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Zwick D, Vo MT, Shim YJ, Reijonen H, Do JS. BACH2: The Future of Induced T-Regulatory Cell Therapies. Cells 2024; 13:891. [PMID: 38891024 PMCID: PMC11172166 DOI: 10.3390/cells13110891] [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: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACH2 (BTB Domain and CNC Homolog 2) is a transcription factor that serves as a central regulator of immune cell differentiation and function, particularly in T and B lymphocytes. A picture is emerging that BACH2 may function as a master regulator of cell fate that is exquisitely sensitive to cell activation status. In particular, BACH2 plays a key role in stabilizing the phenotype and suppressive function of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)-derived human forkhead box protein P3 (FOXP3)+ inducible regulatory T cells (iTregs), a cell type that holds great clinical potential as a cell therapeutic for diverse inflammatory conditions. As such, BACH2 potentially could be targeted to overcome the instability of the iTreg phenotype and suppressive function that has hampered their clinical application. In this review, we focus on the role of BACH2 in T cell fate and iTreg function and stability. We suggest approaches to modulate BACH2 function that may lead to more stable and efficacious Treg cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Zwick
- Frederick National Laboratory, Frederick, MD 21701, USA
| | - Mai Tram Vo
- School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Young Jun Shim
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA;
| | - Helena Reijonen
- Department of Immunology and Theranostics, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA;
| | - Jeong-su Do
- Department of Immunology and Theranostics, City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA;
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Calabretta MM, Michelini E. Current advances in the use of bioluminescence assays for drug discovery: an update of the last ten years. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2024; 19:85-95. [PMID: 37814480 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2023.2266989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Bioluminescence is a well-established optical detection technique widely used in several bioanalytical applications, including high-throughput and high-content screenings. Thanks to advances in synthetic biology techniques and deep learning, a wide portfolio of luciferases is now available with tuned emission wavelengths, kinetics, and high stability. These luciferases can be implemented in the drug discovery and development pipeline, allowing high sensitivity and multiplexing capability. AREAS COVERED This review summarizes the latest advancements of bioluminescent systems as toolsets in drug discovery programs for in vitro applications. Particular attention is paid to the most advanced bioluminescence-based technologies for drug screening over the past 10 years (from 2013 to 2023) such as cell-free assays, cell-based assays based on genetically modified cells, bioluminescence resonance energy transfer, and protein complementation assays in 2D and 3D cell models. EXPERT OPINION The availability of tuned bioluminescent proteins with improved emission and stability properties is vital for the development of bioluminescence assays for drug discovery, spanning from reporter gene technology to protein-protein techniques. Further studies, combining machine learning with synthetic biology, will be necessary to obtain new tools for sustainable and highly predictive bioluminescent drug discovery platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Maddalena Calabretta
- Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Center for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), IRCCS St. Orsola Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elisa Michelini
- Department of Chemistry "Giacomo Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Center for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), IRCCS St. Orsola Hospital, Bologna, Italy
- Health Sciences and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HSTICIR), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Inaba A, Tuong ZK, Zhao TX, Stewart AP, Mathews R, Truman L, Sriranjan R, Kennet J, Saeb-Parsy K, Wicker L, Waldron-Lynch F, Cheriyan J, Todd JA, Mallat Z, Clatworthy MR. Low-dose IL-2 enhances the generation of IL-10-producing immunoregulatory B cells. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2071. [PMID: 37045832 PMCID: PMC10097719 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37424-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysfunction of interleukin-10 producing regulatory B cells has been associated with the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, but whether regulatory B cells can be therapeutically induced in humans is currently unknown. Here we demonstrate that a subset of activated B cells expresses CD25, and the addition of low-dose recombinant IL-2 to in vitro stimulated peripheral blood and splenic human B cells augments IL-10 secretion. Administration of low dose IL-2, aldesleukin, to patients increases IL-10-producing B cells. Single-cell RNA sequencing of circulating immune cells isolated from low dose IL2-treated patients reveals an increase in plasmablast and plasma cell populations that are enriched for a regulatory B cell gene signature. The transcriptional repressor BACH2 is significantly down-regulated in plasma cells from IL-2-treated patients, BACH2 binds to the IL-10 gene promoter, and Bach2 depletion or genetic deficiency increases B cell IL-10, implicating BACH2 suppression as an important mechanism by which IL-2 may promote an immunoregulatory phenotype in B cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akimichi Inaba
- Molecular Immunity Unit, University of Cambridge Department of Medicine, Cambridge, UK
| | - Zewen Kelvin Tuong
- Molecular Immunity Unit, University of Cambridge Department of Medicine, Cambridge, UK
- Cellular Genetics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Tian X Zhao
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Andrew P Stewart
- Molecular Immunity Unit, University of Cambridge Department of Medicine, Cambridge, UK
| | - Rebeccah Mathews
- Molecular Immunity Unit, University of Cambridge Department of Medicine, Cambridge, UK
| | - Lucy Truman
- Ear, Nose Throat Department, West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds, UK
| | - Rouchelle Sriranjan
- Division of Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapeutics, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jane Kennet
- Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science-Metabolic Research Laboratories and Medical Research Council Metabolic Diseases Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kourosh Saeb-Parsy
- Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Linda Wicker
- Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Frank Waldron-Lynch
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Autoimmunity Transplantation Inflammation, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Joseph Cheriyan
- Division of Experimental Medicine and Immunotherapeutics, Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - John A Todd
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ziad Mallat
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Universite de Paris and INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Menna R Clatworthy
- Molecular Immunity Unit, University of Cambridge Department of Medicine, Cambridge, UK.
- Cellular Genetics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK.
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