Immune Regulation and Antitumor Effect of TIM-1

Unraveling O-Glycan Diversity of Mucins: Insights from SmE Mucinase and Ultraviolet Photodissociation Mass Spectrometry

Deciphering the pattern and abundance of O-glycosylation of mucin domain proteins, glycoproteins heavily implicated in cancer and other diseases, remains an ongoing challenge. Both the macro- and microheterogeneity of glycosylation complicates the analysis, motivating the development of new strategies for structural characterization of this diverse class of glycoproteins. Here we combine digestion of mucin domain proteins using a targeted protease, Enhancin from Serratia marcescens (SmE), with ultraviolet photodissociation (UVPD) mass spectrometry to advance glycan mapping and elucidation of O-glycosylation trends of densely glycosylated mucin proteins. UVPD facilitates identification of O-glycoforms of mucin domain proteins TIM-1, MUC-1 and MUC-16. Additionally, UVPD elucidates several glycoforms of MUC-16 and contributes to the discovery of O-glycosylation across tandem repeats of MUC-1.

TIM proteins and microRNAs: distinct impact and promising interactions on transplantation immunity

Achieving sustained activity and tolerance in of allogeneic grafts after post-transplantation remains a substantial challenge. The response of the immune system to "non-self" MHC-antigenic peptides initiates a crucial phase, wherein blocking positive co-stimulatory signals becomes imperative to ensure graft survival and tolerance. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) inhibit mRNA translation or promote mRNA degradation by complementary binding of mRNA seed sequences, which ultimately affects protein synthesis. These miRNAs exhibit substantial promise as diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic candidates for within the realm of solid organ transplantations. Current research has highlighted three members of the T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain (TIM) family as a novel therapeutic avenue in transplantation medicine and alloimmunization. The interplay between miRNAs and TIM proteins has been extensively explored in viral infections, inflammatory responses, and post-transplantation ischemia-reperfusion injuries. This review aims to elucidate the distinct roles of miRNAs and TIM in transplantation immunity and delineate their interdependent relationships in terms of targeted regulation. Specifically, this investigation sought seeks to uncover the potential of miRNA interaction with TIM, aiming to induce immune tolerance and bolster allograft survival after transplantation. This innovative strategy holds substantial promise in for the future of transplantation science and practice.

B7-1 and PlGF-1 are two possible new biomarkers to identify fracture-associated trauma patients at higher risk of developing complications: a cohort study

BACKGROUND

Around 10% of fractures lead to complications. With increasing fracture incidences in recent years, this poses a serious burden on the healthcare system, with increasing costs for treatment. In the present study, we aimed to identify potential 'new' blood markers to predict the development of post-surgical complications in trauma patients following a fracture.

METHODS

A total of 292 trauma patients with a complete three-month follow-up were included in this cohort study. Blood samples were obtained from 244 of these patients. Two complication groups were distinguished based on the Clavien-Dindo (CD) classification: CD grade I and CD grade III groups were compared to the controls (CD 0). The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the complication groups to the control group.

RESULTS

Analysis of the patients' data revealed that risk factors are dependent on sex. Both, males and females who developed a CD III complication showed elevated blood levels of B7-1 (p = 0.015 and p = 0.018, respectively) and PlGF-1 (p = 0.009 and p = 0.031, respectively), with B7-1 demonstrating greater sensitivity (B7-1: 0.706 (male) and 0.692 (female), PlGF-1: 0.647 (male) and 0.615 (female)). Further analysis of the questionnaires and medical data revealed the importance of additional risk factors. For males (CD 0: 133; CD I: 12; CD III: 18 patients) alcohol consumption was significantly increased for CD I and CD III compared to control with p = 0.009 and p = 0.007, respectively. For females (CD 0: 107; CD I: 10; CD III: 12 patients) a significantly increased average BMI [kg/m2] from 25.5 to 29.7 with CD III was observed, as well as an elevation from one to three comorbidities (p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

These two potential new blood markers hold promise for predicting complication development in trauma patients. Nevertheless, further studies are necessary to evaluate the diagnostic utility of B7-1 and PlGF-1 in predicting complications in trauma patients and consider sex differences before their possible use as routine clinical screening tools.

Role of TIM-1 in the development and treatment of tumours

T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin structural domain 1 (TIM-1, also known as hepatitis A virus cell receptor 1) is a co-stimulatory molecule that is expressed predominantly on the surface of T cells. TIM-1 promotes the activation and proliferation of T cells, cytokine secretion, and can also be overexpressed in various types of cancer. Upregulation of TIM-1 expression may be associated with the development and progression of cancer. After reviewing the literature, we propose that TIM-1 affects tumour development mainly through two pathways. In the Direct pathway: overexpression in tumours activates tumour-related signaling pathways, mediates the proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and metastasis, and directly affects tumour development directly. In the indirect pathway: In addition to changing the tumour microenvironment and influencing the growth of tumours, TIM-1 binds to ligands to encourage the activation, proliferation, and generation of cytokines by immune cells. This review examines how TIM-1 stimulates the development of tumours in direct and indirect ways, and how TIM-1 is exploited as a target for cancer therapy.

Disposable electrochemical immunoplatform to shed light on the role of the multifunctional glycoprotein TIM-1 in cancer cells invasion

Detecting overexpression of cancer biomarkers is an excellent tool for diagnostic/prognostic and follow-up of patients with cancer or their response to treatment. This work illustrates the relevance of interrogating the levels of T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 1 (TIM-1) protein as a diagnostic/prognostic biomarker of high-prevalence breast and lung cancers by using an amperometric disposable magnetic microparticles-assisted immunoplatform. The developed method integrates the inherent advantages of carboxylic acid-functionalized magnetic beads (HOOC-MBs) as pre-concentrator support and the amperometric transduction at screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs). The immunoplatform involves a sandwich-type immunoassay assembled on HOOC-MBs through the specific capture/labeling of TIM-1 using capture antibodies and horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated biotinylated detection antibodies as biorecognition elements. The magnetic immunoconjugates were confined onto the working electrode (WE) surface of the SPCEs for amperometric detection using the hydroquinone/hydrogen peroxide/HRP (HQ/H2O2/HRP) redox system. The method allows the selective detection of TIM-1 protein over the 87-7500 pg mL-1 concentration range in only 45 min, with a limit of detection of 26 pg mL-1. The developed bioplatform was successfully applied to the analysis of breast and lung cancer cell extracts, providing the first quantitative results of the target glycoprotein in these types of samples.

Glycoproteomic landscape and structural dynamics of TIM family immune checkpoints enabled by mucinase SmE

Mucin-domain glycoproteins are densely O-glycosylated and play critical roles in a host of biological functions. In particular, the T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing family of proteins (TIM-1, -3, -4) decorate immune cells and act as key regulators in cellular immunity. However, their dense O-glycosylation remains enigmatic, primarily due to the challenges associated with studying mucin domains. Here, we demonstrate that the mucinase SmE has a unique ability to cleave at residues bearing very complex glycans. SmE enables improved mass spectrometric analysis of several mucins, including the entire TIM family. With this information in-hand, we perform molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of TIM-3 and -4 to understand how glycosylation affects structural features of these proteins. Finally, we use these models to investigate the functional relevance of glycosylation for TIM-3 function and ligand binding. Overall, we present a powerful workflow to better understand the detailed molecular structures and functions of the mucinome.

T-cell receptor signaling modulated by the co-receptors: Potential targets for stroke treatment

Stroke is a severe and life-threatening disease, necessitating more research on new treatment strategies. Infiltrated T lymphocytes, an essential adaptive immune cell with extensive effector function, are crucially involved in post-stroke inflammation. Immediately after the initiation of the innate immune response triggered by microglia/macrophages, the adaptive immune response associated with T lymphocytes also participates in the complex pathophysiology of stroke and partially informs the outcome of stroke. Preclinical and clinical studies have revealed the conflicting roles of T cells in post-stroke inflammation and as potential therapeutic targets. Therefore, exploring the mechanisms that underlie the adaptive immune response associated with T lymphocytes in stroke is essential. The T-cell receptor (TCR) and its downstream signaling regulate T lymphocyte differentiation and activation. This review comprehensively summarizes the various molecules that regulate TCR signaling and the T-cell response. It covers both the co-stimulatory and co-inhibitory molecules and their roles in stroke. Because immunoregulatory therapies targeting TCR and its mediators have achieved great success in some proliferative diseases, this article also summarizes the advances in therapeutic strategies related to TCR signaling in lymphocytes after stroke, which can facilitate translation. DATA AVAILABILITY: No data was used for the research described in the article.

A Comprehensive Analysis of HAVCR1 as a Prognostic and Diagnostic Marker for Pan-Cancer

Hepatitis A virus cellular receptor (HAVCR1) is a type-1 integral membrane glycoprotein that plays a key role in immunity and renal regeneration and is abnormally expressed in various tumor types. Nonetheless, the function of HAVCR1 in pan-cancer remains unknown. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the expression and promoter methylation level of HAVCR1 and assessed the immune cell infiltration, correlation between stromal and immune cell admixture, CD (Cluster of Differentiation) and HAVCR1 expression and prognostic value of HAVCR1 mRNA expression in Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) and Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD). Our results showed that HAVCR1 was overexpressed while the promoter methylation of HAVCR1 was decreased in Liver hepatocellular carcinoma and Pancreatic adenocarcinoma. HAVCR1 was associated with increased infiltration of B cells, CD8 cells, macrophages, neutrophils and Dendritic cells in Liver hepatocellular carcinoma and Pancreatic adenocarcinoma. HAVCR1 expression was positively correlated with the immune, stromal and estimate scores of Pancreatic adenocarcinoma and the stromal and estimate scores of Liver hepatocellular carcinoma. Furthermore, HAVCR1 expression was correlated with other immune molecules such as HHLA2 (Human endogenous retrovirus-H long terminal repeat-associating protein 2), CD44 and TNFRSF4 (TNF Receptor Superfamily Member 4) in Liver hepatocellular carcinoma and Pancreatic adenocarcinoma. During Kaplan-Meier analysis, high HAVCR1 expression in Liver hepatocellular carcinoma and Pancreatic adenocarcinoma correlated with poor survival. A marginally significant p-value (p = 0.051) was obtained when the relationship between HAVCR1 expression in Liver hepatocellular carcinoma and prognosis was analyzed, attributed to the small sample size. Overall, we provided compelling evidence that HAVCR1 could be a prognostic and diagnostic marker for Liver hepatocellular carcinoma and Pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

TIM-1 promotes proliferation and metastasis, and inhibits apoptosis, in cervical cancer through the PI3K/AKT/p53 pathway

Background

T-cell immunoglobulin mucin-1 (TIM-1) has been reported to be associated with the biological behavior of several malignant tumors; however, it is not clear whether it has a role in cervical cancer (CC).

Methods

TIM-1 expression in cervical epithelial tumor tissues and cells was detected by immunohistochemistry or real-time quantitative-PCR and western blotting. CC cells from cell lines expressing low levels of TIM-1 were infected with lentiviral vectors encoding TIM-1. Changes in the malignant behavior of CC cells were assessed by CCK-8, wound healing, Transwell migration and invasion assays, and flow cytometry in vitro; while a xenograft tumor model was established to analyze the effects of TIM-1 on tumor growth in vivo. Changes in the levels of proteins related to the cell cycle, apoptosis, and Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were determined by western blotting.

Results

TIM-1 expression was higher in CC tissues, than in high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, or normal cervical tissues, and was also expressed in three CC cell lines. In HeLa and SiHa cells overexpressing TIM-1, proliferation, invasion, and migration increased, while whereas apoptosis was inhibited. Furthermore, TIM-1 downregulated the expression of p53, BAX, and E-cadherin, and increased cyclin D1, Bcl-2, Snail1, N-cadherin, vimentin, MMP-2, and VEGF. PI3K, p-AKT, and mTOR protein levels also increased, while total AKT protein levels remained unchanged.

Conclusions

Our study indicated that TIM-1 overexpression promoted cell migration and invasion, and inhibited cell apoptosis in CC through modulation of the PI3K/AKT/p53 and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways, and may be a candidate diagnostic biomarker of this disease.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-09386-7.

Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 1 (HAVcr-1) Initiates Prostate Cancer Progression in Human Cells via Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF)-Induced Changes in Junctional Integrity

Background: HAVcR-1 has been linked to cancer aetiology and may regulate junctional complexes, with its role in prostate cancer still unexplored. This study aims to investigate the expression of HAVcR-1 in prostate cancer samples and the exploration of the cellular/molecular impact of HAVcR-1. Methods: Levels of HAVcR-1 ectodomain in the serum of prostate cancer patients were compared to healthy controls, and assessed as the total protein and gene expression of HAVcR-1 and tissues sections. The manipulation of HAVcR-1 levels within prostate cancer cell lines determined changes in cell behaviour using in vitro cell models and barrier function assays. Protein/phosphoprotein levels were assessed using Western blotting. Results: Levels of HAVcR-1 ectodomain from serum were decreased in patients with prostate cancer. Ectodomain levels correlated with the Gleason score. Histologically, the total protein/gene expression of HAVcR-1 was overexpressed in prostate cancer. The overexpression of HAVcR-1 in prostate cancer cell lines resulted in key changes in cell behaviour and the phosphorylation of β-catenin with a concurrent decrease in membranous E-cadherin, increased nuclear β-catenin and increased cyclin D1 protein expression, which were associated with HGF-promoted changes in the barrier function. Conclusions: HAVcR-1 expression and ectodomain release coincides with the presence of prostate cancer; thus, indicating HAVcR-1 as a potential biomarker to aid in diagnostics, and implicating HAVcR-1 in the dysregulation of junctional complexes.

Tim-1 alleviates lupus nephritis-induced podocyte injury via regulating autophagy

Introduction

Lupus nephritis (LN) is a complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) which seriously threatens the health of people. Tim-1 is known to be associated with the pathogenesis of SLE. However, the role of Tim-1 in LN is still unclear.

Aim of the study

To explore the expression and the potential regulatory molecular mechanism of Tim-1 in LN-induced podocyte injury.

Material and methods

An in vivo model of LN was established to detect the expression of Tim-1, inflammatory cytokines and autophagy-related proteins. Podocytes were treated with immunoglobulin G (IgG) to establish the LN in vitro model and then treated with an autophagy inhibitor. RT-qPCR and western blot were performed to investigate the effect of Tim-1 on inflammatory responses as well as autophagy in podocytes. The function of Tim-1 in IgG-induced podocytes was detected by CCK-8 and flow cytometry, respectively.

Results

Tim-1, L3BII/L3BI ratio and inflammatory cytokines were upregulated in LN mice. Tim-1 notably inhibited IgG-induced inflammatory responses in podocytes via reducing tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β expression, and it could protect podocytes against LN-induced injury via inducing autophagy. Meanwhile, Tim-1 significantly promoted the proliferation of IgG-induced podocytes via inhibiting apoptosis. The autophagy inhibitor reversed the effect of Tim-1 on inflammatory cytokines and autophagy-related proteins in IgG-treated podocytes.

Conclusions

Tim-1 protects podocytes against LN-induced injury via mediating autophagy, which might serve as a new target for the treatment of LN.

Novel Roles of the Tim Family in Immune Regulation and Autoimmune Diseases

T cell Ig and mucin domain (Tim) protein family members were identified to be important regulators of the immune response. As their name indicates, Tim proteins were originally considered a T cell-specific markers, and they mainly regulate the responses of T helper cells. However, accumulating evidence indicates that Tims are also expressed on antigen-presenting cells (APCs), such as monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs) and B cells, and even plays various roles in natural killer cells (NKs) and mast cells. In recent years, the expression and function of Tims on different cells and the identification of new ligands for the Tim family have suggested that the Tim family plays a crucial role in immune regulation. In addition, the relationship between Tim family gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to several autoimmune diseases has expanded our knowledge of the role of Tim proteins in immune regulation. In this review, we discuss how the Tim family affects immunomodulatory function and the potential role of the Tim family in typical autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and type 1 diabetes (T1D). A deeper understanding of the immunoregulatory mechanism of the Tim family might provide new insights into the clinical diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Development of a gene signature associated with iron metabolism in lung adenocarcinoma

There are few studies on the role of iron metabolism genes in predicting the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Therefore, our research aims to screen key genes and to establish a prognostic signature that can predict the overall survival rate of lung adenocarcinoma patients. RNA-Seq data and corresponding clinical materials of 594 adenocarcinoma patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA) were downloaded. GSE42127 of Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was further verified. The multi-gene prognostic signature was constructed by the Cox regression model of the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO). We constructed a prediction signature with 12 genes (HAVCR1, SPN, GAPDH, ANGPTL4, PRSS3, KRT8, LDHA, HMMR, SLC2A1, CYP24A1, LOXL2, TIMP1), and patients were split into high and low-risk groups. The survival graph results revealed that the survival prognosis between the high and low-risk groups was significantly different (TCGA: P < 0.001, GEO: P = 0.001). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis confirmed that the risk value is a predictor of patient OS (P < 0.001). The area under the time-dependent ROC curve (AUC) indicated that our signature had a relatively high true positive rate when predicting the 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year OS of the TCGA cohort, which was 0.735, 0.711, and 0.601, respectively. In addition, immune-related pathways were highlighted in the functional enrichment analysis. In conclusion, we developed and verified a 12-gene prognostic signature, which may be help predict the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma and offer a variety of targeted options for the precise treatment of lung cancer.

Downregulation of Tim-1 inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion of glioblastoma cells via the miR-133a/TGFBR1 axis and the restriction of Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Background

Glioblastoma remains one of the most lethal brain cancers. T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 1 (Tim-1) is associated with various immune diseases. The molecular mechanism of Tim-1 in regulating glioblastoma cell proliferation, invasion, and migration is still unknown. Moreover, it has shown that miR-133a plays an important role in glioblastoma. However, little is known about the interaction between Tim-1 and miR-133a in glioblastoma.

Methods

Tim-1 expression in glioblastoma and normal brain tissues was detected by qPCR, Western Blot and IHC. After Tim-1 knockdown in U251 and U87 cells, genes showing significantly differential expression, along with the significant differential miRNAs were analyzed using RNA-seq analysis. The binding sites were verified using dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. U251 and U87 cells were allocated into the small harpin-negative control (sh-NC), sh-Tim-1, sh-Tim-1 + inhibitor NC, and sh-Tim-1 + miR-133a inhibitor group. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were determined by CCK-8, flow cytometry, wound-healing and Transwell assays, respectively. Next, U251 and U87 cells were allocated into the mimic NC, miR-133a mimic, miR-133a mimic + pcDNA3.1, and miR-133a mimic + pcDNA3.1-TGFBR1 groups, followed by the detection of cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Western blot was used to identify the expression of vital kinases in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Results

Tim-1 was highly expressed in glioblastoma tissues compared with that in normal brain tissues. RNA-seq analysis showed that Tim-1 knockdown could lead to the downregulation of TGFBR1 and the upregulation of miR-133a. The binding sites between TGFBR1 and miR-133a were confirmed. Tim-1 knockdown impaired the invasion, migration, proliferation of U251 and U87 cells, which could be reversed by miR-133a downregulation. miR-133a upregulation inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and migration of U251 and U87 cells, which could be reversed by TGFBR1 upregulation. Tim-1 knockdown and miR-133a upregulation could inhibit the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, while the elevation of TGFBR1 showed opposite effects.

Conclusion

Tim-1 knockdown inhibited glioblastoma cell proliferation, invasion, and migration through the miR-133a/TGFBR1 axis and restrained the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-021-02036-1.

Exosomes in Immune Regulation

Exosomes, small extracellular vesicles mediate intercellular communication by transferring their cargo including DNA, RNA, proteins and lipids from cell to cell. Notably, in the immune system, they have protective functions. However in cancer, exosomes acquire new, immunosuppressive properties that cause the dysregulation of immune cells and immune escape of tumor cells supporting cancer progression and metastasis. Therefore, current investigations focus on the regulation of exosome levels for immunotherapeutic interventions. In this review, we discuss the role of exosomes in immunomodulation of lymphoid and myeloid cells, and their use as immune stimulatory agents to elicit specific cytotoxic responses against the tumor.

Comprehensive Analysis of the Expression, Relationship to Immune Infiltration and Prognosis of TIM-1 in Cancer

TIM-1 is a critical gene that regulates T-helper cell development. However, little research has revealed the distribution, prognosis, and immune infiltration of TIM-1 in cancers. TCGA, GEO, Oncomine, TIMER, Kaplan-Meier, PrognoScan, GEPIA, TISIDB, and HPA databases were used to analyze TIM-1 in cancers. High TIM-1 expression was observed in bladder, cholangio, head and neck, colorectal, gastric, kidney, liver, lung adenocarcinoma, skin, uterine corpus endometrial, and pancreatic cancers compared to the normal tissues, and immunofluorescence shows that TIM-1 is mainly localized in vesicles. Simultaneously, high TIM-1 expression was closely related with poorer overall survival in gastric, lung adenocarcinoma, and poorer disease-specific survival in gastric cancer in the TCGA cohort, and was validated in the GEO cohort. Moreover, high expression of TIM-1, correlated with clinical relevance of gastric cancer and lung adenocarcinoma, was associated with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in lung adenocarcinoma and gastric cancer. Finally, immunohistochemistry showed TIM-1 expression was higher in lung adenocarcinoma and gastric cancer compared to the normal tissues. In summary, we applied integrated bioinformatics approaches to suggest that TIM-1 can be used as a prognostic biomarker in gastric and lung adenocarcinoma, which might provide a novel direction to explore the pathogenesis of gastric and lung adenocarcinoma.

Knockdown of T Cell Immunoglobulin and Mucin 1 (Tim-1) Suppresses Glioma Progression Through Inhibition of the Cytokine-PI3K/AKT Pathway

Background

Glioma is formed by abnormal proliferation of glial cells in the brain. T cell immunoglobulin and mucin 1 (Tim-1) is linked to cancer development. This study aimed to assess Tim-1 functions in biological behaviors.

Methods

The glioma tissues and paracancerous tissues were collected. The pathological morphology of glioma and positive expression of Tim-1 were evaluated. The sh-Tim-1 lentivirus vector was infected into U251 and U87 cells to evaluate glioma cell malignant behaviors. The differentially expressed terms in glioma cells were analyzed by Agilent microarray analysis, and enrichment analyses were performed. Levels of cytokines (TGF-β1, IL-6, IL-4 and IL-10) and the PI3K/AKT pathway were measured. U87 cells with sh-Tim-1 were transplanted into nude mice, and the volume and weight of tumors were measured.

Results

Tim-1 levels in glioma tissues and cells were higher than those in glial tissues and cells. Tim-1 knockdown prevented glioma cell proliferation, invasion and migration, and reduced TGF-β1, IL-6, IL-4 and IL-10 levels of glioma. Co-treatment of PI3K/AKT pathway activator and knockdown Tim-1 partially reversed these outcomes. After Tim-1 knockdown, tumor volume and weight and Ki67-positive rate of nude mice were diminished.

Conclusion

Tim-1 knockdown inhibited biological behaviors of glioma cells through the PI3K/AKT pathway, which may provide a novel therapy for glioma.

Myeloid Cells in Circulation and Tumor Microenvironment of Colorectal Cancer Patients with Early and Advanced Disease Stages

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a heterogenous population of cells that have been implicated in the development of an immunosuppressive environment, which promotes tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Numerous studies have reported expansion of MDSCs in circulation and the tumor microenvironment (TME) of cancer patients. However, due to the heterogenic nature of MDSCs and the different approaches for their identification, their detailed characterization and impact on disease progression in cancer patients are warranted. In this study, we investigated the levels of different myeloid cell subsets and antigen-presenting cells (APCs) using flow cytometry in unfractionated whole blood (WB), peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), tumor tissue (TT), and adjacent normal tissue (NT) of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. We found high levels of granulocytic myeloid cells (GMCs) in whole blood, but their levels were significantly lower in PBMCs. Importantly, we found significantly higher levels of GMCs in the TME compared to NT. In addition, monocytic myeloid cells (MMCs) showed significantly higher levels in PBMCs of CRC patients, compared to healthy donors (HDs). Notably, patients with advanced disease stages showed significantly higher levels of GMCs compared to early stages in whole blood, but PBMCs and tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells did not show any significant differences. Lastly, we found that levels of GMCs decreased, while IMCs increased in the TME with tumor budding. Our results highlight the importance of investigating the levels of different myeloid cell subsets in PBMCs versus whole blood of cancer patients and improve current knowledge on the potential prognostic significance of myeloid cells in CRC patients.

Probiotics Can Boost the Antitumor Immunity of CD8+T Cells in BALB/c Mice and Patients with Colorectal Carcinoma

Background

The drug resistance and the immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment are important factors affecting tumor progression. Reversing drug resistance and changing tumor suppression microenvironment are ideal ways to inhibit tumor progression.

Objective

The aim of the study is to verify antitumor immune response of probiotics in patients with colorectal carcinoma and to explore its mechanism.

Methods

To detect the tumor samples of 122 patients with colorectal carcinoma after surgery, analyze the effect of probiotics on enhancing tumor-infiltrating CD8⁺T cells to inhibit colorectal carcinoma, and further verify the mechanism of probiotics on enhancing the antitumor immune response of CD8⁺T cells through animal experiments.

Results

The results of immunohistochemistry showed that the proportion of CD8⁺T cells in the patients treated with probiotics before surgery was increased significantly than that in other patients (P = 0.033). The results of flow cytometry also showed that the proportion of CD8⁺T cells in the probiotics group was higher than that in the nonprobiotics group (P = 0.029). Kaplan-Meier survival estimates also showed that the CD8⁺T cells, TNM stage, pathology grade, lymphatic metastasis, and probiotic treatment were significantly associated with the progression-free survival (PFS) (χ ² = 9.684, P = 0.002 for CD8⁺T cells; χ ² = 5.878, P = 0.015 for TNM stage; χ ² = 7.398, P = 0.004 for pathology grade; χ ² = 8.847, P = 0.003 for Lymphatic metastasis; and χ ² = 4.622, P = 0.032 for the group (group A was treated with probiotics before surgery; group B was not treated with probiotics)). The experimental results in mice showed that probiotics could inhibit tumor growth and increase the proportion of CD8⁺T cells in mice; the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.037). It was also found that probiotic feeding could upregulate the expression of T-cell immunoglobulin mucin receptor 1(TIM-1) in CD8⁺T cells of mice and also found that probiotic feeding could downregulate the expression of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) in CD8⁺T cells of mice, compared with the nonfeeding group; the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.045 for TIM-1 and P = 0.02 for PD-1, respectively). In order to further understand the functional status of CD8⁺T cells, we analyzed interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)⁺ T cells and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)⁺CD8⁺T cells by flow cytometry. The results showed that the proportion of IFN-γ ⁺ T cells and TNF-α ⁺CD8⁺T cells significantly increased after probiotic treatment, compared with the nonprobiotic treatment group; the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.040 for IFN-γ ⁺ T cells and P = 0.014 for TNF-α ⁺CD8⁺T, respectively).

Conclusions

Probiotics can enhance the antitumor immune response of CD8⁺T cells. It can play a synergistic antitumor role. On the one hand, its mechanism is through regulating intestinal flora, and on the other hand, through regulating the antitumor immune function of CD8⁺T cells.

Co-Stimulatory Receptors in Cancers and Their Implications for Cancer Immunotherapy

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), including anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 therapeutic agents, are now approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment of various types of cancer. However, the therapeutic efficacy of ICIs varies among patients and cancer types. Moreover, most patients do not develop durable antitumor responses after ICI therapy due to an ephemeral reversal of T-cell dysfunction. As co-stimulatory receptors play key roles in regulating the effector functions of T cells, activating co-stimulatory pathways may improve checkpoint inhibition efficacy, and lead to durable antitumor responses. Here, we review recent advances in our understating of co-stimulatory receptors in cancers, providing the necessary groundwork for the rational design of cancer immunotherapy.

MicroRNA-146a-deficient mice develop immune complex glomerulonephritis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the kidneys under physiological and pathological conditions, but their role in immune glomerulonephritis is unclear. miR-146a has been identified as a key player in innate immunity and inflammatory responses, and in the kidney, this miRNA is involved in the response of injured tubular cells. We studied the renal and immune phenotypes of miR-146a^+/+ and miR-146a^−/− mice at 12 months of age, and the results showed that miR-146a^−/− mice developed autoimmunity during aging, as demonstrated by circulating antibodies targeting double-stranded DNA and an immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis associated with a mild renal immune infiltrate. In addition, miR-146a^−/− mice showed reduced expression of the transmembrane protein Kim1/Tim1, a key regulator of regulatory B cell (Breg) homeostasis, in the kidney and the immune cells. The numbers of memory B cells and plasmablasts were increased in miR-146a^−/− mice compared with the numbers in wild-type mice, whereas Bregs were decreased in number and displayed an altered capacity to produce IL-10. Finally, we showed that miR-146a^−/− mice develop an autoimmune syndrome with increasing age, and this syndrome includes immune complex glomerulonephritis, which might be due to altered B cell responses associated with Kim1/Tim1 deficiency. This study unravels a link between miR-146a and Kim1 and identifies miR-146a as a significant player in immune-mediated glomerulonephritis pathogenesis.

Prognostic value of TIM-1 expression in human non-small-cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 1 (TIM-1) is an important co-stimulatory molecule which serves as a surface marker for T cell activation, especially for Th2 cells. Recently, many studies have also shown that TIM-1 can be abnormally expressed in human cancers and may have a potential role in promoting cancer progression.

METHODS

The immunohistochemistry was used to examine the TIM-1 expression in human non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) tissues. The cellular studies were performed to investigate the role of TIM-1 in the regulation of biological functions of human lung cancer cell lines.

RESULTS

We found that the TIM-1 expression was increased in human NSCLC tissues compared with the adjacent normal tissues, and the OS rate of NSCLC patients with higher TIM-1 expression was significantly lower compared with the ones with lower TIM-1 expression. The COX model showed that higher TIM-1 expression in lung cancer tissues could be used as an independent prognostic predictor for the patients. Furthermore, we depleted TIM-1 in NSCLC cell lines A549 and SK-MES-1, and the cellular functional studies also revealed that depletion of TIM-1 could significantly inhibit the cell viability as well as the abilities of migration and invasion. In addition, our microarray data showed that certain signaling pathways were altered and enriched after depletion of TIM-1. We subsequently verified that PI3K/Akt signaling pathway was involved in the TIM-1-mediated regulation of cellular functions in NSCLC cells.

CONCLUSION

Our findings supported the notion that TIM-1 could serve as a potential therapeutic target for NSCLC.

Circulating proteins as predictors of cardiovascular mortality in end-stage renal disease

Introduction

Proteomic profiling of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients could lead to improved risk prediction and novel insights into cardiovascular disease mechanisms. Plasma levels of 92 cardiovascular disease-associated proteins were assessed by proximity extension assay (Proseek Multiplex CVD-1, Olink Bioscience, Uppsala, Sweden) in a discovery cohort of dialysis patients, the Mapping of Inflammatory Markers in Chronic Kidney disease cohort [MIMICK; n = 183, 55% women, mean age 63 years, 46 cardiovascular deaths during follow-up (mean 43 months)]. Significant results were replicated in the incident and prevalent hemodialysis arm of the Salford Kidney Study [SKS dialysis study, n = 186, 73% women, mean age 62 years, 45 cardiovascular deaths during follow-up (mean 12 months)], and in the CKD5-LD-RTxcohort with assessments of coronary artery calcium (CAC)-score by cardiac computed tomography (n = 89, 37% women, mean age 46 years).

Results

In age and sex-adjusted Cox regression in MIMICK, 11 plasma proteins were nominally associated with cardiovascular mortality (in order of significance: Kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), Matrix metalloproteinase-7, Tumour necrosis factor receptor 2, Interleukin-6, Matrix metalloproteinase-1, Brain-natriuretic peptide, ST2 protein, Hepatocyte growth factor, TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand receptor-2, Spondin-1, and Fibroblast growth factor 25). Only plasma KIM-1 was associated with cardiovascular mortality after correction for multiple testing, but also after adjustment for dialysis vintage, cardiovascular risk factors and inflammation (hazard ratio) per standard deviation (SD) increase 1.84, 95% CI 1.26–2.69, p = 0.002. Addition of KIM-1, or nine of the most informative proteins to an established risk-score (modified AROii CVM-score) improved discrimination of cardiovascular mortality risk from C = 0.777 to C = 0.799 and C = 0.823, respectively. In the SKS dialysis study, KIM-1 predicted cardiovascular mortality in age and sex adjusted models (hazard ratio per SD increase 1.45, 95% CI 1.03–2.05, p = 0.034) and higher KIM-1 was associated with higher CACscores in the CKD5-LD-RTx-cohort.

Conclusions

Our proteomics approach identified plasma KIM-1 as a risk marker for cardiovascular mortality and coronary artery calcification in three independent ESRD-cohorts. The improved risk prediction for cardiovascular mortality by plasma proteomics merit further studies.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s40620-018-0556-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Ebola Virus Binding to Tim-1 on T Lymphocytes Induces a Cytokine Storm

Ebola virus (EBOV) disease (EVD) results from an exacerbated immunological response that is highlighted by a burst in the production of inflammatory mediators known as a "cytokine storm." Previous reports have suggested that nonspecific activation of T lymphocytes may play a central role in this phenomenon. T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 1 (Tim-1) has recently been shown to interact with virion-associated phosphatidylserine to promote infection. Here, we demonstrate the central role of Tim-1 in EBOV pathogenesis, as Tim-1^-/- mice exhibited increased survival rates and reduced disease severity; surprisingly, only a limited decrease in viremia was detected. Tim-1^-/- mice exhibited a modified inflammatory response as evidenced by changes in serum cytokines and activation of T helper subsets. A series of in vitro assays based on the Tim-1 expression profile on T cells demonstrated that despite the apparent absence of detectable viral replication in T lymphocytes, EBOV directly binds to isolated T lymphocytes in a phosphatidylserine-Tim-1-dependent manner. Exposure to EBOV resulted in the rapid development of a CD4^Hi CD3^Low population, non-antigen-specific activation, and cytokine production. Transcriptome and Western blot analysis of EBOV-stimulated CD4⁺ T cells confirmed the induction of the Tim-1 signaling pathway. Furthermore, comparative analysis of transcriptome data and cytokine/chemokine analysis of supernatants highlight the similarities associated with EBOV-stimulated T cells and the onset of a cytokine storm. Flow cytometry revealed virtually exclusive binding and activation of central memory CD4⁺ T cells. These findings provide evidence for the role of Tim-1 in the induction of a cytokine storm phenomenon and the pathogenesis of EVD.IMPORTANCE Ebola virus infection is characterized by a massive release of inflammatory mediators, which has come to be known as a cytokine storm. The severity of the cytokine storm is consistently linked with fatal disease outcome. Previous findings have demonstrated that specific T-cell subsets are key contributors to the onset of a cytokine storm. In this study, we investigated the role of Tim-1, a T-cell-receptor-independent trigger of T-cell activation. We first demonstrated that Tim-1-knockout (KO) mice survive lethal Ebola virus challenge. We then used a series of in vitro assays to demonstrate that Ebola virus directly binds primary T cells in a Tim-1-phosphatidylserine-dependent manner. We noted that binding induces a cytokine storm-like phenomenon and that blocking Tim-1-phosphatidylserine interactions reduces viral binding, T-cell activation, and cytokine production. These findings highlight a previously unknown role of Tim-1 in the development of a cytokine storm and "immune paralysis."

Ebola Virus Binding to Tim-1 on T Lymphocytes Induces a Cytokine Storm

Ebola virus (EBOV) disease (EVD) results from an exacerbated immunological response that is highlighted by a burst in the production of inflammatory mediators known as a "cytokine storm." Previous reports have suggested that nonspecific activation of T lymphocytes may play a central role in this phenomenon. T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 1 (Tim-1) has recently been shown to interact with virion-associated phosphatidylserine to promote infection. Here, we demonstrate the central role of Tim-1 in EBOV pathogenesis, as Tim-1^-/- mice exhibited increased survival rates and reduced disease severity; surprisingly, only a limited decrease in viremia was detected. Tim-1^-/- mice exhibited a modified inflammatory response as evidenced by changes in serum cytokines and activation of T helper subsets. A series of in vitro assays based on the Tim-1 expression profile on T cells demonstrated that despite the apparent absence of detectable viral replication in T lymphocytes, EBOV directly binds to isolated T lymphocytes in a phosphatidylserine-Tim-1-dependent manner. Exposure to EBOV resulted in the rapid development of a CD4^Hi CD3^Low population, non-antigen-specific activation, and cytokine production. Transcriptome and Western blot analysis of EBOV-stimulated CD4⁺ T cells confirmed the induction of the Tim-1 signaling pathway. Furthermore, comparative analysis of transcriptome data and cytokine/chemokine analysis of supernatants highlight the similarities associated with EBOV-stimulated T cells and the onset of a cytokine storm. Flow cytometry revealed virtually exclusive binding and activation of central memory CD4⁺ T cells. These findings provide evidence for the role of Tim-1 in the induction of a cytokine storm phenomenon and the pathogenesis of EVD.IMPORTANCE Ebola virus infection is characterized by a massive release of inflammatory mediators, which has come to be known as a cytokine storm. The severity of the cytokine storm is consistently linked with fatal disease outcome. Previous findings have demonstrated that specific T-cell subsets are key contributors to the onset of a cytokine storm. In this study, we investigated the role of Tim-1, a T-cell-receptor-independent trigger of T-cell activation. We first demonstrated that Tim-1-knockout (KO) mice survive lethal Ebola virus challenge. We then used a series of in vitro assays to demonstrate that Ebola virus directly binds primary T cells in a Tim-1-phosphatidylserine-dependent manner. We noted that binding induces a cytokine storm-like phenomenon and that blocking Tim-1-phosphatidylserine interactions reduces viral binding, T-cell activation, and cytokine production. These findings highlight a previously unknown role of Tim-1 in the development of a cytokine storm and "immune paralysis."