberrant miRNA expression profile affects various aspects of T-cell function. Accordingly, in this literature review, we summarized the role of significant miRNAs in T-cell development processes. Consequently, we demonstrated precise mechanisms that candidate miRNAs interfere in Immune response mediated by different types of T cells. We believe that a good understanding of the interaction between miRNAs and immune response contributes to the new therapeutic strategies in relation to disease with an immunological origin.

Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Value of Non-Coding RNA Expression Profiles in Renal Transplantation

End-stage renal disease is a public health problem responsible for millions of deaths worldwide each year. Although transplantation is the preferred treatment for patients in need of renal replacement therapy, long-term allograft survival remains challenging. Advances in high-throughput methods for large-scale molecular data generation and computational analysis are promising to overcome the current limitations posed by conventional diagnostic and disease classifications post-transplantation. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are RNA molecules that, despite lacking protein-coding potential, are essential in the regulation of epigenetic, transcriptional, and post-translational mechanisms involved in both health and disease. A large body of evidence suggests that ncRNAs can act as biomarkers of renal injury and graft loss after transplantation. Hence, the focus of this review is to discuss the existing molecular signatures of non-coding transcripts and their value to improve diagnosis, predict the risk of rejection, and guide therapeutic choices post-transplantation.

miR-142-3p Regulates Milk Synthesis and Structure of Murine Mammary Glands via PRLR-Mediated Multiple Signaling Pathways

Murine mammary gland is an ideal model for studying the development and milk synthesis in dairy animals. MicroRNAs play an important role in milk synthesis and mammary gland development; however, the molecular mechanism of miR-142-3p continues to be poorly understood. Here, we knocked down miR-142-3p expression in vitro and vivo, increased the prolactin receptor expression and activated many downstream cellular proteins, such as mammalian target of rapamycin, sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor 1, cyclin D1, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 5. Additionally, miR-142-3p knockdown in mouse mammary gland epithelial cells increased proliferation but not viability, induced cell cycle progression, decreased apoptosis, and increased the expression of triglycerides and β-casein. Moreover, miR-142-3p knockdown in murine mammary gland tissue in vivo affected the structure and function of the mammary gland, which showed an increased number of lobules and ducts and was more capable of producing milk. However, overexpression of miR-142-3p had the opposite effects. In summary, these data reveal that miR-142-3p regulates milk synthesis and the structure of murine mammary glands via PRLR-mediated multiple signaling pathways.