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Abunawas D, Abbasy A, Afifi M, Moaaz M, Kamal A, Awaad A, Elsherbini B. MYELOID-DERIVED SUPPRESSOR CELLS TWO YEARS AFTER HEPATITIS C VIRUS ERADICATION USING DIRECTLY ACTING ANTIVIRALS. ARQUIVOS DE GASTROENTEROLOGIA 2024; 61:e24004. [PMID: 39046003 DOI: 10.1590/s0004-2803.24612024-004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) have immature morphology, relatively weak phagocytic activity, as well as some immunosuppressive functions. The capacity of MDSCs to inhibit T-cell-mediated immunological responses is their most notable functional characteristic. Down-regulating antitumor immune surveillance is one way that the expansion and activation of MDSCs contribute significantly to the occurrence and progression of tumors. Increased levels of MDSCs in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection could suppress T-cell responses, promoting viral escape and hepatitis progression. This may make HCV-infected individuals more vulnerable to severe infections, hepatic and extra-hepatic tumors, and a diminished capacity to react to immunization. It is still unknown if effective HCV eradication with directly acting antivirals (DAAs) can restore immune functions and immune surveillance capacity. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to observe the frequency of M-MDSCs (CD33+, CD11b+, and HLA-DR) in patients with a previous history of HCV, 2-3 years after virus eradication using DAA therapy. METHODS This study was conducted on 110 subjects: fifty-five subjects without liver cirrhosis who were treated with HCV using DAAs and attained SVR for a period of 2-3 years and 55 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. The study was conducted during the period from January to July 2022. Patients were recruited from the National Viral Hepatitis Treatment Unit, Alexandria University Hepatology outpatient clinic, and the Alexandria University Tropical Medicine outpatient clinic. The frequencies of MDSCs (CD33+CD11b + HLA-DR-) by flow cytometry were assessed. RESULTS Even after the virus had been eradicated for longer than two years, MDSC levels in HCV-treated individuals were found to be considerably higher. In the HCV-treated group, the median number of MDSCs was 5, with an interquartile range (IQR) of 3.79-7.69. In contrast, the median for the control group was 3.1, with an IQR of 1.4-3.2 (P˂0.001). CONCLUSION Successful DAA therapy leads to slow and partial immunological reconstitution, as demonstrated by the failure to attain normal levels of MDSC's 2 years after successful HCV eradication despite the normalization of laboratory parameters as well as the absence of liver fibrosis. The clinical implications of these findings should be thoroughly studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dania Abunawas
- Academic fellow, Immunology and Allergy department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Amany Abbasy
- Lecturer of Tropical Medicine, Tropical Medicine department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Afifi
- Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Allergy and Immunology department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Mai Moaaz
- Professor of Immunology and Allergy, Immunology and Allergy department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Kamal
- Lecturer of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Internal Medicine department, Hepatology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Ashraf Awaad
- Center of Excellence for Research in Regenerative Medicine and Applications, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Basem Elsherbini
- Lecturer of Immunology and Allergy, Immunology and Allergy department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
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2
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Huang CF, Awad MH, Gal-Tanamy M, Yu ML. Unmet needs in the post-direct-acting antivirals era: The risk and molecular mechanisms of hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatitis C virus eradication. Clin Mol Hepatol 2024; 30:326-344. [PMID: 38665034 PMCID: PMC11261227 DOI: 10.3350/cmh.2024.0155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the major etiologies of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with approximately 30% of HCC being due to HCV infection worldwide. HCV eradication by antivirals greatly reduces the risk of HCC; nevertheless, HCC remains to occur in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients who have achieved a sustained virological response (SVR). The proportion of post-SVR HCC among newly diagnosed HCC patients is increasing in the direct-acting antiviral (DAA) era and might be due to preexisting inflammatory and fibrotic liver backgrounds, immune dysregulation between host and virus interactions, as well as host epigenetic scars, genetic predispositions and alternations. By means of applying surrogate markers and adopting risk stratification, HCC surveillance should be consistently performed in high-risk populations. In this review, we discuss the possible molecular mechanism, risk factors, and HCC surveillance strategy for HCC development after HCV eradication in CHC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chung-Feng Huang
- Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- College of Medicine and Center for Liquid Biopsy and Cohort Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Faculty of Internal Medicine and Hepatitis Research Center, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program in Translational Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University and Academia Sinica, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Manar Hijaze Awad
- Molecular Virology Lab, The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Meital Gal-Tanamy
- Molecular Virology Lab, The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Ming-Lung Yu
- Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- College of Medicine and Center for Liquid Biopsy and Cohort Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Faculty of Internal Medicine and Hepatitis Research Center, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- School of Medicine and Doctoral Program of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, College of Medicine and Center of Excellence for Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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3
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Masalova OV, Lesnova EI, Kalsin VA, Klimova RR, Fedorova NE, Kozlov VV, Demidova NA, Yurlov KI, Konoplyannikov MA, Nikolaeva TN, Pronin AV, Baklaushev VP, Kushch AA. Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Modified with the NS5A Gene of Hepatitis C Virus Induce a Cellular Immune Response Exceeding the Response to DNA Immunization with This Gene. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:792. [PMID: 37372076 DOI: 10.3390/biology12060792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the basic culprits behind chronic liver disease, which may result in cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma. In spite of the extensive research conducted, a vaccine against HCV has not been yet created. We have obtained human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and used them for expressing the HCV NS5A protein as a model vaccination platform. Sixteen hMSC lines of a different origin were transfected with the pcNS5A-GFP plasmid to obtain genetically modified MSCs (mMSCs). The highest efficiency was obtained by the transfection of dental pulp MSCs. C57BL/6 mice were immunized intravenously with mMSCs, and the immune response was compared with the response to the pcNS5A-GFP plasmid, which was injected intramuscularly. It was shown that the antigen-specific lymphocyte proliferation and the number of IFN-γ-synthesizing cells were two to three times higher after the mMSC immunization compared to the DNA immunization. In addition, mMSCs induced more CD4+ memory T cells and an increase in the CD4+/CD8+ ratio. The results suggest that the immunostimulatory effect of mMSCs is associated with the switch of MSCs to the pro-inflammatory phenotype and a decrease in the proportion of myeloid derived suppressor cells. Thus, the possibility of using human mMSCs for the creation of a vaccine against HCV has been shown for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga V Masalova
- Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia
| | - Ekaterina I Lesnova
- Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir A Kalsin
- Federal Research Clinical Center of Specialized Medical Care and Medical Technologies, Federal Medical-Biological Agency of the Russian Federation, 115682 Moscow, Russia
| | - Regina R Klimova
- Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia
| | - Natalya E Fedorova
- Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vyacheslav V Kozlov
- Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia
| | - Natalya A Demidova
- Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia
| | - Kirill I Yurlov
- Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail A Konoplyannikov
- Federal Research Clinical Center of Specialized Medical Care and Medical Technologies, Federal Medical-Biological Agency of the Russian Federation, 115682 Moscow, Russia
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119435 Moscow, Russia
| | - Tatyana N Nikolaeva
- Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander V Pronin
- Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir P Baklaushev
- Federal Research Clinical Center of Specialized Medical Care and Medical Technologies, Federal Medical-Biological Agency of the Russian Federation, 115682 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alla A Kushch
- Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia
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El Menshawy N, Hassan N, Khariza M, AlAshery H, Baghat M, Ashour R. CD4/CD8 Ratio could be predictor of burden hepatocellular carcinoma in Egyptian chronic hepatitis C after combined sofosbuvir and daclatasvir therapy. Afr Health Sci 2023; 23:198-212. [PMID: 37545943 PMCID: PMC10398471 DOI: 10.4314/ahs.v23i1.22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background During the first years of the use of direct acting Hepatitis C antiviral drugs (DAAS), several studies reported a possible correlation between this new era of treatment and an increased risk of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Its development could possibly be favored by the changes in the immunological milieu and the different cellular behavior after eradication of HCV infection with them. For this reason, this study aimed to address the immunological effect of DAAS. Subject & methods Prospective paired -sample design, carried out on 90 naïve chronically infected HCV patients before and after receiving a combination therapy of sofosbuvir; at a dose of 400 mg once daily and daclatasvir; at a dose of 60 mg once daily for 12 weeks and follow up for one year. immunological tests including: total T cell count, T helper cell count, T cytotoxic cell count and natural killer cell count in peripheral blood through (CD3, CD3/CD4, CD3/CD8 and CD56 respectively) by Fluorochrome monoclonal antibodies labelled with specific dyes through Multiparameter, FACSCanto ™ II flow cytometer (Becton Dickinson, USA). Result Concerning the immunological changes, total T cells (CD3+), Natural killer cells showed non-significant decrease at end of therapy while significant decrease in T helper cells (CD3+CD4+) T cytotoxic cells (CD3+CD8+) compared to pre-treatment value. Long follow up revealed 26.6% developed focal HCC, in more addition, multivariate analysis show CD4/CD8 ratio could be predictor as well as sex for early development of HCC after combined DAAS therapy. Conclusion HCV treatment by DAAS produces significant decrease in T helper, T cytotoxic cells in CHC patients at the end of therapy. 26.6% developed focal HCC with independent CD4/CD8 predictor for burden malignancy. Further large extended population study is needed for clarify this concern.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Noha Hassan
- Mansoura University Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy
| | | | | | - Monir Baghat
- Mansoura University Faculty of Medicine, Internal Medicine
| | - Rehab Ashour
- Mansoura University Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy
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5
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Abdulsamad B, Afifi M, Awaad AK, Elbendary W, Mustafa H, Elsherbini B. Effect of Direct Acting Antivirals (DAAs) on Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Population in Egyptian Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Patients: A Potential Immunomodulatory Role of DAAs. Viral Immunol 2023; 36:259-267. [PMID: 36802279 DOI: 10.1089/vim.2022.0170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis C is a major health concern with high morbidity and mortality rates. The introduction of direct acting antivirals (DAAs) as a first-line treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) has significantly enhanced HCV eradication. However, DAA therapy is facing rising concerns regarding long-term safety, viral resistance, and reinfection. HCV is associated with different immune alteration mechanisms that can evade immunity and establish persistent infection. One of these suggested mechanisms is the accumulation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), which is known to accumulate in chronic inflammatory conditions. Moreover, the role of DAA in restoring immunity after successful viral eradication is still unclear and needs further investigations. Thus, we aimed to investigate the role of MDSCs in chronic HCV Egyptian patients and its response to DAA in treated compared with untreated patients. Fifty untreated chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients, 50 DAA-treated CHC patients, and 30 healthy individuals were recruited. We used flow cytometer analysis to measure MDSCs frequency and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis to evaluate the serum level of interferon (IFN)-γ. We found a significant elevation in MDSC% among the untreated group (34.5 ± 12.4%) compared with the DAA-treated group (18.3 ± 6.7%), while the control group had a mean of (3.8 ± 1.6%). IFN-γ concentration was higher in treated patients compared with untreated. We also found a significant negative correlation (rs -0.662) (p < 0.001) between MDSC% and IFN-γ concentration among treated HCV patients. Our results revealed important evidence of MDSCs accumulation in CHC patients and partial retrieval of the immune system regulatory function after DAA therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basma Abdulsamad
- Immunology and Allergy Department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.,Clinical Pharmacist, Ministry of Health, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Afifi
- Immunology and Allergy Department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Ashraf K Awaad
- Centre of Excellence for Research in Regenerative Medicine and Applications, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Waleed Elbendary
- Clinical Pathology Department, Medical Military Academy, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hanan Mustafa
- Internal Medicine Department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Bassem Elsherbini
- Immunology and Allergy Department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.,Immunology Unit, Medical Laboratory Department, Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, Ministry of Health, Jabriya, Kuwait
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6
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Masalova OV, Lesnova EI, Andreev SM, Shershakova NN, Kozlov VV, Permyakova KY, Demidova NA, Valuev-Elliston VT, Turetskiy EA, Ivanov AV, Nikolaeva TN, Khaitov MR, Pronin AV, Kushch AA. [Adjuvant effect of dispersed fullerene C60 on the immune response to constructs harboring amino acid and nucleotide sequences of hepatitis C virus nonstructural NS5B protein]. Vopr Virusol 2023; 67:516-526. [PMID: 37264841 DOI: 10.36233/0507-4088-149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A vaccine against hepatitis C has not yet been developed. Recombinant proteins and plasmids encoding hepatitis C virus (HCV) proteins, the components of candidate vaccines, induce a weak immune response and require the use of adjuvants. The aim of the work was to study the adjuvant action of an aqueous solution of fullerene C60 during immunization of mice with HCV recombinant protein NS5B (rNS5B) that is an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, or with NS5B-encoding pcNS5B plasmid. MATERIALS AND METHODS An aqueous solution of dispersed fullerene (dnC60) was obtained by ultrafiltration. C57BL/6 mice were immunized with rNS5B subcutaneously, pcNS5B intramuscularly mixed with different doses of dnC60 three times, then the humoral and cellular response to HCV was evaluated. RESULTS Mice immunization with rNS5B in a mixture with dnC60 at doses of 250 g/mouse significantly induced humoral response: a dose-dependent increase in IgG1 antibody titers was 720 times higher than in the absence of fullerene. There was no increase in the cellular response to rNS5B when administered with dnC60. The humoral response to DNA immunization was weak in mice of all groups receiving pcNS5B. The cellular response was suppressed when the plasmid was injected in a mixture with dnC60. CONCLUSIONS Dispersed fullerene dnC60 is a promising adjuvant for increasing the immunostimulating activity of weakly immunogenic proteins including surface and other HCV proteins, important for a protective response. Further research is needed to enhance the ability of dnC60 to boost the cellular immune response to the components of the candidate vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- O V Masalova
- Gamaleya NRC of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
| | - E I Lesnova
- Gamaleya NRC of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
| | | | | | - V V Kozlov
- Gamaleya NRC of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
| | - K Y Permyakova
- Gamaleya NRC of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
- Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education «Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology - MVA by K.I. Skryabin»
| | - N A Demidova
- Gamaleya NRC of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
| | | | - E A Turetskiy
- NRC Institute of Immunology FMBA of Russia
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)
| | - A V Ivanov
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences
| | - T N Nikolaeva
- Gamaleya NRC of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
| | - M R Khaitov
- NRC Institute of Immunology FMBA of Russia
- Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University
| | - A V Pronin
- Gamaleya NRC of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
| | - A A Kushch
- Gamaleya NRC of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
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7
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Glover A, Zhang Z, Shannon-Lowe C. Deciphering the roles of myeloid derived suppressor cells in viral oncogenesis. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1161848. [PMID: 37033972 PMCID: PMC10076641 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1161848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a heterogenous population of myeloid cells derived from monocyte and granulocyte precursors. They are pathologically expanded in conditions of ongoing inflammation where they function to suppress both innate and adaptive immunity. They are subdivided into three distinct subsets: monocytic (M-) MDSC, polymorphonuclear (or neutrophilic) (PMN-) MDSC and early-stage (e-) MDSC that may exhibit differential function in different pathological scenarios. However, in cancer they are associated with inhibition of the anti-tumour immune response and are universally associated with a poor prognosis. Seven human viruses classified as Group I carcinogenic agents are jointly responsible for nearly one fifth of all human cancers. These viruses represent a large diversity of species, including DNA, RNA and retroviridae. They include the human gammaherpesviruses (Epstein Barr virus (EBV) and Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus (KSHV), members of the high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs), hepatitis B and C (HBV, HCV), Human T cell leukaemia virus (HTLV-1) and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). Each of these viruses encode an array of different oncogenes that perturb numerous cellular pathways that ultimately, over time, lead to cancer. A prerequisite for oncogenesis is therefore establishment of chronic infection whereby the virus persists in the host cells without being eradicated by the antiviral immune response. Although some of the viruses can directly modulate the immune response to enable persistence, a growing body of evidence suggests the immune microenvironment is modulated by expansions of MDSCs, driven by viral persistence and oncogenesis. It is likely these MDSCs play a role in loss of immune recognition and function and it is therefore essential to understand their phenotype and function, particularly given the increasing importance of immunotherapy in the modern arsenal of anti-cancer therapies. This review will discuss the role of MDSCs in viral oncogenesis. In particular we will focus upon the mechanisms thought to drive the MDSC expansions, the subsets expanded and their impact upon the immune microenvironment. Importantly we will explore how MDSCs may modulate current immunotherapies and their impact upon the success of future immune-based therapies.
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8
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Wu X, Roberto JB, Knupp A, Greninger AL, Truong CD, Hollingshead N, Kenerson HL, Tuefferd M, Chen A, Koelle DM, Horton H, Jerome KR, Polyak SJ, Yeung RS, Crispe IN. Response of Human Liver Tissue to Innate Immune Stimuli. Front Immunol 2022; 13:811551. [PMID: 35355993 PMCID: PMC8959492 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.811551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Precision-cut human liver slice cultures (PCLS) have become an important alternative immunological platform in preclinical testing. To further evaluate the capacity of PCLS, we investigated the innate immune response to TLR3 agonist (poly-I:C) and TLR4 agonist (LPS) using normal and diseased liver tissue. Pathological liver tissue was obtained from patients with active chronic HCV infection, and patients with former chronic HCV infection cured by recent Direct-Acting Antiviral (DAA) drug therapy. We found that hepatic innate immunity in response to TLR3 and TLR4 agonists was not suppressed but enhanced in the HCV-infected tissue, compared with the healthy controls. Furthermore, despite recent HCV elimination, DAA-cured liver tissue manifested ongoing abnormalities in liver immunity: sustained abnormal immune gene expression in DAA-cured samples was identified in direct ex vivo measurements and in TLR3 and TLR4 stimulation assays. Genes that were up-regulated in chronic HCV-infected liver tissue were mostly characteristic of the non-parenchymal cell compartment. These results demonstrated the utility of PCLS in studying both liver pathology and innate immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Jessica B Roberto
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Allison Knupp
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Alexander L Greninger
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Camtu D Truong
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Nicole Hollingshead
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Heidi L Kenerson
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Marianne Tuefferd
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccines, Janssen Research and Development, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Antony Chen
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccines, Janssen Research and Development, Beerse, Belgium
| | - David M Koelle
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Translational Research, Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Helen Horton
- Infectious Diseases and Vaccines, Janssen Research and Development, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Keith R Jerome
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Vaccine and Infectious Diseases Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Institute, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Stephen J Polyak
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Raymond S Yeung
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Ian N Crispe
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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Nicoli F, Mantelli B, Gallerani E, Telatin V, Squarzon L, Masiero S, Gavioli R, Palù G, Barzon L, Caputo A. Effects of the age of vaccination on the humoral responses to a human papillomavirus vaccine. NPJ Vaccines 2022; 7:37. [PMID: 35292655 PMCID: PMC8924199 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-022-00458-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Adult vaccination programs are receiving increasing attention however, little is known regarding the impact of age on the maintenance of the immune response. We investigated this issue in the context of a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program collecting real-world data on the durability of humoral immunity in 315 female subjects stratified according to vaccination age (adolescents and adults) and sampled at early or late time points after the last vaccine dose. HPV-specific IgGs, but not memory B cells, were induced and maintained at higher levels in subjects vaccinated during adolescence. Nonetheless, antibody functions waned over time to a similar degree in adolescents and adults. To shed light on this phenomena, we analyzed quantitative and qualitative properties of lymphocytes. Similar biochemical features were observed between B-cell subsets from individuals belonging to the two age groups. Long term humoral responses toward vaccines administered at an earlier age were comparably maintained between adolescents and adults. The percentages of naïve B and CD4+ T cells were significantly higher in adolescents, and the latter directly correlated with IgG titers against 3 out of 4 HPV types. Our results indicate that age-specific HPV vaccine responsiveness is mostly due to quantitative differences of immune cell precursors rather than qualitative defects in B cells. In addition, our results indicate that adults also have a good humoral immunogenic profile, suggesting that their inclusion in catch-up programmes is desirable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Nicoli
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35121, Padova, Italy
| | - Barbara Mantelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35121, Padova, Italy
| | - Eleonora Gallerani
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Valentina Telatin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35121, Padova, Italy
| | - Laura Squarzon
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35121, Padova, Italy
| | - Serena Masiero
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35121, Padova, Italy
| | - Riccardo Gavioli
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giorgio Palù
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35121, Padova, Italy
| | - Luisa Barzon
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35121, Padova, Italy
| | - Antonella Caputo
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35121, Padova, Italy.
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10
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Savchenko AA, Tsukanov VV, Kudryavtsev IV, Tonkih JL, Belenjuk VD, Cherepnin MA, Anisimova AA, Borisov AG. A relation between T cell phenotypic profile and virus genotype in patients with chronic viral hepatitis (before and after treatment with direct antiviral agents). RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF INFECTION AND IMMUNITY 2021; 11:1141-1151. [DOI: 10.15789/2220-7619-arb-1550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
The aim of the study was to investigate the phenotype of effector T lymphocytes in patients with chronic viral hepatitis C (CVHC) before and after of treatment with direct antiviral drugs depending on the genotype of the virus. 50 patients with CVHC without signs of liver cirrhosis were examined. The diagnosis was made on the basis of epidemiological and clinical laboratory data as recommended by the European Association for the Study of the Liver when specific serological markers of CHCV and RNA of hepatitis C virus (HCV) were detected (EASL, 2016). The determination of HCV RNA was carried out by the method of quantitative polymerase chain reaction in real time. The degree of liver fibrosis in patients with CVHC was assessed using ultrasound elastography. Patients were treated for 3 months with direct antiviral drugs according to the recommendations of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (2016). The control group included 46 practically healthy individuals with severe chronic diseases of various organs and systems excluded during a routine examination, no health complaints, having normal clinical and biochemical blood tests in the absence of markers for viral hepatitis B and C, antibodies to opisthorchis and denying history of alcohol abuse. The study of the subpopulation composition of helper and cytotoxic T lymphocytes was carried out by direct immunofluorescence of whole peripheral blood. We obtained a 100% sustained virological response in patients with 1, 2 and genotypes of CHCV without signs of liver cirrhosis when using therapy with Sofosbuvir (400 mg) and Daclatasvir (60 mg) for 12 weeks. It was found that in CVHC patients were found characteristic features in the phenotypic composition of effector T lymphocytes before and after treatment with direct antiviral drugs in depending on the genotype of HCV. Patients with HCV genotypes 1 and 3 had an increase in the content of terminal differentiated effector (TEMRA) T helpers and effector memory (EM). Only patients with HCV genotype 2 had a decrease in the level of EM T-helper cells in the blood. A decrease in the relative number of T helpers of central memory (СM) was independent of the HCV genotype. The level of effector subpopulations of cytotoxic T lymphocytes in patients with CVHC was consistent with or exceeded control levels in depending on the genotype of HCV. The level of all investigated subpopulations of effector cytotoxic T lymphocytes in patients with HCV genotype 1 was equal to the control values. The number of naïve cytotoxic T cells and CM in peripheral blood in patients with HCV genotype 2 was increased. The content of naïve cytotoxic T lymphocytes, CM and TEMRA in patients with genotype 3 HCV in the blood was increased. The highest viral load was detected in patients with CVHC with genotype 1 HCV. Liver fibrosis was most pronounced in patients with CVHC infection with HCV genotypes 2 and 3. After 3 months of treatment with direct antiviral drugs the patients with CVHC had a reduced content of CM T helpers regardless of the HCV genotype. In addition, patients with HCV genotypes 1 and 3 had a decrease in the number of naïve T helpers and patients with HCV genotypes 2 and 3 had a normalization of the content of naïve cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
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11
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Nguyen LN, Nguyen LNT, Zhao J, Schank M, Dang X, Cao D, Khanal S, Thakuri BKC, Zhang J, Lu Z, Wu XY, El Gazzar M, Ning S, Wang L, Moorman JP, Yao ZQ. Immune Activation Induces Telomeric DNA Damage and Promotes Short-Lived Effector T Cell Differentiation in Chronic HCV Infection. Hepatology 2021; 74:2380-2394. [PMID: 34110660 PMCID: PMC8542603 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Hepatitis C virus (HCV) leads to a high rate of chronic infection and T cell dysfunction. Although it is well known that chronic antigenic stimulation is a driving force for impaired T cell functions, the precise mechanisms underlying immune activation-induced T cell dysfunctions during HCV infection remain elusive. APPROACH AND RESULTS Here, we demonstrated that circulating CD4+ T cells from patients who are chronically HCV-infected exhibit an immune activation status, as evidenced by the overexpression of cell activation markers human leukocyte antigen-antigen D-related, glucose transporter 1, granzyme B, and the short-lived effector marker CD127- killer cell lectin-like receptor G1+ . In contrast, the expression of stem cell-like transcription factor T cell factor 1 and telomeric repeat-binding factor 2 (TRF2) are significantly reduced in CD4+ T cells from patients who are chronically HCV-infected compared with healthy participants (HP). Mechanistic studies revealed that CD4+ T cells from participants with HCV exhibit phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling hyperactivation on T cell receptor stimulation, promoting proinflammatory effector cell differentiation, telomeric DNA damage, and cellular apoptosis. Inhibition of Akt signaling during T cell activation preserved the precursor memory cell population and prevented inflammatory effector cell expansion, DNA damage, and apoptotic death. Moreover, knockdown of TRF2 reduced HP T cell stemness and triggered telomeric DNA damage and cellular apoptosis, whereas overexpression of TRF2 in CD4 T cells prevented telomeric DNA damage. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that modulation of immune activation through inhibiting Akt signaling and protecting telomeres through enhancing TRF2 expression may open therapeutic strategies to fine tune the adaptive immune responses in the setting of persistent immune activation and inflammation during chronic HCV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lam Nhat Nguyen
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, ETSU, Johnson City, TN
| | - Lam Ngoc Thao Nguyen
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, ETSU, Johnson City, TN
| | - Juan Zhao
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, ETSU, Johnson City, TN
| | - Madison Schank
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, ETSU, Johnson City, TN
| | - Xindi Dang
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, ETSU, Johnson City, TN
| | - Dechao Cao
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, ETSU, Johnson City, TN
| | - Sushant Khanal
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, ETSU, Johnson City, TN
| | - Bal Krishna Chand Thakuri
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, ETSU, Johnson City, TN
| | - Jinyu Zhang
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, ETSU, Johnson City, TN
| | - Zeyuan Lu
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, ETSU, Johnson City, TN
| | - Xiao Y Wu
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, ETSU, Johnson City, TN
| | - Mohamed El Gazzar
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, ETSU, Johnson City, TN
| | - Shunbin Ning
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, ETSU, Johnson City, TN
| | - Ling Wang
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, ETSU, Johnson City, TN
| | - Jonathan P Moorman
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, ETSU, Johnson City, TN.,Hepatitis (HCV/HBV/HIV) Program, James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, Department of Veterans Affairs, Johnson City, TN
| | - Zhi Q Yao
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease and Immunity, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious, Inflammatory and Immunologic Diseases, Quillen College of Medicine, ETSU, Johnson City, TN.,Hepatitis (HCV/HBV/HIV) Program, James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, Department of Veterans Affairs, Johnson City, TN
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12
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Gallerani E, Proietto D, Dallan B, Campagnaro M, Pacifico S, Albanese V, Marzola E, Marconi P, Caputo A, Appay V, Gavioli R, Nicoli F. Impaired Priming of SARS-CoV-2-Specific Naive CD8 + T Cells in Older Subjects. Front Immunol 2021; 12:693054. [PMID: 34326844 PMCID: PMC8315546 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.693054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Advanced age is associated with severe symptoms and death upon SARS-CoV-2 infection. Virus-specific CD8+ T-cell responses have shown to be protective toward critical COVID-19 manifestations, suggesting that suboptimal cellular immunity may contribute to the age-pattern of the disease. The induction of a CD8+ T-cell response against an emerging pathogen like SARS-CoV-2 relies on the activation of naive T cells. To investigate whether the primary CD8+ T-cell response against this virus is defective in advanced age, we used an in vitro approach to prime SARS-CoV-2-specific naive CD8+ T cells from healthy, unexposed donors of different age groups. Compared to younger adults, older individuals display a poor SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell priming capacity in terms of both magnitude and quality of the response. In addition, older subjects recognize a lower number of epitopes. Our results implicate that immune aging is associated with altered primary SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T-cell responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Gallerani
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Immunology and Microbiology (BIM), Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Davide Proietto
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Immunology and Microbiology (BIM), Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Beatrice Dallan
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Immunology and Microbiology (BIM), Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Marco Campagnaro
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Immunology and Microbiology (BIM), Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Salvatore Pacifico
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Valentina Albanese
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Erika Marzola
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Peggy Marconi
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Immunology and Microbiology (BIM), Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Antonella Caputo
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Immunology and Microbiology (BIM), Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Victor Appay
- CNRS UMR 5164, ImmunoConcEpT, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Riccardo Gavioli
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Immunology and Microbiology (BIM), Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Francesco Nicoli
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Immunology and Microbiology (BIM), Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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13
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Lesnova EI, Masalova OV, Permyakova KY, Kozlov VV, Nikolaeva TN, Pronin AV, Valuev-Elliston VT, Ivanov AV, Kushch AA. Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an Inhibitor of Polyamine Biosynthesis, and Antioxidant N-Acetylcysteine Potentiate Immune Response in Mice to the Recombinant Hepatitis C Virus NS5B Protein. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22136892. [PMID: 34206987 PMCID: PMC8268280 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22136892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the main triggers of chronic liver disease. Despite tremendous progress in the HCV field, there is still no vaccine against this virus. Potential vaccines can be based on its recombinant proteins. To increase the humoral and, especially, cellular immune response to them, more effective adjuvants are needed. Here, we evaluated a panel of compounds as potential adjuvants using the HCV NS5B protein as an immunogen. These compounds included inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis and urea cycle, the mTOR pathway, antioxidants, and cellular receptors. A pronounced stimulation of cell proliferation and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) secretion in response to concanavalin A was shown for antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC), polyamine biosynthesis inhibitor 2-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), and TLR9 agonist CpG ODN 1826 (CpG). Their usage during the immunization of mice with the recombinant NS5B protein significantly increased antibody titers, enhanced lymphocyte proliferation and IFN-γ production. NAC and CpG decreased relative Treg numbers; CpG increased the number of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), whereas neither NAC nor DFMO affected MDSC counts. NAC and DFMO suppressed NO and interleukin 10 (IL-10) production by splenocytes, while DFMO increased the levels of IL-12. This is the first evidence of immunomodulatory activity of NAC and DFMO during prophylactic immunization against infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina I. Lesnova
- Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia; (E.I.L.); (K.Y.P.); (V.V.K.); (T.N.N.); (A.V.P.); (A.A.K.)
| | - Olga V. Masalova
- Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia; (E.I.L.); (K.Y.P.); (V.V.K.); (T.N.N.); (A.V.P.); (A.A.K.)
- Correspondence: (O.V.M.); (A.V.I.); Tel.: +7-499-190-30-49 (O.V.M.); +7-199-135-60-65 (A.V.I.)
| | - Kristina Yu. Permyakova
- Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia; (E.I.L.); (K.Y.P.); (V.V.K.); (T.N.N.); (A.V.P.); (A.A.K.)
- Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Moscow State Academy of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology—MVA by K.I. Skryabin”, 109472 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vyacheslav V. Kozlov
- Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia; (E.I.L.); (K.Y.P.); (V.V.K.); (T.N.N.); (A.V.P.); (A.A.K.)
| | - Tatyana N. Nikolaeva
- Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia; (E.I.L.); (K.Y.P.); (V.V.K.); (T.N.N.); (A.V.P.); (A.A.K.)
| | - Alexander V. Pronin
- Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia; (E.I.L.); (K.Y.P.); (V.V.K.); (T.N.N.); (A.V.P.); (A.A.K.)
| | - Vladimir T. Valuev-Elliston
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia;
| | - Alexander V. Ivanov
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia;
- Correspondence: (O.V.M.); (A.V.I.); Tel.: +7-499-190-30-49 (O.V.M.); +7-199-135-60-65 (A.V.I.)
| | - Alla A. Kushch
- Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia; (E.I.L.); (K.Y.P.); (V.V.K.); (T.N.N.); (A.V.P.); (A.A.K.)
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Use of a Novel Peptide Welding Technology Platform for the Development of B- and T-Cell Epitope-Based Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9050526. [PMID: 34069535 PMCID: PMC8160815 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9050526] [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: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptide vaccines incorporating B- and T-cell epitopes have shown promise in the context of various cancers and infections. These vaccines are relatively simple to manufacture, but more immunogenic formulations are considered a priority. We developed tetrabranched derivatives for this purpose based on a novel peptide welding technology (PWT). PWTs provide molecular scaffolds for the efficient synthesis of ultrapure peptide dendrimers, which allow the delivery of multiple ligands within a single macromolecular structure. Peptide vaccines incorporating T-cell epitopes derived from melanoma and B-cell epitopes derived from human immunodeficiency virus, synthesized using this approach, elicited primary immune responses in vitro and in vivo. Subcutaneous administration of the B-cell epitope-based vaccines also elicited more potent humoral responses than subcutaneous administration of the corresponding peptides alone. Highly immunogenic peptide epitope-based vaccines can therefore be generated quickly and easily using a novel PWT.
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15
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Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection Modulates the Transcriptional Profiles of CD4 + T Cells. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 2021:6689834. [PMID: 33777278 PMCID: PMC7979312 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6689834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Background Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is associated with altered cell-mediated immune response. Objective The aim of the study was to characterize functional alterations in CD4+ T cell subsets and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) during chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Methodology. The expression levels of the lineage-defining transcriptional factors (TFs) T-bet, Gata3, Rorγt, and Foxp3 in circulating CD4+ T cells and percentages of MDSCs in peripheral blood were evaluated in 33 patients with CHC, 31 persons, who had spontaneously cleared the HCV infection, and 30 healthy subjects. Analysis. The CD4+ T cells TFs T-bet (T-box expressed in T cells), Foxp3 (Forkhead box P3 transcription factor), Gata3 (Gata-binding protein 3), and Rorγt (retinoic-acid-related orphan receptor gamma) and activation of CD8+ T cells, as well as percentages of MDSCs, were measured by multicolor flow cytometry after intracellular and surface staining of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with fluorescent monoclonal antibodies. Result The patients with CHC had significantly lower percentages of CD4+ T cells expressing Rorγt and Gata3 and higher percentages of Foxp3-expressing CD4+ T cells than healthy controls and persons who spontaneously cleared HCV infection. The ratios of T-bet+/Gata3+ and Foxp3+/Rorγt+ CD4+ T cells were the highest in the patients with CHC. In the patients with CHC, the percentages of Gata3+ and Rorγt+ CD4+ T cells and the percentages of T-bet+ CD4+ T cells and CD38+/HLA-DR+ CD8+ T cells demonstrated significant positive correlations. In addition, the percentage of CD38+/HLA-DR+ CD8+ T cells correlated negatively with the percentage of MDSCs. Conclusion Chronic HCV infection is associated with downregulation of TFs Gata3 and Rorγt polarizing CD4+ T cells into Th2 and Th17 phenotypes together with upregulation of Foxp3 responsible for induction of regulatory T cells suppressing immune response.
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16
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Sung PS, Shin EC. Immunological Mechanisms for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk after Direct-Acting Antiviral Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus Infection. J Clin Med 2021; 10:E221. [PMID: 33435135 PMCID: PMC7827927 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10020221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) that allow for rapid clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) may evoke immunological changes. Some cases of rapid de novo hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development or early recurrence of HCC after DAA treatment have been reported. During chronic HCV infection, natural killer (NK) cells exhibited a deviant functional phenotype with decreased production of antiviral cytokines and increased cytotoxicity; however, DAA treatment rapidly decreased their cytotoxic function. Effective DAA therapy also suppressed the intrahepatic activation of macrophages/monocytes. This was followed by a decrease in mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cell cytotoxicity without normalization of cytokine production. Rapid changes in the phenotypes of NK and MAIT cells after DAA treatment may attenuate the cytotoxicity of these cells against cancer cells. Moreover, DAA treatment did not normalize the increased frequencies of regulatory T cells even after clearance of HCV infection. Thus, the persistently increased frequency of regulatory T cells may contribute to a local immunosuppressive milieu and hamper the clearance of cancer cells. This review will focus on recent studies describing the changes in innate and adaptive immune responses after DAA treatment in patients with chronic HCV infection in the context of de novo occurrence or recurrence of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pil Soo Sung
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
- The Catholic Liver Research Center, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea
| | - Eui-Cheol Shin
- Laboratory of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Korea
- The Center for Epidemic Preparedness, KAIST Institute, Daejeon 34141, Korea
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Early expansion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells inhibits SARS-CoV-2 specific T-cell response and may predict fatal COVID-19 outcome. Cell Death Dis 2020; 11:921. [PMID: 33110074 PMCID: PMC7590570 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-020-03125-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The immunological mechanisms underlying the clinical presentation of SARS-CoV-2 infection and those influencing the disease outcome remain to be defined. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) have been described to be highly increased during COVID-19, however, their role remains elusive. We performed an in depth analysis of MDSC in 128 SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. Polymorphonuclear (PMN)-MDSC expanded during COVID-19, in particular in patients who required intensive care treatments, and correlated with IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α plasma levels. PMN-MDSC inhibited T-cells IFN-γ production upon SARS-CoV-2 peptides stimulation, through TGF-β- and iNOS-mediated mechanisms, possibly contrasting virus elimination. Accordingly, a multivariate regression analysis found a strong association between PMN-MDSC percentage and fatal outcome of the disease. The PMN-MDSC frequency was higher in non-survivors than survivors at the admission time, followed by a decreasing trend. Interestingly, this trend was associated with IL-6 increase in non-survivors but not in survivors. In conclusion, this study indicates PMN-MDSC as a novel factor in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV2 infection, and open up to new therapeutic options.
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Lymphocyte Landscape after Chronic Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Cure: The New Normal. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21207473. [PMID: 33050486 PMCID: PMC7589490 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic HCV (CHC) infection is the only chronic viral infection for which curative treatments have been discovered. These direct acting antiviral (DAA) agents target specific steps in the viral replication cycle with remarkable efficacy and result in sustained virologic response (SVR) or cure in high (>95%) proportions of patients. These treatments became available 6–7 years ago and it is estimated that their real impact on HCV related morbidity, including outcomes such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), will not be known for the next decade or so. The immune system of a chronically infected patient is severely dysregulated and questions remain regarding the immune system’s capacity in limiting liver pathology in a cured individual. Another important consequence of impaired immunity in patients cleared of HCV with DAA will be the inability to generate protective immunity against possible re-infection, necessitating retreatments or developing a prophylactic vaccine. Thus, the impact of viral clearance on restoring immune homeostasis is being investigated by many groups. Among the important questions that need to be answered are how much the immune system normalizes with cure, how long after viral clearance this recalibration occurs, what are the consequences of persisting immune defects for protection from re-infection in vulnerable populations, and does viral clearance reduce liver pathology and the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma in individuals cured with these agents. Here, we review the recent literature that describes the defects present in various lymphocyte populations in a CHC patient and their status after viral clearance using DAA treatments.
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Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy despite immune recovery in a HIV/HCV co-infected patient. J Neurovirol 2020; 26:607-610. [PMID: 32458280 DOI: 10.1007/s13365-020-00848-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
In HIV patients, HCV co-infection has been associated with an increased risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Furthermore, PML has also been described in patients with cirrhosis, whether related to HCV infection or not. We describe here the case of a HIV/HCV co-infected patient with cirrhosis who developed PML despite HIV suppression and CD4 cell count above 250/mm3 for 2 years. Immunological studies performed at onset of PML and before HCV therapy showed a decrease in naïve CD4 cells (CD45RA+CCR7+CD27+ CD4+ T cells - 23% cells, i.e. 75/mm3) and NK lymphopenia with abnormal and activated NK cells (CD3- CD16+ and/or CD56+) (5% lymphocytes, i.e. 58/mm3, CD69 91%, NKp30 26%). This impaired immunity, possibly related to HIV infection, or HCV infection or cirrhosis, or a combination thereof, could have led to the development of PML.
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Nicoli F, Mantelli B, Gallerani E, Telatin V, Bonazzi I, Marconi P, Gavioli R, Gabrielli L, Lazzarotto T, Barzon L, Palù G, Caputo A. HPV-Specific Systemic Antibody Responses and Memory B Cells are Independently Maintained up to 6 Years and in a Vaccine-Specific Manner Following Immunization with Cervarix and Gardasil in Adolescent and Young Adult Women in Vaccination Programs in Italy. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8010026. [PMID: 31947611 PMCID: PMC7175219 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8010026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) persistent infections are associated with cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases and tumors. Thus, the characterization of long lasting immunity to currently available HPV vaccines is important. A total of 149 female subjects vaccinated with Cervarix or Gardasil participated to the study and they were stratified according to age (10–12-year-old and 16–20-year-old). Humoral immune responses (IgG and neutralizing antibody titers, antibody avidity) and circulating memory B cells were analyzed after an average of 4–6 years from the third immunization. The humoral responses against HPV-16 and HPV-18 (and HPV-6 and HPV-11 for Gardasil) were high in both age groups and vaccines up to six years from the third dose. However, Cervarix induced significantly higher and more persistent antibody responses, while the two vaccines were rather equivalent in inducing memory B cells against HPV-16 and HPV-18. Moreover, the percentage of subjects with vaccine-specific memory B cells was even superior among Gardasil vaccinees and, conversely, Cervarix vaccinated individuals with circulating antibodies, but undetectable memory B cells were found. Finally, a higher proportion of Cervarix-vaccinated subjects displayed cross-neutralizing responses against non-vaccine types HPV-31 and HPV-45. Gardasil and Cervarix may, thus, differently affect long-lasting humoral immunity from both the quantitative and qualitative point of view.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Nicoli
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (F.N.); (E.G.); (P.M.); (R.G.)
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (B.M.); (V.T.); (I.B.); (L.B.); (G.P.)
| | - Barbara Mantelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (B.M.); (V.T.); (I.B.); (L.B.); (G.P.)
| | - Eleonora Gallerani
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (F.N.); (E.G.); (P.M.); (R.G.)
| | - Valentina Telatin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (B.M.); (V.T.); (I.B.); (L.B.); (G.P.)
| | - Irene Bonazzi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (B.M.); (V.T.); (I.B.); (L.B.); (G.P.)
| | - Peggy Marconi
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (F.N.); (E.G.); (P.M.); (R.G.)
| | - Riccardo Gavioli
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (F.N.); (E.G.); (P.M.); (R.G.)
| | - Liliana Gabrielli
- Operative Unit of Clinical Microbiology, St Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Tiziana Lazzarotto
- Department of Specialized, Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Luisa Barzon
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (B.M.); (V.T.); (I.B.); (L.B.); (G.P.)
| | - Giorgio Palù
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (B.M.); (V.T.); (I.B.); (L.B.); (G.P.)
| | - Antonella Caputo
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (F.N.); (E.G.); (P.M.); (R.G.)
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy; (B.M.); (V.T.); (I.B.); (L.B.); (G.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0532-974410
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