Proteomic profiling of lymphocytes in autoimmunity, inflammation and cancer

Long-term hematopoietic transfer of the anti-cancer and lifespan-extending capabilities of a genetically engineered blood system by transplantation of bone marrow mononuclear cells

A causal relationship exists among the aging process, organ decay and disfunction, and the occurrence of various diseases including cancer. A genetically engineered mouse model, termed Klf1K74R/K74R or Klf1(K74R), carrying mutation on the well-conserved sumoylation site of the hematopoietic transcription factor KLF1/EKLF has been generated that possesses extended lifespan and healthy characteristics, including cancer resistance. We show that the healthy longevity characteristics of the Klf1(K74R) mice, as exemplified by their higher anti-cancer capability, are likely gender-, age-, and genetic background-independent. Significantly, the anti-cancer capability, in particular that against melanoma as well as hepatocellular carcinoma, and lifespan-extending property of Klf1(K74R) mice, could be transferred to wild-type mice via transplantation of their bone marrow mononuclear cells at a young age of the latter. Furthermore, NK(K74R) cells carry higher in vitro cancer cell-killing ability than wild-type NK cells. Targeted/global gene expression profiling analysis has identified changes in the expression of specific proteins, including the immune checkpoint factors PDCD and CD274, and cellular pathways in the leukocytes of the Klf1(K74R) that are in the directions of anti-cancer and/or anti-aging. This study demonstrates the feasibility of developing a transferable hematopoietic/blood system for long-term anti-cancer and, potentially, for anti-aging.

Development and validation of the prediction model for mortality in patients with diabetic kidney disease in intensive care unit: a study based on medical information Mart for intensive care

We aimed to explore factors associated with mortality of diabetic kidney disease (DKD), and to establish a prediction model for predicting the mortality of DKD. This was a cohort study. In total, 1,357 DKD patients were identified from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database, with 505 DKD patients being identified from the MIMIC-III as the testing set. The outcome of the study was 1-year mortality. COX proportional hazard models were applied to screen the predictive factors. The prediction model was conducted based on the predictive factors. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve with the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the performance of the prediction model. The median follow-up time was 365.00 (54.50,365.00) days, and 586 patients (43.18%) died within 1 year. The predictive factors for 1-year mortality in DKD included age, weight, sepsis, heart rate, temperature, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), lymphocytes, red cell distribution width (RDW), serum albumin, and metformin. The AUC of the prediction model for predicting 1-year mortality in the training set was 0.771 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.746-0.795] and the AUC of the prediction model in the testing set was 0.795 (95% CI: 0.756-0.834). This study establishes a prediction model for predicting mortality of DKD, providing a basis for clinical intervention and decision-making in time.

Differential Expression of Proteins in an Atypical Presentation of Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome

Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is a rare disease defined as a defect in the lymphocyte apoptotic pathway. Currently, the diagnosis of ALPS is based on clinical aspects, defective lymphocyte apoptosis and mutations in Fas, FasL and Casp 10 genes. Despite this, ALPS has been misdiagnosed. The aim of this work was to go one step further in the knowledge of the disease, through a molecular and proteomic analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from two children, a 13-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy, called patient 1 and patient 2, respectively, with clinical data supporting the diagnosis of ALPS. Fas, FasL and Casp10 genes from both patients were sequenced, and a sample of the total proteins from patient 1 was analyzed by label-free proteomics. Pathway analysis of deregulated proteins from PBMCs was performed on the STRING and PANTHER bioinformatics databases. A mutation resulting in an in-frame premature stop codon and protein truncation was detected in the Fas gene from patient 2. From patient 1, the proteomic analysis showed differences in the level of expression of proteins involved in, among other processes, cell cycle, regulation of cell cycle arrest and immune response. Noticeably, the most down-regulated protein is an important regulator of the cell cycle process. This could be an explanation of the disease in patient 1.

Bovine Peripheral Blood Derived Lymphocyte Proteome and Secretome Show Divergent Reaction of Bovine Immune Phenotypes after Stimulation with Pokeweed Mitogen

We recently identified a deviant bovine immune phenotype characterized by hyperproliferation of lymphocytes after polyclonal stimulation. This phenotype was first discovered in dams that responded to PregSure BVD vaccination by producing pathological antibodies, triggering the fatal disease “bovine neonatal pancytopenia” in calves. The aim of the study was to gain deeper insights into molecular processes occurring in lymphocytes of immune phenotypes and the effect on their secretome after immune stimulation. Two discovery proteomic experiments were performed with unstimulated and Pokeweed Mitogen (PWM) stimulated lymphocytes, using label-free LC-MS/MS. In lymphocytes, 2447 proteins were quantified, and 1204 proteins were quantified in the secretome. Quantitative proteome analysis of immune deviant and control samples after PWM stimulation revealed clear differences. The increase in abundance of IL17A, IL17F, IL8, CCL5, LRRC59, and CLIC4 was higher in controls through mitogenic stimulation. In contrast, the abundance of IFNγ, IL2, IL2RA, CD83, and CD200 increased significantly more in immune deviant lymphocytes. Additional pathway enrichment analysis of differentially secreted proteins also yielded fundamental differences between the immune phenotypes. Our study provides a comprehensive dataset, which gives novel insights into proteome changes of lymphocytes from different bovine immune phenotypes. These differences point to the development of diverse immune responses of bovine immune phenotypes after immune stimulation.

Understanding the complicated relationship between antioxidants and carcinogenesis

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated as by-product of cellular respiration and also due to the exposure of various xenobiotics, whereas mitochondrial electron transport chain is considered as the main source of ROS generation. The sequential addition to molecular oxygen gives rise to various forms of ROS like superoxide anion, peroxide, hydroxyl radical, hydroxyl ion, and so forth. However, the uncontrolled level of ROS generation and accumulation alters the body homeostasis. Excessive generation of ROS leads to oxidative stress and various kinds of diseases including cancer. To counteract ROS, enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants' armory is available in our body. Apart from endogenous antioxidants, we are also consuming various exogenous antioxidants. Antioxidants protect us from ROS-mediated damages and inhibit ROS-induced carcinogenesis. Recent studies have revealed that antioxidants could also act as tumor-promoting agents. Various anticancer drugs are used to kill the cancer cells through the generation of oxidative stress in them, but the cancer cells can counteract the effect with the help of various endogenous as well as exogenous antioxidants. Our review will summarize the multifaceted relationship between antioxidants and carcinogenesis, and it will help to create new directions in antioxidant-based chemotherapy.

Altered frequency and function of spleen CTLA-4+Tim-3+ T cells are associated with miscarriage†

Normal pregnancy is associated with several immune adaptations in both systemic and local maternal-fetal interface to allow the growth of semi-allogeneic conceptus. A failure in maternal immune tolerance to the fetus may result in abnormal pregnancies, such as recurrent spontaneous abortion. The regulation of T-cell homeostasis during pregnancy has important implications for maternal tolerance and immunity. Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and T-cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 (Tim-3) are important negative immune regulatory molecules involved in viral persistence and tumor metastasis. Here we described the lower frequency of splenic T cells co-expressing CTLA-4 and Tim-3 accompanied by higher levels of proinflammatory but lower anti-inflammatory cytokines production in abortion-prone mouse model. Blockade of CTLA-4 and Tim-3 pathways leaded to the dysfunction of splenic T cells. By the higher expression during normal pregnancy, CTLA-4 and Tim-3 co-expression on splenic T cells linked to immunosuppressive phenotype. As the spleen is an important site for peripheral immune activation, our data suggest potential noninvasive biomarkers and therapeutic targets for miscarriage.

Assessment of gold nanoparticles on human peripheral blood cells by metabolic profiling with 1H-NMR spectroscopy, a novel translational approach on a patient-specific basis

Human peripheral blood cells are relevant ex vivo models for characterizing diseases and evaluating the pharmacological effects of therapeutic interventions, as they provide a close reflection of an individual pathophysiological state. In this work, a new approach to evaluate the impact of nanoparticles on the three main fractions of human peripheral blood cells by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is shown. Thus, a comprehensive protocol has been set-up including the separation of blood cells, their in vitro treatment with nanoparticles and the extraction and characterization of metabolites by nuclear magnetic resonance. This method was applied to assess the effect of gold nanoparticles, either coated with chitosan or supported on ceria, on peripheral blood cells from healthy individuals. A clear antioxidant effect was observed for chitosan-coated gold nanoparticles by a significant increase in reduced glutathione, that was much less pronounced for gold-cerium nanoparticles. In addition, the analysis revealed significant alterations of several other pathways, which were stronger for gold-cerium nanoparticles. These results are in accordance with the toxicological data previously reported for these materials, confirming the value of the current methodology.

Autophagy and inflammation

Autophagy is a homeostatic mechanism involved in the disposal of damaged organelles, denatured proteins as well as invaded pathogens through a lysosomal degradation pathway. Recently, increasing evidences have demonstrated its role in both innate and adaptive immunity, and thereby influence the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. The detection of autophagy machinery facilitated the measurement of autophagy during physiological and pathophysiological processes. Autophagy plays critical roles in inflammation through influencing the development, homeostasis and survival of inflammatory cells, including macrophages, neutrophils and lymphocytes; effecting the transcription, processing and secretion of a number of cytokines, as well as being regulated by cytokines. Recently, autophagy-dependent mechanisms have been studied in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory diseases, including infectious diseases, Crohn’s disease, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and so on. These studies suggested that modulation of autophagy might lead to therapeutic interventions for diseases associated with inflammation. Here we highlight recent advances in investigating the roles of autophagy in inflammation as well as inflammatory diseases.

Novel nanosome delivery system combined with siRNA targeting the antimicrobial gene DFB4: a new approach for psoriasis management?

In a recently published issue of the journal, Bracke et al. demonstrate an impressive improvement in psoriasiform features in allogeneic human skin grafts transplanted onto immune-deficient mice. This improvement was achieved using a novel nanosome (SECosome) as a vehicle for delivering topically applied siRNA to human epidermis. Targeting the gene DFB4 with this delivery system, they prevented translation of the antimicrobial peptide, human β defensin-2(hBD2), thus normalizing the psoriasiform epidermal phenotype of siRNA/SECosome-treated human skin grafts. This study encourages the exploration of topical gene silencing strategies in dermatology and refocuses our attention on both, the role of hBD2 in psoriasis pathogenesis and the thorny question which animal model reflects human psoriasis most faithfully.