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Vaxevanis C, Bachmann M, Seliger B. Immune modulatory microRNAs in tumors, their clinical relevance in diagnosis and therapy. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e009774. [PMID: 39209767 PMCID: PMC11367391 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2024-009774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The importance of the immune system in regulating tumor growth by inducing immune cell-mediated cytotoxicity associated with patients' outcomes has been highlighted in the past years by an increasing life expectancy in patients with cancer on treatment with different immunotherapeutics. However, tumors often escape immune surveillance, which is accomplished by different mechanisms. Recent studies demonstrated an essential role of small non-coding RNAs, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), in the post-transcriptional control of immune modulatory molecules. Multiple methods have been used to identify miRNAs targeting genes involved in escaping immune recognition including miRNAs targeting CTLA-4, PD-L1, HLA-G, components of the major histocompatibility class I antigen processing machinery (APM) as well as other immune response-relevant genes in tumors. Due to their function, these immune modulatory miRNAs can be used as (1) diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers allowing to discriminate between tumor stages and to predict the patients' outcome as well as response and resistance to (immuno) therapies and as (2) therapeutic targets for the treatment of tumor patients. This review summarizes the role of miRNAs in tumor-mediated immune escape, discuss their potential as diagnostic, prognostic and predictive tools as well as their use as therapeutics including alternative application methods, such as chimeric antigen receptor T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoforos Vaxevanis
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Michael Bachmann
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany
| | - Barbara Seliger
- Institute for Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
- Institute for Translational Immunology, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Brandenburg, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Translational Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences Brandenburg, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Brandenburg, Germany
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2
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Singh S, Deshetty UM, Ray S, Oladapo A, Horanieh E, Buch S, Periyasamy P. Non-Coding RNAs in HIV Infection, NeuroHIV, and Related Comorbidities. Cells 2024; 13:898. [PMID: 38891030 PMCID: PMC11171711 DOI: 10.3390/cells13110898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
NeuroHIV affects approximately 30-60% of people living with HIV-1 (PLWH) and is characterized by varying degrees of cognitive impairments, presenting a multifaceted challenge, the underlying cause of which is chronic, low-level neuroinflammation. Such smoldering neuroinflammation is likely an outcome of lifelong reliance on antiretrovirals coupled with residual virus replication in the brains of PLWH. Despite advancements in antiretroviral therapeutics, our understanding of the molecular mechanism(s) driving inflammatory processes in the brain remains limited. Recent times have seen the emergence of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) as critical regulators of gene expression, underlying the neuroinflammatory processes in HIV infection, NeuroHIV, and their associated comorbidities. This review explores the role of various classes of ncRNAs and their regulatory functions implicated in HIV infection, neuropathogenesis, and related conditions. The dysregulated expression of ncRNAs is known to exacerbate the neuroinflammatory responses, thus contributing to neurocognitive impairments in PLWH. This review also discusses the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of ncRNAs in HIV infection and its comorbidities, suggesting their utility as non-invasive biomarkers and targets for modulating neuroinflammatory pathways. Understanding these regulatory roles could pave the way for novel diagnostic strategies and therapeutic interventions in the context of HIV and its comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Shilpa Buch
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5880, USA; (S.S.); (U.M.D.); (S.R.); (A.O.); (E.H.)
| | - Palsamy Periyasamy
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5880, USA; (S.S.); (U.M.D.); (S.R.); (A.O.); (E.H.)
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3
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Schaible P, Bethge W, Lengerke C, Haraszti RA. RNA Therapeutics for Improving CAR T-cell Safety and Efficacy. Cancer Res 2023; 83:354-362. [PMID: 36512627 PMCID: PMC7614194 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-22-2155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have recently emerged as potent tools in the fight against cancer, with promising therapeutic efficacy against hematological malignancies. However, several limitations hamper their widespread clinical use, including availability of target antigen, severe toxic effects, primary and secondary resistance, heterogeneous quality of autologous T cells, variable persistence, and low activity against solid tumors. Development of allogeneic off-the-shelf CAR T cells could help address some of these limitations but is impeded by alloimmunity with either rejection and limited expansion of allo-CAR T cells or CAR T cells versus host reactions. RNA therapeutics, such as small interfering RNAs, microRNAs, and antisense oligonucleotides, are able to silence transcripts in a sequence-specific and proliferation-sensitive way, which may offer a way to overcome some of the challenges facing CAR T-cell development and clinical utility. Here, we review how different RNA therapeutics or a combination of RNA therapeutics and genetic engineering could be harnessed to improve the safety and efficacy of autologous and allogeneic CAR T-cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Schaible
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Hematology, Oncology, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Bethge
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Hematology, Oncology, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Claudia Lengerke
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Hematology, Oncology, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Reka Agnes Haraszti
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Hematology, Oncology, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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4
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Li K, Wang Z. Non-coding RNAs: Key players in T cell exhaustion. Front Immunol 2022; 13:959729. [PMID: 36268018 PMCID: PMC9577297 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.959729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell exhaustion caused by continuous antigen stimulation in chronic viral infections and the tumor microenvironment is a major barrier to successful elimination of viruses and tumor cells. Although immune checkpoint inhibitors should reverse T cell exhaustion, shortcomings, such as off-target effects and single targets, limit their application. Therefore, it is important to identify molecular targets in effector T cells that simultaneously regulate the expression of multiple immune checkpoints. Over the past few years, non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs, have been shown to participate in the immune response against viral infections and tumors. In this review, we focus on the roles and underlying mechanisms of microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs in the regulation of T cell exhaustion during chronic viral infections and tumorigenesis. We hope that this review will stimulate research to provide more precise and effective immunotherapies against viral infections and tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
| | - Ziqiang Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
- Biomedical Sciences College & Shandong Medicinal Biotechnology Centre, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
- *Correspondence: Ziqiang Wang,
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5
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Tang WW, Bauer KM, Barba C, Ekiz HA, O’Connell RM. miR-aculous new avenues for cancer immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:929677. [PMID: 36248881 PMCID: PMC9554277 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.929677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The rising toll of cancer globally necessitates ingenuity in early detection and therapy. In the last decade, the utilization of immune signatures and immune-based therapies has made significant progress in the clinic; however, clinical standards leave many current and future patients without options. Non-coding RNAs, specifically microRNAs, have been explored in pre-clinical contexts with tremendous success. MicroRNAs play indispensable roles in programming the interactions between immune and cancer cells, many of which are current or potential immunotherapy targets. MicroRNAs mechanistically control a network of target genes that can alter immune and cancer cell biology. These insights provide us with opportunities and tools that may complement and improve immunotherapies. In this review, we discuss immune and cancer cell-derived miRNAs that regulate cancer immunity and examine miRNAs as an integral part of cancer diagnosis, classification, and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- William W. Tang
- Divison of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Hunstman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Kaylyn M. Bauer
- Divison of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Hunstman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Cindy Barba
- Divison of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Hunstman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Huseyin Atakan Ekiz
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Izmir Institute of Technology, İzmir, Turkey
| | - Ryan M. O’Connell
- Divison of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Hunstman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
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6
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Bazié WW, Boucher J, Goyer B, Traoré IT, Kania D, Somé DY, Alary M, Gilbert C. Plasma vesicular miR-155 as a biomarker of immune activation in antiretroviral treated people living with HIV. Front Immunol 2022; 13:916599. [PMID: 36105810 PMCID: PMC9464867 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.916599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
People living with HIV (PLWH), despite suppression of viral replication with antiretroviral therapy (ART), have high morbidity and mortality due to immune activation and chronic inflammation. Discovering new biomarkers of immune activation status under ART will be pertinent to improve PLWH quality of life when the majority will be treated. We stipulate that plasma large and small extracellular vesicle (EVs) and their microRNA content could be easily measured biomarkers to monitor immune activation in PLWH. Venous blood samples from n = 128 ART-treated PLWH with suppressed viral load (≤ 20 copies/mL) and n = 60 HIV-uninfected participants were collected at five testing or treatment centers of PLWH in Burkina Faso. Large and small plasma EVs were purified, counted, and the mature miRNAs miR-29a, miR-146a, and miR-155 were quantified by RT-qPCR. Diagnostic performances of large and small EVs miRNAs level were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and principal component analysis (PCA). Among the EVs microRNA measured, only large EVs miR-155 copies distinguished PLWH with immune activation, with AUC of 0.75 for CD4/CD8 < 1 (95% CI: 0.58–0.91, P = 0.0212), and 0.77 for CD8 T cells ≥ 500/µL (95% CI: 0.63–0.92, P = 0.0096). In addition, PCA results suggest that large EVs miR-155 copies may be a biomarker of immune activation. Since miR-155 may influence immune cell function, its enrichment in large EV subpopulations could be a functional biomarker of immune activation in PLWH on ART. This measure could help to monitor and diagnose the immune activation with more accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilfried Wenceslas Bazié
- Axe de Recherche Maladies Infectieuses et Immunitaires, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Programme de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses, Centre Muraz, Institut National de Santé Publique, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
- *Correspondence: Caroline Gilbert, ; Wilfried Wenceslas Bazié,
| | - Julien Boucher
- Axe de Recherche Maladies Infectieuses et Immunitaires, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Benjamin Goyer
- Axe de Recherche Maladies Infectieuses et Immunitaires, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Isidore Tiandiogo Traoré
- Programme de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses, Centre Muraz, Institut National de Santé Publique, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
- Institut Supérieur des Sciences de la Santé, Université Nazi Boni, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | - Dramane Kania
- Programme de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses, Centre Muraz, Institut National de Santé Publique, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | - Diane Yirgnur Somé
- Programme de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses, Centre Muraz, Institut National de Santé Publique, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
| | - Michel Alary
- Axe de Recherche Santé des Populations et Pratiques Optimales en Santé, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Département de Médecine Sociale et Préventive, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Caroline Gilbert
- Axe de Recherche Maladies Infectieuses et Immunitaires, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Département de Microbiologie-Infectiologie et d’Immunologie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Caroline Gilbert, ; Wilfried Wenceslas Bazié,
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7
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Ghafouri-Fard S, Mahmud Hussen B, Abak A, Taheri M, Abdulmajid Ayatollahi S. Emerging role of non-coding RNAs in the course of HIV infection. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 103:108460. [PMID: 34942460 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.108460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that non-coding region of the human genome can exert important regulatory roles on critical biological functions, including response to viral infections, among them is human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV/AIDS is characterized by a gradual diminution of CD4 + T cells resulting in progressive deterioration of host immune responses and eventually high vulnerability to opportunistic infections and cancer. T cells functions have been shown to be delicately regulated by an active functional network of non-coding RNAs. Several lncRNAs such as MALAT1, NEAT1, GAS5, LOC102549805, NKILA, BACE1-AS, LINC00313, RP11-539L10.2, PVT1, LINC00173, NRON and AK130181 have been found to affect response of immune system to HIV or its pathological consequences. Moreover, numerous miRNAs such as hsa-miR-191-5p, miR-155, miR-103, miR-107, miR-150, miR-144, miR-125b, miR-146a, miR-146b-5p and miR-15a are involved in this process. In the current manuscript, we explain the role of lncRNAs and miRNAs in the regulation of response to HIV infection, apoptosis and activity of T cells, reactivation or latency of this virus and even pathological manifestations such as Tat-mediated induction of astrocytic amyloidosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bashdar Mahmud Hussen
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Atefe Abak
- Men's Health and Reproductive Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Taheri
- Skull Base Research Center, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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8
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Liu F, Dong Z, Lin Y, Yang H, Wang P, Zhang Y. MicroRNA‑502‑3p promotes Mycobacterium tuberculosis survival in macrophages by modulating the inflammatory response by targeting ROCK1. Mol Med Rep 2021; 24:753. [PMID: 34476503 PMCID: PMC8436224 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2021.12393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) infection and has the highest mortality rate of any single infectious disease worldwide. The aim of the present study was to investigate the function of microRNA (miR)-502-3p in M. tuberculosis-infected macrophages. The Gene Expression Omnibus database was used to analyze miR-502-3p expression in patients with TB and healthy individuals. THP-1 and RAW 264.7 cells were transfected with miR-502-3p mimic, miR-502-3p inhibitor, pcDNA3.1-ROCK1 or their negative controls. The expression levels of miR-502-3p and inflammatory cytokines were evaluated using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. The colony-forming unit assay was performed to assess the survival of M. tuberculosis in macrophages, and Toll-like receptor (TLR)4/NF-κB signaling pathway-associated protein expression levels were detected by western blotting. The nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 was detected via immunocytochemistry. TargetScan was used to predict the binding sites between miR-502-3p and ROCK1. The interaction between miR-502-3p and Rho-associated coiled-coil-forming protein kinase 1 (ROCK1) was confirmed using a dual-luciferase reporter assay; ROCK1 was demonstrated to be a direct target gene of miR-502-3p. Results from the present study demonstrated that miR-502-3p expression was significantly increased during M. tuberculosis infection in macrophages. Upregulation of miR-502-3p expression levels significantly enhanced the survival of intracellular M. tuberculosis. IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β mRNA expression levels were significantly upregulated during M. tuberculosis infection but were downregulated by miR-502-3p overexpression. Moreover, miR-502-3p mimics transfection significantly downregulated TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway-associated protein expression and significantly reduced nuclear transcription of NF-κB in M. tuberculosis-infected macrophages. ROCK1 overexpression reversed the miR-502-3p inhibitory effect on cytokine production in M. tuberculosis-infected macrophages. In conclusion, miR-502-3p/ROCK1 may serve an anti-inflammatory role and may improve the survival of M. tuberculosis within macrophages, which may provide a promising therapeutic target for TB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Liu
- Respiratory Endoscopy Room, Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi, Shandong 276034, P.R. China
| | - Zhen Dong
- East Medical District Office, Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi, Shandong 276034, P.R. China
| | - Yuefu Lin
- Department of Prevention, Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi, Shandong 276034, P.R. China
| | - Haibo Yang
- Department of Occupational Diseases, Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi, Shandong 276034, P.R. China
| | - Pingping Wang
- Rehabilitation Department, Shandong Coal Linyi Hot Spring Sanatorium, Linyi, Shandong 276034, P.R. China
| | - Yongxia Zhang
- Emergency Department, Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi, Shandong 276034, P.R. China
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Akbari B, Ghahri-Saremi N, Soltantoyeh T, Hadjati J, Ghassemi S, Mirzaei HR. Epigenetic strategies to boost CAR T cell therapy. Mol Ther 2021; 29:2640-2659. [PMID: 34365035 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has led to a paradigm shift in cancer immunotherapy, but still several obstacles limit CAR T cell efficacy in cancers. Advances in high-throughput technologies revealed new insights into the role that epigenetic reprogramming plays in T cells. Mechanistic studies as well as comprehensive epigenome maps revealed an important role for epigenetic remodeling in T cell differentiation. These modifications shape the overall immune response through alterations in T cell phenotype and function. Here, we outline how epigenetic modifications in CAR T cells can overcome barriers limiting CAR T cell effectiveness, particularly in immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments. We also offer our perspective on how selected epigenetic modifications can boost CAR T cells to ultimately improve the efficacy of CAR T cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behnia Akbari
- Department of Medical Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417613151, Iran
| | - Navid Ghahri-Saremi
- Department of Medical Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417613151, Iran
| | - Tahereh Soltantoyeh
- Department of Medical Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417613151, Iran
| | - Jamshid Hadjati
- Department of Medical Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417613151, Iran
| | - Saba Ghassemi
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Hamid Reza Mirzaei
- Department of Medical Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417613151, Iran.
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Saulle I, Garziano M, Fenizia C, Cappelletti G, Parisi F, Clerici M, Cetin I, Savasi V, Biasin M. MiRNA Profiling in Plasma and Placenta of SARS-CoV-2-Infected Pregnant Women. Cells 2021; 10:1788. [PMID: 34359957 PMCID: PMC8305278 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs are gene expression regulators associated with several human pathologies, including those generated by viral infections. Their role in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 has been investigated and reviewed in many informative studies; however, a thorough miRNA outline in SARS-CoV-2-infected pregnant women (SIPW), at both systemic and placental levels, is missing. To fill this gap, blood and placenta biopsies collected at delivery from 15 asymptomatic SIPW were immediately analysed for: miRNA expression (n = 84) (QPCR array), antiviral/immune mRNA target expression (n = 74) (QGene) and cytokine/chemokines production (n = 27) (Multiplex ELISA). By comparing these results with those obtained from six uninfected pregnant women (UPW), we observed that, following SARS-CoV-2 infection, the transcriptomic profile of pregnant women is significantly altered in different anatomical districts, even in the absence of clinical symptoms and vertical transmission. This characteristic combination of miRNA and antiviral/immune factors seems to control both the infection and the dysfunctional immune reaction, thus representing a positive correlate of protection and a potential therapeutic target against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irma Saulle
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, 20157 Milan, Italy; (I.S.); (M.G.); (C.F.); (G.C.); (I.C.); (V.S.)
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy;
| | - Micaela Garziano
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, 20157 Milan, Italy; (I.S.); (M.G.); (C.F.); (G.C.); (I.C.); (V.S.)
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy;
| | - Claudio Fenizia
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, 20157 Milan, Italy; (I.S.); (M.G.); (C.F.); (G.C.); (I.C.); (V.S.)
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy;
| | - Gioia Cappelletti
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, 20157 Milan, Italy; (I.S.); (M.G.); (C.F.); (G.C.); (I.C.); (V.S.)
| | - Francesca Parisi
- Unit of Obstetrics and Gynecology, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Department of Biological and Clinical Sciences L. Sacco, University of Milan, 20157 Milan, Italy; (F.P.)
| | - Mario Clerici
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy;
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 20148 Milan, Italy
| | - Irene Cetin
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, 20157 Milan, Italy; (I.S.); (M.G.); (C.F.); (G.C.); (I.C.); (V.S.)
- Department of Woman, Mother and Neonate Buzzi Children’s Hospital, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, 20157 Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria Savasi
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, 20157 Milan, Italy; (I.S.); (M.G.); (C.F.); (G.C.); (I.C.); (V.S.)
- Unit of Obstetrics and Gynecology, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Department of Biological and Clinical Sciences L. Sacco, University of Milan, 20157 Milan, Italy; (F.P.)
| | - Mara Biasin
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, 20157 Milan, Italy; (I.S.); (M.G.); (C.F.); (G.C.); (I.C.); (V.S.)
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11
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Nguyen LNT, Nguyen LN, Zhao J, Schank M, Dang X, Cao D, Khanal S, Chand Thakuri BK, Lu Z, Zhang J, Li Z, Morrison ZD, Wu XY, El Gazzar M, Ning S, Wang L, Moorman JP, Yao ZQ. Long Non-coding RNA GAS5 Regulates T Cell Functions via miR21-Mediated Signaling in People Living With HIV. Front Immunol 2021; 12:601298. [PMID: 33776993 PMCID: PMC7994762 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.601298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
T cells are critical for the control of viral infections and T cell responses are regulated by a dynamic network of non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs (miR) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA). Here we show that an activation-induced decline of lncRNA growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (GAS5) activates DNA damage response (DDR), and regulates cellular functions and apoptosis in CD4 T cells derived from people living with HIV (PLHIV) via upregulation of miR-21. Notably, GAS5-miR21-mediated DDR and T cell dysfunction are observed in PLHIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART), who often exhibit immune activation due to low-grade inflammation despite robust virologic control. We found that GAS5 negatively regulates miR-21 expression, which in turn controls critical signaling pathways involved in DNA damage and cellular response. The sustained stimulation of T cells decreased GAS5, increased miR-21 and, as a result, caused dysfunction and apoptosis in CD4 T cells. Importantly, this inflammation-driven T cell over-activation and aberrant apoptosis in ART-controlled PLHIV and healthy subjects (HS) could be reversed by antagonizing the GAS5-miR-21 axis. Also, mutation of the miR-21 binding site on exon 4 of GAS5 gene to generate a GAS5 mutant abolished its ability to regulate miR-21 expression as well as T cell activation and apoptosis markers compared to the wild-type GAS5 transcript. Our data suggest that GAS5 regulates TCR-mediated activation and apoptosis in CD4 T cells during HIV infection through miR-21-mediated signaling. However, GAS5 effects on T cell exhaustion during HIV infection may be mediated by a mechanism beyond the GAS5-miR-21-mediated signaling. These results indicate that targeting the GAS5-miR-21 axis may improve activity and longevity of CD4 T cells in ART-treated PLHIV. This approach may also be useful for targeting other infectious or inflammatory diseases associated with T cell over-activation, exhaustion, and premature immune aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lam Ngoc Thao Nguyen
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States
- Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Lam Nhat Nguyen
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States
- Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Juan Zhao
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States
- Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Madison Schank
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States
- Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Xindi Dang
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States
- Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Dechao Cao
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States
- Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Sushant Khanal
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States
- Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Bal Krishna Chand Thakuri
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States
- Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Zeyuan Lu
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States
- Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Jinyu Zhang
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States
- Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Zhengke Li
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States
- Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Zheng D. Morrison
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States
- Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Xiao Y. Wu
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States
- Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Mohamed El Gazzar
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States
- Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Shunbin Ning
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States
- Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Ling Wang
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States
- Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Jonathan P. Moorman
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States
- Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
- Hepatitis C Virus/Hepatitis B Virus/Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HCV/HBV/HIV) Program, Department of Veterans Affairs, James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, Johnson City, TN, United States
| | - Zhi Q. Yao
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States
- Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University (ETSU), Johnson City, TN, United States
- Hepatitis C Virus/Hepatitis B Virus/Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HCV/HBV/HIV) Program, Department of Veterans Affairs, James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, Johnson City, TN, United States
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12
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Mohammadzadeh I, Qujeq D, Yousefi T, Ferns GA, Maniati M, Vaghari-Tabari M. CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing: A new therapeutic approach in the treatment of infection and autoimmunity. IUBMB Life 2020; 72:1603-1621. [PMID: 32344465 DOI: 10.1002/iub.2296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein9) may be viewed as an adaptive bacterial immune system. When a virus infects a bacterium, a fragment of the virus genome is inserted into the CRISPR sequence of the bacterial genome as a memory. When the bacterium becomes infected again with the same virus, an RNA molecule that is a transcript of the memory sequence, directs Cas9, an endonuclease, to the complementary region of the virus genome, and Cas9 disables the virus by a double-strand break. In recent years, studies have shown that by designing synthetic RNA molecules and delivering them along with Cas9 into eukaryotic cells, different regions of the cell's genome can be targeted and manipulated. These findings have drawn much attention to this new technology and it has been shown that CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing can be used to treat some human diseases. These include infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases. In this review article, in addition to a brief overview of the biology of the CRISPR/Cas9 system, we collected the most recent findings on the applications of CRISPR/Cas9 technology for better investigation of the pathogenesis and treatment of viral infections (human immunodeficiency virus infection, hepatitis virus infections, and onco-virus infections), non-viral infections (parasitic, fungal, and bacterial infections), and autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iraj Mohammadzadeh
- Non-Communicable Pediatric Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Durdi Qujeq
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center (CMBRC), Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.,Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Tooba Yousefi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Gordon A Ferns
- Department of Medical Education, Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK
| | - Mahmood Maniati
- English Department, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Mostafa Vaghari-Tabari
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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